Many major businesses here posted sharply higher net profits in the first quarter, often despite the pandemic -- or because of it, their financial reports show. A survey of 12 publicly held companies based here or with sizable operations here found that 11 had better bottom lines in the January-through-March period than they did in the opening quarter of 2020, when COVID-19 arrived. The latest quarterly results mark the second consecutive period of significantly better profits. In the fourth quarter, a similar portfolio of 12 companies included nine with higher profits. But in the third quarter, nine of 12 fared worse. The surveyed companies, which employ more than 7,000 people locally, were selected by LNP | LancasterOnline to represent a cross-section of local economic sectors. Hereâs a summary of how the 12 performed, based on reports they released over the past four weeks.Â