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Note 4 - Investments | 12 Months Ended
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Apr. 30, 2017
Notes to Financial Statements |
Investments in Debt and Marketable Equity Securities (and Certain Trading Assets) Disclosure [Text Block] | Note 4 -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 or had a maturity of twelve months or less and are classified as current assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Equity Securities: Equity securities classified as available-for-sale on the Consolidated 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 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 (NOBL) was $8,385,000 and the fair value was $9,097,000. As of April 30, 2016, the aggregate cost of the equity securities classified as available-for-sale, which consisted 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), Proshares Trust S&P 500 Dividend (NOBL) and First Trust Total US Market Alphadex ETF (TUSA) was $3,445,000 and the fair value was $3,637,000. During the second quarter ended October 31, 2015, the Company made a decision to reduce its dividend paying ETF position and liquidate its non dividend paying inverse ETF positions. The liquidated portfolio of investments generated an annual dividend return averaging 3% annually during the years it was held. Proceeds from sales of equity securities classified as available-for-sale during the twelve months ended April 30, 2017 were $53,000 and capital gain distributions of $39,000 were reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in the Consolidated Balance Sheet to the Consolidated Statement of Income. There was no gain or loss on sales of equity securities classified as available-for-sale during fiscal 2017. 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. Proceeds from sales of equity securities classified as available-for-sale during the twelve months ended April 30, 2016 were $10,206,000 and the related capital gains of $224,000 and capital gain distributions of $105,000 were reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in the Consolidated Balance Sheet to the Consolidated Statement of Income. The increase in gross unrealized gains on equity securities classified as available-for-sale of $29,000, net of deferred taxes of $9,000 was included in Shareholders' Equity at April 30, 2016. There were capital gain distributions from certain ETFs of $39,000 and $105,000, respectively, during fiscal years 2017 and 2016. The carrying value and fair value of securities available-for-sale at April 30, 2017 were as follows:
($ in thousands) |  | Cost |  |  | Gross Unrealized Gains |  |  | Gross Unrealized Losses |  |  | Fair Value |
ETFs - equities |  | $ | 8,385 |  |  | $ | 712 |  |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | 9,097 |
The carrying value and fair value of securities available-for-sale at April 30, 2016 were as follows:
($ in thousands) |  | Cost |  |  | Gross Unrealized Gains |  |  | Gross Unrealized Losses |  |  | Fair Value |
ETFs - equities |  | $ | 3,445 |  |  | $ | 194 |  |  | $ | (2 | ) |  | $ | 3,637 |
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 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 |
The increase in gross unrealized losses of $5,000 on fixed income securities classified as available-for-sale net of deferred income tax of $1,000, was included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of April 30, 2017. The average yield on the Government debt securities classified as available-for-sale at April 30, 2017 was 0.40%. There were no fixed income securities at April 30, 2016. There were no sales or proceeds from maturities and sales of government debt securities classified as available-for-sale during the fiscal years ended April 30, 2016. Income from Securities Transactions: Income from securities transactions was comprised of the following:
|  | Fiscal Years Ended April 30, |
($ in thousands) |  | 2017 |  |  | 2016 |  |  | 2015 |
Dividend income |  | $ | 193 |  |  | $ | 142 |  |  | $ | 157 |
Interest income |  |  | 33 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 3 |
Capital gain distribution from ETFs (1) |  |  | 39 |  |  |  | 105 |  |  |  | 57 |
Capital gains (2) |  |  | - |  |  |  | 224 |  |  |  | - |
Other |  |  | 47 |  |  |  | 6 |  |  |  | (91 | )
Total income from securities transactions and other, net |  | $ | 312 |  |  | $ | 477 |  |  | $ | 126 |
( 1 ) Capital gain distributions of $39,000, $105,000 and $57,000 were reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in the Consolidated Balance Sheets to the Consolidated Statements of Income in fiscal 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. ( 2 ) Capital gains of $224,000 were reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in the Consolidated Balance Sheets to the Consolidated Statements of Income in fiscal 2016. The changes in the value of equity and fixed income securities investments are recorded in Other Comprehensive Income in the Consolidated Financial Statements. Realized gains and losses are recorded on the trade date in the Consolidated Statements of Income when securities are sold, mature or are redeemed. As of April 30, 2017 and April 30, 2016, gross unrealized gains of $515,000 and $192,000, net of deferred taxes of $182,000 and $68,000, respectively, are recorded in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Investment in Unconsolidated Entities: Equity Method Investment: As of April 30, 2017 and April 30, 2016, the Company's investment in EAM Trust, on the Consolidated Balance Sheets was $58,223,000 and $57,942,000, respectively. The value of VLI’s investment in EAM at April 30, 2017 and April 30, 2016 reflects the fair value of contributed capital of $55,805,000 at inception, which included $5,820,000 of cash and liquid securities in excess of working capital requirements contributed to EAM’s capital account by VLI, plus VLI's share of non-voting revenues and non-voting profits from EAM less distributions, made quarterly to VLI by EAM, during the period subsequent to its initial investment through the dates of the Consolidated Balance Sheets. It is anticipated that EAM will have sufficient liquidity and earn enough profit to conduct its current and future operations so the management of EAM will not need additional funding. The Company monitors its Investment in EAM Trust for impairment to determine whether an event or change in circumstances has occurred that may have a significant adverse effect on the fair value of the investment. Impairment indicators include, but are not limited to the following: (a) a significant deterioration in the earnings performance, asset quality, or business prospects of the investee, (b) a significant adverse change in the regulatory, economic, or technological environment of the investee, (c) a significant adverse change in the general market condition of the industry in which the investee operates, or (d) factors that raise significant concerns about the investee’s ability to continue as a going concern such as negative cash flows, working capital deficiencies, or noncompliance with statutory capital and regulatory requirements. EAM did not record any impairment losses for its assets during the fiscal years 2017 or 2016. The components of EAM’s investment management operations, provided to the Company by EAM, were as follows:
|  | Fiscal Years Ended April 30, |
($ in thousands) |  | 2017 |  |  | 2016 |  |  | 2015 |
Investment management fees earned from the Value Line Funds, net of waivers shown below |  | $ | 14,701 |  |  | $ | 14,548 |  |  | $ | 15,014 |
12b-1 fees and other fees, net of waivers shown below |  | $ | 5,822 |  |  | $ | 5,669 |  |  | $ | 5,459 |
Other income/(loss) |  | $ | 205 |  |  | $ | (14 | ) |  | $ | 34 |
Investment management fee waivers and reimbursements (1) |  | $ | 436 |  |  | $ | 262 |  |  | $ | 192 |
12b-1 fee waivers (1) |  | $ | 923 |  |  | $ | 1,071 |  |  | $ | 1,518 |
Value Line’s non-voting revenues interest |  | $ | 7,195 |  |  | $ | 7,211 |  |  | $ | 7,346 |
EAM's net income (2) |  | $ | 1,038 |  |  | $ | 880 |  |  | $ | 1,248 |
( 1 ) During fiscal 2017, 2016 and 2015 investment management fee waivers and reimbursements primarily related to one Value Line Mutual Fund and the 12b - 1 fee waivers related to four of the Value Line Mutual Funds, respectively. ( 2 ) 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.
|  | Fiscal Years Ended April 30, |
($ in thousands) |  | 2017 |  |  | 2016 |
EAM's total assets |  | $ | 60,432 |  |  | $ | 60,292 |
EAM's total liabilities (1) |  |  | (2,931 | ) |  |  | (3,021 | )
EAM's total equity |  | $ | 57,501 |  |  | $ | 57,271 |
( 1 ) At April 30, 2017 and 2016, EAM's total liabilities included a payable to VLI for its accrued non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests of $1,919,000 and $1,750,000, respectively.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for investments in certain debt and equity securities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2196928 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 320 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/subtopic&trid=4738149 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 940 -SubTopic 320 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/subtopic&trid=2176304 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 946 -SubTopic 320 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/subtopic&trid=2324412 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 320 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/subtopic&trid=2209399 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 954 -SubTopic 320 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/subtopic&trid=2289146 + Details
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