Descente reported sales for the fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 31 increased 8.7 percent to ¥20.7 bn ($268 mm) from ¥19.0 bn ($231 mm) in the year-ago period.  Gross margins slipped 80 basis points to 45.0 percent of sales for the quarter, compared to 45.8 percent of sales in fiscal Q3 last year.  The company again focused on expenses during the quarter, cutting SG&A by 60 basis points to 38.9 percent of sales.

The company saw operating profit jump 51.0 percent to ¥1.25 billion ($16 mm) from ¥831 million ($10 mm) in fiscal Q3 last year.

Descente net income came in at ¥872 mm ($11 mm) in fiscal Q3, a 75.5 percent increase in the bottom line versus the ¥497 mm ($6 mm) posted in the year-ago period.