A. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:

(1) USE OF ESTIMATES IN THE PREPARATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: In preparation of the Company's consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and related revenues and expenses. Actual results could differ from the estimates used by management.

(2) PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION: The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of National Presto Industries, Inc. and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly-owned. All material intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated. For a further discussion of the Company's business and the segments in which it operates, please refer to Note L.

(3) FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS: The Company utilizes the methods of determining fair value as described in Financial Accounting Standard Board ("FASB") Accounting Standard Codification ("ASC") 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures to value its financial assets and liabilities. ASC 820 utilizes a three-tier fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. These tiers include: Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets; Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable; and Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions.

The carrying amount for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and accrued liabilities approximates fair value due to the immediate or short-term maturity of these financial instruments.

(4) CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND MARKETABLE SECURITIES:

Cash and Cash Equivalents: The Company considers all highly liquid marketable securities with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents include money market funds and certificates of deposit. The Company deposits its cash in high quality financial institutions. The balances, at times, may exceed federally insured limits. Certificates of deposit are reported at par value, and money market funds are reported at fair value determined using quoted prices in active markets for identical securities (Level 1, as defined by FASB ASC 820).

The Company's cash management policy provides for its bank disbursement accounts to be reimbursed on a daily basis. Checks issued but not presented to the bank for payment of $5,313,000 and $2,788,000 at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, are included as reductions of cash and cash equivalents or bank overdrafts in accounts payable, as appropriate.

Marketable Securities: The Company has classified all marketable securities as available-for-sale which requires the securities to be reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, reported as a separate component of stockholders' equity. Highly liquid, tax exempt variable rate demand notes with put options exercisable in three months or less are classified as marketable securities. Also included are certificates of deposit with maturities greater than three months.

At December 31, 2011 and 2010, cost for marketable securities was determined using the specific identification method. A summary of the amortized costs and fair values of the Company's marketable securities at December 31 is shown in the following table. All of the Company's marketable securities are classified as Level 2, as defined by FASB ASC 820, with fair values determined using significant other observable inputs, which include quoted prices in markets that are not active, quoted prices of similar securities, recently executed transactions, broker quotations, and other inputs that are observable. There were no transfers into or out of Level 2 during 2011.

	(In thousands)
	MARKETABLE SECURITIES
	Amortized Cost		Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses
December 31, 2011
Tax-exempt Municipal Bonds	$	26,214	$	26,326	$	128	$	16
Variable Rate Demand Notes		33,034		33,034		0		0
Total Marketable Securities	$	59,248	$	59,360	$	128	$	16

December 31, 2010
Tax-exempt Municipal Bonds	$	62,339	$	62,537	$	354	$	156
Variable Rate Demand Notes		37,779		37,779		0		0
Certificates of Deposit		689		689		0		0
Total Marketable Securities	$	100,807	$	101,005	$	354	$	156

Proceeds from sales of marketable securities totaled $82,521 in 2011, $62,109,000 in 2010, and $81,426,000 in 2009. There were no gross gains or gross losses related to sales of marketable securities during the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009. Net unrealized gains (losses) are reported as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income and were gains of $112,000, $198,000 and $990,000 before taxes at December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009, respectively. No unrealized gains were reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) during the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009.

The contractual maturities of the marketable securities held at December 31, 2011 are as follows: $8,288,000 within one year; $17,193,000 beyond one year to five years; $12,654,000 beyond five years to ten years, and $21,225,000 beyond ten years. All of the instruments in the beyond five year ranges, with the exception of $4,804,000 of tax-exempt municipal bonds with maturities between five and seven years, are variable rate demand notes which as noted above can be tendered for cash at par plus interest within seven days. Despite the stated contractual maturity date, to the extent a tender is not honored, the notes become immediately due and payable.

(5) ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE: The Company's accounts receivable are related to sales of products. Credit is extended based on prior experience with the customer and evaluation of customers' financial condition. Accounts receivable are primarily due within 30 to 60 days. The Company does not accrue interest on past due accounts receivable. Receivables are written off only after all collection attempts have failed and are based on individual credit evaluation and the specific circumstances of the customer. The allowance for doubtful accounts represents an estimate of amounts considered uncollectible and is determined based on the Company's historical collection experience, adverse situations that may affect the customer's ability to pay, and prevailing economic conditions.

(6) INVENTORIES: Housewares/Small Appliance segment inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market with cost being determined principally on the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method. Inventories for the Defense and Absorbent Products segments are stated at the lower of cost or market with cost being determined on the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method.

(7) PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT: Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. For machinery and equipment, all amounts which are fully depreciated have been eliminated from both the asset and allowance accounts. Straight-line depreciation is provided in amounts sufficient to charge the costs of depreciable assets to operations over their service lives which are estimated at 15 to 40 years for buildings, 3 to 10 years for machinery and equipment, and 15 to 20 years for land improvements. The Company reviews long lived assets consisting principally of property, plant, and equipment, for impairment when material events and changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable.

(8) GOODWILL: The Company recognizes the excess cost of acquired entities over the net amount assigned to the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed as goodwill. Goodwill is tested for impairment on an annual basis at the start of the fourth quarter and between annual tests whenever an impairment is indicated, such as the occurrence of an event that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of the reporting unit below its carrying amount. Impairment losses are recognized whenever the implied fair value of goodwill is less than its carrying value. No goodwill impairments were recognized during 2011, 2010, or 2009. The Company's goodwill as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 was $18,468,000 and $11,485,000, respectively, relating entirely to its Defense Products segment, which had zero cumulative impairment charges at December 31, 2011. During 2011, $6,983,000 was added to goodwill as a result of the acquisition of the assets of ALS Technologies, Inc., more fully described in Note P. The acquisition purchase price allocation to goodwill is preliminary and will be finalized in 2012 upon the completion of a business valuation. The Absorbent Products segment value of goodwill was $0, with cumulative impairment charges of $4,648,000, at both December 31, 2011 and 2010. The Company has no recorded intangible assets, other than goodwill.

(9) REVENUE RECOGNITION: For all of its segments, the Company recognizes revenue when product is shipped or title passes pursuant to customers' orders, the price is fixed and collection is reasonably assured. For the Housewares/Small appliance segment, the Company provides for its 60-day over-the-counter return privilege and warranties at the time of shipment. Net sales for this segment are calculated by deducting early payment discounts and cooperative advertising allowances from gross sales. The Company records cooperative advertising allowances when revenue is recognized. See Note A(10) for a description of the Company's policy for sales returns.

(10) SALES & RETURNS: Sales are recorded net of estimated discounts and returns. The latter pertain primarily to warranty returns, returns of seasonal items, and returns of those newly introduced products sold with a return privilege. The calculation of warranty returns is based in large part on historical data, while seasonal and new product returns are primarily developed using customer provided information.

(11) SHIPPING AND HANDLING COSTS: In accordance with FASB ASC 605-45, Revenue Recognition, the Company includes shipping and handling revenues in net sales and shipping costs in cost of sales.

(12) ADVERTISING: The Company's policy is to expense advertising as incurred and include it in selling and general expenses. Advertising expense was $70,000, $9,000, and $237,000 in 2011, 2010, and 2009, respectively.

(13) ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME: The $72,000 and $129,000 of accumulated comprehensive income at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, relate to the unrealized gain on the Company's available-for-sale marketable security investments. These amounts are recorded net of tax effect of $40,000 and $69,000 for 2011 and 2010, respectively.

(14) PRODUCT WARRANTY: The Company's Housewares/Small Appliance segment's products are generally warranted to the original owner to be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of 1 to 12 years from date of purchase. The Company allows a 60-day over-the-counter initial return privilege through cooperating dealers. The Company services its products through a corporate service repair operation. The Company estimates its product warranty liability based on historical percentages which have remained relatively consistent over the years.

The product warranty liability is included in accounts payable on the balance sheet. The following table shows the changes in product warranty liability for the period:

	(In thousands) Year Ended December 31
	2011			2010
Beginning balance January 1	$	326		$	405

Accruals during the period		523			353

Charges / payments made under the warranties		(508	)		(432	)

Balance December 31	$	341		$	326

(15) STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION: The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation. Under the fair value recognition provisions of ASC 718, stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized as expense ratably over the requisite service period, net of estimated forfeitures. As more fully described in Note F, the Company awards non-vested restricted stock to employees and executive officers.

(16) INCOME TAXES: Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the differences between the financial and income tax reporting bases of assets and liabilities based on enacted tax rates and laws. The deferred income tax provision or benefit generally reflects the net change in deferred income tax assets and liabilities during the year. The current income tax provision reflects the tax consequences of revenues and expenses currently taxable or deductible on various income tax returns for the year reported. Income tax contingencies are accounted for in accordance with FASB ASC 740, Income Taxes. See Note H for summaries of the provision, the effective tax rates, and the tax effects of the cumulative temporary differences resulting in deferred tax assets and liabilities.

(17) RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS:

In January 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2010-06, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820) – Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements, to provide amendments to Subtopic 820-10 that require new disclosures about transfers into and out of Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy and separate disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements relating to Level 3 measurements. Specifically, for assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis in periods after initial recognition (e.g., trading securities), this ASU requires: separate disclosure of the amount of significant transfers between Levels 1 and 2 and a description of the reasons for the transfers; and separate information about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements, on a gross basis, in the reconciliation of Level 3 fair value measurements valued using significant unobservable inputs. ASU 2010-06 clarifies existing disclosures as follows:

Level of disaggregation: An entity should provide fair value measurement disclosures for each class of assets and liabilities. A class is often a subset of assets or liabilities within a line item in the statement of financial position. An entity needs to use judgment in determining the appropriate classes of assets and liabilities.

Disclosures about inputs and valuations techniques: An entity should provide disclosures about the valuation techniques (i.e., the income, market, or cost approaches) and input used to measure fair value for both recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements. Those disclosures are required for fair value measurements that fall in either Level 2 or Level 3.

ASU 2010-06 also includes conforming amendments to the guidance on employers' disclosures about postretirement benefit plan assets (Subtopic 715-20), which include a change in terminology from major categories of assets to classes of assets and a cross-reference to the guidance in Subtopic 820-10 on how to determine appropriate classes to present fair value disclosures. This ASU is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the separate disclosures about purchases, sales, issuance and settlements in the roll forward of activity in Level 3 fair value measurements. Those disclosures are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010, and for interim periods within those fiscal years. In the period of initial adoption, entities will not be required to provide the amended disclosures for any previous periods presented for comparative purposes. However, comparative disclosures are required for periods ending after initial adoption. Early adoption is permitted. Except for the separate disclosures about purchases, sales, issuance and settlements in the roll forward of activity in Level 3 fair value measurements, the Company adopted ASU 2010-06 during the first quarter of 2010, which did not have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements. The Company adopted the separate disclosures about purchases, sales, issuance and settlements in the roll forward of activity in Level 3 fair value measurements during the first quarter of 2011, which did not have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-04, Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs. The amendments in this ASU generally represent clarifications of Topic 820, but also include some instances where a particular principle or requirement for measuring fair value or disclosing information about fair value measurements has changed. This ASU results in common principles and requirements for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements in accordance with U.S. GAAP and IFRSs. The amendments in this ASU are to be applied prospectively. For public entities, the amendments are effective during interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. Early application by public entities is not permitted. The Company will adopt the methodologies prescribed by ASU 2011-04 by the date required, and does not anticipate that the ASU will have a material effect on its financial position or results of operations.

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05, Amendments to Topic 220, Comprehensive Income. Under the amendments in this ASU, an entity has the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. In both choices, an entity is required to present each component of net income along with total net income, each component of other comprehensive income along with a total for other comprehensive income, and a total amount for comprehensive income. This ASU eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders' equity. The amendments in this ASU do not change the items that must be reported in other comprehensive income or when an item of other comprehensive income must be reclassified to net income. The amendments in this ASU should be applied retrospectively. For public entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted, because compliance with the amendments is already permitted. The amendments do not require any transition disclosures. In December 2011, the FASB deferred the requirement to present reclassification adjustments for each component of accumulated other comprehensive income in both net income and other comprehensive income with the issuance of ASU 2011-12, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05. Companies are required to either present amounts reclassified out of other comprehensive income on the face of the financial statements or disclose those amounts in the notes to the financial statements. During the deferral period, there is no requirement to separately present or disclose the reclassification adjustments into net income. The effective date of the deferral is consistent with the effective date of the ASU No. 2011-05. The Company will adopt ASU 2011-5 retrospectively by the required date.