
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, November 5, 1993                   TAG: 9311050141
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A-11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

EARNINGS . . .

Columbia Gas System Inc. of Wilmington, Del., a major supplier to Roanoke Gas Co., on Thursday reported a third-quarter net loss of $54.4 million, or $1.07 per share, compared with a net loss of $78.1 million, or $1.54 per share, for the 1992 period.

Net income for the first nine months was $82.8 million, or $1.64 per share, compared with a net loss of $36.6 million, or 72 cents per share, in the 1992 period.

\ Hardee's Food Systems Inc. of Rocky Mount, N.C., operating fast-food restaurants in Western Virginia, on Thursday reported third-quarter earnings of $32.2 million on sales of $1.3 billion, up 17 percent from $27.6 million for the 1992 period. Revenues were $544.2 million, up 2 percent from $532.1 million.

Earnings for the nine months were $66.1 million on sales of $3.7 billion, up 59 percent. Revenues were $1.5 billion, up 5 percent.

\ Richfood Holdings Inc., Richmond-based food wholesaler, on Thursday posted a 27.7 percent increase in earnings for the second quarter, to $4.5 million, or 21 cents a share, from $3.5 million, or 17 cents a share, in the 1992 quarter. Sales totaled $283.9 million, up from $235.8 million.

\ Hoechst Celanese Corp., Somerville, N.J., operator of a cigarette-filter fibers plant at Narrows, on Thursday reported third-quarter net earnings of $6 million against $4 million in the 1992 quarter. Operating income rose 26 percent to $54 million. Sales were $1.6 billion, down 1 percent. Because the company, a unit of a German corporation, does not trade stock in the U.S., it does not report earnings per share.

\ Wendy's International, Dublin, Ohio, fast-food chain with operations in Western Virginia, on Thursday reported record third-quarter net income of $24.5 million, up 23 percent from $19.9 million a year ago. Earnings per share were 23 cents against 19 cents. Revenues were $339 million compared with $317 million and sales were a record $1.02 billion against $925 million.

Net income for the first nine months was up 23 percent to $61.7 million, or 59 cents per share, from $50 million, or 49 cents. year ago. Revenues were $994 million against $933 million. Sales rose to $2.9 billion from $2.7 billion.

by CNB