Espey MFG & Electronics Corp: Form 10-K for the period ended Jun 30, 2024

General

Espey Mfg. & Electronics Corp. (“Espey”) is a power electronics design and original equipment manufacturing (OEM) company with a long history of developing and delivering highly reliable products for use in military and severe environment applications. Design, manufacturing, and testing is performed in our 150,000+ square foot facility located at 233 Ballston Ave., Saratoga Springs, New York. Espey is classified as a “smaller reporting company” for purposes of the reporting requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Espey’s common stock is publicly-traded on the NYSE American under the symbol “ESP.”

Espey began operations after incorporation in New York in 1928. We strive to remain competitive as a leader in high power energy conversion and transformer solutions through the design and manufacture of new and improved products by using advanced and “cutting edge” electronics technologies.

Espey is an ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100:2016 certified manufacturer of power conversion, advanced magnetics and build to specifications provided by the customer “build to print” products for the rugged industrial and military marketplace. Our primary products are power supplies, power converters, filters, power transformers, magnetic components, power distribution equipment, UPS systems, and antennas. The applications of these products include AC and DC locomotives, shipboard power, shipboard radar, airborne power, ground-based radar, and ground mobile power.

Espey services include design and development to specification, build to specifications provided by the customer “build to print”, design services, design studies, environmental testing services, metal fabrication, painting services, and development of automatic testing equipment. Espey is vertically integrated, meaning that the Company produces individual components (including inductors), populates printed circuit boards, fabricates metalwork, paints, wires, qualifies, and fully tests items, mechanically, electrically and environmentally, in house. Portions of the manufacturing and testing process are subcontracted to vendors from time to time.

In fiscal years ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company's total sales were $38,736,319 and $35,592,323, respectively. Sales to five domestic customers accounted for 20%, 18%, 16%, 16% and 11%, respectively, of total sales in 2024. Sales to five domestic customers accounted for 23%, 18%, 16%, 13% and 11%, respectively, of total sales in 2023. This concentration level presents significant risk. A loss of one of these customers or programs related to these customers could significantly impact the financial performance of the Company. Historically, a small number of customers have accounted for a large percentage of the Company’s total sales in any given fiscal year. In some instances, our sales may include shipments to more than one business unit of a particular customer.

Export shipments in fiscal years 2024 and 2023 were $2,350,087 and $549,510, respectively. The increase is primarily due to the increase in power supply shipments resulting from a repeat order received which had no comparable shipments in the prior year.

Sources of Raw Materials.

The Company has at least two potential sources of supply for a majority of its raw materials. However, certain components used in its products are available from a single or a limited number of sources. Despite the risk associated with single or limited source suppliers, the benefits of higher quality goods minimize and often limit any potential risk and can eliminate problems with part failures during production. At times, replacements are required to cover obsolete parts.

Ongoing demand in the power electronics industry across multiple manufacturing sectors continues to create shortages and extended lead times. In some instances, waiting times for certain components approach a year or more. We adequately factor supplier-provided lead times into internal planning schedules and new customer quotations. From time to time, we encounter part obsolescence which requires us to identify an alternate part suitable for use. We continue to work with our customers on strategies to mitigate any adverse impact upon our ability to service their requirements. Factors which may arise after the placement of the customer’s order may cause us to miss projected delivery dates. Inflationary costs are expected to continue but are not expected to have a significant impact on operating income in fiscal year 2025.

Tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from various countries continue to be in effect. Although we are not currently experiencing any significant financial or raw material sourcing issues resulting from the product tariffs, the Company cannot provide any assurance that the existing tariffs, the potential of additional tariffs, and the associated volatility arising from foreign trade policies, will not have a negative impact on our future earnings by increasing our raw material prices and augmenting the lead time for the availability of raw materials.

Sales Backlog

The total sales backlog at June 30, 2024 was $97.2 million, which included approximately $61 million from four significant customers, compared to $83.6 million at June 30, 2023, which included approximately $66 million from six significant customers. The Company’s total backlog represents the estimated remaining sales value of work to be performed under firm contracts. Orders from significant customers may include more than a single program and procurement may originate from various divisions of the significant customer. The funded portion of this backlog at June 30, 2024 was approximately $94.9 million. This includes items that have been authorized and appropriated by Congress and/or funded by the customer. The unfunded backlog at June 30, 2024 was approximately $2.3 million and represents an amount under one firm repeat multi-year order from a single customer. While there is no guarantee that future budgets and appropriations will provide funding for individual programs, management has included in unfunded backlog only those programs that it believes are likely to receive funding based on discussions with customers and program status. The unfunded backlog at June 30, 2023 approximated $32 thousand. Contracts are subject to modification, change or cancellation, and the Company accounts for these changes as they are probable and estimable. The Company evaluates the impact of any scope modifications and will adjust reserves as information is known and estimable.

The majority of our orders are generated from prime defense contractors, the United States Department of Defense, other agencies of the government of the United States and foreign governments, and are for the design and development and/or manufacture of products. Orders are also generated from industrial manufacturers for similar services. It is not uncommon to receive orders which include delivery schedules extending beyond a year from the contract purchase date, therefore a customer’s reorder point may vary.

It is presently anticipated that a minimum of $44 million of orders comprising the June 30, 2024 backlog will be filled during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. The estimate of the June 30, 2024 backlog to be shipped in fiscal year 2025 is subject to future events, which may cause the amount of the backlog actually shipped to differ from such estimate.

Marketing and Competition

The Company markets its products primarily through its own direct sales organization and through outside sales representatives. Business is solicited from large industrial manufacturers and defense companies, the government of the United States, foreign governments and major foreign electronic equipment companies. Espey is also on the eligible list of contractors with the United States Department of Defense. We pursue opportunities for prime contracts directly with the Department of Defense and are generally automatically solicited by Department of Defense procurement agencies for their needs falling within the major classes of products produced by the Company. Espey contracts with the Federal Government under cage code 20950 as Espey Mfg. & Electronics Corp.

There is competition in all classes of products manufactured by the Company ranging from divisions of the largest electronic companies, to many small companies. The Company's sales do not represent a significant share of the industry's market for any class of its products. The principal methods of competition for electronic products of both a military and industrial nature include, among other factors, price, product performance, the experience of the particular company and history of its dealings in such products.

Our business is not seasonal. However, the concentration of our business in the rail industry, and in equipment for military applications and industrial applications, as well as our customer concentrations, expose us to on-going associated risks. These risks include, without limitation, requirements for power supplies in the rail industry, dependence on appropriations from the United States Government and the governments of foreign nations, program allocations, the potential of governmental termination of orders for convenience, and the general strength of the industry sectors in which our customers transact business.

Future procurement needs supporting the military and the rail industry continue to drive competition. Many of our competitors have invested, and they continue to invest aggressively in upfront product design costs and accept lower profit margins as a strategic means of maintaining existing business and enhancing market share. This continues to put pressure on the pricing of our current products and has lowered our profit margins on some of our new business. In order to compete effectively for new business, in some cases we have invested in upfront design costs, thereby reducing initial profitability as a means of procuring new long-term programs. As part of our strategy, we adjust our pricing in order to achieve a balance which enables us both to retain repeat programs while being more competitive in bidding on new programs.

Our sales strategy includes identifying and obtaining multiple new engineering design and development contracts in any given fiscal year to ensure optimal utilization of our engineering personnel in addition to securing follow-on production awards for product previously designed in-house, as well as, build to print opportunities. The Company targets those programs and opportunities which will generate future longer-term production tails in ensuing years. From time to time, we accept work associated with engineering design studies. While unlikely to result in near-term follow-on orders, this positions us competitively on future awards and expands our engineering team’s skillset.

Research and Development

We do very little research and development with the intent to develop and market new product offerings for sale to customers. Our business primarily is driven by customer product needs and custom product development funded by the applicable customers. We incur research costs to support a request for quotation from a customer product-specific need usually associated with stringent size and weight requirements. In addition, the Company's engineers and technicians spend varying amounts of time identifying improvements to existing products with the primary objective of reducing production costs. At times, engineers are tasked with researching replacement parts to remediate identified obsolescence on current or repeat production programs. The Company's expenditures for research related activities were approximately $86,714 and $65,427 in fiscal year 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Employees

The Company had 148 employees as of August 31, 2024. Approximately 36% of the employees are represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. The current collective bargaining agreement expires on June 30, 2025. Relations with the Union are considered good.

Government Regulations

Compliance with federal, state and local laws regulating the discharge of materials into the environment, or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment, did not in fiscal year 2024, and the Company believes will not in fiscal year 2025, have a material effect upon the capital expenditures, net income, or competitive position of the Company.

The Company’s U.S. Government contract and subcontract orders are funded by government budgets, which operate on an October-to-September fiscal year. Normally, in February of each year, the President of the United States presents to Congress a proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year. This budget includes recommended appropriations for every federal agency and is the result of months of policy and program reviews throughout the executive branch. From February through September of each year, the appropriations and authorization committees of Congress review the President’s budget proposals and establish the funding levels for the upcoming fiscal year in appropriations and authorization legislation. Once these levels are enacted into law, the Executive Office of the President administers the funds to the agencies.

There are two primary risks associated with this process. First, the process may be delayed or disrupted because of congressional schedules, negotiations over funding levels for programs or unforeseen world events, which could, in turn, alter the funding for a program or contract. Second, funding for multi-year contracts can be changed by future appropriations, which could affect the timing of funds, schedules and program content.

Also, our international sales are denominated in United States dollars. Consequently, a strengthening of the United States dollar against foreign currencies could increase the price in local currencies of our products in foreign markets and make our products relatively more expensive than competitors’ products.

U.S. Government Defense Contracts and Subcontracts

Generally, U.S. Government contracts are subject to procurement laws and regulations. Some of the Company’s contracts are governed by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), which lays out uniform policies and procedures for acquiring goods and services by the U.S. Government, and agency-specific acquisition regulations that implement or supplement the FAR. For example, the Department of Defense implements the FAR through the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation (DFAR).

The FAR also contains guidelines and regulations for managing a contract after award, including conditions under which contracts may be terminated, in whole or in part, at the government’s convenience or for default. If a contract is terminated for the convenience of the government, a contractor is entitled to receive payments for its allowable costs and, in general, the proportionate share of fees or earnings for the work done. If a contract is terminated for default, the government generally pays for only the work it has accepted. These regulations also subject the Company to financial audits and other reviews by the government of its costs, performance, accounting and general business practices relating to its contracts, which may result in adjustment of the Company’s contract-related costs and fees.

Robust cybersecurity is an essential component of our strategic vision. We face a variety of complex cybersecurity threats as a defense contractor. Among the risks are computer malware, ransomware, phishing attacks, Denial of Service attacks and Advanced Persistent Threats. Our security team, comprised of members from senior management, IT, human resources and program management, performs routine risk assessments in accordance with NIST 800-30, using input from observed risks and threats, advisories, federal agencies and local law enforcement. The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors is responsible for oversight of our risk management processes. The Audit Committee is briefed by senior management on cybersecurity posture, initiatives and incidents. We allocate significant resources to mitigate these risks. We are required to adhere to rigorous regulations, such as those outlined in the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), which govern the protection of controlled unclassified information (CUI) and the mandatory reporting of cybersecurity incidents to the Department of Defense (DoD). All DFARS requirements are flowed down to our sub-contractors, who are required to self-report their compliance to the U.S. Government. In addition to the processes and systems that we use to identify and mitigate risks, we utilize third party services to conduct valuations of our security controls, including penetration testing and independent audits. Despite our efforts to uphold the highest cybersecurity standards, we may still experience a cybersecurity incident that has a material effect on business strategy, results of operation or financial condition. It is also possible that additional regulations could affect our supply chain and increase costs. Prior cyberattacks directed at us have not had a material impact on our financial results nor restricted us from being awarded contracts from other defense companies or directly from the United States Department of Defense. However, we can provide no assurance that the occurrence of any future event would not adversely affect our internal operations, our reputation and competitive advantage, and our future financial results.

The Company's entire operation, including administrative, manufacturing and engineering facilities, is located in Saratoga Springs, New York.

The Saratoga Springs plant, which the Company owns, consists of various adjoining buildings on a 22 acre site, approximately eight acres of which is unimproved. The property is not subject to mortgage indebtedness or any other material encumbrance. The plant has a sprinkler system throughout and contains approximately 151,000 square feet of in-service floor space, of which 90,000 is used for manufacturing, 24,000 for engineering, 33,000 for shipping and climatically secured storage, and 4,000 for offices. The offices, engineering and some manufacturing areas are air-conditioned. In addition to assembly and wiring operations, the plant includes facilities for varnishing, potting, impregnation and spray-painting operations. The manufacturing operation also includes a complete machine shop, with welding and sheet metal fabrication facilities adequate for substantially all of the Company's current operations. Besides normal test equipment, the Company maintains a sophisticated on-site environmental test facility. In addition to meeting all of the Company's in-house needs, the machine shop and environmental facilities are available to other companies on a contract basis.

We are party to various litigation matters and claims arising from time to time in the ordinary course of business. While the results of such matters cannot be predicted with certainty, we believe that the final outcome of such matters will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Currently, there are no matters pending.

Business Outlook

Management expects revenues in fiscal year 2025 to be higher than revenues recognized during fiscal year 2024 and expects net income per share to exceed fiscal 2023 reported results, however net income per share is anticipated to fall below fiscal 2024 results. This expectation is driven primarily by orders already in our backlog that will be shipped in fiscal year 2025 with higher anticipated aggregate costs than the product mix shipped during fiscal 2024. Gross profit on fiscal 2025 shipments will be reduced by the increase in overhead costs incurred specific to the pension withdrawal obligation recorded in fiscal 2024, explained in greater detail in Financial Statement Note 7. Pension Expense. Overhead costs will be reduced, in future years, from the Company’s withdrawal from the plan, as recurring annual contribution payments to the plan will no longer be required. As market factors including competition and product costs impact gross profit margins, management will continue to evaluate our sales strategy, employment levels, and facility costs.

Ongoing demand in the power electronics industry across multiple manufacturing sectors continues to create shortages and extended lead times. In some instances, waiting times for certain components approach a year or more. We adequately factor supplier-provided lead times into internal planning schedules and new customer quotations. From time to time, we encounter part obsolescence which requires us to identify an alternate part suitable for use. We continue to work with our customers on strategies to mitigate any adverse impact upon our ability to service their requirements. Factors which may arise after the placement of the customer’s order may cause us to miss projected delivery dates. Inflationary costs are expected to continue but are not expected to have a significant impact on operating income in fiscal year 2025.

The labor workforce remains stable. Management continues to closely monitor workforce labor requirements to support our sales backlog and planned delivery schedules. Longer time-to-hire challenges remain for certain positions due to specific skillsets required for those positions and the fact fewer workers, in general, are seeking employment. Unemployment rates in the local geographic region trend lower than the national average which has created a competitive recruiting environment. Where possible, the Company continues to offer on-the-job training and when necessary continues to recruit personnel outside the local region. Combined with supply chain constraints, unforeseen labor disruptions could delay shipments and result in missing our backlog fulfillment projections and recognizing lower operating income.

Successful conversion of engineering program backlog into sales is largely dependent on the execution and completion of our engineering design efforts. It is not uncommon to experience technical or scheduling delays which arise from time to time as a result of, among other reasons, design complexity, the availability of personnel with the requisite expertise, the requirements to obtain customer approval at various milestones, and extended delivery lead times on material required for prototypes. Cost overruns which may arise from technical and schedule delays and increased raw material costs could negatively impact the timing of the conversion of backlog into sales, or the profitability of such sales. Engineering programs in both the funded and unfunded portions of the current backlog aggregate $10.2 million.

The Company currently expects new orders in fiscal 2025 to be greater than those received in fiscal year 2024. During fiscal year 2024, the Company received approximately $52.4 million in new orders. Included in new order bookings are repeat production orders for multi-year purchases with deliveries expected to extend for several years. In addition to the backlog, the Company currently has outstanding opportunities representing in excess of $130 million in the aggregate as of August 31, 2024, for both repeat and new programs. Included in outstanding opportunities is a large multi-year purchase from a single customer for several products currently being manufactured by the Company, expected to be formalized prior to December 31, 2024. Outstanding opportunities encompass various new and previously manufactured power supplies, transformers, and subassemblies. We consider the value of those opportunities we believe are likely to be awarded based on factors which include: quotation status, communicated award dates, historical ordering, public information on defense programs and program funding, discussion with customers, and our cost competitiveness. However, there can be no assurance that the Company will acquire any of the outstanding opportunities described above, many of which are subject to allocations of the United States defense spending and factors affecting the defense industry, as well as, the fact many solicitations we receive for the procurement of goods and services takes place by competitive bidding.

Our sales strategy includes identifying and obtaining multiple new engineering design and development contracts in any given fiscal year to ensure optimal utilization of our engineering personnel in addition to securing follow-on production awards for product previously designed in-house, as well as, build to print opportunities. The Company targets those programs and opportunities which will generate future longer-term production tails in ensuing years. From time to time, we accept work associated with engineering design studies. While unlikely to result in near-term follow-on orders, this positions us competitively on future awards and expands our engineering team’s skillset.

Management continues to pursue opportunities with current and new customers with an overall objective of lowering the concentration of sales, mitigating excessive reliance upon a single major product of a particular program and minimizing the impact of the loss of a single significant customer. Given the nature of our business, we believe our existing sales order backlog is fairly diversified in terms of customers and the category of products on order.

Management, along with the Board of Directors, continues to evaluate the need and use of the Company’s working capital. Capital expenditures, primarily for machinery and equipment and facility upgrades, are not expected to exceed $500,000 for fiscal year 2025. A majority of these expenditures will be made to stay competitive in the marketplace and to meet the needs of current contracts.

Expectations are that the working capital will be required to fund orders, general operations of the business and dividend payments. Management along with the Legal Affairs, Strategic Planning, and M&A Committee of the Board of Directors will examine opportunities involving acquisitions or other strategic options, including buying certain products or product lines, provided that such opportunities demonstrate synergies with the Company’s existing product base and accretion to earnings.

The Company was awarded $7.4 million in funding during the second quarter of fiscal year 2023 in support of facility and capital equipment upgrades for testing and qualification for the United States Navy. The funding is part of the Navy’s investment to improve and sustain the Surface Combatant Industrial Base. The work is being conducted on the Company’s property in Saratoga Springs, NY, with completion slated for the end of calendar year 2024. The Company expects to be paid within 30 days after the submission of three milestone invoices, but will not be paid for expenses incurred in excess of the specified milestone payment limits. The Company will record the receipt of milestone payments received as a reduction from the cost of the assets. As of June 30, 2024 milestone reimbursements received totaled $4,228,722. Included in property, plant, and equipment at June 30, 2024 was $965,392 not yet reimbursed under the funding award. As of June 30, 2024, the Company anticipates spending the remaining $2.3 million, allowable under the award, during fiscal 2025.

Results of Operations

Net sales for the years ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 were $38,736,319 and $35,592,323, respectively, an approximate 8.8% increase. In general, sales fluctuations within product categories will occur during a comparable fiscal period as the direct result of product mix, influenced by the duration of specific programs and the contractual terms of firm orders placed for product and services under those programs including contract value, scope of work and contract delivery schedules. Deliverables within firm contracts are often subject to delivery schedules which also contributes to sales fluctuations between comparable periods. Sales in fiscal year 2024 were higher when compared to the prior year primarily from (i) increased shipments on several large multi-year contracts for transformers and power distribution panels, and (ii) increased shipments on several power supply contracts primarily supporting AESA radar programs and off-highway vehicle production builds. These increases were offset, in part, by a decrease in overall build to print sales which, in several instances, had specific contracts with significantly fewer or no sales in the current reporting period as compared to the same period last year due to order completion or planned customer delivery schedules.

Gross profits for the years ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 were $10,653,060 and $8,050,538, respectively. Gross profit as a percentage of sales was 27.5% and 22.6%, for the same periods, respectively. The primary factors in determining the change in gross profit and net income are overall sales levels and product mix. The gross profits on mature products and build to print contracts are typically higher as compared to products which are still in the engineering development stage or in early stages of production. In the case of the latter, the Company can incur what it refers to as “loss contracts,” primarily on engineering design contracts in which the Company invests with the objective of developing future product sales. In any given accounting period, the mix of product shipments between higher margin programs and less mature programs, and expenditures associated with loss contracts, has a significant impact on gross profit and net income.

The increase in gross profit for the year ended June 30, 2024 when compared to the same period last year resulted primarily from (i) sales levels and general product mix, (ii) higher than average profit margins on one-time sales to certain customers, and (iii) higher sales on a large follow-on order for power distribution panels which had fewer sales and higher costs in the prior year related to engineering design efforts. Moreover, the gross profit in fiscal year 2023 had been negatively impacted by significant unanticipated costs incurred on several fixed-priced engineering design contracts and a specific build to print contract, all for power supplies, due to unforeseen complexities of the designs. The improvement in the gross profit in fiscal year 2024 was offset, in part, by increased costs incurred on a recurring production job and a new engineering development job. Finally, gross profit in the current year was reduced by an increase in the overhead costs on shipments, resulting from the recorded pension withdrawal obligation established in the last quarter of the current fiscal period, explained in greater detail in Financial Statement Note 7. Pension Expense.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $4,113,608 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024; an increase of $363,084 compared to the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023. The increase in spending for the year ended June 30, 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 mainly relates to the increase in employee compensation costs which includes a new business development employee. In addition, and to a lesser extent, expenses increased related to travel expenses, recruiting expenses, and freight costs incurred on outgoing shipments. These increases were offset, in part, by a decrease in utility and outside selling costs related to non-employee sales representatives.

Other income for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 was $755,562 and $406,453, respectively. The increase is primarily due to the increase in interest income resulting from an increase in investment securities and an increase in fixed interest rates. Interest income is a function of the level of investments and investment strategies that generally tend to be conservative.

The Company’s effective tax rate was approximately 20.3% in the fiscal year 2024 and approximately 21.9% in fiscal year 2023. The effective tax rate in fiscal 2024 is less than the statutory tax rate mainly due to the benefit received from ESOP dividends paid on allocated shares and a benefit from foreign derived intangible income, offset in part by permanent differences related to incentive stock options. The effective tax rate in fiscal 2023 is greater than the statutory tax rate mainly due to the permanent difference for incentive stock option expense recorded for book purposes which is not deductible for tax purposes. During fiscal 2023, there was no benefit received from ESOP dividends paid on allocated shares due to the suspension of the company dividend through February 2023. The effective tax rate in the year ended June 30, 2024 was lower than the comparable prior year primarily from the benefit derived from ESOP dividends paid on allocated shares, greater benefit derived from foreign derived intangible income and a benefit derived from the exercise of incentive stock options in the current period when compared to same period in the prior year.

The Company generated net income for fiscal year 2024 of $5,815,140 or $2.34 and $2.29 per share, basic and diluted, compared to net income of $3,677,131 or $1.50 and $1.49 per share, basic and diluted, for fiscal year 2023. The increase in net income in the year ended June 30, 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 is primarily attributable to higher sales, a higher gross profit margin percentage, an increase in other income, offset in part, by an increase in selling, general, and administrative expenses and an increase in the provision for income taxes.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company's working capital is an appropriate indicator of the liquidity of its business, and during the past two fiscal years, the Company, when possible, has funded all of its operations with cash flows resulting from operating activities and when necessary from its existing cash and investments. The Company did not borrow any funds during the last two fiscal years. Management has available a $3,000,000 line of credit to help fund further growth or working capital needs, if necessary, but does not anticipate the need for any borrowed funds in the foreseeable future. Contingent liabilities on outstanding standby letters of credit agreements aggregated to zero at June 30, 2024 and 2023. The existing line of credit was extended and expires February 28, 2025.

The Company's working capital as of June 30, 2024 and 2023 was approximately $38 million and $33.2 million, respectively. The Company may at times be required to repurchase shares at the ESOP participants’ request at the fair market value. During the years ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company did not repurchase any shares held by the ESOP. Under existing authorizations from the Company's Board of Directors, as of June 30, 2024, management is authorized to purchase an additional $783,460 of Company stock.

The table below presents the summary of cash flow information for the fiscal years indicated:

Net cash provided by operating activities fluctuates between periods primarily as a result of differences in sales and net income, provision for income taxes, the timing of the collection of accounts receivable, purchase of inventory, and payment of accounts payable. The increase in cash provided by operating activities compared to the prior year primarily relates to an increase in net income, a decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets, a decrease in inventory, an increase in accounts payable and other accrued expenses, offset in part, by a decrease in contract liabilities, and an increase in trade accounts receivable.

Net cash used in investing activities increased in the year ended June 30, 2024 as compared to the same period in 2023 due to an increase in investment securities when compared to the same period last year, in addition to additions to property, plant and equipment, partially offset by proceeds received from the grant award. Cash used in financing activities for the year ended June 30, 2024 relates primarily to dividend payments on common stock, offset in part, by proceeds from the exercise of stock options.

The Company currently believes that the cash flow generated from operations and when necessary, from cash and cash equivalents, will be sufficient to meet its long-term funding requirements for the foreseeable future.

During the fiscal years ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company expended $5,164,165 and $512,016, respectively, for plant improvements and new equipment, of which $4,886,113 and $249,705, respectively, was either reimbursed or eligible to be reimbursed under a not to exceed $7.4 million award received by the Company. The award received by the Company is in support of facility and capital equipment upgrades for testing and qualification for the United States Navy. This funding award is part of the Navy’s investment to improve and sustain the Surface Combatant Industrial Base. Separately, the Company has budgeted approximately $500,000 for new equipment and plant improvements in fiscal year 2025, not reimbursable under the funding award. A majority of these expenditures will be made to stay competitive in the marketplace and to meet the needs of current contracts.

Management believes that the Company's allowance for credit losses of $3,000 is adequate given the customers with whom the Company does business based on historical experience, current economic market conditions, performance of specific account reviews, and other factored considerations to include, but not limited to, contracts covered by government funding and the overall health of the industry. Historically, bad debt expense has been minimal.

Evaluation of Controls and Procedures

(a) The Company's management, with the participation of the Company's chief executive officer and chief financial officer, carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Based on such evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.

(b) There have been no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Management of our Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as that term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting using the criteria set forth in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in 2013. Based on our evaluation using the criteria set forth in Internal Control-Integrated Framework, management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of June 30, 2024.

This annual report does not include an attestation report of our registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Our report was not subject to attestation by our registered public accounting firm pursuant to rules of the SEC that permit us to provide only management’s report in this annual report.