valu20180131_10q.htm
 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

 

[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended January 31, 2018

or

 

[  ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from _____________________________________ to __________________________________

 

Commission File Number: 0-11306

 

VALUE LINE, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

New York

13-3139843  

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

 

551 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York

10176-0001

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

 

(212) 907-1500

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] No [  ]

 

        Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).                                                                      Yes [X] No [ ]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer [  ]    Accelerated filer [  ]    Non-accelerated filer [X]

 

Smaller reporting company [  ]    Emerging growth company [  ]

  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [  ]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

      Yes [  ] No [X]

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

 

Class

Outstanding at March 12, 2018  

 

 

Common stock, $0.10 par value

9,698,159 shares   

 

 

 
 

 

 

VALUE LINE INC.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page No.

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 
     

Item 1.

Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

 
     
 

Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets as of January 31, 2018 and April 30, 2017

3

     
 

Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income for the three and nine months ended  January 31, 2018 and January 31, 2017

4

     
 

Consolidated Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three and nine months ended January 31, 2018 and January 31, 2017

5

     
 

Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended  January 31, 2018 and January 31, 2017

6

     
 

Consolidated Condensed Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the nine months ended January 31, 2018

7

     
 

Consolidated Condensed Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the nine months ended January 31, 2017

8

     
 

Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

9

     

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

21

     

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

33

 

 

 

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

35

     
 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 
     

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

35

     

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

35

     

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

36

Item 5.

Other Information 

36

Item 6.

Exhibits

37

  Signatures 38

 

 

 
 

 

 

Part I - Financial Information

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

Value Line, Inc.

Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except share amounts)

 

   

January 31,

   

April 30,

 
   

2018

   

2017

 
   

(unaudited)

         

Assets

               

Current Assets:

               

Cash and cash equivalents (including short term investments of $3,716 and $6,066, respectively)

  $ 4,218     $ 6,557  

Securities available-for-sale

    18,404       16,576  

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $15 and $20, respectively

    2,803       1,018  

Prepaid and refundable income taxes

    606       72  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    1,161       1,567  

Total current assets

    27,192       25,790  
                 

Long-term assets:

               

Investment in EAM Trust

    58,350       58,223  

Restricted money market investment

    469       469  

Property and equipment, net

    1,433       1,239  

Capitalized software and other intangible assets, net

    392       1,003  

Total long-term assets

    60,644       60,934  
                 

Total assets

  $ 87,836     $ 86,724  
                 

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

               

Current Liabilities:

               

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

  $ 1,270     $ 1,257  

Accrued salaries

    1,380       1,285  

Dividends payable

    3,686       1,748  

Accrued taxes on income

    22       112  

Unearned revenue

    18,361       20,188  

Total current liabilities

    24,719       24,590  
                 

Long-term liabilities:

               

Unearned revenue

    5,751       5,471  

Deferred charges

    876       432  

Deferred income taxes

    11,972       18,377  

Total long-term liabilities

    18,599       24,280  

Total liabilities

    43,318       48,870  
                 

Shareholders' Equity:

               

Common stock, $0.10 par value; authorized 30,000,000 shares; issued 10,000,000 shares

    1,000       1,000  

Additional paid-in capital

    991       991  

Retained earnings

    45,288       39,186  

Treasury stock, at cost (299,485 and 288,335 shares, respectively)

    (3,972 )     (3,781 )

Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax

    1,211       458  

Total shareholders' equity

    44,518       37,854  
                 

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

  $ 87,836     $ 86,724  

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

3

 

 

 

Part I - Financial Information

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

Value Line, Inc.

Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income

(in thousands, except share & per share amounts)

(unaudited)

 

   

For the Three Months Ended

   

For the Nine Months Ended

 
   

January 31,

   

January 31,

 
   

2018

   

2017

   

2018

   

2017

 
                                 

Revenues:

                               

Investment periodicals and related publications

  $ 7,391     $ 7,468     $ 22,257     $ 22,747  

Copyright data fees

    1,703       1,179       4,740       3,071  

Total publishing revenues

    9,094       8,647       26,997       25,818  

Gain on sale of operating facility

    -       -       -       8,123  

Total revenues

    9,094       8,647       26,997       33,941  
                                 

Expenses:

                               

Advertising and promotion

    1,096       908       2,718       2,436  

Salaries and employee benefits

    4,739       4,621       13,813       12,830  

Production and distribution

    1,524       2,134       4,322       6,958  

Office and administration

    948       1,196       3,384       3,769  

Total expenses

    8,307       8,859       24,237       25,993  

Income from operations

    787       (212 )     2,760       7,948  
                                 

Revenues and profits interests in EAM Trust

    2,284       1,934       6,657       5,782  

Income from securities transactions, net

    258       132       445       226  

Income before income taxes

    3,329       1,854       9,862       13,956  
                                 

Income tax provision

    (5,667 )     409       (3,421 )     4,673  

Net income

  $ 8,996     $ 1,445     $ 13,283     $ 9,283  
                                 

Earnings per share, basic & fully diluted

  $ 0.93     $ 0.15     $ 1.37     $ 0.96  
                                 
                                 

Weighted average number of common shares

    9,700,896       9,715,128       9,705,347       9,724,377  

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

4

 

 

 

Part I - Financial Information

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

Value Line, Inc.

Consolidated Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

   

For the Three Months Ended

   

For the Nine Months Ended

 
   

January 31,

   

January 31,

 
   

2018

   

2017

   

2018

   

2017

 
                                 
                                 

Net income

  $ 8,996     $ 1,445     $ 13,283     $ 9,283  
                                 

Other comprehensive income, net of tax:

                               

Change in unrealized gains on securities, net of taxes

    496       290       753       150  

Other comprehensive income

    496       290       753       150  

Comprehensive income

  $ 9,492     $ 1,735     $ 14,036     $ 9,433  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

5

 

 

 

Part I - Financial Information

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

Value Line, Inc.

Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

   

For the Nine Months Ended

 
   

January 31,

 
   

2018

   

2017

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

               

Net income

  $ 13,283     $ 9,283  
                 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:

               

Depreciation and amortization

    815       3,728  

Non-voting revenues interest in EAM Trust

    (6,074 )     (5,389 )

Non-voting profits interest in EAM Trust

    (583 )     (393 )

Realized gain on sale of operating facility

    -       (8,123 )

Realized gains on sale of equity securities

    (152 )     -  

Deferred rent

    444       (167 )

Deferred income taxes

    (6,405 )     (1,257 )

Other, net

    (45 )     (45 )

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

               

Unearned revenue

    (1,547 )     (1,203 )

Accounts payable & accrued expenses

    13       (748 )

Accrued salaries

    95       (13 )

Accrued taxes on income

    (211 )     65  

Prepaid and refundable income taxes

    (486 )     61  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    406       (272 )

Accounts receivable

    (1,785 )     (768 )

Total adjustments

    (15,515 )     (14,524 )

Net cash used in operating activities

    (2,232 )     (5,241 )
                 

Cash flows from investing activities:

               

Purchases of equity securities classified as available-for-sale

    -       (4,954 )

Purchases of fixed income securities classified as available-for-sale

    (2,636 )     (6,135 )

Proceeds from sales of equity securities classified as available-for-sale

    152       14  

Proceeds from sales of fixed income securities classified as available-for-sale

    1,634       -  

Distributions received from EAM Trust

    6,575       5,572  

Proceeds from sale of operating facility

    -       11,555  

Restricted money market investment

    -       (469 )

Acquisition of property and equipment

    (398 )     (879 )

Expenditures for capitalized software

    -       (411 )

Net cash provided by investing activities

    5,327       4,293  
                 

Cash flows from financing activities:

               

Purchase of treasury stock at cost

    (191 )     (681 )

Dividends paid

    (5,243 )     (4,965 )

Net cash used in financing activities

    (5,434 )     (5,646 )

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

    (2,339 )     (6,594 )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

    6,557       13,122  

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

  $ 4,218     $ 6,528  

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

6

 

 

 

Part I - Financial Information

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

Value Line, Inc.

Consolidated Condensed Statement of Changes in Shareholders' Equity

For the Nine Months Ended January 31, 2018

(in thousands, except share amounts)

(unaudited)

 

   

Common stock

   

Additional paid-

in

   

Treasury Stock

   

Retained

   

Accumulated

Other

Comprehensive

         
   

Shares

   

Amount

   

capital

   

Shares

   

Amount

   

earnings

   

income

   

Total

 

Balance at April 30, 2017

    10,000,000     $ 1,000     $ 991       (288,335 )   $ (3,781 )   $ 39,186     $ 458     $ 37,854  
                                                                 

Net income

                                            13,283               13,283  

Change in unrealized gains on securities, net of taxes

                                                    753       753  

Purchase of treasury stock

                            (11,150 )     (191 )                     (191 )

Dividends declared

                                            (7,181 )             (7,181 )

Balance at January 31, 2018

    10,000,000     $ 1,000     $ 991       (299,485 )   $ (3,972 )   $ 45,288     $ 1,211     $ 44,518  

 

Dividends declared per share were $0.18 for each of the three months ending July 31, 2017, October 31, 2017 and January 31, 2018.  In addition, a special dividend of $0.20 per share was declared on January 19, 2018.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

7

 

 

Part I - Financial Information

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

Value Line, Inc.

Consolidated Condensed Statement of Changes in Shareholders' Equity

For the Nine Months Ended January 31, 2017

(in thousands, except share amounts)

(unaudited)

 

   

Common stock

   

Additional paid-

in

   

Treasury Stock

   

Retained

   

Accumulated

Other

Comprehensive

         
   

Shares

   

Amount

   

capital

   

Shares

   

Amount

   

earnings

   

income

   

Total

 

Balance at April 30, 2016

    10,000,000     $ 1,000     $ 991       (243,411 )   $ (3,040 )   $ 35,524     $ 125     $ 34,600  
                                                                 

Net income

                                            9,283               9,283  

Change in unrealized gains on securities, net of taxes

                                                    150       150  

Purchase of treasury stock

                            (41,461 )     (681 )                     (681 )

Dividends declared

                                            (4,957 )             (4,957 )

Balance at January 31, 2017

    10,000,000     $ 1,000     $ 991       (284,872 )   $ (3,721 )   $ 39,850     $ 275     $ 38,395  

 

 

Dividends declared per share were $0.17 for each of the three months ending July 31, 2016, October 31, 2016 and January 31, 2017.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

8

 

 

Value Line, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

January 31, 2018

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Note 1 - Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:

 

Value Line, Inc. ("Value Line" or "VLI", and collectively with its subsidiaries, the “Company”) is incorporated in the State of New York. The name "Value Line" as used to describe the Company, its products, and its subsidiaries, is a registered trademark of the Company. The Company's primary business is producing investment periodicals and related publications and making available copyright data including certain Value Line trademarks and Value Line Proprietary Ranking System information to third parties under written agreements for use in third party managed and marketed investment products. The Company maintains a significant investment in Eulav Asset Management LLC ("EAM") from which it received a non-voting revenues interest and a non-voting profits interest. EAM was established to provide investment management services to the Value Line Mutual Funds ("Value Line Funds" or the "Funds").

 

The Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets as of January 31, 2018 and April 30, 2017, which have been derived from the unaudited interim Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements and the audited Consolidated Financial Statements, respectively, were prepared following the interim reporting requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). In the opinion of management, the accompanying Unaudited Interim Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals except as noted below) considered necessary for a fair presentation. This report should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and footnotes contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2017 filed with the SEC on July 26, 2017 (the “Form 10-K”). Results of operations covered by this report may not be indicative of the results of operations for the entire year.

 

Use of Estimates:

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect certain reported amounts and disclosures. Accordingly, actual results may differ from those estimates.

 

Principles of Consolidation:

 

The Company follows the guidance in the Financial Accounting Standards Board's ("FASB") Topic 810 “Consolidation” to determine if it should consolidate its investment in a variable interest entity ("VIE"). A VIE is a legal entity in which either (i) equity investors do not have sufficient equity investment at risk to enable the entity to finance its activities independently or (ii) the equity holders at risk lack the obligation to absorb losses, the right to receive residual returns or the right to make decisions about the entity’s activities that most significantly affect the entity's economic performance. A holder of a variable interest in a VIE is required to consolidate the entity if it is determined that it has a controlling financial interest in the VIE and is therefore the primary beneficiary. The determination of a controlling financial interest in a VIE is based on a qualitative assessment to identify the variable interest holder, if any, that has (i) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance, and (ii) either the obligation to absorb losses of the entity or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The accounting guidance requires the Company to perform an ongoing assessment of whether the Company is the primary beneficiary of a VIE and the Company has determined it is not the primary beneficiary of a VIE (see Note 3).

 

In accordance with FASB's Topic 810, the assets, liabilities, and results of operations of subsidiaries in which the Company has a controlling interest have been consolidated. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. On December 23, 2010, the Company completed the Restructuring Transaction and deconsolidated the related affiliates in accordance with FASB's Topic 810. As part of the Restructuring Transaction, the Company received a significant non-voting revenues interest (excluding distribution revenues) and a significant non-voting profits interest in the new entity, EULAV Asset Management, a Delaware statutory trust (“EAM” or “EAM Trust”). The Company relied on the guidance in FASB's ASC Topics 323 and 810 in its determination not to consolidate its investment in EAM and to account for such investment under the equity method of accounting. The Company reports the amount it receives for its non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests as a separate line item below operating income in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income.

 

Revenue Recognition:

 

Depending upon the product, subscription fulfillment for Value Line periodicals and related publications is available in print or digitally, via internet access. The length of a subscription varies by product and offer received by the subscriber. Generally, subscriptions are offered as annual subscriptions. Subscription revenues, net of discounts, are recognized ratably on a straight line basis when the product is served to the client over the life of the subscription. Accordingly, the amount of subscription fees to be earned by fulfilling subscriptions after the date of the balance sheets are shown as unearned revenue within current and long-term liabilities.

 

Copyright data revenues are derived from providing certain Value Line trademarks and Value Line Proprietary Ranking System information to third parties under written agreements for use in selecting securities for third party marketed products, including unit investment trusts, annuities and exchange traded funds ("ETFs"). The Company earns asset-based copyright data fees as specified in the individual agreements. Revenue is recognized monthly over the term of the agreement and, because it is asset-based, will fluctuate as the market value of the underlying portfolio increases or decreases in value.

 

9

 

 

Value Line, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

January 31, 2018

(Unaudited)

 

Investment in Unconsolidated Entities:

 

The Company accounts for its investment in its unconsolidated entity, EAM, using the equity method of accounting in accordance with FASB’s ASC 323. The equity method is an appropriate means of recognizing increases or decreases measured by GAAP in the economic resources underlying the investments. Under the equity method, an investor recognizes its share of the earnings or losses of an investee in the periods for which they are reported by the investee in its financial statements rather than in the period in which an investee declares a dividend or distribution. An investor adjusts the carrying amount of an investment for its share of the earnings or losses recognized by the investee.

 

The Company’s “interests” in EAM, the investment adviser to and the sole member of the distributor of the Value Line Funds, consist of a "non-voting revenues interest" and a "non-voting profits interest" in EAM as defined in the EAM Trust Agreement. The non-voting revenues interest entitles the Company to receive a range of 41% to 55%, based on the amount of EAM’s adjusted gross revenues, excluding EULAV Securities' distribution revenues (“Revenues Interest”). The non-voting profits interest entitles the Company to receive 50% of EAM's profits, subject to certain limited adjustments as defined in the EAM Trust Agreement (“Profits Interest”). The Revenues Interest and at least 90% of the Profits Interest are to be distributed each quarter to all interest holders of EAM, including Value Line. Subsequent to the Restructuring Date, the Company's Revenues Interest in EAM excludes participation in the service and distribution fees of EAM's subsidiary EULAV Securities. The Company reflects its non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests in EAM as non-operating income under the equity method of accounting subsequent to the Restructuring Transaction. Although the Company does not have control over the operating and financial policies of EAM, pursuant to the EAM Trust Agreement, the Company has a contractual right to receive its share of EAM's revenues and profits.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements:

 

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Income taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes. Under existing standards, deferred taxes for each tax-paying jurisdiction are presented as a net current asset or liability and net long-term asset or liability. To simplify presentation, the new guidance requires that all deferred tax assets and liabilities, along with related valuation allowances, be classified as long-term on the balance sheet. As a result, each tax-paying jurisdiction will now only have one net long-term asset or liability. The new guidance does not change the existing requirement that prohibits offsetting deferred tax liabilities from one jurisdiction against deferred tax assets of another jurisdiction. ASU 2015-17 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016, which is our fiscal year 2018 beginning May 1, 2017. The Company implemented ASU 2015-17 in the first quarter of fiscal 2018 retroactively to include the results as of April 30, 2017 for comparative purposes. The adoption of ASU 2015-17 does not have a material impact on our consolidated condensed financial statements and related disclosures.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU 2016-02"). The core principle of Topic 842 requires that a lessee should recognize the assets and liabilities on the balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. The amendments in ASU 2016-2 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The guidance is required to be adopted at the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach. The adoption of ASU 2016-02 will not have a material impact on our consolidated condensed financial statements and related disclosures.

 

In August 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-15, Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (a consensus of the Emerging Issues Task Force) (“ASU 2016-15”). The amendments in ASU 2016-15 address eight specific cash flow issues and apply to all entities that are required to present a statement of cash flows under ASC Topic 230, Statement of Cash Flows. The amendments in ASU 2016-15 are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption during an interim period. The adoption of ASU 2016-15 will not have a material impact on our consolidated condensed financial statements and related disclosures. Cash flow change will not be significant.

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)”, which requires an entity to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which it expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In addition, ASU No. 2014-09 requires disclosures of the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. ASU No. 2014-09 supersedes most existing U.S. GAAP revenue recognition principles, and it permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. ASU No. 2014-09 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those annual periods. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU No. 2014-09 will have on its consolidated condensed financial statements and related disclosures, as well as the expected method of adoption. The Company plans to adopt ASU No. 2014-09 in the first quarter of fiscal 2019, and does not believe it will have a material impact on its consolidated condensed financial statements and related disclosures.

 

Valuation of Securities:

 

The Company's securities classified as cash equivalents and available-for-sale consist of shares of money market funds that invest primarily in short-term U.S. Government securities and investments in equities including ETFs and are valued in accordance with the requirements of the Fair Value Measurements Topic of the FASB's ASC 820. The securities classified as available-for-sale reflected in the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets are valued at market and unrealized gains and losses, net of applicable taxes, are reported as a separate component of shareholders' equity. Realized gains and losses on sales of the securities classified as available-for-sale are recorded in earnings as of the trade date and are determined on the identified cost method.

 

10

 

 

Value Line, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

January 31, 2018

(Unaudited)

 

Market valuations of securities listed on a securities exchange and ETF shares are based on the closing sales prices on the last business day of each month. The market value of the Company's fixed maturity U.S. Government debt securities is determined utilizing publicly quoted market prices. Cash equivalents consist of investments in money market funds that invest primarily in U.S. Government securities valued in accordance with rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act.

 

The Fair Value Measurements Topic of FASB's ASC defines fair value as the price that the Company would receive upon selling an investment in a timely transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the investment. The Fair Value Measurements Topic established a three-tier hierarchy to maximize the use of observable market data and minimize the use of unobservable inputs and to establish classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. Inputs refer broadly to the information that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk. Examples of risks include those inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value such as the risk inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique. Inputs are classified as observable or unobservable. Observable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the factors market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.

 

The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized in the three broad levels listed below.

Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)

Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including the Company’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

 

The following summarizes the levels of fair value measurements of the Company’s investments:

 

   

As of January 31, 2018

 

($ in thousands)

 

Level 1

   

Level 2

   

Level 3

   

Total

 

Cash equivalents

  $ 3,716     $ -     $ -     $ 3,716  

Securities available-for-sale

    18,404       -       -       18,404  
    $ 22,120     $ -     $ -     $ 22,120  
                                 

 

    As of April 30, 2017         

($ in thousands)

 

Level 1

   

Level 2

   

Level 3

   

Total

 

Cash equivalents

  $ 6,066     $ -     $ -     $ 6,066  

Securities available-for-sale

    16,576       -       -       16,576  
    $ 22,642     $ -     $ -     $ 22,642  

 

The Company had no other financial instruments such as futures, forwards and swap contracts. For the periods ended January 31, 2018 and April 30, 2017, there were no Level 2 nor Level 3 investments. The Company does not have any liabilities subject to fair value measurement.

 

 

Advertising expenses:

 

The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred.

 

Income Taxes:

 

The Company computes its income tax provision in accordance with the Income Tax Topic of the FASB's ASC. Deferred tax liabilities and assets are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been reflected in the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements. Deferred tax liabilities and assets are determined based on the differences between the book values and the tax bases of particular assets and liabilities, using tax rates currently in effect for the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. The Company adopted the provisions of ASU 2015-17, Income taxes (Topic 740) during the first quarter of fiscal 2018 and now classifies all deferred taxes as long-term liabilities on the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets.

 

The Income Tax Topic of the FASB's ASC establishes for all entities, a minimum threshold for financial statement recognition of the benefit of positions taken in filing tax returns (including whether an entity is taxable in a particular jurisdiction), and requires certain expanded tax disclosures. As of January 31, 2018, management has reviewed the tax positions for the years still subject to tax audit under the statutes of limitations, evaluated the implications, and determined that there is no material impact to the Company's financial statements.

 

 

Earnings per share:

 

Earnings per share are based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock and common stock equivalents outstanding during each period. Any shares that are reacquired during the period are weighted for the portion of the period that they are outstanding. The Company does not have any potentially dilutive common shares from outstanding stock options, warrants, restricted stock, or restricted stock units.

 

11

 

 

Value Line, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

January 31, 2018

(Unaudited)

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents:

 

For purposes of the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows, the Company considers all cash held at banks and short term liquid investments with an original maturity of less than three months to be cash and cash equivalents. As of January 31, 2018 and April 30, 2017, cash equivalents included $3,716,000 and $6,066,000, respectively, for amounts invested in money market mutual funds that invest in short term U.S. government securities.

 

 

Note 2 - Investments:

 

Securities Available-for-Sale:

Investments held by the Company and its subsidiaries are classified as securities available-for-sale in accordance with FASB's ASC 320, Investments - Debt and Equity Securities. All of the Company's securities classified as available-for-sale were readily marketable as of January 31, 2018 or had a maturity of twelve months or less and are classified as current assets on the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets.

 

Equity Securities:

 

Equity securities classified as available-for-sale on the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets, consist of ETFs held for dividend yield that attempt to replicate the performance of certain equity indexes and ETFs that hold preferred shares primarily of financial institutions, also providing a favorable after-tax dividend yield .

 

As of January 31, 2018 and April 30, 2017, the aggregate cost of the equity securities classified as available-for-sale, which consist of investments in the SPDR Series Trust S&P Dividend ETF (SDY), First Trust Value Line Dividend Index ETF (FVD), PowerShares Financial Preferred ETF (PGF), Select Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU), First Trust Value Line 100 ETF (FVL) and Proshares Trust S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL) was $8,385,000, and the fair value was $9,926,000 and $9,097,000, respectively.

 

Proceeds from equity securities classified as available-for-sale were $152,000 and $14,000 during the nine months ended January 31, 2018 or January 31, 2017, respectively. The increase in gross unrealized gains on equity securities classified as available-for-sale of $829,000, net of deferred taxes of $73,000 was included in Shareholders' Equity at January 31, 2018. The increase in gross unrealized gains on equity securities classified as available-for-sale of $520,000, net of deferred taxes of $183,000 was included in Shareholders' Equity at April 30, 2017. The increase in gross unrealized gains on equity securities classified as available-for-sale of $238,000, net of deferred taxes of $84,000 was included in Shareholders' Equity at January 31, 2017.

 

The changes in the value of equity securities investments are recorded in Other Comprehensive Income in the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements. Realized gains and losses are recorded as of the trade date in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income when securities are sold, mature or are redeemed. As of January 31, 2018 and April 30, 2017, accumulated other comprehensive income included unrealized gains of $1,541,000 and $712,000, net of deferred taxes of $324,000 and $251,000, respectively.

 

The carrying value and fair value of securities available-for-sale at January 31, 2018 were as follows:

 

($ in thousands)

 

Cost

   

Gross Unrealized

Gains

   

Fair Value

 
                         

ETFs - equities

  $ 8,385     $ 1,541     $ 9,926  

 

The carrying value and fair value of securities available-for-sale at April 30, 2017 were as follows:

 

 

 

($ in thousands)

 

Cost

   

Gross Unrealized

Gains

   

Fair Value

 

ETFs - equities

  $ 8,385     $ 712     $ 9,097  

 

Government Debt Securities (Fixed Income Securities):

 

Fixed income securities consist of certificates of deposits and securities issued by federal, state, and local governments within the United States. The aggregate cost and fair value at January 31, 2018 of fixed income securities classified as available-for-sale were as follows:

 

   

Amortized

   

Gross Unrealized

   

Gross Unrealized

         

($ in thousands)

 

Historical Cost

   

Holding Gains

   

Holding Losses

   

Fair Value

 

Maturity

                               

Due within 1 year

  $ 7,136     $ 5     $ (8 )   $ 7,133  

Due 1 year through 5 years

    1,350       -       (5 )     1,345  

Total investment in government debt securities

  $ 8,486     $ 5     $ (13 )   $ 8,478  

 

12

 

 

Value Line, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

January 31, 2018

(Unaudited)

 

 

The aggregate cost and fair value at April 30, 2017 of fixed income securities classified as available-for-sale were as follows:

 

   

Amortized

   

Gross Unrealized

   

Gross Unrealized

         

($ in thousands)

 

Historical Cost

   

Holding Gains

   

Holding Losses

   

Fair Value

 

Maturity

                               

Due within 1 year

  $ 4,384     $ 4     $ (3 )   $ 4,385  

Due 1 year through 5 years

    3,100       -       (6 )     3,094  

Total investment in government debt securities

  $ 7,484     $ 4     $ (9 )   $ 7,479  

 

Proceeds from maturities and sales of government debt securities classified as available-for-sale during the nine months ended January 31, 2018 were $1,634,000. There were no sales or proceeds from sales of government debt securities in fiscal 2017. The increase in gross unrealized losses of $2,000 on fixed income securities classified as available-for-sale net of deferred income tax of $240, was included in Shareholders' Equity at January 31, 2018. The increase in gross unrealized losses of $5,000 on fixed income securities classified as available-for-sale net of deferred income tax of $1,000, was included in Shareholders' Equity at April 30, 2017. The increase in gross unrealized losses of $6,000 on fixed income securities classified as available-for-sale net of deferred income tax of $2,000, was included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income on the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet as of January 31, 2017.

 

The changes in the value of government debt securities investments are recorded in Other Comprehensive Income in the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements. Realized gains and losses are recorded as of the trade date in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income when securities are sold, matured or are redeemed. As of January 31, 2018 and April 30, 2017, accumulated other comprehensive income included unrealized losses of $8,000 and $5,000, net of deferred taxes of $2,000 and $2,000, respectively.

 

The average yield on the Government debt securities classified as available-for-sale at January 31, 2018 and April 30, 2017 was 1.19% and 0.69%, respectively.

 

Income from Securities Transactions:

 

Income from securities transactions was comprised of the following:

 

   

Three Months Ended January 31,

   

Nine Months Ended January 31,

 

($ in thousands)

 

2018

   

2017

   

2018

   

2017

 

Dividend income

  $ 66     $ 74     $ 170     $ 147  

Interest income

    25       4       75       6  

Capital gain distributions

    152       39       152       39  

Other

    15       15       48       34  

Total income from securities transactions, net

  $ 258     $ 132     $ 445     $ 226  

 

Investment in Unconsolidated Entities:

Equity Method Investment:

 

As of January 31, 2018 and April 30, 2017, the Company's investment in EAM Trust, on the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets was $58,350,000 and $58,223,000, respectively.

 

The value of VLI’s investment in EAM at January 31, 2018 and April 30, 2017 reflects the fair value of contributed capital of $55,805,000 at inception which included $5,820,000 of cash and liquid securities in excess of working capital requirements contributed to EAM’s capital account by VLI, plus VLI's share of non-voting revenues and non-voting profits from EAM less distributions, made quarterly to VLI by EAM, during the period subsequent to its initial investment through the dates of the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets.

 

It is anticipated that EAM will have sufficient liquidity and earn enough profit to conduct its current and future operations so the management of EAM will not need additional funding.

 

The Company monitors its Investment in EAM Trust for impairment to determine whether an event or change in circumstances has occurred that may have a significant adverse effect on the fair value of the investment. Impairment indicators include, but are not limited to the following: (a) a significant deterioration in the earnings performance, asset quality, or business prospects of the investee, (b) a significant adverse change in the regulatory, economic, or technological environment of the investee, (c) a significant adverse change in the general market condition of the industry in which the investee operates, or (d) factors that raise significant concerns about the investee’s ability to continue as a going concern such as negative cash flows, working capital deficiencies, or noncompliance with statutory capital and regulatory requirements. EAM did not record any impairment losses for its assets during the fiscal years 2018 or 2017.

 

13

 

 

Value Line, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

January 31, 2018

(Unaudited)

 

The components of EAM’s investment management operations, provided to the Company by EAM, were as follows:

 

   

Three Months Ended January 31,

   

Nine Months Ended January 31,

 

($ in thousands) (unaudited)

 

2018

   

2017

   

2018

   

2017

 

Investment management fees earned from the Value Line Funds, net of fee waivers

  $ 4,070     $ 3,674     $ 12,096     $ 10,991  

12b-1 fees and other fees, net of fee waivers

  $ 1,676     $ 1,438     $ 4,844     $ 4,357  

Other income

  $ 52     $ 57     $ 156     $ 136  

Investment management fee waivers

  $ 131     $ 132     $ 392     $ 308  

12b-1 fee waivers

  $ 169     $ 235     $ 583     $ 700  

Value Line’s non-voting revenues interest

  $ 2,057     $ 1,803     $ 6,074     $ 5,389  

EAM's net income (1)

  $ 514     $ 262     $ 1,166     $ 786  

 

(1) Represents EAM's net income, after giving effect to Value Line’s non-voting revenues interest, but before distributions to voting profits interest holders and to the Company in respect of its 50% non-voting profits interest.

 

 

   

January 31,

   

April 30,

 

($ in thousands)

 

2018

   

2017

 
   

(unaudited)

         

EAM's total assets

  $ 60,666     $ 60,432  

EAM's total liabilities (1)

    (3,655 )     (2,931 )

EAM's total equity

  $ 57,011     $ 57,501  

 

(1) At January 31, 2018 and April 30, 2017, EAM's total liabilities included a payable to VLI for its accrued non-voting revenues interest and the 90% distributable share of its non-voting profits interests of $2,261,000 and $1,919,000, respectively.

 

 

Note 3 - Variable Interest Entity

 

The Company retained a non-voting revenues interest and a 50% non-voting profits interest in EAM, which was formed, as a result of the Restructuring Transaction on December 23, 2010, to carry on the asset management and mutual fund distribution businesses formerly conducted by the Company. EAM is considered to be a VIE. The Company makes its determination for consolidation of EAM as a VIE based on a qualitative assessment of the purpose and design of EAM, the terms and characteristics of the variable interests in EAM, and the risks EAM is designed to originate and pass through to holders of variable interests. Other than EAM, the Company does not have an interest in any other VIEs.

 

The Company has determined that it does not have a controlling financial interest in EAM because it does not have the power to direct the activities of EAM that most significantly impact its economic performance. Value Line does not hold any voting stock of EAM and it does not have any involvement in the day-to-day activities or operations of EAM. Although the EAM Trust Agreement provides Value Line with certain consent rights and contains certain restrictive covenants related to the activities of EAM, these are considered to be protective rights and therefore Value Line does not maintain control over EAM.

 

In addition, although EAM is expected to be profitable, there is a risk that it could operate at a loss. While all of the profits interest shareholders in EAM are subject to variability based on EAM’s operations risk, Value Line’s non-voting revenues interest in EAM is a preferred interest in the revenues of EAM, rather than a profits interest in EAM, and Value Line accordingly believes it is subject to proportionately less risk than other holders of the profits interests.

 

The Company has not provided any explicit or implicit financial or other support to EAM other than what was contractually agreed to in the EAM Trust Agreement. Value Line has no obligation to fund EAM in the future and, as a result, has no exposure to loss beyond its initial investment and any undistributed revenues and profits interests retained in EAM. The following table presents the total assets of EAM, the maximum exposure to loss due to involvement with EAM, as well as the value of the assets and liabilities the Company has recorded on its Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets for its interest in EAM.

 

           

Value Line

 

($ in thousands)

 

VIE Assets

   

Investment in EAM

Trust (1)

   

Liabilities

   

Maximum

Exposure to Loss

 

As of January 31, 2018 (unaudited)

  $ 60,666     $ 58,350     $ -     $ 58,350  

As of April 30, 2017

  $ 60,432     $ 58,223     $ -     $ 58,223  

 

(1) Reported within Long-Term Assets on the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets.

 

14

 

 

Value Line, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

January 31, 2018

(Unaudited)

 

 

Note 4 - Supplementary Cash Flow Information:

 

   

Nine months ended January 31,

 

($ in thousands)

 

2018

   

2017

 

State and local income tax payments

  $ 232     $ 552  

Federal income tax payments to the Parent

  $ 3,450     $ 5,250  

 

 

Note 5 - Employees' Profit Sharing and Savings Plan:

 

Substantially all employees of the Company and its subsidiaries are members of the Value Line, Inc. Profit Sharing and Savings Plan (the "Plan"). In general, this is a qualified, contributory plan which provides for a discretionary annual Company contribution which is determined by a formula based on the salaries of eligible employees and the amount of consolidated net operating income as defined in the Plan. For the nine months ended January 31, 2018 and January 31, 2017, the estimated profit sharing plan contributions, which are included as expenses in salaries and employee benefits in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income, were $345,000 and 321,000, respectively.

 

 

 

Note 6 - Comprehensive Income:

 

The FASB's ASC Comprehensive Income topic requires the reporting of comprehensive income in addition to net income from operations. Comprehensive income is a more inclusive financial reporting methodology that includes disclosure of certain financial information that otherwise would not be recognized in the calculation of net income.

 

As of January 31, 2018 and January 31, 2017, the Company held equity securities consisting primarily of ETFs with high relative dividend yields that are classified as securities available-for-sale on the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets. The change in valuation of these securities, net of deferred income taxes, has been recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income in the Company's Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets.

 

The components of comprehensive income included in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income and Changes in Shareholders' Equity for the nine months ended January 31, 2018 are as follows:

 

 

($ in thousands)

 

Amount Before

Tax

   

Tax Expense

   

Amount Net of

Tax

 

Change in unrealized gains on securities

  $ 978     $ (105 )   $ 873  

Less: Gains realized in net income

  $ (152 )   $ 32     $ (120 )
    $ 826     $ (73 )   $ 753  

 

The components of comprehensive income included in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income and Changes in Shareholders' Equity for the nine months ended January 31, 2017 are as follows:

 

($ in thousands)

 

Amount Before

Tax

   

Tax Expense

   

Amount Net of

Tax

 

Change in unrealized gains on securities

  $ 271     $ (96 )   $ 175  

Less: Gains realized in net income

    (39 )     14       (25 )
    $ 232     $ (82 )   $ 150  

 

 

Note 7 - Related Party Transactions:

 

Investment Management (overview):

 

The Company has substantial non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests in EAM, the asset manager to the Value Line Mutual Funds. Accordingly, the Company does not report this operation as a separate business segment, although it maintains a significant interest in the cash flows generated by this business and will receive ongoing payments in respect of its non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests.

 

Total assets in the Value Line Funds managed and/or distributed by EAM at January 31, 2018, were $2.6 billion, 13% above total assets of $2.3 billion in the Value Line Funds managed and/or distributed by EAM at January 31, 2017.

 

The Company’s non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests in EAM entitle it to receive a range of 41% to 55% of EAM’s revenues (excluding distribution revenues) from EAM’s mutual fund and separate account business and 50% of the residual profits of EAM (subject to temporary increase in certain limited circumstances). The Voting Profits Interest Holders will receive the other 50% of residual profits of EAM. Distribution is not less than 90% of EAM’s profits payable each fiscal quarter under the provisions of the EAM Trust Agreement. Value Line’s percent share of EAM’s revenues calculated each fiscal quarter was 49.73%, 50.28% and 50.88% during the first, second and third quarters of fiscal 2018, respectively, and 49.45%, 49.14% and 49.19% during the first, second and third quarters of fiscal 2017, respectively.

 

15

 

 

Value Line, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

January 31, 2018

(Unaudited)

 

 

EAM Trust - VLI's non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests:

 

The Company holds non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests in EAM which entitle the Company to receive from EAM an amount ranging from 41% to 55% of EAM's investment management fee revenues from its mutual fund and separate accounts business. EAM currently has no separately managed account clients. The Company recorded income from its non-voting revenues interest and its non-voting profits interest in EAM as follows:

 

   

Three Months Ended January 31,

   

Nine Months Ended January 31,

 

($ in thousands)

 

2018

   

2017

   

2018

   

2017

 

Non-voting revenues interest in EAM

  $ 2,057     $ 1,803     $ 6,074     $ 5,389  

Non-voting profits interest in EAM

    227       131       583       393  
    $ 2,284     $ 1,934     $ 6,657     $ 5,782  

 

At January 31, 2018, the Company's investment in EAM includes a receivable of $2,261,000 representing the quarterly distribution of 100% of the non-voting revenues share and 90% of its non-voting profits share. Such amount was timely paid subsequent to January 31, 2018.

 

Transactions with Parent:

 

During the nine months ended January 31, 2018 and January 31, 2017, the Company was reimbursed $242,000 and $252,000, respectively, for payments it made on behalf of and for services the Company provided to the Parent Company, Arnold Bernhard and Co., Inc. ("Parent"). There were no receivables from the Parent on the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets at January 31, 2018 and April 30, 2017.

 

The Company is a party to a tax-sharing arrangement with the Parent which allocates the tax liabilities of the two Companies between them. The Company made federal tax payments of $3,450,000 and $5,250,000 to the Parent during the nine months ended January 31, 2018 and January 31, 2017, respectively.

From time to time, the Parent has purchased additional shares of common stock of the Company in the market when and as the Parent has determined it to be appropriate. The Parent may make additional purchases of common stock of the Company from time to time in the future. As of January 31, 2018, the Parent owned 89.0% of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company.

 

 

Note 8 - Federal, State and Local Income Taxes:

 

In accordance with the requirements of the Income Tax Topic of the FASB's ASC, the Company's provision for income taxes includes the following:

 

 

   

Three Months Ended January 31,

   

Nine Months Ended January 31,

 

($ in thousands)

 

2018

   

2017

   

2018

   

2017

 

Current tax expense:

                               

Federal

  $ 222     $ 851     $ 2,681     $ 5,424  

State and local

    55       166       303       506  

Current tax expense

    277       1,017       2,984       5,930  

Deferred tax expense (benefit):

                               

Federal

    (6,014 )     (282 )     (6,326 )     (870 )

State and local

    70       (326 )     (79 )     (387 )

Deferred tax expense (benefit):

    (5,944 )     (608 )     (6,405 )     (1,257 )

Income tax provision

  $ (5,667 )   $ 409     $ (3,421 )   $ 4,673  

 

On December 22, 2017 H.R. 1, originally known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, (the "Tax Act") was enacted.  The Tax Act lowers the U.S. federal income tax rate ("Federal Tax Rate") from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018.  Accordingly, the Company computes its income tax expense for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2018 using a blended Federal Tax Rate of 30.33%.  The 21% Federal Tax Rate will apply to fiscal year ending April 30, 2019 and each year thereafter.

 

The overall effective income tax rates, as a percentage of pre-tax ordinary income for the nine months ended January 31, 2018 and January 31, 2017 were (34.69%) and 33.48%, respectively. The aforementioned reduction in the income tax rate results in a tax benefit of 65.87% of pre-tax income for the nine months ended January 31, 2018, primarily attributable to the effect on the long-term deferred tax liability.  The Company re-calculated its net deferred tax assets and liabilities using the Federal Tax Rate under the Tax Act.  The effect of the re-calculation is reflected entirely in the third quarter ended January 31, 2018 (the period that includes the enactment date) and is allocated directly to both current and deferred income tax expenses from continuing operations.  The Company's annualized overall effective tax rate fluctuates due to a number of factors, in addition to the new tax law, including but not limited to an increase or decrease in the ratio of items that do not have tax consequences to pre-tax income, the Company's geographic profit mix between tax jurisdictions, taxation method adopted by each locality, new interpretations of existing tax laws and rulings and settlements with tax authorities.   

 

16

 

 

Value Line, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

January 31, 2018

(Unaudited)

 

Deferred income taxes, a liability, are provided for temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of the Company's assets and liabilities. The tax effect of temporary differences giving rise to the Company's long-term deferred tax liability are as follows:

 

   

January 31,

   

April 30,

 

($ in thousands)

 

2018

   

2017

 

Federal tax liability (benefit):

               

Deferred gain on deconsolidation of EAM

  $ 10,655     $ 17,742  

Deferred non-cash post-employment compensation

    (372 )     (619 )

Depreciation and amortization

    179       454  

Unrealized loss (gain) on securities held for sale

    322       (366 )

Other

    (42 )     -  

Total federal tax liability

    10,742       17,211  
                 

State and local tax liabilities (benefits):

               

Deferred gain on deconsolidation of EAM

    1,298       1,206  

Deferred non-cash post-employment compensation

    (45 )     (42 )

Depreciation and amortization

    22       31  

Other

    (45 )     (29 )

Total state and local tax liabilities

    1,230       1,166  

Deferred tax liability, long-term

  $ 11,972     $ 18,377  

 

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Income taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes which requires that all deferred tax assets and liabilities, along with related valuation allowances, be classified as long-term on the balance sheet. As a result, each tax-paying jurisdiction will now only have one net long-term asset or liability. The new guidance does not change the existing requirement that prohibits offsetting deferred tax liabilities from one jurisdiction against deferred tax assets of another jurisdiction. The Company implemented ASU 2015-17 in the first quarter of fiscal 2018 retroactively to include the results as of April 30, 2017 for comparative purposes. The adoption of ASU 2015-17 does not have a material impact on our consolidated condensed financial statements and related disclosures.

 

At the end of each interim reporting period, the Company estimates the effective income tax rate to apply for the full fiscal year. The Company uses the effective income tax rate determined to provide for income taxes on a year-to-date basis and reflects the tax effect of any tax law changes and certain other discrete events in the period in which they occur.

 

17

 

 

Value Line, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

January 31, 2018

(Unaudited)

 

The provision for income taxes differs from the amount of income tax determined by applying the applicable U.S. statutory income tax rate to pretax income as a result of the following:

 

   

Nine Months Ended January 31,

 
   

2018

   

2017

 

U.S. statutory federal tax rate

    30.33 %     35.00 %

Increase (decrease) in tax rate from:

         

Effect on deferred tax liabilities from federal tax rate reduction to 21%

    -65.87 %     -  

State and local income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit

    1.27 %     -0.39 %

Effect of dividends received deductions

    -0.47 %     -0.29 %

Domestic production tax credit

    -0.13 %     -0.19 %

Other, net

    0.18 %     -0.65 %

Effective income tax rate

    -34.69 %     33.48 %

 

The Company believes that, as of January 31, 2018, there were no material uncertain tax positions that would require disclosure under GAAP.

 

The Company is included in the consolidated federal income tax return of the Parent. The Company has a tax sharing agreement which requires it to make tax payments to the Parent equal to the Company's liability/(benefit) as if it filed a separate return. Beginning with the fiscal year ended April 30, 2017, the Company files combined income tax returns with the Parent on a unitary basis in certain states as a result of changes in state tax regulations. The Company does not anticipate any significant tax implications from the change to unitary state tax filing.

 

The Company’s federal income tax returns (included in the Parent’s consolidated returns) and state and city tax returns for fiscal years ended 2014 through 2017, are subject to examination by the tax authorities, generally for three years after they are filed with the tax authorities. The Company is presently engaged in a federal tax audit for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2015 and does not expect it to have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

 

Note 9 - Property and Equipment:

 

Property and equipment are carried at cost. Depreciation and amortization are provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, or in the case of leasehold improvements, over the remaining terms of the leases. For income tax purposes, depreciation of furniture and equipment is computed using accelerated methods and buildings and leasehold improvements are depreciated over prescribed extended tax lives. Property and equipment, net, on the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets was comprised of the following:

 

   

January 31,

   

April 30,

 

($ in thousands)

 

2018

   

2017

 

Building and leasehold improvements

  $ 1,013     $ 789  

Furniture and equipment

    4,021       3,865  
      5,034       4,654  

Accumulated depreciation and amortization

    (3,601 )     (3,415 )

Total property and equipment, net

  $ 1,433     $ 1,239  

 

 

Note 10 - Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software Developed for Internal Use:

 

The Company has adopted the provisions of the Statement of Position 98-1 (SOP 98-1), "Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software Developed for Internal Use". SOP 98-1 requires companies to capitalize as long-lived assets many of the costs associated with developing or obtaining software for internal use and amortize those costs over the software's estimated useful life in a systematic and rational manner.

 

The Company did not incur and did not capitalize expenditures related to the development of software for internal use during the nine months ended January 31, 2018. The Company capitalized $411,000 related to the development of software for internal use during the nine months ended January 31, 2017. Capitalized software included $215,000 of internal costs to develop software and $196,000 of third party programmers' costs during the nine months ended January 31, 2017. Such costs were capitalized and amortized over the expected useful life of the asset which is 3 to 5 years. Total amortization expenses during the nine months ended January 31, 2018 and January 31, 2017, were $610,000 and $3,558,000, respectively. Additional amortization expense in fiscal 2017 was primarily attributable to the re-evaluation of the useful life of internally developed software costs related to digital security and product production software.

 

 

Note 11 - Treasury Stock and Repurchase Program:

 

On September 19, 2012, the Company's Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of shares of the Company’s common stock up to an aggregate purchase price of $3,000,000. The repurchases may be made from time to time on the open market at prevailing market prices, in negotiated transactions off the market, in block purchases or otherwise. The repurchase program may be suspended or discontinued at any time at the Company’s discretion and has no set expiration date.

 

18

 

 

Value Line, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

January 31, 2018

(Unaudited)

 

Treasury stock, at cost, consists of the following:

 

(in thousands except for shares and cost

per share)

 

Shares

   

Total Average

Cost Assigned

   

Average Cost

per Share

   

Aggregate Purchase Price

Remaining Under the Program

 

Balance as of April 30, 2017 (1)(2)

    288,335     $ 3,781     $ 13.11     $ 609  

Purchases effected in open market during the quarters ended:

                               

July 31, 2017

    2,353       40       17.29       569  

October 31, 2017

    6,512       110       16.90       459  

January 31, 2018

    2,285       41       17.99       418  

Balance as of January 31, 2018

    299,485     $ 3,972     $ 13.26     $ 418  

 

(1) Includes 85,219 shares with a total average cost of $1,036,000 that were acquired during the former repurchase program, which was authorized in January 2011 and expired in January 2012; 18,400 shares were acquired prior to January 2011.

 

(2) Were acquired during the $3 million repurchase program authorized in September 2012.

 

 

Note 12 - Lease Commitments:

 

In February 2017 the Company's headquarters and offices moved to a new location. On November 30, 2016, Value Line, Inc., received consent from the landlord at 551 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY to the terms of a new sublease agreement between Value Line, Inc. and ABM Industries, Incorporated (“ABM” or the “Sublandlord”) commencing on December 1, 2016. Pursuant to the agreement Value Line leased from ABM 24,726 square feet of office space located on the second and third floors at 551 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY (“Building” or “Premises”) beginning on December 1, 2016 and ending on November 29, 2027. Base rent under the sublease agreement is $1,126,000 per annum during the first year with an annual increase in base rent of 2.25% scheduled for each subsequent year, payable in equal monthly installments on the first day of each month, subject to customary concessions in the Company’s favor and pass-through of certain increases in utility costs and real estate taxes over the base year. The Company provided a security deposit represented by a letter of credit in the amount of $469,000 in October 2016, which is scheduled to be reduced to $305,000 on September 30, 2021 and fully refunded after the sublease ends. This Building became the Company’s new corporate office facility. The Company is required to pay for certain operating expenses associated with the Premises as well as utilities supplied to the Premises. The sublease terms provide for a significant decrease (23% initially) in the Company’s annual rental expenditure taking into account free rent for the first six months of the sublease. Sublandlord provided Value Line a work allowance of $417,000 which accompanied with the six months free rent worth $563,000 was applied against the Company’s obligation to pay rent at our NYC headquarters, delaying the actual rent payments until November 2017.

 

On February 29, 2016, the Company’s subsidiary Value Line Distribution Center (“VLDC”) and Seagis Property Group LP (the “Landlord”) entered into a lease agreement, pursuant to which VLDC has leased 24,110 square feet of warehouse and appurtenant office space located at 205 Chubb Ave., Lyndhurst, NJ (“Warehouse”) beginning on May 1, 2016 and ending on April 30, 2024 (“Lease”). Base rent under the Lease is $192,880 per annum payable in equal monthly installments on the first day of each month, in advance during fiscal 2017 and will gradually increase to $237,218 in fiscal 2024, subject to customary increases based on operating costs and real estate taxes. The Company provided a security deposit in cash in the amount of $32,146, which will be fully refunded after the lease term expires. The lease is a net lease requiring the Company to pay for certain operating expenses associated with the Warehouse as well as utilities supplied to the Warehouse.

The total amount of the base rent payments is being charged to expense on the straight-line method over the term of the lease.

 

Future minimum payments, exclusive of potential increases in real estate taxes and operating cost escalations, under operating leases for office space, with remaining terms of one year or more, are as follows:

 

Fiscal Years Ended April 30,

 

($ in thousands)

 
         

2019

  $ 1,366  

2020

    1,399  

2021

    1,432  

2022

    1,506  

2023 and thereafter

    8,496  
    $ 14,199  

 

For the nine months ended January 31, 2018 and 2017, rental expenses were $931,000 and $1,252,000, respectively.

 

 

Note 13 - Restricted Cash and Deposits:

 

Restricted Money Market Investment in the noncurrent assets on the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet at January 31, 2018, includes $469,000, which represents cash invested in a bank money market fund securing a letter of credit ("LOC") in the amount of $469,000 issued to the sublandlord as a security deposit for the Company's NYC leased corporate office facility.

 

19

 

 

Value Line, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

January 31, 2018

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Note 14 - Gain on Sale of Operating Facility:

 

On July 29, 2016, Value Line closed the sale of its 85,000 sq. ft. distribution, fulfillment and warehouse operating facility located at 125 East Union Avenue, East Rutherford, NJ, received net proceeds of $11,555,000 and reported an increment to net profits after tax during the first quarter of fiscal 2017 of approximately $5.28 million. The distribution, fulfillment and warehouse operations were relocated to an alternative 24,110 sq. ft. leased facility (See Note 12).

 

 

Note 15 - Concentration:

 

During the nine months ended January 31, 2018, 17% of total publishing revenues of $26,997,000 were derived from a single customer.

 

20

 
 

 

 

Item 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

 

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

 

This report contains statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions (including certain projections and business trends) accompanied by such phrases as “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “will”, “intend” and other similar or negative expressions, that are “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Actual results for Value Line, Inc. (“Value Line” or “the Company”) may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the following:

 

 

maintaining revenue from subscriptions for the Company’s digital and print published products;

 

changes in market and economic conditions, including global financial issues;

 

protection of intellectual property rights;

 

dependence on non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests in EULAV Asset Management, a Delaware statutory trust (“EAM” or “EAM Trust”), which serves as the investment advisor to the Value Line Funds and engages in related distribution, marketing and administrative services;

 

fluctuations in EAM’s assets under management due to broadly based changes in the values of equity and debt securities, redemptions by investors and other factors, and the effect these changes may have on the valuation of EAM’s intangible assets;

  generating future revenues or collection of receivables from significant customers; 
 

dependence on key personnel;

 

competition in the fields of publishing, copyright data and investment management;

 

the impact of government regulation on the Company’s and EAM’s businesses;

 

availability of free or low cost investment data through discount brokers or generally over the internet;

 

terrorist attacks, cyber attacks and natural disasters;

 

other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the risks described in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 30, 2017 and in Part II, Item 1A of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended January 31, 2018; and other risks and uncertainties arising from time to time.

 

These factors are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any of our forward-looking statements. Other unknown or unpredictable factors which may involve external factors over which we may have no control or changes in our plans, strategies, objectives, expectations or intentions, which may happen at any time at our discretion, could also have material adverse effects on future results. Except as otherwise required to be disclosed in periodic reports required to be filed by public companies with the SEC pursuant to the SEC's rules, we have no duty to update these statements, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In light of these risks and uncertainties, current plans, anticipated actions, and future financial conditions and results may differ from those expressed in any forward-looking information contained herein.

 

In this report, “Value Line,” “we,” “us,” “our” refers to Value Line, Inc. and the “Company” refers to Value Line and its subsidiaries unless the context otherwise requires.

 

21

 

 

Executive Summary of the Business

 

The Company's core business is producing investment periodicals and their underlying research and making available copyright data, including certain proprietary Ranking System and other proprietary information, to third parties under written agreements for use in third-party managed and marketed investment products and for other purposes. Value Line markets under well-known brands including Value Line®, the Value Line logo®, The Value Line Investment Survey®, Smart Research, Smarter Investing™ and The Most Trusted Name in Investment Research®. The name "Value Line" as used to describe the Company, its products, and its subsidiaries, is a registered trademark of the Company. Effective December 23, 2010, EULAV Asset Management Trust (“EAM”) was established to provide the investment management services to the Value Line Funds, institutional and individual accounts and provide distribution, marketing, and administrative services to the Value Line® Mutual Funds ("Value Line Funds"). The Company maintains a significant investment in EAM from which it receives payments in respect of its non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests.

 

The Company’s target audiences within the investment research field are individual investors, colleges, libraries, and investment management professionals. Individuals come to Value Line for complete research in one package. Institutional licensees consist of corporations, financial professionals, colleges, and municipal libraries. Libraries and universities offer the Company’s detailed research to their patrons and students. Investment management professionals use the research and historical information in their day-to-day businesses. The Company has a dedicated department that solicits institutional subscriptions.

 

Payments received for new and renewal subscriptions and the value of receivables for amounts billed to retail and institutional customers are recorded as unearned revenue until the order is fulfilled. As the orders are fulfilled, the Company recognizes revenue in equal installments over the life of the particular subscription. Accordingly, the subscription fees to be earned by fulfilling subscriptions after the date of a particular balance sheet are shown on that balance sheet as unearned revenue within current and long-term liabilities.

 

The investment periodicals and related publications (retail and institutional) and fees from copyright data including the proprietary Ranking System information and other proprietary information consolidate into one segment called Publishing.

 

The Company’s move to new headquarters in February 2017 resulted in lower rent expense over the term of the sublease.

 

Asset Management and Mutual Fund Distribution Businesses

 

The business of EAM is managed by its trustees each owning 20% of the voting profits interest in EAM and by its officers subject to the direction of the trustees. The Company’s non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests in EAM entitle it to receive a range of 41% to 55% of EAM’s revenues (excluding distribution revenues) from EAM’s mutual fund and separate account business and 50% of the residual profits of EAM (subject to temporary increase in certain limited circumstances). The Voting Profits Interest Holders will receive the other 50% of residual profits of EAM. Distribution is not less than 90% of EAM’s profits payable each fiscal quarter under the provisions of the EAM Trust Agreement. Value Line’s percent share of EAM’s revenues calculated each fiscal quarter was 49.73%, 50.28% and 50.88% during the first, second and third quarters of fiscal 2018, respectively, and 49.45%, 49.14% and 49.19% during the first, second and third quarters of fiscal 2017, respectively.

 

Pursuant to the EAM Declaration of Trust, the Company granted EAM the right to use the Value Line name for all existing Value Line Funds and agreed to supply the Value Line proprietary Ranking System information to EAM without charge or expense.

 

22

 

 

Business Environment 

 

The nation's long business expansion, which is now approaching a decade in duration, continues to press ahead. On point, after a trio of solid quarterly increases in the gross domestic product to close out the final nine months of 2017, recent trends in employment, wage growth, personal income and spending, and the leading indicators suggest that the opening three months of this year will bring additional improvement. 

 

Encouragingly, this latest buildup in economic momentum seems likely to continue this year. True, there could be some early-year choppiness, as there often is during the seasonally low  opening period, although weather-related  issues have been less numerous than in recent years. Meanwhile, once spring arrives, GDP should kick into somewhat higher gear, with growth moving back up into the 3% range that was in place during the middle quarters of last year. The likely improvement should be driven by increases in infrastructure spending, gains in industrial activity, additional durability in housing, and solid levels of consumer spending by a public that, for the most part, has seen its wealth expand due to the historic bull market, increasing pay checks and rising real estate values.

 

Of course, few up cycles continue without interruption, and this one figures to be no exception. And although we do not see a recession on the horizon--with the current expansion likely to last into the early years of the next decade given the absence of growth or inflation excesses to date--there are risks that should not be dismissed. Chief among these would be the failure of fiscal initiative and monetary policy adjustments to keep the economic ball rolling without inviting major overheating. Other risks would be serious political headwinds at home or damaging flare-ups overseas.

 

For now, though, the business outlook continues to be bright and this is helping to keep the stock market at a high level, albeit with a few high-profile reversals along the way, as P/E ratios remain at the upper end of their historic range. 

 

 

Results of Operations for the Three and Nine Months Ended January 31, 2018 and January 31, 2017

 

The following table illustrates the Company’s key components of revenues and expenses.

 

   

Three Months Ended January 31,

   

Nine Months Ended January 31,

 

($ in thousands, except earnings per share)

 

2018

   

2017

   

Change

   

2018

   

2017

   

Change

 

Income from operations including gain on sale of operating facility in fiscal 2017

  $ 787     $ (212 )  

#N/A

    $ 2,760     $ 7,948       -65.3 %

Non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests from EAM Trust

  $ 2,284     $ 1,934       18.1 %     6,657       5,782       15.1 %

Income from operations plus non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests from EAM Trust

  $ 3,071     $ 1,722       78.3 %   $ 9,417     $ 13,730       -31.4 %

Operating expenses

  $ 8,307     $ 8,859       -6.2 %   $ 24,237     $ 25,993       -6.8 %

Income from securities transactions, net

  $ 258     $ 132       95.5 %   $ 445     $ 226       96.9 %

Income before income taxes

  $ 3,329     $ 1,854       79.6 %   $ 9,862     $ 13,956       -29.3 %

Net income

  $ 8,996     $ 1,445       522.6 %   $ 13,283     $ 9,283       43.1 %

Earnings per share

  $ 0.93     $ 0.15       520.0 %   $ 1.37     $ 0.96       42.7 %

 

23

 

 

During the nine months ended January 31, 2018, the Company’s net income of $13,283,000, or $1.37 per share, was $4,000,000 or 43.1% above net income of $9,283,000, or $0.96 per share, for the nine months ended January 31, 2017.  During the nine months ended January 31, 2018 there were 9,705,347 average common shares outstanding as compared to 9,724,377 average common shares outstanding during the nine months ended January 31, 2017.  Income from operations of $2,760,000 during the nine months ended January 31, 2018 was $5,188,000 below income from operations of $7,948,000, which included a pre-tax gain of $8,123,000 from the sale of the Company's operating facility during the nine months ended January 31, 2017 for which it received net proceeds of $11,555,000 on July 29, 2016.  During the three months ended January 31, 2018, the Company’s net income of $8,996,000, or $0.93 per share, was $7,551,000 above net income of $1,445,000, or $0.15 per share, for the three months ended January 31, 2017 due to the fiscal 2018 reduction in the U.S. statutory federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% on the Company’s long-term deferred tax liabilities, resulting in a tax benefit of 65.87% of pre-tax income for the nine months ended January 31, 2018.  The Company re-calculated its net deferred tax assets and liabilities using the Federal Tax Rate under the Tax Act.  The effect of the re-calculation is reflected entirely in the third quarter ended January 31, 2018 (the period that includes the enactment date) and is allocated directly to both current and deferred income tax expenses from continuing operations.  The decrease in income from operations during the nine months ended January 31, 2018, was partially offset by a $2,913,000 decrease in depreciation and amortization expense in fiscal year 2018.

 

Total operating revenues  

 

   

Three Months Ended January 31,

   

Nine Months Ended January 31,

 

($ in thousands)

 

2018

   

2017

   

Change

   

2018

   

2017

   

Change

 

Investment periodicals and related publications:

                                               

Print

  $ 3,479     $ 3,446       1.0 %   $ 10,405     $ 10,601       -1.8 %

Digital

    3,912       4,022       -2.7 %     11,852       12,146       -2.4 %

Total investment periodicals and related publications

    7,391       7,468       -1.0 %     22,257       22,747       -2.2 %

Copyright data fees

    1,703       1,179       44.4 %     4,740       3,071       54.3 %

Total publishing revenues

    9,094       8,647       5.2 %     26,997       25,818       4.6 %

Gain on sale of operating facility

    -       -       n/a       -       8,123       n/a  

Total revenues

  $ 9,094     $ 8,647       5.2 %   $ 26,997     $ 33,941       -20.5 %

 

 

Within investment periodicals and related publications, subscription sales orders are derived from print and digital products. The following chart illustrates the changes in the sales orders associated with print and digital subscriptions. 

 

  Sources of subscription sales

 

   

Three Months Ended January 31,

   

Nine Months Ended January 31,

 
   

2018

           

2017

           

2018

           

2017

         
   

Print

   

Digital

   

Print

   

Digital

   

Print

   

Digital

   

Print

   

Digital

 

New Sales

    15.3 %     14.2 %     10.3 %     13.4 %     16.1 %     15.2 %     12.7 %     16.2 %

Conversion and Renewal Sales

    84.7 %     85.8 %     89.7 %     86.6 %     83.9 %     84.8 %     87.3 %     83.8 %

Total Gross Sales

    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %

 

During the nine months ended January 31, 2018 new sales of print publications increased as a percent of the total gross print sales as a result of an increase in new print retail sales orders while conversion and renewal sales of print orders decreased from the prior fiscal year.  New sales of digital publications decreased as a percent of the total gross digital sales as a result of a decrease in new digital retail sales orders, related to a two-year trend of lower advertising expenditures.  Conversion and renewal sales of digital services slightly increased as a percent of the total gross digital sales over the prior fiscal year as a result of a slower decline than the decline in new sales due to efforts by our in-house Retail and Institutional Sales departments.

 

24

 

 

   

As of

January 31,

   

As of

April 30,

   

As of

January 31,

   

Change

 

($ in thousands)

 

2018

   

2017

   

2017

   

Jan-18 vs.

Apr-17

   

Jan-18 vs.

Jan-17

 

Unearned subscription revenue (current and long-term liabilities)

  $ 24,112     $ 25,659     $ 24,239       -6.0 %     -0.5 %

 

Unearned subscription revenue as of January 31, 2018 is comparable to January 31, 2017 and is 6.0% below April 30, 2017. The decline from April 30, 2017, reflects both the timing of advertising for order generation and the fact that April 30th is the usual annual peak. A certain amount of variation is to be expected due to the volume of new orders and timing of renewal orders, direct mail campaigns and large Institutional Sales orders.

 

Investment periodicals and related publications revenues

 

Investment periodicals and related publications revenues of $22,257,000 decreased $490,000, or 2.2%, for the nine months ended January 31, 2018, as compared to the prior fiscal year. The Company continued its efforts to attract new subscribers through various marketing channels, primarily direct mail, e-mail, and by the efforts of our sales personnel. Total product line circulation at January 31, 2018 was 3.7% below total product line circulation at January 31, 2017. The Company has been successful in growing revenues from digitally-delivered investment periodicals within the institutional market. Institutional Sales generated total sales orders of $9,789,000 for the nine months ended January 31, 2018 which were 1.1%, above comparable total sales orders of $9,687,000 for the nine months ended January 31, 2017. Revenues from institutional subscribers increased 1.6% above the prior fiscal year. This revenue growth continues a positive trend for Institutional Sales, but is not sufficient to wholly offset the lost revenues from retail subscribers. We have also benefited from the ability to realize modest price increases as well as “converting” an increased volume of customers from lower cost retail to the more robust professional priced services. The retail telemarketing sales team generated total sales orders of $6,102,000 for the nine months ended January 31, 2018 which compares to $6,661,000 in the prior fiscal year.     

 

Print publication revenues of $10,405,000 decreased $196,000 or 1.8% for the nine months ended January 31, 2018 as compared to the prior fiscal year. Revenues from institutional print publications increased $146,000 or 8.6% while print publications revenues from retail subscribers decreased $342,000 or 3.8% for the nine months ended January 31, 2018, as compared to the prior fiscal year. Total print circulation at January 31, 2018 was 3.1% above total print circulation at January 31, 2017. Digital publications revenues of $11,852,000 during the nine months ended January 31, 2018 were $294,000 or 2.4% below the prior fiscal year. Revenues from institutional digital publications increased less than 1% as compared to the prior fiscal year. Digital publications revenues from retail subscribers decreased $315,000 or 9.5% as compared to the prior fiscal year. Total digital circulation at January 31, 2018 was 12.6% below total digital circulation at January 31, 2017.           

 

25

 

 

Value Line serves primarily individual and professional investors in stocks, who pay, primarily on annual subscription plans, for basic services or as much as $100,000 or more annually for comprehensive premium quality research, not obtainable elsewhere. The ongoing goal of adding new subscribers has led us to experiment with varying terms for our reliable, proprietary research including periods of intensive promotion of “starter” services and publications.

 

Copyright data fees

 

The Value Line proprietary Ranking System information (the “Ranking System”), a component of the Company’s flagship product, The Value Line Investment Survey, is also utilized in the Company’s copyright data business. The Ranking System is made available to EAM for specific uses without charge. The Ranking System is designed to be predictive over a six to twelve month period. For the six month period ended January 31, 2018, the combined Ranking System “Rank 1 & 2” stocks’ increase of 13.2% outperformed the Russell 2000 index’s increase of 10.5% during the comparable period. For the twelve month period ended January 31, 2018, the combined Ranking System “Rank 1 & 2” stocks’ increase of 16.0% outperformed the Russell 2000 index’s increase of 15.7% during the comparable period.

 

During the three and nine months ended January 31, 2018, copyright data fees of $1,703,000 and $4,740,000, respectively, were 44.4% and 54.3%, respectively, above the prior fiscal year. As of January 31, 2018, total third party sponsored assets were attributable to three contracts for copyright data representing $4.4 billion in various products, as compared to three contracts for copyright data representing $3.2 billion in assets at January 31, 2017.

 

The Company believes this part of the business is dependent upon the desire of third parties to use the Value Line trademarks and proprietary research for their products, on competition and on fluctuations in segments of the equity markets. Our quantitative specialists are seeking to develop and confirm reliable models for additional copyright data products.

 

Gain on sale of operating facility

 

On July 29, 2016, Value Line closed the sale of its 85,000 sq. ft. distribution, fulfillment and warehouse operating facility located at 125 East Union Avenue, East Rutherford, NJ, received net proceeds of $11,555,000 and reported an increment to net profits after tax during the first quarter of fiscal 2017 of approximately $5.2 million. The distribution, fulfillment and warehouse operations were relocated to an alternative 24,110 sq. ft. leased facility.

 

Investment management fees and services – (unconsolidated)

 

The Company has a substantial non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests in EAM, the asset manager to the Value Line Mutual Funds. Accordingly, the Company does not report this operation as a separate business segment, although it maintains a significant interest in the cash flows generated by this business and will receive ongoing payments in respect of its non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests.

 

Total assets in the Value Line Funds managed and/or distributed by EAM at January 31, 2018, were $2.6 billion, which is $300 million, or 13%, above total assets of $2.2 billion in the Value Line Funds managed and/or distributed by EAM at January 31, 2017. The increase reflects successful investment selection capturing market appreciation, offset by net redemptions in nine of the eleven Value Line Funds over the twelve month period ended January 31, 2018.

 

26

 

 

Shares of Value Line Strategic Asset Management Trust (“SAM”) and Value Line Centurion Fund (“Centurion”) are within certain variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts issued by The Guardian Insurance & Annuity Company, Inc. (“GIAC”); new contracts of this type are no longer sold.

 

Value Line Mutual Funds

 

   

As of January 31,

 

($ in millions)

 

2018

   

2017

   

Change

 

Variable annuity assets ("GIAC")

  $ 418     $ 419       -0.2 %

All other open end equity and hybrid fund assets

    2,078       1,754       18.5 %

Total equity and hybrid funds

    2,496       2,173       14.9 %

Fixed income funds

    116       129       -10.1 %

Total EAM managed net assets

  $ 2,612     $ 2,302       13.5 %

 

The Daily Income Fund managed by Reich & Tang Asset Management LLC was liquidated on July 29, 2015. Since then the Value Line Fund shareholders have been provided a money market fund alternative investment managed by Federated Government Obligations Fund.

 

EAM has successfully broadened distribution, particularly within the Adviser/Independent Broker Dealer (“IBD”) channel. Assets in that channel are up $105 million or 17% year over year as a result of market appreciation. The channel accounts for approximately 61% of gross sales for the year.   Due to stronger gross annual sales than that of the prior year, the Advisor/IBD channel continues to be positive and the leading channel for net sales for the period. The marketing efforts have led to clients of over 4,000 financial advisers (individual reps or RIAs) owning a Value Line fund as of January 31, 2018. The largest distribution channel for the Value Line Funds remains the fund supermarket platforms such as Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., Fidelity, Pershing and E-Trade.

 

As of January 31, 2018, four of six Value Line equity and hybrid mutual funds, excluding SAM and Centurion, held an overall four or five star rating by Morningstar, Inc. As of January 31, 2018, three of the six equity and hybrid funds were in the top quintile of their respective peer groups for the one year period, and three of the six funds were in the top quintile for the three year period according to Morningstar.

 

Several of the Value Line Funds have received national recognition.  The Value Line Mid-Cap Focused Fund, the Value Line Small Cap Opportunities Fund and the Value Line Income and Growth Fund have been named “Category Kings” in The Wall Street Journal in multiple months in calendar 2017.

 

EAM Trust - Results of operations before distribution to interest holders

 

The overall results of EAM’s investment management operations during the nine months ended January 31, 2018, before interest holder distributions, included total investment management fees earned from the Value Line Funds of $12,096,000, 12b-1 fees and other fees of $4,844,000 and other income of $156,000 which included dividend, interest and licensing fees income. For the same period, total investment management fee waivers were $392,000 and 12b-1 fee waivers for four Value Line Funds were $583,000. During the nine months ended January 31, 2018, EAM's net income was $1,166,000 after giving effect to Value Line’s non-voting revenues interest of $6,074,000, but before distributions to voting profits interest holders and to the Company in respect of its 50% non-voting profits interest.

 

27

 

 

The overall results of EAM’s investment management operations during the nine months ended January 31, 2017, before interest holder distributions, included total investment management fees earned from the Value Line Funds of $10,991,000, 12b-1 fees and other fees of $4,357,000 and other income of $136,000 which includes, dividend, interest and licensing fees income. For the same period, total investment management fee waivers were $308,000 and 12b-1 fee waivers for four Value Line Funds were $700,000. During the nine months ended January 31, 2017, EAM's net income was $786,000 after giving effect to Value Line’s non-voting revenues interest of $5,389,000, but before distributions to voting profits interest holders and to the Company in respect of its 50% non-voting profits interest.

 

As of January 31, 2018, three of the Value Line Funds have all or a portion of the 12b-1 fees being waived, and one fund has partial investment management fee waivers in place. Although, under the terms of the EAM Declaration of Trust, the Company no longer receives or shares in the revenues from 12b-1 distribution fees, the Company could benefit from the fee waivers to the extent that the resulting reduction of expense ratios and enhancement of the performance of the Value Line Funds attracts new assets.

 

The Value Line equity and hybrid funds assets represent 79.6%, variable annuity funds issued by GIAC represent 16.0%, and fixed income fund assets represent 4.4%, respectively, of total fund assets under management (“AUM”) as of January 31, 2018. At January 31, 2018, equity, hybrid and GIAC variable annuities AUM increased by 14.9% and fixed income AUM decreased by 10.1% as compared to the prior fiscal year.

 

EAM - The Company’s non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests

 

The Company holds non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests in EAM which entitle the Company to receive from EAM an amount ranging from 41% to 55% of EAM's investment management fee revenues from its mutual fund and separate accounts business, and 50% of EAM’s net profits, not less than 90% of which is distributed in cash every fiscal quarter.

 

The Company recorded income from its non-voting revenues interest and its non-voting profits interest in EAM as follows:

 

   

Three Months Ended January 31,

   

Nine Months Ended January 31,

 

($ in thousands)

 

2018

   

2017

   

Change

   

2018

   

2017

   

Change

 

Non-voting revenues interest

  $ 2,057     $ 1,803       14.1 %   $ 6,074     $ 5,389       12.7 %

Non-voting profits interest

    227       131       73.3 %     583       393       48.3 %
    $ 2,284     $ 1,934       18.1 %   $ 6,657     $ 5,782       15.1 %

 

During the nine months ended January 31, 2018 and January 31, 2017, the Company recorded revenues of $6,657,000 and $5,782,000, respectively, consisting of $6,074,000 and $5,389,000, from its non-voting revenues interest in EAM and $583,000 and $393,000, from its non-voting profits interest in EAM without incurring any directly related expenses.

 

28

 

 

Operating expenses

 

   

Three Months Ended January 31,

   

Nine Months Ended January 31,

 

($ in thousands)

 

2018

   

2017

   

Change

   

2018

   

2017

   

Change

 

Advertising and promotion

  $ 1,096     $ 908       20.7 %   $ 2,718     $ 2,436       11.6 %

Salaries and employee benefits

    4,739       4,621       2.6 %     13,813       12,830       7.7 %

Production and distribution

    1,524       2,134       -28.6 %     4,322       6,958       -37.9 %

Office and administration

    948       1,196       -20.7 %     3,384       3,769       -10.2 %

Total expenses

  $ 8,307     $ 8,859       -6.2 %   $ 24,237     $ 25,993       -6.8 %

 

Expenses within the Company are categorized into advertising and promotion, salaries and benefits, production and distribution, office and administration.

 

Operating expenses of $24,237,000 for the nine months ended January 31, 2018 decreased $1,756,000, or 6.8%, as compared to the nine months ended January 31, 2017 primarily due to a $2,913,000 decrease in depreciation and amortization expense partially offset by a $282,000 increase in advertising expenses and a $983,000 increase in salaries and employee benefits in fiscal 2018. During the three months ended January 31, 2018 operating expenses of $8,307,000 decreased $552,000, or 6.2%, as compared to the three months ended January 31, 2017 primarily due to a $619,000 decrease in depreciation and amortization expense partially offset by a $188,000 increase in advertising expenses and a $118,000 increase in salaries and employee benefits during the third quarter of fiscal 2018 as compared to the third quarter of the prior fiscal year.

 

Advertising and promotion

 

During the three and nine months ended January 31, 2018, advertising and promotion expenses of $1,096,000 and $2,718,000, respectively, increased $188,000 and $282,000, respectively, as compared to the prior fiscal year primarily due to an increase in media advertising expense. Direct marketing expenses of $889,000 during the nine months ended January 31, 2018 increased $170,000 as compared to the prior fiscal year due to the increases in expenses for The Value Line Investment Survey and The Value Line Special Situations in fiscal 2018

 

Salaries and employee benefits

 

During the three and nine months ended January 31, 2018 salaries and employee benefits of $4,739,000 and $13,813,000, respectively, increased $118,000 and $983,000, respectively, above those of the prior fiscal year’s which included the effect of a decrease of $215,000 in the capitalization of internal salaries and benefits expenses for digital project development during the nine months ended January 31, 2018, as compared to the prior fiscal year.  The remaining increases in salaries and employee benefits, primarily in the Information Technology department (“IT”) related to the Company’s digital infrastructure and production processes, and Research and Quantitative Research departments. 

 

29

 

 

Production and distribution

 

During the three and nine months ended January 31, 2018 production and distribution expenses of $1,524,000 and $4,322,000, respectively, decreased $610,000 and $2,636,000, respectively, as compared to the prior fiscal year. During the nine months ended January 31, 2018 a decrease of $2,945,000 was attributable to a decline in amortization of internally developed software costs related to digital security and product production software. During the nine months ended January 31, 2018 the decrease in production costs was partially offset by a $280,000 increase in production support of the Company’s website, maintenance of the Company’s publishing and application software and operating systems and web “framework”.

 

Office and administration

 

During the three and nine months ended January 31, 2018 office and administration expenses of $948,000 and $3,384,000, respectively, decreased $248,000 and $385,000, respectively, as compared to the prior fiscal year. During the nine months ended January 31, 2018 a decrease in office and administration expenses was primarily as a result of a $321,000 decrease in the cost of space rental due to lower rent payments resulting from the sub-lease agreement with ABM Industries, Incorporated (“ABM” or the “Sublandlord”). In accordance with GAAP, we allocated the benefit of the free rent period and other concessions over the term of our new NYC sublease, commenced on December 1, 2016. In fact, however, the Company did not pay cash rent for the new New York City office facility from December 2016 through October 2017. Additional decreases include $109,000 savings in real estate taxes due to the relocation of VLDC operations to a new leased NJ facility upon the sale of the operating facility in July 2016 and relocation of the NYC office to a new smaller facility at 551 Fifth Ave., NY in February 2017.

 

Concentration 

 

During the nine months ended January 31, 2018, 17% of total publishing revenues of $26,997,000 were derived from a single customer.

 

Income from Securities Transactions, net

 

During the three months ended January 31, 2018 and January 31, 2017 the Company’s income from securities transactions, net, primarily derived from dividend income, was $258,000 and $132,000, respectively. During the nine months ended January 31, 2018 and January 31, 2017 the Company’s income from securities transactions, net, primarily derived from dividend income, was $445,000 and $226,000, respectively. There were no sales, or gains or losses from sales of equity securities during the nine months ended January 31, 2018. Proceeds from maturities and sales of government debt securities classified as available-for-sale during the nine months ended January 31, 2018 were $1,634,000. Proceeds from equity securities classified as available-for-sale were $152,000 and $14,000 during the nine months ended January 31, 2018 and January 31, 2017, respectively. There were no sales or proceeds from sales of government debt securities in fiscal 2017. In fiscal 2018 income from securities transactions, net, included capital gain distribution from ETFs of $152,000 which compares to capital gain distribution from ETFs of $39,000 in fiscal 2017.

 

Lease Commitments

 

In February 2017 the Company's headquarters and offices moved to a new location. On November 30, 2016, Value Line, Inc., received consent from the landlord at 551 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY to the terms of a new sublease agreement between Value Line, Inc. and ABM Industries, Incorporated commencing on December 1, 2016. Pursuant to the agreement Value Line leased from ABM 24,726 square feet of office space located on the second and third floors at 551 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY (“Building” or “Premises”) beginning on December 1, 2016 and ending on November 29, 2027. Base rent under the sublease agreement is $1,126,000 per annum during the first year with an annual increase in base rent of 2.25% scheduled for each subsequent year, payable in equal monthly installments on the first day of each month, subject to customary concessions in the Company’s favor and pass-through of certain increases in utility costs and real estate taxes over the base year. The Company provided a security deposit represented by a letter of credit in the amount of $469,000 in October 2016, which is scheduled to be reduced to $305,000 on September 30, 2021 and fully refunded after the sublease ends. This Building became the Company’s new corporate office facility. The Company is required to pay for certain operating expenses associated with the Premises as well as utilities supplied to the Premises. The sublease terms provide for a significant decrease (23% initially) in the Company’s annual rental expenditure taking into account free rent for the first six months of the sublease. Sublandlord provided Value Line a work allowance of $417,000 which accompanied with the six months free rent worth $563,000 was applied against the Company’s obligation to pay rent at our NYC headquarters, delaying the actual rent payments until November 2017.

 

30

 

 

On February 29, 2016, the Company’s subsidiary Value Line Distribution Center (“VLDC”) and Seagis Property Group LP (the “Landlord”) entered into a lease agreement, pursuant to which VLDC has leased 24,110 square feet of warehouse and appurtenant office space located at 205 Chubb Ave., Lyndhurst, NJ (“Warehouse”) beginning on May 1, 2016 and ending on April 30, 2024 (“Lease”). Base rent under the Lease is $192,880 per annum payable in equal monthly installments on the first day of each month, in advance during fiscal 2017 and will gradually increase to $237,218 in fiscal 2024, subject to customary increases based on operating costs and real estate taxes. The Company provided a security deposit in cash in the amount of $32,146, which will be fully refunded after the lease term expires. The lease is a net lease requiring the Company to pay for certain operating expenses associated with the Warehouse as well as utilities supplied to the Warehouse.

 

Effective income tax rate 

 

The overall effective income tax rates, as a percentage of pre-tax ordinary income for the nine months ended January 31, 2018 and January 31, 2017 were (34.69%) and 33.48%, respectively. The aforementioned reduction in the income tax rate results in a tax benefit of 65.87% of pre-tax income for the nine months ended January 31, 2018, primarily attributable to the effect on the long-term deferred tax liability.  The Company re-calculated its net deferred tax assets and liabilities using the Federal Tax Rate under the Tax Act.  The effect of the re-calculation is reflected entirely in the third quarter ended January 31, 2018 (the period that includes the enactment date) and is allocated directly to both current and deferred income tax expenses from continuing operations.  The Company's annualized overall effective tax rate fluctuates due to a number of factors, in addition to the new tax law, including but not limited to an increase or decrease in the ratio of items that do not have tax consequences to pre-tax income, the Company's geographic profit mix between tax jurisdictions, taxation method adopted by each locality, new interpretations of existing tax laws and rulings and settlements with tax authorities.  

 

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

The Company had working capital, defined as current assets less current liabilities, of $2,008,000 as of January 31, 2018 and working capital of $1,200,000 as of April 30, 2017. These amounts include short term unearned revenue of $18,361,000 and $20,188,000 reflected in total current liabilities at January 31, 2018 and April 30, 2017, respectively. Cash and short term securities were $22,622,000 and $23,133,000 as of January 31, 2018 and April 30, 2017, respectively.

 

The Company’s cash and cash equivalents include $3,716,000 and $6,066,000 at January 31, 2018 and April 30, 2017, respectively, invested primarily in Money Market Funds at brokers, which operate under Rule 2a-7 of the 1940 Securities and Exchange Act and invest primarily in short term U.S. government securities.

 

Cash from operating activities

 

The Company had cash outflows from operating activities of $2,232,000 during the nine months ended January 31, 2018 compared to cash outflows from operations of $5,241,000 during the nine months ended January 31, 2017.  The decrease in cash outflows from fiscal 2017 to fiscal 2018 was primarily attributable to the payment of federal state and local income taxes on the sale of the Company’s operating facility in fiscal 2017, partially offset by the timing of receipts from accounts receivable, payments of invoices to relocate the Company’s operating facilities and the timing of prepaid expenses. 

 

Cash from investing activities

 

The Company’s cash inflows from investing activities of $5,327,000 during the nine months ended January 31, 2018, compared to cash inflows from investing activities of $4,293,000 for the nine months ended January 31, 2017. During fiscal 2018, the Company continued to invest in fixed income securities. During the nine months ended January 31, 2017, the Company invested $11,089,000 in fixed income and equity securities from the net proceeds of $11,555,000 received from sale of the Company’s operating facility and invested $469,000 in a bank money market fund and pledged this investment to represent cash securing a Bank Letter of Credit issued to the sublandlord as a security deposit for the Company's new leased corporate office facility.

 

31

 

 

Cash from financing activities

 

During the nine months ended January 31, 2018, the Company’s cash outflows from financing activities were $5,434,000 and compared to cash outflows from financing activities of $5,646,000 for the nine months ended January 31, 2017. Cash outflows for financing activities included $191,000 and $681,000 for the repurchase of 11,150 and 41,461 shares of the Company’s common stock under the September 19, 2012 board approved common stock repurchase program, during fiscal years 2018 and 2017, respectively. Quarterly dividend payments of $0.18 per share during the nine months ended January 31, 2018 aggregated $5,243,000 as compared to $4,965,000 aggregated quarterly dividend payments of $0.17 per share during the nine months ended January 31, 2017.

 

On January 19, 2018, the Board of Directors of Value Line declared a quarterly dividend of $0.18 per share and a special dividend of $0.20 per share. At January 31, 2018 there were 9,700,515 common shares outstanding as compared to 9,715,128 common shares outstanding at January 31, 2017. The Company expects financing activities to continue to include use of cash for dividend payments and common share repurchases for the foreseeable future.    

 

Management believes that the Company’s cash and other liquid asset resources used in its business together with the future cash flows from operations and from the Company’s non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests in EAM will be sufficient to finance current and forecasted liquidity needs for the next twelve months. Management does not anticipate making any borrowings during the next twelve months. As of January 31, 2018, retained earnings and liquid assets were $45,288,000 and $22,622,000, respectively.

 

Seasonality

 

Our publishing revenues are comprised of subscriptions which are generally annual subscriptions, paid in advance. Our cash flows from operating activities are minimally seasonal in nature, primarily due to the timing of customer payments made for orders and subscription renewals.

 

Off-balance sheet arrangements

 

We are not a party to any off-balance sheet arrangements, other than operating leases entered into in the ordinary course of business.

  

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Income taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes. Under existing standards, deferred taxes for each tax-paying jurisdiction are presented as a net current asset or liability and net long-term asset or liability. To simplify presentation, the new guidance will require that all deferred tax assets and liabilities, along with related valuation allowances, be classified as long-term on the balance sheet. As a result, each tax-paying jurisdiction will now only have one net long-term asset or liability. The new guidance does not change the existing requirement that prohibits offsetting deferred tax liabilities from one jurisdiction against deferred tax assets of another jurisdiction. ASU 2015-17 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016, which will be our fiscal year 2018 beginning May 1, 2017. Due to the full valuation allowance on our U.S. deferred tax assets, we do not expect the adoption of ASU 2015-17 to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU 2016-02").  The core principle of Topic 842 requires that a lessee should recognize the assets and liabilities on the balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements.  The amendments in ASU 2016-2 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years.  The guidance is required to be adopted at the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach.  The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of this standard on the consolidated financial statements.

 

In August, 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-15, Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments ( a consensus of the Emerging Issues Task Force) ( “ASU 2016-15”). The amendments in ASU 2016-15 address eight specific cash flow issues and apply to all entities that are required to present a statement of cash flows under ASC Topic 230, Statement of Cash Flows. The amendments in ASU 2016-15 are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption during an interim period. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of this standard on the consolidated financial statements.

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)”, which requires an entity to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which it expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In addition, ASU No. 2014-09 requires disclosures of the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. ASU No. 2014-09 supersedes most existing U.S. GAAP revenue recognition principles, and it permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. ASU No. 2014-09 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those annual periods.  The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU No. 2014-09 will have on its consolidated condensed financial statements and related disclosures, as well as the expected method of adoption. The Company plans to adopt ASU No. 2014-09 in the first quarter of fiscal 2019, and does not believe it will have a material impact on its consolidated condensed financial statements and related disclosures.

 

Critical Accounting Estimates and Policies

 

The Company prepares its Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements in accordance with accepted accounting principles as in effect in the United States (U.S. “GAAP”). The preparation of these financial statements requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent, and the Company evaluates its estimates on an ongoing basis. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. The Company believes the following critical accounting policies reflect the significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of its Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

 

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Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

 

Market Risk Disclosures

 

The Company’s Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet includes a substantial amount of assets whose fair values are subject to market risks. The Company’s market risks are primarily associated with interest rates and equity price risk. The following sections address the significant market risks associated with the Company’s investment activities.

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

The Company’s strategy has been to acquire debt securities with low credit risk. Despite this strategy management recognizes and accepts the possibility that losses may occur. To limit the price fluctuation in these securities from interest rate changes, the Company’s management invests primarily in short-term obligations maturing within one year.

 

The fair values of the Company’s fixed maturity investments will fluctuate in response to changes in market interest rates. Increases and decreases in prevailing interest rates generally translate into decreases and increases in fair values of those instruments. Additionally, fair values of interest rate sensitive instruments may be affected by prepayment options, relative values of alternative investments, and other general market conditions.

 

Fixed income securities consist of certificates of deposits and securities issued by federal, state and local governments within the United States. As of January 31, 2018 and April 30, 2017 the aggregate cost of fixed income securities classified as available-for-sale were $8,486,000 and $7,484,000, respectively, and fair value was $8,478,000 and $7,479,000, respectively.

 

The following table summarizes the estimated effects of hypothetical increases and decreases in interest rates on assets that are subject to interest rate risk. It is assumed that the changes occur immediately and uniformly to each category of instrument containing interest rate risks. The hypothetical changes in market interest rates do not reflect what could be deemed best or worst case scenarios. Variations in market interest rates could produce significant changes in the timing of repayments due to prepayment options available. For these reasons, actual results might differ from those reflected in the table.

 

Fixed Income Securities

 

           

Estimated Fair Value after

Hypothetical Change in Interest Rates

 
            (in thousands)  
                                         
           

(bp = basis points)

 
                                         
           

6 mos.

   

6 mos.

   

1 yr.

   

1 yr.

 
                                 
   

Fair

   

50bp

   

50bp

   

100bp

   

100bp

 
   

Value

   

increase

   

decrease

   

increase

   

decrease

 
                                         
                                         

As of January 31, 2018

                                       

Investments in securities with fixed maturities

  $ 8,478     $ 8,550     $ 8,548     $ 8,673     $ 8,583  
                                         

As of April 30, 2017

                                       

Investments in securities with fixed maturities

  $ 7,479     $ 7,473     $ 7,504     $ 7,473     $ 7,500  

 

Management regularly monitors the maturity structure of the Company’s investments in debt securities in order to maintain an acceptable price risk associated with changes in interest rates.

 

33

 

 

Equity Price Risk

 

 The carrying values of investments subject to equity price risks are based on quoted market prices as of the balance sheet dates. Market prices are subject to fluctuation and, consequently, the amount realized in the subsequent sale of an investment may significantly differ from the reported market value. Fluctuation in the market price of a security may result from perceived changes in the underlying economic characteristics of the issuer, the relative price of alternative investments and general market conditions. Furthermore, amounts realized in the sale of a particular security may be affected by the relative quantity of the security being sold.

 

The Company’s equity investment strategy has been to acquire equity securities across a diverse industry group. The portfolio consists primarily of ETFs and select common stock holdings of blue chip companies with a concentration on large capitalization companies with high relative dividend yields. In order to maintain liquidity in these securities, the Company’s policy has been to invest in and hold in its portfolio, no more than 5% of the approximate average daily trading volume in any one issue. Additionally, the Company may purchase and hold non-leveraged ETFs whose performance inversely corresponds to the market value changes of investments in other ETF securities held in the equity portfolio for dividend yield.

 

As of January 31, 2018 and April 30, 2017, the aggregate cost of the equity securities classified as available-for-sale, which consist of investments in the SPDR Series Trust S&P Dividend ETF (SDY), First Trust Value Line Dividend Index ETF (FVD), PowerShares Financial Preferred ETF (PGF), Select Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU), First Trust Value Line 100 ETF (FVL) and Proshares Trust S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL) was $8,385,000 and the fair value was $9,926,000 and $9,097,000, respectively.   

 

 

 

Equity Securities

             

 

Estimated Fair

Value after

   

 

Hypothetical

Percentage

 
           

 

Hypothetical

 

Hypothetical

   

Increase

(Decrease) in

 

($ in thousands)

   

Fair Value

 

Price Change

 

Change in Prices

   

Shareholders

Equity

 

As of January 31, 2018

Equity Securities and ETFs held for dividend yield

  $ 9,926  

30% increase

  $ 12,904       4.39 %
           

30% decrease

  $ 6,948       -4.39 %

 


 

 

Equity Securities

             

 

Estimated Fair

Value after

   

 

Hypothetical

Percentage

 
           

 

Hypothetical

 

Hypothetical

   

Increase

(Decrease) in

 

($ in thousands)

   

Fair Value

 

Price Change

 

Change in Prices

   

Shareholders

Equity

 

As of April 30, 2017

Equity Securities and ETFs held for dividend yield

  $ 9,097  

30% increase

  $ 11,826       4.69 %
           

30% decrease

  $ 6,368       -4.69 %

 


 

34

 

 

Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

 

(a)

The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s reports filed with the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.

 

The Company’s management has evaluated, with the participation of the Company’s Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.

 

 

(b)

The registrant’s Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer have determined that there have been no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

 

Part II – OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

None.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

There have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in Item 1A – Risk Factors in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 30, 2017 filed with the SEC on July 26, 2017.

 

35

 

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

(c) Purchases of Equity Securities by the Company

 

The following table provides information with respect to all repurchases of common stock made by or on behalf of the Company during the fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2018. All purchases listed below were made in the open market at prevailing market prices.

 

   

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 
   

(a) Total Number of

Shares (or Units)

Purchased

   

(b) Average Price

Paid per Share (or

Unit)

   

(c) Total Number of

Shares (or Units)

Purchased as Part of

Publicly Announced

Plans or Programs

   

(d) Maximum Number

(or Approximate Dollar

Value) of Shares (or

Units) that May Yet Be

Purchased Under the

Plans or Programs

 

November 1 - 30, 2017

    2,285     $ 18       2,285     $ 418,000  
                                 

December 1 - 31, 2017

    -       -       -       418,000  
                                 

January 1 - 31, 2018

    -       -       -       418,000  

Total

    2,285     $ 18       2,285     $ 418,000  

 

 

All shares represent shares repurchased pursuant to authorization of the Board of Directors. On September 19, 2012, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of shares of the Company’s common stock, at such times and prices as management determined to be advisable, up to an aggregate purchase price of $3,000,000.

 

Item 5. Other Information

 

None.

 

36

 

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

31.1

Certificate of Principal Executive Officer Required Under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

31.2

Certificate of Principal Financial Officer Required Under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

32.1

Joint Principal Executive Officer/Principal Financial Officer Certificate Required Under Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

101.INS

 

101.SCH

 

101.CAL

 

101.DEF

 

101.LAB

 

101.PRE

XBRL Instance Document

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

 

37

 

 

VALUE LINE, INC.

 

Signatures

 

 

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

 

Value Line, Inc.

(Registrant)

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Howard A. Brecher

 

 

 

Howard A. Brecher

 

 

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

    (Principal Executive Officer)  
       
       
       
       
       
  By: /s/ Stephen R. Anastasio  
    Stephen R. Anastasio  
    Vice President & Treasurer  
    (Principal Financial Officer)  

 

 

 

 

 

Date: March 14, 2018

 

38