10-Q

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

Form 10-Q

☒   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2015

☐  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ______ to ______

Commission File Number 000-9587

ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Minnesota	41-0943459
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)
6111 Blue Circle Drive Minnetonka, Minnesota 55343-9108
(Address of principal executive offices)
(952) 930-0100
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 of 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes  ☒   No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes  ☒   No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer	☐	Accelerated filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer	☐ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes  ☐   No  ☒

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock, $0.10 par value, on November 9, 2015 was 3,395,521.

ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC.
Form 10-Q
For the Periods Ended September 30, 2015

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements (unaudited):
Consolidated Balance Sheets – As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014	3
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income–For the Three and Nine Months ended September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014	4
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – For the Nine Months ended September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014	5
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	6
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	14
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	17
Item 4. Controls and Procedures	17
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings	18
Item 1A. Risk Factors	18
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	18
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities	18
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures	18
Item 5. Other Information	18
Item 6. Exhibits	18
SIGNATURES	19
EXHIBITS	20

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands except share and per share amounts)

	September 30, 2015			December 31, 2014
	(unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	2,435		$	1,190
Treasury bills		6,141			6,542
Available-for-sale securities		0			1,256
Trade receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $8 and $10, respectively		916			738
Inventories		1,558			1,224
Other current assets		175			163
Deferred income tax asset, current		12			0
Total current assets		11,237			11,113
Deferred income tax asset		102			0
Intangible assets, net		1,329			1,505
Property and equipment, net		1,076			1,146
Total assets	$	13,744		$	13,764
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities
Current maturities of note payable	$	390		$	381
Accounts payable		176			126
Accrued expenses		477			392
Accrued income tax		192			82
Total current liabilities		1,235			981
Long-term liabilities
Note payable – long term		0			390
Contingent earn-out		455			472
Deferred income tax liability		0			391
Total long-term liabilities		455			1,253
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity
Common stock par value $0.10 per share; authorized 10,000,000 shares; 3,395,521 shares issued and outstanding		339			339
Additional paid-in capital		1,863			1,816
Retained earnings		9,885			8,641
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities, net of income tax)		(33	)		734
Total stockholders’ equity		12,054			11,530
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	13,744		$	13,764

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements

3

ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(in thousands except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited)

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2015			2014			2015			2014
Net sales	$	2,132		$	1,917		$	6,065		$	5,379
Cost of goods sold		920			770			2,665			2,246
Gross profit		1,212			1,147			3,400			3,133
Operating expenses
Selling and marketing		368			409			1,186			1,197
General and administrative		389			327			1,194			971
Research and development		161			186			566			567
Total operating expenses		918			922			2,946			2,735
Operating income		294			225			454			398
Non-operating income (expense)
Interest expense		(3	)		(5	)		(9	)		(12	)
Gain on sale of available-for-sale securities		0			258			1,449			1,008
Interest income		4			0			6			2
Other income		4			3			11			11
Total non-operating income, net		5			256			1,457			1,009
Income before income taxes		299			481			1,911			1,407
Income taxes		104			168			667			492
Net income	$	195		$	313		$	1,244		$	915
Other comprehensive loss
Change in unrealized value of available-for-sale securities, net of income tax		0			(67	)		132			(276	)
Reclassification of gains included in net income, net of income tax		0			(160	)		(899	)		(625	)
Other comprehensive loss		0			(227	)		(767	)		(901	)
Net comprehensive income	$	195		$	86		$	477		$	14
Net income per share data:
Basic
Net income per share	$	0.06		$	0.09		$	0.37		$	0.27
Weighted average shares		3,395,521			3,395,521			3,395,521			3,395,515
Diluted
Net income per share	$	0.05		$	0.09		$	0.34		$	0.25
Weighted average shares		3,653,021			3,658,751			3,653,021			3,652,761

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements

4

ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2015			2014
Cash flows from (used in) operating activities
Net income	$	1,244		$	915
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		264			120
Realized gain on sale of available-for-sale securities		(1,449	)		(1,008	)
Deferred income taxes		(34	)		(17	)
Stock-based compensation expense		47			51
Change in contingent earn-out fair value		(17	)		0
Other		(7	)		(1	)
Change in, net of acquisition:
Trade receivables		(176	)		(127	)
Inventories		(334	)		(205	)
Other current assets		(12	)		1
Accounts payable		50			157
Accrued expenses		85			180
Accrued income taxes		110			51
Net cash from (used in) operating activities		(229	)		117
Cash flows from (used in) investing activities
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities		1,467			1,020
Purchases of treasury bills		(8,636	)		(9,676	)
Proceeds from the maturity of treasury bills		9,043			8,362
Cash paid for acquisition		0			(400	)
Purchase of property and equipment		(19	)		(45	)
Net cash from (used in) investing activities		1,855			(739	)
Cash flows from (used in) financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of common stock		0			4
Payments on long-term debt		(381	)		0
Net cash from (used in) financing activities		(381	)		4
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		1,245			(618	)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning		1,190			1,505
Cash and cash equivalents, ending	$	2,435		$	887
Supplemental cash flow information
Cash paid for income taxes	$	592		$	462
Cash paid for interest	$	19		$	0
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investment and financing activities
Note payable issued to fund acquisition, net of discount	$	0		$	771
Contingent earn-out recorded in connection with the acquisition	$	0		$	472

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements

5

ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2015
(in thousands except share and per share amounts)

(unaudited)

Note 1. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information and with the instructions and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission to Form 10-Q. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements.

This report should be read together with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, including the audited consolidated financial statements and footnotes therein.

Management believes that the unaudited consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals, necessary to fairly state the financial position and results of operations as of September 30, 2015 and for the three and nine-month periods then ended in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The results of interim periods may not be indicative of results to be expected for the year.

Nature of Business

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Electro-Sensors, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, ESI Investment Company and Senstar Corporation. Senstar has no assets or operations. Intercompany accounts, transactions and earnings have been eliminated in consolidation. The consolidated entity is referred to as “the Company.” In October 2015, the Company’s board adopted resolutions to merge these two subsidiaries into the parent company effective January 1, 2016.

Electro-Sensors, Inc. manufactures and markets a complete line of monitoring and control systems for a variety of industrial machinery. The Company uses leading-edge technology to continuously improve its products and make them easier to use with the ultimate goal of manufacturing the industry-preferred product for every market served. The Company sells these products through an internal sales staff, manufacturers’ representatives, and distributors to a wide variety of industries that use the products in a variety of applications to monitor process machinery operations. The Company markets its products to customers located throughout the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, and Asia.

In addition, through its subsidiary ESI Investment Company, the Company has periodically made strategic investments in other businesses, primarily when the Company believes that these investments would facilitate development of technology complementary to the Company’s products. Although the Company, through ESI Investment Company, has invested in other businesses, the Company does not intend to become an investment company and intends to remain primarily an operating company. During 2015, the Company sold substantially all of its equity securities. See Note 4 for additional information regarding the Company’s investments. The Company’s investments in securities are subject to normal market risks.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue from the sale of its production monitoring equipment when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the product has been picked up by common carrier, the fee is fixed and determinable and collection of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured. Product revenues are recognized upon shipment because the contracts generally do not include post-shipment obligations. The Company may offer discounts that it records at the time of sale. In addition to exchanges and warranty returns, customers have limited refund rights. Historically, returns have been minimal and immaterial to the consolidated financial statements and are generally recognized when the returned product is received by the Company. In some situations, the Company receives advance payments from its customers. The Company defers the recognition of revenue associated with these advance payments until it ships the product.

6

ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2015
(in thousands except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited)

Available-for-Sale Securities

The Company’s investments have traditionally consisted of equity securities, primarily common stocks and government debt securities. The estimated fair value of publicly traded equity securities is based on quoted market prices or management’s reasonable market price when quoted prices are not available, and therefore subject to the inherent risk of market fluctuations.

Management determines the appropriate classification of securities at the date individual investments are acquired, and evaluates the appropriateness of this classification at each balance sheet date.

Since the Company generally does not make investments in anticipation of short-term fluctuations in market prices, investments in equity securities and treasury bills are classified as available-for-sale. Available-for-sale securities with readily determinable values are stated at fair value, and unrealized holding gains and losses, net of the related deferred tax effect, are reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity.

Realized gains and losses on securities, including losses from declines in value of specific securities determined by management to be other-than-temporary, are included in the period realized. There were no other-than-temporary impairments in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014.

Fair Value Measurements

The Company’s policies incorporate the guidance for accounting for fair value measurements of financial assets and financial liabilities and for fair value measurements of nonfinancial items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the consolidated financial statements on a recurring basis. These policies also incorporate the guidance for fair value measurement related to nonfinancial items that are recognized and disclosed at fair value in the consolidated financial statements on a nonrecurring basis. The guidance establishes 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 measurements involving significant unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

· Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date.

· Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

· Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.

The level in the fair value hierarchy within which a fair measurement in its entirety falls is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The Company currently has no nonfinancial or financial items that are measured on a nonrecurring basis.

The carrying value of cash equivalents, trade receivables, accounts payable, and other financial working capital items approximate fair value at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 due to the short maturity nature of these instruments.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company uses the straight-line method to recognize compensation expense based on the estimated fair value on the date of grant over the requisite service period related to each award. The Company estimates the fair value of stock options using the Black-Sholes-Merton (“BSM”) option pricing model, which incorporates assumptions such as risk-free interest rate, expected volatility, expected dividend yield, and expected life of options.

7

ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2015
(in thousands except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited)

Income Taxes

Deferred income taxes are presented as assets or liabilities based on timing differences between financial reporting and tax reporting methods. The Company computes deferred income tax assets and liabilities, and reports differences that have future tax consequences using the currently enacted tax laws and rates that apply to the periods in which the Company expects these income tax assets and liabilities to affect taxable income. Income tax expense (benefit) is the current tax payable or refundable for the period plus or minus the net change in the deferred tax assets and liabilities, excluding the portion of the deferred liability allocated to other comprehensive income. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance to the extent that realization of the related deferred tax asset is not assured. No valuation allowance was deemed necessary at September 30, 2015 or December 31, 2014.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates, including the underlying assumptions, consist of economic lives of long-lived assets, realizability of trade receivables, valuation of deferred tax assets/liabilities, inventories, investments, and contingent earn-out. It is at least reasonably possible that these estimates may change in the near term.

Note 2. Business Combination

On February 18, 2014, the Company acquired Harvest Engineering, Inc.’s wireless hazard monitoring technology system and Insta-Link product family, together with related technology and intellectual property rights, for a total purchase price of $1,643.

The fair value of the consideration transferred on the acquisition date consisted of the following:

Cash consideration	$	400
Note payable issued to seller (Note 8)		771
Contingent earn-out liability		472
Total consideration	$	1,643

The transaction was recorded as a business combination and the results of operations have been included in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income since the date of acquisition. Acquisition fees of approximately $15 incurred in connection with the transaction were recorded in operating expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2014.

In connection with the acquisition, the Company is obligated to pay an earn-out of up to $550, based on the level of revenues generated from the acquired products during the four calendar years following closing. The Company currently has a contingent liability of $455 representing the fair value estimate of the earn-out based upon the Company’s projected likelihood of meeting the revenue targets.

The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of the assets acquired at the acquisition date:

In-process research and development	$	1,478
Noncompete agreement		120
Deferred service costs		45
Total assets acquired	$	1,643

The noncompete agreement is being amortized over a five-year period. The fair value of the noncompete agreement was estimated using a discounted cash flow model. The unobservable inputs are considered Level 3 inputs in the fair value hierarchy.

8

ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2015
(in thousands except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited)

Note 3. Net Income Per Share

Basic net income per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and common stock equivalents outstanding during the period. 

Note 4. Investments

The cost and estimated fair value of the Company’s investments are as follows:

	Cost		Gross unrealized gain		Gross unrealized loss			Fair value
September 30, 2015
Money Market	$	1,984	$	0	$	0		$	1,984
Commercial Paper		271		0		0			271
Treasury Bills		6,137		4		0			6,141
Equity Securities		54		0		(54	)		0
		8,446		4		(54	)		8,396
Less Cash Equivalents		2,255		0		0			2,255
Total Investments, September 30, 2015	$	6,191	$	4	$	(54	)	$	6,141
December 31, 2014
Money Market	$	510	$	0	$	0		$	510
Commercial Paper		345		0		0			345
Treasury Bills		6,542		0		0			6,542
Equity Securities		72		1,238		(54	)		1,256
		7,469		1,238		(54	)		8,653
Less Cash Equivalents		855		0		0			855
Total Investments, December 31, 2014	$	6,614	$	1,238	$	(54	)	$	7,798

At December 31, 2014, the Company’s significant investment in equity securities was 122,649 shares of Rudolph Technologies, Inc. (“Rudolph”), accounted for under the available-for-sale method. As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate value of the Company’s Rudolph shares as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange (ticker symbol RTEC) was approximately $1,254, with an approximate cost of $16. During the three-month period ended September 30, 2014, the Company sold 25,700 shares of Rudolph stock and realized gains of $258 in non-operating income. During the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, the Company sold 122,649 and 93,119 shares, respectively, of Rudolph stock and realized gains of $1,447 and $1,008, respectively, in non-operating income. As of September 30, 2015, the Company owned no shares of Rudolph stock.

9

ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2015
(in thousands except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited)

Note 5. Fair Value Measurements

The following table provides information on those assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

September 30, 2015

	Carrying amount
	in consolidated				Fair Value Measurement Using
	balance sheet		Fair Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
Money market funds	$	1,984	$	1,984	$	1,984	$	0	$	0
Commercial paper		271		271		271		0		0
Treasury bills		6,141		6,141		6,141		0		0
Available-for-sale
Equities
Limited-marketable company		0		0		0		0		0
Liabilities:
Contingent earn-out		455		455		0		0		455
December 31, 2014
	Carrying amount
	in consolidated				Fair Value Measurement Using
	balance sheet		Fair Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
Money market funds	$	510	$	510	$	510	$	0	$	0
Commercial paper		345		345		345		0		0
Treasury bills		6,542		6,542		6,542		0		0
Available-for-sale
Equities
Small Cap Technology Sector		1,256		1,256		1,256		0		0
Liabilities:
Contingent earn-out		472		472		0		0		472

The fair value of the money market funds, commercial paper and treasury bills is based on quoted market prices in an active market. Available-for-sale securities include equity securities, except for the limited-marketable company, that are traded in an active market. Closing stock prices are readily available from active markets and are used as being representative of fair value. The Company classifies these securities as level 1. There is an insignificant market for the limited-marketable company and the Company has determined the value based on financial and other factors, which are considered level 3 inputs in the fair value hierarchy. Management estimated the probability of meeting the revenue targets over the measurement period to determine the fair value of the contingent earn-out, which is considered a level 3 input in the fair value hierarchy.

The change in level 3 liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis is summarized as follows: 

Balance at December 31, 2014	$	472
Charge to earnings		(17	)
Balance at September 30, 2015	$	455

The decrease in the contingent earn-out reflects the Company’s expectation of moderately lower future contingent payments due to delays in releasing the product due to development and obtaining third-party certifications.

10

ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2015
(in thousands except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited) 

Note 6. Inventories

Inventories used in the determination of cost of goods sold are as follows:

	September 30,		December 31,
	2015		2014
Raw Materials	$	975	$	729
Work In Process		286		263
Finished Goods		297		232
Total Inventories	$	1,558	$	1,224

Note 7. Intangible Assets, net

Intangible assets include the following:

			September 30, 2015
	Average Useful Lives		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Net Carrying Amount
Noncompete	5 Years	$	120	$	40	$	80
Technology	7 Years		1,478		229		1,249
Intangible Assets		$	1,598	$	269	$	1,329

			December 31, 2014
	Average Useful Lives		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Net Carrying Amount
Noncompete	5 Years	$	120	$	22	$	98
Technology	7 Years		1,478		71		1,407
Intangible Assets		$	1,598	$	93	$	1,505

Amortization expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 was $176 and $34, respectively.

11

ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2015
(in thousands except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited)

Note 8. Note Payable

The note payable consists of the following:

	September 30, 2015			December 31, 2014
Note payable to seller	$	400		$	800
Payable in annual installments of principal of $400, with a maturity date of February 2016. This note is non-interest bearing and unsecured.
Less: Discount of note payable listed above		(10	)		(29	)
Net note payable		390			771
Less: Current maturities		390			381
Note Payable – Long Term	$	0		$	390

Note 9. Stock-Based Compensation

The Company records compensation expense for stock options based on the estimated fair value of the options on the date of grant using the BSM model. The Company uses historical data among other factors to estimate the expected price volatility, the expected option life and the expected forfeiture rate. The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for the estimated life of the option. The Company calculates expected volatility for stock options and awards using historical volatility because the Company believes the future volatility will approximate historical volatility. At September 30, 2015, the Company had two stock-based employee compensation plans.

During the second quarter of 2014, the Company granted one director options to purchase 25,000 shares of common stock. The options were priced above fair market value and vested 20% on the grant date, with an additional 20% vesting on the first four anniversaries of the grant date. The options expire ten years from the date of grant.

The assumptions made in estimating the fair value of the options on the grant date based upon the BSM option-pricing model are as follows:

Dividend yield	0.00%
Expected volatility	44.11%
Risk free interest rate	2.02%
Expected life	6 years

During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015, there were no stock options granted. During the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, there were no stock options exercised.

As of September 30, 2015, there was approximately $125 of unrecognized compensation expense. The Company expects to recognize this expense over the next three years. There was no intrinsic value in the options outstanding and exercisable as of September 30, 2015 because the option exercise prices were greater than the fair market value on that date.

12

ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2015
(in thousands except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited) 

Note 10. Segment Information

The Company has two reportable operating segments: Production Monitoring and Investments. The Production Monitoring Division manufactures and markets a complete line of production monitoring equipment, in particular speed monitoring and motor control systems for industrial machinery. ESI Investment Company holds investments in marketable and non-marketable securities.

The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. In evaluating segment performance, management focuses on sales and income before income taxes. The Company has no inter-segment sales.

The following is financial information relating to the continuing operating segments: 

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2015		2014		2015		2014
External sales
Production monitoring	$	2,132	$	1,917	$	6,065	$	5,379
Total	$	2,132	$	1,917	$	6,065	$	5,379
Net income before income taxes
Production monitoring	$	295	$	223	$	456	$	397
Investments		4		258		1,455		1,010
Total	$	299	$	481	$	1,911	$	1,407

13

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to our marketing efforts or our efforts to accelerate growth; our business development activities; our efforts to maintain or reduce production costs; management’s intention that we not become an investment company; our expected use of cash on hand; our cash requirements; and the sufficiency of our cash flows. Any statement that is not based solely upon historical facts, including strategies for the future and the outcome of events that have not yet occurred, is considered a forward-looking statement.

All forward-looking statements in this document are based on information available to us as of the date of this Form 10Q, and we assume no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements, other than as required by law. Our actual results could differ materially from those in projected or indicated in these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause future results to differ materially from our recent results or those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the accuracy of management’s assumptions with respect to industry trends, fluctuations in industry conditions, the accuracy of management’s assumptions regarding expenses and our cash needs and those listed under the heading “Cautionary Statements” under “Item 1—Business,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

The preparation of our financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make decisions based upon estimates, assumptions, and factors it considers relevant to the circumstances. These decisions include the selection of applicable accounting principles and the use of judgment in their application, and affect reported amounts and disclosures. Changes in economic conditions or other business circumstances may affect the outcomes of management’s estimates and assumptions. An in-depth description of our accounting estimates can be found in the interim financial statements included in this report and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. We have not developed new estimates subsequent to those discussed in our Annual Report.

The following table contains selected financial information, for the periods indicated, from our consolidated statements of comprehensive income expressed as a percentage of net sales.

	Three Months Ended September 30						Nine Months Ended September 30
	2015			2014			2015			2014
Net sales		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%
Cost of goods sold		43.2			40.2			43.9			41.8
Gross profit		56.8			59.8			56.1			58.2
Operating expenses
Selling and marketing		17.3			21.3			19.6			22.3
General and administrative		18.2			17.1			19.7			18.0
Research and development		7.6			9.7			9.3			10.5
Total operating expenses		43.1			48.1			48.6			50.8
Operating income		13.7			11.7			7.5			7.4
Non-operating income (expense)
Interest expense		(0.1	)		(0.3	)		(0.1	)		(0.2	)
Gain on sale of available-for-sale securities		0.0			13.5			23.9			18.7
Interest income		0.2			0.0			0.1			0.0
Other income		0.2			0.2			0.1			0.2
Total non-operating income, net		0.3			13.4			24.0			18.7
Income before income taxes		14.0			25.1			31.5			26.1
Income taxes		4.9			8.8			11.0			9.1
Net income		9.1	%		16.3	%		20.5	%		17.0	%

14

The following discusses the Company’s performance for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Net Sales

Net sales for the 2015 three-month period increased $215,000 or 11.2%, over the same period in 2014. Net sales for the 2015 nine-month period increased $686,000, or 12.8%, over the same period in 2014. The 2015 three-month increase in sales was primarily due to strong performance in the eastern region of the US, which increased 64% over the corresponding 2014 three-month period. In addition, the Company experienced strong international activity during the 2015 third quarter, resulting in greater than 25% growth in international sales as compared to the respective 2014 third quarter. Sales to Mexico and Canada have been particularly strong during the first nine months of the year, increasing more than 29% in the 2015 nine-month period compared to the 2014 nine-month period.

Gross Profit

Gross profit for the 2015 three-month period increased $65,000, or 5.7%, from $1,147,000 to $1,212,000 over the same period in 2014. Gross profit for the 2015 nine-month period increased $267,000, or 8.5%, from $3,133,000 to $3,400,000 over the 2014 period. Gross profit, as a percentage of net sales, for the 2015 three-month period decreased to 56.8% compared to 59.8% for the same period in 2014. For the 2105 and 2014 nine-month periods, the gross profit margins were 56.1% and 58.2%, respectively. Gross profit margins were lower in the 2015 periods due to higher manufacturing costs on the initial HazardPRO products. We expect to decrease HazardPRO manufacturing costs through production efficiencies and increased purchasing volumes.

Operating Expenses

Total operating expenses decreased $4,000, or 0.4%, for the 2015 three-month period compared to the same period in 2014. Total operating expenses increased $211,000, or 7.7%, for the 2015 nine-month period compared to the same period in 2014.

· Selling and marketing expenses decreased $41,000, or 10.0%, in the 2015 three-month period over the prior year, and decreased as a percentage of net sales to 17.3% from 21.3%. Selling and marketing expenses decreased $11,000, or 0.9%, in the 2015 nine-month period over the prior year period, and decreased as a percentage of net sales to 19.6% from 22.3%. The decrease in the 2015 three-month period resulted from lower outside commission expense due a decrease in the number of outside sales representatives. The decrease for the 2015 nine-month period resulted from decreased salaries and bonuses and expenses related to trade shows. In both the 2015 three and nine-month periods, net sales increased at a greater percentage than selling and marketing expenses as we leveraged our fixed costs.

· General and administrative expenses increased $62,000, or 19.0%, for the 2015 three-month period compared to the same period in 2014 and increased as a percentage of net sales to 18.2% from 17.1%. For the 2015 nine-month period, general and administrative expenses increased $223,000, or 23.0%, compared to the 2014 period and increased as a percentage of net sales to 19.7% from 18.0%. The increase for the 2015 three and nine-month periods were due to depreciation and amortization of the intangible assets related to the February 2014 acquisition of the HazardPRO technology and wages and benefits related to additional personnel. The increase in the three-month period was partially offset by a decrease from the 2014 expensing of post-closing deliverables related to the HazardPRO acquisition. The increase in the nine-month period was partially offset by the lower legal and professional fees than those incurred in 2014 related to the February 2014 acquisition and a decrease in equipment rental due to the 2014 purchase of a new phone system.

· Research and development expenses decreased $25,000, or 13.4%, in the 2015 three–month period from the same period in 2014 and decreased as a percentage of net sales to 7.6% from 9.7%. For the 2015 nine–month period, research and development expenses decreased $1,000, or 0.2%, over the 2014 period, and decreased as a percentage of net sales to 9.3% from 10.5%. The decrease for the 2015 three-month period resulted from lower 2015 salary expense due to reduced staffing levels and the fact that the 2014 period included prototype development costs for the HazardPRO product line. For the 2015 nine-month period, the expenses were flat as an increase in lab testing fees for hazardous locations was partially offset by decreases in salaries due to reduced staffing and lower contract engineering and prototype development costs related to the HazardPRO product line.

15

Non-Operating Income

Non-operating income decreased by $251,000, or 98.0%, for the 2015 three-month period compared to the same 2014 period. Non-operating income increased $448,000, or 44.4%, in the 2015 nine-month period, when compared to the same period in 2014. The decrease for the three-month period reflects the sales of shares of Rudolph Technologies, Inc. (“Rudolph”) stock during the 2014 period. During the 2014 three-month period, we sold 25,700 shares of Rudolph stock and recognized a gain of $258,000. We had no sales of Rudolph stock during the three months ended September 30, 2015. The increase for the 2015 nine-month period is due to a greater number of shares of Rudolph stock sold. During the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, we sold 122,649 and 93,119 shares, respectively, of Rudolph stock and recognized gains of $1,447,000 and $1,008,000, respectively. The Company has liquidated substantially all of its equity securities and will make the proceeds from the sale of these securities available to its operating business.

Income Before Income Taxes

Income before income taxes was $299,000 for the 2015 three-month period, representing a decrease of $182,000, or 37.8%, compared to the same period in 2014. Income before income taxes was $1,911,000 for the 2015 nine–month period, representing an increase of $504,000, or 35.8%, compared to the same period in 2014.

The Production Monitoring Division had income before income taxes of $295,000 for the 2015 three–month period compared to $223,000 for the same period in 2014, an increase of $72,000, or 32.3%. For the 2015 nine–month period ended September 30, 2015, the Production Monitoring Division had income before income taxes of $456,000 compared to $397,000 for the same period in 2014, an increase of $59,000, or 14.9%. The 2015 increase in net income before income taxes was due to a 5.7% increase in gross profit. The increase in net income before income taxes in the 2015 nine-month period was primarily due to the 8.5% increase in gross profit, partially offset by the 7.7% increase in operating expenses.

ESI Investment Company had income before income taxes of $4,000 for the 2015 three-month period compared to $258,000 for the same period in 2014, a decrease of $254,000, or 98.4%. ESI Investment Company had income before income taxes of $1,455,000 for the 2015 nine-month period compared to $1,010,000 for the same period in 2014, an increase of $445,000, or 44.1%. The changes for the two periods occurred because the Company sold and realized gains from all of its remaining Rudolph shares in the first six months of 2015.

The net change in the unrealized value of available-for-sale securities was a decrease of $767,000 for the 2015 nine–month period ended September 30, 2015. The net changes are primarily due to the sale of Rudolph stock, which resulted in a $1,447,000 realized gain on the sales, and changes in the market price of Rudolph during the nine months ended September 30, 2015.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Cash and cash equivalents were $2,435,000 at September 30, 2015, and $1,190,000 at December 31, 2014. The increase was mainly from investing activities, as the Company sold substantially all of its available-for-sale securities during 2015.

Cash used in operating activities increased $346,000 to $229,000 for the 2015 nine-month period, compared to cash generated from operating activities of $117,000 in the 2014 nine-month period. The increase is due to an increase in inventories and decreases in accounts payable and accrued expenses. The increase in inventories is primarily due to the build-up of inventory for HazardPRO system orders. The decrease in the change in accounts payable is due to the timing of payments for inventory. The decrease in the change in accrued expenses is due to changes in the compensation plans.

Cash generated from investing activities was $1,855,000 for the 2015 nine-month period while cash used in investing activities was $739,000 in the 2014 nine-month period. We generated $1,467,000 in proceeds on the sale of available-for-sale securities during 2015 compared to $1,020,000 received in 2014. During 2015, the Company had net proceeds of Treasury Bills with a maturity date of more than three months of $407,000 compared to net purchases of $1,314,000 in 2014. In addition, the Company acquired the Harvest Engineering, Inc. (Harvest) wireless hazard monitoring technology and Insta-Link product family in February 2014, paying $400,000 and financing the remaining purchase price through a seller-financed note.

16

Cash used in financing activities was $381,000 in the 2015 nine-month period compared to $4,000 in cash generated from financing activities in the 2014 nine-month period. During 2015, we paid $381,000 on the long-term debt owed to Harvest for the technology purchased in February 2014, while the 2014 payment to Harvest was classified within investing activities as cash paid of an acquisition. During 2014, we had issued $4,000 in stock under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

Our ongoing cash requirements will be primarily for capital expenditures, research and development, and working capital. Management believes that cash on hand and any cash provided by operations will be sufficient to meet our cash requirements through at least the next 12 months. 

Off-balance Sheet Arrangements

As of September 30, 2015, the Company had no off-balance sheet arrangements or transactions.

Future Business Development Activities

The Company continues to seek growth opportunities, both internally through the Company’s existing portfolio of products, technologies and markets, as well as externally through technology partnerships or related-product acquisitions. Although the Company is continuing to explore these external opportunities, it currently has no agreements or understandings with any third parties.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Not Applicable.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Based on an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”) were effective as of September 30, 2015 to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the third quarter of 2015, which were identified in connection with management’s evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

17

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings - None.

Item 1A. Risk Factors - Not Applicable.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds - None.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities - None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures – Not Applicable.

Item 5. Other Information - None.

Item 6. Exhibits 

(a) Exhibits - See Exhibit Index following signature page.

18

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

	Electro-Sensors, Inc.
November 10, 2015	/s/ David L. Klenk
	David L. Klenk
	Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
November 10, 2015	/s/ Gloria M. Grundhoefer
	Gloria M. Grundhoefer
	Controller

19

EXHIBIT INDEX

ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC.

FORM 10-Q FOR QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

Exhibit	Description
31.1	Certification of CEO and CFO Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1	Certification of CEO and CFO Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101	The following financial information from Electro-Sensors, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2015, formatted in eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014, and (iv) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

20

EX-31.1

EXHIBIT 31.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES OXLEY-ACT OF 2002

I, David L. Klenk, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q of Electro-Sensors Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. I am responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under my supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to me by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under my supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report my conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. I have disclosed, based on my most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. 

November 10, 2015	/s/ David L. Klenk
	David L. Klenk
	Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer

21

EX-32.1

EXHIBIT 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Electro-Sensors, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2015 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Report”), I, David L. Klenk, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to §906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

November 10, 2015	/s/ David L. Klenk
	David L. Klenk
	Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer

22

XML

Inventories (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Inventories [Abstract]
Raw Materials	$ 975	$ 729
Work in Process	286	263
Finished Goods	297	232
Total Inventories	$ 1,558	$ 1,224

XML

Nature Of Business And Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Nature Of Business And Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Nonfinancial And Financial Items Measured On A Nonrecurring Basis	$ 0		$ 0
Research and development expense	161,000	$ 186,000	566,000	$ 567,000
Other-than-Temporary Impairments Recognized in the Income Statement			0	$ 0
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance	$ 0		$ 0		$ 0

XML

Stock Based Compensation (Valuation Assumptions) (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Stock-Based Compensation (Valuation Assumption) [Abstract]
Dividend Yield	0.00%
Expected Volatility	44.11%
Risk Free Interest Rate	2.02%
Expected Life	6 years

XML

Investments

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Investments [Abstract]

Investments

Note 4.   Investments 

The cost and estimated fair value of the Company’s investments are as follows:  

			Gross		Gross
			unrealized		unrealized		Fair
	Cost		gain		loss		value
September 30, 2015
Money Market	$	1,984	$	0	$	0	$	1,984
Commercial Paper		271		0		0		271
Treasury Bills		6,137		4		0		6,141
Equity Securities		54		0		(54)		0
		8,446		4		(54)		8,396
Less Cash Equivalents		2,255		0		0		2,255
Total Investments, September 30, 2015	$	6,191	$	4	$	(54)	$	6,141
December 31, 2014
Money Market	$	510	$	0	$	0	$	510
Commercial Paper		345		0		0		345
Treasury Bills		6,542		0		0		6,542
Equity Securities		72		1,238		(54)		1,256
		7,469		1,238		(54)		8,653
Less Cash Equivalents		855		0		0		855
Total Investments, December 31, 2014	$	6,614	$	1,238	$	(54)	$	7,798

At December 31, 2014, the Company’s significant investment in equity securities was 122,649 shares of Rudolph Technologies, Inc. (“Rudolph”), accounted for under the available-for-sale method.  As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate value of the Company’s Rudolph shares as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange (ticker symbol RTEC) was approximately $1,254, with an approximate cost of $16.  During the three-month period ended September 30, 2014, the Company sold  25,700 shares of Rudolph stock and realized gains of $258 in non-operating income.  During the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, the Company sold  122,649 and 93,119 shares, respectively, of Rudolph stock and realized gains of $1,447 and $1,008, respectively, in non-operating income.  As of September 30, 2015, the Company owned no shares of Rudolph stock.

XML

Investments (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Investment In Organization [Line Items]
Gain on sale of available-for-sale securities	$ 0	$ 258	$ 1,449	$ 1,008
Rudolph Technologies, Inc [Member]
Investment In Organization [Line Items]
Investments owned, shares	0		0		122,649
Aggregate value of shares					$ 1,254
Approximate cost					$ 16
Available-for-sale shares sold		25,700	122,649	93,119
Gain on sale of available-for-sale securities		$ 258	$ 1,447	$ 1,008

XML

Business Combination (Schedule OfAssets Acquired) (Details) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)
Business Combinations [Abstract]
In-process research and development	$ 1,478
Noncompete agreement	120
Deferred service costs	45
Total assets acquired	$ 1,643

XML

Investments (Cost And Estimated Fair Value Of Investments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost	$ 6,191	$ 6,614
Gross unrealized gain	4	1,238
Gross unrealized loss	(54)	(54)
Fair value, investments	6,141	7,798
Less cash equivalents, Carrying amount	2,435	1,190	$ 887	$ 1,505
Money Market [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost	1,984	510
Gross unrealized gain	0	0
Gross unrealized loss	0	0
Fair value, investments	1,984	510
Commercial Paper [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost	271	345
Gross unrealized gain	0	0
Gross unrealized loss	0	0
Fair value, investments	271	345
Treasury Bills [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost	6,137	6,542
Gross unrealized gain	4	0
Gross unrealized loss	0	0
Fair value, investments	6,141	6,542
Equity Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost	54	72
Gross unrealized gain	0	1,238
Gross unrealized loss	(54)	(54)
Fair value, investments	0	1,256
Debt and Equity Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost	8,446	7,469
Gross unrealized gain	4	1,238
Gross unrealized loss	(54)	(54)
Fair value, investments	8,396	8,653
Less Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Gross unrealized gain	0	0
Gross unrealized loss	0	0
Less cash equivalents, Carrying amount	2,255	855
Less cash equivalents, Fair value	$ 2,255	$ 855

XML

Fair Value Measurements (Fair Value Measurements On A Recurring Basis) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents, Carrying amount	$ 2,435	$ 1,190	$ 887	$ 1,505
Treasury Bills, fair value	6,141	6,542
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	6,141	7,798
Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Contingent Earn-out, Fair Value	455	472
Contingent Earn-out, Carrying Value	455	472
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Contingent Earn-out, Fair Value	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Contingent Earn-out, Fair Value	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Contingent Earn-out, Fair Value	455	472
Limited Marketable Company [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Carrying amount	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	0
Limited Marketable Company [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	0
Limited Marketable Company [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	0
Limited Marketable Company [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	0
Small Cap Technology Sector [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Carrying amount		1,256
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value		1,256
Small Cap Technology Sector [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value		1,256
Small Cap Technology Sector [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value		0
Small Cap Technology Sector [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value		0
Money Market [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents, Carrying amount	1,984	510
Cash and cash equivalents, Fair Value	1,984	510
Money Market [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents, Fair Value	1,984	510
Money Market [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents, Fair Value	0	0
Money Market [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents, Fair Value	0	0
Commercial Paper [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents, Carrying amount	271	345
Cash and cash equivalents, Fair Value	271	345
Commercial Paper [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents, Fair Value	271	345
Commercial Paper [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents, Fair Value	0	0
Commercial Paper [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents, Fair Value	0	0
Treasury Bills [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Treasury Bills, carrying value	6,141	6,542
Treasury Bills, fair value	6,141	6,542
Treasury Bills [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Treasury Bills, fair value	6,141	6,542
Treasury Bills [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Treasury Bills, fair value	0	0
Treasury Bills [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Treasury Bills, fair value	$ 0	$ 0

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Net Income Per Share

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Net Income Per Share [Abstract]

Net Income Per Share

Note 3.  Net Income Per Share

Basic net income per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period.  Diluted net income per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and common stock equivalents outstanding during the period. 

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Fair Value Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)
Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]
Balance at December 31, 2014 Contingent Earn-out	$ 472
Charge to earnings	(17)
Balance at September 30, 2015 Contingent Earn-out	$ 455

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Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 2,435	$ 1,190
Treasury bills	6,141	6,542
Available-for-sale securities	0	1,256
Trade receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $8 and $10, respectively	916	738
Inventories	1,558	1,224
Other current assets	175	163
Deferred income tax asset, current	12	0
Total current assets	11,237	11,113
Deferred income tax asset	102	0
Intangible assets, net	1,329	1,505
Property and equipment, net	1,076	1,146
Total assets	13,744	13,764
Current liabilities
Current maturities of note payable	390	381
Accounts payable current	176	126
Accrued expenses current	477	392
Accrued income tax	192	82
Total current liabilities	1,235	981
Long-term liabilities
Note payable - long term	0	390
Contingent earn-out	455	472
Deferred income tax liability	0	391
Total long-term liabilities	$ 455	$ 1,253
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity
Common stock par value $0.10 per share; authorized 10,000,000 shares; 3,395,521 shares issued and outstanding	$ 339	$ 339
Additional paid-in capital	1,863	1,816
Retained earnings	9,885	8,641
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities, net of income tax)	(33)	734
Total stockholders' equity	12,054	11,530
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 13,744	$ 13,764

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Basis of Presentation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Nature Of Business And Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis Of Presentation

Note 1.  Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information and with the instructions and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission to Form 10-Q.  Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements. 

This report should be read together with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, including the audited consolidated financial statements and footnotes therein. 

Management believes that the unaudited consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals, necessary to fairly state the financial position and results of operations as of September 30, 2015 and for the three and nine-month periods then ended in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  The results of interim periods may not be indicative of results to be expected for the year. 

Nature of Business

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Electro-Sensors, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, ESI Investment Company and Senstar Corporation. Senstar has no assets or operations.  Intercompany accounts, transactions and earnings have been eliminated in consolidation. The consolidated entity is referred to as “the Company.” In October 2015, the Company’s board adopted resolutions to merge these two subsidiaries into the parent company effective January 1, 2016.

Electro-Sensors, Inc. manufactures and markets a complete line of monitoring and control systems for a variety of industrial machinery. The Company uses leading-edge technology to continuously improve its products and make them easier to use with the ultimate goal of manufacturing the industry-preferred product for every market served. The Company sells these products through an internal sales staff, manufacturers’ representatives, and distributors to a wide variety of industries that use the products in a variety of applications to monitor process machinery operations. The Company markets its products to customers located throughout the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, and Asia. 

In addition, through its subsidiary ESI Investment Company, the Company has periodically made strategic investments in other businesses, primarily when the Company believes that these investments would facilitate development of technology complementary to the Company’s products. Although the Company, through ESI Investment Company, has invested in other businesses, the Company does not intend to become an investment company and intends to remain primarily an operating company. During 2015, the Company sold substantially all of its equity securities.  See Note 4 for additional information regarding the Company’s investments.  The Company’s investments in securities are subject to normal market risks.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue from the sale of its production monitoring equipment when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the product has been picked up by common carrier, the fee is fixed and determinable and collection of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured.  Product revenues are recognizedupon shipment because the contracts generally do not include post-shipment obligations. The Company may offer discountsthat it records at the time of sale.  In addition to exchanges and warranty returns, customers have limited refund rights.  Historically, returns have been minimal and immaterial to the consolidated financial statements and are generally recognized when the returned product is received by the Company.  In some situations, the Company receives advance payments from its customers.   The Company defers the recognition of revenue associated with these advance payments until it ships the product.

Available-for-Sale Securities 

The Company’s investments have traditionally consisted of equity securities, primarily common stocks and government debt securities.  The estimated fair value of publicly traded equity securities is based on quoted market prices or management’s reasonable market price when quoted prices are not available, and therefore subject to the inherent risk of market fluctuations. 

Management determines the appropriate classification of securities at the date individual investments are acquired, and evaluates the appropriateness of this classification at each balance sheet date. 

Since the Company generally does not make investments in anticipation of short-term fluctuations in market prices, investments in equity securities and treasury bills are classified as available-for-sale.  Available-for-sale securities with readily determinable values are stated at fair value, and unrealized holding gains and losses, net of the related deferred tax effect, are reported as a  separate component of stockholders’ equity. 

Realized gains and losses on securities, including losses from declines in value of specific securities determined by management to be other-than-temporary, are included in the period realized.  There were no other-than-temporary impairments in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014.

Fair Value Measurements 

The Company’s policies incorporate the guidance for accounting for fair value measurements of financial assets and financial liabilities and for fair value measurements of nonfinancial items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the consolidated financial statements on a recurring basis.  These policies also incorporate the guidance for fair value measurement related to nonfinancial items that are recognized and disclosed at fair value in the consolidated financial statements on a nonrecurring basis.  The guidance establishes 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 measurements involving significant unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows: 

· Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date. 

· Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability. 

· Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. 

The level in the fair value hierarchy within which a fair measurement in its entirety falls is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.    The Company currently has no nonfinancial or financial items that are measured on a nonrecurring basis.

The carrying values of cash equivalents, trade receivables, accounts payable, and other financial working capital items approximate fair value at September  30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 due to the short maturity nature of these instruments.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company uses the straight-line method to recognize compensation expense based on the estimated fair value on the date of grant over the requisite service period related to each award.  The Company estimates the fair value of stock options using the Black–Sholes-Merton (“BSM”) option pricing model, which incorporates assumptions such as risk-free interest rate, expected volatility, expected dividend yield, and expected life of options.

Income Taxes

Deferred income taxes are presented as assets or liabilities based on timing differences between financial reporting and tax reporting methods.  The Company computes deferred income tax assets and liabilities, and reports differences that have future tax consequences using the currently enacted tax laws and rates that apply to the periods in which the Company expects these income tax assets and liabilities to affect taxable income. Income tax expense (benefit) is the current tax payable or refundable for the period plus or minus the net change in the deferred tax assets and liabilities, excluding the portion of the deferred liability allocated to other comprehensive income. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance to the extent that realization of the related deferred tax asset is not assured.No valuation allowance was deemed necessary at September 30, 2015 or December 31, 2014.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.  Significant estimates, including the underlying assumptions, consist of economic lives of long-lived assets,realizability of trade receivables, valuation of deferred tax assets/liabilities, inventories, investments, andcontingent earn-out.  It is at least reasonably possible that these estimates may change in the near term.

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Note Payable (Schedule of Notes Payable) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		9 Months Ended
	Feb. 18, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Note Payable Long Term [Abstract]
Note Payable to seller		$ 400	$ 800
Less: Discount of note payable listed above		10	29
Net Note Payable		390	771
Current maturities of note payable		390	381
Note Payable - Long Term		0	$ 390
Note Payable, Annual Installment		$ 400
Note Payable, annual installment frequency		annual
Note Payable, Maturity Date	Feb. 18, 2016

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Note Payable (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Note Payable [Abstract]

Schedule Of Note Payable

	September 30, 2015		December 31, 2014
Note payable to seller	$	400	$	800
Payable in annual installments of principal of $400, with a maturity date of February 2016.  This note is non-interest bearing and unsecured.
Less: Discount of note payable listed above		(10)		(29)
Net note payable		390		771
Less: Current maturities		390		381
Note Payable – Long Term	$	0	$	390

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Stock-Based Compensation (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) ShareBasedCompensationPlan shares	Sep. 30, 2014 employee shares
Number Of Company Compensation Plans | ShareBasedCompensationPlan	2
Granted, Number of Shares	0
Exercised, Number of Shares	0	0
Unrecognized Share Based Compensation | $	$ 125
Number of Years To Recognize Remaining Expense	3 years
Exercisable Intrinsic Value | $	$ 0
Director [Member]
Options expiration from date of grant		10 years
Granted, Number of Shares		25,000
Number of individuals receiving grants | employee		1
Stock Option Vesting Period		4 years
Vesting Percentage		20%

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Segment Information (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Segment Information [Abstract]

Financial Information Relating To Continuing Operating Segments

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2015		2014		2015		2014
External sales
Production monitoring	$	2,132	$	1,917	$	6,065	$	5,379
Total	$	2,132	$	1,917	$	6,065	$	5,379
Income before income taxes
Production monitoring	$	295	$	223	$	456	$	397
Investments		4		258		1,455		1,010
Total	$	299	$	481	$	1,911	$	1,407

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Business Combination

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Business Combinations [Abstract]

Business Combination

Note 2.  Business Combination

On February 18, 2014, the Company acquired Harvest Engineering, Inc.’s wireless hazard monitoring technology system and Insta-Link product family, together with related technology and intellectual property rights, for a total purchase price of $1,643.

The fair value of the consideration transferred on the acquisition date consisted of the following:

Cash consideration	$	400
Note payable issued to seller (Note 8)		771
Contingent earn-out liability		472
Total consideration	$	1,643

The transaction was recorded as a business combination and the results of operations have been included in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income since the date of acquisition. Acquisition fees of approximately $15 incurred in connection with the transaction were recorded in operating expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. 

In connection with the acquisition, the Company is obligated to pay an earn-out of up to $550, based on the level of revenues generated from the acquired products during the four calendar years following closing.  The Company currently has a contingent liability of $455 representing the fair value estimate of the earn-out based upon the Company’s projected likelihood of meeting the revenue targets.  

The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of the assets acquired at the acquisition date:

In-process research and development	$	1,478
Noncompete agreement		120
Deferred service costs		45
Total assets acquired	$	1,643

The noncompete agreement is being amortized over a five-year period.  The fair value of the noncompete agreement was estimated using a discounted cash flow model.  The unobservable inputs are considered Level 3 inputs in the fair value hierarchy.

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Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract]
Trade receivables, allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 8	$ 10
Common stock, par value	$ 0.10	$ 0.10
Common stock, shares authorized	10,000,000	10,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	3,395,521	3,395,521
Common stock, shares outstanding	3,395,521	3,395,521

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Business Combination (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Business Combinations [Abstract]

Schedule Of Consideration Transferred

Cash consideration	$	400
Note payable issued to seller (Note 8)		771
Contingent earn-out liability		472
Total consideration	$	1,643

Schedule Of Assets Acquired

In-process research and development	$	1,478
Noncompete agreement		120
Deferred service costs		45
Total assets acquired	$	1,643

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Document And Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Nov. 09, 2015
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2015
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Registrant Name	ELECTRO SENSORS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000351789
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		3,395,521
Trading Symbol	ELSE

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Investments (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Investments [Abstract]

Cost And Estimated Fair Value Of Investments

			Gross		Gross
			unrealized		unrealized		Fair
	Cost		gain		loss		value
September 30, 2015
Money Market	$	1,984	$	0	$	0	$	1,984
Commercial Paper		271		0		0		271
Treasury Bills		6,137		4		0		6,141
Equity Securities		54		0		(54)		0
		8,446		4		(54)		8,396
Less Cash Equivalents		2,255		0		0		2,255
Total Investments, September 30, 2015	$	6,191	$	4	$	(54)	$	6,141
December 31, 2014
Money Market	$	510	$	0	$	0	$	510
Commercial Paper		345		0		0		345
Treasury Bills		6,542		0		0		6,542
Equity Securities		72		1,238		(54)		1,256
		7,469		1,238		(54)		8,653
Less Cash Equivalents		855		0		0		855
Total Investments, December 31, 2014	$	6,614	$	1,238	$	(54)	$	7,798

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Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net Sales	$ 2,132	$ 1,917	$ 6,065	$ 5,379
Cost of Goods Sold	920	770	2,665	2,246
Gross Profit	1,212	1,147	3,400	3,133
Operating Expenses
Selling and marketing	368	409	1,186	1,197
General and administrative	389	327	1,194	971
Research and development	161	186	566	567
Total Operating Expenses	918	922	2,946	2,735
Operating Income	294	225	454	398
Non-operating Income (Expense)
Interest expense	(3)	(5)	(9)	(12)
Gain on sale of available-for-sale securities	0	258	1,449	1,008
Interest income	4	0	6	2
Other income	4	3	11	11
Total Non-operating Income, Net	5	256	1,457	1,009
Income before Income Taxes	299	481	1,911	1,407
Income taxes	104	168	667	492
Net Income	195	313	1,244	915
Other Comprehensive Loss
Change in unrealized value of available-for-sale securities, net of income tax	0	(67)	132	(276)
Reclassification of gains included in net income, net of income tax	0	(160)	(899)	(625)
Other comprehensive loss	0	(227)	(767)	(901)
Net Comprehensive Income	$ 195	$ 86	$ 477	$ 14
Basic
Net income per share	$ 0.06	$ 0.09	$ 0.37	$ 0.27
Weighted average shares	3,395,521	3,395,521	3,395,521	3,395,515
Diluted
Net income per share	$ 0.05	$ 0.09	$ 0.34	$ 0.25
Weighted average shares	3,653,021	3,658,751	3,653,021	3,652,761

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Net Intangible Assets

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]

Net Intangible Assets

Note 7. Intangible Assets, net

Intangible assets include the following:

		September 30, 2015
	Average Useful Lives	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Net Carrying Amount
Noncompete	5 Years	$	120	$	40	$	80
Technology	7 Years		1,478		229		1,249
Intangible Assets		$	1,598	$	269	$	1,329
		December 31, 2014
	Average Useful Lives	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Net Carrying Amount
Noncompete	5 Years	$	120	$	22	$	98
Technology	7 Years		1,478		71		1,407
Intangible Assets		$	1,598	$	93	$	1,505

Amortization expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 was $176 and $34, respectively.

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Inventories

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Inventories [Abstract]

Inventories

Note 6. Inventories

Inventories used in the determination of cost of goods sold are as follows:  

	September 30,		December 31,
	2015		2014
Raw Materials	$	975	$	729
Work In Process		286		263
Finished Goods		297		232
Total Inventories	$	1,558	$	1,224

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Stock-Based Compensation (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Stock-Based Compensation (Valuation Assumption) [Abstract]

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

Dividend yield	0.00%
Expected volatility	44.11%
Risk free interest rate	2.02%
Expected life	6 years

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Fair Value Measurements (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements On A Recurring Basis

September 30, 2015
	Carrying
	amount in
	consolidated				Fair Value Measurement Using
	balance sheet		Fair Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
Money Market Funds	$	1,984	$	1,984	$	1,984	$	0	$	0
Commercial Paper		271		271		271		0		0
Treasury Bills		6,141		6,141		6,141		0		0
Available-for-sale
Equities
Limited-marketable Company		0		0		0		0		0
Liabilities:
Contingent Earn-out		455		455		0		0		455
December 31, 2014
	Carrying
	amount in
	consolidated				Fair Value Measurement Using
	balance sheet		Fair Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
Money Market Funds	$	510	$	510	$	510	$	0	$	0
Commercial Paper		345		345		345		0		0
Treasury Bills		6,542		6,542		6,542		0		0
Available-for-sale
Equities
Small Cap Technology Sector		1,256		1,256		1,256		0		0
Liabilities:
Contingent Earn-out		472		472		0		0		472

Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Table Text Block]

Balance at December 31, 2014	$	472
Charge to earnings		(17)
Balance at September 30, 2015	$	455

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Segment Information

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Segment Information [Abstract]

Segment Information

Note 10.  Segment Information 

The Company has two reportable operating segments: Production Monitoring and Investments.  The Production Monitoring Division manufactures and markets a complete line of production monitoring equipment, in particular speed monitoring and motor control systems for industrial machinery.  ESI Investment Company holds investments in marketable and non-marketable securities. 

The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.  In evaluating segment performance, management focuses on sales and income before income taxes.  The Company has no inter-segment sales. 

The following is financial information relating to the continuing operating segments:  

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2015		2014		2015		2014
External sales
Production monitoring	$	2,132	$	1,917	$	6,065	$	5,379
Total	$	2,132	$	1,917	$	6,065	$	5,379
Income before income taxes
Production monitoring	$	295	$	223	$	456	$	397
Investments		4		258		1,455		1,010
Total	$	299	$	481	$	1,911	$	1,407

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Note Payable

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Note Payable [Abstract]

Notes Payable

Note 8.  Note Payable

The note payable consists of the following:

	September 30, 2015		December 31, 2014
Note payable to seller	$	400	$	800
Payable in annual installments of principal of $400, with a maturity date of February 2016.  This note is non-interest bearing and unsecured.
Less: Discount of note payable listed above		(10)		(29)
Net note payable		390		771
Less: Current maturities		390		381
Note Payable – Long Term	$	0	$	390

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Stock-Based Compensation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]

Stock-Based Compensation

Note 9.  Stock-Based Compensation 

The Company records compensation expense for stock options based on the estimated fair value of the options on the date of grant using the BSM model. The Company uses historical data among other factors to estimate the expected price volatility, the expected option life and the expected forfeiture rate. The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for the estimated life of the option.  The Company calculates expected volatility for stock options and awards using historical volatility because the Company believes the future volatility will approximate historical volatility.  At September 30, 2015, the Company had two stock-based employee compensation plans. 

During the second quarter of 2014, the Company granted one director options to purchase 25,000 shares of common stock.  The options were priced above fair market value and vested 20% on the grant date, with an additional 20% vesting on the first four anniversaries of the grant date.  The options expire ten years from the date of grant. 

The assumptions made in estimating the fair value of the options on the grant date based upon the BSM option-pricing model are as follows:

Dividend yield	0.00%
Expected volatility	44.11%
Risk free interest rate	2.02%
Expected life	6 years

During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015, there were no stock options granted.  During the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, there were no stock options exercised.

As of September 30, 2015, there was approximately $125 of unrecognized compensation expense.  The Company expects to recognize this expense over the next three years.  There was no intrinsic value in the options outstanding and exercisable as of September 30, 2015 because the option exercise prices were greater than the fair market value on that date.

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Basis Of Presentation (Policy)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Nature Of Business And Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Nature Of Business

Nature of Business

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Electro-Sensors, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, ESI Investment Company and Senstar Corporation. Senstar has no assets or operations.  Intercompany accounts, transactions and earnings have been eliminated in consolidation. The consolidated entity is referred to as “the Company.” In October 2015, the Company’s board adopted resolutions to merge these two subsidiaries into the parent company effective January 1, 2016.

Electro-Sensors, Inc. manufactures and markets a complete line of monitoring and control systems for a variety of industrial machinery. The Company uses leading-edge technology to continuously improve its products and make them easier to use with the ultimate goal of manufacturing the industry-preferred product for every market served. The Company sells these products through an internal sales staff, manufacturers’ representatives, and distributors to a wide variety of industries that use the products in a variety of applications to monitor process machinery operations. The Company markets its products to customers located throughout the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, and Asia. 

In addition, through its subsidiary ESI Investment Company, the Company has periodically made strategic investments in other businesses, primarily when the Company believes that these investments would facilitate development of technology complementary to the Company’s products. Although the Company, through ESI Investment Company, has invested in other businesses, the Company does not intend to become an investment company and intends to remain primarily an operating company. During 2015, the Company sold substantially all of its equity securities.  See Note 4 for additional information regarding the Company’s investments.  The Company’s investments in securities are subject to normal market risks.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue from the sale of its production monitoring equipment when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the product has been picked up by common carrier, the fee is fixed and determinable and collection of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured.  Product revenues are recognizedupon shipment because the contracts generally do not include post-shipment obligations. The Company may offer discountsthat it records at the time of sale.  In addition to exchanges and warranty returns, customers have limited refund rights.  Historically, returns have been minimal and immaterial to the consolidated financial statements and are generally recognized when the returned product is received by the Company.  In some situations, the Company receives advance payments from its customers.   The Company defers the recognition of revenue associated with these advance payments until it ships the product.

Available For Sale Securities

Available-for-Sale Securities 

The Company’s investments have traditionally consisted of equity securities, primarily common stocks and government debt securities.  The estimated fair value of publicly traded equity securities is based on quoted market prices or management’s reasonable market price when quoted prices are not available, and therefore subject to the inherent risk of market fluctuations. 

Management determines the appropriate classification of securities at the date individual investments are acquired, and evaluates the appropriateness of this classification at each balance sheet date. 

Since the Company generally does not make investments in anticipation of short-term fluctuations in market prices, investments in equity securities and treasury bills are classified as available-for-sale.  Available-for-sale securities with readily determinable values are stated at fair value, and unrealized holding gains and losses, net of the related deferred tax effect, are reported as a  separate component of stockholders’ equity. 

Realized gains and losses on securities, including losses from declines in value of specific securities determined by management to be other-than-temporary, are included in the period realized.  There were no other-than-temporary impairments in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements 

The Company’s policies incorporate the guidance for accounting for fair value measurements of financial assets and financial liabilities and for fair value measurements of nonfinancial items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the consolidated financial statements on a recurring basis.  These policies also incorporate the guidance for fair value measurement related to nonfinancial items that are recognized and disclosed at fair value in the consolidated financial statements on a nonrecurring basis.  The guidance establishes 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 measurements involving significant unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows: 

· Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date. 

· Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability. 

· Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. 

The level in the fair value hierarchy within which a fair measurement in its entirety falls is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.    The Company currently has no nonfinancial or financial items that are measured on a nonrecurring basis.

The carrying values of cash equivalents, trade receivables, accounts payable, and other financial working capital items approximate fair value at September  30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 due to the short maturity nature of these instruments.

Stock Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company uses the straight-line method to recognize compensation expense based on the estimated fair value on the date of grant over the requisite service period related to each award.  The Company estimates the fair value of stock options using the Black–Sholes-Merton (“BSM”) option pricing model, which incorporates assumptions such as risk-free interest rate, expected volatility, expected dividend yield, and expected life of options.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

Deferred income taxes are presented as assets or liabilities based on timing differences between financial reporting and tax reporting methods.  The Company computes deferred income tax assets and liabilities, and reports differences that have future tax consequences using the currently enacted tax laws and rates that apply to the periods in which the Company expects these income tax assets and liabilities to affect taxable income. Income tax expense (benefit) is the current tax payable or refundable for the period plus or minus the net change in the deferred tax assets and liabilities, excluding the portion of the deferred liability allocated to other comprehensive income. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance to the extent that realization of the related deferred tax asset is not assured.No valuation allowance was deemed necessary at September 30, 2015 or December 31, 2014.

Use Of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.  Significant estimates, including the underlying assumptions, consist of economic lives of long-lived assets,realizability of trade receivables, valuation of deferred tax assets/liabilities, inventories, investments, andcontingent earn-out.  It is at least reasonably possible that these estimates may change in the near term.

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Schedule of Finite Lived Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life	5 years
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 1,598		$ 1,598
Accumulated Amortization	269		93
Intangible assets, net	1,329		$ 1,505
Amortization of Intangible Assets	$ 176	$ 34
Noncompete Agreements [Member]
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life	5 years		5 years
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 120		$ 120
Accumulated Amortization	40		22
Intangible assets, net	$ 80		$ 98
Unpatented Technology [Member]
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life	7 years		7 years
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 1,478		$ 1,478
Accumulated Amortization	229		71
Intangible assets, net	$ 1,249		$ 1,407

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Net Intangible Assets (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]

Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets

		September 30, 2015
	Average Useful Lives	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Net Carrying Amount
Noncompete	5 Years	$	120	$	40	$	80
Technology	7 Years		1,478		229		1,249
Intangible Assets		$	1,598	$	269	$	1,329
		December 31, 2014
	Average Useful Lives	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Net Carrying Amount
Noncompete	5 Years	$	120	$	22	$	98
Technology	7 Years		1,478		71		1,407
Intangible Assets		$	1,598	$	93	$	1,505

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Business Combination (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Acquisition purchase price		$ 1,643
Acquisition fees		$ 15
Potential contingent consideration	$ 550
Contingent consideration measurement period	4 years
Contingent liability recorded	$ 455
Acquired intangibles, amortization period	5 years

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Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Cash flows from (used in) operating activities
Net income	$ 1,244	$ 915
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	264	120
Realized gain on sale of available-for-sale securities	(1,449)	(1,008)
Deferred income taxes	(34)	(17)
Stock-based compensation expense	47	51
Change in contingent earn-out fair value	(17)	0
Other	(7)	(1)
Change in, net of acquisition:
Trade receivables	(176)	(127)
Inventories	(334)	(205)
Current assets, other	(12)	1
Accounts payable	50	157
Accrued expenses	85	180
Accrued income taxes	110	51
Net cash from (used in) operating activities	(229)	117
Cash flows from (used in) investing activities
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities	1,467	1,020
Purchases of treasury bills	(8,636)	(9,676)
Proceeds from the maturity of treasury bills	9,043	8,362
Cash paid for acquisition	0	(400)
Purchase of property and equipment	(19)	(45)
Net cash from (used in) investing activities	1,855	(739)
Cash flows from (used in) financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	0	4
Payments on long-term debt	(381)	0
Net cash from (used in) financing activities	(381)	4
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	1,245	(618)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning	1,190	1,505
Cash and cash equivalents, ending	2,435	887
Supplemental cash flow information
Cash paid for income taxes	592	462
Cash paid for interest	19	0
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investment and financing activities
Note payable issued to fund acquisition, net of discount	0	771
Contingent earn-out recorded in connection with the acquisition	$ 0	$ 472

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Fair Value Measurements

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements

Note 5. Fair Value Measurements 

The following table provides information on those assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis. 

September 30, 2015
	Carrying
	amount in
	consolidated				Fair Value Measurement Using
	balance sheet		Fair Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
Money Market Funds	$	1,984	$	1,984	$	1,984	$	0	$	0
Commercial Paper		271		271		271		0		0
Treasury Bills		6,141		6,141		6,141		0		0
Available-for-sale
Equities
Limited-marketable Company		0		0		0		0		0
Liabilities:
Contingent Earn-out		455		455		0		0		455
December 31, 2014
	Carrying
	amount in
	consolidated				Fair Value Measurement Using
	balance sheet		Fair Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
Money Market Funds	$	510	$	510	$	510	$	0	$	0
Commercial Paper		345		345		345		0		0
Treasury Bills		6,542		6,542		6,542		0		0
Available-for-sale
Equities
Small Cap Technology Sector		1,256		1,256		1,256		0		0
Liabilities:
Contingent Earn-out		472		472		0		0		472

The fair value of the money market funds, commercial paper, and treasury bills is based on quoted market prices in an active market. Available-for-sale securities include equity securities, except for the limited-marketable company, that are traded in an active market.  Closing stock prices are readily available from active markets and are used as being representative of fair value.  The Company classifies these securities as level 1.  There is an insignificant market for the limited-marketable company and the Company has determined the value based on financial and other factors, which are considered level 3 inputs in the fair value hierarchy.  Management estimated the probability of meeting the revenue targets over the measurement period to determine the fair value of the contingent earn-out, which is considered a level 3 input in the fair value hierarchy.

The change in level 3 liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis is summarized as follows:

Balance at December 31, 2014	$	472
Charge to earnings		(17)
Balance at September 30, 2015	$	455

The decrease in the contingent earn-out reflects the Company’s expectation of moderately lower future contingent payments due to delays in releasing the product due to development and obtaining third-party certifications.

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Business Combination (Schedule Of Contingent Consideration Transferred) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Cash consideration	$ 0	$ 400
Note payable issued to seller (Note 8)	0	771
Contingent consideration liability recorded in connection with the acquisition	$ 0	472
Total consideration		$ 1,643

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Segment Information (Continuing Operating Segments) (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) segment	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Net revenues	$ 2,132	$ 1,917	$ 6,065	$ 5,379
Interest income	4	0	6	2
Depreciation and amortization			264	120
Interest expense	3	5	9	12
Purchase of property and equipment			19	45
Total assets	13,744		13,744		$ 13,764
Income before income taxes	299	481	$ 1,911	1,407
Number of reportable segments | segment			2
Production Monitoring [Member]
Net revenues	2,132	1,917	$ 6,065	5,379
Income before income taxes	295	223	456	397
Segment Investments [Member]
Income before income taxes	$ 4	$ 258	$ 1,455	$ 1,010

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Inventories (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Inventories [Abstract]

Schedule Of Inventories

	September 30,		December 31,
	2015		2014
Raw Materials	$	975	$	729
Work In Process		286		263
Finished Goods		297		232
Total Inventories	$	1,558	$	1,224