BUSINESS MEMO: SPARTECH EARNINGS

Spartech Corp. has announced a significant increase in its results for the second quarter, ending May 3.

Net earnings for the second quarter were $6.7 million, or 24 cents per share, a 40 percent increase from the $4.8 million, or 19 cents per share, reported during the same period last year. Sales were up 32 percent, from $98.3 million during the 1996 second quarter, to $129.8 million.

For the first six months, net earnings were $12.2 million, or 44 cents a share, up 42 percent from the $8.6 million, or 35 cents a share during the 1996 first six months. Sales for the first half of the fiscal year were $243.2 million, up from $185.8 million during the same period in 1996.

The St. Louis-based company has two large operations in Cape Girardeau -- Spartech Plastics, 2500 Spartech Drive, and Spartech Compounding on Nash Road.