Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). The consolidated financial statements include the Company and its subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The Company’s fiscal year ends on the Saturday closest to January 31. Fiscal year 2019 ("2019") consists of the 52 weeks ended February 1, 2020, fiscal year 2018 ("2018") consists of the 52 weeks ended February 2, 2019 and fiscal year 2017 ("2017") consists of the 53 weeks ended February 3, 2018.

Initial Public Offering and Secondary Offerings

On July 2, 2018, the Company completed its IPO, in which the Company issued and sold 43,125,000 shares of its common stock (including 5,625,000 shares of common stock that were subject to the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares) at an initial public offering price of $17.00 per share. The Company received total aggregate proceeds of $685.9 million net of underwriters’ discounts, commissions and other transaction expenses, which totaled $47.2 million.

On July 2, 2018, the Company used the net proceeds from the IPO to extinguish the total outstanding balance of $623.3 million of its senior secured second lien term loan facility (the "Second Lien Term Loan"). See Note 6, Debt and Credit Arrangements, for further discussion regarding the Second Lien Term Loan extinguishment.

On October 1, 2018, certain selling stockholders completed the registered sale of 32,200,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at a public offering price of $26.00 per share. Of the 32,200,000 shares sold, 4,200,000 shares represented the underwriters’ exercise of their overallotment option. The Company did not receive any proceeds from this offering or incur underwriters’ discounts or commissions on the sale. The Company incurred transaction costs of $2.4 million primarily for legal, accounting and printer services related to the offering.

On March 11, 2019, certain selling stockholders completed a registered sale (the "March 2019 Secondary Offering") of 19,550,000 shares of the Company's common stock at a public offering price of $25.08 per share. Of the 19,550,000 shares sold, 2,550,000 shares represented the underwriters' exercise of their overallotment option. The Company did not receive any proceeds from the March 2019 Secondary Offering or incur underwriters' discounts or commissions on the sale. The Company incurred transaction costs of $1.2 million primarily for legal, accounting and printer services related to the March 2019 Secondary Offering.

On June 6, 2019, certain selling stockholders completed a registered sale (the "June 2019 Secondary Offering") of 17,500,000 shares of the Company's common stock at a public offering price of $24.65 per share. The Company did not receive any proceeds from the June 2019 Secondary Offering or incur underwriters’ discounts or commissions on the sale. The Company incurred immaterial transaction costs related to the June 2019 Secondary Offering.

On June 27, 2019, certain selling stockholders completed a registered sale (the "CVC June 2019 Secondary Offering") of 9,977,024 shares of the Company's common stock at a price of $25.41 per share. In connection with this offering, the Company repurchased 2,500,000 shares at $25.41 per share. The Company did not receive any proceeds from the CVC June 2019 Secondary Offering or incur underwriters’ discounts or commissions on the sale. The Company incurred immaterial transaction costs related to the CVC June 2019 Secondary Offering. Subsequent to the CVC June 2019 Secondary Offering, Leonard Green Partners sold its remaining shares through multiple open-market transactions.

As of February 1, 2020, the Sponsors, CVC and Leonard Green Partners no longer held any shares of the Company's common stock.

Stock Split

On June 15, 2018, the Company effected a seven-to-one stock split of its issued and outstanding shares of common stock and proportional adjustment to the existing conversion ratios for each series of the Company’s Contingently Redeemable Common Stock (see Note 10). Accordingly, all shares and per share amounts for all periods presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes thereto have been adjusted retroactively, where applicable, to reflect this stock split and adjustment of the contingently redeemable common stock conversion ratios.

Deferred Offering Costs

The Company capitalized certain legal, professional, accounting and other third-party fees that were directly associated with the July 2, 2018 IPO as deferred offering costs. Upon the consummation of the IPO, $47.2 million was recorded in stockholders’ deficit as a reduction of additional paid-in capital.

Estimates Included in Financial Statements

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and stockholders’ equity, and 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. Significant estimates relied upon in preparing these consolidated financial statements include, but are not limited to, revenue recognition; vendor rebates and allowances; estimating inventory reserves; estimating impairment assessments of goodwill, intangible assets, and other long-lived assets; estimating self-insurance reserves; estimating income taxes and equity-based compensation. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Segment Reporting

The Company’s club retail operations, which represent substantially all of the Company’s consolidated total revenues, are the Company’s only reportable operating segment. All of the Company’s identifiable assets are located in the United States. The Company does not have significant sales outside the United States, nor does any customer represent more than 10% of total revenues for any period presented.

The following table summarizes the percentage of net sales by category:



	Fiscal Year
	2019 % of Total		2018 % of Total		2017 % of Total
Edible Grocery	24	%	24	%	24	%
Perishables	27	%	28	%	29	%
Non-Edible Grocery	21	%	21	%	21	%
General Merchandise	15	%	14	%	14	%
Gasoline & Other Ancillary Services	13	%	13	%	12	%

Concentration Risk

An adverse change in the Company’s relationships with its key suppliers could have a material effect on the business and results of operations of the Company. Currently, one distributor consolidates a substantial majority of perishables for shipment to the clubs. While the Company believes that such a consolidation is in its best interest overall, a prolonged disruption in logistics processes could materially impact sales and profitability for the near term.

All of the warehouse clubs are located in the eastern United States. Sales from the New York metropolitan area made up approximately 25% of net sales in 2019, 2018 and 2017.

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk principally consist of cash held in financial institutions. The Company considers the credit risk associated with these financial instruments to be minimal. Cash is held by financial institutions with high credit ratings and the Company has not historically sustained any credit losses associated with its cash balances.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase are considered to be cash equivalents. Book overdrafts not subject to offset with other accounts with the same financial institution are classified as accounts payable.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable consists primarily of credit card receivables and receivables from vendors related to rebates and coupons and is stated net of allowances for doubtful accounts of $0.9 million at February 1, 2020 and February 2, 2019. The determination of the allowance for doubtful accounts is based on BJ’s historical experience applied to an aging of accounts and a review of individual accounts with a known potential for write-off.

Merchandise Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, determined under the average cost method, or net realizable value. The Company recognizes the write-down of slow-moving or obsolete inventory in cost of sales when such write-downs are probable and estimable. The Company writes down inventory for estimated shrinkage for the period between physical inventories based on historical results of previous physical inventories, shrinkage trends or other judgments management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated over their estimated useful lives using the straight-line method. Buildings and improvements are depreciated over estimated useful lives of 33 years. Interest related to the development of buildings is capitalized during the construction period. Leasehold costs and improvements are amortized over the remaining lease term (which includes renewal periods that are reasonably assured) or the asset’s estimated useful life, whichever is shorter. Furniture, fixtures and equipment are depreciated over estimated useful lives, ranging from three to ten years. Depreciation expense was $143.5 million in 2019, $140.4 million in 2018 and $138.0 million in 2017.

Certain costs incurred in connection with developing or obtaining computer software for internal use are capitalized. Capitalized software costs are included in furniture, fixtures, and equipment and are amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the software, which is three years. Software costs not meeting the criteria for capitalization are expensed as incurred.

Expenditures for betterments and major improvements that significantly enhance the value and increase the estimated useful life of the assets are capitalized and depreciated over the new estimated useful life. Repairs and maintenance costs on all assets are expensed as incurred.

Deferred Issuance Costs

The Company defers costs directly associated with acquiring third-party financing. Debt issuance costs related to the term loans are recorded as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the debt and debt issuance costs associated with the ABL Facility (as defined in Note 5) are recorded within other assets. Debt issuance costs are amortized over the term of the related financing arrangements on a straight-line basis, which is materially consistent with the effective interest method. Amortization of deferred debt issuance costs is recorded in interest expense and was $2.7 million in 2019, $3.3 million in 2018 and $4.1 million in 2017.

Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets

Goodwill and indefinite-lived trade name intangible assets are not subject to amortization. The Company assesses the recoverability of its goodwill and trade name annually in the fourth quarter or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate it may be impaired. The Company has determined it has one reporting unit for goodwill impairment testing purposes.

The Company may assess its goodwill for impairment initially using a qualitative approach ("step zero") to determine whether conditions exist to indicate that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value. If management concludes, based on its assessment of relevant events, facts and circumstances that it is more likely than not that a reporting unit’s carrying value is greater than its fair value, then a quantitative analysis will be performed to determine if there is any impairment. The Company may also elect to initially perform a quantitative analysis instead of starting with step zero. The quantitative assessment for goodwill is a two-step assessment. "Step one" requires comparing the carrying value of a reporting unit, including goodwill, to its fair value. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill is not considered to be impaired and no further testing is required. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the second step of the goodwill impairment test is to measure the amount of impairment loss, if any. "Step two" compares the implied fair value of goodwill to the carrying amount of goodwill. The implied fair value of goodwill is determined by a hypothetical purchase price allocation using the reporting unit’s fair value as the purchase price. If the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds the implied fair value, an impairment charge is recorded to write down goodwill to its implied fair value and is recorded as a component of selling, general and administrative expense ("SG&A"). The Company assessed the recoverability of goodwill in fiscal years 2019, 2018 and 2017 and determined that there was no impairment.

The Company assesses the recoverability of its trade name whenever there are indicators of impairment, or at least annually in the fourth quarter. If the recorded carrying value of the trade name exceeds its estimated fair value, the Company records a charge to write the intangible asset down to its estimated fair value as a component of SG&A. The Company assessed the recoverability of the BJ’s trade name and determined that its estimated fair value exceeded its carrying value and that no impairment was necessary in fiscal years 2019, 2018 or 2017.

Impairment of Long-lived Assets

The Company reviews the realizability of long-lived assets periodically and whenever a triggering event occurs that indicates an impairment loss may have been incurred using fair value measurements with unobservable inputs (Level 3). Current and expected operating results and cash flows and other factors are considered in connection with management’s reviews. For purposes of evaluating the recoverability of long-lived assets, the recoverability test is performed using undiscounted net cash flows of individual clubs and consolidated net cash flows for long-lived assets not identifiable to individual clubs. Impairment losses are measured as the difference between the carrying amount and the estimated fair value of the assets being evaluated. In fiscal year 2019, the Company recorded $13.3 million of impairment charges to lower the carrying value of the assets to their estimated fair value. The total impairment charges consisted of $1.7 million related to IT assets, $2.0 million related to fixed assets and $9.6 million related to operating lease right of use ("ROU") assets. The fixed asset impairment charges and operating lease ROU asset impairment charges related to four club locations. The combined fixed assets and operating lease ROU asset carrying value of these four locations after the impairment charge was $10.5 million.

In fiscal year 2018, the Company recorded an impairment loss of $4.0 million on the fixed assets of one club to lower the carrying value of the fixed assets to their estimated fair value less cost to sell. No impairment charges were recorded in fiscal year 2017.

Asset Retirement Obligations

An asset retirement obligation represents a legal obligation associated with the retirement of a tangible long-lived asset that is incurred upon the acquisition, construction, development or normal operation of that long-lived asset. The Company recognizes asset retirement obligations in the period in which they are placed in service, if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. The asset retirement obligation is subsequently adjusted for changes in fair value. The associated estimated asset retirement costs are capitalized in leasehold improvements and depreciated over their useful life. The Company’s asset retirement obligations relate to the future removal of gasoline tanks and solar panels installed at leased clubs and the related assets associated with the gas stations and solar panel locations. See Note 15 for further information on the amounts accrued.

Self-Insurance Reserves

The Company is primarily self-insured for workers’ compensation, general liability claims and medical claims. Reported reserves for these claims are derived from estimated ultimate costs based upon individual claim file reserves and estimates for incurred but not reported claims. The Company carries stop-loss insurance on its workers’ compensation and general liability claims to mitigate its exposure to large claims.

Revenue Recognition Performance Obligations

The Company identifies each distinct performance obligation to transfer goods (or bundle of goods) or services. The Company recognizes revenue as it satisfies a performance obligation by transferring control of the goods or services to the customer.

Merchandise sales—The Company recognizes sales of merchandise at clubs and gas stations when the customer takes possession of the goods and tenders payment. Sales of merchandise at the Company’s clubs and gas stations, excluding sales taxes, represented approximately 96% of the Company’s net sales and approximately 93% of the Company’s total revenues for fiscal year 2019. Sales taxes are recorded as a liability at the point of sale. Revenue is recorded at the point of sale based on the transaction price on the shelf sign, net of any applicable discounts, sales taxes and expected refunds. For e-commerce sales, the Company recognizes sales when control of the merchandise is transferred to the customer, which is typically at the shipping point.

BJ's Perks Rewards and My BJ's Perks programs— The Company’s BJ’s Perks Rewards^®membership program allows participating members to earn 2% cash back, up to a maximum of $500 per year, on qualified purchases made at BJ’s. The Company also offers a co-branded credit card program, the My BJ’s Perks^®program, which allows My BJ’s Perks^® Mastercardcredit card holders to earn up to 5% cash back on eligible purchases made at BJ’s up to 2% cash back on purchases made with the card outside of BJ’s. Cash back is in the form of electronic awards issued in $20 increments that may be used online or in-club at the register and expire six months from the date issued.

Earned awards may be redeemed on future purchases made at the Company. The Company recognizes revenue for earned awards when customers redeem such awards as part of a purchase at one of the Company’s clubs or the Company’s website. The Company accounts for these transactions as multiple element arrangements and allocates the transaction price to separate performance obligations using their relative fair values. The Company includes the fair value of award dollars earned in deferred revenue at the time the award dollars are earned. This liability was $26.7 million at February 1, 2020 and $25.8 million at February 2, 2019.

Royalty revenue received in connection with the My BJ's Perks co-brand credit card program is variable consideration and is considered deferred until the card holder makes a purchase. The Company's total deferred royalty revenue related to the outstanding My BJ's Perks credit card program was $14.8 million and $13.4 million at February 1, 2020 and February 2, 2019, respectively. The timing of revenue recognition of these awards is driven by actual customer activities, such as redemptions and expirations. At February 1, 2020, the Company expects to recognize $12.5 million of the deferred revenue in fiscal year 2020, and expects the remainder will be recognized in the years thereafter.

Membership—The Company charges a membership fee to its customers. That fee allows customers to shop in the Company’s clubs, shop on the Company’s website and purchase gasoline at the Company’s gas stations for the duration of the membership, which is generally 12 months. Because the Company has the obligation to provide access to its clubs, website and gas stations for the duration of the membership term, the Company recognizes membership fees on a straight-line basis over the life of the membership. The Company’s deferred revenue related to membership fees was $144.0 million and $134.4 million at February 1, 2020 and February 2, 2019, respectively.

Gift Card Programs—The Company sells BJ’s gift cards that allow customers to redeem the card for future purchases equal to the amount of the original purchase price of the gift card. Revenue from gift card sales is recognized upon redemption of the gift card because the Company’s performance obligation to redeem the gift card for merchandise is satisfied when the gift card is redeemed. Historically, the Company recognized breakage under the remote model, which recognizes breakage income when the likelihood of the customer exercising its remaining rights becomes remote. Under the current guidance, the Company recognizes breakage in proportion to its rate of gift card redemptions. This change in breakage recognition model had an immaterial impact on the Company’s results of operations for fiscal years 2019 and 2018. Deferred revenue related to gift cards was $10.3 million and $9.1 million at February 1, 2020 and February 2, 2019, respectively. The Company recognized approximately $49.1 million and $50.0 million of revenue from gift card redemptions in the fiscal years ended February 1, 2020 and February 2, 2019, respectively.

Warranty Programs

The Company passes on any manufacturers’ warranties to members. In addition, BJ’s includes an extended warranty on tires sold at the clubs, under which BJ’s customers receive tire repair services or tire replacement in certain circumstances. This warranty is included in the sale price of the tire and it cannot be declined by the customers. The Company is fully liable for claims under the tire warranty program. As the primary obligor in these arrangements, associated revenue is recognized on the date of sale and an estimated warranty obligation is accrued based on claims experience. The liability for future claims under this program is not material to the financial statements.

Extended warranties are also offered on certain types of products such as appliances, electronics and jewelry. These warranties are provided by a third party at fixed prices to BJ’s. No liability is retained to satisfy warranty claims under these arrangements. The Company is not the primary obligor under these warranties, and as such net revenue is recorded on these arrangements at the time of sale. Revenue from warranty sales is included in net sales on the income statement.

Determine the Transaction Price

The transaction price is the amount of consideration the Company expects to receive under the arrangement. The Company is required to estimate variable consideration (if any) and to factor that estimate into the determination of the transaction price. The Company may offer sales incentives to customers, including discounts. The Company has significant experience with return patterns and relies on this experience to estimate expected returns when determining the transaction price.

Returns and Refunds—The Company’s products are generally sold with a right of return and may provide other credits or incentives, which are accounted for as variable consideration when estimating the amount of revenue to recognize. The Company records an allowance for returns based on current period revenues and historical returns experience. The Company analyzes actual historical returns, current economic trends and changes in sales volume and acceptance of the Company’s products when evaluating the adequacy of the sales returns allowance in any accounting period.

The sales returns reserve, which reduces sales and cost of sales for the estimated impact of returns, was $6.5 million in 2019, $6.8 million in 2018 and $1.5 million in 2017.

Customer Discounts—Discounts given to customers are usually in the form of coupons and instant markdowns and are recognized as redeemed and recorded in contra revenue accounts, as they are part of the transaction price of the merchandise sale. Manufacturer coupons that are available for redemption at all retailers are not reduced from the sale price of merchandise.

Agent Relationships

The Company enters into certain agreements with service providers that offer goods and services to the Company’s members. These service providers sell goods and services including home improvement services and cell phones to the Company’s customers. In exchange, the Company receives payments in the form of commissions and other fees. The Company evaluates the relevant criteria to determine whether they serve as the principal or agent in these contracts with customers, in determining whether it is appropriate in these arrangements to record the gross amount of merchandise sales and related costs, or the net amount earned as commissions. When the Company is considered the principal in a transaction, revenue is recorded gross; otherwise, revenue is recorded on a net basis. Commissions received from these service providers are considered variable consideration and are constrained until the third-party customer makes a purchase from one of the service providers.

Significant Judgments

Standalone Selling Prices—For arrangements that contain multiple performance obligations, the Company allocates the transaction price to each performance obligation on a relative standalone selling price basis.

Policy Elections

In addition to those previously disclosed, the Company has made the following accounting policy elections and practical expedients:

Portfolio Approach—The Company uses the portfolio approach when multiple contracts or performance obligations are involved in the determination of revenue recognition.

Taxes—The Company excludes from the transaction price any taxes collected from customers that are remitted to taxing authorities.

Shipping and Handling Charges—Charges that are incurred before and after the customer obtains control of goods are deemed to be fulfillment costs.

Time Value of Money—The Company’s payment terms are less than one year from the transfer of goods. Therefore, the Company does not adjust promised amounts of consideration for the effects of the time value of money.

Disclosure of Remaining Performance Obligations—The Company does not disclose the aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations for contracts that are one year or less in term. Additionally, the Company does not disclose the aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations when the transaction price is allocated entirely to a wholly unsatisfied performance obligation or to a wholly unsatisfied promise to transfer a good or service that forms part of a series of distinct goods or services.

Cost of Sales

The Company’s cost of sales includes the direct costs of sold merchandise, which includes customs, taxes, duties and inbound shipping costs, inventory shrinkage and adjustments and reserves for excess, aged and obsolete inventory. Cost of goods sold also includes certain distribution center costs and allocations of certain indirect costs, such as occupancy, depreciation, amortization, labor and benefits.

Presentation of Sales Tax Collected from Customers and Remitted to Governmental Authorities

In the ordinary course of business, sales tax is collected on items purchased by the members that are taxable in the jurisdictions when the purchases take place. These taxes are then remitted to the appropriate taxing authority. These taxes collected are excluded from revenues in the financial statements.

Vendor Rebates and Allowances

The Company receives various types of cash consideration from vendors, principally in the form of rebates, based on purchasing or selling certain volumes of product, time-based rebates or allowances, which may include product placement allowances or exclusivity arrangements covering a predetermined period of time, price protection rebates and allowances for retail price reductions on certain merchandise and salvage allowances for product that is damaged, defective or becomes out-of-date.

Such vendor rebates and allowances are recognized based on a systematic and rational allocation of the cash consideration offered to the underlying transaction that results in progress by BJ’s toward earning the rebates and allowances, provided the amounts to be earned are probable and reasonably estimable. Otherwise, rebates and allowances are recognized only when predetermined milestones are met. The Company recognizes product placement allowances as a reduction of cost of sales in the period in which the product placement is completed. Time-based rebates or allowances are recognized as a reduction of cost of sales over the performance period on a straight-line basis. All other vendor rebates and allowances are recognized as a reduction of cost of sales when the merchandise is sold or otherwise disposed.

Cash consideration is also received for advertising products in publications sent to BJ’s members. Such cash consideration is recognized as a reduction of SG&A to the extent it represents a reimbursement of specific, incremental and identifiable SG&A costs incurred by BJ’s to sell the vendors’ products. If the cash consideration exceeds the costs being reimbursed, the excess is characterized as a reduction of cost of sales. Cash consideration for advertising vendors’ products is recognized in the period in which the advertising takes place.

Manufacturers’ Incentives Tendered by Consumers

Consideration from manufacturers’ incentives (such as rebates or coupons) is recorded gross in net sales when the incentive is generic and can be tendered by a consumer at any reseller and the Company receives direct reimbursement from the manufacturer, or clearinghouse authorized by the manufacturer, based on the face value of the incentive. If these conditions are not met, such consideration is recorded as a decrease in cost of sales.

Leases

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2016-2, Leases (FASB Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 842, Leases) which requires recognition on the balance sheet for the rights and obligations created by leases with terms greater than twelve months. Consistent with prior GAAP, the recognition, measurement, and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease by a lessee will depend primarily on its classification as a finance or operating lease. However, unlike prior GAAP—which required only finance (formerly capital) leases to be recognized on the balance sheet—the new ASU requires both types of leases to be recognized on the balance sheet.

The Company adopted ASC 842 using the modified retrospective method at the beginning of fiscal year 2019. In accordance with ASC 842, the Company did not recast comparative periods in transition to ASC 842 and instead reported comparative periods under ASC 840. Adoption of the standard resulted in the initial recognition of $2.040 billion of operating lease right-of-use ("ROU") assets and $2.071 billion of operating lease liabilities as of February 3, 2019. The difference between the assets and liabilities is attributable to the reclassification of certain existing lease-related assets and liabilities as an adjustment to the ROU assets. Finance leases were not impacted by the adoption of the new guidance as finance lease liabilities and the corresponding assets were recorded on the consolidated balance sheet under the previous guidance. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s annual audited consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, statements of contingently redeemable common stock and stockholders’ deficit or cash flows, and had a $11.6 million impact on beginning retained earnings in fiscal year 2019 primarily associated with the impact of the Company's deferred gain on prior years' sale leaseback transactions, net of tax. The Company elected the transition package of practical expedients permitted within the new standard which, among other things, allowed it to carry-forward the historical lease classification. The Company did not elect the practical expedient to use hindsight in determining the lease term and in assessing impairment of ROU assets and therefore continued to utilize lease terms determined under previous lease guidance.

Pre-opening Expenses

Pre-opening expenses consist of direct incremental costs of opening or relocating a facility and are expensed as incurred.

Advertising Costs

Advertising costs generally consist of efforts to acquire new members and typically include media advertising (some of which is vendor-funded). BJ’s expenses advertising as incurred as a component of SG&A. Advertising expenses were approximately 0.6%, 0.7% and 0.6% of net sales in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Stock-Based Compensation

The fair value of service-based employee awards is recognized as compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award. The fair value of the performance-based awards is recognized as compensation expense ratably over the service period of each performance tranche. The fair value of the stock-based awards is determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Determining the fair value of options at the grant date requires judgment, including estimating the expected term that stock options will be outstanding prior to exercise and the associated volatility.

Prior to the consummation of the IPO on June 28, 2018, the estimated fair value of the Company's stock was determined by its board of directors, with input from management and considering third-party valuations of common stock. Subsequent to the IPO date, the Company's common stock was listed on the NYSE and its value is determined by the market price on the NYSE. See our Note 11 for additional description of the accounting for stock-based awards.

Earnings Per Share

Basic net income per share attributable to common stockholders is calculated by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period, including contingently redeemable common stock recorded outside of stockholders’ equity. Basic income from continuing operations per share attributable to common stockholders is calculated by dividing income from continuing operations available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period, including contingently redeemable common stock recorded outside of stockholders’ equity. Basic loss from discontinuing operations per share attributable to common stockholders is calculated by dividing loss from discontinuing operations available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period, including contingently redeemable common stock recorded outside of stockholders’ equity.

Diluted net income per share attributable to common stockholders is calculated by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted income from continuing operations per share attributable to common stockholders is calculated by dividing income from continuing operations available to common stockholders by the diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted loss from discontinuing operations per share attributable to common stockholders is calculated by dividing loss from discontinuing operations available to common stockholders by the diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial statement carrying values and their respective tax bases, using enacted tax rates expected to be applicable in the years in which the temporary differences are expected to reverse. Changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded in the provision for income taxes. The Company evaluates the realizability of its deferred tax assets and establishes a valuation allowance when it is more likely than not that all or a portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Potential for recovery of deferred tax assets is evaluated by estimating the future taxable profits expected, scheduling of anticipated reversals of taxable temporary differences, and considering prudent and feasible tax planning strategies.

The Company records liabilities for uncertain income tax positions based on a two-step process. The first step is recognition, where an individual tax position is evaluated as to whether it has a likelihood of greater than 50% of being sustained upon examination based on the technical merits of the position, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes. For tax positions that are currently estimated to have less than a 50% likelihood of being sustained, no tax benefit is recorded. For tax positions that have met the recognition threshold in the first step, the Company performs the second step of measuring the benefit to be recorded. The amount of the benefit that may be recognized is the largest amount that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized on ultimate settlement. The actual benefits ultimately realized may differ from the estimates. In future periods, changes in facts, circumstances and new information may require the Company to change the recognition and measurement estimates with regard to individual tax positions. Changes in recognition and measurement estimates are recorded in income tax expense and liability in the period in which such changes occur.

Any interest or penalties incurred related to unrecognized tax benefits are recorded as a component of the provision for income tax expense.

Derivative Financial Instruments

All derivatives are recognized as either assets or liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet and measurement of these instruments is at fair value. If the derivative is designated as a cash flow hedge, the effective portions of changes in the fair value of the derivative are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income and are recognized in the consolidated statement of operations when the hedged item affects earnings. Any portion of the change in fair value that is determined to be ineffective is immediately recognized in earnings as SG&A. Derivative gains or losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income are reclassified into earnings at the time the hedged transaction occurs as a component of SG&A.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Certain assets and liabilities are carried at fair value in accordance with GAAP. Fair value is defined as 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.

The Company uses a three-level hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. This hierarchy requires entities to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. Financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value are to be classified and disclosed in one of the following three levels of the fair value hierarchy, of which the first two are considered observable and the last is considered unobservable:


•	Level 1, quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.


•	Level 2, observable inputs other than quoted market prices included in Level 1 such as quoted market prices for markets that are not active or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.


•	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, including certain pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar techniques that use significant unobservable inputs.

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income is a measure of net income and all other changes in equity that result from transactions other than with equity holders, and would normally be recorded in the consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity and the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Other comprehensive income consists of unrealized gains and losses from derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges, and postretirement medical plan adjustments.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Leases (ASU 2016-2)

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-2, Leases (FASB ASC Topic 842, Leases) which requires recognition on the balance sheet for the rights and obligations created by leases with terms greater than twelve months. Consistent with prior GAAP, the recognition, measurement, and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease by a lessee will depend primarily on its classification as a finance or operating lease. However, unlike prior GAAP—which required only finance (formerly capital) leases to be recognized on the balance sheet—the new ASU requires both types of leases to be recognized on the balance sheet.

The Company adopted ASC 842 using the modified retrospective method at the beginning of fiscal year 2019. In accordance with ASC 842, the Company did not recast comparative periods in transition to ASC 842 and instead reported comparative periods under ASC 840. Adoption of the standard resulted in the initial recognition of $2.040 billion of operating lease ROU assets and $2.071 billion of operating lease liabilities as of February 3, 2019. The difference between the assets and liabilities is attributable to the reclassification of certain existing lease-related assets and liabilities as an adjustment to the ROU assets. Finance leases were not impacted by the adoption of the new guidance as finance lease liabilities and the corresponding assets were recorded on the consolidated balance sheet under the previous guidance. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s annual audited consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, statements of contingently redeemable common stock and stockholders’ deficit or cash flows, and had a $11.6 million impact on beginning retained earnings in fiscal year 2019 primarily associated with the impact of the Company's deferred gain on prior years' sale leaseback transactions, net of tax. The Company elected the transition package of practical expedients permitted within the new standard which, among other things, allowed it to carry-forward the historical lease classification. The Company did not elect the practical expedient to use hindsight in determining the lease term and in assessing impairment of ROU assets and therefore continued to utilize lease terms determined under previous lease guidance.

Please refer to Note 4 for further discussion on the Company's leases.

Non-Employee Share-Based Compensation (ASU 2018-07)

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, Improvements to Non-employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which updates the guidance to Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718). The updated guidance aligns the measurement and classification guidance for share-based payments to non-employees with the guidance for share-based payments to employees, with certain exceptions. The Company adopted ASU 2018-07 at the beginning of fiscal year 2019 and the adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Income Taxes (ASU 2019-12)

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (Topic 740). This standard simplifies the accounting for income taxes by eliminating certain exceptions to the guidance in ASC 740 related to the approach for intraperiod tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences. The standard also simplifies aspects of the accounting for franchise taxes and enacted changes in tax laws or rates and clarifies the accounting for transactions that result in a step-up in the tax basis of goodwill. The standard is effective for public companies for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2021. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that implementation of this standard will have on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

Fair Value Measurement (ASU 2018-13)

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement, which updates the guidance to Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820). The updated guidance modifies the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements by removing, modifying or adding certain disclosures. The updated guidance is effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The amendments on changes in unrealized gains and losses, the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements, and the narrative description of measurement uncertainty should be applied prospectively for only the most recent interim or annual period presented in the initial fiscal year of adoption. All other amendments should be applied retrospectively to all periods presented upon their effective date. The Company does not believe adoption of this standard will have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

Goodwill Impairment (ASU 2017-04)

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04. ASU 2017-04 provides amendments to ASC 350, "Intangibles - Goodwill and Other", which eliminate Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Entities should perform their goodwill impairment tests by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount and recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit's fair value. The amendments in this update are effective prospectively during interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not believe adoption of this standard will have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

Intangibles-Goodwill and Other-Internal-Use Software (ASU 2018-15)

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40). The update related to accounting for implementation costs incurred in a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract. The update allows entities who are customers in hosting arrangements that are service contracts to apply the existing internal-use software guidance to determine which implementation costs to capitalize as an asset related to the service contract and which costs to expense. The update specifies classification for capitalizing implementation costs and related amortization expense within the financial statements and requires additional disclosures. The updated guidance is effective for fiscal reporting periods, including interim reporting within those periods, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted and can be applied either retrospectively or prospectively. The Company adopted this standard on February 2, 2020 on a prospective basis. The adoption of this standard had no material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

Credit Losses (ASU 2016-13)

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. This new guidance will change how entities account for credit impairment for trade and other receivables, as well as for certain financial assets and other instruments. ASU 2016-13 will replace the current "incurred loss" model with an "expected loss" model. Under the "incurred loss" model, a loss (or allowance) is recognized only when an event has occurred (such as a payment delinquency) that causes the entity to believe that a loss is probable (i.e., that it has been "incurred"). Under the "expected loss" model, an entity will recognize a loss (or allowance) upon initial recognition of the asset that reflects all future events that will lead to a loss being realized, regardless of whether it is probable that the future event will occur. The "incurred loss" model considers past events and current conditions, while the "expected loss" model includes expectations for the future which have yet to occur. ASU 2016-13 is effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 with early adoption permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods therein. The adoption of this standard will not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.