Value Line profit falls; EPS down to $0.50
Value Line’s quarter showed sharply lower earnings and EAM-related income, offset by a debt-light balance sheet with substantial liquid investments and continued dividends.
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
VALUE LINE, INC. (VALU) reported lower profitability for the quarter ended July 31, 2026. Net income was $4.7 million, down from $6.5 million a year earlier, and earnings per share declined to $0.50 from $0.69, driven by weaker publishing revenues, lower income from its EAM Trust interests, and smaller investment gains.
Publishing revenues fell 6.4% to $8.1 million as both print and digital subscription revenues declined, and copyright fees were lower. Income from operations dropped 31.4% to $1.0 million. Value Line’s non-voting revenues and profits interests from EAM Trust contributed $3.9 million, below the prior year, reflecting a 32.2% drop in Value Line Funds assets under management to $3.40 billion.
The balance sheet remains strong, with total assets of $152.7 million, shareholders’ equity of $109.2 million, and Level 1 cash and securities of $87.5 million. Operating cash flow was $4.7 million, and the company paid a quarterly dividend of $0.35 per share while continuing modest share repurchases.
Positive
- Strong balance sheet with large liquid portfolio: Total assets were $152.7 million, including $87.5 million of Level 1 cash equivalents, equity securities and fixed-income securities, against total liabilities of $43.5 million and no financial debt beyond lease and operating obligations.
- Continued solid operating cash flow: Cash provided by operating activities was $4.7 million for the quarter, supporting ongoing dividends and share repurchases.
- Dividend increased year over year: Dividends declared were $0.35 per share for the quarter, up from $0.325 in the prior-year quarter, returning more cash to shareholders.
Negative
- Net income and EPS down nearly 30%: Quarterly net income declined to $4.7 million from $6.5 million, and earnings per share fell to $0.50 from $0.69, a 27.7% decrease.
- Core publishing revenues declined: Publishing revenues, including investment periodicals and copyright fees, fell 6.4% to $8.1 million, with both print (down 11.6%) and digital (down 2.8%) revenues lower.
- Sharp drop in EAM-related economics: Assets in the Value Line Funds managed and/or distributed by EAM decreased 32.2% to $3.40 billion, and Value Line’s non-voting revenues and profits interests from EAM Trust fell to $3.9 million from $5.1 million.
- High revenue concentration: 28.3% of total publishing revenues of $8.1 million for the quarter came from a single customer, increasing dependence on one relationship.
Filing Explained
The filing adds a $2 million repurchase capacity, while the parent holds 92.01% of common shares and EAM exposure is limited to its recorded investment.
Value Line’s Form 10-Q is an unaudited quarterly report for the period ended
The company reports that its EAM interests are non-voting: they provide 41% to 55% of specified EAM revenues and 50% of residual profits, but do not give Value Line control.
Value Line also reports no obligation to fund EAM and maximum exposure of
The renewed repurchase program authorizes purchases up to
As of
Key Figures
Key Terms
variable interest entity financial
non-voting revenues interest financial
available-for-sale fixed income securities financial
equity method of accounting financial
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income financial
fair value measurements financial
FAQ
AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
How did VALUE LINE INC (VALU) perform financially in the quarter ended July 31, 2026?
What happened to Value Line’s publishing revenues in this 10-Q period for VALU?
How significant is the EAM Trust to VALUE LINE INC (VALU) results this quarter?
What is Value Line’s cash and investment position as of July 31, 2026?
Did VALUE LINE INC (VALU) change its dividend in this quarter?
What customer concentration risk does Value Line report in this 10-Q?
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
(Mark One)
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QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended
or
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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:
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
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(Address of principal executive offices) |
(Zip Code) |
(
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Title of each class |
Trading symbol |
Name of each Exchange on which registered |
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The |
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.
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).
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 ☐
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
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
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Common stock, $0.10 par value per share |
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VALUE LINE, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page No. |
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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION |
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Item 1. |
Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements |
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Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets as of July 31, 2026 and April 30, 2026 |
3 |
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Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income for the three months ended July 31, 2026 and July 31, 2025 |
4 |
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Consolidated Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three months ended July 31, 2026 and July 31, 2025 |
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Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended July 31, 2026 and July 31, 2025 |
6 |
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Consolidated Condensed Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the three months ended July 31, 2026 |
7 |
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Consolidated Condensed Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the three months ended July 31, 2025 |
8 |
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Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements |
9 |
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Item 2. |
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
23 |
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Item 3. |
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk |
35 |
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Item 4. |
Controls and Procedures |
37 |
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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION |
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Item 1. |
Legal Proceedings |
37 |
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Item 1A. |
Risk Factors |
37 |
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Item 2. |
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds |
38 |
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Item 3. |
Defaults Upon Senior Securities |
38 |
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Item 4. |
Mine Safety Disclosures |
38 |
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Item 5. |
Other Information |
38 |
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Item 6. |
Exhibits |
39 |
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Signatures |
40 |
Part I - Financial Information
Item 1. Financial Statements
Value Line, Inc.
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except share amounts)
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July 31, |
April 30, |
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2026 |
2026 |
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(unaudited) |
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Assets |
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Current Assets: |
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Cash and cash equivalents (including short term investments of $ |
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Equity securities |
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Accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses of $ |
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Total current assets |
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Investment in EAM Trust |
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Restricted money market investments |
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Property and equipment, net |
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Capitalized software and other intangible assets, net |
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Total long term assets |
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Total assets |
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Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity |
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Current Liabilities: |
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Accounts payable and accrued liabilities |
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Accrued salaries |
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Dividends payable |
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Operating lease obligation-short term |
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Unearned revenue |
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Total current liabilities |
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Long term liabilities: |
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Unearned revenue |
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Operating lease obligation-long term |
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Deferred income taxes |
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Total long term liabilities |
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Total liabilities |
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Shareholders' Equity: |
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Common stock, $ |
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Additional paid-in capital |
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Retained earnings |
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Treasury stock, at cost ( |
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Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax |
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Total shareholders' equity |
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Total liabilities and shareholders' equity |
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed financial statements.
Part I - Financial Information
Item 1. Financial Statements
Value Line, Inc.
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income
(in thousands, except share & per share amounts)
(unaudited)
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July 31, |
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Revenues: |
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Investment periodicals and related publications |
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Copyright fees |
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Total publishing revenues |
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Expenses: |
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Production and distribution |
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Office and administration |
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Total expenses |
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Income from operations |
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Revenues and profits interests in EAM Trust |
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Investment gains |
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Income before income taxes |
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Income tax provision |
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Net income |
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Earnings per share, basic & fully diluted |
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Weighted average number of common shares |
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed financial statements.
Part I - Financial Information
Item 1. Financial Statements
Value Line, Inc.
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
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For the Three Months Ended |
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July 31, |
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2026 |
2025 |
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Net income |
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Other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax: |
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Change in unrealized gains/(losses) on Fixed Income securities, net of tax |
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Other comprehensive income/(loss) |
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Comprehensive income |
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed financial statements.
Part I - Financial Information
Item 1. Financial Statements
Value Line, Inc.
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
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For the Three Months Ended |
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July 31, |
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Cash flows from operating activities: |
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Net income |
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Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: |
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Depreciation and amortization |
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Investment (gains) |
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Non-voting revenues interest from EAM Trust |
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Non-voting profits interest from EAM Trust |
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Distributions received from EAM Trust |
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Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
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Accounts payable & accrued expenses |
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Accrued taxes on income |
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Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
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Total adjustments |
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Net cash provided by operating activities |
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Cash flows from investing activities: |
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Purchases of equity securities |
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Purchases of fixed income securities classified as available-for-sale |
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Proceeds from sales of equity securities |
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Proceeds from sales of fixed income securities classified as available-for-sale |
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Net cash used in investing activities |
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Cash flows from financing activities: |
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Purchase of treasury stock at cost |
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Dividends paid |
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Net cash used in financing activities |
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Net change in cash and cash equivalents |
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Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period |
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Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period |
$ | $ | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed financial statements.
Part I - Financial Information
Item 1. Financial Statements
Value Line, Inc.
Consolidated Condensed Statement of Changes in Shareholders' Equity
For the Three Months Ended July 31, 2026
(in thousands, except share amounts)
(unaudited)
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Common stock |
Additional paid-in- |
Treasury stock |
Retained |
Accumulated other comprehensive |
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Shares |
Amount |
capital |
Shares |
Amount |
earnings |
income |
Total |
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Balance at April 30, 2026 |
$ | $ | ( |
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Net income |
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Change in unrealized gains on Fixed Income securities, net of taxes |
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Purchase of treasury stock |
( |
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Dividends declared |
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Balance at July 31, 2026 |
$ | $ | ( |
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Dividends declared per common share were $0.35 for the three months ending July 31, 2026.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed financial statements.
Part I - Financial Information
Item 1. Financial Statements
Value Line, Inc.
Consolidated Condensed Statement of Changes in Shareholders' Equity
For the Three Months Ended July 31, 2025
(in thousands, except share amounts)
(unaudited)
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Common stock |
Additional paid-in- |
Treasury stock |
Retained |
Accumulated other comprehensive |
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Shares |
Amount |
capital |
Shares |
Amount |
earnings |
income |
Total |
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Balance at April 30, 2025 |
$ | $ | ( |
) | $ | ( |
) | $ | $ | ( |
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Net income |
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Change in unrealized gains on Fixed Income securities, net of taxes |
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Purchase of treasury stock |
( |
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Dividends declared |
( |
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Balance at July 31, 2025 |
$ | $ | ( |
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) | $ | $ | ( |
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Dividends declared per common share were $0.325 for the three months ending July 31, 2025.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed financial statements.
Value Line, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
July 31, 2026
(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 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 July 31, 2026 and April 30, 2026, 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, 2026 filed with the SEC on July 29, 2026 (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 earns 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 with the great majority of subscriptions paid in advance. 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 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.
EAM earns investment management fees from the Value Line Funds. The management fees and average daily net assets for the Value Line Funds are calculated by State Street Bank, which serves as the fund accountant, fund administrator, and custodian of the Value Line Funds.
The Value Line Funds are open-end management companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act"). Shareholder transactions for the Value Line Funds are processed each business day by the third party transfer agent of the Funds. Shares can be redeemed without advance notice upon request of the shareowners each day that the New York Stock Exchange is open.
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
Recent Accounting Pronouncements:
In November 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2023-07, “Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures” (“ASU 2023-07”), which requires disclosures of significant expenses by segment and interim disclosure of items that were previously required on an annual basis. ASU 2023-07 is to be applied on a retrospective basis and is effective for annual reporting periods after December 15, 2023 and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. We adopted ASU 2023-07 with such disclosures included in Note 16 to our Consolidated Financial Statements.
In December 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2023-09, “Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures” (“ASU 2023-09”), which provides for additional disclosures primarily related to the income tax rate reconciliations and income taxes paid. ASU 2023-09 requires entities to annually disclose the income tax rate reconciliation using both amounts and percentages, considering several categories of reconciling items, including state and local income taxes, foreign tax effects, tax credits and nontaxable or nondeductible items, among others. Disclosure of the reconciling items is subject to a quantitative threshold and disaggregation by nature and jurisdiction. ASU 2023-09 also requires entities to disclose net income taxes paid(net of refunds received) to federal, state and foreign jurisdictions, as well as by individual jurisdiction, subject to a five percent quantitative threshold. ASU 2023-09 may be adopted on a prospective or retrospective basis and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024 with early adoption permitted. We adopted ASU 2023-09 with such disclosures included in Note 8 to our Consolidated Financial Statements.
In November 2024, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2024-03, Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income- Expense Disaggregation Disclosures, requiring all public business entities to provide additional disclosure of the nature of expenses included in the income statement. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, and for interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027, on a prospective basis, with early adoption permitted. We are evaluating the impact on our financial statement disclosures.
In September 2025, the FASB issued ASU No. 2025-06: Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Internal-Use Software (ASU No. 2025-06) to clarify and modernize the recognition and disclosure framework for internal-use software costs. This standard removes all references to software development project stages and requires capitalization to begin once (1) management commits funding and (2) completion and intended use are probable, considering whether significant development uncertainties have been resolved. This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027, and for interim periods within those annual reporting periods. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact on our financial statement disclosures.
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, investments in equities including ETFs and fixed income securities invested primarily in short-term U.S. Treasury bills, and to a smaller extent bank certificates of deposit that 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 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 all 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:
| As of July 31, 2026 | ||||||||||||||||
|
($ in thousands) |
Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
Total |
||||||||||||
|
Cash equivalents |
$ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
|
Equity securities |
||||||||||||||||
|
Available-for-sale fixed income securities |
||||||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||
|
As of April 30, 2026 |
||||||||||||||||
|
($ in thousands) |
Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
Total |
||||||||||||
|
Cash equivalents |
$ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
|
Equity securities |
||||||||||||||||
|
Available-for-sale fixed income securities |
||||||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||
The Company had no other financial instruments such as futures, forwards and swap contracts. For the periods ended July 31, 2026 and April 30, 2026, there were Level 3 investments. The Company does 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. Also, ASU 2023-09, Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, was adopted to improve transparency and details in income tax disclosures (See Note 8).
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 July 31, 2026, 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 July 31, 2026 and April 30, 2026, cash equivalents included $
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 Balance Sheets, consist of ETFs held for dividend and distribution yield that attempt to replicate the performance of certain equity indexes and ETFs that hold preferred shares primarily of financial institutions.
As of July 31, 2026 and April 30, 2026, 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), ProShares Trust S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL), IShares DJ Select Dividend ETF (DVY), iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF (PFF) and other Exchange Traded Funds and common stock equity securities was a combined total $
Proceeds from sales of equity securities during the three months ended July 31, 2026 and July 31, 2025, were $
The carrying value and fair value of equity securities at July 31, 2026 were as follows:
|
($ in thousands) |
Cost |
Gross Unrealized Gains |
Gross Unrealized Losses |
Fair Value |
||||||||||||
|
ETFs - equities |
$ | $ | $ | ( |
) | $ | ||||||||||
The carrying value and fair value of equity securities at April 30, 2026 were as follows:
|
($ in thousands) |
Cost |
Gross Unrealized Gains |
Gross Unrealized Losses |
Fair Value |
||||||||||||
|
ETFs - equities |
$ | $ | $ | ( |
) | $ | ||||||||||
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.
Proceeds from maturities and sales of government debt securities classified as available-for-sale during the three months ended July 31, 2026 and July 31, 2025, were $
The aggregate cost and fair value at July 31, 2026 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 |
$ | $ | ( |
) | $ | |||||||||||
|
Due 1 year through 5 years |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||
|
Total investment in government debt securities |
$ | $ | $ | ( |
) | $ | ||||||||||
The decrease in gross unrealized losses of $
The aggregate cost and fair value at April 30, 2026 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 |
$ | $ | $ | ( |
) | $ | ||||||||||
|
Due within 1 year through 5 years |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||
|
Total investment in government debt securities |
$ | $ | $ | ( |
) | $ | ||||||||||
The increase in gross unrealized losses of $
The average yield on the Government debt securities classified as available-for-sale at July 31, 2026 and April 30, 2026 was
Investment Gains/(Losses):
Investment gains/(losses) were comprised of the following:
|
Three Months Ended July 31, |
||||||||
|
($ in thousands) |
2026 |
2025 |
||||||
|
Dividend income |
$ | $ | ||||||
|
Interest income |
||||||||
|
Investment gains/(losses) recognized on sales of equity securities during the period |
||||||||
|
Unrealized gains/(losses) recognized on equity securities held at the end of the period |
||||||||
|
Total investment gains/(losses) |
$ | $ | ||||||
Taxable realized gains/(losses) on equity securities sold during fiscal years 2027 and 2026, which are generally the difference between the proceeds from sales and our original cost, were gains of $
Investment in Unconsolidated Entities:
Equity Method Investment:
As of July 31, 2026 and April 30, 2026, the Company's investment in EAM Trust on the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets was $
The value of VLI’s investment in EAM at July 31, 2026 and April 30, 2026 reflects the fair value of contributed capital of $
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 record any impairment losses for its assets during the fiscal years 2027 or 2026.
The components of EAM’s investment management operations, provided to the Company by EAM, were as follows:
|
Three Months Ended July 31, |
||||||||
|
($ in thousands) (unaudited) |
2026 |
2025 |
||||||
|
Investment management fees earned from the Value Line Funds, net of waivers shown below |
$ | $ | ||||||
|
12b-1 fees and other fees, net of waivers |
$ | $ | ||||||
|
Other income |
$ | $ | ||||||
|
Investment management fee waivers and reimbursements |
$ | $ | ||||||
|
12b-1 fee waivers |
$ | $ | ||||||
|
Value Line’s non-voting revenues interest |
$ | $ | ||||||
|
EAM's net income (1) |
$ | $ | ||||||
|
July 31, |
April 30, |
|||||||
|
($ in thousands) |
2026 |
2026 |
||||||
|
(unaudited) |
||||||||
|
EAM's total assets |
$ | $ | ||||||
|
EAM's total liabilities (1) |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
|
EAM's total equity |
$ | $ | ||||||
Note 3 - Variable Interest Entity
The Company holds a non-voting revenues interest and a
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.
|
Value Line |
||||||||||||||||
|
($ in thousands) |
VIE Assets |
Investment in EAM Trust (1) |
Liabilities |
Maximum Exposure to Loss |
||||||||||||
|
As of July 31, 2026 (unaudited) |
$ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
|
As of April 30, 2026 |
$ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
(1)
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.
|
Three Months Ended July 31, |
||||||||
|
($ in thousands) |
2026 |
2025 |
||||||
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | $ | ||||||
|
Restricted cash |
||||||||
|
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the Consolidated Condensed Statement of Cash Flows |
$ | $ | ||||||
Income Tax Payments:
The Company made income tax payments as follows:
|
Three Months Ended July 31, |
||||||||
|
($ in thousands) |
2026 |
2025 |
||||||
|
State and local income tax payments |
$ | $ | ||||||
|
Federal income tax payments |
$ | $ | ||||||
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 three months ended July 31, 2026 and July 31, 2025, the estimated profit sharing plan contributions, which are included as expenses in salaries and employee benefits in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income, were $
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 July 31, 2026, and July 31, 2025, the Company held fixed income securities consisting of bank certificates of deposits and securities issued by the United States federal government 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 three months ended July 31, 2026 are as follows:
|
($ in thousands) |
Amount Before Tax |
Tax (Expense) / Benefit |
Amount Net of Tax |
|||||||||
|
Change in unrealized gains/(losses) on available-for-sale fixed income securities |
$ | $ | ( |
) | $ | |||||||
| $ | $ | ( |
) | $ | ||||||||
The components of comprehensive income included in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income and Changes in Shareholders' Equity for the three months ended July 31, 2025 are as follows:
|
($ in thousands) |
Amount Before Tax |
Tax (Expense) / Benefit |
Amount Net of Tax |
|||||||||
|
Change in unrealized gains/(losses) on available-for-sale fixed income securities |
$ | $ | ( |
) | $ | |||||||
| $ | $ | ( |
) | $ | ||||||||
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 July 31, 2026, were $
The Company’s non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests from EAM entitle it to receive quarterly distributions in a range of
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
The Company recorded income from its non-voting revenues interest and its non-voting profits interests in EAM as follows:
|
Three Months Ended July 31, |
||||||||
|
($ in thousands) |
2026 |
2025 |
||||||
|
Non-voting revenues interest from EAM |
$ | $ | ||||||
|
Non-voting profits interest from EAM |
||||||||
| $ | $ | |||||||
At July 31, 2026, the Company's investment in EAM includes a receivable of $
Transactions with Parent:
During the three months ended July 31, 2026 and July 31, 2025, the Company was reimbursed $
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 no federal tax payments to the Parent during the three months ended July 31, 2026 and July 31, 2025, 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 July 31, 2026, the Parent owned
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 July 31, |
||||||||
|
($ in thousands) |
2026 |
2025 |
||||||
|
Current tax expense: |
||||||||
|
Federal |
$ | $ | ||||||
|
State and local |
||||||||
|
Current tax expense |
||||||||
|
Deferred tax expense (benefit): |
||||||||
|
Federal |
||||||||
|
State and local |
||||||||
|
Deferred tax expense (benefit): |
||||||||
|
Income tax provision |
$ | $ | ||||||
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
The overall effective income tax rates, as a percentage of pre-tax ordinary income for the three months ended July 31, 2026 and July 30, 2025 were
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:
|
July 31, |
April 30, |
|||||||
|
($ in thousands) |
2026 |
2026 |
||||||
|
Federal tax liability (benefit): |
||||||||
|
Deferred gain on deconsolidation of EAM |
$ | $ | ||||||
|
Deferred non-cash post-employment compensation |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
|
Depreciation and amortization |
||||||||
|
Unrealized gain/(loss) on securities held for sale |
||||||||
|
Right of Use Asset |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
|
Deferred charges |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
|
Other |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
|
Total federal tax liability |
||||||||
|
State and local tax liabilities (benefits): |
||||||||
|
Deferred gain on deconsolidation of EAM |
||||||||
|
Deferred non-cash post-employment compensation |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
|
Depreciation and amortization |
( |
) | ||||||
|
Unrealized gain/(loss) on securities held for sale |
||||||||
|
Other |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
|
Total state and local tax liabilities |
||||||||
|
Deferred tax liability, long-term |
$ | $ | ||||||
The tax effect of temporary differences giving rise to the Company's long-term deferred tax liability is primarily a result of the federal, state and local taxes related to the $
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:
|
Three Months Ended July 31, |
||||||||||||||||
|
2026 |
2025 |
|||||||||||||||
|
($ in thousands, except percentages) |
Amount |
Percent |
Amount |
Percent |
||||||||||||
|
|
$ | % | $ | % | ||||||||||||
|
Increase (decrease) in tax from: |
||||||||||||||||
|
State and local income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit (1) |
% | % | ||||||||||||||
|
Effect of dividends received deductions |
( |
) | ( |
%) | ( |
) | ( |
)% | ||||||||
|
Effective income tax |
$ | % | $ | % | ||||||||||||
(1)
The Company believes that, as of July 31, 2026, 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’s federal income tax returns (included in the Parent’s consolidated returns) and state and city tax returns for fiscal years ended through 2025, are subject to examination by the tax authorities, generally for three years after they are filed with the tax authorities.
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:
|
July 31, |
April 30, |
|||||||
|
($ in thousands) |
2026 |
2026 |
||||||
|
Building and leasehold improvements |
$ | $ | ||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Furniture and equipment |
||||||||
|
Accumulated depreciation and amortization |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
|
Total property and equipment, net |
$ | $ | ||||||
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
During the three months ended July 31, 2026 and July 31, 2025, the Company did not incur nor capitalize expenditures related to third party programmers' costs. The Company did not incur nor capitalize expenditures related to internal costs to develop software for internal use. Total amortization expenses for three months ended July 31, 2026 and July 31, 2025 were $
Note 11 - Treasury Stock and Repurchase Program:
During July 2026, the Company's Board of Directors renewed the share repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of shares of the Company’s common stock up to an aggregate purchase price of $
Treasury stock, at cost, consists of the following:
|
(in thousands except for shares and cost per share) |
Shares |
Cost Assigned |
Average Cost per Share |
Aggregate Purchase Price Remaining Under the Program |
||||||||||||
|
Balance as of April 30, 2026 |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||
|
Purchases effected in open market during the months ended: |
||||||||||||||||
|
May 31, 2026 |
$ | |||||||||||||||
|
June 30, 2026 |
$ | |||||||||||||||
|
July 31, 2026 |
$ | |||||||||||||||
|
Balance as of July 31, 2026 |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||
Note 12 - 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 for the Company’s new corporate headquarters 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
The Company leases office space in New York, NY. The Company has evaluated that lease and determined that it is an operating lease 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 net present value 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 net present value 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 in the amount of $
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 $
For the three months ended July 31, 2026, the Company paid $
The Company’s leases have not provided 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 July 31, 2026:
|
Fiscal years ended April 30, |
($ in thousands) |
||||
|
2027* |
$ | ||||
|
2028 |
|||||
|
Total undiscounted future minimum lease payments |
|||||
|
Less: difference between undiscounted lease payments & the present value of future lease payments |
( |
) | |||
|
Total operating lease liabilities |
$ | ||||
*
The following table summarizes the weighted-average remaining lease terms and weighted-average discount rates for our operating leases:
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As of July 31, 2026 |
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|
Weighted-average remaining lease term (in years) |
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Weighted-average discount rate |
% | |||
Note 13 - Restricted Cash and Deposits:
Restricted Money Market Investment in the noncurrent assets on the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet at July 31, 2026, includes $
Note 14 - Concentration:
During the three months ended July 31, 2026,
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 July 31, 2026 and July 31, 2025, the Company had $
The Company maintains a deposit account of $
Note 16 - Business Segments:
The Company allocates resources and assesses financial performance on a consolidated basis. It does so because significant costs, predominately including the Research Department, Information Technology Department, and Occupancy Overhead, are shared in common by all products. Therefore, the investment periodicals and related publications (such as digital equivalents), along with supplying the embedded Proprietary information and intellectual property rights, are treated as segment, Publishing.
The products and services offered by the Company generally fall into four categories:
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Comprehensive reference periodical publications |
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Targeted, niche periodical newsletters |
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Investment analysis software |
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Current and historical financial databases |
The comprehensive research services (The Value Line Investment Survey, The Value Line Investment Survey – Small and Mid-Cap, The Value Line 600, and The Value Line Fund Advisor Plus) provide both statistical and text coverage of a large number of investment securities, with an emphasis placed on Value Line’s proprietary research, analysis and statistical ranks.
The niche newsletters (Value Line Select ®, Value Line Select: Dividend Income & Growth, Value Line Select: ETFs, The Value Line Special Situations Service®, The Value Line M&A Service, The Value Line Climate Change Investing Service, and The Value Line Information You Should Know Wealth Newsletter) provide information on a less comprehensive basis for securities that the Company believes will be of particular interest to subscribers and may include topics of interest on market and the business environment.
Investment analysis software (The Value Line Investment Analyzer and The Value Line ETFs Service) includes data sorting and filtering tools. In addition, for institutional and professional subscribers, the Company offers current and historical financial databases (DataFile, Estimates & Projections, and Mutual Funds) via the Internet.
The Company’s available copyright services, which include certain proprietary Ranking System results and other proprietary information are made available for use in third party products, such as unit investment trusts, variable annuities, managed accounts and exchange traded funds.
The Company’s chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) is the chief executive officer. The financial measures used by the CODM to assess segment performance and allocate resources on a company-wide basis are revenues, operating expenses, income from operations, and net income.
The CODM uses available sales, revenue, and expense information primarily to evaluate whether changes are indicated in expenses including advertising, salaries and benefits, and print production, and whether changes in expenses would be likely to cause improvement in revenues, profits, or backlogs of business.
Significant segment revenues include investment periodicals and related publications and copyright fees. Significant segment expenses include advertising and promotion, salaries and employee benefits, production and distribution and office and administration. Other segment items included in consolidated net income consist of revenues and profits interest in EAM Trust and investment gains. Significant segment revenues, segment expenses, and other segment items are presented in our consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.
All required segment financial information can be found directly in the consolidated financial statements. The accounting policies for our reportable segment are the same as those described in Note 1.
Value Line’s customers are almost exclusively located within the United States. It receives approximately
As described in Note 1 - Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, the Company deconsolidated its investment management business in December 2010 and therefore no longer reports the investment management operation as a separate business unit. Although VLI continues to receive significant cash flows from these operations through its non-controlling investment in EAM, it no longer considers this to be a reportable business segment because it does not satisfy one of the required characteristics of an operating segment pursuant to ASC 280-10-50-1. Specifically, VLI’s Chief Executive Officer does not regularly review EAM’s operating results to make decisions about resources to be allocated to EAM.
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 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:
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maintaining revenue from subscriptions for the Company’s digital and print published products; |
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changes in investment trends and economic conditions, including global financial issues; |
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changes in Federal Reserve policies affecting interest rates and liquidity along with resulting effects on equity markets; |
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stability of the banking system, including the success of U.S. government policies and actions in regard to banks with liquidity or capital issues, along with the associated impact on equity markets; |
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continuation of orderly markets for equities and corporate and governmental debt securities; |
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problems protecting intellectual property rights in Company methods and trademarks; |
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problems protecting confidential information including customer confidential or personal information that we may possess; |
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dependence on non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests in EULAV Asset Management (“EAM” or “EAM Trust”), and accordingly on its key management, investment management, key investment managers and sales personnel. EAM Trust is a Delaware statutory trust, which serves as the investment advisor to the Value Line Funds and engages in related distribution, marketing and administrative services; |
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fluctuations in EAM’s and third-party copyright assets under management due to evaluations by outside rating agencies, broadly based changes in the values of equity and debt securities, market sector variations, redemptions by investors and other factors including continuation of employment by key members of its management, investment managers, and sales leadership; |
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possible changes in the valuation of EAM’s intangible assets from time to time; |
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possible changes in future revenues or collection of receivables from significant customers; |
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dependence on key executive and specialist personnel of signification supplier and other firms; |
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risks associated with the outsourcing of certain functions, technical facilities, and operations, including in some instances outside the U.S.; |
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risks of increased tariffs and other restrictions affecting the cost and availability of materials, equipment, and other necessary inputs to the Company’s operations; |
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competition in the fields of publishing, copyright and investment management, along with associated effects on the level and structure of prices and fees, and the mix of services delivered; |
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the impact of government regulation on the Company’s and EAM’s businesses; |
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federal and/or state legislative changes that might affect Value Line’s business; |
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the availability of free or low cost investment information through discount brokers or generally over the internet; |
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the economic and other impacts of present and future global political and military conflicts, which could affect investor interest in stock market investing or cause assets under management in EAM to fall or to rise, or affect availability and cost of energy, goods, and services required by the Company and its suppliers; |
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continued availability of generally dependable energy supplies, transportation facilities, digital data and telephone transmission infrastructure in the geographic areas in which the company and certain suppliers operate; |
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terrorist attacks, cyber attacks and natural disasters; |
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the need for changes in our business plans because of unexpected events that occur; |
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widespread illnesses which may drastically affect markets, employment, and other economic conditions, and may have additional unpredictable impacts on employees, suppliers, customers, and operations; |
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changes in prices and availability of materials and other inputs and services, such as financial data, freight and postage, required by the Company; |
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risk of short-term or long-term catastrophic computer problems associated with legacy software systems which could interrupt regular publication schedules; |
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risk of inadequacy of our insurance coverage to compensate for potential losses; |
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potential impact of vendors’ consolidation; |
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other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the risks described in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 30, 2026 and in Part II, Item 1A of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended July 31, 2026; 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 could also have material adverse effects on future results. Likewise, changes we make in our plans, objectives, strategies, or intentions, which may occur at any time in our discretion, could also have material favorable or adverse effects on our 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.
Executive Summary of the Business
The Company's core business is producing investment publications 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") and to provide distribution, marketing, and administrative services to the Value Line Funds.
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 publications 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 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. Although the Company does not have control over the operating and financial policies of EAM, the Company has a contractual right to receive its share of EAM’s revenues and profits.
The business of EAM is managed by its five individual trustees each owning 20% of the voting interest in EAM and by its officers subject to the direction of the trustees. The Company is entitled to receive from EAM 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 Holders of the remaining profits interests 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 U.S. economy turned in a mixed performance during the first half of calendar 2026. After a solid start to the year, with the gross domestic product (GDP) expanding by an estimated annualized rate of 2.1% during the March quarter, output slowed to 1.5% in the June period. In general, resilient consumer spending and robust business investment, primarily focused on the ongoing artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure buildout, was partially offset by a notable decline in residential construction, a sharp increase in imports (which detracts from the GDP calculation), and a decrease in government spending. Forecasts for real GDP growth this year have since come down, largely reflecting continued worries about inflation, and its impact on the U.S. consumer, along with elevated geopolitical concerns, and the resultant higher energy prices. The consensus GDP estimate now calls for a 1.5% to 2.2% advance, down from the prior expectation of 2.5%-3.1%.
The inflation situation remains a concern for the Federal Reserve. The reacceleration in the pace of price growth this year was evident in the July inflation data, with the Consumer and Producer Price Indexes (on a 12-month basis) increasing 3.4% and 4.7%, respectively. Likewise, the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index, the assessment of inflation most closely watched by the Fed, rose 3.7% over the 12-month period ended July 31st. These figures remain well above the central bank’s target inflation rate of 2.0%. Treasury market yields have risen recently on the inflation worries and concerns about the nation’s soaring debt level.
The labor market appears to be less of a worry for the Federal Reserve. The estimated August job creation figure of 162,000 came in nearly triple the consensus forecast, and the prior two-month total included an upward revision of 55,000 jobs. Meanwhile, weekly unemployment claims still remain low and the number of job openings totaled 7.4 million in July. The unemployment rate held steady at 4.1% in August, another positive sign especially with more people reentering the workforce. This was reflected by an increase in the labor force participation rate, to 61.6%.
Meanwhile, Corporate America continues to excel. Profit growth for the S&P 500 companies averaged more than 50% in the second quarter (+30% when excluding the impact of the hefty non-operating gains from Amazon and Alphabet), and indications are that the growth rate remained in the high-20% range in the third quarter, again powered by strong profit gains for the technology companies. The astronomical spending on AI infrastructure (i.e., data center construction and memory and processing chips) is the main catalyst behind the profit gains. That said, the recent increase in oil prices—due to the ongoing war with Iran and its military proxies in the Middle East—and the continued trade uncertainties—including the United States trade war with Canada—may cut into profit growth during in the second half of calendar 2026.
In conclusion: The business environment remains in good shape, despite the continued geopolitical and global trade uncertainty. Spending on AI is providing a major catalyst and should power earnings growth through the end of this year. The strong profit gains are supporting equity valuations, despite building sentiment that the Federal Reserve may soon need to raise the benchmark short-term interest rate to help rein in inflation.
Results of Operations for the Three Ended July 31, 2026 and 2025
The following table illustrates the Company’s key components of revenues and expenses.
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Three Months Ended July 31, |
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($ in thousands, except earnings per share) |
2026 |
2025 |
Change |
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Income from operations |
$ | 1,027 | $ | 1,496 | -31.4 | % | ||||||
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Non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests from EAM Trust |
3,879 | 5,121 | -24.3 | % | ||||||||
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Income from operations plus non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests from EAM Trust |
$ | 4,906 | $ | 6,617 | -25.9 | % | ||||||
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Operating expenses |
$ | 7,024 | $ | 7,110 | -1.2 | % | ||||||
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Investment gains |
$ | 1,471 | $ | 2,019 | -27.1 | % | ||||||
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Income before income taxes |
$ | 6,377 | $ | 8,636 | -26.2 | % | ||||||
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Net income |
$ | 4,655 | $ | 6,460 | -27.9 | % | ||||||
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Earnings per share |
$ | 0.50 | $ | 0.69 | -27.7 | % | ||||||
During the three months ended July 31, 2026, the Company’s net income of $4,655,000, or $0.50 per share, was 27.9% below net income of $6,460,000, or $0.69 per share, for the three months ended July 31, 2025. During the three months ended July 31, 2026, the Company’s income from operations of $1,027,000 was 31.4% below income from operations of $1,496,000 during the three months ended July 31, 2025. For the three months ended July 31, 2026, operating expenses decreased 1.2% below those during the three months ended July 31, 2025.
During the three months ended July 31, 2026, there were 9,384,249 average common shares outstanding as compared to 9,414,605 average common shares outstanding during the three months ended July 31, 2025.
Total operating revenues
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Three Months Ended July 31, |
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($ in thousands) |
2026 |
2025 |
Change |
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Investment publications: |
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$ | 1,957 | $ | 2,214 | -11.6 | % | ||||||
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Digital |
3,817 | 3,926 | -2.8 | % | ||||||||
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Total investment publications |
5,774 | 6,140 | -6.0 | % | ||||||||
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Copyright fees |
2,277 | 2,466 | -7.7 | % | ||||||||
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Total publishing revenues |
$ | 8,051 | $ | 8,606 | -6.4 | % | ||||||
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
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Three Months Ended July 31, |
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2026 |
2025 |
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Digital |
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Digital |
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New Sales |
11.1 | % | 9.8 | % | 12.7 | % | 11.6 | % | ||||||||
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Renewal & Conversion Sales |
88.9 | % | 90.2 | % | 87.3 | % | 88.4 | % | ||||||||
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Total Gross Sales |
100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | ||||||||
During the three months ended July 31, 2026, new sales of print publications decreased on a percentage basis as a result of an increase in renewal sales orders from the prior fiscal year. New sales of digital publications decreased.
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As of July 31, |
As of April 30, |
As of July 31, |
Change |
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($ in thousands) |
2026 |
2026 |
2025 |
July-26 vs. Apr-26 |
July-26 vs. July-25 |
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Unearned subscription revenue (current and long-term liabilities) |
$ | 20,911 | $ | 21,039 | $ | 21,556 | -0.6 | % | -3.0 | % | ||||||||||
Unearned subscription revenue as of July 31, 2026, is slightly below April 30, 2026 and 3.0% below July 31, 2025. A certain amount of variation is to be expected due to the volume of new orders and timing of long-term renewal contracts, marketing campaigns and large Institutional Sales orders.
Investment periodicals and related publications revenues
Investment periodicals and related publications revenues of $5,774,000 (excluding copyright fees) during the three months ended July 31, 2026 were 6.0% below publications revenues of $6,140,000 in the prior fiscal year. The Company continued a variety of efforts to attract new subscribers through various marketing channels, primarily direct mail, e-mail, and by the efforts of our sales personnel. As fewer individual investors manage their own portfolios, particularly in volatile markets, total product line circulation at July 31, 2026, was 2.4% below total product line circulation at July 31, 2025.
Total print circulation at July 31, 2026 was 3.2% below the total print circulation at July 31, 2025. During the three months ended July 31, 2026, print publication revenues of $1,957,000 decreased 11.6%, below print publication revenues of $2,214,000 during the corresponding period of 2026. Total digital circulation at July 31, 2026 was 1.5% below total digital circulation at July 31, 2025. During the three months ended July 31, 2026, digital revenues of $3,817,000 were 2.8% lower than the prior fiscal year. These figures reflect solid the ongoing shift from our print services to digital counterparts. Sales of our higher-price, higher-profit, publications have remained strong.
Value Line serves primarily individual and professional investors in stocks, and other securities, who pay mostly on annual or multi-year subscription plans, for basic services or as much as $100,000 or more annually for comprehensive premium quality research, not obtainable elsewhere.
The Value Line Proprietary Ranks (the “Ranking System”), a component of the Company’s flagship product, The Value Line Investment Survey, are also utilized in the Company’s copyright business. The Ranking System is made available to EAM for specific uses without charge. During the twelve month period ended July 31, 2026, the combined Ranking System “Rank 1 & 2” stocks’ price increase of 26.0% compared to the Russell 2000 Index’s increase of 32.5% during the comparable period.
Copyright fees
During the three months ended July 31, 2026, copyright fees of $2,277,000 were 7.7% below those during the corresponding period in the prior fiscal year.
Investment management fees and services – (unconsolidated)
The Company receives non-voting revenues interest and non-voting profits interest from EAM, the investment adviser to the Value Line Mutual Funds.
Total assets in the Value Line Funds managed and/or distributed by EAM at July 31, 2026, were $3.40 billion, which is $1.61 billion or 32.2% below total assets of $5.01 billion in the Value Line Funds managed and/or distributed by EAM at July 31, 2025.
Value Line Mutual Funds
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As of July 31, |
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($ in millions) |
2026 |
2025 |
Change |
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Equity and hybrid funds |
$ | 3,396 | $ | 4,974 | -31.7 | % | ||||||
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Fixed income funds |
- | 35 | -100.0 | % | ||||||||
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Total EAM managed net assets |
$ | 3,396 | $ | 5,009 | -32.2 | % | ||||||
EAM Trust - Results of operations before distribution to interest holders
The gross fees and net income of EAM’s investment management operations during the three months ended July 31, 2026, before interest holder distributions, included total investment management fees earned from the Value Line Funds of $6,228,000, 12b-1 fees and other fees of $1,321,000 and other net gains of $144,000. For the same period, there was total investment management fee waivers of $23,000. During the three months ended July 31, 2026, EAM's net income was $1,046,000 after giving effect to Value Line’s non-voting revenues interest of $3,356,000, 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 three months ended July 31, 2025, before interest holder distributions, included total investment management fees earned from the Value Line Funds of $8,302,000, 12b-1 fees and other fees of $1,509,000 and other net gains of $204,000. For the same period, total investment management fee waivers were $41,000 and 12b-1 fee waivers were $22,000. During the three months ended July 31, 2025, EAM's net income was $1,266,000 after giving effect to Value Line’s non-voting revenues interest of $4,488,000, but before distributions to voting profits interest holders and to the Company in respect of its 50% non-voting profits interest.
As of July 31, 2026, three of the Value Line Funds have investment management fee waivers in place amounting in aggregate to less than 1% of all EAM management fee revenues.
The Value Line equity and hybrid funds’ assets represent 100% of total fund assets under management (“AUM”) as of July 31, 2026. At July 31, 2026, equity and hybrid AUM decreased by 31.7% compared to last year at July 31, 2025.
EAM - The Company’s non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests
The Company receives non-voting revenues interest and non-voting profits interest from EAM. The Company receives from EAM in an amount ranging from 41% to 55% of EAM's investment management fee revenues from its mutual fund business.
The Company recorded income from its non-voting revenues interest and its non-voting profits interest in EAM as follows:
|
Three Months Ended July 31, |
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|
($ in thousands) |
2026 |
2025 |
Change |
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|
Non-voting revenues interest |
$ | 3,356 | $ | 4,488 | 22.0 | % | ||||||
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Non-voting profits interest |
523 | 633 | 12.8 | % | ||||||||
| $ | 3,879 | $ | 5,121 | 20.7 | % | |||||||
Operating expenses
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Three Months Ended July 31, |
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|
($ in thousands) |
2026 |
2025 |
Change |
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Advertising and promotion |
$ | 821 | $ | 717 | 14.5 | % | ||||||
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Salaries and employee benefits |
3,497 | 3,616 | -3.3 | % | ||||||||
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Production and distribution |
1,460 | 1,631 | -10.5 | % | ||||||||
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Office and administration |
1,246 | 1,146 | 8.7 | % | ||||||||
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Total expenses |
$ | 7,024 | $ | 7,110 | -1.2 | % | ||||||
Expenses within the Company are categorized into advertising and promotion, salaries and employee benefits, production and distribution, office and administration. Operating expenses of $7,024,000 during the three months ended July 31, 2026, were slightly below those during the three months ended July 31, 2025.
Advertising and promotion
During the three months ended July 31, 2026, advertising and promotion expenses of $821,000 increased 14.5% as compared to the prior fiscal year primarily due to increase in direct mail campaigns.
Salaries and employee benefits
During the three months ended July 31, 2026, salaries and employee benefits of $3,497,000 decreased 3.3% below the prior fiscal year.
Production and distribution
During the three months ended July 31, 2026, production and distribution expenses of $1,460,000 decreased 10.5% below the prior fiscal year primarily due to decreases in production expenses to support the Company’s website and maintenance of the Company’s publishing and application software and operating systems.
Office and administration
During the three months ended July 31, 2026, office and administrative expenses of $1,246,000 increased 8.7% above the prior fiscal year, primarily because the Company incurred costs associated with a fulfillment system upgrade, new E-commerce platform, and security and accessibility improvements to our digital services.
Concentration
During the three months ended July 31, 2026, 28.3% of total publishing revenues of $8,051,000 were derived from a single customer.
Investment gains / (losses)
|
Three Months Ended July 31, |
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|
($ in thousands) |
2026 |
2025 |
Change |
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|
Dividend income |
$ | 244 | $ | 161 | 51.6 | % | ||||||
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Interest income |
560 | 514 | 8.9 | % | ||||||||
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Investment gains/(losses) recognized on sale of equity securities during the period |
3 | 2 | -50.0 | % | ||||||||
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Unrealized gains/(losses) recognized on equity securities held at the end of the period |
664 | 1,342 | -50.5 | % | ||||||||
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Total investment gains/(losses) |
$ | 1,471 | $ | 2,019 | -27.1 | % | ||||||
During the three months ended July 31, 2026, the Company’s total investment gains of $1,471,000 decreased 27.1% below the prior fiscal year, primarily a result of lower unrealized gains on equity securities. Proceeds from the sales of equity securities during the three months ended July 31, 2026 and July 31, 2025 were $45,000 and $215,000, respectively.
Effective income tax rate
The overall effective income tax rates, as a percentage of pre-tax ordinary income for the three months ended July 31, 2026 and July 30, 2025 were 27.00% and 25.20%, respectively. The increase in the effective tax rate during for the three months ended July 31, 2026 as compared to July 31, 2025, is primarily a result of an increase in the state and local tax rate from 4.39% to 6.40%, primarily in a single jurisdiction that has changed from a market based approach to a cost of production approach affecting EAM's allocation of taxable income for the combined companies to that jurisdiction. 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, changes in tax rates, 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 for the Company’s new corporate headquarters 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 is required to pay for certain operating expenses associated with the Premises as well as utilities supplied to the Premises.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company had working capital, defined as current assets less current liabilities, of $68,326,000 as of July 31, 2026 and $66,389,000 as of April 30, 2026. These amounts include short-term unearned revenue of $14,355,000 and $14,742,000 reflected in total current liabilities at July 31, 2026 and April 30, 2026, respectively. Cash and short-term securities were $88,458,000 and $86,466,000 as of July 31, 2026 and April 30, 2026, respectively.
The Company’s cash and cash equivalents include $15,085,000 and $23,733,000 at July 31, 2026 and April 30, 2026, respectively, invested primarily in commercial banks and 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 and in commercial banks.
Cash from operating activities
The Company had cash inflows from operating activities of $4,705,000 during the three months ended July 31, 2026, compared to cash inflows of $5,560,000 during the three months ended July 31, 2025. The decrease in cash flows from operations from fiscal 2026 to fiscal 2027 is primarily attributable to the decline in publishing revenues, primarily print publication.
Cash from investing activities
The Company had cash outflows from investing activities of $9,484,000 during the three months ended July 31, 2026, compared to cash outflows from investing activities of $2,811,000 for the three months ended July 31, 2025, respectively. The increase in cash outflows from investing activities for the three months ended July 31, 2026 compared to last year was a result of a increase in investment in equity securities.
Cash from financing activities
During the three months ended July 31, 2026, the Company’s cash outflows from financing activities were $3,385,000, compared to cash outflows from financing activities of $3,118,000 for the three months ended July 31, 2025. Quarterly dividend payments of $0.35 per share during fiscal year 2027 aggregated $3,285,000. Quarterly regular dividend payments of $0.325 per share during fiscal year 2026 aggregated $3,059,000.
At July 31, 2026 there were 9,384,249 common shares outstanding as compared to 9,414,605 common shares outstanding at July 31, 2025. 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 future cash flows from operations and from the Company’s non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests from EAM will be sufficient to finance current and forecasted liquidity needs for the next twelve months and beyond. Management does not anticipate making any borrowings during the next twelve months. As of July 31, 2026, retained earnings and liquid assets were $123,949,000 and $88,458,000, respectively. As of April 30, 2026, retained earnings and liquid assets were $122,578,000 and $86,466,000, 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.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In November 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2023-07, “Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures” (“ASU 2023-07”), which requires disclosures of significant expenses by segment and interim disclosure of items that were previously required on an annual basis. ASU 2023-07 is to be applied on a retrospective basis and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023 and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. We adopted ASU 2023-07 with such disclosures included in Note 16 to our Consolidated Financial Statements.
In December 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2023-09, “Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures” (“ASU 2023-09”), which provides for additional disclosures primarily related to the income tax rate reconciliations and income taxes paid. ASU 2023-09 requires entities to annually disclose the income tax rate reconciliation using both amounts and percentages, considering several categories of reconciling items, including state and local income taxes, foreign tax effects, tax credits and nontaxable or nondeductible items, among others. Disclosure of the reconciling items is subject to a quantitative threshold and disaggregation by nature and jurisdiction. ASU 2023-09 also requires entities to disclose net income taxes paid(net of refunds received) to federal, state and foreign jurisdictions, as well as by individual jurisdiction, subject to a five percent quantitative threshold. ASU 2023-09 may be adopted on a prospective or retrospective basis and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024 with early adoption permitted. We adopted ASU 2023-09 with such disclosures included in Note 8 to our Consolidated Financial Statements.
In November 2024, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2024-03, Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income- Expense Disaggregation Disclosures, requiring all public business entities to provide additional disclosure of the nature of expenses included in the income statement. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, and for interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027, on a prospective basis, with early adoption permitted. We are evaluating the impact on our financial statement disclosures.
In September 2025, the FASB issued ASU No. 2025-06: Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Internal-Use Software (ASU No. 2025-06) to clarify and modernize the recognition and disclosure framework for internal-use software costs. This standard removes all references to software development project stages and requires capitalization to begin once (1) management commits funding and (2) completion and intended use are probable, considering whether significant development uncertainties have been resolved. This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027, and for interim periods within those annual reporting periods. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact on our financial statement disclosures.
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.
The Company’s critical accounting policy relates to the valuation of EAM. There have been no material changes in our critical accounting policies during the three months ended July 31, 2026. For a complete discussion of our critical accounting policies, refer to “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” discussed in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ended April 30, 2026.
Contractual Obligations
We are a party to a lease contract which will result in cash payments to a lessor in future periods. Operating lease liabilities are included in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Estimated payments of these liabilities in each of the next two fiscal are (in thousands): $1,124 in 2027 and $882 in 2028 totaling $2,006.
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 bank certificates of deposits and securities issued by the United States federal government. As of July 31, 2026, the aggregate cost and fair value of fixed income securities classified as available-for-sale were $37,003,000 and $36,878,000, respectively. As of April 30, 2026 the aggregate cost and fair value of fixed income securities classified as available-for-sale were $36,814,000 and $36,683,000, 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) |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
1 year |
1 year |
1 year |
1 year |
|||||||||||||||||
|
Fair Value |
50 bp increase |
50 bp decrease |
100 bp increase |
100 bp decrease |
||||||||||||||||
|
As of July 31, 2026 |
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|
Investments in securities with fixed maturities |
$ | 36,878 | $ | 36,694 | $ | 37,062 | $ | 36,509 | $ | 37,247 | ||||||||||
|
As of April 30, 2026 |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Investments in securities with fixed maturities |
$ | 36,683 | $ | 36,592 | $ | 36,895 | $ | 36,442 | $ | 37,048 | ||||||||||
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.
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 diversity of industry groups. The portfolio consists 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. 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.
As of July 31, 2026 and April 30, 2026, 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), ProShares Trust S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL), IShares DJ Select Dividend ETF (DVY), iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF (PFF) and other Exchange Traded Funds and common stock equity securities was a combined total of $26,449,000 and $17,142,000, respectively, and the fair value was $35,564,000 and $25,603,000, respectively.
|
Equity Securities |
Estimated Fair |
Hypothetical Percentage |
||||||||||||
|
Hypothetical |
Value after Hypothetical |
Increase (Decrease) in |
||||||||||||
|
($ in thousands) |
Fair Value |
Price Change |
Change in Prices |
Shareholders’ Equity |
||||||||||
|
As of July 31, 2026 |
Equity Securities and ETFs held for dividend yield |
$ | 35,564 |
30% increase |
$ | 46,233 | 7.72 | % | ||||||
|
30% decrease |
$ | 24,895 | (7.72 | %) | ||||||||||
|
Equity Securities |
Estimated Fair |
Hypothetical Percentage |
||||||||||||
|
Hypothetical |
Value after Hypothetical |
Increase (Decrease) in |
||||||||||||
|
($ in thousands) |
Fair Value |
Price Change |
Change in Prices |
Shareholders’ Equity |
||||||||||
|
As of April 30, 2026 |
Equity Securities and ETFs held for dividend yield |
$ | 25,603 |
30% increase |
$ | 33,284 | 5.62 | % | ||||||
|
30% decrease |
$ | 17,922 | (5.62 | %) | ||||||||||
Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
|
(a) |
The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) 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
Part I, Item 2 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended July 31, 2026, reflects any changes and updates (see page 23) in addition to the list of 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, 2026 filed with the SEC on July 29, 2026. Any new risk factors reflect management's continuing analysis of developments in the Company's business environment, rather than any specific event or particular issue.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
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 July 31, 2026. All purchases listed below were made in the open market at prevailing market prices.
ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
| Period |
Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased |
Average Price Paid per Share (or Unit) |
Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs |
Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares (or Units) that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs |
||||||||||||
|
May 1 - 31, 2026 |
1,714 | $ | 34.05 | 1,714 | $ | 1,232,000 | ||||||||||
|
June 1 - 30, 2026 |
906 | $ | 33.24 | 906 | 1,202,000 | |||||||||||
|
July 1 - 31, 2026 |
300 | $ | 35.70 | 300 | 1,989,000 | |||||||||||
|
Total |
2,920 | $ | 33.97 | 2,920 | $ | 1,989,000 | ||||||||||
During July 2026, the Company's Board of Directors renewed the 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 new purchase program replaces the October 2025 program. 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. There is a remainder of $1,989,000 before the authorized limit is reached.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
Not applicable.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
Item 5. Other Information
Value Line has never adopted a Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement (as that term is defined in Item 408(a)(1)(i) of Regulation S-K).
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 |
Inline XBRL Instance Document |
|
101.SCH |
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document |
|
101.CAL |
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document |
|
101.DEF |
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document |
|
101.LAB |
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document |
|
101.PRE |
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document |
|
104 |
The cover page of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, formatted in inline XBRL (including Exhibit 101). |
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 |
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|
(Principal Financial Officer) |
Date: September 14, 2026