with $4.7 million, or 9.1% of sales, in the second quarter of 2022, which included a $1.8 million benefit related to the AMJP Program, offset by $3.6 million in charges attributed the spill. In the third quarter of 2021, the gross margin was $2.3 million, or 6.2% of sales, including fixed cost absorption charges of $1.5 million.
The net loss for the third quarter of 2022 was $1.3 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, compared with a net loss of $1.4 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2022, and net income of $7.9 million, or $0.87 per diluted share, in the 2021 third quarter. The third quarter of 2021 included a gain of $10 million due to forgiveness of a term note from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) in July 2021.
Separately, the Company reported that subsequent to the end of the third quarter it entered into an amendment of its credit facility that reduces borrowing restrictions through March 31, 2023 by increasing the sublimit on borrowing availability collateralized by inventory, and allowing access to additional inventory value for the purpose of calculating compliance with its minimum borrowing availability requirement.
Chairman, President and CEO, Dennis Oates commented, “The operational challenges in the third quarter were especially frustrating as they prevented us from reaching our production goals for the quarter at a time of substantial order entry and as our backlog reached a new record high of $246.3 million. That strength is also indicative of the opportunity before us.
“Adding to our optimism is continued recovery in the aerospace market, which has been the main driver of our sales and backlog growth over the past several quarters. While our aerospace sales were down 11% sequentially due to our production delays, they accounted for 69% of third quarter sales, and were up 42% from the year ago third quarter and up 48% year-to-date. The fundamentals driving that market, namely rising levels of air travel, growing airline profitability, increasing commercial airplane build rates and higher defense spending, remain strong.
Mr. Oates concluded, “We are fully focused on getting back on track with our growth plan this quarter so we can better respond to our customers’ needs and continue to take advantage of our market opportunities, especially in aerospace, even with the continuing economic uncertainty. Our ongoing confidence is based on the continuing hard work and commitment of our employees and the support of our customers.”
Quarterly and Year-to-Date Results of Operations
For the first nine months of 2022, the net loss was $4.3 million, or $0.49 per diluted share, compared with net income of $0.9 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, including the PPP gain, in the first nine months of 2021.
The Company’s EBITDA for the third quarter of 2022 was $3.1 million while adjusted EBITDA was $4.2 million.
Managed working capital was $147.4 million at September 30, 2022 in line with $147.9 million at June 30, 2022, and compared with $124.4 million at the end of the third quarter of 2021. Inventory was $158.9 million at the end of the third quarter of 2022 compared with $149.0 million at the end of the second quarter of 2022, and $135.6 million at the end of the 2021 third quarter. The increase in inventory in the most recent quarter reflects an increase in melt activity to support the Company’s record backlog.
Backlog (before surcharges) increased 10.6% to a record $246.3 million at September 30, 2022 from $222.7 million at June 30, 2022, and increased 96.8% from $125.1 million at the end of the third quarter of 2021.
The Company’s total debt at September 30, 2022 was $86.6 million, compared with $84.0 million at June 30, 2022, and $51.5 million at September 30, 2021.
Capital expenditures for the third quarter of 2022 totaled $5.5 million, compared with $3.0 million for the second quarter of 2022, and $2.0 million in the third quarter of 2021. The Company expects capital expenditures in the fourth quarter of 2022 to approximate $5.0 to $7.0 million, which are primarily related to the premium product capability expansion at the Company’s North Jackson facility.
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