Seoul: DL E and C Co. on Thursday reported its third-quarter net income of 45.3 billion won (US$32.8 million), marking a 32.5 percent decrease from the same period last year. This significant decline was announced in the company's latest financial disclosure. According to Yonhap News Agency, despite the drop in net income, DL E and C Co. managed to achieve an increase in operating profit for the July-September period, which rose 3.7 percent year-on-year to 83.3 billion won. Additionally, the company's revenue for the quarter climbed by 4.4 percent, reaching 1.91 trillion won. However, the third-quarter earnings did not meet market expectations. Analysts had predicted an average net profit of 53.3 billion won, based on a survey conducted by Yonhap Infomax, the financial data firm of Yonhap News Agency. The reported figures indicate a shortfall compared to these estimates, highlighting the challenges faced by DL E and C in the current economic climate.