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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Jan. 03, 2025

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

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 2024 included 53 weeks of activity and ended on January 3, 2025. Fiscal period 2023 included 52 weeks of activity and ended on December 29, 2023. Fiscal period 2022 included 52 weeks of activity and ended on December 30, 2022. Fiscal period 2025 is 52 weeks and will end on January 2, 2026.

Use of Estimates

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

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

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.

Allowances for Contract Losses and Doubtful Accounts

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 is 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 and forecasts of future economic conditions, aging of amounts due and changes in customer payment terms.

Property, Equipment and Leasehold Improvements

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 30 to 40 years. Equipment is depreciated over its estimated useful life, which generally ranges from 3 to 7 years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of their estimated useful lives, generally 7 years, or the term of the related lease.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

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 2024, 2023 or 2022.

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 2024 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 2024, 2023 or 2022.

Deferred Revenues

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 50% 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 3, 2025 and December 29, 2023.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

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

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

Net Income Per Share

Basic per share amounts are computed using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted 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)		2024				2023				2022
Shares used in basic per share computation			51,129				51,152				51,727
Effect of dilutive common stock options outstanding			166				188				204
Effect of unvested restricted stock units outstanding			274				295				349
Shares used in diluted per share computation			51,569				51,635				52,280

Common stock options to purchase 30,000 shares were excluded from the diluted per share calculation for 2024 due to their anti-dilutive effect. Common stock options to purchase 59,459 shares were excluded from the diluted per share calculation for 2023 due to their anti-dilutive effect. There were no equity awards excluded from the diluted per share calculation for 2022.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

On November 27, 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. This standard improves reportable segment disclosures by adding and enhancing interim disclosure requirements, clarifying circumstances in which entities can disclose multiple segment measures of profit or loss, providing new segment disclosure requirements for entities with a single reportable segment, and adding the disclosure of significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker within each reported measure of segment profit and loss. This standard is effective for all entities that are subject to Topic 280, Segment Reporting for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company has included all required disclosures within its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024. See Note 17 for further information on segment disclosures.

Recently Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income - Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (subtopic 220-40), which requires disclosure of disaggregation of certain relevant expenses included in the statements of operations on an annual and interim basis. ASU 2024-03 will be effective for our annual periods beginning January 1, 2027 and interim periods beginning January 1, 2028. The amendments must be applied retrospectively, and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effects of adoption on our consolidated financial statements.