For the six months ended March 31, 2019, interest and dividend income, net of fees, from the investment portfolio was $1,041,000, as compared to $676,000 for the six months ended March 31, 2018. The increase was due to additional interest income from a significantly higher level of fixed income investments. Net realized and unrealized gains on marketable securities were $57,000 for the six months ended March 31, 2019 versus net realized and unrealized losses of $(558,000) for the six months ended March 31, 2018.
The effective income tax rate for the six months ended March 31, 2019 was 20.0% versus 11.5% for the six months ended March 31, 2018. The 2018 tax rate was impacted by 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 six months ended March 31, 2019 was $7,773,000, or $0.53 per diluted share, versus $6,110,000, or $0.41 per diluted share, for the six months ended March 31, 2018.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company generates capital resources through operations and returns on its investments.
The Company had no long-term or short-term debt outstanding at March 31, 2019 or September 30, 2018. The Company does not currently require a credit facility. As of March 31, 2019, the Company had funded $135,000 in cash deposits at insurance companies to cover related collateral needs.
As of March 31, 2019, the Company had $11,586,000 in cash and cash equivalents, and $103,156,000 in marketable securities, including $39,643,000 in government securities, $36,424,000 in corporate bonds, $15,172,000 in equities, $4,920,000 in exchange-traded funds, $3,909,000 in mutual funds, and $3,088,000 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 $24.2 million at March 31, 2019, compared to $45.6 million at March 31, 2018. The Company’s working capital (defined as current assets less current liabilities) was equal to $143.8 million at March 31, 2019 and $136.6 million at September 30, 2018. Cash provided by operations during the six months ended March 31, 2019 was $4,834,000. The significant purchases, sales and maturities of marketable securities shown on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows reflect the recurring purchase and sale of United States treasury bills. Accounts receivable increased $1,469,000 as parts sales increased during the six months ended March 31, 2019, as compared to the six months ended September 30, 2018. Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings increased $2,113,000, and customer deposits decreased $543,000, reflecting the timing of revenue recognition and payments on customer contracts recognized over time, at March 31, 2019. Inventories increased $1,925,000 reflecting manufacturing progress on equipment sales recognized at a point in time at March 31, 2019.
Cash flows used in investing activities for the six months ended March 31, 2019 of $1,260,000 were related to capital expenditures, primarily for new manufacturing machinery used for handling and processing raw materials.
Seasonality
The Company primarily manufactures and sells asphalt plants and related components and is subject to a seasonal slow-down during the third and fourth quarters of the calendar year. This slow-down often results in lower reported sales and operating results during the first and fourth quarters of each fiscal year ended September 30.
Forward-Looking Information
This Quarterly Report on Form10-Q contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), which represent the Company’s expectations and beliefs, including, but not limited to, statements concerning gross margins, sales of the Company’s products and future financing plans. These statements by their nature involve substantial risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the Company’s control. Actual results may differ materially depending on a variety of important factors, including the financial condition of the Company’s customers, changes in the economic and competitive environments, and demand for the Company’s products.
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