Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Significant Accounting Policies

v3.19.2
Significant Accounting Policies
9 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Significant Accounting Policies Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. These interim consolidated statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), which permit reduced disclosure for interim periods. The Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2018 was derived from audited financial statements for the fiscal year then ended, but does not include all necessary disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("GAAP") with respect to annual financial statements. In the opinion of management, the unaudited consolidated financial statements include all recurring adjustments and normal accruals necessary for a fair presentation of the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the dates and periods presented. These consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes should be read in conjunction with the Company's audited annual consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018 (the "2018 Form 10-K"). Results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for a full fiscal year or for any future period.
Management's Estimates
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the recorded amounts of assets, liabilities, stockholders' equity, revenues and expenses during the reporting period, and the disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements. Estimates are used in accounting for items such as recognition of revenues and cost of revenues, goodwill and other intangible assets, allowance for doubtful accounts, valuation allowances related to income taxes, accruals for potential liabilities related to lawsuits or insurance claims, and the fair value of equity-based compensation awards. Estimates are continually evaluated based on historical information and actual experience; however, actual results could differ from these estimates.
A description of certain critical accounting policies of the Company is presented below. Additional critical accounting policies and the underlying judgments and uncertainties are described in the notes to the Company's annual consolidated financial statements included in its 2018 Form 10-K.
Emerging Growth Company
The Company is an "emerging growth company" as defined by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (the "JOBS Act"), enacted in April 2012. As an emerging growth company, the Company could have taken advantage of an exemption that would have allowed the Company to wait to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until the effective date of such standards for private companies. However, the JOBS Act provides that a company may elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies, but such election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected to opt out of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different effective dates for public and private companies, the Company is required to adopt the new or revised standard at the effective date applicable to public companies that are not emerging growth companies.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash consists principally of currency on hand and demand deposits at commercial banks. Cash equivalents are short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and are so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Cash equivalents include investments with original maturities of three months or less. The Company maintains demand accounts, money market accounts and certificates of deposit at several banks.
Contracts Receivable Including Retainage, net
Contracts receivable are generally based on amounts billed and currently due from customers, amounts currently due but unbilled, and amounts retained by the customer pending completion of a project. It is common in the Company's industry for a small portion of progress billings or the contract price, typically 10%, to be withheld by the customer until the Company completes a project to the satisfaction of the customer in accordance with contract terms. Such amounts, defined as retainage, represent a contract asset and are included on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as "Contracts receivable including retainage, net". Based on the Company's experience with similar contracts in recent years, billings for such retainage balances are generally collected within one year of the completion of the project.
The carrying value of contracts receivable including retainage, net of the allowance for doubtful accounts, represents their estimated net realizable value. Management provides for uncollectible accounts through a charge to earnings and a credit to the allowance for doubtful accounts based on its assessment of the current status of individual accounts, type of service performed, and current economic conditions. Balances that are still outstanding after management has used reasonable collection efforts are written off through a charge to the allowance for doubtful accounts and an adjustment of the contract receivable.
Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities
Billing practices for the Company's contracts are governed by the contract terms of each project based on (i) progress toward completion approved by the owner, (ii) achievement of milestones or (iii) pre-agreed schedules. Billings do not necessarily correlate with revenues recognized under the percentage-of-completion method of accounting. The Company records contract assets and contract liabilities to account for these differences in timing.
The contract asset, "Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts," arises when the Company recognizes revenues for services performed under its construction projects, but the Company is not yet entitled to bill the customer under the terms of the contract. Amounts billed to customers are excluded from this asset and reflected on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as "Contracts receivable including retainage, net". Included in costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts are amounts the Company seeks or will seek to collect from customers or others for (i) errors, (ii) changes in contract specifications or design, (iii) contract change orders in dispute, unapproved as to scope and price, or (iv) other customer-related causes of unanticipated additional contract costs (such as claims). Such amounts are recorded at estimated net realizable value when realization is probable and can be reasonably estimated. Claims and unapproved change orders made by the Company may involve negotiation and, in rare cases, litigation. Unapproved change orders and claims also involve the use of estimates, and revenues associated with unapproved change orders and claims are included when realization is probable and amounts can be reliably determined. The Company did not recognize any material amounts associated with claims and unapproved change orders during the periods presented.
The contract liability, "Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts," represents the Company's obligation to transfer goods or services to a customer for which the Company has been paid by the customer or for which the Company has billed the customer under the terms of the contract. Revenue for future services reflected in this account are recognized, and the liability is reduced, as the Company subsequently satisfies the performance obligation under the contract.
Concentration of Risks
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of contracts receivable including retainage. In the normal course of business, the Company provides credit to its customers and does not generally require collateral. Concentrations of credit risk associated with these receivables are monitored on an ongoing basis. The Company has not historically experienced significant credit losses, due primarily to management's assessment of customers' credit ratings. The Company principally deals with recurring customers, state and local governments and well-known local companies whose reputations are known to management. The Company performs credit checks for significant new customers and generally requires progress payments for significant projects. The Company generally has the ability to file liens against the property if payments are not made on a timely basis. No single customer accounted for more than 10% of the Company's contracts receivable including retainage, net balance at June 30, 2019 or September 30, 2018.
Projects performed for various Departments of Transportation accounted for 41.8% and 45.6% of consolidated revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and for 39.4% and 40.9% of consolidated revenues for the nine months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Customers that accounted for more than 10% of consolidated revenues during those periods are presented below:
% of Consolidated Revenues
For the Three Months Ended June 30, For the Nine Months Ended June 30,
2019  2018  2019  2018 
Alabama Department of Transportation 15.4  % 17.0  % 12.9  % 14.8  %
North Carolina Department of Transportation 13.9  % 14.8  % 13.4  % 13.5  %

Revenues from Contracts with Customers
The Company derives all of its revenues from contracts with its customers, predominantly by performing construction services for both public and private infrastructure projects, with an emphasis on highways, roads, bridges, airports and commercial and residential developments. These projects are performed for a mix of federal, state, municipal and private customers. In addition, the Company generates revenues from the sale of construction materials including HMA, aggregates, liquid asphalt and ready-mix concrete to third-party public and private customers pursuant to contracts with those customers. The following table reflects, for the periods presented, (i) revenues generated from public infrastructure construction projects and the sale of construction materials to public customers and (ii) revenues generated from private infrastructure construction projects and the sale of construction materials to private customers.
For the Three Months Ended June 30, For the Nine Months Ended June 30,
2019  2018  2019  2018 
Private $ 66,207  $ 56,293  $ 166,193  $ 148,525 
Public $ 161,083  $ 138,782  $ 379,728  $ 315,870 

Revenues derived from construction projects are recognized over time, using the percentage-of-completion method of accounting, as the Company satisfies its performance obligations by transferring control of the asset created or enhanced by the project to the customer. Recognition of revenues and cost of revenues for construction projects requires significant judgment by management, including, among other things, estimating total costs expected to be incurred to complete a project and measuring progress toward completion. Management reviews contract estimates regularly to assess revisions of estimated costs to complete a project and measurement of progress toward completion.
Management believes the Company maintains reasonable estimates based on prior experience; however, many factors contribute to changes in estimates of contract costs. Accordingly, estimates made with respect to uncompleted projects are subject to change as each project progresses and better estimates of contract costs become available. All contract costs are recorded as incurred, and revisions to estimated total costs are reflected as soon as the obligation to perform is determined. Provisions are recognized for the full amount of estimated losses on uncompleted contracts whenever evidence indicates that the estimated total cost of a contract exceeds its estimated total revenue, regardless of the stage of completion. When the Company incurs additional costs related to work performed by subcontractors, the Company may be able to utilize contractual provisions to back charge the subcontractors for those costs. A reduction to costs related to back charges is recognized when the estimated recovery is probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Contract costs consist of (i) direct costs on contracts, including labor, materials, and amounts payable to subcontractors and
(ii) indirect costs related to contract performance, such as insurance, employee benefits, and equipment (primarily depreciation, fuel, maintenance and repairs).
Progress toward completion is estimated using the input method, measured by the relationship of total cost incurred through the measurement date to total estimated costs required to complete the project (cost-to-cost method). The Company believes this method best depicts the transfer of goods and services to the customer because it represents satisfaction of the Company's performance obligation under the contract, which occurs as the Company incurs costs. The Company measures percentage of completion based on the performance of a single performance obligation under its construction projects. Each of the Company's construction contracts represents a single performance obligation to complete a defined construction project. This is because goods and services promised for delivery to a customer are not distinct, as the customer cannot benefit from any individual portion of the services on its own. All deliverables under a contract are part of a project defined by a customer and represent a series of integrated goods and services that have the same pattern of delivery to the customer and use the same measure of progress toward satisfaction of the performance obligation as the customer's asset is created or enhanced by the Company. The Company's obligation is not satisfied until the entire project is complete.
Revenue recognized during a reporting period is based on the estimated incremental percentage-of-completion applied to the total contract price, including adjustments for variable consideration such as liquidated damages, penalties or bonuses related to the timeliness or quality of project performance. Such adjustments are made to reflect the most likely amount of consideration management expects the Company to be entitled to at the completion of the contract, based on the best information available to the Company. The basis for total contract price is a stated amount in the contract, which is generally either fixed unit price or fixed total price, as described below. The Company adjusts the estimated contract price to include variable consideration to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur or when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is resolved. Total contract price is adjusted to reflect expected liquidated damages assessments or other penalties in the period the Company determines they will be incurred or when the customer imposes the penalty. Total contract price is adjusted to reflect contract bonus provisions related to timeliness or quality metrics when realization is probable and amounts can be reliably determined, which is generally when they are awarded by the customer. We account for changes in the measure of progress and changes to the estimated transaction price using a cumulative catch-up adjustment.
The majority of the Company's public construction contracts are fixed unit price contracts. Under fixed unit price contracts, the Company is committed to providing materials or services required by a contract at fixed unit prices (for example, dollars per ton of asphalt placed). The Company's private customer contracts are primarily fixed total price contracts, also known as lump sum contracts, which require that the total amount of work be performed for a single price. Contract cost is recorded as incurred, and revisions in contract revenue and cost estimates are reflected in the accounting period when known. Changes in job performance, job conditions and estimated profitability, including those changes arising from contract change orders, penalty provisions and final contract settlements, may result in revisions to estimated revenues and costs and are recognized in the period in which the revisions are determined.
Change orders are modifications of an original contract that effectively change the existing provisions of the contract and become part of the single performance obligation that is partially satisfied at the date of the contract modification. This is because goods and services promised under change orders are generally not distinct from the remaining goods and services under the existing contract, due to the significant integration of services performed in the context of the contract. Accordingly, change orders are generally accounted for as a modification of the existing contract and single performance obligation. We account for the modification using a cumulative catch-up adjustment. Either the Company or its customers may initiate change orders, which may include changes in specifications or designs, manner of performance, facilities, equipment, materials, sites and period of completion of the work.
Revenues derived from the sale of HMA, aggregates, ready-mix concrete, and liquid asphalt are recognized at a point in time, which is when control of the product is transferred to the customer. Generally, that point in time is when the customer accepts delivery at its facility or receives product in its own transport vehicles from one of the Company's HMA plants. Upon purchase, the Company generally provides an invoice or similar document detailing the goods transferred to the customer. The Company generally offers payment terms customary in the industry, which typically require payment ranging from point-of-sale to 30 days following purchase.
Income Taxes
The provision for income taxes includes federal and state income taxes. Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial statement carrying values and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the fiscal years in which the temporary differences are expected to be reversed or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Management evaluates the realization of deferred tax assets and establishes a valuation allowance when it is more likely than not that all or a portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are presented on a net basis by taxing authority and classified as non-current on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company classifies income tax-related interest and penalties as interest expense and other expenses, respectively.
Earnings per Share
As described in Note 8 – Equity, the Company completed an initial public offering (the "IPO") and reclassification (the "Reclassification") of its common stock during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018, involving, among other things, a 25.2 to 1 split of shares of common stock (the "Stock Split") and the creation of a dual-class common stock structure. Prior to the Reclassification, all net income of the Company was attributable to the holders of shares of common stock immediately prior to the Reclassification. During the period beginning from the Reclassification through the IPO, all net income of the Company was attributable to holders of Class B common stock. Since the IPO, all net income of the Company has been attributable equally, on a per share basis, to the holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock.
Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of aggregate shares of pre-Reclassification common stock, Class A common stock and Class B common stock, as applicable for the respective periods, calculated on a post-Stock Split basis. Diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of aggregate shares of pre-Reclassification common stock, Class A common stock, Class B common stock and potential dilutive common shares determined using the treasury method, calculated on a post-Stock Split basis as applicable for the respective periods. Securities that are anti-dilutive are not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share.