Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (USD $) | Dec. 31, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2014 |
ASSETS | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | $8,660,000 | $15,410,000 |
Marketable securities at fair value, including common stocks of $166,225,000 and bonds of $8,113,000 at December 31, 2014 and common stocks of $165,734,000 and bonds of $7,942,000 at September 30, 2014 | 174,338,000 | 173,676,000 |
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $250,000 at December 31, 2014 and September 30, 2013, respectively | 7,832,000 | 8,566,000 |
Inventories | 55,000 | 51,000 |
Prepaid expenses and other assets | 918,000 | 983,000 |
Income tax receivable | 694,000 | 2,051,000 |
Total current assets | 192,497,000 | 200,737,000 |
Property, plant and equipment, at cost | | |
Land, buildings and improvements | 12,799,000 | 12,814,000 |
Furniture, office equipment and computer software | 2,899,000 | 2,889,000 |
Machinery and equipment | 1,870,000 | 1,864,000 |
| 17,568,000 | 17,567,000 |
Less accumulated depreciation | -8,621,000 | -8,552,000 |
| 8,947,000 | 9,015,000 |
Intangibles, net | 16,520,000 | 17,744,000 |
Goodwill | 13,400,000 | 13,400,000 |
Deferred income taxes | 3,462,000 | 2,981,000 |
| 234,826,000 | 243,877,000 |
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | | |
Accounts payable | 3,321,000 | 4,344,000 |
Accrued liabilities | 2,882,000 | 3,118,000 |
Deferred income taxes, net | 43,997,000 | 46,502,000 |
Total current liabilities | 67,608,000 | 73,272,000 |
Long term liabilities | | |
Investment margin account borrowings | 29,493,000 | 29,493,000 |
Deferred maintenance agreements | 154,000 | 180,000 |
Income tax payable | 3,182,000 | 3,244,000 |
Accrued interest and penalty for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits | 557,000 | 537,000 |
Accrued liabilities | 670,000 | 780,000 |
Total long term liabilities | 34,056,000 | 34,234,000 |
Commitments and contingencies (Note 9) | | |
Shareholders' equity | | |
Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized and no shares issued | 0 | 0 |
Common stock, $.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized; 1,805,053 shares issued, including 424,307 treasury shares, at December 31, 2014 and September 30, 2014 | 14,000 | 14,000 |
Additional paid-in capital | 1,755,000 | 1,755,000 |
Retained earnings | 58,734,000 | 58,301,000 |
Accumulated other comprehensive income | 72,659,000 | 76,301,000 |
Total shareholders' equity | 133,162,000 | 136,371,000 |
| 234,826,000 | 243,877,000 |
Subscription Arrangement [Member] | | |
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | | |
Deferred subscriptions | 3,335,000 | 3,381,000 |
Deferred Installation Contracts [Member] | | |
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | | |
Deferred subscriptions | 8,826,000 | 8,896,000 |
Deferred Maintenance Agreement [Member] | | |
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | | |
Deferred subscriptions | $5,247,000 | $7,031,000 |