Performance Technologies year-to-date cost of sales decreased $126.4 million, or 15 percent, from the same period last year, primarily due to lower sales volume and, to a lesser extent, improved operating efficiencies and lower raw material costs, which decreased approximately $9.0 million. These drivers, which decreased cost of sales, were partially offset by higher labor and inflationary costs. As a percentage of sales, cost of sales decreased 280 basis points to 80.4 percent, primarily due to higher average selling prices, improved operating efficiencies, lower material costs, and the favorable impact of the sales tax credits recognized in Brazil, partially offset by higher labor and inflationary costs.
As a result of the lower sales and lower cost of sales as a percentage of sales, gross profit increased $3.8 million and gross margin improved 280 basis points to 19.6 percent.
Performance Technologies year-to-date SG&A expenses increased $0.7 million, or 1 percent, compared with the same period last year. As a percentage of sales, year-to-date SG&A expenses increased by 110 basis points. The increase in SG&A expenses was primarily due to higher compensation-related expenses, which increased approximately $4.0 million. This increase was partially offset by decreases across other general and administrative expenses.
Restructuring expenses during the first nine months of fiscal 2025 increased $13.3 million compared with the same period last year, primarily due to higher severance expenses in Europe and North America and product line transfer costs.
Operating income of $78.1 million during the first nine months of fiscal 2025 decreased $10.2 million from the same period last year, primarily due to higher restructuring expenses, partially offset by higher gross profit.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our primary sources of liquidity are cash flow from operating activities, our cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2024 of $83.8 million, and available borrowing capacity of $210.8 million under our revolving credit facility. Given our extensive international operations, approximately $80.0 million of our cash and cash equivalents are held by our non-U.S. subsidiaries. Amounts held by non-U.S. subsidiaries are available for general corporate use; however, these funds may be subject to foreign withholding taxes if repatriated. We believe our sources of liquidity will provide sufficient cash flow to adequately cover our funding needs on both a short-term and long-term basis.
Net cash provided by operating activities
Net cash provided by operating activities for the nine months ended December 31, 2024 was $158.5 million, which represents a $16.5 million decrease compared with the same period in the prior year. This decrease in operating cash flow was primarily due to unfavorable net changes in working capital, as compared with the same period in the prior year, partially offset by the favorable impact of higher operating earnings. The unfavorable changes in working capital include a decrease in customer deposits associated with sales contracts with long inventory lead times and higher payments for incentive compensation, as compared with the same period in the prior year. These unfavorable changes in working capital were partially offset by the favorable impact of lower inventory levels.
Capital expenditures
Capital expenditures of $56.3 million during the first nine months of fiscal 2025 increased $12.5 million compared with the same period in the prior year. The fiscal 2025 capital expenditures include investments supporting several of our strategic growth initiatives, including increasing production capacity for data center products.
Debt
Our credit agreements require us to maintain compliance with various covenants, including a leverage ratio covenant and an interest expense coverage ratio covenant, which are discussed further below. Indebtedness under our credit agreements is secured by liens on substantially all domestic assets. These agreements further require compliance with various covenants that may limit our ability to incur additional indebtedness; grant liens; make investments, loans, or guarantees; engage in certain transactions with affiliates; or make restricted payments, including dividends. Also, the credit agreements may require prepayments in the event of certain asset sales.