EDUC 10-K & 10-Q changes, risk factors and insider trading

Total operating expenses not associated with a reporting segment were $9.9 million for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2025, compared to $11.3 million for the same period a year ago. Operating expenses decreased $1.4 million primarily as a result of a reduction in labor expenses of $0.9 million, with our warehouse payroll having the largest reduction, plus a $0.7 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 excess warehouse and machinery and equipment, and a $0.4 million decrease in freight-handling costs associated with a decrease in product revenues prior to discounts and allowances, offset by a $0.4 million increase in building rent due to sale and leaseback of our excess warehouse facility and additional warehouse space in Tulsa and Missouri used to house excess inventory, $0.1 million increase in personal property taxes, and $0.1 million increase in reserve for bad debt due to an increase in long-term and consignment inventory reserves.

Other income decreased $7.3 million, to $2.1 million for fiscal year ended February 28, 2025, compared to $9.4 million reported for fiscal year ended February 29, 2024, due to a $3.8 million decrease of other income related to the Employee Retention Credit received in fiscal 2024, a $4.0 million decrease due to the gain from the sale of the excess warehouse facility recognized in fiscal 2024, and a $0.3 million decrease from the loss associated with the abandonment of the Host Portal IT project, offset by $0.7 million increase in rental income due to the new tenant lease in our headquarters facility that started in the second quarter of fiscal 2025, and a $0.1 million increase related to royalties received from a promotion with Chick-fil-A which used a version of our books to distribute with their kids meals.

Operating income for the segment remained consistent at $1.2 million for fiscal year ended February 28, 2025 and February 29, 2024.

On August 9, 2022, the Company executed a 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 agreements 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 encouraged the Company to use its best efforts to cancel existing purchase orders. The Third Amendment also increased the borrowing rate on the Revolving Loan to 30-Day Term SOFR Rate + 4.50%. 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.

On June 13, 2024, the Company executed the Fifth Amendment to the Existing Credit Agreement with the Lender. The Amendment, effective May 31, 2024, adjusts the maximum availability of the Revolving Loan commitment to $7,000,000 through the maturity date of October 4, 2024. The Amendment also requires an additional decrease in the Revolving Loan to $4,500,000.

On October 7, 2024, the Company executed the Sixth Amendment to the Existing Credit Agreement with the Lender. The Amendment, effective October 3, 2024, extended the maturity date to January 4, 2025 and includes required step downs on the Revolving Loan to $5,500,000 by November 30, 2024.

On January 13, 2025, the Company executed the Seventh Amendment to the Existing Credit Agreement with the Lender. The Amendment, effective January 4, 2025, adjusted the maximum availability of the Revolving Loan commitment to $4,750,000 through the maturity date of April 4, 2025.

On April 16, 2025, the Company executed the Eighth Amendment to the Existing Credit Agreement with the Lender. The Amendment, effective April 4, 2025, increases the Revolving Loan interest rate on the effective date to SOFR + 6.00%, extends the maturity date of the Revolving Loan to July 11, 2025, and includes a required step down on the Revolving Loan to $4,500,000 million by May 31, 2025. The Amendment also redefined the maturity dates of the two term loans to September 19, 2025 (see Note 20 of the notes to the financial statements).

Available credit under the current $4,750,000 revolving line of credit with the Company’s Lender was approximately $551,900 at February 28, 2025.

Features of the Revised Loan Agreement include:

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 and term loans and uncertainty of the bank’s ongoing support beyond July 11, 2025, along with recurring operating losses and other items, raise substantial doubt over the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. To address these concerns, the Company has taken steps in its plans to reduce debt by selling owned real estate. The proceeds from the sale are expected to pay off the Term Loans and Revolving Loan. Following the loan payoff, management plans to fund ongoing operations with limited borrowings through local banks or other financing sources. In addition, management’s plans include reducing inventory, which will generate free cash flows, 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.

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 employee 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 2025 and 2024, the Company recognized $0.4 million and $0.2 million, respectively, of compensation expense associated with the shares granted.

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 for the fiscal years ended February 28, 2025 and February 29, 2024, respectively.

Interest expense decreased $0.2 million, or 33.3%, to $0.4 million for the three months ended November 30, 2025, when compared to $0.6 million for the same quarterly period a year ago, due to the Company selling the Hilti Complex at the end of October 2025 and paying in full all outstanding indebtedness and terminating all commitments and obligations under its Credit Agreement dated August 9, 2022 between the Company and its Lender.

Other income increased $11.8 million to $12.5 million for the three months ended November 30, 2025, when compared to $0.7 million for the same quarterly period a year ago resulting from the gain of $12.2 million from the sale of the Hilti Complex, offset by a $0.1 million decrease in rental income from the sale of the Hilti Complex and a $0.3 million loss due to the impairment of the line equipment in assets held for sale.

Income taxes increased $3.1 million to an income tax expense of $2.8 million for the three months ended November 30, 2025, from a tax benefit of $0.3 million for the same quarterly period a year ago, resulting primarily from an increase in other income as result of the sale of the Hilti Complex. Our effective tax rate increased to 26.7% for the quarter ended November 30, 2025, from 24.8% for the quarter ended November 30, 2024, due primarily 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.

Non-Segment Operating Results for the Nine Months Ended November 30, 2025

Total operating expenses not associated with a reporting segment decreased $1.2 million, or 15.8%, to $6.4 million for the nine month period ended November 30, 2025, when compared to $7.6 million for the same period a year ago. Labor expenses decreased $0.7 million from staff reductions across all departments, a decrease in freight handling of $0.2 million due to less overall sales orders and shipments compared to the prior year, and a $0.3 million decrease in depreciation expense related to the reclassification of the disassembled equipment to assets held for sale and resulting in the discontinuation of depreciation.

Other income increased $12.1 million to $13.8 million for the nine months ended November 30, 2025, when compared to $1.7 million for the same quarterly period a year ago, primarily from the sale of the Hilti Complex, which resulted in an increase of other income due to the gain of $12.2 million and an increase in rental income of $0.3 million, offset by $0.3 million from the impairment of the line equipment in assets held for sale and a $0.1 million decrease in other income related to a Chick-fil-A promotion held last year.

PaperPie Operating Results for the Three and Nine Months Ended November 30, 2025

The following table summarizes the operating results of the PaperPie segment:

PaperPie net revenues decreased $3.6 million, or 36.7%, to $6.2 million during the three months ended November 30, 2025, when compared to $9.8 million during the same period a year ago. The average number of active brand partners in the third quarter of fiscal 2026 was 5,100, a decrease of 7,300, or 58.9%, from 12,400 average active brand partners selling in the third quarter of fiscal 2025. The Company reports the average number of active Brand Partners as a key indicator for this division. The Company saw new Brand Partner recruiting negatively impacted due to several factors including economic challenges that include inflation, resulting in high fuel costs and food price increases that continue to impact the disposable income of our customers. Additionally, the Company executed a distribution agreement with Usborne Publishing Limited in fiscal 2023. This agreement required the rebranding of the direct sales division from Usborne Books & More (“UBAM”) to PaperPie along with providing a letter of credit and minimal level of annual purchases. This rebranding was completed in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. The letter of credit was not provided by the Company and the Company did not meet the minimum purchase requirements in fiscal 2024 or 2025, creating uncertainty with the relationship on a go-forward basis. The reduced sales and uncertainty resulting from the revised Usborne distribution agreement increased Brand Partner turnover and has negatively impacted new Brand Partner recruits over the past two years.

Recent sales levels have also been impacted by the lack of new titles being introduced and certain out of stock items, due to purchasing restrictions placed on us from our lender. The Company has started to place reorders and purchase new titles following the sale of the Hilti Complex and the payoff of the loans with our bank at the end of the third quarter fiscal 2026. The Company plans to return to our past practice of introducing new titles, along with additional enhancements to our PaperPie e-commerce and “Backoffice” systems that are expected to create existing Brand Partner excitement which should increase our number of new recruits in this division.

PaperPie gross margin decreased $2.3 million, or 37.1%, to $3.9 million during the three months ended November 30, 2025, when compared to $6.2 million during the same period a year ago. Gross margin as a percentage of net revenues for the three months ended November 30, 2025 decreased to 62.1%, compared to 62.9% for the same period a year ago. The decrease in gross margin as a percentage of net revenues was primarily attributed to increased discounts offered in the current quarter to spur sales along with additional shipping promotions.

Total PaperPie operating expenses decreased $1.7 million, or 33.3%, to $3.4 million during the three-month period ended November 30, 2025, when compared to $5.1 million reported in the same quarter a year ago. Operating and selling expenses decreased $0.3 million, or 23.1% to $1.0 million during the three-month period ended November 30, 2025, when compared to $1.3 million reported in the same quarter a year ago. These decreased expenses were due to a $0.2 million decrease in shipping costs associated with the decrease in sales and volume of orders shipped, and a decrease of $0.1 million in accruals for Brand Partner incentive trip expenses as the division expects less trip earners this year. Sales commissions decreased $1.3 million, or 39.4%, to $2.0 million during the three-month period ended November 30, 2025, when compared to $3.3 million reported in the same quarter a year ago, due primarily to the decrease in net revenues, which resulted in a decrease of weekly commissions of $0.7 million, a $0.5 million decrease in commission overrides, as well as a $0.1 million decrease in commissions related to sales bonus. General and administrative expenses decreased $0.1 million, or 20.0%, to $0.4 million during the three months ended November 30, 2025, when compared to $0.5 million during the same period a year ago due to a decrease in credit card transaction fees associated with decreased sales volumes.

Operating income for the PaperPie segment decreased $0.5 million or 50%, to $0.5 million during the three months ended November 30, 2025, when compared to the loss of $1.0 million reported in the same quarter a year ago. Operating income for the PaperPie division as a percentage of net revenues for the year ended November 30, 2025 decreased to 8.4%, when compared to 10.4% for the year ended November 30, 2024, a decrease of 2.0%. Operating income as a percentage of net revenues changed from the prior year primarily due to the decrease in net revenues from the reduced number of active brand partners in addition to higher discounts offered to spur sales, which are both offset by a decrease in operating expenses as shown above.

PaperPie Operating Results for the Nine Months Ended November 30, 2025

PaperPie net revenues decreased $8.1 million, or 33.6%, to $16.0 million during the nine-month period ended November 30, 2025, compared to $24.1 million from the same period a year ago. The average number of active brand partners in the nine-month period ended November 30, 2025, was 6,200, a decrease of 7,100, or 53.4%, from 13,300 selling in same period a year ago. Recruiting and maintaining brand partners has been negatively impacted by several factors including continued inflation, our distribution agreement with Usborne, and the rebranding of the division in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2023. Inflation was most evident in the increase of food and fuel prices, both impacting the disposable income of our target customer base, which is families with small children. Sales during the first nine months of fiscal 2026 continued to be negatively impacted by continuing inflationary pressures and we expect this to continue through the rest of fiscal year 2026, as these pressures persist. Historically, when we have experienced these difficult inflationary times, our active brand partner numbers have been positively impacted as more families look for non-traditional income streams to offset rising costs of living.

Recent sales levels have also been impacted by the lack of new titles being introduced and certain out of stock items due to purchasing restrictions placed on us from our lender. We have begun a conservative plan to place reorders and purchase new titles since the sale of the Hilti Complex and the payoff of the loans with our bank. The Company is now returning to our past practice of introducing new titles, along with additional enhancements to our PaperPie e-commerce and “Backoffice” systems that are expected to create existing Brand Partner excitement and should increase our number of new recruits in this division.

Gross margin decreased $5.4 million, or 36.0%, to $9.6 million during the nine-month period ended November 30, 2025, when compared to $15.0 million during the same period a year ago, due primarily to a decrease in net revenues. Gross margin as a percentage of net revenues decreased to 60.1% for the nine-month period ended November 30, 2025, when compared to 62.1% for the same period a year ago. The decrease in gross margin as a percentage of net revenues was primarily attributed to increased recruiting promotions offered to increase brand partner levels and additional discounts offered to customers between the periods to spur sales, as well as increased cost of goods from the tariffs implemented by the current administration on our SmartLab Toys product line.

Total operating expenses decreased $4.9 million, or 36.0%, to $8.7 million during the nine-month period ended November 30, 2025, from $13.6 million for the same period a year ago. Operating and selling expenses decreased $1.7 million, or 42.5%, to $2.3 million during the nine-month period ended November 30, 2025, when compared to $4.0 million reported in the same period a year ago. This decrease relates primarily to a decrease in shipping costs associated with the decrease in volume of orders shipped, totalling approximately $1.2 million, as well as a $0.5 million decrease in brand partner incentive trip expenses as fewer brand partners are expected to earn the trip this year. Sales commissions decreased $2.9 million, or 35.8%, to $5.2 million during the nine-month period ended November 30, 2025, when compared to $8.1 million reported in the same period a year ago primarily due to the decrease in net revenues, which resulted in a decrease of weekly commissions of $1.6, a $1.2 million decrease in monthly commission overrides, as well as a decrease in sales bonus’ of $0.1 million. General and administrative expenses decreased $0.3 million, or 20.0%, to $1.2 million, from $1.5 million recognized during the same period last year, due primarily to $0.2 million of decreased credit card transaction fees associated with decreased sales volumes and a $0.1 million decrease in other various general and administrative expenses.

Operating income of the PaperPie segment decreased $0.3 million, or 23.1%, to $1.0 million during the nine months ended November 30, 2025, when compared to $1.3 million reported in the same period last year. Operating income of the PaperPie division as a percentage of net revenues for the nine months ended November 30, 2025 was 6.0%, compared to 5.5% for the nine months ended November 30, 2024. Operating income as a percentage of net revenues changed from the prior year primarily due to the decrease in net revenues from the reduced number of active brand partners in addition to higher discounts offered to spur sales, which are both offset by the decrease in operating expenses as shown above.

Publishing Operating Results for the Three and Nine Months Ended November 30, 2025

Our Publishing division’s net revenues decreased $0.5 million, or 38.5%, to $0.8 million during the three-month period ended November 30, 2025, from $1.3 million reported in the same period a year ago. The change in net revenues was directly associated with the decrease in overall sales volume offset by a slight decrease in discounts.

Gross margin decreased $0.4 million, or 50.0%, to $0.4 million during the three-month period ended November 30, 2025, from $0.8 million reported in the same quarter a year ago, primarily due to the decrease in net revenues. Gross margin as a percentage of net revenues decreased to 56.4% during the three-month period ended November 30, 2025, from 58.9% reported in the same quarter a year ago. Gross margin as a percentage of net revenues changed primarily from the increase in cost of goods due to the additional tariffs implemented by the current administration on our SmartLab Toys product line.

Total operating expenses of the Publishing segment stayed consistent at $0.3 million, during the three-month periods ended November 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively.

Operating income decreased $0.3 million, or 75.0%, to $0.1 million during the three-month period ended November 30, 2025, from $0.4 million reported in the same quarter a year ago, respectively. Operating income for the Publishing division as a percentage of net revenues for the year ended November 30, 2025 was 17.2%, compared to 33.1% for the year ended November 30, 2024, a decrease of 15.9%. The decrease in operating income was primarily associated with the decline in net revenues associated with the decrease in gross sales in addition to the increase in cost of goods due to the additional tariffs implemented by the current administration on our SmartLab Toys product line.

Publishing Operating Results for the Nine Months Ended November 30, 2025

Our Publishing division’s net revenues decreased by $0.7 million, or 20.6%, to $2.7 million during the nine-month period ended November 30, 2025, from $3.4 million reported in the same period a year ago primarily due to the increased discounts offered to spur sales and the decrease in gross sales volume compared to the prior year.

Total operating expenses of the Publishing segment decreased $0.1 million, or 9.1%, to $1.0 million during the nine-month period ended November 30, 2025, from $1.1 million reported in the same period a year ago. This change was due to a $0.1 million decrease in shipping costs associated with the decrease in volume of orders shipped from decreased sales.

Cash used in financing activities was $31,031,200, consisting of $26,715,400 to pay down existing term debt, $4,198,100 to pay down existing line of credit, $137,900 paid to acquire treasury stock, offset by cash received of $20,200 from the sale of treasury stock.

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 Company’s continued recurring operating losses raise substantial doubt over the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. To address these concerns management’s plans include reducing inventory, to generate free cash flows 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.

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 for November 30, 2025 and February 28, 2025, respectively.