Sales, Net Income Climb During 1984 at Cohu Inc.

SAN DIEGO —  Despite a continuing slowdown in the semiconductor industry, sales at Cohu Inc. remained strong and 1984 net income jumped to $1.7 million from $1.2 million in the year earlier.

The maker of semiconductor test equipment, television cameras and metal detectors said Wednesday that revenue rose to $23.6 million from $20 million the prior year. The year-end backlog of orders rose to $8.3 million from $5.7 million. The results include a gain on land sales of $205,672, compared to a similar gain of $160,000 the prior year.

For the fourth quarter, net income rose to $503,033 from $368,274 a year earlier. Revenue rose to $6.4 million from $6 million.

The company said results of its Broadcast Microwave Services Inc. unit, which was acquired last December for about $400,000 in common stock, won’t be reflected in Cohu’s consolidated figures until the first quarter of 1985.

The order backlog, including the BMS unit, stood at $9.7 million at year-end.

President James Barnes said the order backlog for its line of semiconductor test equipment “remains strong. However, some softness in order activity was noted in the first two months of 1985.”

Still, Barnes said, 1985 sales and earnings will likely exceed the past year’s results. “The company is in an excellent position to achieve further gains in sales and continued growth in earnings,” he said.