Superior’s Quarterly Profit Soars to $6.89 Million

Superior Industries International Inc. said its fourth-quarter profit soared to $6.89 million from $388,000 a year earlier, when its earnings were depressed by a onetime, $3.2-million charge stemming from the company’s restructuring program.

The Van Nuys-based producer of automotive wheels said the higher profit came on a 26% gain in its sales, to $77.2 million in the quarter ended Dec. 31 from $61.4 million a year earlier.

Excluding the onetime charge, Superior said its higher results reflected continued demand for its aluminum wheels--despite the U.S. auto industry’s slump--more efficient operations at its plants and lower overhead costs.

For all of 1991, Superior’s profit jumped 48% from the previous year, to $18.2 million from $12.3 million, and its annual sales edged up 2%, to $273.5 million from $267.6 million.