Note 1 - Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Notes to Financial Statements

Organization, Consolidation, Basis of Presentation, Business Description and Accounting Policies [Text Block]

1.    Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Organization

The New Home Company Inc. (the "Company"), a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries are primarily engaged in all aspects of residential real estate development, including acquiring land and designing, constructing and selling homes in California and Arizona.

Based on our public float of $58.9 million at June 28, 2019, we are a smaller reporting company and are subject to reduced disclosure obligations in our periodic reports and proxy statements.

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts have been eliminated upon consolidation.

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") as contained within the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC").

Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms "we", "us", "our" and "the Company" refer to the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes. Accordingly, actual results could differ materially from these estimates.

Reclassifications

Certain items in the prior year consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform with current year presentation. These reclassifications have not changed the results of operations of prior periods.  Effective January 1, 2019, the Company updated its reportable segments.  Prior year comparative data has been reclassified to align with the composition of the current year reportable segments.  Please refer to Note 15 for more information.  The Company also changed its classification of certain real estate inventory from "Homes completed or under construction" to "Land held and land under development" in the Real Estate Inventories footnote at December 31, 2019.  The prior year balances have been reclassified to conform with the current year classification.  

Segment Reporting

ASC 280, Segment Reporting ("ASC 280") established standards for the manner in which public enterprises report information about operating segments.  The Company's reportable segments are Arizona homebuilding, California homebuilding, and fee building. In accordance with ASC 280, our California homebuilding reportable segment aggregates the Northern California and Southern California homebuilding operating segments based on the similarities in long-term economic characteristics.  

Cash and Cash Equivalents

We define cash and cash equivalents as cash on hand, demand deposits with financial institutions, and short term liquid investments with a maturity date of less than three months from the date of purchase.

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash of $0.1 million and $0.3 million as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, is held in accounts for payments of subcontractor costs incurred in connection with various fee building projects.

The table below shows the line items and amounts of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash as reported within the Company's consolidated balance sheets for each period shown that sum to the total of the same such amounts at the end of the periods shown in the accompanying consolidated statements of cash flows.

	Year Ended December 31,
	2019		2018		2017
	(Dollars in thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	79,314	$	42,273	$	123,546
Restricted cash		117		269		424
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the statements of cash flows	$	79,431	$	42,542	$	123,970

Real Estate Inventories and Cost of Sales

We capitalize pre-acquisition, land, development and other allocated costs, including interest, property taxes and indirect construction costs. Pre-acquisition costs, including nonrefundable land deposits, are expensed to other income (expense), net if we determine continuation of the prospective project is not probable.

Land, development and other common costs are typically allocated to real estate inventories using a methodology that approximates the relative-sales-value method. Home construction costs per production phase are recorded using the specific identification method. Cost of sales for homes closed includes the estimated total construction costs of each home at completion and an allocation of all applicable land acquisition, land development and related common costs (both incurred and estimated to be incurred) based upon the relative-sales-value of the home within each project. Changes in estimated development and common costs are allocated prospectively to remaining homes in the project.

In accordance with ASC 360, Property, Plant and Equipment ("ASC 360"), inventory is stated at cost, unless the carrying amount is determined not to be recoverable, in which case inventory is written down to its fair value. We review each real estate asset on a quarterly basis or whenever indicators of impairment exist. Real estate assets include projects actively selling and projects under development or held for future development. Indicators of impairment include, but are not limited to, significant decreases in local housing market values and selling prices of comparable homes, significant decreases in gross margins or sales absorption rates, costs significantly in excess of budget, and actual or projected cash flow losses.

If there are indicators of impairment, we perform a detailed budget and cash flow review of the applicable real estate inventories to determine whether the estimated future undiscounted cash flows of the project are more or less than the asset’s carrying value. If the estimated future undiscounted cash flows exceed the asset’s carrying value, no impairment adjustment is required. However, if the estimated future undiscounted cash flows are less than the asset’s carrying value then the asset is impaired. If the asset is deemed impaired, it is written down to its fair value in accordance with ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures ("ASC 820").

When estimating undiscounted future cash flows of a project, we make various assumptions, including: (i) expected sales prices and sales incentives to be offered, including the number of homes available, pricing and incentives being offered by us or other builders in other projects, and future sales price adjustments based on market and economic trends; (ii) expected sales pace and cancellation rates based on local housing market conditions, competition and historical trends; (iii) costs expended to date and expected to be incurred including, but not limited to, land and land development costs, home construction costs, interest costs, indirect construction and overhead costs, and selling and marketing costs; (iv) alternative product offerings that may be offered that could have an impact on sales pace, sales price and/or building costs; and (v) alternative uses for the property.

Many assumptions are interdependent and a change in one may require a corresponding change to other assumptions. For example, increasing or decreasing sales absorption rates has a direct impact on the estimated per unit sales price of a home and the level of time sensitive costs (such as indirect construction, overhead and carrying costs). Depending on the underlying objective of the project, assumptions could have a significant impact on the projected cash flow analysis. For example, if our objective is to preserve operating margins, our cash flow analysis will be different than if the objective is to increase the velocity of sales. These objectives may vary significantly from project to project and change over time.

If a real estate asset is deemed impaired, the impairment is calculated by determining the amount the asset's carrying value exceeds its fair value in accordance with ASC 820. We calculate the fair value of real estate inventories considering a land residual value analysis and a discounted cash flow analysis. Under the discounted cash flow method, the fair value is determined by calculating the present value of future cash flows using a risk-adjusted discount rate. Some of the critical assumptions involved with measuring the asset's fair value include estimating future revenues, sales absorption rates, development and construction costs, and other applicable project costs. This evaluation and the assumptions used by management to determine future estimated cash flows and fair value require a substantial degree of judgment, especially with respect to real estate projects that have a substantial amount of development to be completed, have not started selling or are in the early stages of sales, or are longer in duration. Actual revenues, costs and time to complete and sell a community could vary from these estimates which could impact the calculation of fair value of the asset and the corresponding amount of impairment that is recorded in our results of operations. For the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, we recorded inventory impairments of $10.2 million, $10.0 million and $2.2 million, respectively. For additional detail regarding these impairment charges, please see Note 4.

Capitalization of Interest

We follow the practice of capitalizing interest to real estate inventories during the period of development and to investments in unconsolidated joint ventures, when applicable, in accordance with ASC 835, Interest ("ASC 835"). Interest capitalized as a cost component of real estate inventories is included in cost of home sales as related homes or lots are sold. To the extent interest is capitalized to investment in unconsolidated joint ventures, it is included as a reduction of equity in net income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures when the related homes or lots are sold to third parties. In instances where the Company purchases land from an unconsolidated joint venture, the pro rata share of interest capitalized to investment in unconsolidated joint ventures is added to the basis of the land acquired and recognized as a cost of sale upon the delivery of the related homes or land to a third-party buyer. To the extent our debt exceeds our qualified assets as defined in ASC 835, we expense a portion of the interest incurred by us. Qualified assets represent projects that are actively selling or under development as well as investments in unconsolidated joint ventures accounted for under the equity method until such equity investees begin their principal operations.

Revenue Recognition

Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the requirements of ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) ("ASC 606") under the modified retrospective method.  Under ASC 606, we recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To do this, the Company performs the following five steps as outlined in ASC 606: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the Company satisfies a performance obligation.  

Under the modified retrospective adoption of ASC 606, the Company recognized the cumulative effect of initially applying the new standard as a $3.4 million, tax-effected decrease to the opening balance of retained earnings as of January 1, 2018. The comparative information for the year ended December 31, 2017 was not restated and continued to be reported as it was previously, under the appropriate accounting standards in effect for the period. The adjustment to retained earnings related to a $4.7 million write-down of certain recoverable selling and marketing costs included in other assets that were formerly capitalized under ASC 970, but that no longer qualify for capitalization under the Company's accounting policy reflecting the changes upon the adoption of ASC 606.  As a result of this write-down, the Company's deferred tax asset increased by $1.3 million.

Home Sales and Profit Recognition

In accordance with ASC 606, home sales revenue is recognized when our performance obligations within the underlying sales contracts are fulfilled. We consider our obligations fulfilled when closing conditions are complete, title has transferred to the homebuyer, and collection of the purchase price is reasonably assured. Sales incentives are recorded as a reduction of revenues when the respective home is closed. The profit we record is based on the calculation of cost of sales, which is dependent on our allocation of costs, as described in more detail above in the section entitled "Real Estate Inventories and Cost of Sales." When it is determined that the earnings process is not complete, the related revenue and profit are deferred for recognition in future periods.

For periods prior to January 1, 2018, the company recognized home sales and other real estate sales revenue in accordance with ASC 360. Under ASC 360, revenue from home sales and other real estate sales was recorded and a profit was recognized when the sales process was complete under the full accrual method. The sales process was considered complete for home sales and other real estate sales when all conditions of escrow were met, including delivery of the home or other real estate asset, title passes, appropriate consideration is received and collection of associated receivables, if any, was reasonably assured.

Land Sales and Profit Recognition

In accordance with ASC 606, land sales revenue is recognized when our performance obligations within the underlying sales contracts are fulfilled.  The performance obligations in land sales contracts are typically satisfied at the point in time consideration and title is transferred through escrow at closing.  Total revenue is typically recognized simultaneously with transfer of title to the customer.  In instances where material performance obligations may exist after the closing date, a portion of the price is allocated to each performance obligation with revenue recognized as such obligations are completed.  Variable consideration, such as profit participation, may be included within the land sales transaction price based on the terms of a contract.  The Company includes the estimated amount of variable consideration to which it will be entitled only to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue will not occur when any uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is subsequently resolved.

Fee Building

The Company enters into fee building agreements to provide services whereby it builds homes on behalf of third-party property owners. The third-party property owner funds all project costs incurred by the Company to build and sell the homes. The Company primarily enters into cost plus fee contracts where it charges third-party property owners for all direct and indirect costs plus a fee. The fee is typically a per-unit fixed fee or based on a percentage of the cost or home sales revenue of the project, depending on the terms of the agreement with the third-party property owner. For these types of contracts, the Company recognizes revenue based on the actual total costs it has incurred plus the applicable fee. In accordance with ASC 606 for periods after January 1, 2018 and ASC 605, Revenue Recognition ("ASC 605") for prior periods, we apply the percentage-of-completion method, using the cost-to-cost approach, as it most accurately measures the progress of our efforts in satisfying our obligations within the fee building agreements. Under this approach, revenue is earned in proportion to total costs incurred divided by total costs expected to be incurred. In the course of providing fee building services, the Company routinely subcontracts for services and incurs other direct costs on behalf of the property owners. These costs are passed through to the property owners and, in accordance with GAAP, are included in the Company’s revenues and cost of sales.

The Company also provides construction management and coordination services and sales and marketing services as part of agreements with third parties and its unconsolidated joint ventures. In certain contracts, the Company also provides project management and administrative services. For most services provided, the Company fulfills its related obligations as time-based measures, according to the input method guidance described in ASC 606. Accordingly, revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis as the Company's efforts are expended evenly throughout the performance period. The Company may also have an obligation to manage the home or lot sales process as part of providing sales and marketing services. This obligation is considered fulfilled when related homes or lots close escrow, as these events represent milestones reached according to the output method guidance described in ASC 606. Accordingly, revenue is recognized in the period that the corresponding lots or homes close escrow. Costs associated with these services are recognized as incurred. Prior to the adoption of ASC 606, the Company recognized revenues from these services in accordance with ASC 605 under a proportional performance method or completed performance method. Under ASC 605, revenue was earned as services were provided in proportion to total services expected to be provided to the customer or on a straight-line basis if the pattern of performance could not be determined.

The Company’s fee building revenues have historically been concentrated with a small number of customers. For the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, one customer comprised 95%, 95% and 97% of fee building revenue, respectively. The balance of the fee building revenues primarily represented management fees earned from unconsolidated joint ventures and third-party customers. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, one customer comprised 65% and 48% of contracts and accounts receivable, respectively, with the balance of contracts and accounts receivable primarily representing escrow receivables from home sales.

Variable Interest Entities

The Company accounts for variable interest entities in accordance with ASC 810, Consolidation ("ASC 810"). Under ASC 810, a variable interest entity ("VIE") is created when: (a) the equity investment at risk in the entity is not sufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support provided by other parties, including the equity holders; (b) the entity’s equity holders as a group either (i) lack the direct or indirect ability to make decisions about the entity, (ii) are not obligated to absorb expected losses of the entity or (iii) do not have the right to receive expected residual returns of the entity; or (c) the entity’s equity holders have voting rights that are not proportionate to their economic interests, and the activities of the entity involve or are conducted on behalf of the equity holder with disproportionately few voting rights.

Once we consider the sufficiency of equity and voting rights of each legal entity, we then evaluate the characteristics of the equity holders' interests, as a group, to see if they qualify as controlling financial interests. Our real estate joint ventures consist of limited partnerships and limited liability companies. For entities structured as limited partnerships or limited liability companies, our evaluation of whether the equity holders (equity partners other than us in each our joint ventures) lack the characteristics of a controlling financial interest includes the evaluation of whether the limited partners or non-managing members (the non-controlling equity holders) lack both substantive participating rights and substantive kick-out rights, defined as follows:

• Participating rights - provide the non-controlling equity holders the ability to direct significant financial and operational decision made in the ordinary course of business that most significantly influence the entity's economic performance.

• Kick-out rights - allow the non-controlling equity holders to remove the general partner or managing member without cause.

If we conclude that any of the three characteristics of a VIE are met, including if equity holders lack the characteristics of a controlling financial interest because they lack both substantive participating rights and substantive kick-out rights, we conclude that the entity is a VIE and evaluate it for consolidation under the variable interest model.

If an entity is deemed to be a VIE pursuant to ASC 810, the enterprise that has both (i) the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and (ii) the obligation to absorb the expected losses of the entity or right to receive benefits from the entity that could be potentially significant to the VIE is considered the primary beneficiary and must consolidate the VIE.

Under ASC 810, a nonrefundable deposit paid to an entity may be deemed to be a variable interest that will absorb some or all of the entity’s expected losses if they occur. Our land purchase and lot option deposits generally represent our maximum exposure to the land seller if we elect not to purchase the optioned property. In some instances, we may also expend funds for due diligence, development and construction activities with respect to optioned land prior to takedown. Such costs are classified as real estate inventories, which we would have to write off should we not exercise the option. Therefore, whenever we enter into a land option or purchase contract with an entity and make a nonrefundable deposit, a VIE may have been created.  At December 31, 2019, the Company had outstanding nonrefundable cash deposits of $15.8 million pertaining to land option contracts and purchase contracts.   

As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company was not required to consolidate any VIEs. In accordance with ASC 810, we perform ongoing reassessments of whether we are the primary beneficiary of a VIE.

Non-controlling Interest

During 2013, the Company entered into a joint venture agreement with a third-party property owner. In accordance with ASC 810, the Company analyzed this arrangement and determined that it was not a VIE; however, the Company determined it was required to consolidate the joint venture as the Company has a controlling financial interest with the powers to direct the major decisions of the entity.  As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the third-party investor had an equity balance of $0.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively.

Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Joint Ventures

We use the equity method to account for investments in homebuilding and land development joint ventures when any of the following situations exist: 1) the joint venture qualifies as a VIE and we are not the primary beneficiary, 2) we do not control the joint venture but have the ability to exercise significant influence over its operating and financial policies, or 3) we function as the managing member or general partner of the joint venture and our joint venture partner has substantive participating rights or can replace us as managing member or general partner without cause.

As of December 31, 2019, the Company concluded that none of its joint ventures were VIEs and accounted for these entities under the equity method of accounting.

Under the equity method, we recognize our proportionate share of earnings and losses generated by the joint venture upon the delivery of lots or homes to third parties. Our proportionate share of intra-entity profits and losses are eliminated until the related asset has been sold by the unconsolidated joint venture to third parties. We classify cash distributions received from equity method investees using the cumulative earnings approach consistent with ASC 230, Statement of Cash Flows ("ASC 230"). Under the cumulative earnings approach, distributions received are considered returns on investment and is classified as cash inflows from operating activities unless the cumulative distributions received exceed cumulative equity in earnings. When such an excess occurs, the current-period distribution up to this excess is considered a return of investment and is classified as cash inflows from investing activities. Our ownership interests in our unconsolidated joint ventures vary, but are generally less than or equal to 35%. The accounting policies of our joint ventures are consistent with those of the Company.   

We review real estate inventory held by our unconsolidated joint ventures for impairment on a quarterly basis, consistent with how we review our real estate inventories as described in more detail above in the section entitled "Real Estate Inventories and Cost of Sales." For the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, our unconsolidated joint ventures recorded noncash impairment charges of $70.0 million, $28.8 million and $0, respectively, of which $3.5 million, $18.9 million and $0, respectively, was allocated to the Company. We also review our investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures for evidence of other-than-temporary declines in value in accordance with ASC 820. To the extent we deem any portion of our investment in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures as not recoverable, we impair our investment accordingly. For the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, the Company recorded other-than-temporary, noncash impairment charges of $0, $1.1 million and $0, respectively, related to our investment in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures.

Selling and Marketing Expense

Effective January 1, 2018, costs incurred for tangible assets directly used in the sales process such as our sales offices, design studios and model landscaping and furnishings are capitalized to other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets under ASC 340, Other Assets and Deferred Costs ("ASC 340"). These costs are depreciated to selling and marketing expenses generally over the shorter of 30 months or the actual estimated life of the selling community. All other selling and marketing costs, such as commissions and advertising, are expensed as incurred. Prior to January 1, 2018, the Company followed the guidance under ASC 970-340, Real Estate - Other Assets and Deferred Costs ("ASC 970"), and capitalized certain selling and marketing costs to other assets in the consolidated balance sheet if the costs were reasonably expected to be recovered from the sale of the project or from incidental operations, and were incurred for tangible assets that were used directly through the selling period to aid in the sale of the project or services that had been performed to obtain regulatory approval of sales. These capitalizable selling and marketing costs included, but were not limited to, model home design, model home decor and landscaping, and sales office/design studio setup. These costs were amortized to selling and marketing expense as the underlying homes were delivered.

Warranty and Litigation Accruals

We offer warranties on our homes that generally cover various defects in workmanship or materials, or structural construction defects for one year. In addition, we provide a more limited warranty, which generally ranges from a minimum of two years up to the period covered by the applicable statute of repose, that covers certain defined construction defects. Estimated future direct warranty costs are accrued and charged to cost of sales in the period when the related homebuilding revenues are recognized. Amounts are accrued based upon the Company’s historical rates. In addition, the Company has received warranty payments from third-party property owners for certain of its fee building projects that have since closed-out where the Company has the contractual risk of construction. These payments are recorded as warranty accruals. We assess the adequacy of our warranty accrual on a quarterly basis and adjust the amounts recorded if necessary. Our warranty accrual is included in accrued expenses and other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and adjustments to our warranty accrual are recorded through cost of sales.

While our subcontractors who perform our homebuilding work generally provide us with an indemnity for claims relating to their workmanship and materials, we also purchase general liability insurance that covers development and construction activity at each of our communities. Our subcontractors are usually covered by these programs through an owner-controlled insurance program, or "OCIP." Consultants such as engineers and architects are generally not covered by the OCIP but are required to maintain their own insurance. In general, we maintain insurance, subject to deductibles and self-insured retentions, to protect us against various risks associated with our activities, including, among others, general liability, "all-risk" property, construction defects, workers’ compensation, automobile, and employee fidelity. Our master general liability policies which cover most of our projects allow for our warranty spend to erode our self-insured retention requirements. We establish a separate reserve for warranty and for known and incurred but not reported (“IBNR”) construction defect claims based on our historical claim and expense data. Our warranty accrual and litigation reserves for construction defect claims are presented on a gross basis within accrued expenses and other liabilities in our consolidated financial statements without consideration of insurance recoveries. Expected recoveries from insurance carriers are presented as receivables within other assets in our consolidated financial statements and are recorded based on actual insurance claims and amounts determined using our construction defect claim and warranty accrual estimates, our insurance policy coverage limits for the applicable policy years and historical recovery rates.

Contracts and Accounts Receivable

Contracts and accounts receivable primarily represent the fees earned, but not collected, and reimbursable project costs incurred in connection with fee building agreements. The Company periodically evaluates the collectability of its contracts receivable, and, if it is determined that a receivable might not be fully collectible, an allowance is recorded for the amount deemed uncollectible. This allowance for doubtful accounts is estimated based on management’s evaluation of the contracts involved and the financial condition of its customers. Factors considered in such evaluations include, but are not limited to: (i) customer type; (ii) historical contract performance; (iii) historical collection and delinquency trends; (iv) customer credit worthiness; and (v) general economic conditions. In addition to contracts receivable, escrow receivables are included in contracts and accounts receivable in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, no allowance was recorded related to contracts and accounts receivable.

Property, Equipment and Capitalized Selling and Marketing Costs

Property, equipment and capitalized selling and marketing costs are recorded at cost and included in other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Property and equipment are depreciated to general and administrative expenses using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives ranging from three to five years. Leasehold improvements are stated at cost and are amortized to general and administrative expenses using the straight-line method generally over the shorter of either their estimated useful lives or the term of the lease. Capitalized selling and marketing costs are depreciated using the straight-line method to selling and marketing expenses over the shorter of either 30 months or the actual estimated life of the selling community. For the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, the Company incurred depreciation and amortization expense of $9.0 million, $6.6 million and $0.4 million, respectively. The increase in depreciation and amortization expense starting in 2018 is primarily due to capitalized selling and marketing costs that were reclassified in accordance with the adoption of ASC 606.  In addition, the accounting policy change resulted in depreciation expense for capitalized selling and marketing assets to be included in the line item "depreciation and amortization" in the consolidated statement of cash flows for years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 compared to including the expense in the net change to other assets line item. Please refer to "Selling and Marketing Expense" above for more detail.

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes ("ASC 740"). The consolidated provision for, or benefit from, income taxes is calculated using the asset and liability method, under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded based on the difference between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse.

Each quarter we assess our deferred tax asset to determine whether all or any portion of the asset is more likely than not (defined as a likelihood of more than 50%) unrealizable under ASC 740. We are required to establish a valuation allowance for any portion of the tax asset we conclude is more likely than not unrealizable. Our assessment considers, among other things, the nature, frequency and severity of prior cumulative losses, forecasts of future taxable income, the duration of statutory carryforward periods, our utilization experience with net operating losses and tax credit carryforwards and the available tax planning alternatives, to the extent these items are applicable. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets depends primarily on the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which the differences become deductible. The value of our deferred tax assets will depend on applicable income tax rates. Judgment is required in determining the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in our consolidated financial statements and/or tax returns. Differences between anticipated and actual outcomes of these future tax consequences could have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, no valuation allowance was recorded.

ASC 740 defines the methodology for recognizing the benefits of uncertain tax return positions as well as guidance regarding the measurement of the resulting tax benefits.  These provisions require an enterprise to recognize the financial statement effects of a tax position when it is more likely than not, based on the technical merits, that the position will be sustained upon examination.  In addition, these provisions provide guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition.  The evaluation of whether a tax position meets the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold requires a substantial degree of judgment by management based on the individual facts and circumstances. At December 31, 2019, the Company has concluded that there were no significant uncertain tax positions requiring recognition in its financial statements.

The Company classifies any interest and penalties related to income taxes assessed as part of income tax expense. As of December 31, 2019, the Company has not been assessed interest or penalties by any major tax jurisdictions related to any open tax periods.

Stock-Based Compensation

We account for share-based awards in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation ("ASC 718") and ASC 505-50, Equity – Equity Based Payments to Non-Employees ("ASC 505-50").

ASC 718 requires that the cost resulting from all share-based payment transactions be recognized in a company's financial statements. ASC 718 requires all entities to apply a fair-value-based measurement method in accounting for share-based payment transactions with employees except for equity instruments held by employee share ownership plans.

On June 26, 2015, the Company entered into an agreement that transitioned Joseph Davis' role within the Company from Chief Investment Officer to a non-employee consultant to the Company. On February 16, 2017, the Company entered into an agreement that transitioned Wayne Stelmar's role within the Company from Chief Investment Officer to a non-employee consultant and non-employee director. Per the agreements, Mr. Davis' and Mr. Stelmar's outstanding equity awards continued to vest in accordance with their original terms. Under ASC 505-50, if an employee becomes a non-employee and continues to vest in an award pursuant to the award's original terms, that award will be treated as an award to a non-employee prospectively, provided the individual is required to continue providing services to the employer (such as consulting services). Based on the terms and conditions of both Mr. Davis' and Mr. Stelmar's consulting agreements noted above, we accounted for their share-based awards in accordance with ASC 505-50 through March 31, 2018. ASC 505-50 required that these awards be accounted for prospectively, such that the fair value of the awards was re-measured at each reporting date until the earlier of (a) the performance commitment date or (b) the date the services required under the transition agreement with Mr. Davis or Mr. Stelmar have been completed. ASC 505-50 required that compensation cost ultimately recognized in the Company's financial statements be the sum of (a) the compensation cost recognized during the period of time the individual was an employee (based on the grant-date fair value) plus (b) the fair value of the award determined on the measurement date determined in accordance with ASC 505-50 for the pro-rata portion of the vesting period in which the individual was a non-employee. Mr. Davis' outstanding awards fully vested during January 2017 and were fully expensed at that time.

In June of 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07, Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting ("ASU 2018-07") which expanded the scope of ASC 718 to include share-based payments for acquiring goods and services from nonemployees, with certain exceptions. Under ASC 718, the measurement date for equity-classified, share-based awards is generally the grant date of the award. The Company early adopted ASU 2018-07 on April 1, 2018, at which time Mr. Stelmar's award was the only nonemployee award outstanding. In accordance with the transition guidance, the Company assessed Mr. Stelmar's award for which a measurement date had not been established. The outstanding award was re-measured to fair value as of the April 1, 2018 adoption date. The adoption of ASU 2018-07 provided administrative relief by fixing the remaining unamortized expense of the award and eliminating the requirement to quarterly re-measure the Company's one remaining nonemployee award. The Company adopted this standard on a modified retrospective basis booking a cumulative-effect adjustment of an $18,000 increase to retained earnings and equal decrease to additional paid-in capital as of the beginning of the 2018 fiscal year. Mr. Stelmar's award was fully expensed as of March 31, 2019.

Share Repurchase and Retirement

When shares are retired, the Company’s policy is to allocate the excess of the repurchase price over the par value of shares acquired to both retained earnings and additional paid-in capital. The portion allocated to additional paid-in capital is determined by applying a percentage, which is determined by dividing the number of shares to be retired by the number of shares issued, to the balance of additional paid-in capital as of the retirement date. The residual, if any, is allocated to retained earnings as of the retirement date.

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company repurchased and retired 153,916 shares of its common stock at an aggregate purchase price of $1.0 million.  During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company repurchased and retired 1,003,116 shares of its common stock at an aggregate purchase price of $8.5 million  All repurchased shares were returned to the status of authorized but unissued.

Dividends

No dividends were paid on our common stock during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017. We currently intend to retain our future earnings to finance the development and expansion of our business and, therefore, do not intend to pay cash dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future. Any future determination to pay dividends will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements, compliance with Delaware law, restrictions contained in any financing instruments, including but not limited to, our unsecured credit facility and senior notes indenture, and such other factors as our board of directors deem relevant.

Employee Benefit Plan

We have a defined contribution plan pursuant to Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code where each employee may elect to make before-tax or Roth contributions up to the current tax limits. The Company matches 50% of the employee's contribution on the first 8% of compensation up to a maximum match of $11,200, on a discretionary basis. Our contributions to the plan for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 were $1.0 million, $1.0 million, and $0.8 million, respectively.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

The Company's status as an "emerging growth company" pursuant to the provisions of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the "JOBS Act") ended on December 31, 2019.  Section 102 of the JOBS Act provides that an "emerging growth company" can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for complying with new or revised accounting standards. As previously disclosed and prior to the expiration of its "emerging growth company" status, the Company had chosen, irrevocably, to "opt out" of such extended transition period, and as a result, complied with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards was required for non-emerging growth companies.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) ("ASC 842"). ASC 842 requires organizations that lease assets (referred to as "lessees") to present lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet at their gross value based on the rights and obligations created by those leases. Under ASC 842, a lessee is required to recognize assets and liabilities for leases with greater than 12 month terms. Lessor accounting remains substantially similar to prior GAAP.  The Company's lease agreements impacted by ASC 842 primarily relate to our corporate headquarters, other office locations and office or construction equipment where we are the lessee and are all classified as operating leases. 

The Company adopted ASC 842 on  January 1, 2019 under the modified retrospective approach. Under the modified retrospective approach, the Company applied the requirements of ASC 842 to its leases as of the adoption date and recognized a $3.1 million right-of-use asset and a related $3.5 million liability. The comparative information has not been restated and continues to be reported as it was previously, under the appropriate accounting standards in effect for those periods. For additional information on our operating leases, please see Note 11.

For leases that commenced before the  January 1, 2019 adoption date, the Company has elected the practical expedient package outlined in ASC 842-10-65-1(f) which prescribes the following:

1. An entity need not reassess whether any expired or existing contracts contain leases.

2. An entity need not reassess the lease classification for any expired or existing leases (for example, all existing leases that were classified as operating leases in accordance with ASC 840, Leases, will be classified as operating leases, and all existing leases that were classified as capital leases in accordance with ASC 840 will be classified as finance leases).

3. An entity need not reassess initial direct costs for any existing lease.

In  June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326) - Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments ("ASU 2016-13"), which changes the impairment model for most financial assets and certain other instruments from an "incurred loss" approach to a new "expected credit loss" methodology. The FASB followed up with ASU 2019-04, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses, Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic 825, Financial Instruments in  April 2019, ASU 2019-05, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326) in  May 2019, and ASU 2019-11, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses in November 2019 to provide further clarification on this topic. The standard is effective for annual and interim periods beginning  January 1, 2020, and requires full retrospective application upon adoption.  During November 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-10, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815) and Leases (Topic 842) Effective Dates that provides for additional implementation time for smaller reporting companies with the standard being effective for smaller reporting companies for fiscal years beginning after  December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years.  Early adoption is permitted.  As a smaller reporting company, we are not adopting the requirements of ASU 2016-13 for the year beginning January 1, 2020, however we do not anticipate a material impact to our consolidated financial statements as a result of adoption.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) - Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement ("ASU 2018-13"). The amendments in ASU 2018-13 modify certain disclosure requirements of fair value measurements and are effective for all entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The Company expects no material impact to the consolidated financial statements as a result of the adoption of ASC 2018-13.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740)- Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes ("ASU 2019-12"), which is intended to simplify various aspects related to accounting for income taxes. The pronouncement is effective for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted.  We are currently in the process of evaluating the effects on our financial statements of adopting ASU 2019-12.

In January 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-01, Investments - Equity Securities (Topic 321), Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323), and Derivative and Hedging (Topic 815) ("ASU 2020-01").  ASU 2020-01 clarifies the interaction of the accounting for equity securities under Topic 321 and investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting in Topic 323 and the accounting for certain forward contracts and purchased options accounted for under Topic 815.  The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2020, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted.  The Company is currently evaluating ASU 2020-01 and expects no material impact to our consolidated financial statements as a result of adoption.