Short-term investments and marketable securities, which consist of fully guaranteed bank certificates of deposit, stock and various corporate and government obligations, are stated at market value. The Company has classified its investments as Available-for-Sale securities and considers as current assets those investments which will mature or are likely to be sold within the ensuing twelve months. The remaining investments are considered non-current assets. The cost and market values of the investments at February 29, 2012 and November 30, 2011 were as follows:

As of February 29, 2012, the Company had unrealized gains on its investments of $85,404. This amount was reduced by a deferred tax (expense) of $(34,503), of which a $77,594 deferred tax benefit was recorded in prior fiscal years and a deferred tax (expense) of $(112,097) was recorded in fiscal 2012. None of the unrealized losses have been deemed to be other-than-temporary impairments.

Bank certificates of deposit are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for the full balance under the Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program. The Company maintains accounts with several brokerage firms. The accounts contain cash and securities. Balances are insured up to $500,000 (with a limit of $100,000 for cash) by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC).

The Company adopted ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” as of December 1, 2007, which expands disclosures about investments that are measured and reported at fair market value. ASC Topic 820 established a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques utilized to measure fair value into three broad levels as follows:

Level 1 – Quoted market prices in active markets for the identical asset or liability that the reporting entity has ability to access at measurement date.

Level 2 – Quoted market prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, and where fair value is determined through the use of models or other valuation methodologies.

Level 3 – Unobserved inputs for the asset or liability. Fair value is determined by the reporting entity’s own assumptions utilizing the best information available, and includes situations where there is little market activity for the investment.