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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Jan. 01, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | Note 1: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Presentation Exponent, Inc. together with its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as the “Company”) is a science and engineering consulting firm that provides solutions to complex problems. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company operates on a 52-53 week fiscal year with each year ending on the Friday closest to December 31st. Fiscal period 2020 included 52 weeks of activity and ended on January 1, 2021. Fiscal period 2019 included 53 weeks of activity and ended on January 3, 2020. Fiscal period 2018 included 52 weeks of activity and ended on December 28, 2018. Fiscal period 2021 is 52 weeks and will end on December 31, 2021. Stock Split On May 31, 2018, the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment to the Company’s certificate of incorporation to (i) increase the number of authorized shares of common stock to 120,000,000 and (ii) effect a two-for-one stock split. As a result of the stock split, each shareholder of record at the close of business on May 31, 2018, received one additional share of common stock for each share of common stock owned by such stockholder. Restricted stock unit awards and stock option awards have also been adjusted to reflect the two-for-one stock split. For periods prior to the stock split, all share and per share data in the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related notes have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the stock split. 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 and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. Estimates are used for, but not limited to, revenue recognition, allowance for contract losses and doubtful accounts, stock-based compensation, income taxes, goodwill, the useful life of property, equipment and leasehold improvements, and operating lease liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Foreign Currency Translation The Company translates the assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries, whose functional currency is the local currency, at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at the average rates of exchange prevailing during the year. The adjustment resulting from translating the financial statements of such foreign subsidiaries is included in accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss), which is reflected as a separate component of stockholders’ equity. Cash Equivalents Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments such as money market mutual funds, commercial paper and debt securities with original remaining maturities of three months or less from the date of purchase. Short-term Investments Short-term investments consist of debt securities classified as available-for-sale and are carried at their fair value as of the balance sheet date. Short-term investments generally mature between three months and three years from the purchase date. Investments with maturities beyond one year are classified as short-term based on their highly liquid nature and because such marketable securities represent investments readily available for current operations. The amortized cost of securities is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity. Such amortization is included in interest income. Realized gains or losses are determined on the specific identification method and are reflected in other income. Net unrealized gains and losses are recorded directly in accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) except for unrealized losses that are deemed to be other-than-temporary, which are reflected in net income. Investments are reviewed on a regular basis to evaluate whether or not any security has experienced an other-than temporary decline in fair value. When assessing investments for other-than-temporary declines in fair value, the Company considers the significance of the decline in value as a percentage of the original cost, how long the market value of the investment has been less than its original cost, any news that has been released specific to the investee, and the Company’s intent to sell, or whether it is more likely than not it will be required to sell the investment before recovery of the investment’s cost basis. Allowances for Contract Losses and Doubtful Accounts The Company maintains allowances for estimated losses resulting from the inability of customers to meet their financial obligations or for disputes that affect the Company’s ability to fully collect amounts due. In circumstances where the Company is aware of a specific customer’s inability to meet its financial obligations or aware of a dispute with a specific customer, a specific allowance is recorded to reduce the net recognized receivable to the amount the Company reasonably believes will be collected. For all other customers the Company recognizes allowances for doubtful accounts based upon historical write-offs, customer concentration, customer creditworthiness, current economic conditions, aging of amounts due and changes in customer payment terms. Property, Equipment and Leasehold Improvements Property, equipment and leasehold improvements are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization are recognized using the straight-line method. Buildings are depreciated over their estimated useful lives ranging from thirty to forty years. Equipment is depreciated over its estimated useful life, which generally ranges from two to seven years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of their estimated useful lives, generally seven years, or the term of the related lease. Impairment of Long-Lived Assets The Company evaluates long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of the assets to future undiscounted cash flows to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. The Company has not recognized impairment losses on any long-lived assets in 2020, 2019 or 2018. Goodwill The Company assesses the impairment of goodwill annually and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may be impaired. The Company’s annual goodwill impairment review is completed during the fourth quarter of each year. The Company evaluates goodwill for each reporting unit for impairment by assessing qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform a quantitative goodwill impairment test. The Company considers events and circumstances, including but not limited to, macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, cost factors, overall financial performance, changes in management or key personnel, changes in strategy, changes in customers, a change in the composition or carrying amount of a reporting unit’s net assets and changes in the price of its common stock. If, after assessing the totality of events or circumstances, the Company determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is greater than its carrying amount, then the quantitative goodwill impairment test is not performed. The Company completed its annual assessment for all reporting units with goodwill for 2020 and determined, after assessing the totality of the qualitative factors, that it is more likely than not that the fair value of each reporting unit is greater than its respective carrying amount. Accordingly, there was no indication of impairment of goodwill for any of the Company’s reporting units and the quantitative goodwill impairment test was not performed. The Company did not recognize any goodwill impairment losses in 2020, 2019 or 2018. Deferred Revenues Deferred revenues represent amounts billed to clients in advance of services provided. Income Taxes Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected tax consequences of temporary differences between the tax basis and the financial reporting basis of assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities from changes in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is recorded for deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. An uncertain tax position is recognized if it is determined that it is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination. The tax position is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. Accrued interest and penalties are insignificant at January 1, 2021 and January 3, 2020. Fair Value of Financial Instruments Financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable, other assets and accounts payable. Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments are recorded at fair value. The carrying amount of the Company’s accounts receivable, other assets and accounts payable approximates their fair values due to their short maturities. Stock-Based Compensation Stock-based compensation is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized as expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the entire award. The Company accounts for forfeitures of stock-based awards when they occur. Net Income Per Share Basic per share amounts are computed using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Dilutive per share amounts are computed using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding and potentially dilutive securities, using the treasury stock method if their effect would be dilutive. The following schedule reconciles the denominators of the Company’s calculation for basic and diluted net income per share:
|  | Fiscal Years |
(In thousands) |  | 2020 |  |  | 2019 |  |  | 2018 |
Shares used in basic per share computation |  |  | 52,388 |  |  |  | 52,691 |  |  |  | 52,906 |
Effect of dilutive common stock options outstanding |  |  | 333 |  |  |  | 458 |  |  |  | 403 |
Effect of unvested restricted stock units outstanding |  |  | 602 |  |  |  | 735 |  |  |  | 859 |
Shares used in diluted per share computation |  |  | 53,323 |  |  |  | 53,884 |  |  |  | 54,168 |
Common stock options to purchase 35,604 shares were excluded from the diluted per share calculation for 2020 due to their anti-dilutive effect. There were no equity awards excluded from the diluted per share calculation for 2019 and 2018. Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) established Topic 326, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, by issuing Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses, which replaces the incurred loss methodology with an expected loss methodology that is referred to as the current expected credit loss (“CECL”) methodology. The measurement of the expected credit losses under the CECL methodology is applicable to financial assets measured at amortized cost where there is a contractual right to receive cash, including, accounts receivables, loan receivables and held-to-maturity debt securities. The Company adopted ASU No. 2016-13 in the first quarter of 2020 and the impact of the adoption was not material to the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) established Topic 842, Leases, by issuing Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-02, which requires lessees to recognize leases on-balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. Topic 842 was subsequently amended by ASU No. 2018-01, Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842; ASU No. 2018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases; and ASU No. 2018-11, Targeted Improvements. The new standard establishes a right-of-use model (“ROU”) that requires a lessee to recognize a ROU asset and lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with a term longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern and classification of expense recognition in the income statement. Under the standard, disclosures are required to meet the objective of enabling users of financial statements to assess the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. The Company adopted the ASU as of the beginning of its first quarter of 2019. A modified retrospective transition approach is required, requiring the application of the new standard to all leases existing at the date of initial application. An entity may choose to use either (1) its effective date or (2) the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements as its date of initial application. The Company adopted the new standard on December 29, 2018, using the effective date as the date of initial application. Consequently, financial information was not updated and the disclosures required under the new standard were not provided for dates and periods before December 29, 2018. The new standard provides a number of optional practical expedients in transition. The Company elected the ‘package of practical expedients’, which permits it not to reassess under the new standard prior conclusions about lease identification, lease classification and initial direct costs. The Company elected the practical expedient to include both lease and non-lease components as a single component and account for it as a lease for all asset classes. The Company also elected to apply the short-term lease exception for all leases. Under the short-term lease exception, the Company will not recognize ROU assets or lease liabilities for leases that, at the acquisition date, have a remaining lease term of 12 months or less. The ASU had a material impact to the Company’s consolidated balance sheet, but did not have an impact on its consolidated statement of income. The most significant impact was the recognition of ROU assets and lease liabilities for its operating leases. Recently Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Effective There are no new accounting pronouncements that have significance, or potential significance, to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for the basis of presentation and significant accounting policies concepts. Basis of presentation describes the underlying basis used to prepare the financial statements (for example, US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, Other Comprehensive Basis of Accounting, IFRS). Accounting policies describe all significant accounting policies of the reporting entity. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2122369 + Details
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