Interest expense. Interest expense totaled $575,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2023, an increase of $405,000 from $170,000, as restated, for the same period in the prior year. Interest expense totaled $1,074,000 for the six months ended March 31, 2023, an increase of $682,000 from $392,000, as restated, for the same period in the prior year. The increase in interest expense was primarily due to the financing of recent acquisitions, an increase in line of credit borrowings due to increased work, and an increase in interest rates.
Gain on sale of equipment. Gain on sale of equipment totaled $48,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2023, an increase of $28,000 from $20,000 for the same period in the prior year. Gain on sale of equipment totaled $17,000 for the six months ended March 31, 2023, a decrease of $343,000 from $360,000 for the same period in the prior year. The Company sold certain underutilized or non-working pieces of equipment at auction during the six months ended March 31, 2022, with no comparable sale occurring during the three and six months ended March 31, 2023.
Net (loss) income. Loss before income taxes was ($2.5) million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to ($811,000) for the same period in the prior year. Loss before income taxes was ($2.5) million for the six months ended March 31, 2023, compared to an income before tax of $829,000 for the same period in the prior year. The decrease was primarily related to the items mentioned above.
Income tax benefit for the three months ended March 31, 2023, was ($650,000) compared to ($200,000) for the same period in the prior year. Income tax benefit for the six months ended March 31, 2023, was ($730,000) compared to income tax expense of $294,000 for the same period in the prior year. The changes in income tax expense (benefit) were due to the decreases in taxable income for the three and six months ended March 31, 2023 as compared to the prior period.
Net (loss) income for the three and six months ended March 31, 2023 was ($1.9) million and ($1.7) million, respectively, as compared to ($610,000) and $535,000 for the same periods in the prior year.
Comparison of Financial Condition at March 31, 2023 and September 30, 2022
The Company had total assets of $104.8 million at March 31, 2023, a decrease of $7.8 million from the prior fiscal year end balance of $112.6 million.
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts, totaled $24.7 million at March 31, 2023, a decrease of $13.7 million from the prior fiscal year end balance of $38.5 million. The decrease was primarily due to the timing of cash collections and project invoicing since September 30, 2022.
Contract assets totaled $11.5 million at March 31, 2023, a decrease of $4.7 million from the prior fiscal year end balance of $16.1 million. The decrease was primarily due to a difference in the timing of project billings at March 31, 2023, compared to September 30, 2022.
Intangible assets, net totaled $3.6 million at March 31, 2023, a decrease of $265,000 from the prior fiscal year end balance of $3.9 million. The decrease was due to the amortization of intangible assets during the three and six months ended March 31, 2023.
Cash and cash equivalents totaled $11.6 million at March 31, 2023, an increase of $4.2 million from the prior fiscal year end balance of $7.4 million. The increase was primarily due to $3.1 million in proceeds from long-term debt and a net $11.8 million provided from operating activities, partially offset by a net $5.3 million investment in equipment, $4.5 million in net short-term and long-term debt repayments, $833,000 in dividend payments on common stock, and $72,000 paid for treasury stock.
The Company had property, plant and equipment of $35.1 million at March 31, 2023, an increase of $2.5 million from the prior fiscal year end balance of $32.7 million. The increase was due to a $5.6 million cash investment in property, plant and equipment and a $599,000 addition of financed equipment, partially offset by $3.6 million in depreciation and net equipment disposals of $258,000.
Prepaid expenses and other totaled $6.0 million at March 31, 2023, an increase of $2.0 million from the prior fiscal year end balance of $3.9 million. The increase was primarily due to financed insurance premiums, net of expense, during the six months ended March 31, 2023.