The Company had operating income of $2,119,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2022 as compared to an operating loss of $(1,043,000) for the quarter ended December 31, 2021. The improved operating results were due to higher net revenues and lower operating expenses for the quarter ended December 31, 2022.
For the quarter ended December 31, 2022, the Company had net non-operating income of $2,455,000 compared to $700,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2021. Included in net non-operating income for the quarter ended December 31, 2022 were net realized and unrealized gains on marketable securities of $1,962,000 compared to $423,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2021. The higher gains in fiscal 2023 were due to a stronger domestic stock market during the quarter ended December 31, 2022.
The effective income tax rates for the quarters ended December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 were 24.0% and 20.0%, respectively. The higher tax rate in fiscal 2023 is due to an anticipated reduction in research and development tax credits, effective for the Company’s fiscal 2023. Net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2022 was $3,476,000, or $0.24 per basic and diluted share, compared to a net loss of $(274,000), or $(0.02) per basic and diluted share for the quarter ended December 31, 2021.
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 December 31, 2022 or September 30, 2022. As of December 31, 2022, the Company has funded $85,000 in cash deposits at insurance companies to cover related collateral needs. In April 2020, a financial institution issued an irrevocable standby letter of credit (“letter of credit”) on behalf of the Company for the benefit of one of the Company’s insurance carriers. The maximum amount that can be drawn by the beneficiary under the letter of credit is $150,000. The letter of credit expires in April 2023, unless terminated earlier, and can be extended, as provided by the agreement. The Company intends to renew the letter of credit for as long as the Company does business with the beneficiary insurance carrier. The letter is collateralized by restricted cash of the same amount on any outstanding drawings. To date, no amounts have been drawn under the letter of credit.
As of December 31, 2022, the Company had $5,978,000 in cash and cash equivalents, and $91,718,000 in marketable securities, including $36,697,000 in corporate bonds, $5,524,000 in equities, $5,423,000 in mutual funds, $4,825,000 in exchange-traded funds, $33,925,000 in government securities, and $5,324,000 in cash and money funds. The marketable securities are invested through a professional investment management firm. These securities may be liquidated at any time into cash and cash equivalents.
The Company’s backlog was $42.5 million at December 31, 2022 compared to $58.0 million at December 31, 2021. The Company’s working capital (defined as current assets less current liabilities) was $154.3 million at December 31, 2022 and $150.1 million at September 30, 2022. Cash flows used in operations during the quarter ended December 31, 2022, were $2,898,000. The significant purchases, sales and maturities of marketable securities shown on the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows, reflect the recurring purchases and sales of United States treasury bills. Accounts receivable increased $1,738,000 compared to September 30, 2022, primarily from increased paver and parts sales. Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings increased $2,832,000 with the timing of inventory build and percentage of completion recognition on plant sales where revenue is recognized over time. Inventories increased by $3,500,000 due to progress on several large contract orders where revenue is recognized at a point in time and some stock build to compensate for the increasing lead times from suppliers. Customer deposits increased $2,523,000 reflecting down payments and final payments on contract jobs not yet shipped.
Cash flows used in investing activities for the quarter ended December 31, 2022 of $705,000 were related to capital expenditures, primarily for manufacturing processing and finishing equipment.
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