BUSINESS MEMO: EDWARDS EARNING REPORT

A.G. Edwards Inc. has announced record results for the second quarter and the first half of fiscal 1998, which ended Aug. 31. Revenues, net earnings and earnings per share were all at record levels.

Net earnings were reported at $69.2 million for the second quarter, or $1.06 per share, up 32 percent from the $42.2 million, or 80 cents a share for the same period a year ago.

Revenues in the second quarter increased more than 25 percent, to $509.8 million, up from $407.8 million during the same quarter a year ago.

A.G. Edwards reported net earnings of $123.8 million, or $1.89 per share, for the first six months of the year, up nearly 14 percent from net earnings of $108.7 million, or $1.67 for the same period last year. Revenues during the fiscal year's first half increased 13.6 percent to $949.2 million, up from $835.45 million during the first half of last year.

On Aug. 22, the firm declared a 3-for-2 stock split in the form of a 50 percent stock dividend, to be paid Oct. 1 to stockholders of record Sept. 5. Post-split earnings per share for the quarter and six months ended Aug. 31, were 54 cents and $1.12 respectively.

Edwards is a financial services holding company whose primary subsidiary is the brokerage firm of A.G. Edwards & Sons Inc., headquartered in St. Louis, which operates 581 brokerage offices, including a branch office at Cape Girardeau.