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Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Principles of consolidation | Principles of consolidation The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated upon consolidation. One of the Company’s subsidiaries was not majority owned by the Company prior to 2016, and a second was not majority owned prior to March 31, 2016. Prior to the transactions described in Note 10, these entities were consolidated by the Company as management believed that the Company had the ability to exercise control over their activities and operations.
Use of estimates | 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 contingencies at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Such estimates and assumptions relate to the useful lives of fixed assets and identified intangible assets, recoverability of long-lived assets, fair value of long-term investments, allowances for doubtful accounts, the net realizable value of inventory, potential reserves relating to litigation matters, accrued liabilities, accrued taxes, deferred tax valuation allowances, assumptions pertaining to share-based payments, and other reserves. Actual results could differ from those based on these estimates and assumptions, and such differences may be material to the financial statements.
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards | Recently Adopted Accounting Standards Revenue Recognition In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued new guidance for revenue recognition (“Topic 606”), which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The new guidance, which includes several amendments, replaces most of the prior revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP. The Company adopted the new guidance as of January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method, as applied to all contracts. As a result, the Company has changed its accounting policy for revenue recognition, as detailed below. The most significant impact of the adoption was on the timing of recognition of sales to the Company’s stocking distributors and including the additional required disclosures under the new standard. Through December 31, 2017, the Company deferred revenue and the related cost of sales on shipments to stocking distributors until the distributors resold the products to their customers. Upon adoption, the Company is no longer permitted to defer revenue until sale by the stocking distributor to the end customer, but rather, is required to estimate the effects of returns and allowances provided to stocking distributors and record revenue at the time of sale to the stocking distributor. In addition, the Company modified the accounting for a contractual arrangement due to a reassessment of the number of performance obligations in the arrangement, and adjusted for the timing of certain royalty revenue. The cumulative effect of adopting this guidance, recorded as an increase to the balance of retained earnings as of January 1, 2018, was approximately $3,670,000. The comparative information for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, including disclosures, has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods . The following tables summarize the impacts of adopting the new revenue recognition guidance on certain components of the Company’s consolidated financial statements (in thousands):
a) | Consolidated Balance Sheet Items
|  | As of December 31, 2018 |
|  | As reported |  |  | Adjustments |  |  | Balances without adoption of Topic 606 |
Accounts receivable, net |  | $ | 43,673 |  |  | $ | (72 | ) |  | $ | 43,601 |
Inventories, net |  |  | 47,370 |  |  |  | (110 | ) |  |  | 47,260 |
Total assets |  |  | 221,068 |  |  |  | (182 | ) |  |  | 220,886 |
Income taxes payable |  |  | 710 |  |  |  | (59 | ) |  |  | 651 |
Deferred revenue |  |  | 5,069 |  |  |  | 5,768 |  |  |  | 10,837 |
Sales allowances |  |  | 548 |  |  |  | (483 | ) |  |  | 65 |
Total liabilities |  |  | 36,978 |  |  |  | 5,226 |  |  |  | 42,204 |
Retained earnings |  |  | 129,000 |  |  |  | (5,408 | ) |  |  | 123,592 |
Total equity |  |  | 184,090 |  |  |  | (5,408 | ) |  |  | 178,682 |
Total liabilities and equity |  |  | 221,068 |  |  |  | (182 | ) |  |  | 220,886 |
b) | Consolidated Statement of Operations Items
|  | Year Ended December 31, 2018 |
|  | As reported |  |  | Adjustments |  |  | Balances without adoption of Topic 606 |
Net revenues |  | $ | 291,220 |  |  | $ | (3,946 | ) |  | $ | 287,274 |
Cost of revenues |  |  | 152,249 |  |  |  | (2,149 | ) |  |  | 150,100 |
Gross margin |  |  | 138,971 |  |  |  | (1,797 | ) |  |  | 137,174 |
Income before income taxes |  |  | 32,933 |  |  |  | (1,797 | ) |  |  | 31,136 |
Provision for income taxes |  |  | 1,087 |  |  |  | (59 | ) |  |  | 1,028 |
Consolidated net income |  |  | 31,846 |  |  |  | (1,738 | ) |  |  | 30,108 |
Net income attributable to Vicor Corporation |  |  | 31,725 |  |  |  | (1,738 | ) |  |  | 29,987 |
The impact of the adoption of the new revenue recognition standard on the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2018 was not material. Prior to January 1 , 2018 Product revenue was recognized in the period when persuasive evidence of an arrangement with a customer existed, the products were shipped and title was transferred to the customer, the price was fixed or determinable, and collection was considered probable. The Company deferred revenue and the related cost of sales on shipments to stocking distributors until the distributors resold the products to their customers. The agreements with these stocking distributors allowed them to receive price adjustment credits or to return qualifying products for credit, as determined by the Company, in order to reduce the amounts of slow-moving, discontinued, or obsolete product from their inventory. These stocking distributors were also granted price adjustment credits in the event of a price decrease subsequent to the date the product was shipped and invoiced to the stocking distributor. Given the uncertainties associated with the levels of price adjustment credits to be granted to stocking distributors, the sales price to the stocking distributor was not fixed or determinable until the stocking distributor resold the products to its customers. Therefore, the Company deferred revenue and the related cost of sales on shipments to stocking distributors until the stocking distributors resold the products to their customers. Accordingly, the Company’s revenue fully reflected end-customer purchases and was not impacted by stocking distributor inventory levels. Agreements with stocking distributors limited returns of qualifying product to the Company to a certain percentage of the value of the Company’s shipments to that stocking distributor during the prior quarter. In addition, stocking distributors were allowed to return unsold products if the Company terminated the relationship with the stocking distributor. Title to the inventory transferred to the stocking distributor at the time of shipment or delivery to the stocking distributor. Payments from the stocking distributors were due in accordance with the Company’s standard payment terms. These payment terms were not contingent upon the stocking distributors’ sale of the products to their end-customers. Upon title transfer to stocking distributors, the Company reduced inventory for the cost of goods shipped, the margin (i.e., revenues less cost of revenues) was recorded as deferred revenue, and an account receivable was recorded. As of December 31, 2017, the Company had gross deferred revenue of approximately $4,659,000 and gross deferred cost of revenues of approximately $2,135,000 under agreements with stocking distributors. The Company evaluated revenue arrangements with potential multi-element deliverables to determine if there were more than one unit of accounting. A deliverable constituted a separate unit of accounting when it had standalone value and there were no customer-negotiated refund or return rights for the undelivered elements. The Company entered into arrangements containing multiple elements that could include a combination of non-recurring engineering services (“NRE”), prototype units, and production units. The Company determined NRE and prototype units represented one unit of accounting and production units represented a separate unit of accounting, based on an assessment of the respective standalone value. The Company deferred revenue recognition for NRE and prototype units until completion of the final milestone under the NRE arrangement, which was generally the delivery of the prototype. Recognition generally took place within six to twelve months of the initiation of the arrangement. Revenue for the production units was recognized upon shipment, consistent with other product revenue summarized above. License fees were recognized as earned. The Company recognized revenue on such arrangements only when the contract was signed, the license term had begun, all obligations had been delivered to the customer, and collection was probable. Subsequent to January 1, 2018 Revenue is recognized when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to a customer, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. Sales, value add, and other taxes collected concurrent with revenue-producing activities are excluded from revenue. The expected costs associated with product warranties continue to be recognized at the time product revenue is recognized. Shipping and handling costs associated with outbound freight after control over a product has transferred to a customer are accounted for as a fulfillment cost and are included in cost of revenues. The Company’s primary source of net revenue comes from the sale of products, which are modular power components and power systems for converting, regulating and controlling electric current. The principal customers for the Company’s power converters and systems are large original equipment manufacturers and the original design manufacturers and contract manufacturers serving them, and smaller, lower volume users, which are broadly distributed across several major market areas. The Company recognizes revenue for product sales at a point in time following the transfer of control of such products to the customer, which typically occurs upon shipment or delivery, depending on the terms of the underlying contract. As noted above, the Company previously deferred revenue and the related cost of revenues on shipments to stocking distributors until the distributors resold the products to their customers. The Company now records revenue for such transactions at the time of sale to the stocking distributor. The Company establishes sales allowances for estimated future product returns including distributor returns and price adjustment credits, primarily based upon historical and anticipated rates of product returns and allowances. Certain contracts with customers contain multiple performance obligations, which typically may include a combination of NRE, prototype units, and production units. For these contracts, the individual performance obligations are accounted for separately if they are distinct. Generally, the Company has determined the NRE and prototype units represent one distinct performance obligation and the production units represent a separate distinct performance obligation. For such arrangements, revenue is allocated to each performance obligation based on its relative standalone selling price, based on prices charged to customers or using the expected cost plus a margin approach. The Company defers revenue recognition for NRE and prototype units until the point in time at which the final milestone under the NRE arrangement is completed and control is transferred to the customer, which is generally the shipment or delivery of the prototype. Revenue for production units is recognized upon shipment or delivery, consistent with product revenue summarized above. The Company licenses its intellectual property under right to use licenses, in which royalties due to the Company are based upon a percentage of the licensee’s sales. The Company utilizes the exception under the revenue recognition guidance for the recognition of sales- or usage-based royalties, in which the royalties are not recognized until the later of when 1) the customer’s subsequent sales or usages occur, or 2) the performance obligation to which some or all of the sales- or usage-based royalty has been allocated is satisfied or partially satisfied. Accounts receivable includes amounts billed and currently due from customers. The amounts due are stated at their estimated realizable value. The Company’s payment terms vary by the type and location of its customers and the products or services offered, although terms generally include a requirement of payment within 30 to 60 days. The Company maintains allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments, based on assessments of customers’ credit-risk profiles and payment histories. If the financial condition of the Company’s customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required. The Company does not require collateral from its customers, although there have been circumstances when the Company has required cash in advance (i.e., a partial down-payment) to facilitate orders in excess of a customer’s established credit limit. To date, such amounts have not been material. The Company records deferred revenue, which represents a contract liability, when cash payments are received or due in advance of performance under a contract with a customer. During the year ended December 31, 2018, under Topic 606, the Company recognized revenue of approximately $991,000 that was included in deferred revenue at the beginning of the respective period. The Company applies the practical expedient allowed under the new guidance for the incremental costs of obtaining a contract for sales commissions, which are expensed when incurred because the amortization period is generally less than one year. These costs are included in selling, general and administrative expenses. The Company also applies another practical expedient allowed under the new guidance and does not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for contracts with an original expected length of one year or less. The following table presents the Company’s net revenues disaggregated by geography based on the location of the customer, by reportable segment, (in thousands):
|  | Year Ended December 31, 2018 |
|  | BBU |  |  | VI Chip |  |  | Picor |  |  | Total |
United States |  | $ | 77,995 |  |  | $ | 30,118 |  |  | $ | 2,666 |  |  | $ | 110,779 |
Europe |  |  | 23,484 |  |  |  | 3,883 |  |  |  | 322 |  |  |  | 27,689 |
Asia Pacific |  |  | 80,097 |  |  |  | 47,174 |  |  |  | 19,807 |  |  |  | 147,078 |
All other |  |  | 5,128 |  |  |  | 499 |  |  |  | 47 |  |  |  | 5,674 |
|  | $ | 186,704 |  |  | $ | 81,674 |  |  | $ | 22,842 |  |  | $ | 291,220 |
The following table presents the Company’s net revenues disaggregated by the category of revenue, by reportable segment, (in thousands):
|  | Year Ended December 31, 2018 |
|  | BBU |  |  | VI Chip |  |  | Picor |  |  | Total |
Direct customers, contract manufacturers and non-stocking distributors |  | $ | 163,206 |  |  | $ | 70,919 |  |  | $ | 20,660 |  |  | $ | 254,785 |
Stocking distributors, net of sales allowances |  |  | 22,362 |  |  |  | 7,653 |  |  |  | 1,717 |  |  |  | 31,732 |
Non-recurring engineering |  |  | 1,066 |  |  |  | 2,996 |  |  |  | 360 |  |  |  | 4,422 |
Royalties |  |  | 70 |  |  |  | 70 |  |  |  | 70 |  |  |  | 210 |
Other |  |  | — |  |  |  | 36 |  |  |  | 35 |  |  |  | 71 |
|  | $ | 186,704 |  |  | $ | 81,674 |  |  | $ | 22,842 |  |  | $ | 291,220 |
The following table presents the changes in certain contract assets and (liabilities) (in thousands):
|  | December 31, 2018 |  |  | December 31, 2017 |  |  | Increase (decrease) |
Accounts receivable |  | $ | 43,673 |  |  | $ | 34,487 |  |  | $ | 9,186 |
Deferred revenue |  |  | (3,820 | ) |  |  | (5,015 | ) |  |  | 1,195 |
Deferred expenses |  |  | 501 |  |  |  | 859 |  |  |  | (358 | )
Customer prepayments |  |  | (1,250 | ) |  |  | (776 | ) |  |  | (474 | )
Sales allowances |  |  | (548 | ) |  |  | — |  |  |  | (548 | )
The increase in accounts receivable was primarily due to an increase in net revenues of approximately $14,949 in the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to the fourth quarter of 2017. The decrease in deferred revenue was primarily due to the adoption of the new revenue recognition guidance, as the balances related to stocking distributors were reversed as part of the transition adjustment recorded as of January 1, 2018 (see Recently Adopted Accounting Standards , above). The increase in sales allowances was due to the establishment of new allowances, in connection with the new revenue recognition guidance, for potential returns and price adjustment credits on sales to stocking distributors. Deferred expenses are included in Other current assets, and customer prepayments are included in Deferred revenue, in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets, respectively. Other Recently Adopted Accounting Standards In June 2018, the FASB issued new guidance, Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which more closely aligns the accounting for share-based payments to non-employees with the accounting for share-based payments to employees. This new guidance is effective for public business entities for annual and interim periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company early-adopted the new standard on July 1, 2018. The adoption of this new guidance did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In May 2017, the FASB issued guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting in Topic 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation. The new guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted the new standard on January 1, 2018. The adoption of this new guidance did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In August 2016, the FASB issued guidance to clarify how certain cash receipts and cash payments should be presented in the statement of cash flows. These include debt prepayment, settlement of zero-coupon debt instruments, contingent consideration payments made after a business combination, proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims, proceeds from the settlement of corporate-owned life insurance policies, distributions received from equity method investees and beneficial interests in securitization transactions. The new guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted the new standard on January 1, 2018. The adoption of this new guidance did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
Foreign currency translation | Foreign currency translation The financial statements of Vicor Japan Company, Ltd. (“VJCL”), a majority-owned subsidiary, for which the functional currency is the Japanese Yen, have been translated into U.S. Dollars using the exchange rate in effect at the balance sheet date for balance sheet amounts and the average exchange rates in effect during the year for income statement amounts. The gains and losses resulting from the changes in exchange rates from year to year have been reported in other comprehensive income. Transaction gains and losses resulting from the remeasurement of foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries where the functional currency is the U.S. Dollar are included in other income (expense), net. Foreign currency gains (losses) included in other income (expense), net, were approximately $(260,000), $323,000, and $(268,000) in 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively.
Cash and cash equivalents | Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents include funds held in disbursement (i.e., checking) and money market accounts, certificates of deposit, and debt securities with maturities of less than three months at the time of purchase. Cash and cash equivalents are valued at cost, approximating market value. The Company’s money market securities, which are classified as cash equivalents on the balance sheet, are purchased and redeemed at par value. Their estimated fair value is equal to their cost, and, due to the nature of the securities and their classification as cash equivalents, there are no unrealized gains or losses recorded at the balance sheet dates.
Long-term investments | Long-term investment The Company’s principal sources of liquidity are its existing balances of cash and cash equivalents, as well as cash generated from operations. Consistent with the guidelines of the Company’s investment policy, the Company can invest, and has historically invested, its cash balances in demand deposit accounts, money market funds, and auction rate securities meeting certain quality criteria. The Company’s long-term investment is subject to credit, liquidity, market, and interest rate risk. The Company’s long-term investment, which is a debt security, is classified as an available-for-sale security. The available-for-sale security is recorded at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, attributable to credit loss recorded through the Consolidated Statement of Operations and unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, attributable to other non-credit factors recorded in “Accumulated other comprehensive loss,” a component of Total Equity. In determining the amount of credit loss, the Company compares the present value of cash flows expected to be collected to the amortized cost basis of the security, considering credit default risk probabilities and changes in credit ratings, among other factors. The amortized cost of the debt security is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity, the net amount of which, along with interest and realized gains and losses, is included in “Other income (expense), net” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company periodically evaluates the investment to determine if impairment is required, whether an impairment is other than temporary, and the measurement of an impairment loss. The Company considers a variety of impairment indicators such as, but not limited to, a significant deterioration in the earnings performance, credit rating, or asset quality of the investment.
Fair value measurements | Fair value measurements The Company accounts for certain financial assets at fair value, defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (i.e., 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. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. A three-level hierarchy is used to show the extent and level of judgment used to estimate fair value measurements:
Level 1 |  | Inputs used to measure fair value are unadjusted quoted prices available in active markets for the identical assets or liabilities as of the reporting date.
Level 2 |  | Inputs used to measure fair value, other than quoted prices included in Level 1, are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reporting date through correlation with market data, including quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets and quoted prices in inactive markets. Level 2 also includes assets and liabilities valued using models or other pricing methodologies that do not require significant judgment since the input assumptions used in the models, such as interest rates and volatility factors, are corroborated by readily observable data from actively quoted markets for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.
Level 3 |  | Inputs used to measure fair value are unobservable inputs supported by little or no market activity and reflect the use of significant management judgment. These values are generally determined using pricing models for which the assumptions utilize management’s estimates of market participant assumptions.
The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these financial instruments.
Inventories | Inventories Inventories are valued at the lower of cost (determined using the first-in, first-out method) or net realizable value. Fixed production overhead is allocated to the inventory cost per unit based on the normal capacity of the production facilities. Abnormal production costs, including fixed cost variances from normal production capacity, if any, are charged to cost of revenues in the period incurred. All shipping and handling costs incurred in connection with the sale of products are included in cost of revenues. The Company provides reserves for inventories estimated to be excess, obsolete, or unmarketable. The Company’s estimation process for assessing net realizable value is based upon its known backlog, projected future demand, historical consumption and expected market conditions. If the Company’s estimated demand and/or market expectations were to change or if product sales were to decline, the Company’s estimation process may cause larger inventory reserves to be recorded, resulting in larger charges to cost of revenues.
Concentrations of risk | Concentrations of risk Financial instruments potentially subjecting the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, of which a significant portion is held by one financial institution, its long-term investment, and trade accounts receivable. The Company maintains cash and cash equivalents and certain other financial instruments with various large financial institutions. Generally, amounts invested with these financial institutions are in excess of federal deposit insurance limits. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts, and management believes the Company is not exposed to significant credit risk. The Company’s long-term investment as of December 31, 2018 consists of a single auction rate security with a par value of $3,000,000, which is collateralized by student loans. It is a highly rated (Aaa/AA+) municipal and corporate debt security. Through December 31, 2018, auctions held for the Company’s auction rate security have failed. The funds associated with an auction rate security that has failed auction may not be accessible until a successful auction occurs, a buyer is found outside of the auction process, the security is called, or the underlying securities have matured. If the credit rating of the issuer of the auction rate security held deteriorates, the Company may be required to adjust the carrying value of the investment for an other-than-temporary decline in value through an impairment charge. The Company’s investment policy, approved by the Board of Directors, limits the amount the Company may invest in any issuer, thereby reducing credit risk concentrations. The Company’s products are sold worldwide to customers ranging from smaller, independent manufacturers of highly specialized electronic devices, to larger OEMs and their contract manufacturers. The Company’s Brick Business Unit (“BBU”) segment has customers concentrated in aerospace and defense electronics, industrial automation, industrial equipment, instrumentation and test equipment, and transportation (e.g., rail). The Company’s other segments, the VI Chip subsidiary and Picor (see Note 17) have customers concentrated in computing (voltage distribution in server racks and across datacenter infrastructure), although they also target applications in aerospace and aviation, defense electronics, industrial automation, instrumentation, test equipment, solid state lighting, telecommunications and networking infrastructure and vehicles (e.g., in autonomous driving applications, electric vehicles, and hybrid electric vehicles). While, overall, the Company has a broad customer base and sells into a variety of industries, VI Chip and Picor have derived a substantial portion of their revenue from a limited number of customers. This concentration of revenue is a reflection of the relatively early stage of adoption of the technologies, architectures and products offered by these subsidiaries, and their targeting of market leading innovators as initial customers. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to trade accounts receivable are limited due to the number of entities comprising the Company’s customer base. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, one customer accounted for approximately 14.3% and 17.5%, respectively, of trade account receivables. Components and materials used in the Company’s products are purchased from a variety of vendors. While most of the components are available from multiple sources, some key components for certain VI Chip and Picor products, in particular, are supplied by single vendors. In instances of single source items, the Company maintains levels of inventories management considers appropriate to enable meeting the delivery requirements of customers. If suppliers or subcontractors cannot provide their products or services on time or to the required specifications, the Company may not be able to meet the demand for its products and its delivery times may be negatively affected.
Long-lived assets | Long-lived assets The Company reviews property, plant and equipment and finite-lived intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of such assets may not be recoverable. Management determines whether the carrying value of an asset or asset group is recoverable based on comparison to the undiscounted expected future cash flows the assets are expected to generate over their remaining economic lives. If an asset value is not recoverable, the impairment loss is equal to the amount by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds its fair value, which is determined by either a quoted market price, if any, or a value determined by utilizing a discounted cash flow technique. Evaluation of impairment of long-lived assets requires estimates of future operating results that are used in the preparation of the expected future undiscounted cash flows. Actual future operating results and the remaining economic lives of our long-lived assets could differ from the estimates used in assessing the recoverability of these assets. These differences could result in impairment charges, which could be material.
Intangible assets | Intangible assets Values assigned to patents are amortized using the straight-line method over periods ranging from three to 20 years. Patents and other intangible assets are included in “Other assets” in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Advertising expense | Advertising expense The cost of advertising is expensed as incurred. The Company incurred approximately $2,610,000, $2,150,000, and $1,818,000 in advertising costs during 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
Product warranties | Product warranties The Company generally offers a two-year warranty for all of its products, though it has extended the warranty period to three years for certain military grade products sold after January 1, 2017. The Company is party to a limited number of supply agreements with certain customers contractually committing the Company to warranty and indemnification requirements exceeding those to which the Company has been exposed in the past. The Company provides for the estimated cost of product warranties at the time product revenue is recognized. Factors influencing the Company’s warranty reserves include the number of units sold, historical and anticipated rates of warranty returns, and the cost per return. The Company periodically assesses the adequacy of warranty reserves and adjusts the amounts as necessary. Warranty obligations are included in “Accrued expenses” in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Legal Costs | Legal Costs Legal costs in connection with litigation are expensed as incurred.
Net income (loss) per common share | Net income (loss) per common share The Company computes basic net income (loss) per share using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and diluted net income (loss) per share using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus the effect of outstanding dilutive stock options, if any. The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income (loss) per share for the years ended December 31 (in thousands, except per share amounts):
|  | 2018 |  |  | 2017 |  |  | 2016 |
Numerator: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income (loss) attributable to Vicor Corporation |  | $ | 31,725 |  |  | $ | 167 |  |  | $ | (6,247 | )
Denominator: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Denominator for basic net income (loss) per share-weighted average shares (1) |  |  | 39,872 |  |  |  | 39,228 |  |  |  | 38,842 |
Effect of dilutive securities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Employee stock options (2) |  |  | 857 |  |  |  | 705 |  |  |  | — |
Denominator for diluted net income (loss) per share-adjusted weighted-average shares and assumed conversions (3) |  |  | 40,729 |  |  |  | 39,933 |  |  |  | 38,842 |
Basic net income (loss) per share |  | $ | 0.80 |  |  | $ | 0.00 |  |  | $ | (0.16 | )
Diluted net income (loss) per share |  | $ | 0.78 |  |  | $ | 0.00 |  |  | $ | (0.16 | )
| (1) | Denominator represents weighted average number of Common Shares and Class B Common Shares outstanding.
| (2) | Options to purchase 67,247, 53,913 and 1,696,222 shares of Common Stock in 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively, were not included in the calculation of net income (loss) per share as the effect would have been antidilutive.
| (3) | Denominator represents weighted average number of Common Shares and Class B Common Shares outstanding for the year, adjusted to include the dilutive effect, if any, of outstanding options.
Income taxes | Income taxes Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted income tax rates and laws expected to be in effect when the temporary differences are expected to reverse. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if management determines it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. All deferred tax assets and liabilities are classified as noncurrent. The Company follows a two-step process to determine the amount of tax benefit to recognize. The first step is to evaluate the tax position to determine the likelihood it would be sustained upon examination by a tax authority. If the tax position is deemed “more-likely-than-not” to be sustained, the second step is to assess the tax position to determine the amount of tax benefit to be recognized in the financial statements. The amount of the benefit that may be recognized is the largest amount that possesses greater than 50 percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. If the tax position does not meet the “more-likely-than-not” threshold, then it is not recognized in the financial statements. Additionally, the Company accrues interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense. The unrecognized tax benefits, including accrued interest and penalties, if any, are included in “Long-term income taxes payable” in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Stock-based compensation | Stock-based compensation The Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to calculate the fair value of stock option awards, whether they possess time-based vesting provisions or performance-based vesting provisions, and awards granted under the Vicor Corporation 2017 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”), as of their grant date. For stock options with time-based vesting provisions, the calculated compensation expense, net of expected forfeitures, is recognized on a straight-line basis over the service period of the award, which is generally five years for stock options. For stock options with performance-based vesting provisions, recognition of compensation expense, net of expected forfeitures, commences if and when the achievement of the performance criteria is deemed probable. For stock options with performance-based vesting provisions, compensation expense, net of expected forfeitures, when recognized, is recognized over the relevant performance period.
Comprehensive income (loss) | Comprehensive income (loss) The components of comprehensive income (loss) include, in addition to net income (loss), unrealized gains and losses on investments, net of tax and foreign currency translation adjustments related to VJCL, net of tax.
Impact of recently issued accounting standards | Impact of recently issued accounting standards In August 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued guidance which modifies the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements under Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements (“Topic 820”). Certain disclosure requirements under Topic 820 were removed, others modified, and certain disclosures have been added. The changes that will impact the Company primarily pertain to those affecting Level 3 fair value measurements. The new guidance is effective for all entities for annual and interim periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. It is required to be applied on a retrospective approach with certain elements being adopted prospectively for only the most recent interim or annual period presented in the initial fiscal year of adoption. The Company has not yet determined the impact this new guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In June 2016, the FASB issued new guidance which will require measurement and recognition of expected credit losses on certain types of financial instruments. It also modifies the impairment model for available -for-sale debt securities and provides for a simplified accounting model for purchased financial assets with credit deterioration since their origination. The new guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. It is required to be applied on a modified-retrospective approach with certain elements being adopted prospectively. The Company does not expect the adoption of the new guidance will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. Lease Accounting In February 2016, the FASB issued new guidance for lease accounting, which will require lessees to recognize leases on the balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. The new guidance establishes a right-of-use model (“ROU”) that will require a lessee to recognize a ROU asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with a term longer than twelve months. Leases will be classified as finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern and classification of expense recognition in the income statement. For lessors, the guidance modifies the classification criteria and accounting for sales-type and direct financing leases. The majority of the Company’s leases are for certain of its office and manufacturing space, along with several automobiles. The Company is a party to one arrangement as the lessor, for its former Westcor facility located in Sunnyvale, California. The new standard is effective for the Company of January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. The Company plans to adopt the new guidance on its effective date. The new standard must be adopted using a modified retrospective transition approach, applying the guidance 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 application. The Company plans to adopt the new standard on January 1, 2019 and use the effective date as our date of initial application. As a result, financial information will not be updated and the disclosures required under the new standard will not be provided for dates and periods before January 1, 2019. The new standard provides a number of optional practical expedients. The Company expects to elect the ‘package of practical expedients’, which permits companies to not reassess under the new standard lease identification, lease classification and initial direct costs. The Company does not plan to elect the use-of-hindsight or the practical expedient pertaining to land easements, the latter not being applicable. The Company estimates the adoption of the standard will result in recognition of ROU assets and lease liabilities of approximately $4,500,000, as of January 1, 2019. The implementation team’s remaining tasks are to complete documentation for the systems and controls to support the lease recognition and disclosure requirements under the new standard, and to complete the required disclosures in preparation for filing the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ending March 31, 2019. Other new pronouncements issued but not effective until after December 31, 2018 are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

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