BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2016

Basis of Consolidation

Watsco, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, “Watsco,” or “we,” “us” or “our”) was incorporated in Florida in 1956 and is the largest distributor of air conditioning, heating and refrigeration equipment and related parts and supplies (“HVAC/R”) in the HVAC/R distribution industry in North America. The accompanying June 30, 2016 interim condensed consolidated unaudited financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in the annual financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations, but we believe the disclosures made are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal and recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation have been included in the condensed consolidated unaudited financial statements included herein. These statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The condensed consolidated unaudited financial statements contained in this report include the accounts of Watsco, all of its wholly owned subsidiaries and the accounts of three joint ventures with Carrier Corporation (“Carrier”), in each of which Watsco maintains a controlling interest. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The results of operations for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2016. Sales of residential central air conditioners, heating equipment and parts and supplies are seasonal. Furthermore, results of operations can be impacted favorably or unfavorably based on weather patterns, primarily during the Summer and Winter selling seasons. Demand related to the residential central air conditioning replacement market is typically highest in the second and third quarters, and demand for heating equipment is usually highest in the fourth quarter. Demand related to the new construction market is fairly consistent during the year, subject to weather and economic conditions, including their effect on the number of housing completions.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of condensed consolidated unaudited financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated unaudited financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses for the reporting period. Significant estimates include valuation reserves for accounts receivable, inventories and income taxes, reserves related to self-insurance programs and the valuation of goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets. While we believe that these estimates are reasonable, actual results could differ from such estimates.

New Accounting Standards

New Accounting Standards

Revenue Recognition

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued a standard on revenue recognition that provides a single, comprehensive revenue recognition model for all contracts with customers. The standard is principle-based and provides a five-step model to determine the measurement of revenue and timing of when it is recognized. The core principle is that a company will recognize revenue to reflect the transfer of goods or services to customers at an amount that the company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. In July 2015, the FASB deferred the effective date of this standard by one year. As a result, this standard is effective for our interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. We will adopt this guidance on January 1, 2018, and are currently evaluating the impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Measurement of Inventory

In July 2015, the FASB issued guidance that simplifies the measurement of inventory by replacing the lower of cost or market test with a lower of cost and net realizable value test. The guidance applies to all inventory that is measured using first-in, first-out or average cost methods. This guidance must be applied prospectively and will be effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. We do not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Leases

In February 2016, the FASB issued guidance on accounting for leases, which requires lessees to recognize most leases on their balance sheets for the rights and obligations created by those leases. The guidance requires enhanced disclosures regarding the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases and will be effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The guidance requires the use of a modified retrospective approach. We are evaluating the impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs

In April 2015, the FASB issued guidance that will require that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented on the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, rather than as an asset. This guidance is effective retrospectively for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Share-Based Payments

In March 2016, the FASB issued amended guidance related to employee share-based payment accounting. The guidance requires that all income tax effects of awards to be recognized in the income statement when the awards vest or are settled. The guidance also requires presentation of excess tax benefits as an operating activity on the statement of cash flows rather than as a financing activity. The guidance increases the amount companies can withhold to cover income taxes on awards without triggering liability classification for shares used to satisfy statutory income tax withholding obligations and requires application of a modified retrospective transition method. The amended guidance will be effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016; early adoption is permitted if all provisions are adopted in the same period.

We elected to early adopt the amended guidance during the quarter ended June 30, 2016, which required us to reflect any adjustments as of January 1, 2016, the beginning of the annual period that includes the interim period of adoption. The primary impact of adoption was the recognition of excess tax benefits in our provision for income taxes rather than paid-in capital for all periods in 2016. We elected to apply the presentation requirements for cash flows related to excess tax benefits prospectively. The accounting for income taxes and minimum statutory withholding tax requirements had no impact to retained earnings as of January 1, 2016, where the cumulative effect of these changes are required to be recorded. We have elected to continue to estimate forfeitures expected to occur to determine the amount of compensation cost to be recognized in each period.

Adoption of the amended guidance resulted in the recognition of excess tax benefits in our provision for income taxes rather than paid-in capital of $2,307 for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2016 and impacted our previously reported quarterly results for March 31, 2016 as follows:


*Quarter Ended March 31, 2016*	As Reported			As Adjusted
Income Statement:
Income taxes	$	15,508		$	14,654
Net income	$	34,174		$	35,028
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.71		$	0.74
Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding		32,537,225			32,546,314

Balance Sheet:
Paid-in capital	$	610,285		$	609,431

Cash Flow Statement:
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	41,852		$	42,706
Net cash used in financing activities	$	(41,638	)	$	(42,492	)

Self-Insurance

Self-Insurance

Self-insurance reserves are maintained relative to company-wide casualty insurance and health benefit programs. The level of exposure from catastrophic events is limited by the purchase of stop-loss and aggregate liability reinsurance coverage. When estimating the self-insurance liabilities and related reserves, management considers a number of factors, which include historical claims experience, demographic factors, severity factors and valuations provided by independent third-party actuaries. Management reviews its assumptions with its independent third-party actuaries to evaluate whether the self-insurance reserves are adequate. If actual claims or adverse development of loss reserves occur and exceed these estimates, additional reserves may be required. Reserves in the amounts of $4,060 and $3,214 at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, were established related to such programs and are included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities in our condensed consolidated unaudited balance sheets.