Note 12 - Income Taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2014

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Components of Income Tax Payable Receivable [Table Text Block]

	Year Ended October 31,
(In thousands)	2014		2013
State income taxes:
Current	$3,197		$3,301
Deferred	(14,918	)	-
Federal income taxes:
Current	-		-
Deferred	(272,822	)	-
Total	$(284,543	)	$3,301

Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Table Text Block]

	Year Ended October 31,
(In thousands)	2014		2013		2012
Current income tax (benefit) expense:
Federal	$(1,690	)	$(9,878	)	$277
State (1)	2,466		518		(35,328	)
Total current income tax expense (benefit):	776		(9,360	)	(35,051	)
Federal	(272,822	)	-		-
State	(14,918	)	-		-
Total deferred income tax (benefit):	(287,740	)	-		-
Total	$(286,964	)	$(9,360	)	$(35,051	)

(1) The current state income tax (benefit) expense is net of the use of state net operating losses totaling $24.5 million, $23.1 million, and $3.4 million for the years ended October 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively.

Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities [Table Text Block]

	Year Ended October 31,
(In thousands)	2014		2013
Deferred tax assets:
Depreciation	$2,407		$2,345
Inventory impairment loss	219,487		230,553
Uniform capitalization of overhead	9,005		6,208
Warranty and legal reserves	14,342		15,571
Deferred income	547		551
Acquisition intangibles	18,014		22,523
Restricted stock bonus	7,121		5,781
Rent on abandoned space	2,830		3,591
Stock options	8,481		6,994
Provision for losses	43,585		38,923
Joint venture loss	5,633		5,360
Federal net operating losses	524,879		542,409
State net operating losses	176,225		182,940
Other	19,516		16,350
Total deferred tax assets	1,052,072		1,080,099
Deferred tax liabilities:
Acquisition intangibles	395		351
Debt repurchase income	121,934		152,450
Other	-		164
Total deferred tax liabilities	122,329		152,965
Valuation allowance	(642,003	)	(927,134	)
Net deferred income taxes	$287,740		$-

Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Table Text Block]

	Year Ended October 31,
	2014		2013		2012
Computed “expected” tax rate	35.0	%	35.0	%	35.0	%
State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit	(3.5	)	14.0		(2.6	)
Permanent differences, net	0.8		11.3		(0.3	)
Deferred tax asset valuation allowance impact	(1,393.3	)	(66.2	)	(32.3	)
Tax contingencies	(0.6	)	(36.8	)	34.8
Adjustments to prior years’ tax accruals	(60.4	)	-		-
Effective tax rate	(1,422.0	)%	(42.7	)%	34.6	%

Schedule of Unrecognized Tax Benefits Roll Forward [Table Text Block]

	2014		2013
Unrecognized tax benefit—November 1,	$1.8		$9.9
Gross increases—tax positions in current period	0.2		1.2
Decrease related to tax positions taken during a prior period	-		(9.3	)
Lapse of statute of limitations	(0.3	)	-
Unrecognized tax benefit—October 31,	$1.7		$1.8