Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Contract with Customer, Asset and Liability [Table Text Block]

The following table presents the net contract asset and contract liability balances:

In millions	Location in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	December 31, 2019		December 31, 2018		January 1, 2018
Current portion of contract assets	Other current assets	$	9	$	22	$	28
Current portion of contract liabilities	Contract liabilities	$	502	$	461	$	458
Non-current portion of contract liabilities	Other liabilities	$	81	$	85	$	95

During the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company recognized $341 million and $355 million, respectively, in revenue that was included in contract liabilities as of January 1, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Schedule of Capitalized Computer Software [Table Text Block]

The following table identifies the activity relating to total capitalized software:

In millions	2019			2018			2017
Beginning balance as of January 1	$	325		$	366		$	345
Capitalization	238			170			166
Amortization	(148		)	(160		)	(145		)
Impairment	(2		)	(51		)	—
Ending balance as of December 31	$	413		$	325		$	366

During the year ended December 31, 2018, we recorded the write-off of certain internal- and external-use software capitalization projects that are no longer considered strategic based on review by the new management team and as a result, the projects have been abandoned.

Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block]

The components of basic earnings (loss) per share are as follows:

In millions, except per share amounts	Year ended December 31
	2019			2018			2017
Numerator:
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$	614		$	(36	)	$	237
Series A convertible preferred stock dividends	(110		)	(49		)	(109		)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to NCR common stockholders	504			(85		)	128
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(50		)	(52		)	(5		)
Net income (loss) attributable to NCR common stockholders	$	454		$	(137	)	$	123
Denominator:
Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding	122.1			118.4			121.9
Basic earnings (loss) per share:
From continuing operations	$	4.13		$	(0.72	)	$	1.05
From discontinued operations	(0.41		)	(0.44		)	(0.04		)
Total basic earnings (loss) per share	$	3.72		$	(1.16	)	$	1.01

The components of diluted earnings (loss) per share are as follows:

In millions, except per share amounts	Year ended December 31
	2019			2018			2017
Numerator:
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$	614		$	(36	)	$	237
Series A convertible preferred stock dividends	(76		)	(49		)	(109		)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to NCR common stockholders	538			(85		)	128
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(50		)	(52		)	(5		)
Net income (loss) attributable to NCR common stockholders	$	488		$	(137	)	$	123
Denominator:
Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding	122.1			118.4			121.9
Dilutive effect of as-if Series A Convertible Preferred Stock	19.5			—			—
Dilutive effect of employee stock options and restricted stock units	3.6			—			5.1
Weighted average diluted shares	145.2			118.4			127.0
Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
From continuing operations	$	3.71		$	(0.72	)	$	1.01
From discontinued operations	(0.35		)	(0.44		)	(0.04		)
Total diluted earnings (loss) per share	$	3.36		$	(1.16	)	$	0.97

For 2019, it was more dilutive to assume the portion of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock that was redeemed was not converted to common stock. Therefore, the weighted average outstanding shares of common stock were not adjusted by 5.7 million for the as-if converted portion of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock that was redeemed because the effect would be anti-dilutive. Refer to Note 6, "Series A Convertible Preferred Stock" for additional discussion related to the transaction impacting the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock. Additionally, for 2019, weighted average restricted stock units and stock options of 4.3 million were excluded from the diluted share count because their effect would have been anti-dilutive.

For 2018, it is more dilutive to assume the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock was not converted to common stock. Therefore, weighted average outstanding shares of common stock were not adjusted by 28.3 million for the as-if converted Series A Convertible Preferred Stock because the effect would be anti-dilutive. Additionally, for 2018, weighted average restricted stock units and stock option of 5.6 million were excluded from the diluted share count because their effect would have been anti-dilutive.

For 2017, it is more dilutive to assume the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock was not converted to common stock. Therefore, weighted average outstanding shares of common stock were not adjusted by 27.4 million for the as-if converted Series A Convertible Preferred Stock shown above because the effect would be anti-dilutive. Additionally, for 2017, weighted average restricted stock units of 0.8 million were excluded from the diluted share count because their effect would have been anti-dilutive.