Safeguard Health Reports 4th-Quarter Loss

Safeguard Health Enterprises reported wider losses for the fourth quarter, stemming largely from discontinuing its dental offices, eliminating employees and lowering the value of its former headquarters in Anaheim. The Aliso Viejo company, which markets a variety of health care, vision and life insurance plans, said it lost $11.45 million, or $2.41 a share, in the last three months of the year, compared with a loss of $6.14 million, or $1.29 a share, in the same period a year earlier. Revenue increased 5.6% to $26.3 million from $24.9 million. For the year, Safeguard posted losses of $11.1 million, or $2.35 a share, compared with losses of $2.3 million, or 50 cents a share, in 1997. Revenue rose 2.9% to $99.8 million from $97 million.