us. We believe that doing this will benefit our shareholders in the years to come and grow the intrinsic value of our company.”
Fiscal Year 2022 Financial Results
Net sales in fiscal year 2022 were $661.6 million up 14% from $582.4 million in fiscal year 2021. For the first eight weeks of fiscal year 2023, we produced high single digit year-over-year revenue growth combined with sequential gross margin expansion and continue to balance growth with profitability and free cash flow generation.
Gross profit increased 17% to $230.9 million in fiscal year 2022 compared to $197.3 million in fiscal year 2021. Gross margin increased 100 basis points to 34.9% in fiscal year 2022 compared to 33.9% in fiscal year 2021. The increase in gross margin was primarily driven by favorable freight costs in 2022.
Total operating expenses in fiscal year 2022 were $230.2 million compared to $206.4 million in fiscal year 2021, mainly due to an increase in sales and investments in the business.
Net loss in fiscal year 2022 was ($1.0) million compared to a net loss of ($10.3) million in fiscal year 2021, both predominantly driven by non-cash charges.
Adjusted EBITDA in fiscal year 2022 was $26.1 million compared to $16.8 million in the fiscal year 2021.
On December 31, 2022, the Company had a cash balance of $18.8 million, no revolver debt and no outstanding trade letters of credit (“LCs”), compared to no revolver debt, no outstanding trade LCs and a $18.1 million cash balance at prior fiscal year-end January 1, 2022.
Fourth Quarter 2022 Financial Results
Net sales in the fourth quarter of 2022 were $154.5 million, up 12% from the year-ago quarter.
Gross profit in the fourth quarter increased 9% to $51.6 million compared to $47.4 million in the year-ago quarter, with gross margin decreasing 90 basis points to 33.4%, driven by seasonal freight charges which were higher and started earlier than the prior year.
Total operating expenses in the fourth quarter were $57.1 million compared to $52.0 million in the year-ago quarter, mainly due to an increase in sales and investments in the business.
Net loss in the fourth quarter was ($6.2) million compared to a net loss of ($5.0) million in the year-ago quarter, both predominantly driven by non-cash charges.
Adjusted EBITDA in the fourth quarter was $2.1 million compared to $2.6 million in the year-ago quarter.
Conference Call
CarParts.com CEO David Meniane, CFO Ryan Lockwood and COO Michael Huffaker will host a conference call today to discuss the results, followed by a question and answer period.
Date: Tuesday, March 7, 2023
Time: 5:00 p.m. Eastern time (2:00 p.m. Pacific time)
Webcast: www.carparts.com/investor/news-events