EARNINGS : DEC’s Income Quadruples in Third Quarter

MAYNARD, Mass. — Digital Equipment Corp., whose earnings suffered last year due to an expensive cost-cutting program, said Thursday that its third-quarter income rose more than fourfold.

But the nation’s No. 2 computer company expressed caution, saying that the weak worldwide economy was hurting sales of its computers.

Digital said net income during the quarter that ended March 30 was $116.5 million, compared to $24.9 million during the same period a year earlier.

Revenue of $3.52 billion was up 8% from the year-ago period.

During the 1990 quarter, Digital took a $150-million restructuring charge for cost cutting. Much of that included voluntary severance packages to reduce its payroll.