Document And Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
Document And Entity Information - USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2019	Jul. 25, 2019	Oct. 31, 2018
Document Information Line Items
Entity Registrant Name	FREQUENCY ELECTRONICS INC
Document Type	10-K
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--04-30
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		8,996,299
Entity Public Float			$ 62,500,000
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0000039020
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Document Period End Date	Apr. 30, 2019
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Apr. 30, 2019	Apr. 30, 2018
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 3,683	$ 7,869
Marketable securities	8,199	6,149
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $183 in 2019 and $181 in 2018	6,362	4,268
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings, net	6,670	5,094
Inventories, net	23,356	26,186
Prepaid income taxes	499	1,459
Prepaid expenses and other	2,583	1,050
Current assets held for sale	1,347	0
Total current assets	52,699	52,075
Property, plant and equipment, at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization	13,038	14,127
Goodwill and other intangible assets	617	617
Cash surrender value of life insurance	14,292	13,915
Other assets	5,923	2,850
Non-current assets held for sale	202	0
Total assets	86,771	83,584
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable - trade	1,188	1,841
Accrued liabilities	3,571	3,416
Current liabilities held for sale	1,078	0
Total current liabilities	5,837	5,257
Deferred compensation	14,216	13,541
Deferred rent and other liabilities	1,376	1,524
Non-current liabilities held for sale	2,253	0
Total liabilities	23,682	20,322
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $1.00 par value authorized 600 shares, no shares issued
Common stock, $1.00 par value; authorized 20,000 shares, 9,164 shares issued and 8,980 outstanding in 2019; 8,867 outstanding in 2018	9,164	9,164
Additional paid-in capital	56,831	56,439
Accumulated deficit	(2,111)	(65)
	63,884	65,538
Common stock reacquired and held in treasury - at cost (184 shares in 2019 and 297 shares in 2018)	(841)	(1,361)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	46	(915)
Total stockholders’ equity	63,089	63,262
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ 86,771	$ 83,584

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parentheticals) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Apr. 30, 2019	Apr. 30, 2018
Allowance for doubtful accounts (in Dollars)	$ 183	$ 181
Preferred stock, par value (in Dollars per share)	$ 1.00	$ 1.00
Preferred stock, shares authorized	600	600
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Common stock, par value (in Dollars per share)	$ 1.00	$ 1.00
Common stock, shares authorized	20,000	20,000
Common stock shares issued	9,164	9,164
Common stock, shares outstanding	8,980	8,867
Treasury stock, shares	184	297

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2019	Apr. 30, 2018
Revenues	$ 49,509	$ 39,407
Cost of revenues	33,720	34,244
Gross profit	15,789	5,163
Selling and administrative expenses	12,100	10,608
Research and development expenses	6,506	6,950
Income (loss) from operations	(2,817)	(12,395)
Other income (expense):
Investment income	293	1,268
Interest expense	(83)	(79)
Other income/(expense), net	134	(69)
Loss before provision for income taxes	(2,473)	(11,275)
Provision for income taxes	56	11,176
Net loss from continuing operations	(2,529)	(22,451)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	(967)
Loss on sale of discontinued operations	0	(359)
Total loss from discontinued operations	0	(1,326)
Net loss	$ (2,529)	$ (23,777)
Net loss per common share:
Basic and diluted loss from continuing operations (in Dollars per share)	$ (0.28)	$ (2.54)
Basic and diluted loss from discontinued operations (in Dollars per share)	0	(0.15)
Basic and diluted loss per share (in Dollars per share)	$ (0.28)	$ (2.69)
Weighted average number of shares outstanding:
Basic and diluted (in Shares)	8,916	8,841
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss
Net loss	$ (2,529)	$ (23,777)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	790	(1,904)
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities:
Change in market value of marketable securities before reclassification, net of tax of $(1) and ($360), respectively	173	(507)
Reclassification adjustment for realized gains included in net income, net of tax of $1 and $262, respectively	(2)	(785)
Total unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities, net of tax	171	(1,292)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	961	(3,196)
Comprehensive loss	$ (1,568)	$ (26,973)

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2019	Apr. 30, 2018
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss from continuing operations	$ (2,529)	$ (22,451)
Net loss from discontinued operations	0	(1,326)
Net loss	(2,529)	(23,777)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Deferred income taxes	0	9,638
Depreciation and amortization	2,802	2,484
Deferred lease obligation and other liabilities	65	(192)
Provision for losses on accounts receivable, inventories and warranty reserve	1,128	5,350
Gains on marketable securities	(3)	(1,047)
Loss on sale of fixed and other assets, net	18	77
Employee benefit plans expense	1,672	1,294
Stock-based compensation expense	500	470
Investment in Asia	(2,529)	0
Loss on sale of Gillam	0	359
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(2,994)	5,898
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	509	2,970
Inventories	(199)	(2,105)
Prepaid expenses and other	(1,429)	61
Other assets	(468)	(1,555)
Accounts payable - trade	(195)	379
Accrued liabilities	73	235
Income taxes refundable	960	3,311
Other liabilities	(556)	(559)
Cash (used in) provided by operating activities – continuing operations	(3,175)	3,291
Cash provided by operating activities – assets held for sale	3,078	0
Cash provided by operating activities – discontinued operations	0	1,242
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(97)	4,533
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of Gillam	0	188
Purchase of marketable securities	(3,705)	(4,961)
Proceeds from sale or redemption of marketable securities	1,812	6,477
Capital expenditures	(2,767)	(1,418)
Cash (used in) provided by investing activities – continuing operations	(4,660)	286
Cash provided by investing activities – discontinued operations	0	55
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(4,660)	341
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents before effect of exchange rate changes	(4,757)	4,874
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	606	257
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(4,151)	5,131
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	7,869	2,738
Cash and equivalents at end of year	3,718	7,869
Less cash and equivalents of assets held for sale at end of year	35	0
Cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations at end of year	3,683	7,869
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Interest	83	79
Income taxes	0	325
Non-cash activities:
Note receivable on sale of Gillam	$ 0	$ 1,000

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]	Total
Balance at Apr. 30, 2017	$ 9,164	$ 55,767	$ 23,712	$ (1,592)	$ 2,281	$ 89,332
Balance (in Shares) at Apr. 30, 2017	9,163,940			347,422
Contribution of stock to 401(k) plan		219		$ 214		433
Contribution of stock to 401(k) plan (in Shares)				(46,628)
Stock-based compensation expense		457		$ 13		$ 470
Stock-based compensation expense (in Shares)				(2,850)
Exercise of stock options and stock appreciation rights - net of		(4)		$ 4
Exercise of stock options and stock appreciation rights - net of (in Shares)				(861)		3,500
Change in unrealized gains and losses on marketable securities, net of taxes					(1,292)	$ (1,292)
Foreign currency translation adjustment					(1,904)	(1,904)
Net Income (Loss)			(23,777)			(23,777)
Balance at Apr. 30, 2018	$ 9,164	56,439	(65)	$ (1,361)	(915)	$ 63,262
Balance (in Shares) at Apr. 30, 2018	9,163,940			297,083		8,867,000
Opening balance sheet Adjustment for ASU 2014-09			483			$ 483
Contribution of stock to 401(k) plan		223		$ 189		412
Contribution of stock to 401(k) plan (in Shares)				(41,211)
Stock-based compensation expense		495		$ 5		$ 500
Stock-based compensation expense (in Shares)				(1,100)
Exercise of stock options and stock appreciation rights - net of		(326)		$ 326
Exercise of stock options and stock appreciation rights - net of (in Shares)				(71,111)		145,750
Change in unrealized gains and losses on marketable securities, net of taxes					171	$ 171
Foreign currency translation adjustment					790	790
Net Income (Loss)			(2,529)			(2,529)
Balance at Apr. 30, 2019	$ 9,164	$ 56,831	$ (2,111)	$ (841)	$ 46	$ 63,089
Balance (in Shares) at Apr. 30, 2019	9,163,940			183,661		8,980,000

1. Summary of Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2019

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

1. Summary of Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation:

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Frequency Electronics, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (the “Company” or “Registrant”). References to “FEI” are to the parent company alone and do not refer to any of its subsidiaries. The Company is principally engaged in the design, development and manufacture of precision time and frequency control products and components for microwave integrated circuit applications. See Note 14 for information regarding the Company’s business segments: (1) FEI-NY (which includes the subsidiaries FEI Government Systems, Inc., FEI Communications, Inc., Frequency Electronics, Inc. Asia (“FEI-Asia”) and FEI-Elcom Tech, Inc. (“FEI-Elcom”)), and (2) FEI-Zyfer, Inc. (“FEI-Zyfer”). Intercompany accounts and significant intercompany transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

These financial statements have been prepared in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) and require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported and disclosed in the financial statements and related notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Cash Equivalents:

The Company considers certificates of deposit and other highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company places its temporary cash investments with high credit quality financial institutions. Such investments may at times be in excess of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) and Securities Investor Protection Corporation (“SIPC”) insurance limits. No losses have been experienced on such investments.

Marketable Securities:

Marketable securities consist of corporate debt securities, certificates-of-deposit, and debt securities of U.S. Government agencies. All marketable securities were held in the custody of one financial institution at April 30, 2019 and two financial institutions at April 30, 2018. Investments in debt securities are categorized as available-for-sale and are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses excluded from income and recorded directly to stockholders’ equity. The Company recognizes gains or losses when securities are sold using the specific identification method.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts:

Losses from uncollectible accounts receivable are provided for by utilizing the allowance for doubtful accounts method based upon management’s estimate of uncollectible accounts. Management analyzes accounts receivable and the potential for bad debts, customer concentrations, credit worthiness, current economic trends and changes in customer payment terms when evaluating the amount recorded for the allowance for doubtful accounts.

Property, Plant and Equipment:

Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost and include interest on funds borrowed to finance construction. Expenditures for renewals and betterments are capitalized; maintenance and repairs are charged to income when incurred. When fixed assets are sold or retired, the cost and related accumulated depreciation and amortization are eliminated from the respective accounts and any gain or loss is credited or charged to income.

If events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a long-lived asset may not be recoverable, the Company estimates the future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition. If the sum of the expected future cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges) is less than the carrying amount of the long-lived asset, an impairment loss is recognized. To date, no impairment losses have been recognized.

Inventories:

Inventories, which consist of finished goods, work-in-process, raw materials and components, are accounted for at the lower of cost (specific and average) or net realizable value.

Depreciation and Amortization:

Depreciation of fixed assets is computed on the straight-line method based upon the estimated useful lives of the assets (40 years for buildings and 3 to 10 years for other depreciable assets). Leasehold improvements and equipment acquired under capital leases are amortized on the straight-line method over the shorter of the term of the lease or the useful life of the related asset.

Amortization of identifiable intangible assets is based upon the expected lives of the assets and is recorded at a rate which approximates the Company’s utilization of the assets.

Intangible Assets:

Intangible assets consist of the ISO 9000 certification arising from the acquisition of FEI-Elcom in the assignment of fair value to its acquired assets including intangibles. The certification is valued at fair value and was amortized over the estimated useful life of 3 years from the date of acquisition.

Goodwill:

The Company records goodwill as the excess of purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired. Goodwill is tested for impairment on at least an annual basis at year end. When it is determined that the carrying value of goodwill may not be recoverable, the Company writes down the goodwill to an amount to commensurate with the revised value of the acquired assets. The Company measures impairment based on revenue projections, recent transactions involving similar businesses and price/revenue multiples at which they were bought and sold, price/revenue multiples of competitors, and the present market value of publicly-traded companies in the Company’s industry. Management has determined that goodwill is not impaired as of April 30, 2019 and 2018.

Revenue and Cost Recognition:

Revenue is recognized when a performance obligation is satisfied, which is when the expected goods or services are transferred to the customer, in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to receive. A performance obligation is a distinct product or service that is transferred to the customer based on the contract. The transaction price is allocated to each performance obligation and is recognized as revenue upon satisfaction of that performance obligation. The Company derives revenue from contracts with customers by units sold with specific specifications and frequencies that are used by a specific customer and contracts where the end user is the U.S. Government. The Company’s contracts typically include multiple performance obligations which are satisfied either by shipped projects or the completion of milestones as defined in the contract. The transaction price is allocated either (i) based on the sale price of each item shipped or (ii) as defined by the milestones stated in the contract.

Revenues under larger, long-term contracts, which generally require billings based on achievement of milestones rather than delivery of product, are reported in operating results using the POC method. On fixed-price contracts, which are typical for commercial and U.S. Government satellite programs and other long-term U.S. Government projects, and which require initial design and development of the product, revenue is recognized on the cost-to-cost method. Under this method, revenue is recorded based upon the ratio that incurred costs bear to total estimated contract costs with related cost of sales recorded as the costs are incurred. Each month management reviews estimated contract costs through a process of aggregating actual costs incurred and estimating additional costs to completion based upon the current available information and status of the contract. The effect of any change in the estimated gross margin rate (“GM Rate”) for a contract is reflected in revenues in the period in which the change is known. Provisions for the full amount of anticipated losses on contracts are made in the period in which they become determinable.

On production-type orders, revenue is recorded as units are delivered with the related cost of sales recognized on each shipment based upon a percentage of estimated final program costs. Changes in job performance on long-term contracts and production-type orders may result in revisions to costs and income and are recognized in the period in which revisions are determined to be required. Provisions for anticipated losses on customer orders are made in the period in which they become determinable.

For customer orders in the Company’s FEI-Zyfer segment or smaller contracts or orders in the FEI-NY segment, sales of products and services to customers are reported in operating results based upon (i) shipment of the product or (ii) performance of the services pursuant to terms of the customer order. When payment is contingent upon customer acceptance of the installed system, revenue is deferred until such acceptance is received and installation completed.

In connection with the adoption of ASU 2014-09, there were changes to the timing of the Company’s revenue recognition associated with the significant portion of our business that was not being accounted for as POC in prior years for contracts where the end customer was the U.S. Government. These production-type contracts under which revenue was previously recorded as POT are currently being recognized as POC following adoption of this ASU. As a result, the Company will begin recognizing revenue earlier under these contracts. The Company’s products generally carry a one-year warranty, but may vary based on the contract terms.

Significant judgment is used in evaluating the financial information for certain contracts related to the adoption of this ASU to determine an appropriate budget and estimated cost. The Company evaluates this information continuously and bases its judgments on historical experience, design specifications, and expected costs for material and labor.

Contract costs include all direct material, direct labor costs, manufacturing overhead and other direct costs related to contract performance. Selling, general and administrative costs are charged to expense as incurred.

Practical Expedients

The Company expenses sales commissions as sales and marketing expenses in the period they are incurred if the expected amortization period is one year or less.

The Company expenses costs, other than sales commissions, to obtain a contract in the period for which they are incurred as these amounts would have been incurred even if the contract had not been obtained.

Disaggregation of Revenue

Total revenue related to the adoption ASU 2014-09 and recognized over time as POC was approximately $45.3 million of the $49.5 million reported for the year ended April 30, 2019. The amounts by segment and product line were as follows:

	Year Ended April 30, 2019
	(In thousands)
	POC Revenue			POT Revenue			Total Revenue
FEI-NY	$	35,588		$	2,508		$	38,096
FEI-Zyfer		9,803			2,432			12,235
Intersegment		(62	)		(760	)		(822	)
Revenue	$	45,329		$	4,180		$	49,509

	Years Ended April 30,
	(In thousands)
	2019		2018
Revenue by Product Line:
Satellite Revenue	$	22,810	$	14,210
Government Non-Space Revenue		22,771		17,610
Other Commercial & Industrial Revenue		3,928		7,587
Consolidated revenues	$	49,509	$	39,407

Comprehensive Loss:

Comprehensive loss consists of net income and other comprehensive loss. Other comprehensive loss includes changes in unrealized gains or losses, net of tax, on securities (for Fiscal 2019, debt securities) available for sale during the year and the effects of foreign currency translation adjustments.

Research and Development Expenses:

The Company engages in research and development (“R&D”) activities to identify new applications for its core technologies, to improve existing products and to improve manufacturing processes to achieve cost reductions and manufacturing efficiencies. R&D costs include direct labor, manufacturing overhead, direct materials and contracted services. Such costs are expensed as incurred. The Company also engages in customer-funded R&D activity. The customer funds received in connection therewith appear in revenues and the associated expenses are included in costs of revenues and are not included in R&D expenses.

Income Taxes:

The Company recognizes deferred tax liabilities and assets based on the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns. Under this method, deferred tax liabilities and assets are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Valuation allowances are established and adjusted when necessary to increase or reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.

The Company analyzes its tax positions under accounting standards which prescribe recognition thresholds that must be met before a tax benefit is recognized in the financial statements and provides guidance on de-recognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. An entity may only recognize or continue to recognize tax positions that meet a “more likely than not” threshold. Interest and penalties recognized on income taxes are recorded as income tax expense.

Earnings per Share:

Basic earnings per share are computed by dividing net earnings by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding. Diluted earnings per share are computed by dividing net earnings by the sum of the weighted average number of shares of common stock and the if-converted effect of unexercised stock options and stock appreciation rights. Diluted earnings per share are not computed where the if-converted effect of such items would be anti-dilutive.

Fair Values of Financial Instruments:

Cash and cash equivalents, short-term credit obligations, long-term debt and cash surrender value are reflected in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets at amounts considered by management to reasonably approximate fair value based upon the nature of the instrument and current market conditions. Management is not aware of any factors that would significantly affect the value of these amounts. The Company also has an investment in a privately-held Russian company, Morion, Inc. (“Morion”). The Company is unable to reasonably estimate a fair value for this investment.

Foreign Operations and Foreign Currency Adjustments:

The Company maintains manufacturing operations in the People’s Republic of China. The Company is vulnerable to currency risks in this country. The local currency is the functional currency of FEI-Asia. No foreign currency gains or losses are recorded on intercompany transactions since they are affected at current rates of exchange. The results of operations of FEI-Asia, when translated into U.S. dollars, reflect the average rates of exchange for the periods presented. The balance sheet of FEI-Asia, except for equity accounts which are translated at historical rates, are translated into U.S. dollars at the rate of exchange in effect on the date of the balance sheet. As a result, similar results in local currency can vary upon translation into U.S. dollars if exchange rates fluctuate significantly from one period to the next. For the year ended April 30, 2019, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, FEI-Asia, which is reported under the FEI-NY segment, is classified as held-for-sale (see Note 3).

Equity-based Compensation:

The Company values its share-based payment transactions using the Black-Scholes valuation model. Such value is recognized as expense on a straight-line basis over the service period of the awards, which is generally the vesting period, net of estimated forfeitures.

The weighted average fair value of each option or stock appreciation right (“SAR”) has been estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following range of weighted average assumptions used for grants:

	Years ended April 30
	2019			2018
Expected volatility		35	%		35	%
Dividend yield		0.0	%		0.0	%
Risk-free interest rate		2.81% - 3.07	%		1.85	%
Expected lives	5.0 years			5.0 years

The expected life assumption was determined based on the Company’s historical experience as well as the term of recent stock appreciation rights (“SARS”) agreements. The expected volatility assumption was based on the historical volatility of the Company’s common stock. The dividend yield assumption was determined based upon the Company’s past history of dividend payments and the Company’s current decision to suspend payment of dividends. The risk-free interest rate assumption was determined using the implied yield currently available for zero-coupon U.S. Government issues with a remaining term equal to the expected life of the stock options or SARs.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments, which potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk, consist principally of cash and cash equivalents and trade receivables. The Company maintains accounts at several commercial banks at which the balances exceed FDIC limits. The Company has not experienced any losses on such amounts. Concentration of credit risk with respect to trade receivables is generally diversified due to the large number of entities comprising the Company’s customer base and their dispersion across geographic areas principally within the U. S. The Company routinely addresses the financial strength of its customers and, as a consequence, believes that its receivable credit risk exposure is limited. The Company does not require customers to post collateral.

New Accounting Pronouncements:

In August 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2018-13 Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) (“ASU 2018-13”) which modifies the disclosure requirement on fair value measurements. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company is evaluating the effect, if any, the update will have on the financial statements when adopted in Fiscal 2021.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, which simplifies how an entity is required to test goodwill for impairment by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Under ASU 2017-04 goodwill impairment will be tested by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount and recognizing an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value. The new guidance must be applied on a prospective basis and is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. The Company will not be adopting ASU 2017-04 early and is in the process of determining the effect that ASU 2017-04 may have; however, the Company expects the new standard to have an immaterial effect on its financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments which replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology in current generally accepted accounting principles U.S. GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company is evaluating the effect, if any, the update will have on the financial statements when adopted in Fiscal 2021.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02 Leases (Topic 842). The objective of the update is to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. The standard requires a modified retrospective transition approach for existing leases. The amendments of the ASU 2016-02 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2018 and early adoption is permitted. The Company will adopt this standard at the beginning of Fiscal 2020 and recognize a right-of-use asset of approximately $13.2 million and a corresponding lease liability of approximately $13.4 million.

Newly Adopted Accounting Standards

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“ASU 2014-09”), as amended, which establishes new guidance for revenue recognition. ASU 2014-09 eliminates most of the existing industry-specific revenue recognition guidance and significantly expands related disclosures. Additionally, it supersedes some cost guidance in Subtopic 605-35, Revenue Recognition-Construction-Type and Production-Type Contracts, and creates a new Subtopic 340-40, Other Assets and Deferred Costs-Contracts with Customers. The Company determines revenue recognition through the following steps: identification of the contract, or contracts, with the customer; identification of the performance obligations in the contract; determination of the transaction price; allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and recognize revenue when, or as, the entity satisfies a performance obligation. The core principle of the guidance is that the Company will recognize revenue upon the transfer of the promised goods and services to its customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services. The new guidance requires significant additional judgement and estimation (as compared to the previous guidance) that may include, but is not limited to, identifying performance obligations and estimating the amount of variable consideration, if any, to include in the transaction price, and allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations. The new standard allows for two methods of adoption, either by (i) retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented (“full retrospective method”) or (ii) retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying the new guidance recognized at the date of initial application (“modified-retrospective method”). The Company adopted ASU 2014-09 in the first quarter of fiscal 2019 using the modified-retrospective method, which resulted in a cumulative effect increase of $484,000, including the adoption of ASC 340-40 as noted below, as of the date of adoption on May 1, 2018, to retained earnings. The adoption of ASU 2014-09 effected all new and open contracts as of the adoption date.

In connection with the adoption of ASU 2014-09 on May 1, 2018, the Company also adopted the guidance in ASC 340-40, Other Assets and Deferred Costs - Contracts with Customers (“ASC 340-40”), with respect to capitalization and amortization of incremental costs of obtaining a contract. The new cost guidance requires the capitalization of all incremental costs incurred to obtain a contract with a customer that it would not have incurred if the contract had not been obtained, provided it expects to recover the costs. The Company expects that sales commissions as a result of obtaining customer contracts are recoverable, and therefore the Company defers and capitalizes them as contract costs. As a result of this new guidance, the Company capitalizes sales commissions for which the expected amortization period is greater than one year. The Company classifies the unamortized portion of deferred commissions as current or noncurrent assets based upon the timing of when the Company expects to recognize the expense. The current and noncurrent portion of deferred commissions are included in prepaid expenses and other current assets, respectively, in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet. Adoption of ASC 340-40 resulted in a cumulative effect adjustment of $87,000 to total assets, $109,000 to total liabilities, and a $22,000 reduction to retained earnings, as of the date of adoption, on May 1, 2018.

The cumulative effect of changes made to the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of May 1, 2018 was as follows (in thousands):

	Balance at April 30, 2018			Adjustments				Balance at May 1, 2018
ASSETS
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings, net	$	5,094		$	1,435		(a)	$	6,529
Inventories, net		26,186			(929	)	(b)		25,257
Prepaid expenses and other		1,050			77		(c)		1,127
Total current assets		52,075			583				52,658
Other assets		2,850			10		(d)		2,860
Total assets		83,584			593				84,177

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accrued liabilities	$	3,416		$	97		(e)	$	3,513
Total current liabilities		5,257			97				5,354
Deferred rent and other liabilities		1,524			12		(f)		1,536
Total liabilities		20,322			109				20,431
(Accumulated deficit) Retained Earnings		(65	)		484		(g)		419
Total stockholders’ equity		63,262			484				63,746
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		83,584			593				84,177

Notes:

(a) Adjustment to unbilled accounts receivable for additional revenue recognized for which amounts have not been invoiced due to adoption of ASU 2014-09.

(b) Adjustment for additional allocated inventory costs related to additional revenue recognized due to adoption of ASU 2014-09.

(c) Adjustment for short-term capitalization of sales commissions, net of amortized amounts, due to adoption of ASC 340-40.

(d) Adjustment for long-term capitalization of sales commissions, net of amortized amounts, due to adoption of ASC 340-40.

(e) Adjustment to record short-term liability of sales commissions, net of amounts paid, due to adoption of ASC 340-40.

(f) Adjustment to record long-term liability of sales commissions, net of amounts paid, due to adoption of ASC 340-40.

(g) The cumulative effect of initially adopting ASU 2014-09 and ASC 340-40 using the modified-retrospective method as an adjustment to the beginning balance of (Accumulated deficit) Retained Earnings.

The impact of adopting the standard on the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended April 30, 2019 were as follows (in thousands):

Consolidated Balance Sheet

	As Reported			Adjustments				Balances Without Adoption of ASU 2014-09
ASSETS
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings, net	$	6,670		$	4,087		(a)	$	2,583
Inventories, net		23,356			(3,437	)	(b)		26,793
Prepaid expenses and other		2,583			56		(c)		2,527
Total current assets		52,699			706				51,993
Other assets		5,923			15		(d)		5,908
Total assets		86,771			721				86,050

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accrued liabilities	$	3,571			75		(e)		3,496
Total current liabilities		5,837			75				5,762
Deferred rent and other liabilities		1,376			12		(f)		1,364
Total liabilities		23,682			87				23,595
Accumulated deficit		(2,111	)		632		(g)		(2,743	)
Total stockholders’ equity		63,089			632				62,457
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		86,771			721				86,050

Notes:

(a) Cumulative adjustment to unbilled accounts receivable for additional revenue recognized for which amounts have not been invoiced due to adoption of ASU 2014-09.

(b) Cumulative adjustment for additional allocated inventory costs related to additional revenue recognized due to adoption of ASU 2014-09.

(c) Cumulative adjustment for short-term capitalization of sales commissions, net of amortized amounts, due to adoption of ASC 340-40.

(d) Cumulative adjustment for long-term capitalization of sales commissions, net of amortized amounts, due to adoption of ASC 340-40.

(e) Cumulative adjustment to record short-term liability of sales commissions, net of amounts paid, due to adoption of ASC 340-40.

(f) Cumulative adjustment to record long-term liability of sales commissions, net of amounts paid, due to adoption of ASC 340-40.

(g) The cumulative effect of initially adopting for ASU 2014-09 and ASC 340-40 using the modified-retrospective method as an adjustment to the balance of Retained earnings (Accumulated deficit).

Consolidated Statement of Operations

	As Reported			Adjustments			Balances Without Adoption of ASU 2014-09
Revenues	$	49,509		$	2,662		$	46,847
Cost of revenues		33,720			2,508			31,212
Gross profit		15,789			154			15,635
Selling and administrative expenses		12,100			5	(a)		12,095
Operating loss		(2,817	)		149			(2,996	)
Loss before provision for income taxes		(2,473	)		149			(2,622	)
Net loss		(2,529	)		149			(2,678	)

Note:

(a) Additional expense related the amortization of sales commissions due to the adoptions of ASC 340-40.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments – Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (“ASU 2016-01”). ASU 2016-01 requires all equity investments to be measured at fair value with changes in the fair value recognized through net income (other than those accounted for under the equity method of accounting or those that result in consolidation of the investee). The amendments also require an entity to present separately in other comprehensive income the portion of the total change in the fair value of a liability resulting from a change in the instrument-specific credit risk when the entity has elected to measure the liability at fair value in accordance with the fair value option for financial instruments. The Company adopted ASU 2016-01 on May 1, 2018 with no impact to the financial statements for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2019 as prior to adoption, all of the Company’s equity investments were sold.

2. Discontinued Operations

12 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2019

Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]

Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations, Disclosure [Text Block]

2. Discontinued Operations

On April 26, 2018, the Company sold its Gillam-FEI s.a. (“Gillam”) Belgium subsidiary to a European entity, in a stock purchase agreement, for $1 million in cash received on April 27, 2018, and a note receivable payable in three years for $1 million, included in other assets in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. The loss recorded due to the sale of Gillam was approximately $359,000. The calculation of the loss was the carrying amount of the investment on FEI-NY’s books less the retained earnings and remaining equity amounts of Gillam reduced by the cash received and the note receivable which is recorded in other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As such Gillam’s results have been classified as discontinued operations in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss.

Summarized operating results for the Gillam discontinued operations for the year ended April 30, 2018, were as follows (in thousands):

Revenues	$	4,694
Cost of revenues		3,314
Gross profit		1,380
Selling and administrative expenses		1,902
Research and development expenses		436
Operating Loss		(958	)
Other income (expense):
Investment loss
Other income (expense), net		(9	)
Loss before provision for income taxes		(967	)
Provision for income taxes		-
Net (loss) income		(967	)
Net loss from sale of discontinued operations		(359	)
Total net (loss) income from discontinued operations	$	(1,326	)

3. Assets Held for Sale

12 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2019

Table Text Block Supplement [Abstract]

Schedule of Other Assets [Table Text Block]

3. Assets Held for Sale

For the year ended April 30, 2019, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, FEI-Asia, which is reported under the FEI-NY segment, was classified as held-for-sale. The table below represents FEI-Asia’s assets and liabilities as of April 30, 2019 (in thousands):

Cash and cash equivalents	$	35
Accounts receivable, net		348
Inventories, net		876
Other current assets		88
Property, plant and equipment, net		202
Total assets held for sale	$	1,549

Accounts payable – trade	$	707
Accrued liabilities		315
Other current liabilities		56
Other liabilities		2,253
Total liabilities held for sale	$	3,331

On May 21, 2019 the Company completed the sale of its wholly-owned subsidiary FEI-Asia to an Asian corporation. FEI-Asia was sold for $130,000 in addition to all rights, benefits and obligations attached thereto, free and clear from any encumbrance. The results of this transaction, including approximately $85,000 of income for the twenty-one days in May 2019, are included in the consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2019. The above transaction resulted in a consolidated loss of approximately $1 million.

5. Costs and Estimated Earnings in Excess of Billings

12 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2019

Contractors [Abstract]

Long-term Contracts or Programs Disclosure [Text Block]

5. Costs and Estimated Earnings in Excess of Billings

At April 30, 2019 and 2018, costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings, net, consisted of the following (in thousands):

	2019			2018
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	$	8,278		$	5,266
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings		(1,608	)		(172	)
Net asset	$	6,670		$	5,094

Such amounts represent revenue recognized on long-term contracts that had not been billed at the balance sheet dates or represent a liability for amounts billed in excess of the revenue recognized. Amounts are billed to customers pursuant to contract terms. In general, the recorded amounts will be billed and collected or revenue recognized within twelve months of the balance sheet date. Revenue on these long-term contracts is accounted for on the POC basis. During the years ended April 30, 2019 and 2018, revenue recognized under POC contracts was approximately $45.3 million and $16.7 million, respectively. If contract losses are anticipated, costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings are reduced for the full amount of such losses when they are determinable. Total contract losses at April 30, 2019 were approximately $136,000. There were no contract losses for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2018.

6. Inventories

12 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2019

Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]

Inventory Disclosure [Text Block]

6. Inventories

Inventories at April 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, consisted of the following (in thousands):

	2019		2018
Raw Materials and Component Parts	$	11,600	$	16,206
Work in Progress		8,896		8,216
Finished Goods		2,860		1,764
	$	23,356	$	26,186

For the year ended April 30, 2018, the Company recorded a non-cash write-down of approximately $5.6 million of inventory. Inventory write-down resulted from two principal factors: (1) adoption by satellite manufacturers of policies precluding the use of parts and components over ten years old. This policy was unanticipated and resulted in reduced likelihood of FEI being able to use inventory that exceeds that threshold, and (2) changing technology associated with the advanced analog-to-digital converters which enables direct synthesis of certain frequencies for which FEI previously provided frequency conversion technology, reducing the likelihood that some parts and components associated with frequency conversion will be usable. Additionally, the Company’s new inventory reserve policy resulted in a charge of $1.1 million in the fiscal year ended April 30, 2019. Inventory reserves included in inventory were $6.6 million and $5.5 million for the fiscal years ended April 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

7. Property, Plant and Equipment and Leases

12 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2019

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block]

7. Property, Plant and Equipment and Leases

Property, plant and equipment at April 30, 2019 and 2018, consisted of the following (in thousands):

	2019			2018
Buildings and building improvements	$	2,692		$	2,790
Machinery, equipment and furniture		57,157			57,503
		59,849			60,293
Less, accumulated depreciation		(46,811	)		(46,166	)
	$	13,038		$	14,127

Depreciation and amortization expense for the years ended April 30, 2019 and 2018 was $2,802,000 and $2,484,000, respectively.

Maintenance and repairs charged to operations for the years ended April 30, 2019 and 2018 was approximately $309,000 and $466,000, respectively.

The Company leases its Long Island, New York headquarters building. On July 25, 2018, the Company signed an amendment to the lease which extends the current lease terms ten years and eight months through September 30, 2029. Pursuant to the amendment to the lease agreement, the annual rent will increase from $1,046,810 in 2019 to $1,276,056 in 2029. Under the terms of the lease, the Company is required to pay its proportionate share of real estate taxes, insurance and other charges.

In addition, the Company’s subsidiaries in New Jersey and California lease their office and manufacturing facilities. On February 1, 2018, FEI-Elcom entered into a new lease agreement in New Jersey for office and manufacturing space encompassing approximately 9,000 square feet. The monthly rent is $9,673 through the end of the lease which expires in January 31, 2021. FEI-Zyfer has signed a second amendment to its lease in California, which extends the lease an additional 88 months, beginning October 1, 2017 and expiring January 31, 2025. The average annual rent over the period of the amendment is approximately $312,000. FEI-Zyfer leases office and manufacturing space encompassing 27,850 square feet.

Rent expense under operating leases for the years ended April 30, 2019 and 2018 was approximately $1.2 million and $1.7 million, respectively. The Company records rent expense on its New York building and FEI-Zyfer facility on the straight-line method over the lives of the respective leases. As a result, as of April 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet included deferred rent payable of approximately $236,000 and $110,000, respectively, which will be recognized over the respective rental periods.

Future non-cancelable minimum lease payments required by the operating leases for the years ended April 30 were as follows (in thousands):

For the years ending April 30,	Operating Leases
2020	$	1,316
2021		1,521
2022		1,436
2023		1,469
2024		1,502
Thereafter		6,349
Total future minimum lease payments	$	13,593

8. Marketable Securities

12 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2019

Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]

Investments in Debt and Marketable Equity Securities (and Certain Trading Assets) Disclosure [Text Block]

8. Marketable Securities

The cost, gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses and fair market value of available-for-sale securities at April 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, were as follows (in thousands):

	April 30, 2019
			Gross		Gross			Fair
			Unrealized		Unrealized			Market
	Cost		Gains		Losses			Value
Fixed income securities	$	8,152	$	71	$	(24	)	$	8,199

	April 30, 2018
			Gross		Gross			Fair
			Unrealized		Unrealized			Market
	Cost		Gains		Losses			Value
Fixed income securities	$	6,274	$	10	$	(135	)	$	6,149

The following table presents the fair value and unrealized losses, aggregated by investment type and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position (in thousands):

	Less than 12 months					12 Months or more					Total
	Fair		Unrealized			Fair		Unrealized			Fair		Unrealized
	Value		Losses			Value		Losses			Value		Losses
April 30, 2019
Fixed income securities	$	995	$	(4	)	$	3,349	$	(20	)	$	4,344	$	(24	)

April 30, 2018
Fixed income securities	$	5,334	$	(135	)	$	-	$	-		$	5,334	$	(135	)

The Company regularly reviews its investment portfolio to identify and evaluate investments that have indications of possible impairment. The Company does not believe that its investments in marketable securities with unrealized losses at April 30, 2019 were other-than-temporary due to market volatility of the security’s fair value, analysts’ expectations and the Company’s ability to hold the securities for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recoveries in market value.

Proceeds from the sale or redemption of available-for-sale securities and the resulting gross realized gains and losses included in the determination of net loss for the years ended April 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, were as follows (in thousands):

	For the years ended April 30,
	2019		2018
Proceeds	$	1,812	$	6,477
Gross realized gains	$	3	$	1,317
Gross realized losses	$	-	$	(270	)

Maturities of fixed income securities classified as available-for-sale at April 30, 2019 were as follows (at cost, in thousands):

Current	$	998
Due after one year through five years		4,350
Due after five years through ten years		2,804
	$	8,152

The fair value accounting framework provides a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (level 3 measurements).

The levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:

	Level 1	Inputs to the valuation methodology are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the Company has the ability to access.

	Level 3	Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

The asset’s or liability’s fair value measurement level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Valuation techniques used need to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. All of the Company’s investments in marketable securities are Level 1 assets.

11. Investment in Morion, Inc.	12 Months Ended
11. Investment in Morion, Inc.	Apr. 30, 2019
Investment Holdings [Abstract]
Investment Holdings [Text Block]	11. Investment in Morion, Inc. The Company has an investment in Morion a privately-held Russian company, which manufactures high precision quartz resonators and crystal oscillators. The Company’s investment consists of 4.6% of Morion’s outstanding shares, accordingly, the Company accounts for its investment in Morion on the cost basis. This investment, of approximately $800,000, is included in other assets in the accompanying balance sheets. During the fiscal years ended April 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company acquired product from Morion in the aggregate amount of approximately $437,000 and $446,000, respectively, and the Company sold product to Morion in the aggregate amount of approximately $2,000 and $203,000, respectively. At April 30, 2019 and 2018, there was no accounts receivable balance due from Morion and approximately $38,000 and $85,000 was payable to Morion, respectively. During the fiscal years 2019 and 2018, the Company received dividends from Morion of approximately $105,000 and $85,000, respectively. On October 22, 2012, the Company entered into an agreement to license its rubidium oscillator production technology to Morion. The agreement required the Company to sell certain fully-depreciated production equipment previously owned by the Company and to provide training to Morion employees to enable Morion to produce a minimum of 5,000 rubidium oscillators per year. Morion will pay the Company approximately $2.7 million for the license and the equipment plus 5% royalties on third party sales for a 5-year period following an initial production run. During the same 5-year period, the Company commits to purchase from Morion a minimum of approximately $400,000 worth of rubidium oscillators per year although Morion is not obligated to sell that amount to the Company. During the fiscal year ended April 30, 2016, sales to Morion included $375,000 for product and training services under this agreement. Per the amended agreement, the balance of $1 million for the transfer of the license will be due once the United States Department of State (“State Department”) approves the removal of certain provisions of the original agreement. The State Department has approved the technology transfer called for under the agreement. On March 29, 2016, the Company renegotiated the $1 million amendment under the original agreement dated October 22, 2012 to $602,000 due to the U.S. Government easing of export regulations. Of this amount, $392,500 was billed and paid during Fiscal 2016 and the balance of $210,000 was billed during fiscal year 2017 and was subsequently collected. During the fiscal year ended April 30, 2019 and 2018, sales to Morion included $2,000 and $203,000, respectively, under this agreement. Morion operates as a subsidiary of Gazprombank, a state-owned Russian bank. On July 16, 2014, after the Company’s investment in Morion, Gazprombank became subject to the U.S. Department of Treasury’s prohibition against U.S. persons from providing it with new financing.

12. Employee Benefit Plans

12 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2019

Disclosure Text Block Supplement [Abstract]

Compensation and Employee Benefit Plans [Text Block]

12. Employee Benefit Plans

Profit Sharing Plan:

The Company provides its U.S.-based employees with a profit sharing plan and trust under section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. This plan allows all eligible employees to defer a portion of their income through voluntary contributions to the plan. In accordance with the provisions of the plan, the Company can make discretionary matching contributions in the form of cash or common stock. For the years ended April 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company contributed 41,211 and 46,628 shares of common stock, respectively. The approximate value of these shares at the date of contribution was $412,000 and $433,000 in fiscal years 2019 and 2018, respectively. Contributed shares are drawn from the Company’s common stock held in treasury and are removed at the Company’s original cost of acquisition of such shares on a specific identification basis. In addition to changes in the treasury stock accounts, during fiscal years 2019 and 2018, such transactions increased additional paid in capital by $223,000 and $219,000, respectively. As of April 30, 2019, the plan held a total of 623,672 shares, which are allocated to the accounts of the individual participants.

Income Incentive Pool:

The Company maintains incentive bonus programs for certain employees which are based on operating profits of the individual subsidiaries to which the employees are assigned. The Company also adopted a plan for the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, which formula is based on consolidated pre-tax profits. Under these plans, the Company charged approximately $195,000 and $60,000 to selling and administrative expenses for the fiscal years ended April 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Employee Stock Plans:

The Company has various stock plans, some of which have been approved by the Company’s stockholders, for key management employees, including officers and directors who are employees, certain consultants and independent members of the Board of Directors. The plans are Nonqualified Stock Options (“NQSO”) plans, Incentive Stock Option (“ISO”) plans and SARS. Under these plans, options or SARS are granted at the discretion of the Stock Option Committee at an exercise price not less than the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant.

Typically, options and SARS vest over a four-year period from the date of grant. The options and SARS generally expire ten years after the date of grant (the most recent SAR awards expire in five years) and are subject to certain restrictions on transferability of the shares obtained on exercise. Under the Company’s 2005 Stock Award Plan (“Plan”) the Company provided option holders the opportunity to exercise stock options either by paying the exercise price for the shares or to do a cashless exercise whereby the individual receives the net number of shares of stock equal in value to the exercised number of shares times the difference between the current market value of the Company’s stock and the exercise price. Under the Plan, instruments granted under other plans which expire, are canceled, or are tendered in the exercise of such instruments, increase the shares available under the Plan.

As of April 30, 2019, eligible employees and directors have been granted SARS representing approximately 2,384,000 shares of Company stock, of which approximately 1,500,000 shares are outstanding and approximately 1,216,000 shares with a weighted average exercise price of $9.12 are exercisable. As of April 30, 2018, eligible employees and directors have been granted SARS representing approximately 2,222,000 shares of Company stock, of which approximately 1,488,000 shares are outstanding and approximately 1,260,000 shares with a weighted average exercise price of $8.55 are exercisable. When the SARS become exercisable, the Company will settle the SARS by issuing to exercising recipients the number of shares of stock from treasury stock, if available, equal to the appreciated value of the Company’s stock between the grant date and exercise date. At the time of exercise, the quantity of shares under the SARS grant equal to the exercise value divided by the then market value of the shares will be returned to the pool of available shares for future grant under the Plan. During the year ended April 30, 2019, employees exercised SARS representing 145,750 shares of Company stock and received 71,111 shares of Company stock. The 74,639 share difference was returned to the pool of available shares and may be used for future grants. During the year ended April 30, 2018, employees exercised SARS representing 3,500 shares of Company stock and received 861 shares of Company stock. The 2,639 share difference was returned to the pool of available shares and may be used for future grants.

The excess of the consideration received over the par value of the common stock or cost of treasury stock issued under both types of option plans is recognized as an increase in additional paid-in capital.

The following table summarizes information about stock option and SARs activity for the years ended April 30, 2019 and 2018:

	Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights
						Weighted Average
				Weighted-		Remaining
				Average		Contractual	Aggregate
	Shares			Exercise Price		Term	Intrinsic Value
Outstanding – April 30, 2017		1,635,125		$	9.00	4.3 years
Granted		25,000			8.06
Exercised		(3,500	)		6.92		$	6,645
Expired or Canceled		(168,625	)		9.54
Outstanding – April 30, 2018		1,488,000		$	8.93	3.7 years	$	1,462,713
Granted		162,500			8.50
Exercised		(145,750	)		5.95			889,588
Expired or Canceled		(5,000	)		9.55
Outstanding – April 30, 2019		1,499,750		$	9.17	3.0 years	$	6,660,150
Exercisable		1,216,000		$	9.12	2.9 years	$	5,704,588
Available for future grants		81,966

As of April 30, 2019, total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested options and SARs under the plans was approximately $635,000. These costs are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.4 years.

During the years ended April 30, 2019 and 2018, 104,250 and 151,000 shares, respectively, vested, the fair value of which was approximately $403,000 and $628,000, respectively. The weighted average grant date fair value of SARs granted during the years ended April 30, 2019 and 2018, were approximately $3.01 and $2.71, respectively.

Stock-based compensation costs capitalized as part of work in process inventory or included in the cost of sales of programs on which the Company recognizes revenue under the POC method were approximately $190,000 and $168,000 for the years ended April 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Selling and administrative expenses included stock-based compensation expense of approximately $298,000 and $275,000 for the years ended April 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

The Company classifies cash flows resulting from the tax benefits from tax deductions recognized upon the exercise of stock options or SARS (tax benefits) as financing cash flows. The Company did not recognize any tax benefits from the exercise of stock options and SARS for the fiscal years presented.

Restricted Stock Plan and Other Issuances:

During fiscal year 1990, the Company adopted a Restricted Stock Plan which provided that key management employees could be granted rights to purchase an aggregate of 375,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. The grants, transferability restrictions and purchase price were determined at the discretion of a special committee of the board of directors. The purchase price could not be less than the par value of the common stock. Transferability of shares is restricted for a four-year period, except in the event of a change in control as defined therein. As a result of the adoption by the Company’s stockholders of the 2005 Stock Award Plan, the Restricted Stock Plan was discontinued. No additional grants will be made under this plan. As of April 30, 2019 and 2018, grants for 7,500 shares are available to be purchased at a price of $4.00 per share. During the years ended April 30, 2019 and 2018 the Company issued 1,100 shares and 2,850 shares from treasury stock, respectively, to select employees for milestone years of service to the Company. These shares are for common stock and are fully vested at time of issuance.

Deferred Compensation Agreements:

The Company has a series of agreements with key employees providing for the payment of benefits upon retirement or death. Under these agreements, each key employee receives specified retirement payments for the remainder of the employee’s life with a minimum payment of ten years’ benefits to either the employee or their beneficiaries. The agreements also provide for lump sum payments upon termination of employment without cause and reduced benefits upon early retirement. The Company pays the benefits out of its working capital but has also purchased whole life or term life insurance policies on the lives of certain of the participants to cover the optional lump sum obligations of the agreements upon the death of the participant. Deferred compensation expense charged to selling and administrative expenses during the years ended April 30, 2019 and 2018 was approximately $1.3 million and $909,000, respectively.

Life Insurance Policies and Cash Held in Trust:

The whole-life insurance policies on the lives of certain participants covered by deferred compensation agreements have been placed in a trust. Upon the death of any insured participant, cash received from life insurance policies in excess of the Company’s deferred compensation obligations to the estate or beneficiaries of the deceased, are also placed in the trust. These assets belong to the Company until a change of control event, as defined in the trust agreement, should occur. At that time, the Company is required to add sufficient cash to the trust so as to match the deferred compensation liability described above. Such funds will be used to continue the deferred compensation arrangements following a change of control.

13. Income Taxes

12 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2019

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]

13. Income Taxes

On December 22, 2017, the legislation commonly known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “TCJA” or the “Act”) was enacted into law. The Act made comprehensive changes to the U.S. tax code, including, but not limited to: (1) reducing the U.S. federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%; (2) changing rules related to uses and limitations of net operating loss carry-forwards created in tax years beginning after December 31, 2017 as well as the repeal of the current carryback provisions for net operating losses arising in tax years ending after December 31, 2017; (3) immediate full expensing of certain qualified property; (4) creating a new limitation on deductible interest expense; (5) eliminating the corporate alternative minimum tax; (6) repeal of the deduction for income attributable to domestic production activities; and (7) changes in the manner in which international operations are taxed in the U.S. including a mandatory one-time transition tax on the accumulated untaxed earnings of foreign subsidiaries of U.S. shareholders.

In response to the TCJA, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (“SAB 118”), which provides guidance on accounting for the tax effects of TCJA. The purpose of SAB 118 was to address any uncertainty or diversity of view in applying ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes in the reporting period in which the TCJA was enacted. SAB 118 addresses situations where the accounting is incomplete for certain income tax effects of the TJCA upon issuance of a company’s financial statements for the reporting period which include the enactment date. SAB 118 allows for a provisional amount to be recorded if it is a reasonable estimate of the impact of the TCJA. Additionally, SAB 118 allows for a measurement period to finalize the impacts of the TCJA, not to extend beyond one year from the date of enactment. For the year ended April 30, 2018, the Company recorded a provisional decrease in its deferred tax assets and liabilities for the reduction in the federal tax rate with a corresponding adjustment to the valuation allowance. During the year ended April 30, 2019, the Company completed the accounting for the tax effects of the TCJA with no material changes to the provisional estimate recorded in prior periods.

The TCJA also established the Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (“GILTI”) provisions that impose a tax on foreign income in excess of a deemed return on tangible assets on foreign corporations. The Company does not anticipate being subject to GILTI due to the sale of Gillam in Fiscal 2018 and the treatment of FEI-Asia as a disregarded entity for U.S. tax purposes.

The income before provision for income taxes consisted of (in thousands):

	Year Ended April 30,
	2019			2018
U.S.	$	(4,713	)	$	(10,785	)
Foreign		2,240			(490	)
	$	(2,473	)	$	(11,275	)

The provision for income taxes consisted of the following (in thousands):

	2019			2018
Current:
Federal	$	8		$	(869	)
Foreign		196			-
State		99			(124	)
Current provision		303			(993	)
Deferred:
Federal		-			10,702
Foreign		(247	)		267
State		-			1,200
Deferred (benefit) tax		(247	)		12,169

Total provision	$	56		$	11,176

The following table reconciles the reported income tax expense (benefit) with the amount computed using the federal statutory income tax rate (in thousands):

	2019			2018
Statutory rate	$	(519	)	$	(3,352	)
State and local tax		(32	)		(352	)
Valuation allowance on deferred tax assets		1,419			9,393
Effect of foreign operations		(51	)		606
Nondeductible expenses		87			1
Sale of Subsidiary Stock		(863	)		-
Uncertain tax positions		101			(388	)
Nontaxable life insurance cash value increase		(120	)		(111	)
Tax credits		(28	)		(163	)
Change in tax rate		225			5,323
Stock-based compensation		-			271
Other items		(163	)		(52	)
	$	56		$	11,176

The components of deferred taxes are as follows (in thousands):

	2019			2018
Deferred tax assets:
Employee benefits	$	5,092		$	5,078
Inventory		1,649			1,129
Accounts receivable		204			213
Tax credits		1,300			1,213
Other assets		148			139
Capital Loss carry-forward		2,455			1,385
Net operating loss carry-forwards		5,556			6,451
Total deferred tax asset		16,404			15,608
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property, plant and equipment		(1,344	)		(1,639	)
Other liabilities		(343	)		(821	)
Deferred state income tax		(767	)		(727	)
Net deferred tax asset		13,950			12,421
Valuation allowance		(13,950	)		(12,688	)
Net deferred tax liability	$	-		$	(267	)

The components of the deferred tax asset were as follows (in thousands):

	2019			2018
Gross deferred assets	$	13,950		$	12,421
Valuation allowance		(13,950	)		(12,688	)
Net deferred tax (liability) asset	$	-		$	(267	)

In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, the Company considers whether it is more-likely-than-not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will be realized. A valuation allowance, if needed, reduces the deferred tax assets to the amounts expected to be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income in those periods in which temporary differences become deductible and/or net operating loss carry-forwards can be utilized. We assess all positive and negative evidence when determining the amount of the net deferred tax assets that are more likely than not to be realized. This evidence includes, but is not limited to, prior earnings history, scheduled reversal of taxable temporary differences, tax planning strategies and projected future taxable income. Significant weight is given to positive and negative evidence that is objectively verifiable.

As required by the authoritative accounting guidance on accounting for income taxes, the Company evaluates the realizability of its deferred tax assets at each reporting date. Accounting for income taxes requires that a valuation allowance be established when it is more-likely-than-not that all or a portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In circumstances where there is sufficient negative evidence indicating that the deferred tax assets are not more-likely-than-not realizable, the Company establishes a valuation allowance. As of April 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company had a full valuation allowance against its U.S. net deferred tax assets. If these estimates and assumptions change in the future, the Company may be required to reduce its existing valuation allowance resulting in less income tax expense. For the years ended April 30, 2019 and 2018, the valuation allowance increased by approximately $1.3 million and $9.4 million, respectively.

As of April 30, 2019, the Company has U.S. federal net operating losses of $23 million of which $4 million begins to expire in Fiscal 2023 through 2031 and which are subject to annual limitation under Internal Revenue Code Section 382. The remaining U.S. federal net operating losses of $18.9 million have an indefinite carry-forward period. The U.S. federal capital loss carry-forward of $9.9 million expires in 2023. The Company also has state net operating loss carry-forwards, R&D tax credits, and state tax credits that expire in various years and amounts.

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amounts of unrecognized tax benefits, is as follows (in thousands):

	2019			2018
Balance at the beginning of the fiscal year	$	1,264		$	1,626
Additions based on positions taken in the current year		-			-
Additions based on positions taken in prior years		142			-
Decreases based on positions taken in prior years		(119	)		(304	)
Lapse in statute of limitations		(29	)		(58	)
Balance at the end of the fiscal year	$	1,258		$	1,264

The entire amount reflected in the table above at April 30, 2019, if recognized, would reduce our effective tax rate. As of April 30, 2019, and 2018, the Company had $64,000 and $10,000, respectively, accrued for the payment of interest and penalties. For the fiscal years ended April 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company recognized interest and penalties of $54,000 and $3,000, respectively. Although it is difficult to predict or estimate the change in the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits over the next twelve months, the Company believes that it is reasonably possible that decreases in unrecognized tax benefits of up to $40,000 may be recognized during the next twelve months.

The Company is subject to taxation in the U.S. federal, various state and local jurisdictions, and foreign jurisdictions. The Company is no longer subject to examination of its federal income tax returns by the Internal Revenue Service for fiscal years 2016 and prior. During Fiscal 2018, the Company closed an Internal Revenue Service examination of its Fiscal 2016 tax return with no change to the tax liability reported. The Company is no longer subject to examination by the taxing authorities in its foreign jurisdictions for Fiscal 2015 and prior. Net operating losses and tax attributes generated by domestic and foreign entities in closed years and utilized in open years are subject to adjustment by the tax authorities.

14. Segment Information

12 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2019

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block]

14. Segment Information

The Company operates under two reportable segments based on the geographic locations of its subsidiaries:

(1)

FEI-NY – operates out of New York and its operations consist principally of precision time and frequency control products used in three principal markets- communication satellites (both commercial and U.S. Government-funded); terrestrial cellular telephone or other ground-based telecommunication stations; and other components and systems for the U.S. military.

The FEI-NY segment also includes the operations of the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries, FEI-Elcom and FEI-Asia. FEI-Asia functions as a manufacturing facility for the FEI-NY segment with historically minimal sales to outside customers. FEI-Elcom, in addition to its own product line, provides design and technical support for the FEI-NY segment’s satellite business.

(2)

FEI-Zyfer – operates out of California and its products incorporate Global Positioning System (GPS) technologies into systems and subsystems for secure communications, both government and commercial, and other locator applications. This segment also provides sales and support for the Company’s wireline telecommunications family of products, including US5G, which are sold in the U. S. market.

The Company measures segment performance based on total revenues and profits generated by each geographic location rather than on the specific types of customers or end-users. Consequently, the Company determined that the segments indicated above most appropriately reflect the way the Company’s management views the business.

The accounting policies of the two segments are the same as those described in the “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.” The Company evaluates the performance of its segments and allocates resources to them based on operating profit which is defined as income before investment income, interest expense and taxes. All acquired assets, including intangible assets, are included in the assets of both reporting segments.

The table below presents information about reported segments for each of the years ended April 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, with reconciliation of segment amounts to consolidated amounts as reported in the statement of operations or the balance sheet for each of the years (in thousands):

	2019			2018
Net revenues:
FEI-NY	$	38,096		$	26,936
FEI-Zyfer		12,235			15,272
Less intersegment revenues		(822	)		(2,801	)
Consolidated revenues	$	49,509		$	39,407

Operating loss:
FEI-NY	$	(4,429	)	$	(15,097	)
FEI-Zyfer		1,730			3,164
Corporate		(118	)		(462	)
Consolidated operating loss	$	(2,817	)	$	(12,395	)

	2019			2018
Identifiable assets:
FEI-NY (approximately $1.5 in China in 2019)	$	54,295		$	55,181
FEI-Zyfer		10,478			8,168
less intersegment receivables		(8,346	)		(11,888	)
Corporate		30,344			32,123
Consolidated identifiable assets	$	86,771		$	83,584

Depreciation and amortization (allocated):
FEI-NY	$	2,695	$	2,355
FEI-Zyfer		92		114
Corporate		15		15
Consolidated depreciation and amortization expense	$	2,802	$	2,484

Major Customers

The Company’s products are sold to both commercial and governmental customers. For the years ended April 30, 2019 and 2018, approximately 87% and 74% respectively, of the Company’s sales were made under contracts to the U.S. Government or subcontracts for U.S. Government end-use.

In Fiscal 2019 and 2018, sales to two and three customers, respectively, of the FEI-NY segment accounted for more than 10% of that segment’s sales. One of these customers also exceeded 10% of the Company’s consolidated revenues each year. In the FEI-Zyfer segment, two customers accounted for more than 10% of that segment’s sales in Fiscal 2018. One of these customers also exceeded 10% of the Company’s consolidated revenues.

The loss by the Company of any one of these customers would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business. The Company believes its relationship with these customers to be mutually satisfactory. Sales to the major customers referenced above can include commercial and governmental end users.

Foreign Sales

Revenues in each of the Company’s segments include sales to foreign governments or to companies located in foreign countries. For the years ended April 30, 2019 and 2018, revenues, based on the location of the procurement entity and excluding intersegment sales, were derived from the following countries (in thousands):

	2019		2018
Belgium	$	49	$	64
France		40		154
China		359		512
Russia		2		302
Germany		36		143
Italy		159		110
South Korea		-		314
Singapore		215		376
Other		525		469
	$	1,361	$	2,444

15. Product Warranties

12 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2019

Product Warranties Disclosures [Abstract]

Product Warranty Disclosure [Text Block]

15. Product Warranties

The Company generally provides its customers with a one-year warranty regarding the manufactured quality and functionality of its products. For some limited products, the warranty period has been extended. The Company establishes warranty reserves based on its product history, current information on repair costs and annual sales levels. As of April 30, 2019, and 2018, respectively, changes in the carrying amount of accrued product warranty costs, reported in accrued expenses on the consolidated balance sheet, were as follows (in thousands):

	2019			2018
Balance at beginning of year	$	520		$	557
Warranty costs incurred		(398	)		(40	)
Product warranty accrual		407			3
Balance at end of year	$	529		$	520

16. Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

12 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2019

Disclosure Text Block Supplement [Abstract]

Other Comprehensive Income, Noncontrolling Interest [Text Block]

16. Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (“AOCI”) by component and reclassifications from AOCI to Other income (expense), net, for the years ended April 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, were as follows (in thousands):

	Change in						Foreign
	Market Value						Currency
	of Marketable						Translation
	Securities						Adjustment			Total
Balance April 30, 2017, net of taxes				$	1,167		$	1,114		$	2,281
Items of other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification, pretax					(147	)		1,488			1,341
Tax effect					(360	)		-			(360	)
Items of other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification, net of taxes					(507	)		1,488			981
Reclassification adjustments, pretax **		(1,047	)					(3,392	)		(3,392	)
Tax effect		262			(785	)		-			(785	)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes					(1,292	)		(1,904	)		(3,196	)
Balance April 30, 2018, net of taxes					(125	)		(790	)		(915	)
Items of other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification, pretax					174			790			964
Tax effect					(1	)		-			(1	)
Items of other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification, net of taxes					173			790			963
Reclassification adjustments, pretax **		(3	)
Tax effect		1			(2	)		-			(2	)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes					171			790			961
Balance April 30, 2019, net of taxes				$	46		$	-		$	46

**The reclassification adjustments represent net realized gains on the sale or redemption of available-for-sale marketable securities that were reclassified from AOCI to Other income (expense), net.

Accounting Policies, by Policy (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2019

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Principles of Consolidation:

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Cash Equivalents:

Marketable Securities, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Marketable Securities:

Receivables, Trade and Other Accounts Receivable, Allowance for Doubtful Accounts, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts:

Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Property, Plant and Equipment:

Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Inventories:

Inventories, which consist of finished goods, work-in-process, raw materials and components, are accounted for at the lower of cost (specific and average) or net realizable value.

Depreciation, Depletion, and Amortization [Policy Text Block]

Depreciation and Amortization:

Amortization of identifiable intangible assets is based upon the expected lives of the assets and is recorded at a rate which approximates the Company’s utilization of the assets.

Intangible Assets, Finite-Lived, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Intangible Assets:

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Goodwill, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Goodwill:

Revenue [Policy Text Block]

Revenue and Cost Recognition:

Practical Expedients

The Company expenses sales commissions as sales and marketing expenses in the period they are incurred if the expected amortization period is one year or less.

Disaggregation of Revenue

	Year Ended April 30, 2019
	(In thousands)
	POC Revenue			POT Revenue			Total Revenue
FEI-NY	$	35,588		$	2,508		$	38,096
FEI-Zyfer		9,803			2,432			12,235
Intersegment		(62	)		(760	)		(822	)
Revenue	$	45,329		$	4,180		$	49,509

	Years Ended April 30,
	(In thousands)
	2019		2018
Revenue by Product Line:
Satellite Revenue	$	22,810	$	14,210
Government Non-Space Revenue		22,771		17,610
Other Commercial & Industrial Revenue		3,928		7,587
Consolidated revenues	$	49,509	$	39,407

Comprehensive Loss:

Research and Development Expenses:

Income Taxes:

Earnings per Share:

Fair Values of Financial Instruments:

Foreign Operations and Foreign Currency Adjustments:

Equity-based Compensation:

	Years ended April 30
	2019			2018
Expected volatility		35	%		35	%
Dividend yield		0.0	%		0.0	%
Risk-free interest rate		2.81% - 3.07	%		1.85	%
Expected lives	5.0 years			5.0 years

Concentration of Credit Risk

New Accounting Pronouncements:

Newly Adopted Accounting Standards

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

The cumulative effect of changes made to the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of May 1, 2018 was as follows (in thousands):

	Balance at April 30, 2018			Adjustments				Balance at May 1, 2018
ASSETS
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings, net	$	5,094		$	1,435		(a)	$	6,529
Inventories, net		26,186			(929	)	(b)		25,257
Prepaid expenses and other		1,050			77		(c)		1,127
Total current assets		52,075			583				52,658
Other assets		2,850			10		(d)		2,860
Total assets		83,584			593				84,177

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accrued liabilities	$	3,416		$	97		(e)	$	3,513
Total current liabilities		5,257			97				5,354
Deferred rent and other liabilities		1,524			12		(f)		1,536
Total liabilities		20,322			109				20,431
(Accumulated deficit) Retained Earnings		(65	)		484		(g)		419
Total stockholders’ equity		63,262			484				63,746
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		83,584			593				84,177

Notes:

(a) Adjustment to unbilled accounts receivable for additional revenue recognized for which amounts have not been invoiced due to adoption of ASU 2014-09.

(b) Adjustment for additional allocated inventory costs related to additional revenue recognized due to adoption of ASU 2014-09.

(c) Adjustment for short-term capitalization of sales commissions, net of amortized amounts, due to adoption of ASC 340-40.

(d) Adjustment for long-term capitalization of sales commissions, net of amortized amounts, due to adoption of ASC 340-40.

(e) Adjustment to record short-term liability of sales commissions, net of amounts paid, due to adoption of ASC 340-40.

(f) Adjustment to record long-term liability of sales commissions, net of amounts paid, due to adoption of ASC 340-40.

Comprehensive Income, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Comprehensive Loss:

Research and Development Expense, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Research and Development Expenses:

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Income Taxes:

Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Earnings per Share:

Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Fair Values of Financial Instruments:

Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations Policy [Policy Text Block]

Foreign Operations and Foreign Currency Adjustments:

Share-based Payment Arrangement [Policy Text Block]

Equity-based Compensation:

	Years ended April 30
	2019			2018
Expected volatility		35	%		35	%
Dividend yield		0.0	%		0.0	%
Risk-free interest rate		2.81% - 3.07	%		1.85	%
Expected lives	5.0 years			5.0 years

Concentration Risk, Credit Risk, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Concentration of Credit Risk

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

New Accounting Pronouncements:

Newly Adopted Accounting Standards

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

The cumulative effect of changes made to the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of May 1, 2018 was as follows (in thousands):

	Balance at April 30, 2018			Adjustments				Balance at May 1, 2018
ASSETS
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings, net	$	5,094		$	1,435		(a)	$	6,529
Inventories, net		26,186			(929	)	(b)		25,257
Prepaid expenses and other		1,050			77		(c)		1,127
Total current assets		52,075			583				52,658
Other assets		2,850			10		(d)		2,860
Total assets		83,584			593				84,177

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accrued liabilities	$	3,416		$	97		(e)	$	3,513
Total current liabilities		5,257			97				5,354
Deferred rent and other liabilities		1,524			12		(f)		1,536
Total liabilities		20,322			109				20,431
(Accumulated deficit) Retained Earnings		(65	)		484		(g)		419
Total stockholders’ equity		63,262			484				63,746
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		83,584			593				84,177

Notes:

(a) Adjustment to unbilled accounts receivable for additional revenue recognized for which amounts have not been invoiced due to adoption of ASU 2014-09.

(b) Adjustment for additional allocated inventory costs related to additional revenue recognized due to adoption of ASU 2014-09.

(c) Adjustment for short-term capitalization of sales commissions, net of amortized amounts, due to adoption of ASC 340-40.

(d) Adjustment for long-term capitalization of sales commissions, net of amortized amounts, due to adoption of ASC 340-40.

(e) Adjustment to record short-term liability of sales commissions, net of amounts paid, due to adoption of ASC 340-40.

(f) Adjustment to record long-term liability of sales commissions, net of amounts paid, due to adoption of ASC 340-40.

The impact of adopting the standard on the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended April 30, 2019 were as follows (in thousands):

Consolidated Balance Sheet

	As Reported			Adjustments				Balances Without Adoption of ASU 2014-09
ASSETS
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings, net	$	6,670		$	4,087		(a)	$	2,583
Inventories, net		23,356			(3,437	)	(b)		26,793
Prepaid expenses and other		2,583			56		(c)		2,527
Total current assets		52,699			706				51,993
Other assets		5,923			15		(d)		5,908
Total assets		86,771			721				86,050

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accrued liabilities	$	3,571			75		(e)		3,496
Total current liabilities		5,837			75				5,762
Deferred rent and other liabilities		1,376			12		(f)		1,364
Total liabilities		23,682			87				23,595
Accumulated deficit		(2,111	)		632		(g)		(2,743	)
Total stockholders’ equity		63,089			632				62,457
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		86,771			721				86,050

Notes:

(a) Cumulative adjustment to unbilled accounts receivable for additional revenue recognized for which amounts have not been invoiced due to adoption of ASU 2014-09.

(b) Cumulative adjustment for additional allocated inventory costs related to additional revenue recognized due to adoption of ASU 2014-09.

(c) Cumulative adjustment for short-term capitalization of sales commissions, net of amortized amounts, due to adoption of ASC 340-40.

(d) Cumulative adjustment for long-term capitalization of sales commissions, net of amortized amounts, due to adoption of ASC 340-40.

(e) Cumulative adjustment to record short-term liability of sales commissions, net of amounts paid, due to adoption of ASC 340-40.

(f) Cumulative adjustment to record long-term liability of sales commissions, net of amounts paid, due to adoption of ASC 340-40.

(g) The cumulative effect of initially adopting for ASU 2014-09 and ASC 340-40 using the modified-retrospective method as an adjustment to the balance of Retained earnings (Accumulated deficit).

Consolidated Statement of Operations

	As Reported			Adjustments			Balances Without Adoption of ASU 2014-09
Revenues	$	49,509		$	2,662		$	46,847
Cost of revenues		33,720			2,508			31,212
Gross profit		15,789			154			15,635
Selling and administrative expenses		12,100			5	(a)		12,095
Operating loss		(2,817	)		149			(2,996	)
Loss before provision for income taxes		(2,473	)		149			(2,622	)
Net loss		(2,529	)		149			(2,678	)

Note:

(a) Additional expense related the amortization of sales commissions due to the adoptions of ASC 340-40.

1. Summary of Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2019

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Disaggregation of Revenue [Table Text Block]

	Year Ended April 30, 2019
	(In thousands)
	POC Revenue			POT Revenue			Total Revenue
FEI-NY	$	35,588		$	2,508		$	38,096
FEI-Zyfer		9,803			2,432			12,235
Intersegment		(62	)		(760	)		(822	)
Revenue	$	45,329		$	4,180		$	49,509

Revenue from External Customers by Products and Services [Table Text Block]

	Years Ended April 30,
	(In thousands)
	2019		2018
Revenue by Product Line:
Satellite Revenue	$	22,810	$	14,210
Government Non-Space Revenue		22,771		17,610
Other Commercial & Industrial Revenue		3,928		7,587
Consolidated revenues	$	49,509	$	39,407

Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions [Table Text Block]

	Years ended April 30
	2019			2018
Expected volatility		35	%		35	%
Dividend yield		0.0	%		0.0	%
Risk-free interest rate		2.81% - 3.07	%		1.85	%
Expected lives	5.0 years			5.0 years

Schedule of New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Table Text Block]

The cumulative effect of changes made to the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of May 1, 2018 was as follows (in thousands):

	Balance at April 30, 2018			Adjustments				Balance at May 1, 2018
ASSETS
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings, net	$	5,094		$	1,435		(a)	$	6,529
Inventories, net		26,186			(929	)	(b)		25,257
Prepaid expenses and other		1,050			77		(c)		1,127
Total current assets		52,075			583				52,658
Other assets		2,850			10		(d)		2,860
Total assets		83,584			593				84,177

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accrued liabilities	$	3,416		$	97		(e)	$	3,513
Total current liabilities		5,257			97				5,354
Deferred rent and other liabilities		1,524			12		(f)		1,536
Total liabilities		20,322			109				20,431
(Accumulated deficit) Retained Earnings		(65	)		484		(g)		419
Total stockholders’ equity		63,262			484				63,746
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		83,584			593				84,177

	As Reported			Adjustments				Balances Without Adoption of ASU 2014-09
ASSETS
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings, net	$	6,670		$	4,087		(a)	$	2,583
Inventories, net		23,356			(3,437	)	(b)		26,793
Prepaid expenses and other		2,583			56		(c)		2,527
Total current assets		52,699			706				51,993
Other assets		5,923			15		(d)		5,908
Total assets		86,771			721				86,050

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accrued liabilities	$	3,571			75		(e)		3,496
Total current liabilities		5,837			75				5,762
Deferred rent and other liabilities		1,376			12		(f)		1,364
Total liabilities		23,682			87				23,595
Accumulated deficit		(2,111	)		632		(g)		(2,743	)
Total stockholders’ equity		63,089			632				62,457
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		86,771			721				86,050

	As Reported			Adjustments			Balances Without Adoption of ASU 2014-09
Revenues	$	49,509		$	2,662		$	46,847
Cost of revenues		33,720			2,508			31,212
Gross profit		15,789			154			15,635
Selling and administrative expenses		12,100			5	(a)		12,095
Operating loss		(2,817	)		149			(2,996	)
Loss before provision for income taxes		(2,473	)		149			(2,622	)
Net loss		(2,529	)		149			(2,678	)