
A.	SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Fiscal Year - The Buckle, Inc. (the “Company”) has its fiscal year end on the Saturday nearest January 31. All references in these consolidated financial statements to fiscal years are to the calendar year in which the fiscal year begins. Fiscal 2018 represents the 52-week period ended February 2, 2019, fiscal 2017 represents the 53-week period ended February 3, 2018, and fiscal 2016 represents the 52-week period ended January 28, 2017.

Nature of Operations - The Company is a retailer of medium to better-priced casual apparel, footwear, and accessories for fashion-conscious young men and women. The Company operates its business as one reportable segment and sells its merchandise through its retail stores and e-Commerce platform. The Company operated 450 stores located in 42 states throughout the United States as of February 2, 2019.

During fiscal 2018, the Company did not open any new stores, substantially remodeled 6 stores, and closed 7 stores. During fiscal 2017, the Company opened 2 new stores, substantially remodeled 8 stores, and closed 12 stores. During fiscal 2016, the Company opened 5 new stores, substantially remodeled 19 stores, and closed 6 stores.

Principles of Consolidation - The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of The Buckle, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Revenue Recognition - Retail store sales are recorded, net of expected returns, upon the purchase of merchandise by customers. Online sales are recorded, net of expected returns, when the merchandise is tendered for delivery to the common carrier. Shipping fees charged to customers are included in revenue and shipping costs are included in selling expenses. The Company recognizes revenue from sales made under its layaway program upon delivery of the merchandise to the customer. Revenue is not recorded when gift cards and gift certificates are sold, but rather when a card or certificate is redeemed for merchandise. A current liability for unredeemed gift cards and certificates is recorded at the time the card or certificate is purchased. The liability recorded for unredeemed gift certificates and gift cards was $16,634 and $18,202 as of February 2, 2019 and February 3, 2018, respectively. Gift card and gift certificate breakage is recognized as revenue in proportion to the redemption pattern of customers by applying an estimated breakage rate. The estimated breakage rate is based on historical issuance and redemption patterns and is re-assessed by the Company on a regular basis. Sales tax collected from customers is excluded from revenue and is included as part of "accrued store operating expenses" on the Company's consolidated balance sheets.

The Company establishes a liability for estimated merchandise returns, based upon the historical average sales return percentage, that is recognized at the transaction value. The Company also recognizes a return asset and a corresponding adjustment to cost of sales for the Company's right to recover returned merchandise, which is measured at the estimated carrying value, less any expected recovery costs. The accrued liability for reserve for sales returns was $2,182 as of February 2, 2019 and $1,070 as of February 3, 2018.

The Company's Guest Loyalty program allows participating guests to earn points for every qualifying purchase, which (after achievement of certain point thresholds) are redeemable as a discount off a future purchase. Reported revenue is net of both current period reward redemptions and accruals for estimated future rewards earned under the Guest Loyalty program. A liability has been recorded for future rewards based on the Company's estimate of how many earned points will turn into rewards and ultimately be redeemed prior to expiration. As of February 2, 2019 and February 3, 2018, $10,910 and $9,025 was included in "accrued store operating expenses" as a liability for estimated future rewards.

Through partnership with Comenity Bank, the Company offers a private label credit card ("PLCC"). Customers with a PLCC are enrolled in our B-Rewards incentive program and earn points for every qualifying purchase on their card. At the end of each rewards period, customers who have exceeded a minimum point threshold receive a reward to be redeemed on a future purchase. The B-Rewards program also provides other discount and promotional opportunities to cardholders on a routine basis. Reported revenue is net of both current period reward redemptions, current period discounts and promotions, and accruals for estimated future rewards earned under the B-Rewards program. A liability has been recorded for future rewards based on the Company's estimate of how many earned points will turn into rewards and ultimately be redeemed prior to expiration, which is included in "gift certificates redeemable" on the Company's consolidated balance sheets.

Cash and Cash Equivalents - The Company considers all debt instruments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.

Investments - Investments classified as short-term investments include securities with a maturity of greater than three months and less than one year. Available-for-sale securities are reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity (net of the effect of income taxes), using the specific identification method, until they are sold. Held-to-maturity securities are carried at amortized cost. Trading securities are reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses included in earnings, using the specific identification method.

Inventory - Inventory is valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined using an average cost method that approximates the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. Management makes adjustments to inventory and cost of goods sold, based upon estimates, to account for merchandise obsolescence and markdowns that could affect net realizable value, based on assumptions using calculations applied to current inventory levels within each different markdown level. Management also reviews the levels of inventory in each markdown group and the overall aging of the inventory versus the estimated future demand for such product and the current market conditions. The adjustment to inventory for markdowns and/or obsolescence reduced the Company’s inventory valuation by $10,586 and $10,044 as of February 2, 2019 and February 3, 2018, respectively.

Property and Equipment - Property and equipment are stated on the basis of historical cost. Depreciation is provided using a combination of accelerated and straight-line methods based upon the estimated useful lives of the assets. The majority of property and equipment have useful lives of five to ten years with the exception of buildings, which have estimated useful lives of 31.5 to 39 years. Leasehold improvements are stated on the basis of historical cost and are amortized over the shorter of the life of the lease or the estimated economic life of the assets. When circumstances indicate the carrying values of long-lived assets may be impaired, an evaluation is performed on current net book value amounts. Judgments made by the Company related to the expected useful lives of property and equipment and the ability to realize cash flows in excess of carrying amounts of such assets are affected by factors such as changes in economic conditions and changes in operating performance. As the Company assesses the expected cash flows and carrying amounts of long-lived assets, adjustments are made to such carrying values.

Pre-Opening Expenses - Costs related to opening new stores are expensed as incurred.

Advertising Costs - Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and were $10,661, $18,075, and $16,188 for fiscal years 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively.

Health Care Costs - The Company is self-funded for health and dental claims up to $200 per individual per plan year. The Company’s plan covers eligible employees, and management makes estimates at period end to record a reserve for unpaid claims based upon historical claims information. The accrued liability as a reserve for unpaid health care claims was $890 and $1,430 as of February 2, 2019 and February 3, 2018, respectively.

Operating Leases - The Company leases retail stores under operating leases. Most lease agreements contain tenant improvement allowances, rent holidays, rent escalation clauses, and/or contingent rent provisions. For purposes of recognizing lease incentives and minimum rental expenses on a straight-line basis over the terms of the leases, the Company uses the date of initial possession to begin amortization, which is generally when the Company enters the space and begins to make improvements in preparation of intended use. For tenant improvement allowances and rent holidays, the Company records a deferred rent liability on the consolidated balance sheets and amortizes the deferred rent over the terms of the leases as reductions to rent expense on the consolidated statements of income.

For scheduled rent escalation clauses during the lease terms or for rental payments commencing at a date other than the date of initial occupancy, the Company records minimum rental expenses on a straight-line basis over the terms of the leases on the consolidated statements of income. Certain leases provide for contingent rents, which are determined as a percentage of gross sales in excess of specified levels. The Company records a contingent rent liability in "accrued store operating expenses" on the consolidated balance sheets and the corresponding rent expense when specified levels have been achieved or are reasonably probable to be achieved.

Other Income - The Company’s other income is derived primarily from interest and dividends received on cash and investments.

Income Taxes - The Company records a deferred tax asset and liability for expected future tax consequences resulting from temporary differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities. The Company considers future taxable income and ongoing tax planning in assessing the value of its deferred tax assets. If the Company determines that it is more than likely that these assets will not be realized, the Company would reduce the value of these assets to their expected realizable value, thereby decreasing net income. If the Company subsequently determined that the deferred tax assets, which had been written down, would be realized in the future, such value would be increased, thus increasing net income in the period such determination was made. The Company records tax benefits only for tax positions that are more than likely to be sustained upon examination by tax authorities. The amount recognized is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement. Unrecognized tax benefits are tax benefits claimed in the Company’s tax returns that do not meet these recognition and measurement standards.

Financial Instruments and Credit Risk Concentrations - Financial instruments, which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk, are primarily cash, investments, and accounts receivable. The Company’s investments are primarily in tax-free municipal bonds, corporate bonds, or U.S. Treasury securities with short-term maturities. The majority of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents are held by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. This amount, as well as cash and investments held by certain other financial institutions, exceeds federally insured limits.

Concentrations of credit risk with respect to accounts receivable are limited due to the nature of the Company’s receivables, which include primarily employee receivables that can be offset against future compensation. The Company’s financial instruments have a fair value approximating the carrying value.

Earnings Per Share - Basic earnings per share data are based on the weighted average outstanding common shares during the period. Diluted earnings per share data are based on the weighted average outstanding common shares and the effect of all dilutive potential common shares.

Use of Estimates - The preparation of consolidated 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 certain assets and liabilities, the 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 these estimates.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements - In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 605, Revenue Recognition. The new revenue recognition standard requires entities to recognize revenue in a way that depicts the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In preparation for the implementation of the new standard, the Company determined the adoption of Topic 606 would affect the timing of recognition and the income statement classification of gift card and gift certificate breakage, the timing of revenue recognition for sales of merchandise shipped to customers, and the presentation of the allowance for estimated sales returns. The Company adopted Topic 606 on February 4, 2018, using the modified retrospective transition method. Under this transition method, the prior period comparative information has not been adjusted and continues to be reported under Topic 605, with the cumulative effect of adopting the new standard recorded as a $389 adjustment increasing retained earnings as of February 4, 2018.

The effect of the adoption of ASU 2014-09 on our consolidated balance sheet as of February 2, 2019 was as follows:



	As Reported		Adjustments			Excluding Topic 606 Adjustments
Consolidated Balance Sheet Amounts
Inventory	$	125,190	$	679		$	124,511
Accrued store operating expenses	17,982		982			17,000
Accounts payable	29,008		(693		)	29,701
Retained earnings	244,823		389			244,434

The adoption of ASU 2014-09 did not have a material impact on the Company's results of operations for the fiscal year ended February 2, 2019. The adoption did, however, impact the income statement classification of gift card and gift certificate breakage. For the 52-week period ended February 2, 2019, the Company recognized $2,250 of gift card and gift certificate breakage as revenue. For the 53-week period ended February 3, 2018 and the 52-week period ended January 28, 2017, the Company recognized $2,444 and $2,067 of breakage in "other income."

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). This ASU replaces the existing guidance in ASC 840, Leases. The new standard establishes a right-of-use (“ROU”) model that requires a lessee to record a ROU asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company has substantially completed its assessment of Topic 842 and will adopt the new standard on February 3, 2019 using the optional transition method which allows for the prospective application of the new standard. The Company has elected to apply certain practical expedients which allow it to not reassess the initial direct costs of any existing lease and to not separate lease and non-lease components to new leases as well as existing leases through transition. Further, the Company will make an accounting policy election to exclude short-term leases from the recognition requirements. As a result of the adoption of the standard, the Company will recognize a ROU asset and lease liability based on the present value of the total fixed payments on our retail store and corporate office operating leases. The Company continues to finalize its calculations, including the discount rate assumptions, related to the new standard. The Company does not anticipate the new standard will have a material impact on its Consolidated Statements of Income or its Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Supplemental Cash Flow Information - The Company had non-cash investing activities during fiscal years 2018, 2017, and 2016 of $(38), $276, and $469, respectively. The non-cash investing activity relates to the change in the balance of unpaid purchases of property, plant, and equipment included in accounts payable as of the end of the year. The liability for unpaid purchases of property, plant, and equipment included in accounts payable was $409, $371, and $647 as of February 2, 2019, February 3, 2018, and January 28, 2017, respectively. Amounts reported as unpaid purchases are recorded as cash outflows from investing activities for purchases of property, plant, and equipment in the consolidated statement of cash flows in the period they are paid.

Additional cash flow information for the Company includes cash paid for income taxes during fiscal years 2018, 2017, and 2016 of $37,309, $48,456, and $65,180, respectively.