St. John Knits Posts 35% Jump in Profits

IRVINE — St. John Knits Inc., an Irvine women’s clothing designer and manufacturer, reported that net income for its second fiscal quarter increased 35%, to $2.7 million, or 33 cents a share, from $2 million, or 24 cents a share, for the corresponding period last year.

Sales for the quarter ended May 2 were up 20%, to $24.8 million from $20.7 million. For the first half of its first year as a publicly held company, St. John posted net income of $4.7 million, or 57 cents a share, on sales of $45.7 million. For the like period in 1992, net income totaled $2.5 million, or 30 cents a share, on revenue of $37.2 million.