Engineering and product development expenses were $130,395 for the three-month period ended December 31, 2024, and $77,295 for the comparable quarter of the prior year, a $53,100 (68.7%) increase. These expenses increased primarily due to an increase in product development costs.
Interest Expense. Our interest expense was $77,409 for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, compared to interest expense of $36,310 for the quarter ended December 31, 2023. Interest expense is dependent upon the total amounts borrowed from the Factor and changes in interest rates during the period as compared to the corresponding period of the prior year.
Net (Loss) Income. We reported a net loss of $936,639 for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, compared to net income of $102,176 for the corresponding quarter of the prior fiscal year, a $1,038,815 decrease in net income. Net income decreased principally due to lower gross profit margins as discussed above and due to expenditures related to efforts in the current quarter to pursue strategic alternatives and merger activities.
Nine Months Ended December 31, 2024 and 2023
Sales. Net sales for the nine months ended December 31, 2024, were $17,336,933 compared to $15,071,204 for the comparable nine months in the prior period, an increase of $2,265,729 (15.0%). Sales increased principally due to the timing of orders to a large retailer, improvements in deliveries of products, and the easing of supply chain disruptions in shipping and handling of containers at California ports of entry. While delays in manufacturing and shipping have improved somewhat over the past fiscal year, we continue to experience delays in receiving inventory for sale.
Gross Profit Margin. The gross profit margin is calculated as net sales less cost of goods sold expressed as a percentage of net sales. The Company’s gross profit margin was 23.7% for the period ended December 31, 2024, and 30.0% for the period ended December 31, 2023. Gross margins for the nine-month period ended December 31, 2024, decreased principally due to an increase in the allowance for excess and obsolete inventory recorded during the nine-month period ended December 31, 2024, and due to the bulk sale of certain excess and obsolete inventory at reduced gross profit margins. In addition, gross margins in the nine-month period decreased due to increases in the cost of certain electronic components and variations in the mix of products sold. Gross margins are also impacted by variations in the mix of products sold and due to continued increases in the cost of certain electronic components.
Expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses were $4,369,219 for the nine months ended December 31, 2024, compared to $4,068,162 for the comparable nine months in the prior year. As a percentage of sales, these expenses were 25.2% for the nine-month period ended December 31, 2024, and 27.0% for the comparable 2023 period. These expenses increased as a dollar amount principally due to the timing of expenditures related to efforts in the current nine-month period and the comparable period of the prior year to pursue strategic alternatives and merger activities.
Engineering and product development expenses were $328,367 for the nine months ended December 31, 2024, compared to $273,673 for the comparable period of the prior year. These expenses increased primarily due to an increase in product development costs.
Interest Expense. Our interest expense was $211,939 for the nine months ended December 31, 2024, compared to interest expense of $120,315 for the nine months ended December 31, 2023. Net interest income of $24,746 was earned in the nine month period ended December 31, 2023 primarily on refunded customs charges. Interest expense is dependent upon the total amounts borrowed from the Factor and changes in interest rates during the period as compared to the corresponding period of the prior year.
Net (Loss) Income. We reported a net loss of $801,867 for the nine months ended December 31, 2024, compared to net income of $80,881 for the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year, a decrease in net income of $882,748. Net income decreased principally due to lower gross profit margins as discussed above and due to expenditures related to efforts in the nine months ended December 31, 2024, to pursue strategic alternatives and merger activities.
Operating activities used cash of $736,999 for the nine months ended December 31, 2024. This was primarily due to a decrease in accounts receivable and amount due from factor of $32,581, and an increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses of $1,233,487, offset by an increase in inventories and prepaid expenses of $1,505,513, and a net loss of $801,867. Operating activities provided cash of $225,962 for the nine months ended December 31, 2023. This was primarily due to net income of $80,881, a decrease in accounts receivable and amount due from factor of $311,821, and an increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses of $874,648, and offset by an increase in inventories, prepaid expenses of $1,050,814.