Tektronix Enjoys Fourth Quarter Profits

Tektronix Inc. said Monday that color computer printer sales helped boost fourth-quarter earnings 31 percent to cap a record year for sales and profits.

The Wilsonville-based maker of printers, digital video equipment and electronic measurement devices said it earned $36.9 million, or $1.11 a share, in the quarter ended May 31, compared with $28.2 million, or 86 cents a share, for the same period last year.

Sales rose 11 percent to $543.9 million from $490.7 million.

The strong sales growth in the final quarter ended a record year for Tektronix, with earnings up 15 percent to $114.8 million, or $3.48 a share in fiscal 1997, compared to $99.6 million, or $3 a share, last year.

Sales increased 9.6 percent to $1.94 billion from $1.77 billion for the year at Tektronix, the largest electronics company founded in Oregon.