Did operating expenses increase or decrease compared to the prior quarter, and what is the impact on profitability?

Answer

Based on the excerpt you provided, the press release only highlights the following points:

• Net sales grew 20% year‑over‑year.
• Gross margin was “approximately 40%” in a “challenging consumer and economic environment.”
• No specific figures or commentary were given about operating expenses (e.g., selling‑, general‑, and administrative costs, R&D, or other SG&A items) for the second quarter, nor was any comparison to the prior quarter’s operating expenses included.

Consequently:

How you could find the answer

If you need a definitive answer, you would typically look for one of the following in the full earnings release or the company’s SEC filings (e.g., Form 10‑Q for the quarter):

1. Operating expense line items – a dollar amount (or percentage of net sales) for the current quarter and the prior quarter.
2. Quarter‑over‑quarter change – a statement such as “Operating expenses decreased 5% from Q1 2025” or “Operating expenses increased 3% versus the prior quarter.”
3. Profitability metrics – operating income, net income, adjusted EBITDA, or earnings per share, often accompanied by commentary on how expense trends are affecting margins.

What to do next

• Locate the full press release (often posted on the company’s investor‑relations website or on Business Wire) to see whether the operating‑expense figures are included in a “Financial Highlights” table.
• Check the SEC filing for the quarter (Form 10‑Q). The “Consolidated Statements of Operations” will list operating expenses and a comparison to the previous quarter.
• Review the Management Discussion & Analysis (MD&A) section, where the CEO or CFO often explains the drivers behind expense changes and their effect on profitability.

If you can obtain those documents, you’ll be able to answer definitively whether operating expenses rose or fell versus the prior quarter and how that shift impacted Laird Superfood’s bottom line.