UNITED STATES

 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 Washington, D.C. 20549

 FORM 10-K

 (Mark One)

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

 For the fiscal year ended February 29, 2024

 OR

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

 For the transition period from to.

 Commission file number: 000-04957

 (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 Delaware

 73-0750007

 (State or other jurisdiction of
 incorporation or organization)

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

 5402 South 122nd East Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma

 74146

 (Address of principal executive offices)

 (Zip Code)

 Registrant's telephone number, including area code ( 918) 622-4522

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

 Common Stock, $.20 par value

 EDUC

 NASDAQ

 (Title of class)

 (Trading symbol)

 (Name of each exchange on which registered)

 Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

 Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

 Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.

 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, smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company" and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 Large accelerated filer

 Accelerated filer

 Non-accelerated filer

 Smaller reporting company

 Emerging growth company

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

 Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management's assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.

 If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements.

 Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant's executive o cers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b).

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

 The aggregate market value of the outstanding shares of common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant at the price at which the common stock was last sold on August 31, 2023 on the NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC was $ 9,519,000.

 As of May 13, 2024 there were 8,575,088 shares of common stock were outstanding.

 DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 Portions of the Proxy Statement for fiscal year 2024 relating to our Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on July 10, 2024 are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Report on Form 10-K.

 FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 Item 1.

 Business

 Item 1A.

 Risk Factors

 Item 1B.

 Unresolved Staff Comments

 Item 1C.

 Cybersecurity

 Item 2.

 Properties

 Item 3.

 Legal Proceedings

 Item 4.

 Mine Safety Disclosures

 Item 5.

 Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 Item 6.

 [Reserved]

 Item 7.

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

 Item 7A.

 Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 Item 8.

 Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

 Item 9.

 Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

 Item 9A.

 Controls and Procedures

 Item 9B.

 Other Information

 Item 9C.

 Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections

 Item 10.

 Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

 Item 11.

 Executive Compensation

 Item 12.

 Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

 Item 13.

 Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

 Item 14.

 Principal Accounting Fees and Services

 Item 15.

 Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

 Item 16.

 Form 10-K Summary

 FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 CAUTIONARY REMARKS REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

 The information discussed in this Annual Report on Form 10-K includes " forward-looking statements. " These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as " may, " " expect, " " estimate, " " project, " " plan, " " believe, " " intend, " " achievable, " " anticipate, " " continue, " " potential, " " should, " " could, " and similar terms and phrases. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve certain assumptions, risks and uncertainties and we can give no assurance that such expectations or assumptions will be achieved. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to,

 our success in recruiting and retaining new Brand Partners (formerly consultants),

 our ability to locate and procure desired books,

 product and supplier concentrations,

 our relationship with our primary supplier and the related distribution requirements and contractual limitations,

 adverse publicity associated with our Company or the industry,

 our ability to ship timely,

 changes to our primary sales channels, including social media and party plan platforms,

 changing consumer preferences and demands,

 legal matters,

 reliance on information technology infrastructure,

 restrictions imposed by covenants in the agreements governing our indebtedness,

 our ability to obtain adequate financing for working capital and capital expenditures,

 economic and competitive conditions, regulatory changes, and other uncertainties,

 outstanding impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as

 those factors discussed below and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, all of which are difficult to predict.

 In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed may not occur. All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements in this paragraph and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and speak only as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Other than as required under the securities laws, we do not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or circumstances, changes in expectations or otherwise. As used in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the terms " the Company, " " EDC, " " we, " " our " or " us " mean Educational Development Corporation, a Delaware corporation, unless the context indicates otherwise.

 Item 1. BUSINESS

 ( a) General Description of Business

 We are the owner and exclusive publisher of Kane Miller children's books; Learning Wrap-Ups, maker of educational manipulatives; and SmartLab Toys, maker of STEAM-based toys and games. We are also the exclusive United States Multi-Level Marketing ("MLM") distributor of Usborne Publishing Limited ("Usborne") children's books. We are a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware on August 23, 1965. Our fiscal year ends on February 28 (29).

 Our Company vision statement reflects "We believe that education is the catalyst for wonderment, kindness, and connection. Our vision is to empower the world by sparking a child's natural curiosity and lifelong love of learning through products and experiences that meet at the intersection of education and play."

 Our Company mission statement reflects "We are creating the story of tomorrow through people, products, and purpose."

 (b) Financial Information about Our Segments

 We sell children's books, educational toys and games and other related products (collectively referred to as "products" or "books") through two business segments, which we refer to as "divisions" or "sales channels":

 Direct Sales Division ("PaperPie") – This division sells our books and products through independent sales representatives ("Brand Partners") direct to the customer. Our Brand Partners sell our products in various ways, including hosting home parties, through social media collaboration platforms on the internet, hosting book fairs with school and public libraries and through other events. This division had approximately 15,000 active Brand Partners as of February 29, 2024.

 Publishing Division ("EDC Publishing" or "Publishing") – This is our trade division which markets through commissioned trade representatives who call on retail book, toy and specialty stores along with other retail outlets. This division also has in-house representatives marketing by telephone and email to other customers and potential customers. This division markets to approximately 4,000 retail outlets. In addition to exhibiting at national trade and regional bookselling shows, our products are featured in agency showrooms in AmericasMart Atlanta, Dallas Market Center, and Minneapolis Mart. In accordance with our new distribution agreement, the Company no longer has the rights to distribute Usborne's products to retail customers. The distribution of Usborne's products to retail customers was discontinued in early fiscal 2024, when Usborne moved to a new retail distribution vendor..

 Percent of Net Revenues by Division

 FY 2024

 FY 2023

 PaperPie

 %

 %

 Publishing

 %

 %

 Total net revenues

 %

 %

 (c) Narrative Description of Business

 Products

 EDC's current catalog contains approximately 2,000 titles, with new additions added throughout the year across all lines of our products. Additionally, a similar number of titles that do not have sufficient sales are identified as "out of print" and these titles are no longer re-printed or included in future catalogs. The Company sells the remaining quantities of these out-of-print titles through their normal sales channels at normal pricing and has not historically participated in the publishing industry's "remainder" market. Many of our products are interactive in nature, including our touchy-feely board books, activity books and flashcards, adventure and search books, art books, sticker books, foreign language books, learning manipulatives and toys. We also have a broad line of 'internet-linked' books which allow readers to expand their educational experience by referring them to relevant non-Company websites. Our books also include science and math titles, as well as chapter books and novels. Many of our Kane Miller books were originally published in other countries, in their native languages, and we translate them to common American English and have exclusive rights to publish the titles in the United States. Certain Kane Miller agreements include North American rights, and these titles are also sold into Canada. Our SmartLab Toys and Learning Wrap-Ups imprints are owned product lines that are sold domestically and internationally, including the sale of foreign distribution rights to specific customers.

 Seasonality

 Sales for both divisions are greatest during the fall due to the holiday season.

 Competition

 While we have the exclusive rights to sell Kane Miller books, Learning Wrap-Ups, SmartLab Toys and are the exclusive United States Multi-Level Marketing ("MLM") distributor of Usborne books, we face competition from other publishers selling on the internet and directly to our customer base. Our PaperPie division competes in recruiting and retaining Brand Partners, which continuously receive opportunities to work for other direct selling companies, as well as new non-traditional employment opportunities, especially in the gig marketplace that provide part-time supplemental income. We also compete with other publishers in the school and library book fair market, of which Scholastic Corporation is the largest.

 Our Publishing division faces competition from U.S. and international publishing companies that sell online and through the same retail bookstores, toy stores, and gift and novelty stores that also offer a variety of non-book products.

 Employees

 As of February 23, 2024, 101 full-time employees worked at our Tulsa, OK, San Diego, CA, and Layton, UT facilities. Of these employees, approximately 50% work in our distribution warehouse in Tulsa, OK.

 Company Reports

 Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 of the Exchange Act, as soon as reasonably practicable after filing electronically or otherwise furnishing it to the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), we make available, free of charge, on our website (www.edcpub.com) copies of our Annual Reports and Quarterly Reports. Our website also includes an internet link to the federal SEC website that contains additional public reports, including Current Reports on Form 8-K, amendments to those reports filed or furnished to the SEC and reports of holdings of our securities filed by our officers and directors under Section 16 of the Exchange Act. These reports will be provided electronically, free of charge, upon request.

 Item 1A. RISK FACTORS

 We are a smaller reporting company and are not required to provide this information.

 Item 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

 None

 Item 1C. CYBERSECURITY

 The Company has developed and implemented a cybersecurity risk management program intended to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of our critical systems and information. We designed and assessed our cybersecurity risk based on the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). This does not imply that we meet any particular technical standards, specifications, or requirements, only that we use these frameworks as a guide to help us identify, assess, and manage cybersecurity risks relevant to our business.

 Our cybersecurity risk management program is integrated into our overall enterprise risk management program and shares common methodologies, reporting channels, and governance processes that apply across the enterprise risk management program to other legal, compliance, strategic, operational, and financial risk areas. Our cybersecurity risk management program includes:

 Risk assessments are designed to help identify material cybersecurity risks to our critical systems and information.

 A security team principally responsible for managing (1) our cybersecurity risk assessment processes, (2) our security controls, and (3) our response to cybersecurity incidents.

 The use of external service providers, where appropriate, to assess, test or otherwise assist with aspects of our security controls.

 Cybersecurity awareness training of our employees, including our incident response personnel.

 A cybersecurity incident response plan that includes procedures for responding to cybersecurity incidents.

 We have not identified risks from known cybersecurity threats, including as a result of any prior cybersecurity incidents, that have materially affected the Company, including our operations, business strategy, results of operations, or financial condition. We face risks from cybersecurity threats that, if realized, are reasonably likely to materially affect us, including our operations, business strategy, results of operations, or financial condition.

 Cybersecurity Governance

 Our Board considers cybersecurity risk as part of its risk oversight function and has delegated oversight of cybersecurity and other information technology risks to the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, whom oversee management's implementation of our cybersecurity risk management program and incident response plans.

 Our management team and incident response team have overall responsibility for assessing and managing our material risks from cybersecurity threats. The team has primary responsibility for our overall cybersecurity risk management program and supervise both our internal cybersecurity personnel and our retained external cybersecurity consultants that conduct vulnerability scans on a quarterly basis per PCI DSS standards. While cyber-attacks are common threats to all businesses, the Company did not experience a material cyber security incident in either fiscal year 2024 or 2023.

 Our management team is informed about and monitors the prevention, detection, mitigation, and remediation of key cybersecurity risks and incidents through various means, which may include briefings from internal security personnel, threat intelligence and other information obtained from governmental, public, or private sources, including external consultants engaged by us, and alerts and reports produced by security tools deployed in the information technology environment.

 Item 2. PROPERTIES

 Our headquarters office and distribution warehouse are located on a 50-acre complex at 5402 South 122nd East Ave, Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Company headquarters includes multiple buildings that combine to approximately 400,000 square feet of office and warehouse space, of which 218,700 is utilized by us and 181,300 is occupied by a third-party tenant. Substantially all customer orders are fulfilled from our 170,000 square foot warehouse, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, using multiple flow-rack systems, referred to as "lines," to expedite order completion, packaging, and shipment.

 During the third quarter of fiscal 2024, the Company listed for sale/leaseback our headquarters office and warehouse property. The listing of the property for sale resulted in a reclassification of the owned property as "Assets held for sale" in the Company's financial statements.

 In addition to this owned property, we also lease additional warehouse space in Tulsa, Oklahoma as needed for overflow inventory, a small office in San Diego, California that is used by our Kane Miller employees, and a warehouse and office space in Layton, Utah. We believe that our operating facilities meet both present and future capacity needs.

 Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 We are not a party to any material pending legal proceedings.

 Item 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

 None

 Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 The common stock of EDC is traded on NASDAQ (symbol "EDUC"). The number of shareholders of record of EDC's common stock as of May 13, 2024, was 446.

 For information regarding our compensation plans see Note 14 of the notes to the financial statements and our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed in connection with the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on July 10, 2024, as outlined in Part III, Item 12 in this Annual Report.

 Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 Period

 Total # of Shares

 Purchased

 Average Price

 Paid per Share

 Total # of Shares

 Purchased as

 Part of Publicly Announced Plan (1)

 Maximum # of Shares that may

 be Repurchased under the Plan (1)

 December 1 - 31, 2023

 -

 $

 -

 -

 376,393

 January 1 - 31, 2024

 -

 -

 -

 376,393

 February 1 - 29, 2024

 -

 -

 -

 376,393

 Total

 -

 $

 -

 -

 (1)

 On February 4, 2019, the Board of Directors approved a new stock repurchase plan, replacing the former 2008 stock repurchase plan. The maximum number of shares which may be purchased under the new plan is 800,000. This plan has no expiration date.

 Item 6. [RESERVED]

 Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 This Management ' s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contains a discussion of our business, including a general overview of our segments, our results of operations, our liquidity and capital resources, and our quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk.

 The following discussion contains forward-looking statements that reflect our future plans, estimates, beliefs and expected performance. The forward-looking statements are dependent upon events, risks and uncertainties that may be outside of our control. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed in these forward-looking statements. See " Cautionary Remarks Regarding Forward Looking Statements " in the front of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 Management Summary

 We are the owner and exclusive publisher of Kane Miller children's books; Learning Wrap-Ups, maker of educational manipulatives; and SmartLab Toys, maker of STEAM-based toys and games. We are also the exclusive United States Multi-Level Marketing ("MLM") distributor of Usborne Publishing Limited ("Usborne") children's books. Significant portions of our product offering, and inventory are concentrated with Usborne. Our distribution agreement with Usborne includes annual minimum purchase volumes along with specific payment terms, which, if not met or if payments are not received in a timely manner, offer Usborne the right to terminate the agreement. During fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2024, the Company did not meet the minimum purchase volumes and certain payments were not received timely. No notification of non-compliance or termination has been received from Usborne. Should termination of the agreement occur, the Company will be allowed, at a minimum, to sell through their remaining Usborne inventory over the twelve months following the termination date.

 We sell our products through two separate divisions, PaperPie and Publishing. These two divisions each have their own customer base. The PaperPie division markets our complete line of products through a network of independent Brand Partners using a combination of home shows, internet party events and book fairs. The Publishing division markets Kane Miller, Learning Wrap-Ups and SmartLab Toys on a wholesale basis to various retail accounts. All other supporting administrative activities are recognized as other expenses outside of our two divisions. Other expenses consist primarily of the compensation for our office, warehouse, and sales support staff as well as the cost of operating and maintaining our corporate offices and distribution facility.

 PaperPie Division

 Our PaperPie division uses a multi-level direct selling organizational structure to market our products using independent sales representatives ("Brand Partners") located throughout the United States. The customer base of PaperPie consists of individual purchasers, as well as schools and public libraries. Revenues are primarily generated through book showings in individual homes, on social media collaboration platforms, through book fairs with school and public libraries and other in-person events.

 An important factor in the growth of the PaperPie division is the addition of new Brand Partners and the retention of existing Brand Partners. Active Brand Partners (defined as those with sales during the past six months) are primarily responsible for recruiting new Brand Partners. PaperPie entices new recruits by providing joining incentives to new Brand Partners including discounted products and cash bonus awards based on exceeding certain sales criteria. In addition, our PaperPie division provides our Brand Partners with an extensive operational handbook, valuable training, and an individual website they can customize and use to generate sales. The Company also provides a "back-office" operations platform that allows Brand Partners to track their individual and team business results.

 Brand Partners

 FY 2024

 FY 2023

 New Brand Partners Added During Fiscal Year

 10,800

 16,500

 Active Brand Partners at End of Fiscal Year

 15,000

 24,600

 Our PaperPie division's multi-level marketing organizational structure presently has eight levels of sales representatives, collectively known as Brand Partners:

 Brand Partners

 Team Leaders

 Advanced Leaders

 Senior Leaders

 Executive Leaders

 Senior Executive Leaders

 Directors

 Senior Directors

 Upon signing up, sales representatives begin as "Brand Partners". Brand Partners receive "weekly commissions" from each sale they make; the commission rate they receive on each sale is determined by the "order type" assigned to the sale. In addition, Brand Partners receive a monthly sales bonus once their total sales reach an established monthly goal and other awards (called "Level Perks") for meeting other individual sales and recruiting goals for the month. Brand Partners who recruit a specified number of other Brand Partners into their downline become "Team Leaders". These downline recruits are known as their "Central Group". Upon reaching this Team Leader level, Brand Partners become eligible to receive "monthly override payments" which are calculated on sales made by their Central Group and downlines up to two levels below their Central Group. Team Leaders that recruit and promote other Team Leaders, and meet other established criteria, are eligible to become "Advanced Leaders".

 Once Advanced Leaders promote a second level Brand Partner, add additional recruits, and meet other established criteria, they become "Senior Leaders", "Executive Leaders", "Senior Executive Leaders", "Directors" or "Senior Directors". One-time cash bonus payments are made to Advanced Leaders and higher at each promotion level. Executive Leaders and higher receive an additional monthly override payment based upon the sales of their executive group. Directors and higher receive an additional bonus payment if they promote a Team Leader from their Central Group. The maximum override payment a leader can receive is calculated on the sales of their Central Group and three levels below.

 During fiscal year 2024, internet sales continued to be the largest sales channel within our PaperPie division. The use of social media and party plan platforms, such as those available on Facebook, continue to be popular sales tools. These platforms allow Brand Partners to "present" and customers to "attend" online purchasing events from any geographical location.

 Customers' internet orders are primarily received via the Brand Partner's customized website, which is hosted by the Company. Brand Partners contact hosts or hostesses (collectively "hostess") who then provide a list of contacts to invite to an online party. During the online party, the Brand Partner answers attendees' questions and provides product recommendations. These attendees then select desired products and place orders via the Brand Partner's customized website. Internet orders are processed through a standard online "shopping cart checkout" and the Brand Partner receives sales credit and commission on the transaction. All internet orders are shipped directly to the end customer. The hostess earns discounted products based on the total sales from the attendees at the online party. Brand Partners use the list of contacts provided by the hostess as additional contacts for future hostess and recruiting opportunities.

 In-person parties also occur when Brand Partners contact hostesses to hold book shows in their homes. The Brand Partner assists the hostess in setting up the details for the show, makes a presentation at the show and takes orders for the products. The hostess earns discounted products based on the total sales at the party, including internet orders for those customers who can only attend via online access. These orders are typically shipped to the hostess who then distributes the products to the end customer. Customer specials are also available when customers, or their party, order above a specified amount. As with online parties, home shows often provide an excellent opportunity for recruiting new Brand Partners.

 PaperPie net revenues also include sales to schools and libraries through PaperPie Learning, a separate program for eligible Brand Partners which requires certain qualifications and the completion of additional training requirements. The PaperPie Learning program includes book fairs which are held with an organization as the sponsor. The Brand Partner provides promotional materials to introduce our products to parents, who then turn in their orders at a designated time. The book fair program generates discounted products for the sponsoring organization.

 PaperPie also generates revenues through various fundraiser programs directed toward schools and community organizations. Reach for the Stars is a pledge-based reading incentive program that provides cash and products to the sponsoring organization and products for the participating children. An additional fundraising program, Cards for a Cause, offers Brand Partners the opportunity to help members of the community by sharing proceeds from the sale of specific items. Organizations sell a variety box of greeting-type cards and donate a portion of the proceeds to help support their related causes.

 Publishing Division

 Our Publishing division operates in a market that is highly fragmented, with many types of retail companies engaged in selling children's books and toys. The Publishing division's customer base includes national book chains, regional and local bookstores, toy and gift stores, school supply stores and museums. To reach these markets, the Publishing division utilizes a combination of commissioned sales representatives and an in-house sales group located at our headquarters.

 The table below shows the percentage of net revenues from our Publishing division based on market type.

 Publishing Division Net Revenues by Market Type

 FY 2024

 FY 2023

 National chain bookstores

 %

 %

 All other

 %

 %

 Total net revenues

 %

 %

 Publishing uses a variety of methods to attract potential new customers and maintain current customers. Our employees attend many of the national trade shows held by the book and toy selling industry each year, allowing us to contact potential buyers who may be unfamiliar with our products. Our marketing strategy targets toy and specialty stores, in addition to bookstores and museum gift shops, through print media advertising in trade publications. In some instances, our products are featured in promotions and catalogs by participation in co-ops with national chain retailers.

 Publishing's sales representatives actively target the smaller independent book and gift store customers. This market has seen continued growth due to a resurgence in the opening of local bookstores, toy stores, and specialty stores across the U.S., coupled with the efforts of both our in-house and outside sales representatives to increase sales to local and independent businesses. The Company shifted its focus toward independent stores as national chain stores saw a change in buying programs and purchasing slowed with COVID-19. Our annual catalogs are mailed to approximately 4,000 customers and potential customers. See Publishing Operating Results for discussion of our updated distribution agreement with Usborne.

 Result of Operations

 The following table shows our statements of operations data:

 Twelve Months Ended

 2024

 2023

 Net revenues

 $

 51,030,300

 $

 87,829,000

 Cost of goods sold

 18,045,400

 31,759,200

 Gross margin

 32,984,900

 56,069,800

 Operating expenses

 Operating and selling

 8,789,200

 15,780,600

 Sales commissions

 16,105,600

 25,676,100

 General and administrative

 13,991,000

 17,195,100

 Total operating expenses

 38,885,800

 58,651,800

 Other (income) expense

 Interest expense

 2,758,900

 2,172,300

 Other income

 (9,394,300

)

 (1,327,400

)

 Earnings (loss) before income taxes

 734,500

 (3,426,900

)

 Income taxes

 188,100

 (922,000

)

 Net earnings (loss)

 $

 $

 (2,504,900

)

 See the detailed discussion of net revenues, gross margin and operating expenses by reportable segment below.

 Non-Segment Operating Results

 Total operating expenses not associated with a reporting segment were 11.3 million for the fiscal year ended February 29, 2024, compared to $14.9 million for the same period a year ago. Operating expenses decreased $3.6 million primarily as a result of a reduction in labor expenses of $2.6 million, with our warehouse payroll having the largest reduction, and a $0.7 million decrease in freight-handling costs, both associated with a decrease in gross sales, plus a $0.3 million decrease in depreciation expense due to the sale of the Company's old headquarters and classification as assets held for sale of our current headquarters and warehouse, $0.2 million decrease in legal costs primarily related to the negotiation of our new Usborne distribution agreement which was executed in fiscal 2023, offset by a $0.2 million increase in personal property taxes due to the Company no longer qualifying for an exemption on long term inventory.

 Interest expense increased $0.6 million, to $2.8 million for fiscal year ended February 29, 2024, compared to $2.2 million reported for fiscal year ended February 28, 2023, due primarily to increases in Secured Overnight Financing Rates ("SOFR") interest rates, partially offset by reduced borrowings in fiscal 2024.

 Other income increased $8.1 million, to $9.4 million for fiscal year ended February 29, 2024, compared to $1.3 million reported for fiscal year ended February 28, 2023, due to $3.8 million of other income related to the Employee Retention Credit, $4.0 million gain from the sale of the old headquarters building, $0.1 million gain from the sale of equipment, $0.1 million decrease in startup costs recognized from the acquisition of SmartLab Toys in 2023, and $0.1 million in other various changes.

 Income taxes increased $1.1 million, to a tax expense of $0.2 million for fiscal year ended February 29, 2024, from a tax benefit of $0.9 million for the same period a year ago. This increase was primarily related to an increase in taxable income for the current fiscal year compared to the prior fiscal year. The effective tax rate decreased by 1.3%, to 25.6% for fiscal year ending February 29, 2024, as compared to 26.9% for fiscal year ended February 28, 2023, primarily due to sales mix fluctuations between states. Our tax rates are higher than the federal statutory rate of 21% due to the inclusion of state income and franchise taxes.

 PaperPie Operating Results

 The following table summarizes the operating results of the PaperPie segment for the twelve months ended February 29 (28):

 Twelve Months Ended

 2024

 2023

 Gross sales

 $

 64,252,000

 $

 94,795,700

 Less discounts and allowances

 (20,981,500

)

 (27,271,100

)

 Transportation revenue

 2,354,700

 7,022,100

 Net revenues

 45,625,200

 74,546,700

 Cost of goods sold

 15,745,500

 24,639,000

 Gross margin

 29,879,700

 49,907,700

 Operating expenses

 Operating and selling

 7,151,300

 12,501,100

 Sales commissions

 15,925,100

 25,095,100

 General and administrative

 2,674,100

 3,140,900

 Total operating expenses

 25,750,500

 40,737,100

 Operating income

 $

 4,129,200

 $

 9,170,600

 Average number of active Brand Partners

 18,300

 28,000

 PaperPie net revenues decreased $28.9 million, or 38.8%, to $45.6 million for fiscal year ended February 29, 2024, when compared with net revenues of $74.5 million reported for fiscal year ended February 28, 2023. The average number of active Brand Partners in fiscal year 2024 was 18,300, a decrease of 9,700, or 34.6%, from 28,000 in fiscal year 2023. The Company reports the average number of active Brand Partners as a key indicator for this division. We also saw new Brand Partner recruiting negatively impacted by the recent change in our distribution agreement with Usborne Publishing Limited. The new agreement created a level of uncertainty with our Brand Partners until we were able to effectively communicate the continuation of our relationship within the Direct Sales division. Further, sales were impacted beginning in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 and continuing through the first two quarters of fiscal 2024, associated with the rebranding of the direct sales division from Usborne Books & More ("UBAM") to PaperPie. During this period, our Brand Partners were challenged with updating their individual marketing materials, training videos and personal business websites to the new brand. These efforts resulted in less sales and less new recruiting success. In addition, sales during fiscal 2024 continued to be negatively impacted by economic factors that include recent record inflation, resulting in high fuel costs and food price increases that continue to impact the disposable income of our customers. The reduced sales resulted in increased Brand Partner turnover and lower levels of new Brand Partner recruits. We expect this impact on sales to continue as inflationary pressures persist.

 PaperPie gross margin decreased $20.0 million, or 40.1%, to $29.9 million for fiscal year ended February 29, 2024, from $49.9 million reported for fiscal year ended February 28, 2023. Gross margin as a percentage of net revenues decreased 1.4% to 65.5% for fiscal year 2024 when compared to 66.9% for fiscal year 2023. The decrease in gross margin as a percentage of net revenues is primarily attributed to reduced freight revenues resulting from a discounted freight promotion that began in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 that continued through the fiscal fourth quarter impacting gross margins by $1.0 million, offset by increased margins on product mix of $0.4 million.

 Total PaperPie operating expenses decreased $14.9 million, or 36.6%, to $25.8 million during the fiscal year ended February 29, 2024, when compared with $40.7 million reported for fiscal year ended February 28, 2023. Operating and selling expenses decreased $5.3 million, to $7.2 million for fiscal year ended February 29, 2024, from $12.5 million reported in the same period a year ago. These decreases were due to a $5.2 million decrease in shipping costs associated with the decrease in volume of orders shipped from lower sales, and a decrease of $0.2 million in accruals for Brand Partner incentive trip expenses, offset by a $0.1 million increase in accruals for Brand Partner meetings and convention expenses. Sales commissions decreased $9.2 million, to $15.9 million during the fiscal year ended February 29, 2024, when compared to $25.1 million reported in the same period a year ago primarily due to the decrease in net revenues. General and administrative expenses decreased $0.4 million, to $2.7 million during the fiscal year ended February 29, 2024, when compared with $3.1 million reported for fiscal year ended February 28, 2023. This decrease was due to $0.6 million of decreased credit card transaction fees associated with decreased sales volumes, a $0.2 million decrease in payroll and various other expenses, offset by $0.4 million increase in amortization and depreciation expenses related to the SmartLab Toys acquisition.

 Operating income of our PaperPie division decreased $5.1 million, or 55.4%, to $4.1 million for fiscal year ended February 29, 2024, as compared to $9.2 million reported for fiscal year ended February 28, 2023. Operating income for the PaperPie division as a percentage of net revenues for the year ended February 29, 2024, was 9.1%, compared to 12.3% for the year ended February 28, 2023, a change of 3.2%. Operating income as a percentage of net revenues changed from the prior year primarily due to the decrease in net revenues caused by higher discounts and lower transportation revenue, plus the increase in cost of goods sold resulting from higher inbound freight costs, and the increase in accrued expenses for the Company's Brand Partners related to the annual incentive trip and convention.

 Publishing Operating Results

 The following table summarizes the operating results of the Publishing segment for the twelve months ended February 29 (28):

 Twelve Months Ended

 2024

 2023

 Gross sales

 $

 11,331,600

 $

 27,896,200

 Less discounts and allowances

 (5,947,900

)

 (14,624,400

)

 Transportation revenue

 21,400

 10,500

 Net revenues

 5,405,100

 13,282,300

 Cost of goods sold

 2,299,800

 7,120,200

 Gross margin

 3,105,300

 6,162,100

 Total operating expenses

 1,882,000

 2,975,300

 Operating income

 $

 1,223,300

 $

 3,186,800

 Our Publishing division's net revenues decreased $7.9 million, or to $5.4 million for fiscal year ended February 29, 2024 from $13.3 million reported for fiscal year ended February 28, 2023. During fiscal year 2023, we entered into a new distribution agreement with Usborne. Under the contracted terms in our new distribution agreement, the Company no longer has the rights to distribute Usborne's products to retail customers. The Company discontinued sales to retail customers in the first quarter of fiscal 2024 when Usborne introduced their new distribution vendor. Usborne's products sold within the Publishing division decreased to 24.2%, or $2.7 million of net sales during the fiscal year ended February 29, 2024 from 83.4%, or $11.1 million, of net sales during the fiscal year ended February 28, 2023.

 Gross margin decreased $3.1 million, to $3.1 million for fiscal year ended February 29, 2024, from $6.2 million reported for fiscal year ended February 28, 2023. Gross margin as a percentage of net revenues increased 11.1%, to 57.5% for fiscal year 2024, compared to 46.4% reported the same period a year ago due to a change in customer order mix and the addition of SmartLab Toys.

 Operating expenses decreased $1.1 million, to $1.9 million for fiscal year ended February 29, 2024, from $3.0 million reported for fiscal year ended February 28, 2023. The decrease in operating expenses resulted from the decrease in sales commissions of $0.4 million, a decrease in freight expense of $0.9 million, both due to decreased sales, offset by a $0.2 million increase in Learning Wrap Ups compensation expense resulting from earnout payments to sellers that reached their initial sales hurdle outlined in the purchase agreements of Learning Wrap-Ups in December 2021.

 Operating income for the segment decreased $2.0 million, or 62.5%, to $1.2 million for fiscal year ended February 29, 2024, from $3.2 million reported during the same period last year. The decrease in operating income resulted primarily from lower sales volumes compared to the previous fiscal year partially offset by the decrease in sales commissions and freight expenses.

 Liquidity and Capital Resources

 EDC has a history of profitability and positive cash flow. We typically fund our operations from the cash we generate. During periods of operating losses, EDC will reduce purchases and sell through inventory to generate cash flow. During fiscal 2024, the Company generated cash flows from reducing inventory that offset operating losses along with the receipt of $3.8 million in Employee Retention Credit and $4.9 million in proceeds from the sale of our old headquarters building. The Company expects to reduce current excess inventory levels and use the cash proceeds to offset any future operating losses, and to pay down the line of credit and portions of the term debt. Available cash has historically been used to pay down outstanding bank loan balances, for capital expenditures, to pay dividends and to acquire treasury stock. We utilize a bank credit facility and other term loan borrowings to meet our short-term cash needs, as well as fund capital expenditures, when necessary. As of the end of fiscal year 2024, our revolving bank credit facility loan balance was $5.5 million with $2.5 million in available capacity.

 During fiscal year 2024, we experienced positive cash flows from operations of $8,750,600. These cash flows resulted from:

 net earnings of $546,400

 Adjusted for:

 depreciation and amortization expense of $2,487,200

 share-based compensation expense, net of $212,000

 provision for credit losses of $33,300

 provision for inventory valuation allowance of $85,900

 Offset by:

 net gain on sale of assets of $4,016,700

 deferred income taxes of $609,700

 Positively impacted by:

 decrease in inventories, net of $8,130,000

 decrease in accounts receivable of $936,500

 increase in income taxes payable of $773,400

 decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets of $197,100

 increase in accounts payable of $46,300

 Negatively impacted by:

 decrease in accrued salaries, commissions, and other liabilities of $51,900

 decrease in deferred revenues of $19,200

 Cash provided by investing activities was $4,037,100 consisting of proceeds from the sale of assets of $4,858,900 offset by capital expenditures of $821,800 in software upgrades to our proprietary systems that our PaperPie Brand Partners use to monitor their business and place customer orders.

 Cash used in financing activities was $12,199,400 which was comprised of net payments on the line of credit of $5,136,400, payments on term debt of $6,499,100 and cash paid in treasury stock transactions of $563,900.

 We continue to expect that cash generated from the sale of our owned real estate, along with cash generated from our operations, specifically from the reduction of excess inventory, and cash available through our line of credit with our Lender will provide us with the liquidity we need to support ongoing operations. Cash generated from the building sales and operations will be used to pay down existing debt and any excess may be used to purchase inventory to continue to expand our product offerings.

 On August 9, 2022, the Company repaid in full all outstanding indebtedness and terminated all commitments and obligations under its Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated February 15, 2021 (as amended), between the Company and MidFirst Bank and executed a new Credit Agreement ("Loan Agreement") with BOKF, NA ("Bank of Oklahoma" or the "Lender"). The Loan Agreement established a fixed rate term loan in the principal amount of $15,000,000 (the "Fixed Rate Term Loan"), a floating rate term loan in the principal amount of $21,000,000 (the "Floating Rate Term Loan"; together with the Fixed Rate Term Loan, collectively, the "Term Loans"), and a revolving promissory note in the principal amount up to $15,000,000 (the "Revolving Loan" or "Line of Credit").

 On December 22, 2022, the Company executed the First Amendment to our Loan Agreement with the Lender. This amendment clarified the definition of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio to exclude dividends paid prior to November 30, 2022, and placed restrictions on acquisitions and cash dividends.

 On May 10, 2023, the Company executed the Second Amendment to our Loan Agreement with the Lender. This amendment waived the fixed charge ratio default which occurred on February 28, 2023 and amended the financial covenant to not require the fixed charge ratio to be measured at May 31, 2023. The Second Amendment also added a cumulative maximum level of fiscal year to date inventory purchases through the expiration of the Revolving Loan Agreement, increased the borrowing rate on the Company's Revolving Loan to Term SOFR Rate plus 3.5%, required certain swap agreement be executed within 30 days of the amendment, reduced the revolving commitment from $15,000,000 to $14,000,000, effective May 10, 2023, and further reduced the revolving commitment to $13,500,000, effective July 15, 2023, among other items.

 On June 6, 2023, pursuant to its interest rate risk and risk management strategy, the Company entered into a swap transaction (the "Swap Transaction") with the Lender, which converts a portion of the original $21,000,000 Floating Rate Term Loan from a floating interest rate to a fixed interest rate for the next two years. The Swap Transaction has a notional amount of $18,000,000 through fiscal quarter ending May 31, 2024, and then resets to $13,000,000 through May 30, 2025, while continuing to mirror the amortizing balance of the Floating Rate Term Loan. Under the terms of this agreement, the Company, in effect, has exchanged the floating interest rate of 30-Day Term SOFR Rate at the trade date of June 5, 2023, to a fixed rate of 4.73%. The Swap Transaction commenced on June 7, 2023, with a termination date of May 30, 2025.

 On August 9, 2023, the Company executed the Third Amendment along with a Revised Credit Agreement ("Revised Loan Agreement") with the Lender. This amendment extended the Revolving Loan maturity date to January 31, 2024 and introduced a stepdown to the Revolving Commitment from $13,500,000, through August 30, 2023; to $10,500,000 through October 30, 2023; to $9,000,000 through November 29, 2023; to $5,000,000 through December 30, 2023; to $4,500,000 through January 30, 2024; and to $4,000,000 on January 31, 2024. The amendment restricted the Company from entering into any new purchase orders and use its best efforts to cancel existing purchase orders. It also required the Company to list its real estate property located at 10302 East 55th Place, Tulsa, Oklahoma, for sale with a licensed commercial real estate broker satisfactory to the Lender on or before August 18, 2023, among other items. Contingent upon the occurrence of an Event of Default in the agreement, the Company shall within 15 days list the Hilti Complex with a licensed commercial real estate broker satisfactory to the Lender.

 Prior to the Third Amendment, executed on August 9, 2023, the Loan Agreement contained provisions that required the Company to maintain a minimum fixed charge ratio. The Company was in violation of the minimum fixed charge ratio covenant as of February 28, 2023, for which the Company obtained a written waiver of compliance from the Lender and was not required to measure the fixed charge ratio as of May 31, 2023. Concurrent with the execution of the Third Amendment to the Loan Agreement, the Loan Agreement was modified to incorporate the changes outlined in the Third Amendment and the fixed charge ratio covenant was removed, as well as the Lender's right to accelerate the maturities of the Fixed Rate Term Loan and Floating Rate Term Loan due to the fixed charge ratio covenant. Should the Company fail to meet any of the remaining terms outlined in the Revised Credit Agreement or fail to meet the stepdown requirements of the Revolving Loan, the Company shall within 15 days list the Hilti Complex, with a licensed commercial real estate broker satisfactory to the Lender. Proceeds from the sale of the property would be used to pay off all the borrowings with the Lender. A third-party appraisal was completed on the Hilti Complex, consisting of the 400,000 square feet building complex on approximately 50 acres, along with approximately 15 acres of adjacent unused land, in July of 2023 with a market value of $41,970,000.

 On November 30, 2023, the Company executed the Fourth Amendment to the Credit Agreement ("Amendment") with the Lender. The Amendment, effective December 1, 2023, increases the Revolving Loan commitment to $8,000,000 and extends the maturity date to May 31, 2024. The Amendment also requires the Company to list the Hilti Complex for sale, allows the Company to execute additional purchase orders, subject to the lender's approval and conditions, not to exceed $2,100,000 between December 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024, among other items.

 Available credit under the current $8,000,000 revolving line of credit with the Company's Lender was approximately $2,501,900 at February 29, 2024.

 Features of the Revised Loan Agreement include:

 (i)

 Two Term Loans on 20-year amortization with 5-year maturity date of August 9, 2027

 (ii)

 $15 Million Fixed Rate Term Loan bears interest at a fixed rate per annum equal to 4.26%

 (iii)

 $21 Million Floating Rate Term Loan bears interest at a rate per annum equal to Term SOFR Rate + 1.75%

 (iv)

 Stepdown Revolving Loan with maturity date of May 31, 2024. The Revolving Loan bears interest at a rate per annum equal to Term SOFR Rate + 4.50% (effective rate was 9.82% at February 29, 2024)

 (v)

 Revolving Loan allows for Letters of Credit up to $7,500,000 upon bank approval (none were outstanding at February 29, 2024)

 The following table reflects aggregate current maturities of term debt, excluding the Revolving Loan, during the next fiscal year as follows:

 Years ending February 28 (29),

 2025

 $

 2026

 2027

 2028

 23,200,900

 Total

 $

 28,600,900

 Risks and Uncertainties

 In accordance with ASC 205-40, Going Concern, the Company has evaluated whether there are conditions and events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date the financial statements are issued.

 The short-term duration of the Revolving Loan and uncertainty of the bank's ongoing support beyond May 31, 2024, along with recurring operating losses and other items, raise substantial doubt over the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. Management has plans to sell the Hilti Complex and pay off the Term Loans and Revolving Loan. The proceeds from the sale are expected to generate sufficient cashflow to allow the Company to continue operations with limited borrowings. The Company expects these borrowings to be available through local banks or other financing sources. In addition, management's plans include reducing inventory which will generate free cashflows and building the active PaperPie Brand Partners to pre-pandemic levels. Although there is no guarantee these plans will be successful, management believes these plans, if achieved, will alleviate the substantial doubt about continuing as a going concern and generate sufficient liquidity to meet our obligations as they become due over the next twelve months.

 Contractual Obligations

 We are a smaller reporting company and are not required to provide this information.

 Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 As of February 29, 2024, we had no off-balance sheet arrangements that have, or are reasonably likely to have, a current or future material effect on our financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

 Seasonality

 The Company experiences increased sales in the Fall season. Historically, we have experienced an increase in inventory during the Summer in anticipation for the Fall increase in sales. In addition, new titles are typically released twice a year, in the Spring and Fall, which increases our inventory in the months preceding these scheduled releases. We do not expect inventory to increase in fiscal year 2025 as we continue to sell down excess inventory.

 Critical Accounting Policies

 Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. On an on-going basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those related to our valuation of inventory, allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable, allowance for sales returns, long-lived assets, and deferred income taxes. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed 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 from other sources.

 Actual results may materially differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. Historically, however, actual results have not differed materially from those determined using required estimates. Our significant accounting policies are described in the notes accompanying the financial statements included elsewhere in this report. However, we consider the following accounting policies to be significantly more dependent on the use of estimates and assumptions.

 Share-Based Compensation

 We account for share-based compensation whereby share-based payment transactions with employees, such as stock options and restricted stock, are measured at estimated fair value at the date of grant. For awards subject to service conditions, compensation expense is recognized over the vesting period on a straight-line basis. Awards subject to performance conditions are attributed separately for each vesting tranche of the award and are recognized ratably from the service inception date to the vesting date for each tranche. Forfeitures are recognized when they occur. Any cash dividends declared after the restricted stock award is issued, but before the vesting period is completed, will be reinvested in Company shares at the opening trading price on the dividend payment date. Shares purchased with cash dividends will also retain the same restrictions until the completion of the original vesting period associated with the awarded shares.

 The restricted share awards under the 2019 Long-Term Incentive Plan ("2019 LTI Plan") and 2022 Long-Term Incentive Plan ("2022 LTI Plan") contain both service and performance conditions. The Company recognizes share-based compensation expense only for the portion of the restricted share awards that are considered probable of vesting. Shares are considered granted, and the service inception date begins, when a mutual understanding of the key terms and conditions between the Company and the employees has been established. The fair value of these awards is determined based on the closing price of the shares on the grant date. The probability of restricted share awards granted with future performance conditions is evaluated at each reporting period and compensation expense is adjusted based on the probability assessment.

 During fiscal years 2024 and 2023, the Company recognized $0.2 million and $0.9 million, respectively, of compensation expense associated with the shares granted.

 Revenue Recognition

 Sales associated with product orders are recognized and recorded when products are shipped. Products are shipped FOB-Shipping Point. PaperPie's sales are generally paid at the time the product is ordered. Sales which have been paid for but not shipped are classified as deferred revenue on the balance sheet. Sales associated with consignment inventory are recognized when reported and payment associated with the sale has been remitted. Transportation revenue represents the amount billed to the customer for shipping the product and is recorded when the product is shipped.

 Estimated allowances for sales returns are recorded as sales are recognized. Management uses a moving average calculation to estimate the allowance for sales returns. We are not responsible for a product damaged in transit. Damaged returns are primarily received from the retail customers of our Publishing division. This damage occurs in the stores, not in shipping to the stores, and we typically do not offer credit for damaged returns. It is industry practice to accept non-damaged returns from retail customers. Management has estimated and included a reserve for sales returns of $0.2 million for the fiscal years ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023.

 Allowance for Credit Losses

 We maintain an allowance for estimated losses resulting from the inability of our customers to make required payments and a reserve for vendor share markdowns, when applicable (collectively "credit losses"). An estimate of uncollectible amounts is made by management based upon historical bad debts, current customer receivable balances, age of customer receivable balances, customers' financial conditions and current economic trends. Management has estimated and included an allowance for credit losses of $0.1 million and $0.2 million for the fiscal years ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023, respectively.

 Inventory

 Our inventory contains approximately 2,000 titles, each with different rates of sale depending upon the nature and popularity of the title. Almost all of our product line is saleable as the products are not topical in nature and remain current in content today as well as in the future. Most of our products are printed in China, Europe, Singapore, India, Malaysia, and Dubai typically resulting in a four to eight-month lead-time to have a title printed and delivered to us.

 Certain inventory is maintained in a noncurrent classification. Management continually estimates and calculates the amount of noncurrent inventory. Noncurrent inventory arises due to occasional purchases of titles in quantities in excess of what will be sold within the normal operating cycle, due to the minimum order requirements of our suppliers. Noncurrent inventory is estimated by management using an anticipated turnover ratio by title, based primarily on historical trends. Inventory in excess of 2 years of anticipated sales is classified as noncurrent inventory. These inventory quantities have additional exposure for storage damages, aging of topical related content and associated issues, and therefore have higher obsolescence reserves. Noncurrent inventory balances prior to valuation allowances were $12.3 million and $5.1 million at February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023, respectively. Noncurrent inventory valuation allowances were $0.6 million at February 29, 2024 and $0.4 million at February 28, 2023.

 Brand Partners that meet certain eligibility requirements may request and receive inventory on consignment. We believe allowing our Brand Partners to have consignment inventory greatly increases their ability to be successful in making effective presentations at home shows, book fairs and other events; in summary, having consignment inventory leads to additional sales opportunities. Approximately 11.6% of our active Brand Partners maintained consignment inventory at the end of fiscal year 2024. Consignment inventory is stated at cost, less an estimated reserve for consignment inventory that is not expected to be sold or returned to the Company. The total cost of inventory on consignment with Brand Partners was $1.4 million and $1.5 million at February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023, respectively.

 Inventories are presented net of a valuation allowance, which includes reserves for inventory obsolescence and reserves for consigned inventory that is not expected to be sold or returned to the Company. Management estimates the inventory obsolescence allowance for both current and noncurrent inventory, which is based on management's identification of slow-moving inventory. Management has estimated a valuation allowance for both current and noncurrent inventory, including the reserve for consigned inventory, of $1.0 million at February 29, 2024, and $0.9 February 28, 2023.

 New Accounting Pronouncements

 See the New Accounting Pronouncements section of Note 1 to our financial statements, included in Part IV, Item 15 of this report, for further details of recent accounting pronouncements.

 Item 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 We are a smaller reporting company and are not required to provide this information.

 Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

 The information required by Item 8 begins at page 28.

 Item 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

 None

 Item 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 An evaluation was performed of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") Rule 13a-15(a) as of February 29, 2024. This evaluation was conducted under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and our Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer).

 Based on that evaluation, these officers concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to them, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported in accordance with the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms. It should be noted that the design of any system of controls is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events.

 Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 During the fiscal year covered by this report on Form 10-K, there have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 Management ' s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rules 13(a) through 15(f) of the Exchange Act. Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, we evaluated the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework set forth in the 2013 Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission ("COSO"). All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk,

 that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Based on our evaluation under the 2013 COSO Framework and applicable SEC rules, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of February 29, 2024.

 This annual report does not include an attestation report of our registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management's report was not subject to attestation by our registered public accounting firm pursuant to rules of the SEC that permit us to provide only management's report in this annual report.

 Item 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

 None

 Item 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS

 None

 Item 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 (a) Identification of Directors

 The information required by this Item 10 is furnished by incorporation by reference to the information under the caption "Election of Directors" in our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed in connection with the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on July 10, 2024.

 (b) Identification of Executive Officers

 The information required by this Item 10 is furnished by incorporation by reference to the information under the caption "Executive Officers of the Registrant" in our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed in connection with the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on July 10, 2024.

 (c) Compliance with Section 16 (a) of the Exchange Act

 The information required by this Item 10 is furnished by incorporation by reference to the information under the caption "Section 16 (a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance" in our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed in connection with the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on July 10, 2024.

 Item 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 The information required by this Item 11 is furnished by incorporation by reference to the information under the caption "Executive Compensation" in our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed in connection with the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on July 10, 2024.

 Item 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

 The information required by this Item 12 is furnished by incorporation by reference to the information under the captions "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management" and "Compensation Plans" in our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed in connection with the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on July 10, 2024.

 Item 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

 None

 Item 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

 The information required by this Item 14 is furnished by incorporation by reference to the information under the caption "Independent Registered Public Accountants" in our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed in connection with the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on July 10, 2024.

 Item 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

 (a) The following documents are filed as part of this report:

 1. Financial Statements

 Page

 Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID 483)

 Balance Sheets as of February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023

 Statements of Operations for the Years ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023

 Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the Years ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023

 Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the Years ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023

 Statements of Cash Flows for the Years ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023

 Notes to Financial Statements

 33-48

 Schedules have been omitted as such information is either not required or is included in the financial statements.

 2. Exhibits

 *3.1

 Restated Certificate of Incorporation dated April 26, 1968, and Certificate of Amendment thereto dated June 21, 1968 are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 to Registration Statement on Form 10-K (File No. 0-04957).

 *3.2

 Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation dated August 27, 1977 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 20.1 to Form 10-K for fiscal year ended February 28, 1981 (File No. 0-04957).

 *3.3

 By-Laws, as amended, are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 20.2. to Form 10-K for fiscal year ended February 28, 1981 (File No. 0-04957).

 *3.4

 Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation dated November 17, 1986 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to Form 10-K for fiscal year ended February 28, 1987 (File No. 0-04957).

 3.5

 Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation dated March 22, 1996 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to Form 10-K for fiscal year ended February 28, 1997 (File No. 0-04957).

 3.6

 Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation dated July 15, 2002 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.30 to Form 10-K dated February 28, 2003 (File No. 0-04957).

 3.7

 Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation dated August 15, 2018 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Form 8-K dated August 21, 2018 (File No. 0-04957).

 *4.1

 Specimens of Common Stock Certificates are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2 to Registration Statement on Form 10-K (File No. 0-04957) filed June 29, 1970.

 *10.1

 Usborne Agreement-Contractual agreement by and between the Company and Usborne Publishing Limited dated November 25, 1988 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to Form 10-K dated February 28, 1989 (File No. 0-04957).

 *10.2

 Party Plan-Contractual agreement by and between the Company and Usborne Publishing Limited dated March 14, 1989 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to Form 10-K dated February 28, 1989 (File No. 0-04957).

 *10.3

 Amendment dated January 1, 1992 to Usborne Agreement - Contractual agreement by and between the Company and Usborne Publishing Limited is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to Form 10-K dated February 29, 1992 (File No. 0-04957).

 10.4

 Educational Development Corporation 2002 Incentive Stock Option Plan is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit A to definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A dated May 23, 2002 (File No. 0-04957).

 10.5

 Amendment dated November 12, 2002 to Usborne Agreement – Contractual agreement by and between us and Usborne Publishing Limited is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.32 to Form 10-K dated February 28, 2003 (File No. 0-04957).

 10.6

 Employment Agreement between Randall W. White and the Company dated February 28, 2004 incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to Form 10-K dated February 28, 2005 (File No. 0-04957).

 10.7

 Purchase and Sale Agreement dated December 1, 2015 by and between the Company and Hilti, Inc., Tulsa, OK incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to Form 10-K dated February 28, 2019 (File No. 0-04957).

 10.8

 Lease Agreement dated December 1, 2015 by and between the Company and Hilti, Inc., Tulsa, OK incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to Form 10-K dated February 28, 2019 (File No. 0-04957).

 10.9

 Usborne Distribution Agreement dated May 16, 2022 by and between the Company and Usborne Publishing Limited, London, England is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to form 10-Q dated May 31, 2022 (File No. 0-04957).

 10.10

 Credit Agreement dated August 9, 2022 by and between the Company and BOKF, NA, Tulsa, OK is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.01 to form 8-K dated August 11, 2022 (File No. 0-04957).

 10.11

 First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated December 22, 2022 by and between the Company and BOKF, NA, Tulsa, OK. Is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Form 10-Q dated November 30, 2022 (File No. 0-04957).

 10.12

 Second Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated May 10, 2023 by and between the Company and BOKF, NA, Tulsa, OK is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to Form 10-K dated February 28, 2023 (File No. 0-04957).

 10.13

 Third Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated August 9, 2023 by and between the Company and BOKF, NA, Tulsa, OK is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.01 to Form 8-K dated August 17, 2023 (File No. 0-04957).

 10.14

 Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated December 1, 2023 by and between the Company and BOKF, NA, Tulsa, OK is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.01 to Form 8-K dated December 28, 2023 (File No. 0-04957)..

 **23.1

 Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 **31.1

 Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of Educational Development Corporation pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 **31.2

 Certification of the Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) of Educational Development Corporation pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 **32.1

 Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 **97.1

 Incorporated Clawback Policy to Form 10-K dated February 29,2024.

 101.INS

 101.SCH

 101.CAL

 101.DEF

 101.LAB

 101.PRE

 *Paper Filed

 **Filed Herewith

 Item 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY

 Not applicable

 SIGNATURES

 Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 Date:

 By

 /s/ Craig M. White

 Craig M. White

 President and Chief Executive Officer

 (Principal Executive Officer)

 Date:

 By

 /s/ Dan E. O'Keefe

 Dan E. O'Keefe

 Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary

 (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.

 Date:

 /s/ Craig M. White

 Craig M. White, Director

 President and Chief Executive Officer

 (Principal Executive Officer)

 /s/ Randall W. White

 Randall W. White, Director

 Chairman of the Board

 /s/ Dr. Kara Gae Neal

 Dr. Kara Gae Neal, Director

 /s/ Bradley V. Stoots

 Bradley V. Stoots, Director

 /s/ Dan E. O'Keefe

 Dan E. O'Keefe

 Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary

 (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Educational Development Corporation

 Opinion on the Financial Statements

 We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Educational Development Corporation (the Company) as of February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023, the related statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), shareholders' equity and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes to the financial statements (collectively, the financial statements). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 Basis for Opinion

 These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 We conducted our audits in accordance with the auditing standards of the PCAOB and in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

 Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 Critical Audit Matter

 The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of the critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

 Liquidity and Management's Plans

 Certain adverse conditions and events raised substantial doubt over the Company's ability to meet its obligations over the next twelve months. Management has evaluated these conditions and concluded that its plans have alleviated the substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue for at least the next twelve months.

 To assess their ability to meet obligations as they come due, the Company has forecasted future financial results which require significant judgment and estimation. Additionally, there is significant judgment and increased levels of audit effort involved in determining that it is probable that management's plans will be effectively implemented and alleviate substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue beyond the next twelve months.

 Our audit procedures performed to address this critical audit matter included, among others:

 Reviewing and evaluating management's plans for dealing with the adverse effects of the conditions and events.

 Evaluating the reasonableness of management's significant assumptions and judgments used in the preparation of the forecast.

 Comparing the forecast to historical results, recent trends used in other audit areas and actual results subsequent to year end.

 Evaluating the adequacy of the disclosure included in the notes to the financial statements.

 /s/ HOGANTAYLOR LLP

 We have served as the Company's auditor since 2005.

 Tulsa, Oklahoma

 BALANCE SHEETS

 AS OF FEBRUARY 29 (28),

 2024

 2023

 ASSETS

 CURRENT ASSETS:

 Cash and cash equivalents

 $

 844,500

 $

 Restricted cash

 432,900

 -

 Accounts receivable, less allowance for credit losses of
 $ 129,000 (2024) and $ 211,700 (2023)

 1,936,900

 2,906,700

 Inventories - net

 43,913,200

 59,086,500

 Prepaid expenses and other assets

 630,800

 869,300

 Assets held for sale

 18,281,100

 -

 Total current assets

 66,039,400

 63,551,600

 INVENTORIES - net

 11,677,000

 4,719,600

 PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT - net

 8,939,600

 29,656,400

 DEFERRED INCOME TAX ASSET

 1,406,500

 796,800

 OPERATING LEASE RIGHT-OF-USE ASSETS

 1,614,900

 823,600

 OTHER ASSETS

 427,600

 388,800

 TOTAL ASSETS

 $

 90,105,000

 $

 99,936,800

 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

 CURRENT LIABILITIES:

 Accounts payable

 $

 3,910,200

 $

 3,863,900

 Line of credit

 5,498,100

 10,634,500

 Deferred revenues

 583,500

 602,700

 Operating lease liabilities, current

 726,900

 347,800

 Current maturities of long-term debt

 34,894,900

 Accrued salaries and commissions

 384,400

 828,200

 Income taxes payable

 773,400

 -

 Other current liabilities

 3,338,100

 2,946,200

 Total current liabilities

 17,014,600

 54,118,200

 LONG-TERM DEBT - net

 26,640,700

 -

 OPERATING LEASE LIABILITIES, non-current

 888,000

 475,800

 OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES

 111,000

 111,000

 Total liabilities

 44,654,300

 54,705,000

 COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES – See Note 13

 SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:

 Common stock, $ 0.20 par value; Authorized 16,000,000 shares;
 Issued 12,702,080 shares;
 Outstanding 8,575,088 (2024) and 8,713,289 (2023) shares

 Capital in excess of par value

 13,405,400

 13,193,400

 Retained earnings

 42,566,600

 42,020,200

 Accumulated other comprehensive income

 -

 58,536,800

 57,754,000

 Less treasury stock, at cost

 ( 13,086,100

)

 ( 12,522,200

)

 Total shareholders' equity

 45,450,700

 45,231,800

 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

 $

 90,105,000

 $

 99,936,800

 STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 FOR THE YEARS ENDED FEBRUARY 29 (28),

 2024

 2023

 GROSS SALES

 $

 75,583,600

 $

 122,691,900

 Less discounts and allowances

 ( 26,929,400

)

 ( 41,895,500

)

 Transportation revenue

 2,376,100

 7,032,600

 NET REVENUES

 51,030,300

 87,829,000

 COST OF GOODS SOLD

 18,045,400

 31,759,200

 Gross margin

 32,984,900

 56,069,800

 OPERATING EXPENSES:

 Operating and selling

 8,789,200

 15,780,600

 Sales commissions

 16,105,600

 25,676,100

 General and administrative

 13,991,000

 17,195,100

 Total operating expenses

 38,885,800

 58,651,800

 INTEREST EXPENSE

 2,758,900

 2,172,300

 OTHER INCOME

 ( 9,394,300

)

 ( 1,327,400

)

 EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES

 734,500

 ( 3,426,900

)

 INCOME TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT)

 188,100

 ( 922,000

)

 NET EARNINGS (LOSS)

 $

 $

)

 BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE:

 Basic

 $

 0.07

 $

)

 Diluted

 $

 0.07

 $

)

 WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON

 AND EQUIVALENT SHARES OUTSTANDING:

 Basic

 8,269,971

 8,157,704

 Diluted

 8,285,230

 8,157,704

 Dividends per share

 $

 -

 $

 -

 STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

 FOR THE YEARS ENDED FEBRUARY 29 (28),

 2024

 2023

 Net earnings (loss)

 $

 $

)

 Other comprehensive income:

 Unrealized gain on interest rate exchange agreement

 -

 Comprehensive income (loss)

 $

 570,800

 $

)

 STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS ' EQUITY

 AS OF FEBRUARY 29 (28),

 Common Stock

 (par value $0.20 per share)

 Treasury Stock

 Number of

 Shares

 Issued

 Amount

 Capital in

 Excess of

 Par Value

 Retained

 Earnings

 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

 Number

 of

 Shares

 Amount

 Shareholders'

 Equity

 BALANCE – February 28, 2022

 12,702,080

 $

 $

 12,246,600

 $

 44,525,100

 $

 -

 3,994,833

 $

 ( 12,546,600

)

 $

 46,765,500

 Sales of treasury stock

 -

 -

 39,000

 -

 -

 ( 7,771

)

 63,400

 Forfeiture of restricted shares

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 29,729

 -

 -

 Issuance of restricted share awards for vesting

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 ( 28,000

)

 -

 -

 Share-based compensation expense – net

 -

 -

 907,800

 -

 -

 -

 -

 907,800

 Net loss

 -

 -

 -

)

 -

 -

 -

)

 BALANCE - February 28, 2023

 12,702,080

 $

 $

 13,193,400

 $

 42,020,200

 $

 -

 3,988,791

 $

 ( 12,522,200

)

 $

 45,231,800

 Purchases of treasury stock

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 138,201

 ( 563,900

)

 ( 563,900

)

 Forfeiture of restricted shares

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 35,285

 -

 -

 Issuance of restricted share awards for vesting

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 ( 35,285

)

 -

 -

 Change in fair value of interest rate exchange agreement

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 Share-based compensation expense – net

 -

 -

 212,000

 -

 -

 -

 -

 212,000

 Net earnings

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 BALANCE - February 29, 2024

 12,702,080

 $

 $

 13,405,400

 $

 42,566,600

 $

 4,126,992

 $

 ( 13,086,100

)

 $

 45,450,700

 STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 FOR THE YEARS ENDED FEBRUARY 29 (28),

 2024

 2023

 CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

 Net earnings (loss)

 $

 $

)

 Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:

 Depreciation and amortization

 2,487,200

 2,478,700

 Deferred income taxes

 ( 609,700

)

 ( 678,100

)

 Provision for credit losses

 33,300

 -

 Provision for inventory valuation allowance

 85,900

 715,900

 Share-based compensation expense - net

 212,000

 907,800

 Net gain on sale of assets

 ( 4,016,700

)

 -

 Changes in assets and liabilities:

 Accounts receivable

 936,500

 732,100

 Inventories - net

 8,130,000

 9,086,900

 Prepaid expenses and other assets

 197,100

 ( 233,200

)

 Accounts payable

 46,300

 ( 8,547,900

)

 Accrued salaries and commissions, and other liabilities

 ( 51,900

)

 ( 1,578,000

)

 Deferred revenues

 ( 19,200

)

 ( 78,900

)

 Income taxes payable/receivable

 773,400

 ( 241,900

)

 Total adjustments

 8,204,200

 2,563,400

 Net cash provided by operating activities

 8,750,600

 58,500

 CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

 Purchases of property, plant and equipment

 ( 821,800

)

 ( 1,578,800

)

 Proceeds from sale of assets

 4,858,900

 -

 Purchases of other assets

 -

 ( 177,000

)

 Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

 4,037,100

 ( 1,755,800

)

 CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 Payments on term debt

 ( 6,499,100

)

 ( 25,900,100

)

 Payments on debt issuance costs

 -

 ( 178,400

)

 Proceeds from term debt

 -

 36,000,000

 Sales of treasury stock

 -

 63,400

 Cash paid to acquire treasury stock

 ( 563,900

)

 -

 Net payments under line of credit

 ( 5,136,400

)

 ( 7,089,000

)

 Dividends paid

 -

 ( 870,700

)

 Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 ( 12,199,400

)

 2,025,200

 NET INCREASE IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH

 588,300

 327,900

 CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH - BEGINNING OF PERIOD

 361,200

 CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH - END OF PERIOD

 $

 1,277,400

 $

 SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOWS INFORMATION:

 Cash paid for interest

 $

 2,805,800

 $

 1,986,000

 Cash paid for income taxes (net of refunds)

 $

 $

 ( 3,900

)

 SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NONCASH FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 Fair value of the interest rate exchange agreement

 $

 $

 -

 NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 YEARS ENDED FEBRUARY 29, 2024 AND FEBRUARY 28, 2023

 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 Nature of Business —Educational Development Corporation ("we," "our," "us," or "the Company") distributes books and educational products and publications through our PaperPie and EDC Publishing ("Publishing") divisions to individual consumers, book, toy and gift stores, libraries and home educators located throughout the United States ("U.S."). We are the owner and exclusive publisher of Kane Miller children's books; Learning Wrap-Ups, maker of educational manipulatives; and SmartLab Toys, maker of STEAM-based toys and games. We are also the exclusive United States Multi-Level Marketing ("MLM") distributor of Usborne Publishing Limited ("Usborne") children's books.

 Estimates —Our financial statements were prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

 Reclassifications —Certain reclassifications have been made to the fiscal 2023 balance sheet to conform with the current year financial statement presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on net earnings.

 Liquidity — In accordance with ASC 205-40, Going Concern, the Company has evaluated whether there are conditions and events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued.

 Determining the extent to which conditions or events raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern and the extent to which mitigating plans sufficiently alleviate any such substantial doubt requires significant judgment and estimation by us. Our significant estimates related to this analysis may include identifying business factors such as completing the planned sale of owned real estate, changes in our Brand Partners, sales growth and profitability used in the forecasted financial results and liquidity. Further, we make assumptions about the probability that management's plans will be effectively implemented and alleviate substantial doubt and our ability to continue as a going concern. We believe that the estimated values used in our going concern analysis are based on reasonable assumptions. However, such assumptions are inherently uncertain and actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

 The short-term duration of the Revolving Loan and uncertainty of the bank's ongoing support beyond May 31, 2024, along with recurring operating losses and other items, raise substantial doubt over the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. Management has plans to sell the Hilti Complex and pay off the Term Loans and Revolving Loan. The proceeds from the sale are expected to generate sufficient cashflow to allow the Company to continue operations with limited borrowings. The Company expects these borrowings to be available through local banks or other financing sources. In addition, management's plans include reducing inventory, which will generate free cashflows, and building the active PaperPie Brand Partners to pre-pandemic levels. Although there is no guarantee these plans will be successful, management believes these plans are probable of being achieved to alleviate the substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern and generate sufficient liquidity to meet our obligations as they become due over the next twelve months.

 Sales Concentration —Significant portions of our sales are generated in our Direct Sales division, PaperPie. Of these sales, a substantial portion are facilitated through the use of social media collaboration platforms that allow our Brand Partners (formerly, consultants) to interact in real-time, or near real-time, with customers. Brand Partners use these platforms to invite potential customers to "online parties," provide product recommendations, answer questions, and provide links to other supporting online materials. When a customer is ready to purchase products from the online party, they are redirected from the social media platform to the Brand Partner's company hosted e-commerce site where the order can be placed.

 Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash —Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash are maintained at financial institutions and, at times, balances may exceed federally insured limits of $ 250,000. We have never experienced any losses related to these balances. The majority of payments due from banks for third party credit card transactions process within five to twenty business days. These amounts due are classified as restricted cash. Cash and cash equivalents include demand and time deposits, money market funds and other marketable securities with maturities of three months or less when acquired.

 Accounts Receivable —Accounts receivable are uncollateralized customer obligations due under normal trade terms, generally requiring payment within thirty days from the invoice date. Extended payment terms are offered at certain times of the year for orders that meet minimum quantities or amounts. Payments of accounts receivable are allocated to the specific invoices identified on the customers' remittance advice. Accounts receivables are carried at original invoice amount less an estimated reserve made for returns and discounts based on quarterly review of historical rates of returns and expected discounts to be taken. The carrying amount of accounts receivable is reduced, if needed, by a valuation allowance that reflects management's best estimate of the amounts that will not be collected.

 Management periodically reviews accounts receivable balances and based on an assessment of historical bad debts, current customer receivable balances, age of customer receivable balances, customers' financial conditions and current economic trends, estimates the portion of the balance that will not be collected. Management provides for probable uncollectible amounts through a charge to earnings and a credit to a valuation account based on its assessment of the current status of the individual accounts. Balances which remain outstanding after management has made reasonable collection efforts are written off through a charge to the valuation allowance and a credit to accounts receivable. Recoveries of accounts receivable previously written off are recorded as income when received.

 Inventories —Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined using the average costing method. We present a portion of our inventory as a noncurrent asset. Occasionally we purchase products inventory in quantities in excess of what will be sold within the normal operating cycle due to the minimum order requirements of our primary supplier or changes in sales levels. We estimate noncurrent inventory using an anticipated turnover ratio by title, based primarily on historical trends. These excess quantities of 2 years of anticipated sales are classified as noncurrent inventory.

 The Company assumes title and responsibility for inventory purchased according to the contract language with our suppliers and the individual shipment terms for the order. The Company maintains insurance for the value of the inventory once the title has been passed until it is received at our warehouse ("inventory in transit").

 Brand Partners that meet certain eligibility requirements may request and receive inventory on consignment. Consignment inventory is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value, less an estimated reserve for consignment inventory that is not expected to be sold or returned to the Company. The total cost of inventory on consignment, excluding the estimated reserve, with Brand Partners was $ 1,388,700 and $ 1,531,600 at February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023, respectively. The Company has reserved for consignment inventory not expected to be sold or returned of $ 379,600 and $ 488,500 as of February 29, 2024, and February 28, 2023, respectively.

 Inventories are presented net of a valuation allowance, which includes reserves for inventory obsolescence and Brand Partner consignment inventory that is not expected to be sold or returned. Management estimates the allowance for both current and noncurrent inventory. The allowance is based on management's identification of slow-moving inventory and estimated consignment inventory that will not be sold or returned.

 Property, Plant and Equipment — Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful life, as follows:

 Building

 30 years

 Building improvements

 5 – 15 years

 Machinery and equipment

 3 – 15 years

 Furniture and fixtures

 3 years

 Capitalized software

 4 – 10 years

 Molds and tooling

 3 – 5 years

 Capitalized projects that are not placed in service are recorded as in progress and are not depreciated until the related assets are placed in service, including capitalized software. The development of customer and Brand Partner software applications are critical to our ongoing business operations and included in capitalized software. External and internal costs associated with the development of new software applications incurred during the application development stage are capitalized. Training and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred, while upgrades and enhancements are capitalized if it is probable that such expenditures will result in additional functionality.

 Assets Held for Sale — The Company classifies long-lived assets, or disposal groups to be sold, as held for sale in the period in which all of the following criteria are met per ASC 360: (1) management, having the authority to approve the action, commits to a plan to sell the asset or disposal group; (2) the asset or disposal group is available for immediate sale in its present condition subject only to terms that are usual and customary for sales of such assets or disposal groups; (3) an active program to locate a buyer and other actions required to complete the plan to sell the asset or disposal group have been initiated; (4) the sale of the asset or disposal group is probable, and transfer of the asset or disposal group is expected to qualify for recognition as a completed sale within one year, except if events or circumstances beyond our control extend the period of time required to sell the asset or disposal group beyond one year; (5) the asset or disposal group is being actively marketed for sale at a price that is reasonable in relation to its current fair value; and (6) actions required to complete the plan indicate that it is unlikely that significant changes to the plan will be made or that the plan will be withdrawn.

 We initially measure a long-lived asset or disposal group that is classified as held for sale at the lower of its carrying value or fair value less any costs to sell. Any loss resulting from this measurement is recognized in the period in which the held-for-sale criteria are met. Conversely, gains are not recognized on the sale of a long-lived asset or disposal group until the date of sale. We assess the fair value of a long-lived asset or disposal group less any costs to sell each reporting period it remains classified as held for sale and report any subsequent changes as an adjustment to the carrying value of the asset or disposal group, as long as the new carrying value does not exceed the carrying value of the asset at the time it was initially classified as held for sale.

 Upon determining that a long-lived asset or disposal group meets the criteria to be classified as held for sale, the Company ceases depreciation of the asset and reports long-lived assets and/or the assets and liabilities of the disposal group, if material, in the line items assets held for sale and liabilities held for sale, respectively, in our balance sheet. Refer to Note 3.

 Impairment of Long-Lived Assets —We review the value of long-lived assets for possible impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable based on estimated future cash flows. Such indicators include, among others, the nature of the asset, the projected future economic benefit of the asset, historical and future cash flows and profitability measurements. If the carrying value of an asset exceeds the future undiscounted cash flows expected from the asset, we recognize an impairment charge for the excess of the carrying value of the asset over its estimated fair value. Determination as to whether and how much an asset is impaired involves management estimates and can be impacted by other uncertainties. No impairment was noted during fiscal years 2024 or 2023.

 Leases —We have both lessee and lessor arrangements. Our leases are evaluated at inception or at any subsequent modification. Depending on the terms, leases are classified as either operating or finance leases if we are the lessee, or as operating, sales-type or direct financing leases if we are the lessor, as appropriate under ASC 842 - Leases. In accordance with ASC 842, we have made an accounting policy election to not apply the standard to lessee arrangements with a term of one year or less and no purchase option that is reasonably certain of exercise. We will continue to account for these short-term arrangements by recognizing payments and expenses as incurred, without recording a lease liability and right-of-use asset. We have also made an accounting policy election for both our lessee and lessor arrangements to combine lease and non-lease components. This election is applied to all of our lease arrangements as our non-lease components are not material and do not result in significant timing differences in the recognition of rental expenses or income.

 Income Taxes —We account for income taxes under ASC 740 - Income Taxes, which requires an asset and liability approach. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and the tax basis of assets and liabilities using the current tax laws and rates. A valuation allowance is established, when necessary, to reduce net deferred tax assets to the amounts that are "more likely than not" to be realized.

 Revenue Recognition —Revenue is derived from the sales of children's books and related products which are generally capable of being distinct and accounted for as a single performance obligation to deliver tangible goods. Substantially all of our products are sold to end consumers through our PaperPie division and retail outlets through our Publishing division. Refer to Note 17 – Business Segments for revenue by segment. Revenues of both divisions are recognized when the product is shipped, FOB-Shipping Point, which is the point in time the customer obtains control of the products and risk of loss and rewards of ownership have been transferred. Sales taxes that are collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities are accounted for as a pass-through liability, and therefore are excluded from net sales.

 The majority of PaperPie's sales contracts have a single performance obligation and are short-term in nature. PaperPie's sales are generally collected at the time the product is ordered. Sales which have been paid for but not shipped are classified as deferred revenue on the balance sheets. Sales associated with consignment inventory are recognized when reported by the consignee and payment associated with the sale has been collected. Transportation revenue represents the amount billed to the customer for shipping the product and is recorded when the product is shipped.

 Certain PaperPie sales contracts associated with the hostess award programs include sales incentives, such as discounted products. These incentives provide a separate performance obligation in the contract and material rights to the customer. The transaction price is allocated to the material right based on its relative standalone selling price and is recognized in revenue as the performance obligations are satisfied, which occurs at shipping point or at the expiration of the material right. As the products included as sales incentives are shipped with the associated products ordered, there is no deferral required. Revenues allocated to the material right are recognized in gross sales, discounts and allowances and cost of goods sold in our statements of operations.

 The majority of Publishing's sales contracts have a single performance obligation and are short-term in nature. Publishing's sales may be collected at the time the product is shipped or the customers may be given payment terms based primarily on their credit worthiness and payment history.

 Estimated allowances for sales returns, which reduce net revenues and cost of goods sold, are recorded as sales are recognized. Management uses a moving average calculation to estimate the allowance for sales returns. We are not responsible for a product damaged in transit and most damaged returns are primarily from retail stores. These returns result from damage that occurs in the stores, not in shipping to the stores. It is industry practice to accept non-damaged returns from retail customers. Management has estimated sales returns of approximately $ 201,500 for both February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023, which is included in other current liabilities on the Company's balance sheets. In addition, management has recorded an asset for the expected value of non-damaged inventories to be returned. The estimated value of returned products of $ 100,800 is included in other current assets on the Company's balance sheets for both February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023.

 The Company generally expenses sales commissions in the same period that the revenue is recognized. These costs are recorded within operating expenses. The Company does not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for contracts with an unexpected length of one year or less.

 Advertising Costs —Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising expenses, included in general and administrative expenses in the statements of operations, were $ 373,400 and $ 428,600 for the years ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023, respectively.

 Shipping and Handling Costs —We classify shipping and handling costs as operating and selling expenses in the statements of operations. Shipping and handling costs include postage, freight, handling costs, as well as shipping materials and supplies. These costs were $ 6,744,400 and $ 13,588,400 for the years ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023, respectively.

 Share-Based Compensation —We account for share-based compensation whereby share-based payment transactions with employees, such as stock options and restricted stock, are measured at estimated fair value at the date of grant. For awards subject to service conditions, compensation expense is recognized over the vesting period on a straight-line basis. Awards subject to performance conditions are attributed separately for each vesting tranche of the award and are recognized ratably from the service inception date to the vesting date for each tranche. Forfeitures are recognized when they occur.

 Interest Rate Exchange Agreement —The interest rate exchange agreement ("swap agreement") is recognized on the balance sheet at its fair value. On the date the swap agreement is entered into, the Company designates the swap agreement as a hedge of a forecasted transaction or of the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability (cash-flow hedge) if the applicable criteria are met. Changes in the fair value of the swap agreement are recorded in other comprehensive income until earnings are affected by the variability of cash flows.

 The Company formally documents all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items as well as its risk-management objective and strategy for undertaking various hedged transactions. This process includes linking all cash-flow hedges to specific assets and liabilities on the balance sheet or forecasted transactions. The Company also formally assesses, both at the hedge's inception and on an ongoing basis, whether they are highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flows of hedged items. When it is determined that the swap agreement is not highly effective or that it has ceased to be highly effective, the Company discontinues hedge accounting prospectively as discussed below.

 The Company discontinues hedge accounting prospectively when (a) it is determined that the swap agreement is no longer effective in offsetting changes in the cash flows of a hedged item (including forecasted transactions); (b) the swap agreement expires or is sold, terminated or exercised; (c) the swap agreement is de-designated as a hedge instrument because it is unlikely that a forecasted transaction will occur; or (d) management determines that designation as a hedge instrument is no longer appropriate.

 When hedge accounting is discontinued because it is probable that a forecasted transaction will not occur, the swap agreement will continue to be carried on the balance sheet at its fair value, and gains and losses that were accumulated in other comprehensive income or loss will be recognized immediately in earnings. In all other situations in which hedge accounting is discontinued, the swap agreement will be carried at its fair value on the balance sheet with subsequent changes in its fair value recognized in the current period's earnings.

 Earnings per Share —Basic earnings (loss) per share ("EPS") is computed by dividing net earnings (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS is based on the combined weighted average number of common shares outstanding and dilutive potential common shares issuable which include, where appropriate, the assumed exercise of options and the assumed vesting of granted restricted share awards. In computing Diluted EPS, we have utilized the treasury stock method.

 The computation of weighted average common and common equivalent shares used in the calculation of basic and diluted EPS is shown below:

 Year Ended February 29 (28),

 2024

 2023

 Earnings (loss) per share:

 Net earnings (loss) applicable to common shareholders

 $

 $

)

 Shares:

 Weighted average shares outstanding-basic

 8,269,971

 8,157,704

 Issued unvested restricted stock and assumed shares issuable under granted unvested restricted stock awards

 15,259

 -

 Weighted average shares outstanding-diluted

 8,285,230

 8,157,704

 Diluted earnings (loss) per share:

 Basic

 $

 0.07

 $

)

 Diluted

 $

 0.07

 $

)

 As shown in the table below, the following shares have not been included in the calculation of diluted earnings (loss) per share as they would be anti-dilutive to the calculation above.

 Year Ended February 29 (28),

 2024

 2023

 Weighted average shares:

 Issued unvested restricted stock and assumed shares issuable under granted unvested restricted stock awards

 -

 222,395

 New Accounting Pronouncements — The Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") periodically issues new accounting standards in a continuing effort to improve standards of financial accounting and reporting. We have reviewed the recently issued pronouncements and concluded the following new accounting standard updates ("ASU") apply to us:

 In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which provides updates to qualitative and quantitative reportable segment disclosure requirements, including enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses and increased interim disclosure requirements, among others. The amendments in ASU 2023-07 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted, and the amendments should be applied retrospectively. This ASU will be effective for our Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 and our Form 10-Q for the first quarter of fiscal 2026. We are currently evaluating the impact this ASU may have on our financial statement disclosures.

 In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, which provides qualitative and quantitative updates to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid disclosures, among others, in order to enhance the transparency of income tax disclosures, including consistent categories and greater disaggregation of information in the rate reconciliation and disaggregation by jurisdiction of income taxes paid. The amendments in ASU 2023-09 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The amendments should be applied prospectively; however, retrospective application is also permitted. This ASU will be effective for our Form 10-K for fiscal 2026. We are currently evaluating the impact this ASU may have on our financial statement disclosures.

 2. CASH

 The below table reconciles cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash as reported in the balance sheets to the total of the same amounts shown in the statements of cash flows:

 February 29, 2024

 February 28, 2023

 Cash and cash equivalents

 $

 844,500

 $

 Restricted cash

 432,900

 -

 Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in the statements of cash flows

 $

 1,277,400

 $

 The Company has historically contracted with Braintree Payment Services and PayPal, Inc. (together "PayPal") and most recently Nexio, third-party merchant service processors, to capture PayPal, Visa, Discover and Mastercard payments from customers. Approximately 90% of all payments received by the Company have been channeled through these processors. During the second quarter of fiscal 2024, PayPal, under the terms of our agreements, began to hold cash payments received from customers in reserve to offset any potential chargebacks. During the third quarter of fiscal 2024, the Company switched most merchant services for Visa, Discover and Mastercard from Braintree to Nexio, which required a shorter hold period. This switch allowed a portion of the reserves to be released prior to November 30, 2023. The Company has classified the remaining cash held in reserves by PayPal and Nexio as restricted cash.

 3. ASSETS HELD FOR SALE

 During fiscal 2024, the Company executed the Third Amendment to the existing Credit Agreement with BOKF, NA. This amendment required the Company to list its real estate property located at 10302 East 55 th Place, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74146 for sale by August 18, 2023. The Company ceased recording depreciation on the assets upon meeting the held for sale criteria at the end of its second quarter of fiscal 2024. During the third quarter of fiscal 2024, the Company entered into a sale agreement and closed on the sale of this property for $ 5,100,000. The gain from the sale of the property, of approximately $ 4,016,700, is reflected in other income in the statements of operations. Subsequent to the closing of the sale, the Company executed a lease agreement on the property with the third-party buyer for 36 months. See Note 11 for further details.

 Also, during fiscal 2024, the Company listed its real estate property located at 5402 S. 122nd E. Ave, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74146 for sale. This property, consisting of approximately 402,000 square feet of office and warehouse space on 35 -acres (the "Hilti Complex"), along with 17 -acres of adjacent undeveloped land, was appraised in July, 2023 with a market value of $ 41,970,000. The Company ceased recording depreciation on the assets upon meeting the held for sale criteria at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2024.

 The Company records assets held for sale at the lower of their carrying value or fair value less costs to sell. As of February 29, 2024, the total carrying value of assets held for sale was $ 18,281,100 and is separately recorded on the balance sheets.

 4. INVENTORIES

 Inventories consist of the following:

 2024

 2023

 Current:

 Product inventory

 $

 44,303,000

 $

 59,577,400

 Inventory valuation allowance

 ( 389,800

)

 ( 490,900

)

 Inventories net - current

 $

 43,913,200

 $

 59,086,500

 Noncurrent:

 Product inventory

 $

 12,269,200

 $

 5,135,200

 Inventory valuation allowance

 ( 592,200

)

 ( 415,600

)

 Inventories net - noncurrent

 $

 11,677,000

 $

 4,719,600

 Inventory in transit totaled $ 264,000 and $ 850,100 at February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023, respectively.

 Product inventory quantities in excess of what we expect will be sold within the normal operating cycle, based on 2 years of anticipated sales, are included in noncurrent inventory.

 5. BUSINESS CONCENTRATION

 Significant portions of our inventory purchases are concentrated with an England-based publishing company, Usborne Publishing Limited ("Usborne"). During fiscal 2023, we entered into a new distribution agreement ("Agreement") with Usborne. The Agreement includes annual minimum purchase volumes along with specific payment terms and letter of credit requirements, which if not met offer Usborne the right to terminate the Agreement on less than 30 days' written notice. Should termination of the Agreement occur, the Company will be allowed to sell its remaining Usborne inventory for an agreed upon period, but not less than twelve months following the termination date. As of February 28, 2024, the Company did not meet the minimum purchase requirements and did not supply the letter of credit required under the Agreement, which allows Usborne the right to exercise their option to terminate the Agreement. Usborne has not notified the Company of termination of the Agreement. Usborne has refused to pay the $ 1.0 million volume rebate owed to the Company from purchases made during fiscal 2022. The Company is disputing the cancellation of the rebate but has not recognized any rebate in fiscal 2023 or fiscal 2024 due to its uncertainty. Additionally, under the terms in the Agreement, the Company no longer has the rights to distribute Usborne's products to retail customers. The Company discontinued selling Usborne products to retail customers in the first quarter of fiscal 2024. Gross sales attributed to Usborne's products sold within the Publishing division accounted for 24.2 %, or $ 2,740,000, during the fiscal year ended February 29, 2024, and 83.1 %, or $ 23,220,600, during the fiscal year ended February 28, 2023.

 Purchases received from Usborne were approximately $ 2,052,300 and $ 11,448,500 for the years ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023, respectively. Total inventory purchases for those same periods were approximately $ 9,241,100 and $ 20,377,600, respectively. Included in our balance sheets, outstanding accounts payable due to Usborne as of February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023 were $ 1,006,000 and $ 117,600, respectively. Total Usborne inventory owned by the Company and included in our balance sheets were $ 29,010,200 and $ 35,363,500 as of February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023, respectively.

 6. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

 Property, plant and equipment consist of the following:

 2024

 2023

 Land

 $

 -

 $

 4,107,200

 Building

 -

 20,424,900

 Building improvements

 -

 2,274,200

 Machinery and equipment

 14,156,400

 14,234,900

 Furniture and fixtures

 124,000

 121,700

 Capitalized software

 2,964,200

 1,236,300

 Molds and tooling

 733,200

 704,000

 Capitalized software - in progress

 313,500

 1,265,000

 Total property, plant and equipment

 18,291,300

 44,368,200

 Less accumulated depreciation

 ( 9,351,700

)

 ( 14,711,800

)

 Property, plant and equipment-net

 $

 8,939,600

 $

 29,656,400

 During fiscal year 2023, the Company purchased the SmartLab Toys product line. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, the Company implemented its new proprietary e-commerce platform resulting in the reclassification of the development costs in progress to capitalized software.

 7. OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES

 Other current liabilities consist of the following:

 2024

 2023

 Accrued royalties

 $

 324,700

 $

 504,400

 Accrued PaperPie incentives

 1,393,000

 1,189,900

 Accrued freight

 90,800

 120,300

 Sales tax payable

 265,500

 394,800

 Allowance for expected inventory returns

 201,500

 201,500

 Other

 1,062,600

 535,300

 Total other current liabilities

 $

 3,338,100

 $

 2,946,200

 8. OTHER INCOME

 A summary of other income is show below:

 2024

 2023

 Federal tax credits realized

 $
 3,808,700

 $
 -

 Gain from sale of assets

 4,016,700

 -

 Rental income

 1,544,000

 1,565,000

 Other income (loss)

 24,900

 ( 237,600
)

 Total other income

 $
 9,394,300

 $
 1,327,400

 9. INCOME TAXES

 Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. The tax effects of significant items comprising our net deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows:

 2024

 2023

 Deferred tax assets:

 Allowance for credit losses

 $

 34,800

 $

 57,200

 Inventory overhead capitalization

 112,800

 170,100

 Inventory valuation allowance

 102,500

 132,500

 Inventory valuation allowance – noncurrent

 159,900

 112,200

 Allowance for sales returns

 27,200

 27,200

 Research and development capitalization

 418,900

 291,600

 Net operating loss carryforward (1)

 572,600

 830,900

 Disallowed interest

 1,236,600

 Accruals

 343,800

 1,069,100

 Total deferred tax assets

 3,009,100

 2,690,800

 Deferred tax liabilities:

 Property, plant, and equipment

 ( 1,602,600

)

 ( 1,894,000

)

 Total deferred tax liabilities

 ( 1,602,600

)

 ( 1,894,000

)

 Net deferred income tax assets

 $

 1,406,500

 $

 796,800

 (1) The Company's net operating loss ("NOL") carryforward was generated from losses incurred in fiscal 2023. The Company's NOL can be carried forward indefinitely, but are limited to a 80% maximum offset of taxable income. Authoritative guidance requires a valuation allowance to be established when determining whether deferred tax assets are more likely-than-not to be realized. Based on the Company's evaluation, we determined the net deferred tax assets meet the requirements to be realized, and as such, no valuation allowance has been established.

 The components of income tax expense (benefit) are as follows:

 2024

 2023

 Current:

 Federal (1)

 $

 -

 $

 -

 State (1)

 -

 -

 -

 -

 Deferred:

 Federal

 154,200

 ( 719,700

)

 State

 33,900

 ( 202,300

)

 188,100

 ( 922,000

)

 Total income tax expense (benefit)

 $

 188,100

 $

 ( 922,000

)

 (1) The Company incurred losses in fiscal 2023, resulting in a net operating loss carryforward and reclassification from current to deferred.

 The following reconciles our expected income tax rate to the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate:

 2024

 2023

 U.S. federal statutory income tax rate

 21.0

 %

 21.0

 %

 U.S. state and local income taxes–net of federal benefit

 3.7

 %

 5.7

 %

 Other

 0.9

 %

 0.2

 %

 Total income tax expense

 25.6

 %

 26.9

 %

 We file our tax returns in the U.S. and certain state jurisdictions in which we have nexus. We are no longer subject to income tax examinations by tax authorities for the fiscal years before 2020.

 Based upon a review of our income tax filing positions, we believe that our positions would be sustained upon an audit and do not anticipate any adjustments that would result in a material change to our financial position. Therefore, no reserves for uncertain income tax positions have been recorded. We classify interest and penalties associated with income taxes as a component of income tax expense on the statements of operations.

 10. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN

 The Company has created the Educational Development Corporation Employee 401(k) Plan ("EDC 401(k) Plan") as a benefit plan for employees offering retirement investment options as well as profit sharing with its employees, in the form of matching contributions. The EDC 401(k) Plan includes, as an investment option, the ability to purchase shares of the Company's stock which the Plan Administrator acquires directly from NASDAQ. This plan incorporates the provisions of Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code that allow favorable tax treatments on investments. The EDC 401(k) Plan is available to all employees that meet specific age and length of service requirements. The Company's matching contributions are discretionary and approved annually at a meeting of the EDC 401(k) Plan's Trustees and Company's management. Matching contributions made to the Plan by the Company totaled $ 151,700 and $ 160,800 during the years ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023, respectively.

 11. LEASES

 We have both lessee and lessor arrangements. Our lessee arrangements include four rental agreements where we have the exclusive use of dedicated office space in San Diego, California, warehouse and office space in Layton, Utah, and two leases for warehouse space locally in Tulsa, OK, all of which qualify as an operating lease. Our lessor arrangements include one rental agreement for warehouse and office space in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and qualifies as an operating lease under ASC 842.

 Operating Leases – Lessee

 We recognize a lease liability, reported in other liabilities on the balance sheets, for each lease based on the present value of remaining minimum fixed rental payments (which includes payments under any renewal option that we are reasonably certain to exercise), using a discount rate that approximates the rate of interest we would have to pay to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term. Expected payments in the next twelve months are classified as current lease liabilities. Payments in excess of twelve months are classified as long-term lease liabilities. We also recognize a right-of-use asset, reported in other assets on the balance sheets, for each lease, valued at the lease liability and adjusted for prepaid or accrued rent balances existing at the time of initial recognition. The lease liability and right-of-use assets are reduced over the term of the lease as payments are made and the assets are used.

 2024

 2023

 Operating lease assets:

 Right-of-use assets

 $

 1,614,900

 $

 823,600

 Operating lease liabilities:

 Current lease liabilities

 $

 726,900

 $

 347,800

 Long-term lease liabilities

 $

 888,000

 $

 475,800

 Weighted-average remaining lease term (months)

 25.8

 36.3

 Weighted-average discount rate

 4.34

 %

 4.01

 %

 Minimum fixed rental payments are recognized on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease as costs and expensed in our statements of operations. Variable and short-term rental payments are recognized as costs and expenses as they are incurred.

 2024

 2023

 Fixed lease costs

 $

 563,900

 $

 154,400

 Future minimum rental payments under operating leases with initial terms greater than one year as of February 29, 2024, are as follows:

 Years ending February 29 (28),

 2025

 $

 735,800

 2026

 600,200

 2027

 397,300

 Total future minimum rental payments

 1,733,300

 Less: imputed interest

 ( 118,400

)

 Total operating lease liabilities

 $

 1,614,900

 The following table provides further information about our operating leases reported in our financial statements:

 2024

 2023

 Operating cash flows – operating leases

 $

 563,900

 $

 154,400

 Operating Leases – Lessor

 In connection with the 2015 purchase of our 400,000 square-foot facility on 50 acres (the "Hilti Complex"), we entered into a 15 -year lease with the seller, a non-related third party, who leases 181,300 square feet, or 45.3 % of the facility. The lessee pays $ 123,900 per month, through the lease anniversary date of December 2024 with a 2.0% annual increase adjustment on each anniversary date thereafter. The lease terms allow for one five -year extension, which is not a bargain renewal option, at the expiration of the 15-year term. Revenues associated with the lease are being recorded on a straight-line basis over the initial lease term and are reported in other income in the statements of operations. We recognize variable rental payments as revenue in the period in which the changes in facts and circumstances, on which the variable lease payments are based, occur.

 Future minimum payments receivable under operating leases with terms greater than one year are estimated as follows:

 Years ending February 29 (28),

 2025

 $

 1,547,100

 2026

 1,524,300

 2027

 1,554,800

 2028

 1,585,900

 2029

 1,617,600

 Thereafter

 3,332,900

 Total

 $

 11,162,600

 The cost of the leased space was approximately $ 10,159,500 as of February 29, 2024, and $ 10,637,900 as of February 28, 2023, respectively. The accumulated depreciation associated with the leased assets was $ 2,776,400 and $ 2,853,200 as of February 29, 2024, and February 28, 2023, respectively. During the third quarter of fiscal 2024, the Company announced its plans to sell the Hilti Complex and reclassified the land and buildings from property, plant and equipment to assets held for sale. The leased space was included in this reclassification.

 12. DEBT

 Debt consists of the following:

 2024

 2023

 Line of credit

 $

 5,498,100

 $

 10,634,500

 Floating rate term loan

 $

 17,300,000

 $

 20,475,000

 Fixed rate term loan

 11,300,900

 14,625,000

 Total term debt

 28,600,900

 35,100,000

 Less current portion

 ( 1,800,000

)

 ( 34,894,900

)

 Less debt issue cost

 ( 160,200

)

 ( 205,100

)

 Long-term debt, net

 $

 26,640,700

 $

 -

 On August 9, 2022, the Company repaid in full all outstanding indebtedness and terminated all commitments and obligations under its Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated February 15, 2021 (as amended), between the Company and MidFirst Bank and executed a new Credit Agreement ("Loan Agreement") with BOKF, NA ("Bank of Oklahoma" or the "Lender"). The Loan Agreement established a fixed rate term loan in the principal amount of $ 15,000,000 (the "Fixed Rate Term Loan"), a floating rate term loan in the principal amount of $ 21,000,000 (the "Floating Rate Term Loan"; together with the Fixed Rate Term Loan, collectively, the "Term Loans"), and a revolving promissory note in the principal amount up to $ 15,000,000 (the "Revolving Loan" or "Line of Credit").

 On December 22, 2022, the Company executed the First Amendment to our Loan Agreement with the Lender. This amendment clarified the definition of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio to exclude dividends paid prior to November 30, 2022, and placed restrictions on acquisitions and cash dividends.

 On May 10, 2023, the Company executed the Second Amendment to our Loan Agreement with the Lender. This amendment waived the fixed charge ratio default which occurred on February 28, 2023 and amended the financial covenant to not require the fixed charge ratio to be measured at May 31, 2023. The Second Amendment also added a cumulative maximum level of fiscal year to date inventory purchases through the expiration of the Revolving Loan Agreement, increased the borrowing rate on the Company's Revolving Loan to Term SOFR Rate plus 3.5 %, required certain swap agreement be executed within 30 days of the amendment, reduced the revolving commitment from $15,000,000 to $ 14,000,000, effective May 10, 2023, and further reduced the revolving commitment to $ 13,500,000, effective July 15, 2023, among other items.

 On June 6, 2023, pursuant to its interest rate risk and risk management strategy, the Company entered into a swap transaction (the "Swap Transaction") with the Lender, which converts a portion of the original $ 21,000,000 Floating Rate Term Loan from a floating interest rate to a fixed interest rate for the next two years. The Swap Transaction has a notional amount of $ 18,000,000 through fiscal quarter ending May 31, 2024, and then resets to $ 13,000,000 through May 30, 2025, while continuing to mirror the amortizing balance of the Floating Rate Term Loan. Under the terms of this agreement, the Company, in effect, has exchanged the floating interest rate of 30-Day Term SOFR Rate at the trade date of June 5, 2023, to a fixed rate of 4.73 %. The Swap Transaction commenced on June 7, 2023, with a termination date of May 30, 2025.

 On August 9, 2023, the Company executed the Third Amendment along with a Revised Credit Agreement ("Revised Loan Agreement") with the Lender. This amendment extended the Revolving Loan maturity date to January 31, 2024 and introduced a stepdown to the Revolving Commitment from $ 13,500,000, through August 30, 2023; to $ 10,500,000 through October 30, 2023; to $ 9,000,000 through November 29, 2023; to $ 5,000,000 through December 30, 2023; to $ 4,500,000 through January 30, 2024; and to $ 4,000,000 on January 31, 2024. The amendment restricted the Company from entering into any new purchase orders and uses its best efforts to cancel existing purchase orders. It also required the Company to list its real estate property located at 10302 East 55th Place, Tulsa, Oklahoma, for sale with a licensed commercial real estate broker satisfactory to the Lender on or before August 18, 2023, among other items. Contingent upon the occurrence of an Event of Default in the agreement, the Company shall within 15 days list the Hilti Complex with a licensed commercial real estate broker satisfactory to the Lender. The Third Amendment also increased the borrowing rate on the Revolving Loan to 30-Day Term SOFR Rate + 4.50 %, or 9.82 % at February 29, 2024. The Revised Loan Agreement was updated for the changes in the Third Amendment as well as removed the fixed charge ratio and the ability for borrowings to be accelerated before the January 31, 2024 Revolving Loan maturity date.

 Prior to the Third Amendment, executed on August 9, 2023, the Loan Agreement contained provisions that required the Company to maintain a minimum fixed charge ratio. The Company was in violation of the minimum fixed charge ratio covenant as of February 28, 2023, for which the Company obtained a written waiver of compliance from the Lender and was not required to measure the fixed charge ratio as of May 31, 2023. Concurrent with the execution of the Third Amendment to the Loan Agreement, the Loan Agreement was modified to incorporate the changes outlined in the Third Amendment and the fixed charge ratio covenant was removed, as well as the Lender's right to accelerate the maturities of the Fixed Rate Term Loan and Floating Rate Term Loan due to the fixed charge ratio covenant.

 On November 30, 2023, the Company executed the Fourth Amendment to the Credit Agreement ("Amendment") with the Lender. The Amendment, effective December 1, 2023, increased the Revolving Loan commitment to $ 8,000,000 and extended the maturity date to May 31, 2024. The Amendment also required the Company to list the Hilti Complex for sale, allowed the Company to execute additional purchase orders, subject to the lender's approval and conditions, not to exceed $ 2,100,000 between December 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024, among other items. Proceeds from the sale of the property are to be used to pay down the borrowings with the Lender. A third-party appraisal was completed on the Hilti Complex, consisting of the 400,000 square feet building complex on approximately 50 acres, along with approximately 15 acres of adjacent unused land, in July of 2023 with a market value of $ 41,970,000.

 Available credit under the current $ 8,000,000 revolving line of credit with the Company's Lender was approximately $ 2,501,900 at February 29, 2024.

 Features of the Revised Loan Agreement include:

 (i)

 Two Term Loans on 20-year amortization with 5-year maturity date of August 9, 2027

 (ii)

 $ 15 Million Fixed Rate Term Loan bears interest at a fixed rate per annum equal to 4.26 %

 (iii)

 $ 21 Million Floating Rate Term Loan bears interest at a rate per annum equal to Term SOFR Rate + 1.75 %

 (iv)

 $ 8 Million Revolving Loan with maturity date of May 31, 2024. The Revolving Loan bears interest at a rate per annum equal to Term SOFR Rate + 4.50 % (effective rate was 9.82 % at February 29, 2024)

 (v)

 Revolving Loan allows for Letters of Credit up to $ 7,500,000 upon bank approval (none were outstanding at February 29, 2024)

 The following table reflects aggregate current maturities of term debt, excluding the Revolving Loan, during the next fiscal year as follows:

 Years ending February 28 (29),

 2025

 $

 2026

 2027

 2028

 23,200,900

 Total

 $

 28,600,900

 13. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 As of February 29, 2024, the Company had outstanding purchase commitments for inventory totaling $ 1,424,800 with Kane Miller and SmartLab Toys suppliers, which will be received and payments due during fiscal year 2025.

 14. SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

 We account for share-based compensation whereby share-based payment transactions with employees, such as stock options and restricted stock, are measured at estimated fair value at the date of grant. For awards subject to service conditions, compensation expense is recognized over the vesting period on a straight-line basis. Awards subject to performance conditions are attributed separately for each vesting tranche of the award and are recognized ratably from the service inception date to the vesting date for each tranche. Forfeitures are recognized when they occur. The probability of restricted share awards granted with future performance conditions is evaluated at each reporting period and share awards are updated and compensation expense is adjusted based on updated information.

 In July 2018, our shareholders approved the Company's 2019 Long-Term Incentive Plan ("2019 LTI Plan"). The 2019 LTI Plan established up to 600,000 shares of restricted stock available to be granted to certain members of management based on exceeding specified net revenues and pre-tax performance metrics during fiscal years 2019, 2020 or 2021. The Company exceeded all defined metrics during these fiscal years and 600,000 shares were granted to members of management according to the Plan. The granted shares under the 2019 LTI Plan "cliff vest" after five years from the fiscal year that the defined metrics were exceeded.

 In July 2021, our shareholders approved the Company's 2022 Long-Term Incentive Plan ("2022 LTI Plan"). The 2022 LTI Plan establishes up to 300,000 shares of restricted stock available to be granted to certain members of management based on exceeding specified net revenues and pre-tax performance metrics during fiscal years 2022 and 2023. The number of restricted shares to be distributed depends on attaining the performance metrics defined by the 2022 LTI Plan and may result in the distribution of a number of shares that is less than, but not greater than, the number of restricted shares outlined in the terms of the 2022 LTI Plan. Restricted shares granted under the 2022 LTI Plan "cliff vest" after five years from the fiscal year that the defined metrics were exceeded.

 During fiscal year 2019, the Company granted 308,000 restricted shares under the 2019 LTI Plan with an average grant-date fair value of $ 9.94 per share. In fiscal year 2021, 5,000 restricted shares were forfeited and later regranted to other participants. During fiscal year 2023, 10,000 restricted shares were forfeited, along with 969 additional shares purchased with dividends received from the original issue date. The 10,000 forfeited shares were re-granted to participants during the fiscal 2023 third quarter with an average grant-date fair value of $ 2.08. The 969 shares purchased with dividends were not reissued. The 303,000 outstanding shares were vested on February 28, 2023.

 During fiscal year 2021, the Company granted 297,000 restricted shares under the 2019 LTI Plan with an average grant-date fair value of $ 6.30 per share. During fiscal year 2023, 18,000 restricted shares were forfeited, along with 760 additional shares purchased with dividends received from the original issue date. The 18,000 forfeited shares were re-granted to participants during fiscal 2023 with an average grant-date fair value of $ 2.08. The 760 shares purchased with dividends were not reissued. During fiscal year 2024, 35,285 restricted shares were forfeited and regranted to participants with an average grant-date fair value of $ 1.84. The remaining compensation expense of these awards, totaling approximately $ 403,600 as of February 29, 2024, will be recognized ratably over the remaining vesting period of 12 months.

 As of February 29, 2024, no shares were granted under the 2022 LTI Plan.

 A summary of compensation expense recognized in connection with restricted share awards as follows:

 Year Ended February 29 (28),

 2024

 2023

 Share-based compensation expense - net of forfeitures

 $

 212,000

 $

 907,800

 The following table summarizes stock award activity during fiscal year 2024 under the 2019 LTI Plan:

 Shares

 Weighted Average Fair Value (per share)

 Outstanding at February 28, 2023

 297,000

 $

 6.04

 Granted

 35,285

 1.84

 Vested

 -

 -

 Forfeited

 ( 35,285

)

 6.20

 Outstanding at February 29, 2024

 297,000

 $

 5.53

 15. STOCK REPURCHASE PLAN

 In April 2008, the Board of Directors authorized us to repurchase up to an additional 1,000,000 shares of our common stock under the plan initiated in 1998 ("amended 2008 plan"). On February 4, 2019, the Board of Directors replaced the amended 2008 plan with a new plan which authorized us to repurchase up to 800,000 shares of outstanding common stock in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, and to utilize any derivative or similar instrument to effect share repurchase transactions (including without limitation, accelerated share repurchase contracts, equity forward transactions, equity swap transactions, floor transactions or other similar transactions or any combination of the foregoing transactions). This plan has no expiration date.

 During fiscal year 2024, there was a repurchase of treasury stock for 138,201 shares for an average purchase price of $ 4.08 per share, which amounted to $ 563,900. After the repurchase, the maximum number of shares that may be repurchased in the future is 376,393.

 16. QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

 The following is a summary of the quarterly results of operations for the years ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023:

 Net

 Revenues

 Gross Margin

 Net Earnings (Loss)

 Basic Earnings (Loss)

 Per Share

 Diluted Earnings (Loss)

 Per Share

 2024

 First quarter

 $

 14,524,000

 $

 9,373,600

 $

 ( 872,800

)

 $

 ( 0.11

)

 $

 ( 0.11

)

 Second quarter

 10,593,100

 6,908,800

 1,061,700

 0.13

 0.13

 Third quarter

 16,944,800

 11,142,400

 1,972,100

 0.24

 0.24

 Fourth quarter

 8,968,400

 5,560,100

 ( 1,614,600

)

 ( 0.19

)

 ( 0.19

)

 Total year

 $

 51,030,300

 $

 32,984,900

 $

 $

 0.07

 $

 0.07

 2023

 First quarter

 $

 23,160,900

 $

 15,309,400

 $

 215,800

 $

 0.03

 $

 0.03

 Second quarter

 19,418,300

 12,478,600

 ( 801,900

)

 ( 0.10

)

 ( 0.10

)

 Third quarter

 30,269,400

 19,228,000

 0.00

 0.00

 Fourth quarter

 14,980,400

 9,053,800

 ( 1,919,700

)

 ( 0.24

)

 ( 0.24

)

 Total year

 $

 87,829,000

 $

 56,069,800

 $

)

 $

)

 $

)

 17. BUSINESS SEGMENTS

 We have two reportable segments: PaperPie and Publishing. These reportable segments are business units that offer different methods of distribution to different types of customers. They are managed separately based on the fundamental differences in their operations. Our PaperPie segment markets its products through a network of independent Brand Partners using a combination of internet sales, direct sales, home shows and book fairs. Our Publishing segment markets its products to retail accounts, which include book, school supply, toy and gift stores, museums, trade and specialty wholesalers, through commissioned sales representatives and our internal tele-sales group. See Note 5 for the impact of our updated Usborne distribution agreement on the Publishing segment.

 The accounting policies for the segments are the same as those for the rest of the Company. We evaluate segment performance based on earnings before income taxes of the segments, which is defined as segment net revenues reduced by cost of sales and direct expenses. Corporate expenses, depreciation, interest expense and income taxes are not allocated to the segments but are listed in the "Other" row below. Corporate expenses include the executive department, accounting department, information services department, general office management, warehouse operations and building facilities management. Our assets and liabilities are not allocated on a segment basis.

 Information by industry segment for the years ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023 is set forth below:

 NET REVENUES

 2024

 2023

 Publishing

 $

 5,405,100

 $

 13,282,300

 PaperPie

 45,625,200

 74,546,700

 Total

 $

 51,030,300

 $

 87,829,000

 EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES

 2024

 2023

 Publishing

 $

 1,223,300

 $

 3,186,800

 PaperPie

 4,129,200

 9,170,600

 Other

 ( 4,618,000

)

 ( 15,784,300

)

 Total

 $

 734,500

 $

 ( 3,426,900

)

 18. INTEREST RATE EXCHANGE AGREEMENT

 The Company maintains an interest-rate risk-management strategy that uses interest-rate swap instruments to minimize significant, unanticipated earnings fluctuations caused by interest-rate volatility. The Company's specific goal is to lower the cost of its borrowed funds, when possible.

 On June 5, 2023, the Company entered into a receive-variable (based on 30-Day SOFR)/pay-fixed interest-rate swap agreement related to $ 18,000,000 of our $ 21,000,000 Floating Rate Term Loan. This swap is utilized to manage interest-rate exposure over the period of the interest-rate swap and is designated as a highly effective cash-flow hedge. The differential to be paid or received on the swap agreement is accrued as interest rates change and is recognized in interest expense over the life of the agreement. The swap agreement offsets a corresponding portion of the amortizing $21,000,000 Floating Rate Term Loan, expires on May 30, 2025, and has effectively fixed the interest rate on the offsetting, outstanding balance of the $21,000,000 Floating Rate Term Loan at 6.48 %. The notional amount of the swap and the offsetting, outstanding portion of the term loan were $ 17,300,000 on February 29, 2024. The interest-rate swap contains no credit-risk–related contingent features and is cross-collateralized by all assets of the Company.

 The effective portion of the unrealized gain or loss on this interest-rate swap is reported as a component of other comprehensive income ("OCI") and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. Gains and losses on the interest rate swap representing amounts excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness are recognized in current earnings.

 The fair value of the interest rate swap is included in the following caption on the balance sheets as follows:

 February 29, 2024

 February 28, 2023

 Prepaid expenses and other assets

 $

 $

 -

 19. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

 The following methods and assumptions are used in estimating the fair-value disclosures for financial instruments:

 -

 The carrying amounts reported in the balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate fair value due to the short-term maturity of these instruments.

 -

 The estimated fair value of our assets held for sale was $ 40,019,200 as of February 29, 2024. The Company did not have any assets held for sale as of February 28, 2023. Management's estimates are based on the appraised market value and listing price of the Hilti Complex and land, less the estimated costs to sell.

 -

 The estimated fair value of our term notes payable is estimated by management to approximate $ 28,152,800 and $ 34,253,500 as of February 29, 2024, and February 28, 2023, respectively. Management's estimates are based on the obligations' characteristics, including floating interest rate, maturity, and collateral.

 -

 The fair value of the Company's interest rate swap of $ 24,400 is based on Level 2 inputs, including the present value of estimated future cash flows based on market expectations of the yield curve on variable interest rates.

 20. DEFERRED REVENUES

 The Company's PaperPie division receives payments on orders in advance of shipment. Any payments received prior to our fiscal year end that were not shipped as of February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023 are recorded as deferred revenues on the balance sheets. We received approximately $ 583,500 and $ 602,700 as of February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023, respectively, in payments for sales orders which were, or will be, shipped out subsequent to the fiscal year end.

 21. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 The Company pays personal property taxes to Tulsa County ("County") for equipment as well as inventory on hand at December 31 st that is expected to be sold within the state of Oklahoma. In March 2024, the Company filed their 2024 Personal Property Tax Rendition that continued to exclude inventory that is sold outside of Oklahoma as well as inventory that is not sold within the exemption period allowed by the County. The Company's estimated personal property taxes for fiscal 2024 were approximately $ 270,000. On April 24, 2024 the Company received a notice of disapproval of its rendition and a tax assessment against all of its owned inventory on hand at December 31,2023, thereby increasing the expected personal property tax to approximately $ 729,000. The Company plans to appeal the assessment and is requesting a reduction of the property tax assessment on inventory sold outside of Oklahoma. Once the appeal is submitted, the County assessor will issue a written decision within seven (7) calendar days of the hearing. If the decision is still denied, then the Company will appeal to the Tulsa County Board of Equalization ("Board") within fifteen (15) calendar days of the date the decision is mailed. Should the Board rule in favor of the County, the Company will then file a lawsuit with the Court of Tax Review. Should the Court of Tax Review rule against the Board's decision, the Company expects to further escalate the appeal to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. The Company is continuing to accrue personal property taxes in calendar 2024 based on the original rendition.

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