$171,422 and $109,212 at December 31, 2023 and June 30, 2023, respectively. In addition, long term investments, principally debt securities comprising corporate bonds, were $292,723 at June 30, 2024, as compared to $255,606 and $252,459 at December 31, 2023 and June 30, 2023, respectively. Aggregate cash and cash equivalents and short and long-term investments were $423,894, $427,028, and $361,671, at June 30, 2024, December 31, 2023 and June 30, 2023, respectively, including $98,728, $87,800, and $81,319 at June 30, 2024, December 31, 2023 and June 30, 2023, respectively, relating to trading securities which are used as an economic hedge for the Company’s deferred compensation liabilities.
Investments in available for sale securities, primarily high quality corporate bonds, that matured during second quarter 2024 and 2023 were generally used in working capital or were replaced with debt securities of similar maturities. The net unrealized loss on available for sale investments was approximately $1,600 and $7,200 at June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, which principally reflects the increase in market interest rates since such securities were purchased. The Company expects to hold most of these securities to maturity and therefore does not expect to ultimately realize a substantial portion of the aforementioned unrealized losses (see also Item 3 below, QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK).
The Company periodically contributes to a VEBA trust, managed and controlled by the Company, to fund the estimated future costs of certain employee health, welfare and other benefits. The Company added $20,000 in additional funding to the VEBA trust in 2023. No contribution was made during first half 2024. The Company expects to use these VEBA funds to pay the actual cost of such benefits through part or all of 2027. The VEBA trust held $19,436, $19,126 and $1,942 of aggregate cash and cash equivalents at June 30, 2024, December 31, 2023 and June 30, 2023, respectively. This asset value is included in prepaid expenses and long-term other assets in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Financial Position. These assets are categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.
ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
See Note 1 of the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
See Note 1 of the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for more information related to our use of estimates in the preparation of financial statements as well as information related to material changes in our significant accounting policies that were included in our 2023 Form 10-K.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This discussion and certain other sections contain forward-looking statements that are based largely on the Company’s current expectations and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “anticipated,” “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “project,” “plan” and other words of similar meaning in connection with a discussion of future operating or financial performance and are subject to certain factors, risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results and achievements to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Such factors, risks, trends and uncertainties, which in some instances are beyond the Company’s control, include the ability to recover increases in input costs through price increases and restoring margins, the overall competitive environment in the Company’s industry, successful distribution and sell-through during Halloween and other seasons, the availability of cocoa and chocolate at reasonable prices given that these markets are significantly elevated and volatile, and changes in assumptions, judgments and risk factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
The risk factors referred to above are believed to be significant factors, but not necessarily all of the significant factors that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are made only as of the date of this report. The Company undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements.