SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Presentation of Financial Statements

Presentation of Financial Statements

The Company’s consolidated financial statements include 100% of the assets and liabilities of Nutrisystem, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short Term Investments

Cash,Cash Equivalents and Short Term Investments

Cash equivalents include only securities having a maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, demand accounts and money market funds comprised all of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents.

Short term investments consist of investments in government and agency securities and corporate debt securities with original maturities between three months and three years. The Company classifies these investments as available-for-sale securities. These investments are reported at fair value with the related unrealized gains and losses included in accumulated other comprehensive loss, a component of stockholders’ equity, net of related tax effects.

The Company evaluates its investments for other-than-temporary impairment by reviewing factors such as the length of time and extent to which fair value has been below cost basis and the Company’s ability and intent to hold the investment for a period of time which may be sufficient for anticipated recovery of the market value. There were no other-than-temporary impairments in 2017, 2016 or 2015.

Inventories

Inventories

Inventories consist principally of packaged food held in outside fulfillment locations. Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value, with cost determined using the first-in, first-out method. Quantities of inventory on hand are continually assessed to identify excess or obsolete inventory and a provision is recorded for any estimated loss. The reserve is estimated for excess and obsolete inventory based primarily on forecasted demand and/or the Company’s ability to sell the products, introduction of new products, future production requirements and changes in customers’ behavior. The reserve for excess and obsolete inventory was $1,945 and $1,260 at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Fixed Assets

Fixed Assets

Fixed assets are stated at cost. Depreciation expense is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, which are generally two to seven years. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the lesser of the estimated useful life of the asset or the related lease term. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred, while major renewals and improvements are capitalized.

Included in fixed assets is the capitalized cost of internal-use software and website development incurred during the application development stage. Capitalized costs are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the asset, which is generally two to five years. Costs incurred related to planning or maintenance of internal-use software and website development are charged to expense as incurred. The net book value of capitalized software was $16,419 and $17,868 at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

During 2016, the Company determined certain software licenses were no longer expected to be used as more enhanced software options were available to handle its evolving business needs and a charge of $1,297 was recorded to write-down these assets. The charge was recorded as depreciation and amortization in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations.

Intangible Assets

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets consist of a trade name from the acquisition of the South Beach Diet (“SBD”) brand in December 2015 and domain names (see Note 6). The trade name is presented at cost, net of accumulated amortization, and is amortized on a straight-line basis over its estimated useful life. The domain names have indefinite lives and are not being amortized but are reviewed for impairment.

Long-Lived Assets

Long-Lived Assets

The Company continually evaluates whether events or circumstances have occurred that would indicate that the remaining estimated useful lives of long-lived assets may warrant revision or that the remaining balance may not be recoverable. Long-lived assets are evaluated for indicators of impairment. When factors indicate that long-lived assets should be evaluated for possible impairment, an estimate of the related undiscounted cash flows over the remaining life of the long-lived assets is used to measure recoverability. If any impairment is indicated, measurement of the impairment will be based on the difference between the carrying value and fair value of the asset, generally determined based on the present value of expected future cash flows associated with the use of the asset. As of December 31, 2017, management believes that no reductions to the remaining useful lives or write-downs of long-lived assets are required.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

Revenue from direct to consumer product sales is recognized when the earnings process is complete, which is upon transfer of title to the product. Recognition of revenue upon shipment meets the revenue recognition criteria in that persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the selling price is fixed or determinable and collection is reasonably assured. The Company also sells prepaid gift cards to wholesalers. Revenue from these cards is recognized after the card is redeemed online at the Company’s website or via telephone by the customer and the product is shipped to the customer. Revenue from the retail programs is recognized when the product is received at the seller’s location.

Deferred revenue consists primarily of unredeemed prepaid gift cards and unshipped foods. When a customer orders the frozen program, two separate shipments are delivered. One contains Nutrisystem’s ready-to-go food and the other contains the frozen food. Both shipments qualify as separate units of accounting and the fair value is based on estimated selling prices of both units.  

Nutrisystem’s direct to consumer customers may return unopened ready-to-go products within 30 days of purchase in order to receive a refund or credit. Frozen products are non-returnable and non-refundable unless the first food order is canceled within 14 days of delivery. Estimated returns are accrued at the time the sale is recognized and actual returns are tracked monthly.

The Company reviews the reserves for customer returns at each reporting period and adjusts them to reflect data available at that time. To estimate reserves for returns, the Company considers actual return rates in preceding periods and changes in product offerings or marketing methods that might impact returns going forward. To the extent the estimate of returns changes, the Company will adjust the reserve, which will impact the amount of revenue recognized in the period of the adjustment.

Revenue from product sales includes amounts billed for shipping and handling and is presented net of estimated returns and billed sales tax. Revenue from the retail programs is also net of any trade allowances, reclamation reserves or broker commissions. Revenue from shipping and handling charges was $7,295, $2,869 and $2,561 in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The increase in shipping and handling from 2016 to 2017 was due primarily to the increased volume of orders and an additional handling charge paid by the customer. Shipping-related costs are included in cost of revenue in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

Cost of Revenue

Cost of Revenue

Cost of revenue consists primarily of the cost of the products sold, including compensation related to fulfillment, the costs of outside fulfillment, incoming and outgoing shipping costs, charge card fees and packing material. Cost of products sold includes products provided at no charge as part of promotions and the non-food materials provided with customer orders.

Dependence on Suppliers

Dependence on Suppliers

In 2017, approximately 12% and 8% of inventory purchases were from two suppliers. The Company has a supply arrangement with one of these suppliers that requires the Company to make minimum purchases. In 2016, these suppliers each provided approximately 11% of inventory purchases and in 2015, approximately 17% and 19% of inventory purchases (see Note 8).

The Company outsources 100% of its fulfillment operations to a third-party provider.  Additionally, more than 98% of its direct to consumer orders are shipped by one third-party provider and more than 98% of its orders for the retail programs are shipped by another third-party provider.

Supplier Rebates

Supplier Rebates

Two of the Company’s suppliers provide for rebates based on purchasing levels. The Company accounts for these rebates on an accrual basis as purchases are made at a rebate percentage determined based upon the estimated total purchases from the supplier. The estimated rebate is recorded as a receivable from the supplier with a corresponding reduction in the carrying value of purchased inventory and is reflected in the consolidated statements of operations when the associated inventory is sold. For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, the Company reduced cost of revenue for these rebates by $486, $75 and $698, respectively. No receivable was recorded at December 31, 2017 or 2016. 

Marketing Expense

Marketing Expense

Marketing expense includes media, advertising production, marketing and promotional expenses and payroll-related expenses, including share-based payment arrangements, for personnel engaged in these activities. Media expense was $177,387, $130,451 and $104,621 in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Internet advertising expense is recorded based on either the rate of delivery of a guaranteed number of impressions over the advertising contract term or on a cost per customer acquired, depending upon the terms. Direct-mail advertising costs are capitalized if the primary purpose was to elicit sales to customers who could be shown to have responded specifically to the advertisements and results in probable future economic benefits. The capitalized costs are amortized to expense over the period during which the future benefits are expected to be received. Typically, this period falls within 50 days of the initial direct mailing. All other advertising costs are charged to expense as incurred or the first time the advertising takes place. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, $3,426 and $2,155, respectively, of costs have been prepaid for future advertisements and promotions.

General and Administrative Expense

General and Administrative Expense

General and administrative expense consists of compensation for administrative, information technology, call center and sales personnel, share-based payment arrangements for related employees, facility expenses, website development costs, professional service fees and other general corporate expenses.

Lease Related Expenses

Lease Related Expenses

Certain of the Company’s lease contracts contain rent holidays, various escalation clauses or landlord/tenant incentives.

The Company records rental costs, including costs related to fixed rent escalation clauses and rent holidays, on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Lease allowances utilized for space improvement are recorded as leasehold improvement assets and amortized over the shorter of the economic useful life of the asset or the lease term. Tenant lease incentive allowances received are recorded as deferred rent and amortized as reductions to rent expense over the lease term. Included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet is $1,576 of a tenant improvement allowance at December 31, 2017, of which $345 is included in other accrued expenses and current liabilities and $1,231 in non-current liabilities. At December 31, 2016, the tenant improvement allowance was $1,921, of which $345 was included in other accrued expenses and current liabilities and $1,576 in non-current liabilities.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and the respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the consolidated statements of operations in the period that includes the enactment date. In assessing the ability to realize deferred tax assets, the Company considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

A tax benefit from an uncertain tax position may be recognized only if it is “more likely than not” that the position is sustainable, based on its technical merits. The tax benefit of a qualifying position is the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon settlement with a taxing authority having full knowledge of all relevant information. The Company records accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as part of interest (income) expense, net.

Segment Information

Segment Information

The Company is managed and operated as one business. The entire business is managed by a single management team that reports to the chief executive officer. Revenue consists primarily of food sales.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share

The Company uses the two-class method to calculate earnings per share (“EPS”) as the unvested restricted stock issued under the Company’s equity incentive plans are participating shares with nonforfeitable rights to dividends. Under the two-class method, earnings per common share are computed by dividing the sum of distributed earnings to common stockholders and undistributed earnings allocated to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. In applying the two-class method, undistributed earnings are allocated to both common shares and participating securities based on the number of weighted average shares outstanding during the period. Undistributed losses are not allocated to unvested restricted stock as the restricted stockholders are not obligated to share in the losses. The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted EPS:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
Net income	$	57,872		$	35,469		$	26,143
Net income allocated to unvested restricted stock		(487	)		(294	)		(306	)
Net income allocated to common shares	$	57,385		$	35,175		$	25,837
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic		29,706			29,213			28,695
Effect of dilutive securities		485			332			480
Diluted		30,191			29,545			29,175
Basic income per common share	$	1.93		$	1.20		$	0.90
Diluted income per common share	$	1.90		$	1.19		$	0.89

In 2017, 2016 and 2015, common stock equivalents representing 146, 335 and 229 shares of common stock, respectively, were excluded from weighted average shares outstanding for diluted income per common share purposes because the effect would be anti-dilutive or the minimum performance requirements for such common stock equivalents have not yet been met.

Share-Based Payment Awards

Share-Based Payment Awards

The cost of all share-based awards to employees and non-employees, including grants of stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units, is recognized in the financial statements based on the fair value of the awards at grant date. The fair value of stock option awards is determined using the Black-Scholes valuation model on the date of grant. The fair value of restricted stock and performance-based restricted stock unit awards is equal to the market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant.

The fair value of share-based awards is recognized over the requisite service period, net of estimated forfeitures. The Company relies primarily upon historical experience to estimate expected forfeitures and recognizes compensation expense on a straight-line basis from the date of grant over the requisite service period except for performance-based units which are recognized on a straight-line basis based on the probable expected performance to be achieved and adjusted accordingly if performance varies. The Company issues new shares upon exercise of stock options, granting of restricted stock or vesting of restricted stock units.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” (“ASU 2014-09”). ASU 2014-09 outlines a new, single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. This new revenue recognition model provides a five-step analysis in determining when and how revenue is recognized. The new model will require an entity to recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects what it expects in exchange for the goods or services. It also requires more detailed disclosures to enable users of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. This guidance is effective for annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period and should be applied retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying the ASU recognized at the date of initial application.

The Company has completed its analysis of the new revenue standard and adopted this standard on January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method by recognizing the cumulative effect as an adjustment to the opening balance of stockholders’ equity at January 1, 2018. Therefore, the comparative information for years ended prior to January 1, 2018 will not be restated to comply with the ASU. The Company applied the transition practical expedient to only assess contracts that are not completed contracts at the date of initial application when applying the cumulative effect method. The adoption of this standard will not have a material impact on the amount or timing of revenue recognition for transactions with customers in the direct or retail channels. The adoption of this standard will have an impact on the timing of revenue recognized in accounting for gift cards as presented in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company will be recognizing the estimated breakage of gift cards over the pattern of redemption of the gift cards. Prior to adopting the ASU, the Company recognized gift card breakage when the likelihood of redemption became remote. The Company will also recognize direct-mail advertising costs as expense as incurred. Prior to adopting the ASU, the Company capitalized these costs which were expensed over the period of benefit. Additionally, the Company will recognize contract assets for the carrying amount of product expected to be returned and for costs to obtain a contract if the contract is more than one year. The Company will expense as incurred costs to obtain a contract if the contract is less than one year. Product expected to be returned was presented as a reduction of the related reserve for returns prior to adopting the ASU. The Company expects the cumulative impact of adopting the ASU on January 1, 2018 to be an increase in stockholders’ equity of approximately $1,500. The Company has identified and is implementing changes to its accounting policies, practices and controls to support the ASU. The Company is continuing its assessment of potential changes to its disclosures under the ASU.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, “Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory.” An entity using an inventory method other than last-in, first-out or the retail inventory method should measure inventory at the lower of cost and net realizable value. The new guidance clarifies that net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. The Company adopted this new accounting standard in the first quarter of 2017 and it did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and footnote disclosures.

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17, “Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes,” which eliminates the previous requirement to present deferred tax assets and liabilities as current and noncurrent amounts in a classified statement of financial position. Instead, entities are required to classify all deferred tax assets and liabilities as noncurrent in a statement of financial position. The Company adopted this new accounting standard in the first quarter of 2017, which resulted in a reclassification of $1,642 at December 31, 2016 from current deferred income taxes to non-current deferred income taxes in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases,” which sets out the principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases for both parties to a contract (i.e. lessees and lessors). The new standard requires lessees to apply a dual approach, classifying leases as either finance or operating leases based on the principle of whether or not the lease is effectively a financed purchase by the lessee. This classification will determine whether lease expense is recognized based on an effective interest method or on a straight line basis over the term of the lease, respectively. A lessee is also required to record a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for all leases with a term of greater than 12 months regardless of their classification. This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. Although the Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption of the ASU on its consolidated financial statements, the Company currently believes the most significant changes will be related to the recognition of new right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on the Company’s balance sheet for operating leases.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, “Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting,” which simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities and classification on the statement of cash flows. The Company adopted this standard in the first quarter of 2017 and recognized an excess tax benefit from share-based compensation of $5,491 for the year ended December 31, 2017 within income tax expense on the accompanying consolidated statement of operations as opposed to being recognized in additional paid-in capital under previous accounting guidance. The amounts recognized in additional paid-in capital were $2,936 and $2,750 for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. In addition, the excess tax benefits from share-based compensation are now classified as operating cash flows on the consolidated statement of cash flows instead of being separately stated in the financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2017. The prior periods have not been restated. The Company has elected to continue to estimate expected forfeitures.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, “Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments,” which clarifies and provides guidance on eight cash flow classification issues and is intended to reduce existing diversity in practice in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. This standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years.  Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. The adoption of this new accounting standard will not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and footnote disclosures.

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, “Scope of Modification Accounting,” which provides guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of share-based payment awards require an entity to apply modification accounting. This standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years.  Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. The adoption of this new accounting standard will not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and footnote disclosures.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and operating expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates.