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Organization and Significant Accounting Policies | 3 Months Ended
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Oct. 31, 2020
Organization and Significant Accounting Policies |
Organization and Significant Accounting Policies | 1. Organization and Significant Accounting Policies ​ Organization ​ AeroVironment, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), is engaged in the design, development, production, support and operation of unmanned aircraft systems (“UAS”) for various industries and governmental agencies. ​ Basis of Presentation ​ The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions of Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation with respect to the interim financial statements have been included. The results of operations for the three and six months ended October 31, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full year ending April 30, 2021. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto for the year ended April 30, 2020, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K. ​ The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions, including estimates of anticipated contract costs and revenue utilized in the revenue recognition process, that affect the reported amounts in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. ​ The Company’s consolidated financial statements include the assets, liabilities and operating results of wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. ​ In December 2017, the Company and SoftBank Corp. (“SoftBank”) formed a joint venture, HAPSMobile Inc. (“HAPSMobile”). As the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of HAPSMobile, the Company’s investment has been accounted for as an equity method investment. The Company has presented its proportion of HAPSMobile’s net loss in equity method investment loss, net of tax in the consolidated statements of operations. The carrying value of the investment in HAPSMobile was recorded in other assets. During the three months ended October 31, 2020, the Company recorded its proportion of a loss for HAPSMobile’s impairment of its investment in Loon LLC in the amount of $8,363,000. Refer to Note 6—Equity Method Investments for further details. ​ On June 10, 2019, the Company purchased 100% of the issued and outstanding member units of Pulse Aerospace, LLC (“Pulse”) pursuant to the terms of a Unit Purchase Agreement (the “Pulse Purchase Agreement”). The assets, liabilities and operating results of Pulse have been included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Refer to Note 17—Business Acquisitions for further details. ​ During the three months ended October 27, 2019, the Company dissolved its wholly-owned subsidiary, Skytower, Inc., the results of which were not material to the consolidated financial statements. ​ Recently Adopted Accounting Standards ​ Effective May 1, 2020, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, along with several additional clarification ASU’s issued during 2018 and 2019, collectively “CECL”. CECL requires the reporting entity to estimate expected credit losses over the life of a financial asset. CECL requires the credit loss to be recognized upon initial recognition of the financial asset. ASU 2016-13 requires the entity to adopt CECL using the modified retrospective transition approach through a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. As part of the assessment of the adequacy of the Company’s allowances for credit losses, the Company considered a number of factors including, but not limited to, customer credit ratings, age of receivables, and expected loss rates. However, the adoption of CECL did not have a material impact to retained earnings for the Company. ​ Effective May 1, 2020, the Company adopted ASU 2018-15, “Intangibles—Goodwill and Other— Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40) Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract” (“ASU 2018-15”). ASU 2018-15 provides guidance on the treatment of accounting for fees paid by a customer in a cloud computing arrangement. This guidance includes the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement. The Company adopted ASU 2018-15 using the prospective method, applying the new guidance to all implementation costs incurred after adoption. The adoption of ASU 2018-15 did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. ​ Revenue Recognition ​ The Company’s revenue is generated pursuant to written contractual arrangements to design, develop, manufacture and/or modify complex products and to provide related engineering, technical and other services according to the specifications of the customers. These contracts may be firm fixed price (“FFP”), cost plus fixed fee (“CPFF”), or time and materials (“T&M”). The Company considers all such contracts to be within the scope of ASC Topic 606. ​ Performance Obligations ​ A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer distinct goods or services to a customer, and it is the unit of account in ASC Topic 606. A contract’s transaction price is allocated to each distinct performance obligation and revenue is recognized when each performance obligation under the terms of a contract is satisfied. Revenue is measured at the amount of consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for transferring goods or providing services. For contracts with multiple performance obligations, the Company allocates the contract’s transaction price to each performance obligation using its observable standalone selling price for products and services. When the standalone selling price is not directly observable, the Company uses its best estimate of the standalone selling price of each distinct good or service in the contract using the cost plus margin approach. This approach estimates the Company’s expected costs of satisfying the performance obligation and then adds an appropriate margin for that distinct good or service. ​ Contract modifications are routine in the performance of the Company’s contracts. In most instances, contract modifications are for additional goods and/or services that are distinct and, therefore, accounted for as new contracts. ​ The Company’s performance obligations are satisfied over time or at a point in time. Performance obligations are satisfied over time if the customer receives the benefits as the Company performs, if the customer controls the asset as it is being developed or produced, or if the product being produced for the customer has no alternative use and the Company has a contractual right to payment for the Company’s costs incurred to date plus a reasonable margin. The contractual right to payment is generally supported by termination for convenience clauses that allow the customer to unilaterally terminate the contract for convenience, pay the Company for costs incurred plus a reasonable profit, and take control of any work in process. Revenue for tactical missile systems (“TMS”) product deliveries and Customer-Funded Research and Development contracts is recognized over time as costs are incurred. Contract services revenue is composed of revenue recognized on contracts for the provision of services, including repairs and maintenance, training, engineering design, development and prototyping activities, and technical support services. Contract services revenue is recognized over time as services are rendered. Typically, revenue is recognized over time using an input measure (e.g., costs incurred to date relative to total estimated costs at completion) to measure progress. Training services are recognized over time using an output method based on days of training completed. ​ For performance obligations satisfied over time, revenue is generally recognized using costs incurred to date relative to total estimated costs at completion to measure progress. Incurred costs represent work performed, which correspond with, and thereby best depict, transfer of control to the customer. Contract costs include labor, materials, subcontractors’ costs, other direct costs, and indirect costs applicable on government and commercial contracts. ​ For performance obligations which are not satisfied over time per the aforementioned criteria above, revenue is recognized at the point in time in which each performance obligation is fully satisfied. The Company’s small UAS product sales revenue is composed of revenue recognized on contracts for the delivery of small UAS systems and spare parts. Revenue is recognized at the point in time when control transfers to the customer, which generally occurs when title and risk of loss have passed to the customer. ​ Performance obligations satisfied over time accounted for 40% and 39% of revenue during the three and six months ended October 31, 2020, respectively. Performance obligations satisfied at a point in time accounted for 60% and 61% of revenue during the three and six months ended October 31, 2020, respectively. ​ On October 31, 2020, the Company had approximately $130,588,000 of remaining performance obligations under fully funded contracts with its customers, which the Company also refers to as funded backlog. The Company currently expects to recognize approximately 92% of the remaining performance obligations as revenue in fiscal 2021, an additional 8% in fiscal 2022, and the balance thereafter. ​ The Company collects sales, value added, and other taxes concurrent with revenue producing activities, which are excluded from revenue when they are both imposed on a specific transaction and collected from a customer. ​ Contract Estimates ​ Accounting for contracts and programs primarily with a duration of less than six months involves the use of various techniques to estimate total contract revenue and costs. For long-term contracts, the Company estimates the total expected costs to complete the contract and recognizes revenue based on the percentage of costs incurred at period end. Typically, revenue is recognized over time using costs incurred to date relative to total estimated costs at completion to measure progress toward satisfying the Company’s performance obligations. Incurred costs represent work performed, which corresponds with, and thereby best depicts, the transfer of control to the customer. Contract costs include labor, materials, subcontractors’ costs, other direct costs, and indirect costs applicable on government and commercial contracts. ​ Contract estimates are based on various assumptions to project the outcome of future events that may span several years. These assumptions include labor productivity and availability, the complexity of the work to be performed, the cost and availability of materials, the performance of subcontractors, and the availability and timing of funding from the customer. ​ The nature of the Company’s contracts gives rise to several types of variable consideration, including penalty fees and incentive awards generally for late delivery and early delivery, respectively. The Company generally estimates such variable consideration as the most likely amount. In addition, the Company includes the estimated variable consideration to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the related uncertainty is resolved. These estimates are based on historical award experience, anticipated performance and the Company’s best judgment at the time. Because of the certainty in estimating these amounts, they are included in the transaction price of the Company’s contracts and the associated remaining performance obligations. ​ As a significant change in one or more of these estimates could affect the profitability of the Company’s contracts, the Company regularly reviews and updates its contract-related estimates. Changes in cumulative revenue estimates, due to changes in the estimated transaction price or cost estimates, are recorded using a cumulative catch-up adjustment in the period identified for contracts with performance obligations recognized over time. If at any time the estimate of contract profitability indicates an anticipated loss on the contract, the Company recognizes the total loss in the quarter it is identified, and it is recorded in other current liabilities. ​ The impact of adjustments in contract estimates on the Company’s operating earnings can be reflected in either operating costs and expenses, or revenue. The aggregate impact of adjustments in contract estimates on revenue related to performance obligations satisfied or partially satisfied in previous periods was not significant for the three or six month periods ended October 31, 2020 or the three or six month periods ended October 26, 2019. No adjustment on any one contract was material to the Company’s unaudited consolidated financial statements for the three or six month periods ended October 31, 2020. During the three and six month periods ended October 26, 2019, the Company revised its estimates of the total expected costs to complete a contract associated with a design and development agreement. The impact of the revised estimate on this contract on revenue related to performance obligations satisfied or partially satisfied in previous periods was an increase of approximately $1,118,000 and $976,000, respectively. ​ Revenue by Category ​ The following tables present the Company’s revenue disaggregated by major product line, contract type, customer category and geographic location (in thousands): ​
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ | ​ | Three Months Ended |  | Six Months Ended | ​
​ |  | October 31, | ​ | October 26, |  | October 31, | ​ | October 26, | ​
Revenue by major product line/program | ​ | 2020 |  | 2019 |  | 2020 |  | 2019 | ​
Small UAS | ​ | $ | 58,265 | ​ | $ | 59,157 | ​ | $ | 114,467 | ​ | $ | 125,903 | ​
TMS | ​ | ​ | 18,961 | ​ | ​ | 7,924 | ​ | ​ | 28,495 | ​ | ​ | 13,511 | ​
HAPS | ​ | ​ | 11,452 | ​ | ​ | 13,393 | ​ | ​ | 27,838 | ​ | ​ | 25,728 | ​
Other | ​ |  | 3,987 | ​ |  | 2,797 | ​ |  | 9,315 | ​ |  | 5,040 | ​
Total revenue | ​ | $ | 92,665 | ​ | $ | 83,271 | ​ | $ | 180,115 | ​ | $ | 170,182 | ​
​
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ | ​ | Three Months Ended | ​ | Six Months Ended | ​
​ |  | October 31, | ​ | October 26, |  | October 31, | ​ | October 26, | ​
Revenue by contract type | ​ | 2020 |  | 2019 | ​ | 2020 |  | 2019 | ​
FFP | ​ | $ | 68,425 | ​ | $ | 60,518 | ​ | $ | 129,300 | ​ | $ | 128,462 | ​
CPFF | ​ | ​ | 24,230 | ​ | ​ | 21,257 | ​ | ​ | 50,799 | ​ | ​ | 39,521 | ​
T&M | ​ |  | 10 | ​ |  | 1,496 |  |  | 16 | ​ |  | 2,199 | ​
Total revenue | ​ | $ | 92,665 | ​ | $ | 83,271 | ​ | $ | 180,115 | ​ | $ | 170,182 | ​
​ Each of these contract types presents advantages and disadvantages. Typically, the Company assumes more risk with FFP contracts. However, these types of contracts generally offer additional profits when the Company completes the work for less than originally estimated. CPFF contracts generally subject the Company to lower risk. Accordingly, the associated base fees are usually lower than fees on FFP contracts. Under T&M contracts, the Company’s profit may vary if actual labor hour rates vary significantly from the negotiated rates. ​
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ | ​ | Three Months Ended | ​ | Six Months Ended | ​
​ |  | October 31, | ​ | October 26, |  | October 31, | ​ | October 26, | ​
Revenue by customer category | ​ | 2020 |  | 2019 | ​ | 2020 |  | 2019 | ​
U.S. government | ​ | $ | 55,594 | ​ | $ | 50,302 | ​ | $ | 109,390 | ​ | $ | 99,436 | ​
Non-U.S. government | ​ | ​ | 37,071 | ​ | ​ | 32,969 | ​ | ​ | 70,725 | ​ | ​ | 70,746 | ​
Total revenue | ​ | $ | 92,665 | ​ | $ | 83,271 | ​ | $ | 180,115 | ​ | $ | 170,182 | ​
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ | ​ | Three Months Ended | ​ | Six Months Ended | ​
​ | ​ | October 31, | ​ | October 26, | ​ | October 31, | ​ | October 26, | ​
Revenue by geographic location | ​ | 2020 |  | 2019 | ​ | 2020 |  | 2019 | ​
Domestic | ​ | $ | 46,398 | ​ | $ | 49,965 | ​ | $ | 99,828 | ​ | $ | 88,773 | ​
International | ​ | ​ | 46,267 | ​ | ​ | 33,306 | ​ | ​ | 80,287 | ​ | ​ | 81,409 | ​
Total revenue | ​ | $ | 92,665 | ​ | $ | 83,271 | ​ | $ | 180,115 | ​ | $ | 170,182 | ​
​ Contract Balances ​ The timing of revenue recognition, billings, and cash collections results in billed accounts receivable, unbilled receivables, and customer advances and deposits on the consolidated balance sheet. In the Company’s services contracts, amounts are billed as work progresses in accordance with agreed-upon contractual terms, either at periodic intervals, which is generally monthly, or upon the achievement of contractual milestones. Generally, billing occurs subsequent to revenue recognition, resulting in contract assets recorded in unbilled receivables and retentions on the consolidated balance sheet. However, the Company sometimes receives advances or deposits from its customers before revenue is recognized, resulting in contract liabilities recorded in customer advances on the consolidated balance sheet. Contract liabilities are not a significant financing component as they are generally utilized to pay for contract costs within a one-year period or are used to ensure the customer meets contractual requirements. These assets and liabilities are reported on the consolidated balance sheet on a contract-by-contract basis at the end of each reporting period. For the Company’s product revenue, the Company generally receives cash payments subsequent to satisfying the performance obligation via delivery of the product, resulting in billed accounts receivable. Changes in the contract asset and liability balances during the six month period ended October 31, 2020 were not materially impacted by any other factors. For the Company’s contracts, there are no significant gaps between the receipt of payment and the transfer of the associated goods and services to the customer for material amounts of consideration. ​ Revenue recognized for the three and six month periods ended October 31, 2020 that was included in contract liability balances at the beginning of each year was $3,451,000 and $5,423,000, respectively; and revenue recognized for the three and six month periods ended October 26, 2019 that was included in contract liability balances at the beginning of each year was $828,000 and $1,658,000, respectively. ​ Segments ​ Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company’s CODM, who is the Chief Executive Officer, makes operating decisions, assesses performance and makes resource allocation decisions, including the focus of research and development (“R&D”), on a consolidated basis for the Company’s continuing operations. Accordingly, the Company operates its business as a single reportable segment. ​ Investments ​ The Company’s investments are accounted for as available-for-sale and are reported at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses are excluded from earnings and reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity, net of deferred income taxes for available-for-sale investments. Gains and losses realized on the disposition of investment securities are determined on the specific identification basis and credited or charged to income. Management determines the appropriate classification of securities at the time of purchase and reevaluates such designation as of each balance sheet date. ​ Investments are considered to be impaired if the fair value of the investment is less than its amortized cost basis. On a quarterly basis, the Company considers available quantitative and qualitative evidence in evaluating potential impairment of its investments. If the cost of an investment exceeds its fair value, the Company evaluates if the decline in fair value resulted from a credit loss or other factors. The Company considers factors such as general market conditions and potential adverse conditions related to the financial health of the issuer based on rating agency actions. Impairments relating to credit losses are recorded in earnings through an allowance for credit losses. The allowance is limited by the amount that the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis. Impairments not related to credit losses are recorded through other comprehensive income, net of applicable taxes. ​ Fair Values of Financial Instruments ​ Fair values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, unbilled receivables and retentions, and accounts payable approximate cost due to the short period of time to maturity. ​ Government Contracts ​ Payments to the Company on government CPFF or T&M contracts are based on provisional, or estimated indirect rates, which are subject to an annual audit by the Defense Contract Audit Agency (“DCAA”). The cost audits result in the negotiation and determination of the final indirect cost rates that the Company may use for the period(s) audited. The final rates, if different from the provisional rates, may create an additional receivable or liability for the Company for CPFF and T&M contracts. ​ For example, during the course of its audits, the DCAA may question the Company’s incurred costs, and if the DCAA believes the Company has accounted for such costs in a manner inconsistent with the requirements under Federal Acquisition Regulations, the DCAA auditor may recommend to the Company’s administrative contracting officer to disallow such costs. Historically, the Company has not experienced material disallowed costs as a result of government audits. However, the Company can provide no assurance that the DCAA or other government audits will not result in material disallowances for incurred costs in the future. ​ The Company’s revenue recognition policy calls for revenue recognized on all cost reimbursable government contracts to be recorded at actual rates unless collectability is not reasonably assured. During the fiscal year ended April 30, 2020, the Company settled rates for its incurred cost claims with the DCAA for fiscal year 2015 for an amount not significant. At October 31, 2020 and April 30, 2020, the Company had no reserve for incurred cost claim audits. ​ Earnings Per Share ​ Basic earnings per share is computed using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding, excluding shares of unvested restricted stock. ​ The reconciliation of basic to diluted shares is as follows (in thousands except share data): ​
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ | ​ | ​ | Three Months Ended | ​ | ​ | Six Months Ended |
​ |  | October 31, 2020 |  | October 26, 2019 |  | October 31, 2020 |  | October 26, 2019 |
Denominator for basic earnings per share: | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
Weighted average common shares | ​ |  | 23,936,950 | ​ |  | 23,804,364 |  | ​ | 23,914,737 |  | ​ | 23,775,355 | ​
Dilutive effect of employee stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units | ​ |  | 259,962 | ​ |  | 257,446 |  | ​ | 275,579 |  | ​ | 288,420 | ​
Denominator for diluted earnings per share | ​ | ​ | 24,196,912 | ​ | ​ | 24,061,810 | ​ | ​ | 24,190,316 | ​ | ​ | 24,063,775 | ​
​ Potentially dilutive shares not included in the computation of diluted weighted-average common shares because their effect would have been anti-dilutive were 23 and 269 for the three and six months ended October 31, 2020. Potentially dilutive shares not included in the computation of diluted weighted-average common shares because their effect would have been anti-dilutive were 8,402 and 4,358 for the three and six months ended October 26, 2019, respectively. ​ Recently Issued Accounting Standards ​ In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (Topic 740). This ASU simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 and interim periods therein, with early adoption permitted. The adoption method is dependent on the specific amendment included in this update as certain amendments require retrospective adoption, modified retrospective adoption, an option of retrospective or modified retrospective, and prospective adoption. The Company is evaluating the potential impact of this adoption on its consolidated financial statements. ​ In January 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-01, Clarifying the Interactions between Topic 321, Topic 323, and Topic 815 (Topic 321, Topic 323, and Topic 815). This ASU clarifies accounting certain topics impacted by Topic 321 Investments—Equity Securities. These topics include measuring equity securities using the measurement alternative, how the measurement alternative should be applied to equity method accounting, and certain forward contracts and purchased options which would be accounted for under the equity method of accounting upon settlement or exercise. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 and interim periods therein, with early adoption permitted. The amendments should be adopted prospectively. The Company is evaluating the potential impact of this adoption on its consolidated financial statements.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for the organization, consolidation and basis of presentation of financial statements disclosure, and significant accounting policies of the reporting entity. May be provided in more than one note to the financial statements, as long as users are provided with an understanding of (1) the significant judgments and assumptions made by an enterprise in determining whether it must consolidate a VIE and/or disclose information about its involvement with a VIE, (2) the nature of restrictions on a consolidated VIE's assets reported by an enterprise in its statement of financial position, including the carrying amounts of such assets, (3) the nature of, and changes in, the risks associated with an enterprise's involvement with the VIE, and (4) how an enterprise's involvement with the VIE affects the enterprise's financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. Describes procedure if disclosures are provided in more than one note to the financial statements. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 205 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2122149 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2197479 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2122369 Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 275 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2134479 + Details
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