Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Jan. 31, 2017

Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of America’s Car-Mart, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Segment Reporting, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Segment Information

Each dealership is an operating segment with its results regularly reviewed by the Company’s chief operating decision maker in an effort to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and to assess its performance. Individual dealerships meet the aggregation criteria for reporting purposes under the current accounting guidance. The Company operates in the Integrated Auto Sales and Finance segment of the used car market, also referred to as the Integrated Auto Sales and Finance industry. In this industry, the nature of the sale and the financing of the transaction, financing processes, the type of customer and the methods used to distribute the Company’s products and services, including the actual servicing of the contracts as well as the regulatory environment in which the Company operates, all have similar characteristics. Each of our individual dealerships is similar in nature and only engages in the selling and financing of used vehicles. All individual dealerships have similar operating characteristics. As such, individual dealerships have been aggregated into

one

reportable segment.

Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

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 period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates include, but are not limited to, the Company’s allowance for credit losses.

Concentration Risk, Credit Risk, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Concentration of Risk

The Company provides financing in connection with the sale of substantially all of its vehicles. These sales are made primarily to customers residing in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas, with approximately

30%

of current period revenues resulting from sales to Arkansas customers.

Periodically, the Company maintains cash in financial institutions in excess of the amounts insured by the federal government. The Company’s revolving credit facilities mature in

December

2019.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments purchased with original maturities of

three

months or less to be cash equivalents.

Line of Credit Facility, Dividend Restrictions [Policy Text Block]

Restrictions on Distributions/Dividends

The Company’s revolving credit facilities generally restrict distributions by the Company to its shareholders. The distribution limitations under the Credit Facilities allow the Company to repurchase the Company’s stock so long as: either (a) the aggregate amount of such repurchases does not exceed

$40

million beginning

December

12,

2016

and the sum of borrowing bases combined minus the principal balances of all revolver loans after giving effect to such repurchases is equal to or greater than

25%

of the sum of the borrowing bases, or (b) the aggregate amount of such repurchases does not exceed

75%

of the consolidated net income of the Company measured on a trailing

twelve

month basis; provided that immediately before and after giving effect to the stock repurchases, at least

12.5%

of the aggregate funds committed under the credit facilities remain available. Thus, the Company is limited in its ability to pay dividends or make other distributions to its shareholders without the consent of the Company’s lenders.

Finance, Loans and Leases Receivable, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Finance Receivables, Repossessions and Charge-offs and Allowance for Credit Losses

The Company originates installment sale contracts from the sale of used vehicles at its dealerships. These installment sale contracts carry an average interest rate of approximately

15.7%

using the simple effective interest method including any deferred fees. In

May

2016,

the Company increased its retail installment sales contract interest rate from

15.0%

16.5%

in response to continued high levels of credit losses. Contract origination costs are not significant. The installment sale contracts are not pre-computed contracts whereby borrowers are obligated to pay back principal plus the full amount of interest that will accrue over the entire term of the contract. Finance receivables are collateralized by vehicles sold and consist of contractually scheduled payments from installment contracts net of unearned finance charges and an allowance for credit losses. Unearned finance charges represent the balance of interest receivable to be earned over the entire term of the related installment contract, less the earned amount

($2.3

million at

January

31,

2017

and

$1.7

million

April

30,

2016

on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets), and as such, have been reflected as a reduction to the gross contract amount in arriving at the principal balance in finance receivables

An account is considered delinquent when the customer is

one

day or more behind on their contractual payments. While the Company does not formally place contracts on nonaccrual status, the immaterial amount of interest that

may

accrue after an account becomes delinquent up until the point of resolution via repossession or write-off, is reserved for against the accrued interest on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Delinquent contracts are addressed and either made current by the customer, which is the case in most situations, or the vehicle is repossessed or written off if the collateral cannot be recovered quickly. Customer payments are set to match their payday with approximately

73%

of payments due on either a weekly or bi-weekly basis. The frequency of the payment due dates combined with the declining value of collateral lead to prompt resolutions on problem accounts. At

January

31,

2017,

4.7%

of the Company’s finance receivable balances were

days or more past due compared to

5.0%

January

31,

2016.

Substantially all of the Company’s automobile contracts involve contracts made to individuals with impaired or limited credit histories or higher debt-to-income ratios than permitted by traditional lenders. Contracts made with buyers who are restricted in their ability to obtain financing from traditional lenders generally entail a higher risk of delinquency, default and repossession, and higher losses than contracts made with buyers with better credit.

The Company strives to keep its delinquency percentages low, and not to repossess vehicles. Accounts

two

days late are sent a notice in the mail. Accounts

three

days late are contacted by telephone. Notes from each telephone contact are electronically maintained in the Company’s computer system. The Company attempts to resolve payment delinquencies amicably prior to repossessing a vehicle. If a customer becomes severely delinquent in his or her payments, and management determines that timely collection of future payments is not probable, the Company will take steps to repossess the vehicle.

Periodically, the Company enters into contract modifications with its customers to extend or modify the payment terms. The Company only enters into a contract modification or extension if it believes such action will increase the amount of monies the Company will ultimately realize on the customer’s account and will increase the likelihood of the customer being able to pay off the vehicle contract. At the time of modification, the Company expects to collect amounts due including accrued interest at the contractual interest rate for the period of delay. No other concessions are granted to customers, beyond the extension of additional time, at the time of modifications. Modifications are minor and are made for payday changes, minor vehicle repairs and other reasons. For those vehicles that are repossessed, the majority are returned or surrendered by the customer on a voluntary basis. Other repossessions are performed by Company personnel or

third

party repossession agents. Depending on the condition of a repossessed vehicle, it is either resold on a retail basis through a Company dealership, or sold for cash on a wholesale basis primarily through physical or online auctions.

Accounts are charged-off after the expiration of a statutory notice period for repossessed accounts, or when management determines that the timely collection of future payments is not probable for accounts where the Company has been unable to repossess the vehicle. For accounts with respect to which the vehicle was repossessed, the fair value of the repossessed vehicle is charged as a reduction of the gross finance receivables balance charged-off. For the quarter ended

January

31,

2017,

on average, accounts were approximately

days past due at the time of charge-off. For previously charged-off accounts that are subsequently recovered, the amount of such recovery is credited to the allowance for credit losses.

The Company maintains an allowance for credit losses on an aggregate basis at a level it considers sufficient to cover estimated losses inherent in the portfolio at the balance sheet date in the collection of its finance receivables currently outstanding. At

January

31,

2017,

the weighted average total contract term was

31.9

months with

23.0

months remaining. The reserve amount in the allowance for credit losses at

January

31,

2017,

$111.8

million, was

25%

of the principal balance in finance receivables of

$475.4

million, less unearned payment protection plan revenue of

$18.2

million and unearned service contract revenue of

$9.9

million.

The estimated reserve amount is the Company’s anticipated future net charge-offs for losses incurred through the balance sheet date. The allowance takes into account historical credit loss experience (both timing and severity of losses), with consideration given to recent credit loss trends and changes in contract characteristics (i.e., average amount financed, months outstanding at loss date, term and age of portfolio), delinquency levels, collateral values, economic conditions and underwriting and collection practices. The allowance for credit losses is reviewed at least quarterly by management with any changes reflected in current operations. The calculation of the allowance for credit losses uses the following primary factors:

The number of units repossessed or charged-off as a percentage of total units financed over specific historical periods of time from

one

year to

five

years.

The average net repossession and charge-off loss per unit during the last

eighteen

months segregated by the number of months since the contract origination date and adjusted for the expected future average net charge-off loss per unit. About

50%

of the charge-offs that will ultimately occur in the portfolio are expected to occur within

months following the balance sheet date. The average age of an account at charge-off date for the

eighteen

-month period ended

January

31,

2017

was

11.9

months.

The timing of repossession and charge-off losses relative to the date of sale (i.e., how long it takes for a repossession or charge-off to occur) for repossessions and charge-offs occurring during the last

eighteen

months.

A point estimate is produced by this analysis which is then supplemented by any positive or negative subjective factors to arrive at an overall reserve amount that management considers to be a reasonable estimate of losses inherent in the portfolio at the balance sheet date that will be realized via actual charge-offs in the future. Although it is at least reasonably possible that events or circumstances could occur in the future that are not presently foreseen which could cause actual credit losses to be materially different from the recorded allowance for credit losses, the Company believes that it has given appropriate consideration to all relevant factors and has made reasonable assumptions in determining the allowance for credit losses. While challenging economic conditions can negatively impact credit losses, effective execution of internal policies and procedures within the collections area and the competitive environment on the funding side have historically had a more significant effect on collection results than macro-economic issues.

In most states, the Company offers retail customers who finance their vehicle the option of purchasing a payment protection plan product as an add-on to the installment sale contract. This product contractually obligates the Company to cancel the remaining principal outstanding for any contract where the retail customer has totaled the vehicle, as defined by the contract, or the vehicle has been stolen. The Company periodically evaluates anticipated losses to ensure that if anticipated losses exceed deferred payment protection plan revenues, an additional liability is recorded for such difference. No such liability was required at

January

31,

2017

April

30,

2016.

Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Inventory

Inventory consists of used vehicles and is valued at the lower of cost or market on a specific identification basis. Vehicle reconditioning costs are capitalized as a component of inventory. Repossessed vehicles and trade-in vehicles are recorded at fair value, which approximates wholesale value. The cost of used vehicles sold is determined using the specific identification method.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Goodwill, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Goodwill

Goodwill reflects the excess of purchase price over the fair value of specifically identified net assets purchased. Goodwill and intangible assets deemed to have indefinite lives are not amortized but are subject to annual impairment tests at the Company’s year-end. The impairment tests are based on the comparison of the fair value of the reporting unit to the carrying value of such unit. There was no impairment of goodwill during fiscal

2016,

and to date, there has been no impairment during fiscal

2017.

Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost. Expenditures for additions, remodels and improvements are capitalized. Costs of repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the estimated life of the improvement or the lease period. The lease period includes the primary lease term plus any extensions that are reasonably assured. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method, generally over the following estimated useful lives:

Furniture, fixtures and equipment (in years)	3	to	7
Leasehold improvements (in years)	5	to	15
Buildings and improvements (in years)	18	to	39

Property and equipment are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset

may

not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying values of the impaired assets exceed the fair value of such assets. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell.

Cash Overdraft [Policy Text Block]

Cash Overdraft

As checks are presented for payment from the Company’s primary disbursement bank account, monies are automatically drawn against cash collections for the day and, if necessary, are drawn against

one

of the revolving credit facilities. Any cash overdraft balance principally represents outstanding checks that as of the balance sheet date had not yet been presented for payment, net of any deposits in transit. Any cash overdraft balance is reflected in accrued liabilities on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Deferred Sales Tax [Policy Text Block]

Deferred Sales Tax

Deferred sales tax represents a sales tax liability of the Company for vehicles sold on an installment basis in the states of Alabama and Texas. Under Alabama and Texas law, for vehicles sold on an installment basis the related sales tax is due as the payments are collected from the customer, rather than at the time of sale. Deferred sales tax liabilities are reflected in accrued liabilities on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under the liability method. Under this method, deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities, and are measured using the enacted tax rates expected to apply in the years in which these differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The quarterly provision for income taxes is determined using an estimated annual effective tax rate, which is based on expected annual taxable income, statutory tax rates and the Company’s best estimate of nontaxable and nondeductible items of income and expense.

Occasionally, the Company is audited by taxing authorities. These audits could result in proposed assessments of additional taxes. The Company believes that its tax positions comply in all material respects with applicable tax law. However, tax law is subject to interpretation, and interpretations by taxing authorities could be different from those of the Company, which could result in the imposition of additional taxes.

The Company recognizes the financial statement benefit of a tax position only after determining that the relevant tax authority would more likely than not sustain the position following an audit. For tax positions meeting the more-likely-than-not threshold, the amount recognized in the financial statements is the largest benefit that has a greater than

percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant tax authority. The Company applies this methodology to all tax positions for which the statute of limitations remains open.

The Company is subject to income taxes in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state jurisdictions. Tax regulations within each jurisdiction are subject to the interpretation of the related tax laws and regulations and require significant judgment to apply. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state and local income tax examinations by tax authorities for the years before fiscal

2013.

The Company’s policy is to recognize accrued interest related to unrecognized tax benefits in interest expense and penalties in operating expenses. The Company had no accrued penalties or interest as of

January

31,

2017

April

30,

2016.

Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Revenue Recognition

Revenues are generated principally from the sale of used vehicles, which in most cases includes a service contract and a payment protection plan product, interest income and late fees earned on finance receivables. Revenues are net of taxes collected from customers and remitted to government agencies. Cost of vehicle sales include costs incurred by the Company to prepare the vehicle for sale including license and title costs, gasoline, transport services and repairs.

Revenues from the sale of used vehicles are recognized when financing, if applicable, has been approved, the sales contract is signed, and the customer has taken possession of the vehicle. Revenues from the sale of vehicles sold at wholesale are recognized at the time the proceeds are received. Revenues from the sale of service contracts are initially deferred and then recognized ratably over the expected duration of the product. Service contract revenues are included in sales and the related expenses are included in cost of sales. Payment protection plan revenues are initially deferred and then recognized to income using the “Rule of

78’s”

interest method over the life of the contract so that revenues are recognized in proportion to the amount of cancellation protection provided. Payment protection plan revenues recognized are included in sales and related losses are included in cost of sales as incurred. Interest income is recognized on all active finance receivable accounts using the simple effective interest method. Active accounts include all accounts except those that have been paid-off or charged-off.

Sales consist of the following:

	Three Months Ended January 31,				Nine Months Ended January 31,
(In thousands)	2017		2016		2017		2016

Sales – used autos	$	103,249	$	105,435	$	331,376	$	316,269
Wholesales – third party		5,764		5,097		16,710		16,939
Service contract sales		7,094		6,784		21,072		20,327
Payment protection plan revenue		5,156		4,475		14,959		13,521

Total	$	121,263	$	121,791	$	384,117	$	367,056

January

31,

2017

and

2016,

finance receivables more than

days past due were approximately

$2.0

million and

$2.1

million, respectively. Late fee revenues totaled approximately

$1.4

million and

$1.5

million for the

nine

months ended

January

31,

2017

and

2016,

respectively. Late fees are recognized when collected and are reflected in interest and other income on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share are computed by dividing net income attributable to common stockholders by the average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share are computed by dividing net income attributable to common stockholders by the average number of common shares outstanding during the period plus dilutive common stock equivalents. The calculation of diluted earnings per share takes into consideration the potentially dilutive effect of common stock equivalents, such as outstanding stock options and non-vested restricted stock, which if exercised or converted into common stock would then share in the earnings of the Company. In computing diluted earnings per share, the Company utilizes the treasury stock method and anti-dilutive securities are excluded.

Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy [Policy Text Block]

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company recognizes the cost of employee services received in exchange for awards of equity instruments, such as stock options and restricted stock, based on the fair value of those awards at the date of grant over the requisite service period. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine the fair value of stock option awards. The Company

may

issue either new shares or treasury shares upon exercise of these awards. Stock-based compensation plans, related expenses and assumptions used in the Black-Scholes option pricing model are more fully described in Note I. If an award contains a performance condition, expense is recognized only for those shares for which it is considered reasonably probable as of the current period end that the performance condition will be met.

Treasury Stock [Policy Text Block]

Treasury Stock

The Company purchased

300,838

shares of its common stock to be held as treasury stock for a total cost of

$8.2

million during the

first

nine

months of fiscal

2017

and

342,171

shares for a total cost of

$10.5

million during the

first

nine

months of fiscal

2016.

Treasury stock

may

be used for issuances under the Company’s stock-based compensation plans or for other general corporate purposes. During fiscal

2016,

the Company established a reserve account of

10,000

shares of treasury stock to secure outstanding service contracts issued in Iowa in accordance with the regulatory requirements of that state.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Occasionally, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) or other standard setting bodies which the Company will adopt as of the specified effective date. Unless otherwise discussed, the Company believes the implementation of recently issued standards which are not yet effective will not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements upon adoption.

Revenue Recognition

. In

May

2014,

the FASB issued ASU

2014

09,

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

(Topic

606),

which supersedes existing revenue recognition guidance. The new guidance in ASU

2014

is based on the principle that revenue is recognized to depict the transfer of 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. ASU

2014

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. In

August

2015,

the FASB issued ASU

2015

14,

Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic

606):

Deferral of the Effective Date

, to provide entities with an additional year to implement ASU

2014

09.

As a result, the guidance in ASU

2014

is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after

December

15,

2017,

and interim reporting periods within those years, using

one

two

retrospective application methods. The Company is currently evaluating the potential effects of the adoption of this update on the consolidated financial statements, and expects to complete that evaluation by the end of fiscal

2017.

Leases

. In

February

2016,

the FASB issued ASU

2016

02,

Leases

. The new guidance requires that lessees recognize all leases, including operating leases, with a term greater than

months on-balance sheet and also requires disclosure of key information about leasing transactions. The guidance in ASU

2016

is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after

December

15,

2018,

and interim reporting periods within those years. The Company is currently evaluating the potential effects of the adoption of this guidance on the consolidated financial statements.

Stock Compensation

. In

March

2016,

the FASB issued ASU

2016

09,

Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting

, which aims to simplify aspects of accounting for share-based payment transactions, including: presenting the excess tax benefit or deficit from the exercise or vesting of share-based payments in the income statement, a revision to the criteria for classifying an award as equity or liability, an option to recognize gross stock compensation expense with actual forfeitures recognized as they occur, and certain classifications on the statement of cash flows. In addition, the new guidance eliminates the excess tax benefit from the assumed proceeds calculation under the treasury stock method for purposes of calculating diluted shares. ASU

2016

is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after

December

15,

2016

and interim reporting periods within those years. Certain provisions of ASU

2016

are required to be adopted prospectively, notably the requirement to recognize the excess tax benefit or deficit in the income statement, while other provisions require modified retrospective application or in some cases full retrospective application. The Company is currently evaluating the potential effects of the adoption of this guidance on the consolidated financial statements.

Credit Losses

. In

June

2016,

the FASB issued ASU

2016

13,

Financial Instruments — Credit Losses

(Topic

326).

ASU

2016

requires financial assets such as loans to be presented net of an allowance for credit losses that reduces the cost basis to the amount expected to be collected over the estimated life. Expected credit losses will be measured based on historical experience and current conditions, as well as forecasts of future conditions that affect the collectability of the reported amount. ASU

2016

is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after

December

15,

2019,

and interim reporting periods within those years using a modified retrospective approach. The Company is currently evaluating the potential effects of the adoption of this guidance on the consolidated financial statements.