For the second consecutive quarter, we delivered net sales growth of 17%, and we maintained our gross profit margin at 41.7%, consistent with the first quarter.
And compared to last year, we increased diluted earnings per share by 22%.
At the same time, these teams have also managed to introduce around 220 new, or significantly upgraded, lighting and lighting control products over the last two years.
This quarter, the board of directors authorized additional capacity for share repurchases to increase our remaining authorization from 3 million to 5 million shares.
Since May of 2020, we have repurchased approximately 13% of our shares outstanding.
Net sales were $909 million, an increase of 17% compared to the prior year.
Gross profit was $379 million, an increase of $43 million or 13% over the prior year.
Gross profit as a percent of sales was 41.7%, a decrease of 170 basis points from 43.4% in the prior year, but flat sequentially from the first quarter of 2022.
Reported operating profit was $102 million, an increase of $11 million or 12% over the prior year.
Reported operating profit margin was 11.3% of net sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2022, a decrease of 40 basis points over the prior year.
Adjusted operating profit was $123 million, an increase of $14 million or 13% over the prior year.
Adjusted operating profit margin was 13.5% of net sales, a decrease of 50 basis points against the prior year.
Diluted earnings per share of $2.13 increased $0.39 or 22% over the prior year.
And adjusted diluted earnings per share of $2.57 increased $0.45 or 21% over the prior year.
Our share repurchase program favorably impacted adjusted diluted earnings per share by $0.06.
During the quarter, our Lighting and Lighting Controls segment saw sales increase, 17% to $863 million over the prior year.
This was driven by the improvements within our independent sales network, which grew approximately 12%, and an increase of 5% in our direct sales network.
Additionally, sales in the corporate account channel increased approximately 105% over the prior year.
We also had growth in our other channel of 83% over the prior year, due primarily to the acquisition of OSRAM.
Sales in the retail channel declined approximately 2% in the current quarter.
ABL's operating profit for the second quarter of 2022 was $117 million, an increase of 14% versus the prior year, with operating margin declining 30 basis points to 13.5%.
Adjusted operating profit of $127 million improved 13% versus the prior year, with adjusted operating profit margin declining 50 basis points to 14.7%.
For the second quarter of 2022, sales in Spaces increased approximately 16% to $50 million, reflecting growth in both the Distech and Atrius.
Spaces operating profit in the second quarter of 2022 increased approximately $400,000 to $1.2 million.
Adjusted operating profit of $6 million increased approximately $1 million versus the prior year as a result of the strong sales growth and continued investment in the business.
Our business model continues to be highly productive, generating $127 million of net cash flow from operating activities in the first half of fiscal 2022.
This was a decrease of $85 million compared to the prior year due primarily to an increased investment in working capital primarily related to inventory.
We also invested $24 million or 1.3% of net sales and capital expenditures during the first six months of fiscal 2022.
As a result, since May of 2020, we have bought back approximately 13% of our company shares at an average price of approximately $120 per share.
In the last 15 months, we have strategically introduced six price increases in addition to driving product and productivity improvements.

Summary:
Diluted earnings per share of $2.13 increased $0.39 or 22% over the prior year.
And adjusted diluted earnings per share of $2.57 increased $0.45 or 21% over the prior year.