SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

BASIS OF CONSOLIDATION: The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Friedman Industries, Incorporated and its subsidiary (collectively, the “Company”). All material intercompany amounts and transactions have been eliminated.

REVENUE RECOGNITION: Revenue from sales of products is recognized at the time that title and the risks and rewards of ownership pass, which is on the date of shipment. This date is when the terms of customers’ arrangements are met, the sales price is fixed or determinable and collection is reasonably assured.

TRADE RECEIVABLES: The Company’s receivables are recorded when billed, advanced or accrued and represent claims against

third

parties that will be settled in cash. The carrying value of the Company’s receivables, net of the allowance for doubtful accounts and cash discounts allowed, represents their estimated net realizable value. The Company estimates its allowance for doubtful accounts based on historical collection trends, the age of outstanding receivables and existing economic conditions. Trade receivables are generally considered past due after

days from invoice date. Past-due receivable balances are written-off when the Company’s internal collection efforts have been unsuccessful in collecting the amount due. The balance of the Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts was

$6,052

and

$7,276

March 31, 2018

and

March 31, 2017,

respectively.

INVENTORIES: Inventories consist of prime coil, non-standard coil and tubular materials. Prime coil and non-standard coil inventories consist primarily of raw materials and tubular inventory consists of both raw materials and finished goods. Cost for prime coil inventory is determined under the last-in,

first

-out (“LIFO”) method. The Company’s LIFO reserve was approximately

$7,290,000

and

$5,593,000

March 31, 2018

and

2017,

respectively. The LIFO reserve signifies the difference between LIFO value used for financial reporting and the value under weighted average cost used for the Company’s internal perpetual inventory records. During fiscal

2018

LIFO inventory was partially liquidated. The historical cost associated with the liquidated layers approximated the current fiscal

2018

costs resulting in an immaterial impact to fiscal

2018

results. Cost for non-standard coil inventory is determined using the specific identification method. Cost for tubular inventory is determined using the weighted average method. LIFO inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market. All other inventories are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Obsolete or slow-moving inventories are

not

significant based on the Company’s review of inventories. Accordingly,

allowance has been provided for such items.

The following is a summary of inventory by product group:

	March 31
	201 8		2017
Prime coil inventory	$	6,895,756	$	8,481,605
Non-standard coil inventory		2,971,324		1,119,170
Tubular raw material		6,734,076		1,480,730
Tubular finished goods		21,438,176		23,837,045
	$	38,039,332	$	34,918,550

Tubular raw material inventory consists of hot-rolled steel coils that the Company will manufacture into pipe. Tubular finished goods inventory consists of pipe the Company has manufactured and new mill reject pipe that the Company purchases from U.S. Steel Tubular Products, Inc. At

March 31, 2018,

the Company carried quantities of mill reject pipe on hand that exceeded the fiscal

2018

sales volume. Based on improved market conditions and overall economic conditions as well as recent sales trends, the Company reasonably expects the inventory to be either sold in its entirety or at least a substantial portion thereof during the ensuing fiscal year, hence current classification of this inventory on the Company’s balance sheet. The Company’s projections are subject to significant estimates which

may

be different from actual results.

Effective

April 1, 2018,

the Company will be changing from the LIFO method to the average cost method for valuation of prime coil inventory. The Company believes this change will result in financial reporting that more closely aligns with the substance of our business. The Company expects to report this change through retrospective application of the new accounting principle to all prior periods presented starting with the Form

-Q to be filed for the quarter ended

June 30, 2018.

The Company has

not

yet fully quantified the impact of this accounting change but expects a material impact to the consolidated financial statements upon adoption and thereafter.

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT: Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost. Depreciation is calculated primarily by the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the various classes of assets as follows:

Buildings (in years)			20
Machinery and equipment (in years)	10	to	15
Yard improvements (in years)	5	to	15
Loaders and other rolling stock (in years)	5	to	10

During the quarter ended

June 30, 2017,

the Company determined that the economic useful lives of certain fixed assets at the Decatur, Alabama coil processing facility were greater than the useful lives used to calculate depreciation. As a result, effective

April 1, 2017,

the Company revised the useful lives of these assets resulting in a decrease in depreciation expense of approximately

$640,000,

an increase in net earnings of approximately

$406,000

and an increase in diluted earnings per share of approximately

$0.06

for fiscal

2018.

The Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amount

may

not

be recoverable. The Company assesses recoverability by comparing the carrying amount of the asset to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If an asset is considered impaired, the impairment loss to be recognized is measured as the amount by which the asset’s carrying amount exceeds its fair value. Long-lived assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell.

impairments were necessary at

March 31, 2018

2017.

Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred.

POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS OTHER THAN PENSIONS: The Company maintains life insurance policies on each officer. From time to time and in its discretion, the Board of Directors of the Company has approved the transfer of the applicable policy to an officer upon their retirement. The Company’s accrued liability for these potential future transfers was

$175,056

and

$550,282

March 31, 2018

and

March 31, 2017,

respectively. The transfer of a life insurance policy to an officer is a noncash transaction.

SHIPPING COSTS: Sales are increased for freight billed to customers and freight costs are charged to cost of products sold.

SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION: The Company paid interest of approximately

$27,900

in fiscal

2018

and paid

interest in fiscal

2017.

Net of taxes paid, the Company received federal and state tax refunds totaling approximately

$959,000

in fiscal

2018.

The Company paid income taxes of approximately

$13,500

in fiscal

2017.

Noncash financing activity consisted of accrued dividends of

$140,189

and

$70,094

in fiscal

2018

and

2017,

respectively. There were noncash transactions of

$385,000

and

$293,000

in fiscal

2018

and

2017,

respectively, for the transfer of ownership of life insurance policies from the Company to officers upon their retirement.

INCOME TAXES: The Company accounts for income taxes under the liability method, whereby the Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities, which represent differences between the financial and income tax reporting bases of its assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on temporary differences between income and expenses reported for financial reporting and tax reporting. The Company has assessed, using all available positive and negative evidences, the likelihood that the deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income.

The Company has also analyzed tax positions taken on tax returns filed and does

not

believe that any are more likely than

not

to be overturned by the respective tax jurisdiction. Therefore,

liability for uncertain tax positions has been recognized.

USE OF ESTIMATES: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Significant estimates that are subject to the Company’s assumptions include valuation of LIFO inventories in the Company’s quarterly reporting, determination of useful lives for fixed assets and determination of the allowance for doubtful accounts. Valuation of LIFO inventories in the Company’s quarterly reporting requires estimates of the year end quantities, which is inherently difficult. The determination of useful lives for depreciation of fixed assets requires the Company to make assumptions regarding the future productivity of the Company’s fixed assets. The allowance for doubtful accounts requires the Company to draw conclusions on the future collectability of the Company’s accounts receivable. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS: Since the Company’s financial instruments are considered short-term in nature, their carrying values approximate fair value.

EARNINGS PER SHARE: The Company uses the

two

-class method of calculating earnings per share, which determines earnings per share for each class of common stock and participating security as if all earnings of the period had been distributed. As the holders of restricted stock are entitled to vote and receive dividends during the restriction period, unvested shares of restricted stock qualify as participating securities. Unvested restricted shares participate on an equal basis with common shares; therefore, there is

difference in undistributed earnings allocated to each participating security. Accordingly, unvested restricted shares are included in the basic computation of earnings per share. Net income per basic common share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares and participating securities outstanding during the period. Net income per diluted common share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares, participating securities and potential common shares outstanding during the period.

ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIP: The Company purchases its inventory from a limited number of suppliers. Loss of any of these suppliers could have a material adverse effect on the Company. Coil segment sales to Trinity Industries, Inc. accounted for approximately

16%

and

28%

of total Company sales in fiscal

2018

and

2017,

respectively.

other customers accounted for

10%

or more of total sales in the

two

years ended

March

31,

2018.

Loss of Trinity as a customer could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business.

The Company’s sales are concentrated primarily in the midwestern, southwestern, and southeastern regions of the United States and are primarily to customers in the steel distributing and fabricating industries. The Company performs periodic credit evaluations of the financial conditions of its customers and generally does

not

require collateral. Generally, receivables are due within

days.

NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS: There were

new accounting standards adopted by the Company during fiscal

2018.

In the

fourth

quarter of fiscal

2017,

the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update

No.

2016

09,

Compensation – Stock Compensation (“ASU

2016

09”

). ASU

2016

provided new accounting guidance that amends the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions. This new standard requires income statement recognition of all tax effects, including all excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies, resulting from the settlement of share-based awards in the reporting period in which they occur. The standard also requires that all tax-related cash flows resulting from share-based payments, including the excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies related to the settlement of stock-based awards, be classified as cash flows from operating activities, and that cash paid by directly withholding shares for tax purposes be classified as a financing activity in the statement of cash flows. The standard also allows companies to make an accounting policy election to either estimate the number of awards that are expected to vest, consistent with current guidance, or account for forfeitures as they occur. The Company elected to account for forfeitures as they occur. All aspects of this guidance has been applied prospectively for the Company beginning on

January

2017

given that the Company had

outstanding equity based compensation as of

January 1, 2017.

The adoption of this guidance did

not

have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements for fiscal

2018

or fiscal

2017.

August 2016,

the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update

No.

2016

15,

Statement of Cash Flows: Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (“ASU

2016

15”

). ASU

2016

eliminates the diversity in practice related to the classification of certain cash receipts and payments in the statement of cash flows by adding or clarifying guidance on

eight

specific cash flow issues. This new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after

December 15, 2017,

and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact that adoption of the provisions of ASU

2016

will have on its consolidated financial statements but does

not

expect a material impact.

February

2016,

the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update

No.

2016

02,

Leases (“ASU

2016

02”

). ASU

2016

establishes a new lease accounting standard that requires lessees to recognize a right of use asset and related lease liability for most leases having lease terms of more than

months. Leases with a term of

months or less will be accounted for similar to existing guidance for operating leases. This new guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after

December

15,

2018,

but can be early adopted. The Company is evaluating the impact that adoption of the provisions of ASU

2016

will have on its consolidated financial statements but does

not

expect a material impact.

May 2014,

the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update

No.

2014

09,

Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU

2014

09”

). ASU

2014

states that an entity should recognize revenue when it transfers 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. This update also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments, and assets recognized from costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract. The update supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. ASU

2014

was initially effective for interim and annual periods beginning after

December 15, 2016

and early application was

not

permitted. In

August 2015,

the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update

No.

2015

14,

Revenue from Contracts with Customers - Deferral of the Effective Date (“ASU

2015

14”

). ASU

2015

defers the effective date of ASU

2014

to annual reporting periods beginning after

December 15, 2017,

including interim reporting periods within that reporting period, and only permits entities to adopt the standard

one

year earlier as of annual reporting periods beginning after

December 15, 2016,

including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. According to the deferred effective date, the new revenue standard will become effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning

April 1, 2018.

The Company has reviewed its significant customer contracts according to the revenue recognition process prescribed by the new standard. The standard allows the choice of

two

adoption methods, full retrospective adoption or modified retrospective adoption. Effective

April 1, 2018,

the Company adopted the new standard through the modified retrospective method applied to those contracts that were

not

completed as of

April 1, 2018

and those contracts initiated on or after

April 1, 2018.

Results for reporting periods beginning on or after

April 1, 2018

will be presented under the new standard, while prior period amounts won’t be adjusted and will be reported in accordance with historic accounting under the prior guidance. The Company doesn’t expect adoption of the new standard to have a financial statement impact since the Company’s revenue recognition under the new standard is substantially the same as under the prior guidance. Adoption of the new standard will result in expanded revenue disclosures. Specifically, revenues will be disaggregated beyond the segment level to provide revenues by certain product classifications within the Company’s segments.