For the quarter ended June 30, 2022, interest and dividend income, net of fees, was $304,000 as compared to $306,000 in the quarter ended June 30, 2021. The net realized and unrealized losses on marketable securities were $(3,693,000) for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 versus net realized and unrealized gains of $1,386,000 for the quarter ended June 30, 2021. The fiscal 2022 investment losses reflect the decline in equity markets due primarily to higher interest rates, inflation, and the Federal Reserve’s recent monetary tightening policy.
The effective income tax rate for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 was a benefit of 18.0% versus expense of 20.0% for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, based on the expected annual effective income tax rate.
Net loss for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 was $(1,015,000), or $(0.07) per basic and diluted share, versus net income of $2,335,000, or $0.16 per basic and diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2021. The net loss for the current quarter ended June 30, 2022, was due primarily to the net investment losses on marketable securities partially offset by the impact of increased sales and reduced SG&A and product engineering and development expenses.
Nine Months Ended June 30, 2022 versus June 30, 2021
Net sales for the nine months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 were $80,407,000 and $65,235,000, respectively, an increase of $15,172,000 or 23.3%. The higher revenues reflect increased bookings in anticipation of funding of the new five year, $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, the IIJ Act, signed into law in November 2021. There were no revenues generated by Blaw-Knox during the first quarter of fiscal 2021, as the facility was being readied to begin production.
Gross profit margins decreased to 19.4% for the nine months ended June 30, 2022 from 22.6% for the nine months ended June 30, 2021. Increases in wages, steel and purchased parts prices contributed to the lower overall gross margins during the nine months ended June 30, 2022.
Product engineering and development expenses increased $130,000 in the nine months ended June 30, 2022,
compared
to the nine months ended June 30, 2021 due primarily to salary increases in the first quarter of fiscal 2022 partially offset by reduced payroll in the current quarter ended June 30, 2022, as well as a full nine months of engineering wages and benefits related to Blaw-Knox. SG&A expenses decreased $895,000 in the nine months ended June 30, 2022, compared to the nine months ended June 30, 2021. The decrease in SG&A expenses from a full nine months of wages and benefits related to Blaw-Knox employees was offset by reduced headcount and lower professional fees.
The Company had operating income of $3,017,000 for the nine months ended June 30, 2022 versus $1,407,000 for the nine months ended June 30, 2021. The improved operating income was due primarily to the improved revenues and reduced SG&A expenses.
For the nine months ended June 30, 2022, interest and dividend income, net of fees, from the investment portfolio was $877,000, as compared to $1,437,000 for the nine months ended June 30, 2021. Interest income for the nine months ended June 30, 2021, included $456,000 of interest collected from a customer. Net realized and unrealized losses on marketable securities was $(4,758,000) for the nine months ended June 30, 2022 versus net realized and unrealized gains of $4,873,000 for the nine months ended June 30, 2021. The fiscal 2022 investment losses reflect the decline in equity markets due to higher interest rates, inflation, and the Federal Reserve’s recent monetary tightening policy.
The effective income tax rates for the nine months ended June 30, 2022 was a benefit of 15.3% compared to expense of 20.0% for the nine months ended June 30, 2021, based on the expected annual effective income tax rate.
Net loss for the nine months ended June 30, 2022 was $(850,000), or $(0.06) per basic and diluted share, versus $6,174,000, or $0.42 per basic and diluted share for the nine months ended June 30, 2021. The net loss for the nine months ended June 30, 2022, was due primarily to the net investment losses on marketable securities partially offset by the impact of increased sales and reduced SG&A expenses.
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 June 30, 2022 or September 30, 2021. As of June 30, 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