VALUE LINE INC - Quarter Report: 2021 October (Form 10-Q)

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

 

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

 

For the quarterly period ended October 31, 2021

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)

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class	Trading symbol	Name of each Exchange on which registered
Common stock, $0.10 par value per share	VALU	The Nasdaq Capital Market

 

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 ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files). Yes ☒ No ☐                   

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a 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 ☒

Smaller reporting company ☐ Emerging growth 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 ☒

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 December 7, 2021
Common stock, $0.10 par value per share	9,537,600 shares

 

 

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

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

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

Dividends declared per common share were $0.44 for the six months ending October 31, 2021.

Dividends declared per common share were $0.42 for the six months ending October 31, 2020.

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

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 core business is producing investment periodicals and their underlying research and making available certain Value Line copyrights, Value Line trademarks and Value Line Proprietary Ranks and other proprietary information, to third parties under written agreements for use in third-party managed and marketed investment products and for other purposes.  The Company maintains a significant investment in Eulav Asset Management LLC ("EAM")  from which it receives a non-voting revenues interest  and a non-voting profits interest.  Pursuant to the EAM Declaration of Trust dated as of December 23, 2010 (the "EAM Trust Agreement"), VLI granted EAM the right to use the Value Line name for all existing Value Line Funds and agreed to supply, without charge or expense, the Value Line Proprietary Ranking System information to EAM for use in managing the Value Line Funds.  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 October 31, 2021 and April 30, 2021, 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, 2021 filed with the SEC on July 29, 2021 (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.  The Company holds a significant non-voting revenues interest (excluding distribution revenues) and a significant non-voting profits interest in 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 fees are derived from providing certain Value Line trademarks and the Value Line Proprietary Ranks 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 fees upon delivery of the product to the customer as specified in the individual agreements.  Revenue is recognized monthly and received either quarterly or in advance 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.  

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% 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.  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.  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.  

Valuation of Securities: 

The Company's securities classified as cash equivalents, equity securities and available-for-sale fixed income securities 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 equity securities reflected in the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets are valued at market and unrealized gains and losses are recorded in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income per FASB Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-01 ("ASU 2016-01").  The securities classified as available-for-sale  fixed income securities 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. Investment gains and losses on sales of the equity securities are the difference between proceeds from sales and the fair value of the equity securities sold at the beginning of the period or the purchase date, if later.  Investment gains and losses on sales of the available-for-sale fixed income securities are the difference between proceeds from sales and the cost of the securities.  Investment gains and losses on sales of the securities are recorded in earnings as of the trade date and are determined on the identified cost method.  

The Company classifies its equity securities and available-for-sale fixed income securities as current assets to properly reflect its liquidity and to recognize the fact that it has liquid assets available-for-sale should the need arise.

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:

The Company had no other financial instruments such as futures, forwards and swap contracts. For the periods ended October 31, 2021 and April 30, 2021, there were no Level 2 nor Level 3 investments. The Company does not have any liabilities that are 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) and 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 October 31, 2021, management has reviewed the tax positions for the years still subject to tax audit under the statute 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.

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 October 31, 2021 and April 30, 2021, cash equivalents included $24,459,000 and $18,209,000, respectively, for amounts invested in money market mutual funds that invest in short term U.S. government securities.

Note 2 - Investments:

Investments held by the Company and its subsidiaries are classified as  equity securities and available-for-sale fixed income securities in accordance with FASB's ASC 321, Investments - Equity Securities and with FASB's ASC 320, Investments - Debt Securities.  All of the Company's securities were readily marketable 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 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.  

As of October 31, 2021 and April 30, 2021, the aggregate cost of the equity securities, which consist of investments in the SPDR Series Trust S&P Dividend ETF (SDY), First Trust Value Line Dividend Index ETF (FVD), Invesco Financial Preferred ETF (PGF), ProShares Trust S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL), iShares Preferred & Income Securities ETF (PFF), and other Exchange Traded Funds and common stock equity securities was a combined total $21,887,000 and $19,105,000, respectively, and the fair value was $26,685,000 and $23,582,000, respectively.  

Proceeds from sales of equity securities during the six months ended October 31, 2021 and October 31, 2020, were $687,000 and $5,529,000, respectively.

The carrying value and fair value of equity securities at October 31, 2021 were as follows:

Government Debt Securities (Fixed Income Securities):

Fixed income securities consist of securities issued by federal, state and local governments within the United States.

Proceeds from maturities and sales of government debt securities classified as available-for-sale during the six months ended October 31, 2021 and October 31, 2020, were $2,496,000 and $5,214,000, respectively.  As of October 31, 2021, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income included unrealized  losses of $727, net of deferred tax benefit of $153.  As of April 30, 2021, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income included unrealized  gains of $4,000, net of deferred taxes of $1,000. 

The aggregate cost and fair value at October 31, 2021 of fixed income securities classified as available-for-sale were as follows:

The increase in gross unrealized  losses of $5,000 on fixed income securities classified as available-for-sale net of deferred tax benefit of $1,000, was included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income on the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet as of October 31, 2021.

The aggregate cost and fair value at April 30, 2021 of fixed income securities classified as available-for-sale were as follows:

The decrease in gross unrealized  gains of $173,000 on fixed income securities classified as available-for-sale net of deferred income taxes of $45,000, was included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income on the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet as of April 30, 2021.

The average yield on the Government debt securities classified as available-for-sale at October 31, 2021 and April 30, 2021 was 0.22% and 1.4%, respectively.

Investment Gains/(Losses):

Investment gains/(losses) were comprised of the following:

Taxable realized gains on equity securities sold during fiscal years 2022 and 2021, which are generally the difference between the proceeds from sales and our original cost, were gains of $35,000 in fiscal 2022 and gains of $925,000 in fiscal 2021. 

Investment in Unconsolidated Entities:

Equity Method Investment:

As of October 31, 2021 and April 30, 2021, the Company's investment in EAM Trust on the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets was $61,058,000 and $60,977,000, respectively.

The value of VLI’s investment in EAM at October 31, 2021 and April 30, 2021 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 2022 or 2021.

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

(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. 

(1) At October 31, 2021 and April 30, 2021, EAM's total liabilities included a payable to VLI for its accrued non-voting revenues interest and non-voting profits interest of $4,830,000 and $4,664,000, respectively.

Note 3 - Variable Interest Entity

The Company holds a  non-voting revenues interest and a 50% non-voting profits interest in EAM, the adviser to the Value Line asset management and mutual fund distribution businesses.  EAM is considered to be a VIE in relation to the Company.  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 profit 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.

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

Note 4 - Supplementary Cash Flows Information:

Reconciliation of Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash:

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported within the Consolidated Condensed Statement of Cash Flows that sum to the total of the same such amounts shown in the Consolidated Condensed Statement of Cash Flows.

Income Tax Payments:

The Company made income tax payments as follows:

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. For the six months ended October 31, 2021 and October 31, 2020, the estimated profit sharing plan contributions, which are included as expenses in salaries and employee benefits in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income, were $328,000 and $375,000, 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 October 31, 2021 and October 31, 2020 the Company held fixed income securities consisting of certificates of deposits and securities issued by federal, state, and local governments within the United States that are classified as securities available-for-sale on the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets. The change in valuation of fixed income 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 six months ended October 31, 2021 are as follows:

The components of comprehensive income included in the Consolidated  Condensed Statements of Income and Changes in Shareholders' Equity for the six months ended October 31, 2020 are as follows:

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 receives non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests, as discussed below. 

Total assets in the Value Line Funds managed and/or distributed by EAM at October 31, 2021, were $5.0 billion, 12.5% above total assets of $4.5 billion in the Value Line Funds managed and/or distributed  by EAM at October 31, 2020.  

The Company’s non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests in EAM entitle it to receive quarterly distributions in 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 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 is calculated each fiscal quarter.  The applicable recent non-voting revenues interest percentage for the second quarter of fiscal 2022 was 53.87%.

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

At October 31, 2021, the Company's investment in EAM includes a receivable of $4,830,000 representing the quarterly distribution of the non-voting revenues share and non-voting profits share.  That amount was subsequently paid to the Company.

Transactions with Parent:

During the six months ended October 31, 2021 and October 31, 2020, the Company was reimbursed $175,000 and $206,000,  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 October 31, 2021 and April 30, 2021.  

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 $2,300,000 and $3,660,000 to the Parent during the six months ended October 31, 2021 and October 31, 2020, respectively.

As of October 31, 2021, the Parent owned 90.44% 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:

On December 22, 2017 H.R. 1, originally known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "Tax Act"), was enacted.  The Tax Act lowered the U.S. federal income tax rate ("Federal Tax Rate") from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018.  Accordingly, the Company computes Federal income tax expense using the Federal Tax Rate of 21% in fiscal year 2019 and each year thereafter.

The overall effective income tax rates, as a percentage of pre-tax ordinary income for the six months ended October 31, 2021 and October 31, 2020 were 19.05% and 24.94%, respectively.  The decrease in the effective tax rate during six months ended October 31, 2021 as compared to October 31, 2020, is primarily a result of the non-taxable revenue derived from forgiveness of the PPP loan by the SBA (see note 16) and a decrease in the state and local income taxes from 4.22% to 1.11% as a result of changes in state and local income tax allocations, such as the effect of the reduction in the New York State and New York City tax allocation factors, on deferred taxes in fiscal 2022.  The Company's annualized overall effective tax rate fluctuates due to a number of factors, in addition to changes in tax law, including but not limited to an increase or decrease in the ratio of items that do not have tax consequences to pre-income tax, 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.  

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:

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.

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:

The Company believes that, as of October 31, 2021, 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.   It also files combined income tax returns with the Parent on a unitary basis in certain states.  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.   

The Company’s federal income tax returns (included in the Parent’s consolidated returns) and state and city tax returns for fiscal years ended 2018 through 2020, 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 New York City tax audit for the fiscal years ended April 30, 2017 through 2019 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:

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 purchasing software for internal use and amortize those costs over the software's estimated useful life in a systematic and rational manner.  Such costs, when incurred, are capitalized and amortized over the expected useful life of the asset, normally 3 to 5 years.  Total amortization expenses during the six months ended October 31, 2021 and October 31, 2020, were $43,000 and $32,000, respectively.

During the six months ended October 31, 2021, the Company did not incur and did not capitalize expenditures related to third party programmers' costs or to the development of software for internal use.  The Company, capitalized  $82,000 third party programmers' costs, during the six months ended October 31, 2020.  The Company  did not incur and did not capitalize expenditures related to the development of software for internal use during the six months ended October 31, 2020.

Note 11 - Treasury Stock and Repurchase Program:

On July 16, 2021, 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 $2,000,000.  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. 

Treasury stock, at cost, consists of the following:

Note 12 - Lease Commitments:

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842)”.  This ASU requires that, for leases longer than one year, a lessee recognize in the statements of financial position a right-of-use asset, representing the right to use the underlying asset for the lease term, and a lease liability, representing the liability to make lease payments. It also requires that for finance leases, a lessee recognize interest expense on the lease liability, separately from the amortization of the right-of-use asset in the statements of earnings, while for operating leases, such amounts should be recognized as a combined expense. The firm adopted this ASU in May 2019 under a modified retrospective approach. 

The Company adopted ASU 2016-02 using a modified retrospective transition approach as of the Effective Date as permitted by the amendments in ASU 2018-11, which provides an alternative modified retrospective transition method. As a result, the Company was not required to adjust its comparative period financial information for effects of the standard or make the new required lease disclosures for periods before the date of adoption (i.e. May 1, 2019). The Company has elected to employ the transitionary relief offered by the FASB and, therefore, has not reassessed (1) whether existing or expired contracts contain a lease, (2) lease classification for existing or expired leases or (3) the accounting for initial direct costs that were previously capitalized.  

The Company leases office space in New York, NY and a warehouse and appurtenant office space in Lyndhurst, NJ. The Company has evaluated these leases and determined that they are operating leases under the definitions of the guidance of ASU 2016-02.

The right-of-use asset is initially measured at cost, which comprises the initial amount of the lease liability adjusted for lease payments made at or before the lease commencement date, plus any initial direct costs incurred less any lease incentives received. For operating leases, the right-of-use asset is subsequently measured throughout the lease term at the carrying amount of the lease liability, plus initial direct costs, plus (minus) any prepaid (accrued) lease payments, less the unamortized balance of lease incentives received.

On May 1, 2019, the Company recorded a right-of-use asset in the amount of $9,575,000, which represents the lease liability of $10,340,000 adjusted for previously recorded unamortized lease incentives in the amount of $765,000. The right-of-use asset is amortized over the remaining lease term in the amount equal to the difference between the calculated straight-line expense of the total lease payments less the monthly interest calculated on the remaining lease liability. As of October 31, 2021, the Company had a long-term lease asset of $6,763,000 recorded in property and equipment in its Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets.

The Company recognizes lease expense, calculated as the remaining cost of the lease allocated over the remaining lease term on a straight-line basis. Lease expense is presented as part of continuing operations in the consolidated condensed statements of income. The Company recognized $750,000 in lease expenses in both fiscal years 2022 and 2021 during the six months ended October 31, 2021 and October 31, 2020, respectively.

For the six months ended October 31, 2021, the Company paid $727,000 in rent relating to the leases. As a payment arising from an operating lease, the $727,000 is classified within operating activities in the consolidated condensed statements of cash flows.

The Company’s leases generally do not provide an implicit interest rate, and therefore the Company estimated an incremental borrowing rate, or IBR, as of the commencement date, to determine the present value of its operating lease liabilities. The IBR is defined under ASC 842 as the rate of interest that the Company would have to pay to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term for an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment. The following table reconciles the undiscounted future minimum lease payments to the total operating lease liabilities recognized on the Consolidated  Condensed Balance Sheet as of October 31, 2021:

* Excludes the six months ended October 31, 2021

Note 13 - Restricted Cash and Deposits:

Restricted Money Market Investment in the noncurrent assets on the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet at October 31, 2021, 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 New York City leased corporate office facility.  The sublease agreement provided for the reduction of the LOC and restricted cash to $305,000 as of November 30, 2021.

Note 14 - Concentration:

During the  six months ended October 31, 2021, 32.6% of total publishing revenues of $20,139,000 were derived from a single customer.

Note 15 - Concentration of Credit Risk:

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk consist principally of cash deposits. Accounts at each institution are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) up to $250,000. As of October 31, 2021 and October 31, 2020, the Company had $1,574,000 and $2,072,000, respectively, in excess of the FDIC insured limit.  Management has concluded the excess does not represent a material risk, based on the creditworthiness  of the counter parties.

Note 16 - Paycheck Protection Program Loan:

Shortly after declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic and "lockdowns" of numerous non-essential businesses, the Company in April of 2020 executed a note and received a loan (the "PPP Loan") from JP Morgan Chase Bank under the Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") which was established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the "CARES Act") and was administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration ("SBA").  The proceeds from the PPP Loan were used in accordance with the terms of the CARES Act program.

Under the terms of the CARES Act, Borrowers could apply for and be granted forgiveness for all or a portion of the PPP Loan.  Such forgiveness is determined, subject to limitations, based on the use of loan proceeds in accordance with the terms of the CARES Act.  The Company was granted total loan forgiveness of $2,331,365 by the SBA during the second quarter ended October 31, 2021.  Accrued interest was also forgiven.

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

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

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.

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 the Company may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the following:

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 by applicable law, 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.

Executive Summary of the Business

The Company's core business is producing investment periodicals and their underlying research and making available certain Value Line copyrights, Value Line trademarks and Value Line Proprietary Ranks 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. 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 Value Line copyrights and Value Line Proprietary Ranks and other proprietary information consolidate into one segment called Publishing. The Publishing segment constitutes the Company’s only reportable business segment.

Asset Management and Mutual Fund Distribution Businesses

Pursuant to the EAM Declaration of Trust, the Company maintains an interest in certain revenues of EAM and a portion of the residual profits of EAM but has no voting authority with respect to the election or removal of the trustees of EAM or control of its business.

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.

Business Environment

The nation's economy began the now-ending calendar year on a positive footing, and boosted by solid levels of consumer spending it grew by just over 6% during the opening six months of this year. However, COVID-19, never really out of the picture, intensified as a problem over the late summer, as the so-called Delta variant spread across the country, causing an upturn in infections. Business activity slowed, as a result.

In all, GDP rose by a pedestrian 2.1% in the third quarter, with growth being aided by gains in private inventory investment, personal consumption expenditures, and nonresidential building, but held back by decreases in residential construction. What did increase notably in the period was inflation, with pricing pressures lately showing few signs of abating. That reality is leading the Federal Reserve to tighten the monetary reins slightly, with some slowdown in the rate of bond purchases. It is quite likely the central bank will raise the federal funds interest rate sometime in 2022.

However, as the third quarter wound down, the economy seemed to get a second wind, and with better readings on the consumer and industrial fronts becoming apparent, our sense has been that GDP growth would move up into the 4%-5% range in the fourth quarter. Now, as we approach winter, a new challenge has arisen, with the appearance of the variant denominated Omicron. Should this strain or another prove as transmissible as now believed, it could become a depressant from an economic standpoint in the new year.

All things being equal, though, the business outlook remains relatively favorable, especially if the enactment of recent fiscal measures proves as rewarding as we think and the Fed is able to successfully balance its monetary initiatives, notably its bond-buying efforts. In that scenario, stocks should remain a rather promising investment alternative.

Results of Operations for the Three and Six Months Ended October 31, 2021 and October 31, 2020

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

During the six months ended October 31, 2021, the Company’s net income of $14,401,000, or $1.51 per share, was 41.3% above net income of $10,193,000, or $1.06 per share, for the six months ended October 31, 2020.  During the six months ended October 31, 2021, the Company’s income from operations of $5,002,000 was 13.3% above income from operations of $4,414,000 during the six months ended October 31, 2020.  For the six months ended October 31, 2021, operating expenses decreased 6.1% compared to operating expenses during the six months ended October 31, 2020. 

During the three months ended October 31, 2021, the Company’s net income of $8,504,000, or $0.89 per share, was 72.9% above net income of $4,919,000, or $0.51 per share, for the three months ended October 31, 2020.  During the three months ended October 31, 2021, the Company’s income from operations of $2,737,000 was 25.1% above income from operations of $2,188,000 during the three months ended October 31, 2020.  For the three months ended October 31, 2021, operating expenses decreased 9.8% compared to operating expenses during the three months ended October 31, 2020. 

The largest factors in the increase in net income during the three and six months ended October 31, 2021, compared to the prior fiscal year, were a gain on forgiveness by the SBA of the Company’s PPP loan, an increase from revenues and profits interests in EAM Trust and well controlled expenses.

During the six months ended October 31, 2021, there were 9,557,333 average common shares outstanding as compared to 9,612,756 average common shares outstanding during the six months ended October 31, 2020.

Total operating revenues

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

During the six months ended October 31, 2021 new sales of print publications as a percent of the total gross print sales were the same as in the prior fiscal year. During the six months ended October 31, 2021 new sales of digital publications slightly decreased and renewal sales of digital publications increased as a percent of the total gross digital sales versus the prior fiscal year as customer migration to digital services continues gradually.

Unearned subscription revenue as of October 31, 2021 is less than 1% below October 31, 2020 and is 9.9% below April 30, 2021. 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 $13,582,000 (excluding copyright fees) during the six months ended October 31, 2021, were 2.9% below publishing revenues in the prior fiscal year. The Company continued activity to attract new subscribers, primarily digital subscriptions through various marketing channels, primarily direct mail, e-mail, and by the efforts of our sales personnel. Total product line circulation at October 31, 2021, was 2.7% above total product line circulation at October 31, 2020. During the six months ended October 31, 2021, Institutional Sales department generated total sales orders of $5,610,000 and the retail telemarketing sales team generated total sales orders of $3,682,000.

Total print circulation at October 31, 2021 was 1.9% above the total print circulation at October 31, 2020. Print publication revenues of $5,620,000 decreased 8.7% below the prior fiscal year. Total digital circulation at October 31, 2021 was 3.8% above total digital circulation at October 31, 2020. Digital revenues of $7,962,000 were up 1.6% as compared to the prior fiscal year.

Value Line serves primarily individual and professional investors in stocks, who pay mostly 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 introduce publications and packages at a range of price points. Further, new services and new features for existing services are regularly under consideration. Prominently introduced in fiscal 2020 and 2021 were new features in the Value Line Research Center, which are The New Value Line ETFs Service, new monthly publication Value Line Information You Should Know Wealth Newsletter, The Value Line M & A Service, and our Value Line Climate Change Investing Service.

The Value Line Proprietary Ranks (the “Ranking System”), a component of the Company’s flagship product, The Value Line Investment Survey, is also utilized in the Company’s copyright business. The Ranking System is made available to EAM for specific uses without charge. During the six month period ended October 31, 2021, the combined Ranking System “Rank 1 & 2” stocks’ increase of 6.1% outperformed the Russell 2000 Index’s increase of 1.4% during the comparable period. During the twelve month period ended October 31, 2021, the combined Ranking System “Rank 1 & 2” stocks’ increase of 39.2% underperformed the Russell 2000 Index’s increase of 49.3% during the comparable period.

Copyright fees

During the six months ended October 31, 2021, copyright fees of $6,557,000 were comparable to those during the corresponding period in the prior fiscal year. The Company negotiated in fiscal 2020 with the sponsor of the largest exchange traded fund (“ETF”) in the program, the restructuring of the Company’s asset based fees and overall fees of the ETF in light of the competitive market.

Investment management fees and services – (unconsolidated)

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 October 31, 2021, were $5.0 billion, which is $500 million, or 12.5%, above total assets of $4.5 billion in the Value Line Funds managed and/or distributed by EAM at October 31, 2020. The increase reflects successful investment selection capturing market appreciation and positive net flows for the Value Line Funds, partially offset by net redemptions in nine of the ten Funds during the twelve month period ended October 31, 2021.

Shares of Value Line Strategic Asset Management Trust (“SAM”) and Value Line Centurion Fund (“Centurion”) are only distributed within certain variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts offered by Guardian Insurance & Annuity Company (“GIAC”).

Value Line Mutual Funds

As of October 31, 2021 three of six Value Line equity and hybrid mutual funds, excluding SAM and Centurion, held an overall four or five star rating by Morningstar, Inc. The Advisor/Independent Broker Dealer channel has successfully become the largest channel for sales and distribution of The Value Line Funds. This is a growing channel as EAM continues to add more advisers each year.

EAM Trust - Results of operations before distribution to interest holders

The gross fees and net income of EAM’s investment management operations during the six months ended October 31, 2021, before interest holder distributions, included total investment management fees earned from the Value Line Funds of $15,679,000, 12b-1 fees and other fees of $4,941,000 and other net income of $119,000. For the same period, total investment management fee waivers were $218,000 and 12b-1 fee waivers for three Value Line Funds were $342,000. During the six months ended October 31, 2021, EAM's net income was $2,570,000 after giving effect to Value Line’s non-voting revenues interest of $8,412,000, but before distributions to voting profits interest holders and to the Company in respect of its 50% non-voting profits interest.

The gross fees and net income of EAM’s investment management operations during the six months ended October 31, 2020, before interest holder distributions, included total investment management fees earned from the Value Line Funds of $13,491,000, 12b-1 fees and other fees of $4,755,000 and other income of $115,000. For the same period, total investment management fee waivers were $119,000 and 12b-1 fee waivers for three Value Line Funds were $322,000. During the six months ended October 31, 2020, EAM's net income was $1,698,000 after giving effect to Value Line’s non-voting revenues interest of $7,009,000, but before distributions to voting profits interest holders and to the Company in respect of its 50% non-voting profits interest.

As of October 31, 2021 and October 31, 2020, 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 does not receive or share 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 90.2%, variable annuity funds issued by GIAC represent 8.8%, and fixed income fund assets represent 1.0%, respectively, of total fund assets under management (“AUM”) as of October 31, 2021. At October 31, 2021, equity, hybrid and GIAC variable annuities AUM increased by 14.0% and fixed income AUM decreased by 51.9% 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 applicable recent non-voting revenues interest percentage for the second quarter of fiscal 2022, that is, the fiscal quarter ended October 31, 2021, was 53.87%.

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

Operating expenses

Expenses within the Company are categorized into advertising and promotion, salaries and employee benefits, production and distribution, office and administration. Operating expenses of $7,236,000 and $15,137,000 during the three and six months ended October 31, 2021, decreased 9.8% and 6.1%, respectively, as compared to those during the three and six months ended October 31, 2020, as a result of cost controls in fiscal 2022.

Advertising and promotion

During the three and six months ended October 31, 2021, advertising and promotion expenses of $676,000 and $1,723,000 decreased 17.3% and 8.0%, respectively, as compared to the prior fiscal year, primarily due to a decrease in direct mail campaigns’ volume based on more precise targeting.

Salaries and employee benefits

During the three and six months ended October 31, 2021, salaries and employee benefits of $4,303,000 and $8,960,000 decreased 5.5% and 1.1%, respectively, as compared to the prior fiscal year.

Production and distribution

During the three and six months ended October 31, 2021, production and distribution expenses of $1,311,000 and $2,527,000 decreased 5.8% and 5.2%, respectively, as compared to the prior fiscal year.

Office and administration

During the three and six months ended October 31, 2021, office and administrative expenses of $946,000 and $1,927,000 decreased 24.9% and 23.7%, respectively, as compared to the prior fiscal year, primarily due to a favorable settlement of a disputed fee with a contractor and decreases in professional fees.

Concentration

During the six months ended October 31, 2021, 32.6% of total publishing revenues of $20,139,000 were derived from a single customer.

Investment gains / (losses)

During the six months ended October 31, 2021, the Company’s investment gains, primarily derived from dividend income, investment gains recognized on sales of equity securities during the period and unrealized gains recognized on equity securities held at the end of the period in fiscal 2022, were $762,000. During the six months ended October 31, 2020, the Company’s investment gains, primarily derived from dividend and interest income, investment gains recognized on sales of equity securities during the period and unrealized gains recognized on equity securities held at the end of the period in fiscal 2021, were $1,308,000. Proceeds from maturities and sales of government debt securities classified as available-for-sale during the six months ended October 31, 2021 and October 31, 2020, were $2,496,000 and $5,214,000, respectively. Proceeds from the sales of equity securities during the six months ended October 31, 2021 and October 31, 2020 were $687,000 and $5,529,000, respectively.

Effective income tax rate

The overall effective income tax rates, as a percentage of pre-tax ordinary income for the six months ended October 31, 2021 and October 31, 2020 were 19.05% and 24.94%, respectively. The decrease in the effective tax rate during six months ended October 31, 2021 as compared to October 31, 2020, is primarily a result of the non-taxable revenue derived from forgiveness of the PPP loan by the SBA (see note 16) and a decrease in the state and local income taxes from 4.22% to 1.11% as a result of changes in state and local income tax allocations, such as the effect of the reduction in the New York State and New York City tax allocation factors, on deferred taxes in fiscal 2022. The Company's annualized overall effective tax rate fluctuates due to a number of factors, in addition to changes in tax law, including but not limited to an increase or decrease in the ratio of items that do not have tax consequences to pre-income tax, 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.

Lease Commitments

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. The sublease agreement provided for the reduction of the LOC and restricted cash to $305,000 as of November 30, 2021.  It is to be 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 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.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company had working capital, defined as current assets less current liabilities, of $32,398,000 as of October 31, 2021 and $23,312,000 as of April 30, 2021. These amounts include short-term unearned revenue of $17,453,000 and $19,162,000 reflected in total current liabilities at October 31, 2021 and April 30, 2021, respectively. Cash and short-term securities were $52,240,000 and $45,353,000 as of October 31, 2021 and April 30, 2021, respectively.

The Company’s cash and cash equivalents include $24,459,000 and $18,209,000 at October 31, 2021 and April 30, 2021, respectively, invested primarily in commercial banks and in Money Market Funds at brokers, which operate under Rule 2a-7 of the 1940 Act and invest primarily in short-term U.S. government securities.

Cash from operating activities

The Company had cash inflows from operating activities of $11,260,000 during the six months ended October 31, 2021, compared to cash inflows from operations of $7,668,000 during the six months ended October 31, 2020, respectively. The increase in cash flows from fiscal 2021 to fiscal 2022 is primarily attributable to higher net income and an increase in cash receipts from EAM.

Cash from investing activities

The Company had cash outflows from investing activities of $749,000 during the six months ended October 31, 2021, compared to cash inflows from investing activities of $508,000 for the six months ended October 31, 2020, respectively. Cash outflows for the six months ended October 31, 2021, were higher than in fiscal 2021 primarily due to decrease in sales of equity and fixed income securities in fiscal 2022.

Cash from financing activities

During the six months ended October 31, 2021, the Company’s cash outflows from financing activities were $4,724,000, compared to cash outflows from financing activities of $4,441,000 for the six months ended October 31, 2020. During the six months ended October 31, 2021, cash outflows for financing activities included $517,000 for the repurchase of 16,589 shares of the Company’s common stock under the April 17, 2020 and July 16, 2021 board approved common stock repurchase programs. Quarterly dividend payments of $0.22 per share during fiscal 2022 aggregated $4,207,000. Quarterly regular dividend payments of $0.21 per share during fiscal 2021 aggregated $4,039,000.

At October 31, 2021 there were 9,546,581 common shares outstanding as compared to 9,601,051 common shares outstanding at October 31, 2020. The Company expects financing activities to continue to include use of cash for dividend payments for the foreseeable future.

Debt and Liquid Assets

Management believes that the Company’s cash and other liquid asset resources used in its business together with the proceeds from the SBA PPP loan, which has been forgiven and 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 additional borrowings during the next twelve months.  As of October 31, 2021, retained earnings and liquid assets were $82,700,000 and $52,240,000, respectively.  As of April 30, 2021, retained earnings and liquid assets were $72,502,000 and $45,353,000, respectively.  There are no off-balance-sheet arrangements, so none affect the interpretations of reported assets, liquidity, and debt. 

Seasonality

Our publishing revenues are comprised of subscriptions which are generally annual subscriptions. 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.

Critical Accounting Estimates and Policies

The Company prepares its Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with Generally 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. Our disclosures of critical accounting policies are reported in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ended April 30, 2021.

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 securities issued by federal, state and local governments within the United States. As of October 31, 2021 the aggregate cost and fair value of fixed income securities classified as available-for-sale were $598,000 and $597,000, respectively. As of April 30, 2021 the aggregate cost and fair value of fixed income securities classified as available-for-sale were $2,596,000 and $2,600,000, 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