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Organization and Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2023
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Significant Accounting Policies | Organization and Significant Accounting Policies Polaris Inc. (“Polaris” or the “Company”), a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries are engaged in the design, engineering, manufacturing and marketing of powersports vehicles, which include: off-road vehicles (“ORV”), including all-terrain vehicles (“ATV”) and side-by-side vehicles; military and commercial ORVs; snowmobiles; motorcycles; moto-roadsters; quadricycles; boats; and related Parts, Garments and Accessories (“PG&A”), which includes aftermarket accessories and apparel. Polaris products are sold worldwide online and through a network of independent dealers and distributors. The primary markets for the Company’s products are the United States, Canada, Western Europe, Australia and Mexico. Basis of presentation. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Polaris and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. Income from financial services is reported as a component of operating income to better reflect income from ongoing operations, of which financial services has a significant impact. The Company evaluates consolidation of entities under Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 810. This Topic requires management to evaluate whether an entity or interest is a variable interest entity and whether the company is the primary beneficiary. The Company used the guidelines to analyze the Company’s relationships and concluded that there were no variable interest entities requiring consolidation by the Company. In August 2023, the Company acquired the Walker Evans Racing brand and the operating assets of Walker Evans Enterprises (collectively, “Walker Evans”). Walker Evans was historically a supplier to the Company, providing shocks for the Company’s ORVs and snowmobiles. The Company has included the financial results of Walker Evans in its Off Road segment since the date of acquisition. Additional purchase accounting disclosures have been omitted due to the immateriality of this acquisition in relation to the Company’s consolidated financial condition and results of operations. Use of estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States 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 reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Fair value measurements. Fair value is the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Assets and liabilities measured at fair value are classified using the following hierarchy, which is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation as of the measurement date: Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 — Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. In making fair value measurements, observable market data must be used when available. When inputs used to measure fair value fall within different levels of the hierarchy, the level within which the fair value measurement is categorized is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company utilizes the market approach to measure fair value for its non-qualified deferred compensation assets and liabilities, and the income approach for foreign currency contracts, interest rate contracts and commodity contracts. The market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities, and for the income approach, the Company uses significant other observable inputs to value its derivative instruments used to hedge foreign currency, interest rate transactions and commodity transactions. Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below (in millions):
|  | Input Level |  | December 31, 2023 |  | December 31, 2022
Assets |  |  |  |  |  |
Non-qualified deferred compensation assets |  | Level 1 |  | $ | 46.7 |  |  | $ | 39.8 |
Foreign exchange contracts, net |  | Level 2 |  | 4.6 |  |  | 8.4 |
Interest rate contracts, net |  | Level 2 |  | 0.9 |  |  | 5.9 |
Liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |
Non-qualified deferred compensation liabilities |  | Level 1 |  | $ | (46.7) |  |  | $ | (39.8) |
Commodity contracts, net |  | Level 2 |  | (1.3) |  |  | — |
Fair value of other financial instruments. The carrying values of the Company’s short-term financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables, accounts payable and current financing obligations, approximate their fair values due to their short-term nature. As of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the fair value of the Company’s current and long-term financing obligations was approximately $1,954.3 million and $2,070.3 million, respectively, and was determined using Level 2 inputs by discounting projected cash flows based on quoted market rates at which similar amounts of debt could currently be borrowed. The carrying value of current and long-term financing obligations was $1,908.4 million and $2,057.8 million as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The Company measures certain assets and liabilities at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. The Company will impair or write off an investment and recognize a loss when events or circumstances indicate there is impairment in the investment that is other-than-temporary. The amount of loss is determined by measuring the investment at fair value. Refer to Note 12 for additional information. Cash equivalents. The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of 90 days or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates fair value. Such investments consist principally of money market mutual funds. Restricted cash. The Company classifies amounts of cash that are restricted in terms of their use and withdrawal separately within other long-term assets in the consolidated balance sheets. The Company’s restricted cash is comprised primarily of cash held in trust accounts not available for general use due to contractual restrictions. Allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company’s exposure to credit losses on accounts receivable is limited due to its agreements with certain finance companies. For receivables not serviced through these finance companies, the Company establishes a reserve for doubtful accounts based on historical credit loss experience, the age of receivables, credit quality of our customers, current and expected economic conditions, and other factors that may affect our ability to collect from customers. Inventories. Inventory costs include material, labor and manufacturing overhead costs, including depreciation expense associated with the manufacture and distribution of the Company’s products. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value with substantially all inventories recorded using the first-in, first-out method. Finished goods include products that are completed and ready for sale or substantially completed as the product has gone through the primary manufacturing and assembly process. Investment in finance affiliate. The caption investment in finance affiliate in the consolidated balance sheets represents the Company’s 50 percent equity interest in Polaris Acceptance, which is accounted for under the equity method. The Company’s allocable share of the income of Polaris Acceptance has been included as a component of income from financial services in the consolidated statements of income. Refer to Note 11 for additional information. Investment in other affiliates. The Company’s investments in other affiliates are included within other long-term assets in the consolidated balance sheets, and represent the Company’s strategic investments in nonmarketable securities of other companies. For each investment, the Company assesses the level of influence in determining whether to account for the investment under the cost method or equity method. The Company will write down or write off an investment and recognize a loss if and when events or circumstances indicate there is impairment in the investment that is other-than-temporary. Refer to Note 12 for additional information. Property and equipment. Property and equipment is stated at historical cost. Depreciation is determined using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the respective assets, ranging from 10-40 years for buildings and improvements and 1-7 years for equipment and tooling. Depreciation of assets recorded under finance leases is included within depreciation expense. Fully-depreciated tooling is eliminated from the accounting records annually. The Company recorded $241.2 million, $214.0 million, and $193.4 million of depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. A majority of the Company’s property and equipment is located in North America. Goodwill and other intangible assets. Goodwill is tested at least annually for impairment and is tested for impairment more frequently when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. The Company completes its annual goodwill impairment test as of the first day of the fourth quarter. The Company may first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of each reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. A qualitative assessment requires that the Company considers events or circumstances including macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, cost factors, overall financial performance, changes in management or key personnel, changes in strategy, changes in customers, changes in the composition or carrying amount of a reporting unit’s net assets, and changes in the Company’s stock price. If, after assessing the totality of events and circumstances, it is determined that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, or if the Company elects to bypass the qualitative test and proceed to a quantitative test, then the quantitative goodwill impairment test is performed. A quantitative test includes comparing the fair value of each reporting unit to the carrying amount of the reporting unit, including goodwill. If the estimated fair value is less than the carrying amount of the reporting unit, an impairment is recognized in an amount equal to the difference, limited to the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. Under the quantitative goodwill impairment test, the fair value of each reporting unit is determined using a discounted cash flow analysis and market approach. Determining the fair value of the reporting units requires the use of significant judgment, including discount rates, assumptions in the Company’s long-term business plan about future revenues and expenses, capital expenditures, and changes in working capital, which are dependent on internal forecasts, estimation of long-term growth for each reporting unit, and determination of the discount rate. These plans take into consideration numerous factors including historical experience, anticipated future economic conditions, changes in raw material prices, and growth expectations for the industries and end markets in which the Company participates. For its annual test in 2023, the Company completed a qualitative assessment for the Off Road and On Road reporting units and elected to perform a quantitative goodwill test for the Marine reporting unit. The Company’s primary identifiable intangible assets include: dealer/customer relationships and brand/trade names. Identifiable intangible assets with finite lives are amortized and those identifiable intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized. Identifiable intangible assets that are subject to amortization are tested for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Identifiable intangible assets with indefinite lives are tested for impairment annually or more frequently when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. The Company’s identifiable intangible assets with indefinite lives include brand/trade names. The impairment test consists of a comparison of the fair value of the brand/trade name with its carrying value. The Company completes its annual impairment test as of the first day of the fourth quarter each year for identifiable intangible assets with indefinite lives. Refer to Note 8 for additional information on goodwill and other intangible assets. Revenue recognition. The Company recognizes revenue when it satisfies a performance obligation by transferring control of a good or service to a customer. Revenue is measured based on the amount of consideration that the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for the goods or services transferred. Sales, value add, and other taxes that are collected from a customer concurrent with revenue-producing activities are excluded from revenue. Revenue from goods and services transferred to customers at a point-in-time accounts for the majority of the Company’s revenue. Revenue from products or services transferred over time is discussed in the contract liabilities section of Note 3. For the majority of wholegood vehicles, boats, and PG&A, the Company transfers control and recognizes a sale when it ships the product from its manufacturing facility, distribution center, or vehicle holding center to the customer. The amount of consideration the Company receives and revenue it recognizes varies with changes in marketing incentives and rebates it offers to its customers. Payment terms vary by customer and most of the Company’s sales are financed by the customer under floorplan financing arrangements whereby the Company receives payment within a few days of shipment of the product. When the right of return exists, the Company adjusts the consideration for the estimated effect of returns. The Company estimates expected returns based on historical sales levels, the timing and magnitude of historical sales return levels as a percent of sales, type of product, type of customer, and a projection of this experience into the future. The Company adjusts its estimate of revenue at the earlier of when the most likely amount of consideration it expects to receive changes or when the consideration becomes fixed. Depending on the terms of the arrangement, the Company may also defer the recognition of a portion of the consideration received because it has to satisfy a future obligation. The Company uses an observable price to determine the stand-alone selling price for separate performance obligations. The Company has elected to recognize the cost for freight and shipping when control over vehicles, boats, or PG&A has transferred to the customer as an expense in cost of sales. The Company sells separately-priced service contracts (“ESCs”) that extend mechanical coverages beyond the base limited warranty as well as prepaid maintenance agreements to vehicle owners. Each of these separately priced service contracts range from 12 months to 84 months. The Company typically receives payment at the inception of the contract and recognizes revenue over the term of the agreement in proportion to the costs expected to be incurred in satisfying the obligations under the contract. Sales promotions and incentives. The Company accrues for estimated sales promotion and incentive expenses, which are recognized as a component of sales in measuring the amount of consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for transferring goods or providing services. Examples of sales promotion and incentive programs include dealer and consumer rebates, volume incentives, retail financing programs and sales associate incentives. Sales promotion and incentive expenses are estimated based on current programs, planned programs, and historical rates for each product line. The Company records these amounts as a liability in the consolidated balance sheet until they are ultimately paid. Adjustments to sales promotions and incentives accruals are made as actual usage becomes known in order to properly estimate the amounts necessary to generate consumer demand based on market conditions as of the balance sheet date. Dealer holdback programs. Dealer holdback represents a portion of the invoiced sales price that is expected to be subsequently returned to the dealer or distributor as a sales incentive upon the ultimate retail sale of the product. Holdback amounts reduce the ultimate net price of the products purchased by the Company’s dealers or distributors and, therefore, reduce the amount of sales the Company recognizes. The portion of the invoiced sales price estimated as the holdback is recognized as a “dealer holdback” liability within accrued expenses on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet until paid or forfeited. The minimal holdback adjustments in the estimated holdback liability due to forfeitures are recognized in net sales. Payments are made to dealers or distributors at various times during the year subject to previously established criteria. Shipping and handling costs. The Company records shipping and handling costs as a component of cost of sales when control has transferred to the customer. Research and development expenses. The Company records research and development expenses in the period in which they are incurred as a component of operating expenses. Advertising expenses. The Company records advertising expenses as a component of selling and marketing expenses in the period in which they are incurred. In the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, the Company incurred $94.1 million, $87.6 million and $90.8 million of advertising expenses, respectively. Product warranties. The Company typically provides a limited warranty for its vehicles and boats for a period of six months to ten years, depending on the product. The Company provides longer warranties in certain geographical markets as determined by local regulations and customary practice and may also provide longer warranties related to certain promotional programs. The Company’s standard warranties require the Company, generally through its dealer network, to repair or replace defective products during such warranty periods. The warranty reserve is established at the time of sale to the dealer or distributor based on management’s best estimate using historical rates and trends. The Company records these amounts as a liability within accrued expenses on the consolidated balance sheet until they are ultimately paid. Adjustments to the warranty reserve are made based on actual claims experience in order to properly estimate the amounts necessary to settle future and existing claims on products sold as of the balance sheet date. The warranty reserve includes the estimated costs related to recalls, which are accrued when probable and estimable. Factors that could have an impact on the warranty reserve include: changes in manufacturing quality, shifts in product mix, changes in warranty coverage periods, impacts on product usage (including weather), product recalls and changes in sales volume. The activity in the warranty reserve during the periods presented was as follows (in millions):
| For the Years Ended December 31,
| 2023 |  | 2022 |  | 2021
Balance at beginning of year | $ | 172.9 |  |  | $ | 132.9 |  |  | $ | 138.6 |
Reductions to reserve related to divestitures | — |  |  | — |  |  | (2.1) |
Additions charged to expense | 209.1 |  |  | 183.5 |  |  | 130.4 |
Warranty claims paid, net | (200.9) |  |  | (143.5) |  |  | (134.0) |
Balance at end of year | $ | 181.1 |  |  | $ | 172.9 |  |  | $ | 132.9 |
Leases. The Company leases certain manufacturing facilities, warehouses, distribution centers, office space, land, and equipment. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet; the Company recognizes lease expense for these leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company does not separate non-lease components from the lease components to which they relate, and instead accounts for each separate lease and non-lease component associated with that lease component as a single lease component for all underlying asset classes. As most of the Company's leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses its estimated incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. Some leases include one or more options to renew, with renewal terms that can extend the lease term from one to 20 years or more. Such options are included in the lease term when it is reasonably certain that the option will be exercised. Certain leases also include options to purchase the leased property. The depreciable life of assets and leasehold improvements are limited by the expected lease term, unless there is a transfer of title or purchase option where there is a reasonable certainty of exercise. Certain lease agreements include rental payments that are variable based on usage or are adjusted periodically for inflation. The Company’s lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants. Share-based employee compensation. The Company accounts for share-based compensation awards, including stock options and other equity-based compensation issued to employees, on a fair value basis. Determining the appropriate fair-value model and calculating the fair value of share-based awards at the date of grant requires judgment. The Company utilizes the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the fair value of employee stock options, and the Monte Carlo model to estimate the fair value of employee performance restricted stock units that include a market condition. These pricing models also require the use of input assumptions, including expected volatility, expected life, expected dividend yield, and expected risk-free rate of return. The Company utilizes historical volatility as the Company believes this is reflective of market conditions. The expected life of the awards is based on historical exercise patterns. The risk-free interest rate assumption is based on observed interest rates appropriate for the terms of awards. The dividend yield assumption is based on the Company’s history of dividend payouts. The amount of compensation cost for share-based awards recognized during a period is based on the portion of the awards that are ultimately expected to vest. The Company estimates forfeitures at the time of grant and revises those estimates in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. The Company analyzes historical data to estimate pre-vesting forfeitures and records share compensation expense for those awards expected to vest. If forfeiture adjustments are made, they would affect gross profit and operating expenses. All stock options have time-based vesting conditions. The Company estimates the likelihood and the rate of achievement for performance share-based awards, specifically long-term compensation grants of performance-based restricted stock unit awards. Changes in the estimated rate of achievement can have a significant effect on reported share-based compensation expenses as the effect of a change in the estimated achievement level is recognized in the period that the likelihood factor changes. If adjustments in the estimated rate of achievement are made, they would be reflected in gross profit and operating expenses. Fluctuations in the Company’s stock price can have an effect on reported share-based compensation expenses for liability-based awards. The impact from fluctuations in the Company’s stock price is recognized in the period of the change, and is reflected in gross profit and operating expenses. Refer to Note 5 for additional information. Derivative instruments and hedging activities. Changes in the fair values of derivative instruments are recognized in earnings unless the derivative qualifies as a hedge. To qualify as a hedge, the Company must formally document, designate and assess the effectiveness of transactions that receive hedge accounting. The Company does not use any financial contracts for trading purposes. The Company enters into foreign exchange contracts to manage currency exposures from certain of its purchase commitments denominated in foreign currencies and transfers of funds from its foreign subsidiaries. These contracts meet the criteria for cash flow hedges. Gains and losses on the Company’s foreign exchange contracts at settlement are recorded in non-operating other (income) expense, net in the consolidated statements of income. The contracts are recorded in prepaid expenses and other or other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. Unrealized gains and losses are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net. The Company enters into interest rate swaps in order to maintain a balanced risk of fixed and variable interest rates associated with the Company’s debt. These contracts meet the criteria to be accounted for as cash flow hedges. Gains and losses on the Company’s interest rate swaps at settlement are recorded in interest expense in the consolidated statements of income. The contracts are recorded in prepaid expenses and other or other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. Unrealized gains and losses are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net. The Company enters into commodity hedging contracts in order to manage fluctuating market prices of certain purchased commodities and raw materials that are integrated into the Company’s end products. Gains and losses on the Company’s commodity hedging contracts at settlement are recorded in cost of sales in the consolidated statements of income. The contracts are recorded in prepaid expenses and other or other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. Unrealized gains and losses are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net. Refer to Note 15 for additional information regarding derivative instruments and hedging activities. Foreign currency translation. The functional currency for the Company’s foreign subsidiaries is typically their respective local currencies. The assets and liabilities in the Company’s foreign entities are translated at the foreign exchange rate in effect at the balance sheet date. Translation gains and losses are reflected as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net in the shareholders’ equity section of the consolidated balance sheets. Revenues and expenses in all of the Company’s foreign entities are translated at the average foreign exchange rate in effect for each month of the quarter. Transaction gains and losses including intercompany transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of the entity involved are included in other (income) expense, net in the consolidated statements of income. New accounting pronouncements. Reportable Segment Disclosures. In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Updated (ASU) 2023-07, “Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures”. ASU 2023-07 is intended to enhance financial reporting by requiring incremental disclosures for significant segment expenses on an annual and interim basis by public entities required to report segment information in accordance with ASC Topic 280. The amendments in ASU 2023-07 are to be applied retrospectively to all periods presented in the financial statements and early adoption is permitted. This standard is applicable to the Company for the 2024 annual period and quarterly periods thereafter. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this standard will have on its financial statement disclosures. Income Tax Disclosures. In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures”. ASU 2023-09 is intended to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income taxes disclosures, primarily through changes to disclosures around the effective tax rate reconciliation and income taxes paid information. The amendments in ASU 2023-09 are to be applied prospectively and early adoption is permitted. This standard is applicable to the Company beginning with the 2025 annual period. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this standard will have on its financial statement disclosures. There are no other new accounting pronouncements that are expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements or related disclosures.

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