AstroNova, Inc. (ALOT) has reported a 7.49 percent fall in profit for the quarter ended Jan. 31, 2017. The company has earned $0.77 million, or $0.10 a share in the quarter, compared with $0.83 million, or $0.11 a share for the same period last year.

Revenue during the quarter grew 7.98 percent to $25.66 million from $23.76 million in the previous year period. Gross margin for the quarter expanded 83 basis points over the previous year period to 39.25 percent. Total expenses were 95.51 percent of quarterly revenues, down from 96.66 percent for the same period last year. This has led to an improvement of 115 basis points in operating margin to 4.49 percent.

Operating income for the quarter was $1.15 million, compared with $0.79 million in the previous year period.

"We concluded a year of growth in fiscal 2017 with a fourth quarter highlighted by increased revenue, improved operating margin and a stronger cash position," said AstroNova president and chief executive officer Greg Woods. "Revenue growth in our International markets was especially strong, up 27 percent over the prior year, reflecting our strategic focus on broadening AstroNova's global reach through expansion in regions including Asia and Latin America. "Relative to the segment performance, our Product Identification Segment (PI) was a key contributor to the Company's fourth quarter growth, achieving record quarterly revenues of $18.7 million and increasing 13 percent over the previous year. PI's success is traceable to the record color printer placements in the quarter as well as robust demand for consumables and specifically the launch of the QL-800, our new wide-format digital printing solution for industrial, commercial, manufacturing and distribution applications," Woods continued. "Revenue in our Test & Measurement segment decreased 3 percent in the fourth quarter, largely reflecting our transition to our next generation data acquisition products, and the timing of aerospace order releases."