Accounts receivable associated with crude oil marketing activities comprise approximately 90 percent of our total receivables, and industry practice requires payment for these sales to occur within 20 days of the end of the month following a transaction. Our customer makeup, credit policies and the relatively short duration of receivables mitigate the uncertainty typically associated with receivables management. An allowance for doubtful accounts is provided where appropriate.

Our allowance for doubtful accounts is determined based on specific identification combined with a review of the general status of the aging of all accounts. We consider the following factors in our review of our allowance for doubtful accounts: (i) historical experience with customers, (ii) the perceived financial stability of customers based on our research, (iii) the levels of credit we grant to customers, and (iv) the duration of the receivable. We may increase the allowance for doubtful accounts in response to the specific identification of customers involved in bankruptcy proceedings and similar financial difficulties. On a routine basis, we review estimates associated with the allowance for doubtful accounts to ensure that we have recorded sufficient reserves to cover potential losses. See Note 16 for further information regarding credit risk.

Cash and cash equivalents represent unrestricted cash on hand and highly liquid investments with original maturities of less than three months from the date of purchase. Cash and cash equivalents are maintained with major financial institutions, and deposit amounts may exceed the amount of federally backed insurance provided. While we regularly monitor the financial stability of these institutions, cash and cash equivalents ultimately remain at risk subject to the financial viability of these institutions.

In the normal course of our operations, our crude oil marketing segment purchases and sells crude oil. We seek to profit by procuring the commodity as it is produced and then delivering the product to the end users or the intermediate use marketplace. As typical for the industry, these transactions are made pursuant to the terms of forward month commodity purchase and/or sale contracts. Some of these contracts meet the definition of a derivative instrument, and therefore, we account for these contracts at fair value, unless the normal purchase and sale exception is applicable. These types of underlying contracts are standard for the industry and are the governing document for our crude oil marketing segment. None of our derivative instruments have been designated as hedging instruments.

Basic earnings (losses) per share is computed by dividing our net earnings (losses) by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings (losses) per share is computed by giving effect to all potential shares of common stock outstanding, including our stock related to unvested restricted stock unit awards. Unvested restricted stock unit awards granted under the Adams Resources & Energy, Inc. 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“2018 LTIP”) are not considered to be participating securities as the holders of these shares do not have non-forfeitable dividend rights in the event of our declaration of a dividend for common shares (see Note 13 for further discussion).


	Year Ended December 31,
	2018		2017		2016
Earnings (losses) per share – numerator:
Earnings (losses) from continuing operations	$	2,945	$	(482)	$	3,943
Losses from investment in unconsolidated affiliate, net of tax	—		—		(1,430)
Net (losses) earnings	$	2,945	$	(482)	$	2,513

Denominator:
Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding	4,218		4,218		4,218

Basic earnings (losses) per share:
From continuing operations	$	0.70	$	(0.11)	$	0.94
From investment in unconsolidated affiliate	—		—		(0.34)
Basic earnings (losses) per share	$	0.70	$	(0.11)	$	0.60

Diluted earnings (losses) per share:

Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding:
Common shares	4,218		4,218		4,218
Restricted stock unit awards ⁽¹⁾	—		—		—
Performance share unit awards ⁽²⁾	—		—		—
Total	4,218		4,218		4,218

Diluted earnings (losses) per share:
From continuing operations	$	0.70	$	(0.11)	$	0.94
From investment in unconsolidated affiliate	—		—		(0.34)
Diluted earnings (losses) per share	$	0.70	$	(0.11)	$	0.60

The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximates fair value because of the immediate or short-term maturity of these financial instruments. Marketable securities are recorded at fair value based on market quotations from actively traded liquid markets.

Our fair value estimates are based on either (i) actual market data or (ii) assumptions that other market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability, including estimates of risk, in the principal market of the asset or liability at a specified measurement date. Recognized valuation techniques employ inputs such as contractual prices, quoted market prices or rates, operating costs, discount factors and business growth rates. These inputs may be either readily observable, corroborated by market data or generally unobservable. In developing our estimates of fair value, we endeavor to utilize the best information available and apply market-based data to the highest extent possible. Accordingly, we utilize valuation techniques (such as the market approach) that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

A three-tier hierarchy has been established that classifies fair value amounts recognized in the financial statements based on the observability of inputs used to estimate such fair values. The hierarchy considers fair value amounts based on observable inputs (Levels 1 and 2) to be more reliable and predictable than those based primarily on unobservable inputs (Level 3). At each balance sheet reporting date, we categorize our financial assets and liabilities using this hierarchy.

•Level 1 fair values are based on quoted prices, which are available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the measurement date. Active markets are defined as those in which transactions for identical assets or liabilities occur with sufficient frequency so as to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis. For Level 1 valuation of marketable securities, we utilize market quotations provided by our primary financial institution. For the valuations of derivative financial instruments, we utilize the New York Mercantile Exchange (“NYMEX”) for certain commodity valuations.

•Level 2 fair values are based on (a) quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, (b) quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities but in markets that are not actively traded or in which little information is released to the public, (c) observable inputs other than quoted prices, and (d) inputs derived from observable market data. Source data for Level 2 inputs include information provided by the NYMEX, published price data and indices, third party price survey data and broker provided forward price statistics.

Fair value contracts consist of derivative financial instruments and are recorded as either an asset or liability measured at its fair value. Changes in fair value are recognized immediately in earnings unless the derivatives qualify for, and we elect, cash flow hedge accounting. We had no contracts designated for hedge accounting during any of the current reporting periods (see Note 11 for further information).

Fair value estimates are based on assumptions that market participants would use when pricing an asset or liability, and we use a fair value hierarchy of three levels that prioritizes the information used to develop those assumptions. Currently, for all items presented herein, we utilize a market approach to valuing our contracts. On a contract by contract, forward month by forward month basis, we obtain observable market data for valuing our contracts. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets and the lowest priority to unobservable data.

Long-lived assets (primarily property and equipment) are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of these assets may not be recoverable. Long-lived assets with carrying values that are not expected to be recovered through future cash flows are written-down to their estimated fair values. The carrying value of a long-lived asset is deemed not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset. If the asset’s carrying value exceeds the sum of its undiscounted cash flows, a non-cash asset impairment charge equal to the excess of the asset’s carrying value over its estimated fair value is recorded. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or be paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at a specified measurement date. We measure fair value using market price indicators or, in the absence of such data, appropriate valuation techniques. See Note 11 for information regarding impairment charges related to long-lived assets.

Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method. Under this approach, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized based on anticipated future tax consequences attributable to differences between financial statement carrying amounts of such items and their respective tax basis (see Note 12 for further information). On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cut and Jobs Act was enacted into law resulting in a reduction in the federal corporate income tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent for years beginning in 2018, which impacts our income tax provision or benefit.

Inventory consists of crude oil held in storage tanks and at third-party pipelines as part of our crude oil marketing operations. Crude oil inventory is carried at the lower of cost or net realizable value. At the end of each reporting period, we assess the carrying value of our inventory and make adjustments necessary to reduce the carrying value to the applicable net realizable value. Any resulting adjustments are a component of marketing costs and expenses on our consolidated statements of operations. During the year ended December 31, 2018, we recorded a charge of $5.4 million related to the write-down of our crude oil inventory due to declines in prices. There were no charges recognized during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.

We maintain a Credit and Security Agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association to provide for the issuance of up to $60 million in stand-by letters of credit primarily used to support crude oil purchases within our crude oil marketing segment and for other purposes. We are currently using the letter of credit facility for letters of credit related to our insurance program. This facility is collateralized by the eligible accounts receivable within the crude oil marketing segment and expires on August 30, 2019.

The issued stand-by letters of credit are canceled as the underlying purchase obligations are satisfied by cash payment when due. The letter of credit facility places certain restrictions on GulfMark Energy, Inc., one of our wholly owned subsidiaries. These restrictions include the maintenance of positive net earnings excluding inventory valuation changes, as defined, among other restrictions. We are currently in compliance with all such financial covenants. However, per the terms of our letter of credit agreement, we were in default of certain nonfinancial covenants at December 31, 2018, and we obtained a waiver whereby the creditor will not exercise any of its rights or remedies. At December 31, 2018 and 2017, we had $4.6 million and $2.2 million, respectively, of letters of credit outstanding under this facility.

Property and equipment is recorded at cost. Expenditures for additions, improvements and other enhancements to property and equipment are capitalized, and minor replacements, maintenance and repairs that do not extend asset life or add value are charged to expense as incurred. When property and equipment assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the related cost and accumulated depreciation is removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is included in results of operations in operating costs and expenses for the respective period. Property and equipment, except for land, is depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated average useful lives of two to thirty-nine years.

We capitalize interest costs, if any, incurred in connection with major capital expenditures while the asset is in its construction phase. The capitalized interest is recorded as part of the asset to which it relates and is amortized over the asset’s estimated useful life as a component of depreciation expense. When capitalized interest is recorded, it reduces interest expense.

Asset retirement obligations (“AROs”) are legal obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets that result from their acquisition, construction, development and/or normal operation. When an ARO is incurred, we record a liability for the ARO and capitalize an equal amount as an increase in the carrying value of the related long-lived asset. ARO amounts are measured at their estimated fair value using expected present value techniques. Over time, the ARO liability is accreted to its present value (through accretion expense), and the capitalized amount is depreciated over the remaining useful life of the related long-lived asset. We will incur a gain or loss to the extent that our ARO liabilities are not settled at their recorded amounts.

Lease accounting standard. In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 842, Leases (“ASC 842”), which requires substantially all leases to be recorded on the balance sheet. We adopted the new standard on January 1, 2019 and expect to apply it to all existing lease contracts as of January 1, 2019. We also plan to apply it to all new leases entered into after January 1, 2019. ASC 842 supersedes existing lease accounting guidance under ASC 840, Leases (“ASC 840”).

We expect to adopt the new standard using the modified retrospective approach and apply certain optional transitional practical expedients. We elected an optional transition method that allowed application of the new standard at the adoption date and the recognition of a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption with no adjustment to previously reported results. In accordance with this approach, our consolidated financial statements for periods prior to January 1, 2019 will not be revised to reflect the new lease accounting guidance. We also elected the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance within the new standard, which among other things, allowed the carry forward of historical lease classification. We did not elect the practical expedient related to hindsight.

ASC 842 will result in changes to the way our operating leases are recorded, presented and disclosed in our consolidated financial statements. Upon adoption of ASC 842 on January 1, 2019, we expect to recognize a right-of-use (“ROU”) asset and a corresponding lease liability based on the present value of then existing operating lease obligations. In addition, there are several key accounting policy elections that we will make upon adoption of ASC 842 including:

•We will not recognize ROU assets and lease liabilities for short-term leases and will instead record them in a manner similar to operating leases under ASC 840 lease accounting guidelines. A short term lease is one with a maximum lease term of 12 months or less and does not include a purchase option or renewal option the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise.