Six Months Ended March 31, 2020 versus March 31, 2019
Net sales for the six months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 were $44,023,000 and $47,997,000, respectively, a decrease of $3,974,000, reflecting a
normalizing in order level from the significant growth in business over the past couple of years.
Gross profit margins decreased to 26.5% in the six
months ended March 31, 2020 from 30.9% in the six months ended March 31, 2019. The gross margin achieved in quarter ended March 31, 2019, benefitted from an unusually strong pricing environment for plant and equipment sales.
Product engineering and development expenses decreased $91,000 in the six months ended March 31, 2020, compared to the six months ended March 31,
2019. SG&A expenses increased $279,000 in the six months ended March 31, 2020, compared to the six months ended March 31, 2019. As a percentage of net revenues, SG&A expenses were 11.2% for the six months ended March 31, 2020,
compared to 9.7% in the six months ended March 31, 2019. The higher SG&A expenses in 2020 were due to increased headcount, travel and trade show expenses during the first six months of fiscal 2020.
The Company had operating income of $5,260,000 for the six months ended March 31, 2020 versus $8,618,000 for the six months ended March 31, 2019.
Operating margins were 11.9% for the six months ended March 31, 2020, compared to 18.0% in the six months ended March 31, 2019.
For the six
months ended March 31, 2020, interest and dividend income, net of fees, from the investment portfolio was $1,395,000, as compared to $1,041,000 for the six months ended March 31, 2019. The increase was due to additional interest income
from a larger investment in corporate bonds and higher average yield to maturities. Net realized and unrealized losses on marketable securities were $(4,353,000) for the six months ended March 31, 2020 versus net realized and unrealized gains
of $57,000 for the six months ended March 31, 2019. The current year investment losses reflect the decline in the domestic equity markets from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The effective income tax rate for the six months ended March 31, 2020 and March 31, 2019 was 20.0%. Net income for the six months ended
March 31, 2020 was $1,834,000, or $0.12 per diluted share, versus $7,773,000, or $0.53 per diluted share for the six months ended March 31, 2019.
COVID-19 pandemic
In March 2020, the WHO declared the outbreak of COVID-19 as a pandemic based on the rapid increase in global exposure. COVID-19 continues to spread throughout world, including the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact economic conditions, which could
impact the short-term and long-term demand from our customers and, therefore, has the potential to negatively impact our results of operations, cash flows, and financial position in the future. Management continues to monitor the situation and any
impact on our financial condition and results of operations.
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, 2020 or September 30, 2019. The Company does not currently require a credit
facility. As of March 31, 2020, the Company had funded $85,000 in cash deposits at insurance companies to cover related collateral needs.
As of
March 31, 2020, the Company had $18,738,000 in cash and cash equivalents, and $102,275,000 in marketable securities, including $40,315,000 in government securities, $39,721,000 in corporate bonds, $12,458,000 in equities, $4,005,000 in
exchange-traded funds, $2,290,000 in mutual funds, and $3,486,000 in cash and money funds. The marketable securities are invested through two professional investment management firms. These securities may be liquidated at any time into cash and cash
equivalents.
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