The Measurement segment includes two main product lines: the Acuity® product line, which includes laser-based distance measurement and dimensional sizing laser sensors; and the Xact® product line, which includes ultrasonic-based remote tank monitoring products and related monitoring revenues. Measurement sales increased $232,870, or 23.0%, to $1,246,121 for the three months ended August 31, 2018 as compared to $1,013,251 for the three months ended August 31, 2017. This increase is primarily driven by stronger product sales and increases in monitoring revenues associated with the Xact product line. Sales by product line for the Measurement segment for first quarter of Fiscal 2019 as compared to the first quarter of Fiscal 2018 were as follows:
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| | Three Months Ended August 31, | | | | | | | |
| | 2018 | | | 2017 | | | Variance | |
Acuity | | $ | 420,372 | | | $ | 582,635 | | | $ | (162,263 | ) | | | (27.8 | %) |
Xact - product sales | | | 508,826 | | | | 148,019 | | | | 360,807 | | | | 243.8 | % |
Xact - monitoring revenues | | | 316,173 | | | | 274,957 | | | | 41,216 | | | | 15.0 | % |
Lasercheck | | | 0 | | | | 7,640 | | | | (7,640 | ) | | | (100.0 | %) |
SMS | | | 750 | | | | 0 | | | | 750 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Measurement segment sales | | $ | 1,246,121 | | | $ | 1,013,251 | | | $ | 232,870 | | | | 23.0 | % |
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Gross margin – Gross margin for the three months ended August 31, 2018 decreased to 38.9% as compared to 45.4% for the three months ended August 31, 2017. The variances in gross margin between the periods presented were primarily influenced by shifts in the product sales mix between higher margin products in Acuity and SBS product lines and lower margin products in the Xact product line and an increase in product costs between the first quarter of Fiscal 2018 and the first quarter of Fiscal 2019.
Operating expenses – Operating expenses decreased $91,201, or 5.9%, to $1,453,600 for the three months ended August 31, 2018 from $1,544,801 for the three months ended August 31, 2017. The decrease in operating expenses was driven, in part, by the following:
| • | | Decrease in administrative wages and related payroll expenses in the amount of $112,431, or 28.5%, related to the realigning of the management team which occurred in the second half of Fiscal 2018; |
| • | | Decrease in research and development expense in the amount of $28,220, or 36.9%, related to the timing of certain product development initiatives; |
| • | | Decrease in commissions expense in the amount of $32,090, or 12.9%, due to restructuring of the Company’s sales commissions programs; and |
| • | | Decrease in other administrative expenses in the amount of $52,766, or 26.0%, related to controlled expense initiatives put in place in the second half of Fiscal 2018. |
These decreases were offset by:
| • | | Increase in legal, accounting and other professional expenses in the amount of $162,155, or 68.8%. The increase is primarily related to additional legal and other professional expenses in the amount of $132,050 incurred during the first quarter of Fiscal 2019 that were not incurred in the same period in the prior year. |
Other income (expense) – Other income (expense) consists of foreign currency exchange gain (loss), interest income (expense) and other income (expense). Foreign currency exchange gains (losses) were $(98,872) and $17,441 for the three months ended August 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The shifts in the foreign currency exchange are related to significant fluctuations of foreign currencies against the U.S. dollar during the current period of Fiscal 2019. Interest income (expense), net was $7,207 and $97 for the three months ended August 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Other income (expense) was $14 for the first quarter of Fiscal 2019 as compared to $5 for the same period in the prior year.
Income taxes – The Company’s effective tax rate on consolidated net loss was (3.1)% for the three months ended August 31, 2018. The effective tax rate on consolidated net loss differs from the federal statutory tax rate primarily due to changes in the deferred tax valuation allowance and certain expenses not being deductible for income tax reporting purposes. Management believes the effective tax rate for Fiscal 2019 will be approximately 44.9% due to the items noted above.
Net loss – Net loss was $211,819, or $(0.05) per fully diluted share, for the three months ended August 31, 2018 as compared to net loss of $134,098, or $(0.04) per fully diluted share, for the three months ended August 31, 2017.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The Company’s working capital decreased $84,506 to $8,163,467 as of August 31, 2018 as compared to $8,247,973 as of May 31, 2017.
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash decreased $310,707 to $1,800,826 as of August 31, 2018 from $2,111,533 as of May 31, 2018. Cash used in operating activities totaled $402,466 for the three months ended August 31, 2018 as compared to cash used in operating activities of $315,381 for the three months ended August 31, 2017. The net loss of $211,819 along with
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