Note 3 - Marketable Securities

9 Months Ended

Nov. 30, 2014

Notes to Financial Statements

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

3 . MARKETABLE SECURITIES

All marketable securities are classified as available-for-sale and are carried at fair value, with the unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, included in comprehensive earnings. Realized gains and losses, amortization of premiums and discounts, and interest and dividend income are included in interest income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The costs of securities sold are based on the specific identification method.

The following is a summary of available-for-sale securities:

	November 30, 2014
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
U.S. Treasury and other government securities	$	114,742	$	114,742	$	-	$	-
U.S. corporate debt securities		20,309		6,290		14,019		-
Total marketable securities	$	135,051	$	121,032	$	14,019	$	-

	March 2, 2014
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
U.S. Treasury and other government securities	$	112,793	$	112,793	$	-	$	-
U.S. corporate debt securities		24,413		17,329		7,084		-
Total marketable securities	$	137,206	$	130,122	$	7,084	$	-

At November 30, 2014 and March 2, 2014, the Company’s level 2 investments consisted of commercial paper which was not traded on a regular basis or in an active market, and the Company was unable to obtain pricing information on an ongoing basis. Therefore, these investments were measured using quoted market prices for similar assets currently trading in an active market or using model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable for substantially the full term of the asset.

The following tables show the amortized cost basis of, and gross unrealized gains and losses and gross realized gains and losses on, the Company’s available-for-sale securities:

	Amortized Cost Basis		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses
November 30, 2014:
U.S. Treasury and other government securities	$	114,386	$	363	$	7
U.S. corporate debt securities		20,311		8		10
Total marketable securities	$	134,697	$	371	$	17
March 2, 2014:
U.S. Treasury and other government securities	$	112,593	$	200	$	-
U.S. corporate debt securities		24,401		13		1
Total marketable securities	$	136,994	$	213	$	1

	13 Weeks Ended				39 Weeks Ended
	November 30, 2014		December 1, 2013		November 30, 2014		December 1, 2013
Gross realized gains on sale	$	5	$	12	$	5	$	23
Gross realized losses on sale	$	-	$	324	$	-	$	485

The estimated fair values of such securities at November 30, 2014, by contractual maturity, are shown below:

Due in one year or less	$	70,779
Due after one year through five years		64,272
	$	135,051