Results of Operations
Quarter Ended December 31, 2018 versus December 31, 2017
Net revenues for the quarters ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were $21,327,000 and $23,122,000, respectively, a decrease of $1,795,000. The decline in revenues reflects a moderate slowdown in orders from the significant growth in business over the prior year.
As a percent of sales, gross profit margins were 23.1% in the quarter ended December 31, 2018, compared to 22.0% in the quarter ended December 31, 2017. Gross profit margins increased as a result of the Company’s cost management and operational improvements, implemented over the past few years.
Product engineering and development expenses increased slightly to $723,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2018 as compared to $700,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2017. Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses decreased by $502,000 to $2,190,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2018, compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2017. Reduced sales commissions and advertising and trade show expenses resulted in the decrease in SG&A expenses.
Operating income increased to $2,004,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2018, from $1,691,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2017, on improved gross margins and reduced SG&A expenses.
For the quarter ended December 31, 2018, interest and dividend income, net of fees, from the investment portfolio was $534,000 as compared to $293,000 in the quarter ended December 31, 2017. The increase was due to additional interest income from a significantly higher level of investments in corporate bonds and higher rates on United States Treasury bills. The net realized and unrealized losses on marketable securities were $(2,147,000) for the quarter ended December 31, 2018 versus net gains of $161,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2017, which losses were due to a weak domestic stock market from October through December 2018.
The effective income tax rate for the quarter ended December 31, 2018 was 19.9%, compared to a benefit of 9.2% for the quarter ended December 31, 2017. The 2017 benefit resulted from a $0.7 million adjustment to the net deferred tax liability, as a result of applying the lower corporate tax rates to comply with the recently enacted Tax Reform Act.
Net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2018 was $313,000 or $0.02 basic and diluted earnings per share versus net income of $2,346,000 or $0.16 basic and diluted earnings per share for the quarter ended December 31, 2017.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company generates capital resources through operations and returns on its investments.
The Company had no long-term debt outstanding at December 31, 2018 or September 30, 2018. The Company does not currently require a credit facility. As of December 31, 2018, the Company had funded $135,000 in cash deposits at insurance companies to cover collateral needs.
As of December 31, 2018, the Company had $4,269,000 in cash and cash equivalents, and $104,445,000 in marketable securities, including $38,900,000 in government securities, $39,273,000 in corporate bonds, $15,603,000 in equities, $3,832,000 in mutual funds, $5,759,000 in exchange-traded funds and $1,078,000 in cash and money funds. The marketable securities are invested through professional investment management firms. These securities may be liquidated at any time into cash and cash equivalents.
The Company’s backlog was $34.8 million at December 31, 2018, compared to $50.2 million at December 31, 2017. The Company’s working capital (defined as current assets less current liabilities) was equal to $136.2 million at December 31, 2018 and $136.6 million at September 30, 2018. The significant purchases, sales and maturities of marketable securities shown on the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows reflect primarily the recurring
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