Income from operations. Income from operations was $6.5 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, a $7.6 million increase from a $1.1 million loss from operations for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021. The increase was due to the items described above.
Interest Expense. Interest expense increased by $285,000 or 41.0% to $988,000 for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, from $703,000 for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021. This increase was primarily due to increased line of credit borrowings and financing acquisitions.
Other Income. Gain on sale of equipment and interest income, partially offset by other expenses, totaled $508,000 for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, as compared to $910,000 for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in interest earned on the Company’s captive insurance surety deposit.
Net Income (loss). Income (loss) before income taxes was $6.0 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, compared to ($917,000) for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021. The increase was due to the items mentioned above.
The income tax expense for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022 was $2.3 million and was due to an increase in taxable income. The income tax benefit for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021, was ($29,000).
The effective income tax rate for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022 was 37.6%. The effective income tax rate for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021, was (3.2%). Effective income tax rates are estimates and may vary from period to period due to changes in the amount of taxable income or loss, non-taxable and non-deductible expenses.
Dividends on preferred stock for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2022, and 2021 were $0 and $284,000, respectively. There will be no further dividends paid on preferred stock after the October 6, 2021 redemption of all the Company’s preferred stock.
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022 was $3.8 million compared to ($1.2) million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021. The increase was due to the items mentioned above.
Comparison of Financial Condition at September 30, 2022 Compared to September 30, 2021.
The Company had total assets of $112.6 million at September 30, 2022, an increase of $42.4 million from the prior fiscal year-end balance of $70.2 million.
The aggregate balance of accounts receivable, retainages receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts and other receivables totaled $42.9 million at September 30, 2022, an increase of $20.4 million from the combined prior fiscal year-end balance of $22.5 million. The increase was primarily due to increased work in the fiscal year 2022 as compared to 2021. Specifically, $69.4 million in revenue was generated in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2022 as compared to $39.6 million for the same period in 2021.
Net property, plant and equipment totaled $32.7 million at September 30, 2022, an increase of $9.7 million from the prior fiscal year-end balance of $23.0 million. Property, plant and equipment acquisitions totaled $15.6 million for the fiscal year 2022 while depreciation expense was $5.6 million, and the net impact of disposals was $316,000. Assets received as part of the Tri-State Paving and Ryan Construction acquisitions accounted for $8.9 million of the $15.6 million in total acquisitions.
Contract assets totaled $16.1 million at September 30, 2022, an increase of $7.4 million from the prior fiscal year-end balance of $8.7 million. This increase was primarily due to increased work and the timing of project billings and related increase in costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings at September 30, 2022 as compared to at September 30, 2021.
Goodwill and acquired intangible assets totaled $8.0 million at September 30, 2022, a $3.7 million increase from the prior fiscal year end balance of $4.2 million. The increase to goodwill and acquired intangible assets was primarily the result of the Tri-State Paving acquisition which goodwill and acquired intangible assets totaled $4.2 million at September 30, 2022, and was partially offset by $445,000 in amortization expense for fiscal year 2022.
Right-of-use assets acquired from operating leases totaled $1.6 million net of amortization expense, as compared to no right-to-use assets at the prior fiscal year end. The operating leases were primarily related to the business combinations completed in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022.