Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

v3.20.2
Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020
Notes to Financial Statements  
Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]
NOTE
1
– SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
Description of Business:
Clearfield, Inc. (the “Company”) is a manufacturer of a broad range of standard and custom passive connectivity products to customers throughout the United States and internationally. These products include fiber distribution systems, optical components, Outside Plant (“OSP”) cabinets, and fiber and copper cable assemblies that serve the communication service provider, including Fiber-to-the-Premises (“FTTP”), large enterprise, and original equipment manufacturer (“OEM”) markets.
 
Revenue Recognition:
Our revenue is comprised of the sale of our products to customers and is recognized when the Company satisfies its performance obligations under the contract. A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct product or service to a customer. The majority of our contracts have a single performance obligation and are short term in nature. We recognize revenue by transferring the promised products to the customer, with substantially all revenue recognized at the point in time when the customer obtains control of the products. Shipping and handling costs charged to our customers are included in net sales, while the corresponding shipping expenses are included in cost of sales. Sales, value add, and other taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities are accounted for on a net (excluded from revenue) basis.
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents:
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of
three
months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents as of
September 30, 2020
and
2019
consist entirely of short-term money market accounts.
 
The Company maintains cash balances at multiple financial institutions, and at times, such balances exceed insured limits. The Company has
not
experienced any losses in such accounts and believes it is
not
exposed to any significant credit risk on cash and cash equivalents.
 
Investments:
The Company currently invests its excess cash in bank certificates of deposit (“CDs”) that are fully insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) and Unites States Treasury securities with terms of
not
more than
five
years, as well as money market accounts. CDs and Treasuries with original maturities of more than
three
months are reported as held-to-maturity investments and are recorded at amortized cost, which approximates fair value due to the negligible risk of changes in value due to interest rates. The maturity dates of the Company's investments are as follows:
 
      September 30, 2020       September 30, 2019  
Less than one year   $
10,582,527
    $
13,524,270
 
1-5 years    
25,143,000
     
23,902,000
 
Total   $
35,725,527
    $
37,426,270
 
 
Fair Value of Financial Instruments:
The financial statements include the following financial instruments: cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, long-term investments, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses. Other than long-term investments, all financial instruments' carrying values approximate fair values because of the short-term nature of the instruments. Long-term investments' carrying value approximates fair value due to the negligible risk of changes in value due to interest rates.
 
Accounts Receivable:
Credit is extended based on the evaluation of a customer's financial condition and collateral is generally
not
required. Accounts that are outstanding longer than the contractual payment terms are considered past due. The Company does
not
charge interest on past due receivables. The Company determines its allowance by considering a number of factors, including the length of time trade receivables are past due, the Company's previous loss history, the customer's current ability to pay its obligation to the Company, and the condition of the general economy and the industry as whole. The Company writes off accounts receivable when they become uncollectible; payments subsequently received on such receivables are credited to the allowance for doubtful accounts.
 
The allowance for doubtful accounts activity for the years ended
September 30, 2020
and
2019
is as follows:
 
 
Year Ended     Balance at Beginning of Year       Additions Charged to Costs and Expenses       Less Write-offs       Balance at End of Year  
September 30, 2020   $
289,085
    $
-
    $
-
    $
289,085
 
September 30, 2019    
79,085
     
210,000
     
-
     
289,085
 
 
Inventories:
Inventories consist of finished goods, raw materials and work-in-process and are stated at the lower of average cost (which approximates
first
-in,
first
-out) or net realizable value. Inventory is valued using material costs, labor charges, and allocated factory overhead charges and consists of the following:
 
      September 30, 2020       September 30, 2019  
Raw materials   $
12,287,134
    $
8,234,046
 
Work-in-process    
1,033,021
     
540,962
 
Finished goods    
2,048,514
     
1,356,720
 
Inventories, gross    
15,368,669
     
10,131,728
 
Inventory reserve    
(960,131
)    
(1,118,748
)
Inventories, net   $
14,408,538
    $
9,012,980
 
 
The increase in inventory from fiscal year
2019
to fiscal year
2020
is a result of additional stocking levels to support the Company's increased sales order backlog and related demand, and additional safety stock across the Company's multiple locations due to the uncertainty of COVID-
19
on the Company's supply chain and manufacturing locations
.
 
On a regular basis, the Company reviews its inventory and identifies that which is excess, slow moving, and obsolete by considering factors such as inventory levels, expected product life, and forecasted sales demand. A reserve is established for any identified excess, slow moving, and obsolete inventory down to its net realizable value through a charge to cost of sales. Inventory write-down charges
may
be required in the future if there is a significant decline in demand for the Company's products and the Company does
not
adjust its manufacturing production accordingly or if new products are
not
accepted by the market.
 
Property, Plant and Equipment:
Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. Significant additions or improvements extending asset lives are capitalized, while repairs and maintenance are charged to expense when incurred. Depreciation is provided in amounts sufficient to relate the cost of assets to operations over their estimated useful lives. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the remaining term of the lease or estimated life of the asset.
 
Estimated useful lives of the assets are as follows:
 
    Years
Equipment  
3
7
Leasehold improvements    
7-10 or life of lease
 
Vehicles    
3
 
 
Property, plant and equipment consist of the following:
 
      September 30, 2020       September 30, 2019  
Manufacturing equipment   $
8,171,497
    $
7,106,041
 
Office equipment    
4,281,481
     
3,996,251
 
Leasehold improvements    
2,576,861
     
2,436,346
 
Vehicles    
245,903
     
245,903
 
Construction in progress    
19,143
     
8,921
 
Property, plant and equipment, gross    
15,294,885
     
13,793,462
 
Less accumulated depreciation    
10,184,897
     
8,380,221
 
Property, plant and equipment, net   $
5,109,988
    $
5,413,241
 
 
 
Depreciation expense for the years ended
September 30, 2020
and
2019
were
$1,944,186
and
$1,705,583,
respectively.
 
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
:
The Company operates as
one
reporting unit and reviews the carrying amount of goodwill annually in the
fourth
quarter of each fiscal year and more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets
may
not
be recoverable. The Company determines its fair value for goodwill impairment testing purposes by calculating its market capitalization and comparing that to the Company's carrying value. The Company's goodwill impairment test for the years ended
September 30, 2020
and
2019
resulted in excess fair value over carrying value and therefore,
no
adjustments were made to goodwill. During the years ended
September 30, 2020
and
2019,
there were
no
triggering events that indicated goodwill could be impaired.
 
A significant reduction in our market capitalization or in the carrying amount of net assets of a reporting unit could result in an impairment charge. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the Company would measure the possible goodwill impairment loss based on an allocation of the estimate of fair value of the reporting unit to all of the underlying assets and liabilities of the reporting unit, including any previously unrecognized intangible assets. The excess of the fair value of a reporting unit over the amounts assigned to its assets and liabilities is the implied fair value of goodwill. An impairment loss is recognized to the extent that a reporting unit's recorded goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of goodwill. An impairment loss would be based on significant estimates and judgments, and if the facts and circumstances change, a potential impairment could have a material impact on the Company's financial statements.
 
No
impairment of goodwill has occurred during the years ended
September 30, 2020
or
2019,
respectively.
 
The Company capitalizes legal costs incurred to obtain patents. Once accepted by either the U.S. Patent Office or the equivalent office of a foreign country, these legal costs are amortized using the straight-line method over the remaining estimated lives,
not
exceeding
20
years. As of
September 30, 2020,
the Company has
22
patents granted and multiple pending applications both inside and outside the United States.
 
In addition, the Company has various finite life intangible assets, most of which were acquired as a result of the acquisition of a portfolio of Telcordia certified outdoor active cabinet products from Calix, Inc. (“Calix”) during fiscal year
2018.
Finite life intangible assets as of
September 30, 2020
and
2019
are as follows:
 
    September 30, 2020
    Years   Gross Carrying Amount   Accumulated Amortization   Net Book Value Amount
Customer relationships    
15
    $
3,742,000
    $
654,850
    $
3,087,150
 
Certifications    
8
     
1,068,000
     
350,437
     
717,563
 
Trademarks    
8
     
563,000
     
184,734
     
378,266
 
Patents    
20
     
689,889
     
56,257
     
633,632
 
Other    
5
     
31,091
     
18,655
     
12,436
 
Totals    
 
    $
6,093,980
    $
1,264,933
    $
4,829,047
 
 
    September 30, 2019
    Years   Gross Carrying Amount   Accumulated Amortization   Net Book Value Amount
Customer relationships    
15
    $
3,742,000
    $
405,384
    $
3,336,616
 
Certifications    
8
     
1,068,000
     
216,937
     
851,063
 
Trademarks    
8
     
563,000
     
114,359
     
448,641
 
Patents    
20
     
530,409
     
38,247
     
492,162
 
Other    
5
     
31,091
     
12,438
     
18,653
 
Totals    
 
    $
5,934,500
    $
787,365
    $
5,147,135
 
 
Amortization expense related to these assets for the years ended
September 30, 2020
and
2019
were
$477,568
and
$472,827,
respectively.
 
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets:
The Company assesses potential impairments to its long-lived assets or asset groups when there is evidence that events occur or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or asset group
may
not
be recovered. An impairment loss is recognized when
the carrying amount of the long-lived asset or asset group is
not
recoverable and exceeds its fair value. The carrying amount of a long-lived asset or asset group is
not
recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset or asset group.
 
Any required impairment loss is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of a long-lived asset or asset group exceeds its fair value and is recorded as a reduction in the carrying value of the related asset or asset group and a charge to operating results.
No
impairment of long-lived assets occurred during the years ended
September 30, 2020
or
2019,
respectively.
 
Income Taxes:
The Company records income taxes in accordance with the liability method of accounting. Deferred taxes are recognized for the estimated taxes ultimately payable or recoverable based on enacted tax law. The Company establishes a valuation allowance to reduce the deferred tax assets when it is more likely than
not
that a deferred tax asset will
not
be realizable. Changes in tax rates are reflected in the tax provision as they occur.
 
In accounting for uncertainty in income taxes, we recognize the financial statement benefit of a tax position only after determining that the relevant tax authority would more likely than
not
sustain the position following an audit. For tax positions meeting the more likely than
not
threshold, the amount recognized in the financial statements is the largest benefit that has a greater than
50
percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant tax authority. As of both
September 30, 2020
and
September 30, 2019,
the Company did
not
have any unrecognized tax benefits. The Company recognizes interest and penalties accrued on any unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense. We do
not
expect any material changes in our unrecognized tax benefits over the next
12
months.
 
Stock-Based Compensation
: We measure and recognize compensation expense for all stock-based awards at fair value over the requisite service period. We use the Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine the weighted average fair value of options. For restricted stock grants, fair value is determined as the average price of the Company's stock on the date of grant. Equity-based compensation expense is broken out between cost of sales and selling, general and administrative expenses based on the classification of the employee. The determination of fair value of stock-based awards on the date of grant using an option-pricing model is affected by our stock price as well as by assumptions regarding a number of subjective variables. These variables include, but are
not
limited to, the expected stock price volatility over the term of the awards, and actual and projected employee stock option exercise behaviors.
 
The expected terms of the options are based on evaluations of historical and expected future employee exercise behavior. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury rates at the date of grant with maturity dates approximately equal to the expected life at grant date. Volatility is based on historical and expected future volatility of the Company's stock. The Company has
not
historically issued any dividends and does
not
expect to in the future. Forfeitures for both option and restricted stock grants are estimated at the time of the grant and revised in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from estimates.
 
If factors change and we employ different assumptions in the determination of the fair value of grants in future periods, the related compensation expense that we record
may
differ significantly from what we have recorded in the current periods.
 
Research and Development Costs
: Research and development costs amounted to
$1,269,542
and
$1,089,637
for the years ended
September 30, 2020
and
2019,
respectively, and are charged to expense when incurred.
 
Advertising Costs
: Advertising costs amounted to
$296,571
and
$278,057
for the years ended
September 30, 2020
and
2019,
respectively, and are charged to expense when incurred.
 
Net Income Per Share:
Basic and diluted net income per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and the weighted average number of dilutive shares outstanding, respectively.
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding for the years ended
September 30, 2020
and
2019
were as follows:
 
Year ended September 30,   2020   2019
Net income   $
7,293,066
    $
4,566,156
 
Weighted average common shares    
13,643,355
     
13,442,871
 
Dilutive potential common shares    
-
     
8,343
 
Weighted average dilutive common shares outstanding    
13,643,355
     
13,451,214
 
Earnings per share:                
Basic   $
0.53
    $
0.34
 
Diluted   $
0.53
    $
0.34
 
  
There were
337,100
and
108,000
shares for the years ended
September 30, 2020
and
2019,
respectively, that were excluded from the above calculation as they were considered antidilutive in nature.
 
Use of Estimates:
The preparation of 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 reported amounts of assets and liabilities, related revenues and expenses and disclosure about contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Significant estimates include the rebates related to revenue recognition, stock-based compensation and the valuation of inventory, long-lived assets, finite lived intangible assets and goodwill. Actual results
may
differ materially from these estimates.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements:
 
 
Effective
October 1, 2019,
we adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”)
2016
-
02,
Leases
, using the effective date method under the modified retrospective approach. The amended guidance requires lessees, at the commencement date, to recognize a lease liability, which is a lessee's obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis, and to record a right-of-use (“ROU”) asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee's right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term. In
July 2018,
the FASB issued ASU
2018
-
11,
Leases, Targeted Improvements
, which gave companies the option of applying the new standard at the adoption date, rather than retrospectively to the earliest period presented in the financial statements. The Company elected the package of practical expedients permitted under the new standard, which among other things, allowed the Company to carry forward the historical lease classification. The Company also elected the practical expedient to
not
recognize a lease liability and ROU asset for short-term leases less than
12
months. We chose the option to apply the new standard at the adoption date, and therefore we are
not
required to restate the financial statements for prior periods, nor are we required to provide the disclosures required by the new standard for prior periods. Upon adoption, we recognized an approximate
$2.4
million ROU asset, and an approximate
$2.6
 million lease liability. Our adoption of the new standard did
not
impact our cash flows or have a material impact on our results of operations. We have expanded our financial statement disclosures to comply with the requirements of the new standard.
 
In
January 2017,
the FASB issued ASU
2017
-
04,
Intangibles-Goodwill,
which offers amended guidance to simplify the accounting for goodwill impairment by removing Step
2
of the goodwill impairment test. A goodwill impairment will now be measured as the amount by which a reporting unit's carrying value exceeds its fair value, limited to the amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. This guidance is to be applied on a prospective basis effective for the Company's interim and annual periods beginning after
December 15, 2019,
with early adoption permitted for any impairment tests performed after
January 1, 2017.
The new guidance is effective for the Company beginning in the
first
quarter of fiscal
2021,
with early adoption permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU
2017
-
04
on our financial statements and does
not
believe the adoption of this ASU will have a material impact on our financial statements.
 
In
June 2016,
the FASB issued ASU
2016
-
13,
Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments
. In
November 2018,
the FASB issued update ASU
2018
-
19
that clarifies the scope of the standard in the amendments in ASU
2016
-
13.
This guidance introduces a new model for recognizing credit losses on financial instruments based on an estimate of current expected credit losses. Financial instruments impacted include accounts receivable, trade receivables, other financial assets measured at amortized cost and other off-balance sheet credit exposures. The new guidance is effective for the Company beginning in the
first
quarter of fiscal
2023,
with early adoption permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU
2016
-
13
on our financial statements.