Note H - Derivative Financial Instruments

9 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2022

Notes to Financial Statements

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Text Block]

NOTE H — DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

From time to time, we expect to use derivative financial instruments to minimize our exposure to commodity price risk that is inherent in our business. At the time derivative contracts are entered into, we assess whether the nature of the instrument qualifies for hedge accounting treatment according to the requirements of ASC 815 – Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”). By using derivatives, the Company is exposed to credit and market risk. The Company’s exposure to credit risk includes the counterparty’s failure to fulfill its performance obligations under the terms of the derivative contract. The Company attempts to minimize its credit risk by entering into transactions with high quality counterparties and uses exchange-traded derivatives when available. Market risk is the risk that the value of the financial instrument might be adversely affected by a change in commodity prices. The Company manages market risk by continually monitoring exposure within its risk management strategy and portfolio. For those transactions designated as hedging instruments for accounting purposes, we document all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as our risk-management objective and strategy for undertaking the various hedge transactions. We also assess, both at the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivatives used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flows or fair value of hedged items.

From time to time, derivatives designated for hedge accounting may be closed prior to contract expiration. The accounting treatment of closed positions depends on whether the closure occurred due to the hedged transaction occurring early or if the hedged transaction is still expected to occur as originally forecasted. For hedged transactions that occur early, the closure results in the realized gain or loss from closure being recognized in the same period the accelerated hedged transaction affects earnings. For hedged transactions that are still expected to occur as originally forecasted, the closure results in the realized gain or loss being deferred until the hedged transaction affects earnings.

If it is determined that hedged transactions associated with cash flow hedges are no longer probable of occurring, the gain or loss associated with the instrument is recognized immediately into earnings. 

From time to time, we may have derivative financial instruments for which we do not elect hedge accounting. 

The Company has forward physical purchase supply agreements in place with some of its suppliers for a portion of its monthly physical steel needs. These supply agreements are not subject to mark-to-market accounting due to the Company electing the normal purchase normal sale exclusion provided in ASC 815. 

At December 31, 2022 and  March 31, 2022, the Company held hot-rolled coil futures contracts which were designated as hedging instruments and classified as cash flow hedges, either as hedges of variable purchase prices or as hedges of variable sales prices. Accordingly, realized and unrealized gains and losses associated with the instruments are reported as a component of other comprehensive income and reclassified into earnings during the period in which the hedged transaction affects earnings. During the three and nine months ended December 31, 2022, the Company also entered into hot-rolled coil futures contracts that were not designated as hedging instruments for accounting purposes. Accordingly, the change in fair value related to these instruments was immediately recognized in earnings.  

The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company’s derivative financial instruments and the respective line in which they were recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2022:

	Asset Derivatives			Liability Derivatives
	Balance Sheet			Balance Sheet
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges:	Location	Fair Value		Location	Fair Value
Hot-rolled coil steel contracts hedging sales	Current portion of derivative assets	$	22,100
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Hot-rolled coil steel contracts	Current portion of derivative assets	$	786,720	Current portion of derivative liability	$	649,700

The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company’s derivative financial instruments and the respective line in which they were recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2022:

	Asset Derivatives			Liability Derivatives
	Balance Sheet			Balance Sheet
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges:	Location	Fair Value		Location	Fair Value
Hot-rolled coil steel contracts hedging sales				Current portion of derivative liability	$	8,905,500
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Hot-rolled coil steel contracts	Current portion of derivative assets	$	4,240,740	Current portion of derivative liability	$	5,524,020

All derivatives are presented on a gross basis on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

At  March 31, 2022, the Company reported $933,200 in "Other current assets" on its Consolidated Balance Sheet related to futures contracts which were closed but were pending cash settlement. At  December 31, 2022, the Company did not have any closed futures contracts pending cash settlement.

The notional amount (quantity) of our cash flow hedges outstanding at December 31, 2022 consisted of 2,080 tons hedging sales with maturity dates ranging from February 2023 to March 2023.

The following table summarizes the pre-tax gain (loss) recognized in other comprehensive income and the gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into earnings for derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedges for the periods presented:

	Pre-Tax Gain (Loss)			Location of Gain (Loss) Reclassified	Pre- Tax Gain (Loss) Reclassified from
	Recognized in OCI			from AOCI into Net Earnings	AOCI into Net Earnings
For the three months ended December 31, 2022:
Hot-rolled coil steel contracts	$	22,100		Sales	$	(860,620	)
Total	$	22,100			$	(860,620	)
For the three months ended December 31, 2021:
Hot-rolled coil steel contracts	$	3,473,300		Sales	$	(14,766,060	)
Hot-rolled coil steel contracts				Costs of goods sold		49,200
Total	$	3,473,300			$	(14,716,860	)
For the nine months ended December 31, 2022:
Hot-rolled coil steel contracts	$	9,445,840		Sales	$	(2,977,160	)
Total	$	9,445,840			$	(2,977,160	)
For the nine months ended December 31, 2021:
Hot-rolled coil steel contracts	$	(6,609,540	)	Sales	$	(22,950,860	)
Hot-rolled coil steel contracts				Costs of goods sold		10,632,900
Total	$	(6,609,540	)		$	(12,317,960	)

The estimated amount of net losses recognized in AOCI at December 31, 2022 expected to be reclassified into net earnings (loss) within the succeeding twelve months is $1,116,700. This amount consists of $1,138,800 in realized losses associated with closed hedges and $22,100 in unrealized gains associated with open hedges that was computed using the fair value of the cash flow hedges as of December 31, 2022 and is subject to change before actual reclassification from AOCI to net earnings (loss).

The following table summarizes the gains recognized in earnings for derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments during the three and nine months ended December 31, 2022:

		Gain Recognized in Earnings
	Location of Gain	for the Three Months Ended
	Recognized in Earnings	December 31, 2022
Hot-rolled coil steel contracts	Other income (loss), net	$	822,200

		Gain Recognized in Earnings
	Location of Gain	for the Nine Months Ended
	Recognized in Earnings	December 31, 2022
Hot-rolled coil steel contracts	Other income (loss), net	$	7,325,860

The following table summarizes the losses recognized in earnings for derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments during the three and nine months ended December 31, 2021:

		Gain Recognized in Earnings
	Location of Gain	for the Three Months Ended
	Recognized in Earnings	December 31, 2021
Hot-rolled coil steel contracts	Other income (loss), net	$	1,721,700

		Loss Recognized in Earnings
	Location of Loss	for the Nine Months Ended
	Recognized in Earnings	December 31, 2021
Hot-rolled coil steel contracts	Other income (loss), net	$	(6,498,040	)

The notional amount (quantity) of our derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments at December 31, 2022 consisted of 35,040 tons of short positions with maturity dates ranging from January 2023 to December 2023.

The following table reflects the change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, for the periods presented:

	Gain (Loss) on
	Derivatives
Balance at March 31, 2022	$	(10,268,509	)
Other comprehensive income, net of loss, before reclassification		7,163,726
Total loss reclassified from AOCI (1)		2,257,878
Net current period other comprehensive income		9,421,604
Balance at December 31, 2022	$	(846,905	)

(1) The loss reclassified from AOCI is presented net of tax benefits of $719,282 which are included in the provision for (benefit from) income taxes on the Company's Consolidated Statement of Operations for the nine months ended December 31, 2022.

	Gain (Loss) on
	Derivatives
Balance at March 31, 2021	$	(11,187,841	)
Other comprehensive loss, net of income, before reclassification		(5,012,675	)
Total loss reclassified from AOCI (1)		9,341,941
Net current period other comprehensive income		4,329,266
Balance at December 31, 2021	$	(6,858,575	)

(1) The loss reclassified from AOCI is presented net of tax benefits of $2,976,019 which are included in the provision for (benefit from) income taxes on the Company's Consolidated Statement of Operations for the nine months ended December 31, 2021.

At  December 31, 2022 and  March 31, 2022, cash of $1,854,978 and $13,523,416, respectively, was held by our clearing agent to collateralize our open derivative positions. These cash requirements are included in "Other current assets" on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets at  December 31, 2022 and  March 31, 2022.