St. Ives Laboratories Posts 6% 2nd-Quarter Profit Gain

St. Ives Laboratories, a Chatsworth maker of shampoos and other personal-care products, said lower federal taxes helped lift its second-quarter profit 6% from a year earlier.

In the three months that ended June 30, St. Ives’ net income climbed to $1.53 million, or 22 cents a share, from $1.44 million, or 24 cents a share, a year earlier. Sales rose 21% to $27.9 million from $23 million.

For the first half of 1988, St. Ives’ profit increased 8% to $2.84 million, or 41 cents a share, from $2.63 million, or 44 cents a share, a year earlier. Six-month sales jumped 25% to $52.6 million from $42.2 million.

In both the second quarter and first half of 1988, St. Ives’ per-share earnings fell from year-ago levels despite the rise in overall earnings because St. Ives had 15% more shares outstanding in this year’s periods.

For detailed data and results of other companies, please see tables, Page 17.