PALO ALTO, Calif.-Watkins-Johnson Co.’s unaudited results for 1998 showed revenue of $212.2
million, down from $291.3 million reported in revenue for 1997. The company experienced a net loss for the year of
$49.2 million, or $6.36 per share, compared with a net gain of $32.9 million, or $3.99 per share, for 1997.
For the
fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, Watkins-Johnson’s revenues were $63.5 million, down from $72.2 million reported in
revenues for the fourth quarter of the previous year. The company had net earnings of $1.7 million, or 25 cents per
share, compared with a net loss of $6.3 million, or $2.88 per share, for fourth quarter 1997.
Watkins-Johnson said
its wireless communications sales in 1998 totaled $115 million, a 10-percent increase over its 1997 sales of $105
million. Revenues of its Telecommunications Group were adversely affected by the company’s decision to discontinue
marketing its wideband digital base station product directly to carriers and small system integrators and by delays in
expected government orders.
Sales of its semiconductor equipment in 1998 amounted to $97 million, down 48
percent from the $186 million recorded in 1997, said the company.
