Selling, general and administrative expenses at our manufacturing facility include salaries, professional services, advertising and promotions, corporate expense, employee benefits, office equipment and supplies and utilities. Selling, general and administrative expenses at our retail sales center include: advertising, retail sales centers expenses, salary and salary related, professional fees, corporate expense, employee benefit, office equipment and supplies, utilities and travel. Selling, general and administrative expenses at the insurance company include: advertising, professional fees and office supplies.
As a percent of net sales, selling, general and administrative expenses was 12% in fiscal year 2020 compared to 11% in fiscal year 2019. Selling, general and administrative expenses were $4,984,318 for fiscal year 2020 compared to $5,352,319 for fiscal year 2019. The dollar decrease in expenses in fiscal 2020 resulted from the decrease in variable and accrued compensation expenses which were direct results of decreased sales.
The Company earned interest in the amount of $286,897 in fiscal year 2020 compared to $556,142 in fiscal year 2019. Interest income is dependent on our cash balance and available rates of return. The decrease is primarily due to the decrease in the interest rate in the money market accounts and certificates of deposit.
The Company earned $80,091 from its joint venture, Majestic 21, in fiscal year 2020 compared to $78,107 in fiscal year 2019. The earnings from Majestic 21 represent the allocation of profit and losses which are owned 50% by 21st Mortgage Corporation and 50% by the Company.
We received $421,099 in fiscal year 2020 and $379,104 in fiscal year 2019 under an escrow arrangement related to a Finance Revenue Sharing Agreement between 21st Mortgage Corporation and the Company. The distributions from the escrow account, related to certain loans financed by 21st Mortgage Corporation, are recorded in income by the Company as received, which has been the Company’s past practice.
The Company realized pre-tax income of $7,869,085 in fiscal year 2020 compared to a pre-tax income of $11,779,529 in fiscal year 2019.
The Company recorded an income tax expense of $1,885,387 in fiscal year 2020 compared to $2,969,109 in fiscal year 2019.
Net income in fiscal year 2020 was $5,983,698 or $1.64 per basic and diluted share and net income in fiscal year 2019 was $8,810,420 or $2.32 per basic and diluted share.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Cash and cash equivalents were $30,305,902 at October 31, 2020 compared to $22,533,965 at November 2, 2019. Certificates of deposit were $4,602,307 at October 31, 2020 compared to $10,153,575 at November 2, 2019. Short-term investments were $358,960 at October 31, 2020 compared to $521,283 at November 2, 2019. Working capital was $38,865,240 at October 31, 2020 as compared to $37,872,687 at November 2, 2019. A cash dividend was paid from our cash reserves in March 2020 in the amount of $1.00 per share ($3,630,970). During fiscal 2020, the Company repurchased an aggregate of 33,100 shares of its common stock for an aggregate of $822,450. In June 2019, the Company sold its former Pace, Florida retail sales center property for net proceeds of $1,078,325. In October 2019, the Company sold its 31.3% investment interest in Walden Woods South LLC for $1,510,000 in cash. During fiscal 2019, the Company repurchased an aggregate of 212,396 shares of its common stock for an aggregate of $4,585,861.A cash dividend was paid from the Company’s cash reserves in March 2019 in the amount of $1.00 per share ($3,864,216). We own the entire inventory for our Prestige retail sales centers which includes new, pre-owned and repossessed or foreclosed homes and do not incur any third party floor plan financing expenses. The Company has no material commitments for capital expenditures.
The Company currently has no line of credit facility and no debt and does not believe that such a facility is currently necessary to its operations. The Company also has approximately $3.8 million of cash surrender value of life insurance which it may be able to access as an additional source of liquidity though the Company has not currently viewed this to be necessary. As of October 31, 2020, the Company continued to report a strong balance sheet which included total assets of approximately $60 million which was funded primarily by stockholders’ equity of approximately $51 million.
Looking ahead, the Company’s strong balance sheet and significant cash reserves accumulated in profitable years has allowed the Company to remain sufficiently liquid to allow the continuation of operations and should enable the Company to take advantage of any market opportunities. Management believes it has sufficient levels of liquidity as of the date of the filing of this Form 10-K to allow the Company to operate into the foreseeable future.
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