ST. LOUIS – LaBarge Inc. said it expects to report third-quarter net sales of approximately $74 million, up 7.2% sequentially and up 2.5% year-over-year.

Financial results for the fiscal 2010 third and fourth quarters are expected to exceed the company’s earlier guidance.

The firm said the fiscal fourth quarter would be the strongest of the year, with sales and earnings moderately higher than 2010 third-quarter levels.

LaBarge is a broad-based provider of electronics to technology-driven companies in diverse industrial markets.