Stock-based compensation and equity transactions (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2018

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]

Computation of Weighted Average Fair Value of Employee Stock Options using Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model Assumptions

Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions:

	Six Months Ended April 30,
	2018			2017
Risk-free interest rate		1.87	%		0.98	%
Dividend yield		3.28	%		5.33	%
Expected life of the option		4.54 years			3.50 years
Volatility factor		46.83	%		42.37	%

Summary of Status of Options Granted under Stock Option Plans and Changes in Options Outstanding

A summary of the status of the options granted under the Company’s stock option plans as of April 30, 2018 and the changes in options outstanding during the six months then ended is presented in the table that follows:

			Weighted
			Average
	Shares		Exercise Price
Outstanding at November 1, 2017		1,159,771	$	3.19
Options granted		269,635	$	2.44
Options canceled or expired		(334,345)	$	4.86
Options outstanding at April 30, 2018		1,095,061	$	3.32
Options exercisable at April 30, 2018		706,247	$	3.47
Options vested and expected to vest at April 30, 2018		1,092,538	$	3.32