Description of Business—Dillard's, Inc. ("Dillard's" or the "Company") operates retail department stores, located primarily in the southeastern, southwestern and midwestern areas of the United States, and a general contracting construction company based in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Company's fiscal year ends on the Saturday nearest January 31 of each year. Fiscal years 2019 and 2018 ended on February 1, 2020 and February 2, 2019, respectively, and contained 52 weeks each, and fiscal year 2017 ended on February 3, 2018 and included 53 weeks.

Consolidation—The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Dillard's, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. Intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. Investments in and advances to joint ventures are accounted for by the equity method where the Company does not have control.

Use of Estimates—The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and 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 include inventories, sales return, self-insured accruals, future cash flows and real estate values for impairment analysis, pension discount rate and taxes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Seasonality—The Company's business is highly seasonal, and historically the Company has realized a significant portion of its sales, net income and cash flow in the second half of the fiscal year, attributable to the impact of the back-to-school selling season in the third quarter and the holiday selling season in the fourth quarter. Additionally, working capital requirements fluctuate during the year, increasing in the third quarter in anticipation of the holiday season.

Cash Equivalents—The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of 3 months or less when purchased or certificates of deposit with no early withdrawal penalty to be cash equivalents. The Company considers receivables from charge card companies as cash equivalents because they settle the balances within 2 to 3 days.

Accounts Receivable—Accounts receivable primarily consists of construction receivables of the Company's general contracting construction company, CDI Contractors, LLC ("CDI"), and the monthly settlement with Wells Fargo for Dillard's share of earnings from the long-term marketing and servicing alliance. Construction receivables are based on amounts billed to customers. The Company provides any allowance for doubtful accounts considered necessary based upon a review of outstanding receivables, historical collection information and existing economic conditions. Accounts receivable are ordinarily due 30 days after the issuance of the invoice. Contract retentions are due 30 days after completion of the project and acceptance by the owner. Accounts that are past due more than 120 days are considered delinquent. Delinquent receivables are written off based on individual credit evaluation and specific circumstances of the customer.

Merchandise Inventories—All of the Company’s inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market using the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) inventory method. Approximately 97% of the Company's inventories are valued using the LIFO retail inventory method. Under the retail inventory method, the valuation of inventories at cost and the resulting gross margins are calculated by applying a cost to retail ratio to the retail value of inventories. The retail inventory method is an averaging method that is widely used in the retail industry due to its practicality. Inherent in the retail inventory method calculation are certain significant management judgments including, among others, merchandise markon, markups, and markdowns, which significantly impact the ending inventory valuation at cost as well as the resulting gross margins. During periods of deflation, inventory values on the first-in, first-out ("FIFO") retail inventory method may be lower than the LIFO retail inventory method. Additionally, inventory values at LIFO cost may be in excess of net realizable value. At February 1, 2020 and February 2, 2019, merchandise inventories valued at LIFO, including adjustments as necessary to record inventory at the lower of cost or market, approximated the cost of such inventories using the FIFO retail inventory method. The application of the LIFO retail inventory method did not result in the recognition of any LIFO charges or credits affecting cost of sales for fiscal 2019, 2018 or 2017.

The Company regularly records a provision for estimated shrinkage, thereby reducing the carrying value of merchandise inventory. Complete physical inventories of all of the Company's stores and warehouses are performed no less frequently than annually, with the recorded amount of merchandise inventory being adjusted to coincide with these physical counts.

Property and Equipment—Property and equipment owned by the Company is stated at cost, which includes related interest costs incurred during periods of construction, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Interest capitalized during fiscal 2019, 2018 and 2017 was $0.4 million, $0.2 million and $0.7 million, respectively. For financial reporting purposes, depreciation is computed by the straight-line method over estimated useful lives:

Properties leased by the Company under lease agreements which are determined to be finance leases are stated at an amount equal to the present value of the minimum lease payments during the lease term, less accumulated amortization. The assets under finance leases and leasehold improvements under operating leases are amortized on the straight-line method over the shorter of their useful lives or the related lease terms. The provision for amortization of assets under finance leases is included in depreciation and amortization expense.

Included in property and equipment as of February 1, 2020 are assets held for sale in the amount of $8.6 million. During fiscal 2019, the Company received cash proceeds of $30.6 million and realized a gain of $20.3 million primarily related to the sale of six store properties. During fiscal 2018, the Company received cash proceeds of $1.9 million from the sale of a location classified as an asset held for sale. During fiscal 2017, the Company realized a gain of $4.9 million on disposal of assets primarily related to the sale of two store properties, insurance recovery on a previously damaged full-line store location and sale of equipment.

Long-Lived Assets—Impairment losses are required to be recorded on long-lived assets used in operations when indicators of impairment are present and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than the assets' carrying amount. In the evaluation of the fair value and future benefits of long-lived assets, the Company performs an analysis of the anticipated undiscounted future net cash flows of the related long-lived assets. This analysis is performed at the store unit level. If the carrying value of the related asset exceeds the fair value, the carrying value is reduced to its fair value. Various factors including future sales growth, profit margins and real estate values are included in this analysis. Management believes at this time that the carrying values and useful lives continue to be appropriate.

Vendor Allowances—The Company receives concessions from its vendors through a variety of programs and arrangements, including cooperative advertising and margin maintenance programs. The Company has agreements in place with each vendor setting forth the specific conditions for each allowance or payment. These agreements range in periods from a few days to up to a year. If the payment is a reimbursement for costs incurred, it is offset against those related costs; otherwise, it is treated as a reduction to the cost of the merchandise. Amounts of vendor concessions are recorded only when an agreement has been reached with the vendor and the collection of the concession is deemed probable.

For cooperative advertising programs, the Company generally offsets the allowances against the related advertising expense when incurred. Many of these programs require proof-of-advertising to be provided to the vendor to support the reimbursement of the incurred cost. Programs that do not require proof-of-advertising are monitored to ensure that the allowance provided by each vendor is a reimbursement of costs incurred to advertise for that particular vendor. If the allowance exceeds the advertising costs incurred on a vendor-specific basis, then the excess allowance from the vendor is recorded as a reduction of merchandise cost for that vendor.

Margin maintenance allowances are credited directly to cost of purchased merchandise in the period earned according to the agreement with the vendor. Under the retail method of accounting for inventory, a portion of these allowances reduces cost of goods sold and a portion reduces the carrying value of merchandise inventory.

Insurance Accruals—The Company's consolidated balance sheets include liabilities with respect to self-insured workers' compensation and general liability claims. The Company's self-insured retention is insured through a wholly-owned captive insurance subsidiary. The Company estimates the required liability of such claims, utilizing an actuarial method, based upon various assumptions, which include, but are not limited to, the Company's historical loss experience, projected loss development factors, actual payroll and other data. The required liability is also subject to adjustment in the future based upon the changes in claims experience, including changes in the number of incidents (frequency) and changes in the ultimate cost per

Operating Leases—The Company leases retail stores, office space and equipment under operating leases. The Company records right-of-use assets and operating lease liabilities for operating leases with lease terms exceeding twelve months. The right-of-use assets are adjusted for lease incentives, including construction allowances, and prepaid rent. The Company recognizes minimum rent expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Many leases contain contingent rent provisions. Contingent rent is expensed as incurred.

Revenue Recognition—The Company's retail operations segment recognizes merchandise revenue at the "point of sale." Allowance for sales returns and a return asset are recorded as components of net sales in the period in which the related sales are recorded. Sales taxes collected from customers are excluded from revenue and are recorded in trade accounts payable and accrued expenses until remitted to the taxing authorities.

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. ("Wells Fargo") owns and manages Dillard's private label cards under a 10-year agreement ("Wells Fargo Alliance"). Pursuant to the Wells Fargo Alliance, we receive on-going cash compensation from Wells Fargo based upon the portfolio's earnings. The compensation received from the portfolio is determined monthly and has no recourse provisions. The amount the Company receives is dependent on the level of sales on Wells Fargo accounts, the level of balances carried on Wells Fargo accounts by Wells Fargo customers, payment rates on Wells Fargo accounts, finance charge rates and other fees on Wells Fargo accounts, the level of credit losses for the Wells Fargo accounts as well as Wells Fargo's ability to extend credit to our customers. The Company's share of income under the Wells Fargo Alliance is included as a component of service charges and other income. The Company received income of approximately $91 million, $94 million and $101 million from the Wells Fargo and former Synchrony alliances in fiscal 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The Company participates in the marketing of the private label credit cards, which includes the cost of customer reward programs. Through the reward programs, customers earn points that are redeemable for discounts on future purchases. The Company defers a portion of its net sales upon the sale of merchandise to its customer reward program members that is recognized in net sales when the reward is redeemed or expired at a future date.

Revenue from CDI construction contracts is generally measured based on the ratio of costs incurred to total estimated contract costs (the "cost-to-cost method"). The length of each contract varies but is typically nine to eighteen months. The progress towards completion is determined by relating the actual costs of work performed to date to the current estimated total costs of the respective contracts. When the estimate on a contract indicates a loss, the entire loss is recorded in the current period.

Gift Card Revenue Recognition—The Company establishes a liability upon the sale of a gift card. The liability is relieved and revenue is recognized when gift cards are redeemed for merchandise. Gift card breakage income is determined based upon historical redemption patterns. The Company uses a homogeneous pool to recognize gift card breakage and will recognize income over the period in proportion to the pattern of rights exercised by the customer when the Company determines that it does not have a legal obligation to remit the value of unredeemed gift cards to the relevant jurisdiction as abandoned property. At that time, the Company will recognize breakage income over the performance period for those gift cards (i.e. 60 months) and will record it in service charges and other income. As of February 1, 2020 and February 2, 2019, gift card liabilities of $59.0 million and $58.2 million, respectively, were included in trade accounts payable and accrued expenses and other liabilities.

Advertising—Advertising and promotional costs, which include newspaper, magazine, Internet, broadcast and other media advertising, are expensed as incurred and were approximately $39.2 million, $40.4 million and $42.5 million, net of cooperative advertising reimbursements of $13.9 million, $15.1 million and $19.9 million for fiscal years 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The Company records net advertising expenses in selling, general and administrative expenses.

Income Taxes—Income taxes are recognized for the amount of taxes payable for the current year and deferred tax assets and liabilities for the future tax consequence of events that have been recognized differently in the financial statements than for tax purposes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are established using statutory tax rates and are adjusted for tax rate changes. Tax positions are analyzed to determine whether it is "more likely than not" that a tax position will be sustained upon examination by the appropriate taxing authorities before any part of the benefit can be recorded in the financial statements. For those tax positions where it is not "more likely than not" that a tax benefit will be sustained, no tax benefit is recognized. The Company classifies accrued interest expense and penalties relating to income tax in the consolidated financial statements as income tax expense.

Defined Benefit Retirement Plans—The Company's defined benefit retirement plan costs are accounted for using actuarial valuations. The Company recognizes the funded status of its defined benefit pension plans on the balance sheet and recognizes changes in the funded status that arise during the period but that are not recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost, within other comprehensive income, net of income taxes.

Income on and Equity in Earnings of Joint Ventures—Income on and equity in earnings of joint ventures includes the Company's portion of the income or loss of the Company's unconsolidated joint ventures as well as distributions (excluding returns of investments) of excess cash from an open air center joint venture.

Comprehensive Income—Comprehensive income is defined as the change in equity (net assets) of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources. It consists of the net income or loss and other gains and losses affecting stockholders' equity that, under GAAP, are excluded from net income or loss. One such exclusion is the amortization of retirement plan and other retiree benefit adjustments, which is the only item impacting our accumulated other comprehensive loss.

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842): Amendments to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification, to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. Under these amendments, lessees are required to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities for leases classified as operating leases under Accounting Standards Codification 840, Leases ("ASC 840"). Subsequent to the issuance of ASU No. 2016-02, the FASB issued additional amendments related to ASU No. 2016-02: (1) ASU No. 2018-01, Leases (Topic 842): Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842; (2) ASU No. 2018-10: Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases; and (3) ASU No. 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements. We refer to this ASU and related amendments as the "new standard" or "ASU No. 2016-02." We adopted the requirements of the new standard as of February 3, 2019. See Note 13, Leases.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-14, Compensation - Retirement Benefits - Defined Benefit Plans - General (Subtopic 715-20): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans, to improve the effectiveness of disclosures in the notes to financial statements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension plans. ASU No. 2018-14 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2020, and early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted ASU No. 2018-14 during the fourth quarter of 2019. The impact of this update on its notes to financial statements is not material. See Note 8, Benefit Plans.

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory, as part of its initiative to reduce complexity in accounting standards. Under these amendments, an entity is required to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs. The amendments within ASU No. 2016-16 were effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2018.

At February 3, 2018, other assets included a deferred charge related to the income tax effects of the intra-entity transfer pursuant to the previously disclosed REIT Transaction. During the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company terminated REIT status of its subsidiary, which did not have a material impact to the Company’s fiscal 2017 consolidated financial statements. Prior to the adoption of ASU No. 2016-16, income tax consequences of the intra-entity transfer remained recorded as a deferred charge, which was not subject to remeasurement for the lower tax rates enacted through tax reform.

The Company adopted the standard at the beginning of the first quarter of fiscal 2018, at which time the deferred charge was removed through a cumulative-effect adjustment directly to retained earnings, resulting in a decrease to other assets of approximately $173.7 million. A deferred tax asset of approximately $104.6 million was recorded through a cumulative-effect adjustment directly to retained earnings to reflect future income tax benefits of the intra-entity transfer at newly-enacted tax rates, resulting in a reduction to net deferred tax liabilities. These adjustments resulted in a net decrease to retained earnings of approximately $69.1 million.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, as part of its initiative to reduce complexity in accounting standards. The amendments in this update simplify the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740. The amendments also improve consistent application of and simplify GAAP for other areas of Topic 740 by clarifying and amending existing guidance. The amendments within ASU No. 2019-12 are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020, and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this update on its consolidated financial statements.