11-K 1 bke11-k2021.htm THE BUCKLE, INC. 11-K Document

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 11-K


x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Fiscal Year Ended: December 31, 2021

o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Transition Period from: ____________ to ____________


Commission File Number: 001-12951


A.  Full title of the Plan and the address of the Plan, if
different from that of the issuer named below:

BUCKLE 401(k) PLAN


B.  Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the Plan
and the address of its principal executive office:

THE BUCKLE, INC.
2407 WEST 24TH STREET
P.O. BOX 1480
KEARNEY, NEBRASKA 68848-1480




BUCKLE 401(K) PLAN

REQUIRED INFORMATION

Plan financial statements and schedules are prepared in accordance with the financial reporting requirements of ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974) and are included herein as listed in the table of contents below.
 
 
All other schedules required by Section 2520.103-10 of the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 have been omitted because they are not applicable.
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Plan Participants and Plan Administrator of Buckle 401(k) Plan

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of Buckle 401(k) Plan (“the Plan”) as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the related statements of changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Plan’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and are required to be independent with respect to the Plan in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Report on Supplemental Schedule

The supplemental schedule of assets (held at end of year) as of December 31, 2021, has been subjected to audit procedures performed in conjunction with the audit of the Plan's financial statements. The supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan's management. Our audit procedures included determining whether the supplemental schedule reconciles to the financial statements or the underlying accounting and other records, as applicable, and performing procedures to test the completeness and accuracy of the information presented in the supplemental schedule. In forming our opinion on the supplemental schedule, we evaluated whether the supplemental schedule, including its form and content, is presented in compliance with the Department of Labor's Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. In our opinion, such schedule is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the financial statements as a whole.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
 
Omaha, Nebraska
June 29, 2022

We have served as the Plan’s auditor since at least 1993; however, an earlier year could not be reliably determined.


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BUCKLE 401(k) PLAN  
STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2021 AND 2020
 December 31,
2021		December 31,
2020
ASSETS:
 
Participant directed investments at fair value
$167,221,709 $143,077,572 
Participant directed investments at contract value
5,362,825 6,598,189 
Receivables:
 
Notes receivable from participants
1,344,809 1,401,235 
Participant contributions
— 243,982 
Employer contributions
2,397,916 2,056,592 
Total receivables
3,742,725 3,701,809 
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
$176,327,259 $153,377,570 

See notes to financial statements.

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BUCKLE 401(k) PLAN  
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021 AND 2020
 December 31,
2021		December 31,
2020
ADDITIONS:
 
Investment income: 
Net appreciation in fair value of investments$25,907,068 $22,614,599 
Interest and dividends
3,188,645 1,477,888 
Net investment income29,095,713 24,092,487 
Contributions:
 
Participant contributions
7,414,294 6,371,315 
Employer contributions
2,397,916 2,056,592 
Total contributions
9,812,210 8,427,907 
Interest income on notes receivable from participants
70,648 81,622 
DEDUCTIONS:
 
Benefits paid to participants
15,555,020 9,813,565 
Administrative expenses
473,862 391,242 
Total deductions
16,028,882 10,204,807 
INCREASE IN NET ASSETS22,949,689 22,397,209 
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS:
 
Beginning of year
153,377,570 130,980,361 
End of year
$176,327,259 $153,377,570 

See notes to financial statements.
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BUCKLE 401(k) PLAN
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2021 AND 2020, AND
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021 AND 2020

1.DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN

The following description of the Buckle 401(k) Plan (the “Plan”) provides only general information. Participants should refer to the Plan Agreement for a more complete description of the Plan provisions.

General - The Plan is a defined contribution plan covering, with certain specified exclusions, all employees working 1,000 hours or more per year who have one year of service and are at least age twenty. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), as amended. It was established effective February 1, 1986, and last amended effective April 15, 2020. The Plan administrator is The Buckle, Inc. (the “Company”). The Plan recordkeeper is Empower Retirement, LLC (“Empower”) and the Plan trustee is Reliance Trust Company.

Contributions - Participants may contribute from 1% to 75% of their eligible pay, as defined under the Plan. The Plan provides for the automatic enrollment of eligible participants at a deferral rate of 3% of eligible pay, unless the participant affirmatively elects otherwise. The Plan also provides for an automatic 1% annual increase in the deferral rate (up to a maximum deferral of 10% of eligible pay) for all participants who have been automatically enrolled in the Plan, unless the participant affirmatively elects otherwise. Participants are allowed to designate all or a portion of their contributions as Roth contributions. The Company may contribute to the Plan at its discretion. In fiscal 2021 and 2020, the Company contributed 50% of employees’ contributions on deferrals up to 6% of their eligible pay. The Company contributions to the Plan were $2,397,916 for the year ended December 31, 2021 and $2,056,592 for the year ended December 31, 2020. Contributions are subject to certain Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) limitations.

Participant Accounts - Individual accounts are maintained for each Plan participant. Each participant’s account is credited with the participant’s contributions and an allocation of the Company’s discretionary contribution and Plan earnings (losses) and is charged with withdrawals and administrative expenses. Allocations are based on participant earnings or account balances, as defined under the Plan. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participant’s vested account balance.

Investments - Participants direct the investment of all contributions into various investment options offered by the Plan.

Vesting - Participants are immediately vested in their voluntary contributions plus actual earnings (losses) thereon. The Company’s discretionary contributions vest over a six-year period, which is as follows:

Years of ServicePercent Vested
Less than two0 %
Two20 %
Three40 %
Four60 %
Five80 %
Six or more100 %
 
Notes Receivable from Participants - Participants may borrow from their individual accounts a minimum of $1,000 up to a maximum equal to the lesser of $50,000 or 50% of their vested account balance. Loan terms range from one to five years or up to ten years for the purchase of a primary residence. The loans are secured by the vested balance in the participant’s account and bear interest at a rate established quarterly by the Plan administrator based on the published prime rate plus 1%. At December 31, 2021, participant loans have maturities through 2031 at interest rates ranging from 4.25% to 6.50%. Principal and interest are paid ratably through bi-weekly payroll deductions.


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Payment of Benefits - On termination of service, a participant may elect to receive a lump-sum amount equal to the value of his or her vested account, or may elect to receive his or her vested account balance through installment distributions over a specified period. Participants are also eligible to make hardship withdrawals from their deferred contributions in the event of certain financial hardships.

Forfeited Accounts - At December 31, 2021 and 2020, forfeited non-vested account balances were $401,650 and $336,450, respectively. Forfeitures of terminated participants’ non-vested account balances are utilized to offset the Company’s discretionary matching contributions made during the plan year and to pay certain administrative expenses for the Plan. The amount utilized to fund a portion of the Company's matching contribution was $111,786 for fiscal 2021 and $100,000 for fiscal 2020.

2.SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Accounting - The financial statements of the Plan are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

Use of Estimates - The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, and changes therein and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Risks and Uncertainties - The Plan utilizes various investment instruments, including mutual funds, collective investment trusts, a stable value fund, and common stock. Investment securities, in general, are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, credit, and overall market volatility. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect the amounts reported in the financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Income Recognition - The Plan’s investments are stated at fair value (except for the stable value fund, which is reported at contract value). Fair value of a financial instrument is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Shares of mutual funds are valued at quoted market prices, which represent the net asset value ("NAV") of shares held by the Plan at year-end. Collective investment trusts ("CITs") are valued at the NAV per share, which is based on the fair value of the underlying net assets. The Buckle Stock Fund is valued at the per unit value of the assets held by the fund (including the closing price of common stock of The Buckle, Inc., as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on the last trading day of the plan year, plus the value of the uninvested cash position held by the fund).

Contract value is the relevant measure for the portion of the net assets available for benefits of a defined contribution plan attributable to fully benefit-responsive investment contracts because contract value is the amount participants normally would receive if they were to initiate permitted transactions under the terms of the Plan. The SAGIC Diversified Bond stable value fund invests principally in a diversified portfolio of fixed income securities from U.S. and foreign issuers, including corporate, mortgage-backed, and government and agency bonds; which are intended to maintain a constant net asset value. Participants may ordinarily direct the withdrawal or transfer of all or a portion of their investment at contract value. Contract value represents contributions made to the fund, plus credited earnings, less participant withdrawals and administrative expenses.

The net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments is based on the fair value of the investments at the beginning of the year or cost, if purchased during the year. Net appreciation (depreciation) includes the Plan’s gains or losses on investments bought and sold as well as held during the year. Net appreciation also includes dividends received from The Buckle Inc., which impact the per unit value of The Buckle Stock Fund.

Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Interest income is recorded on an accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

Management fees and operating expenses charged to the Plan for investments in registered investment companies are deducted from income earned on a daily basis and are not separately reflected. Consequently, management fees and operating expenses are reflected as a reduction of investment return for such investments.


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Notes Receivable from Participants - Notes receivable from participants are measured at their unpaid principal balance plus any accrued but unpaid interest. Delinquent participant loans are recorded as distributions based on the terms of the Plan Agreement.

Administrative Expenses - Administrative expenses are paid by either the Company or the Plan, in accordance with the terms of the Plan Agreement.

Payment of Benefits - Benefit payments to participants are recorded upon distribution. There were no amounts allocated to accounts of persons who have elected to withdraw from the Plan, but have not yet been paid, as of December 31, 2021 or December 31, 2020.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements - The Plan has considered all recent accounting pronouncements and concluded that there are no recent accounting pronouncements that may have a material impact on the Plan's financial statements, based on current information.

3.FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

FASB ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, provides a framework for measuring fair value. That framework provides a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value, as follows: Level 1, which refers to securities valued using unadjusted quoted prices from active markets for identical assets; Level 2, which refers to securities not traded on an active market but for which observable market inputs are readily available; and Level 3, which refers to securities valued based on significant unobservable inputs. Assets are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair value. There have been no changes in the methodologies used at December 31, 2021 and 2020:

Common stock - The Buckle Stock Fund is valued at the per unit value of the assets held by the fund (including the closing price of common stock of The Buckle, Inc., as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on the last trading day of the plan year, plus the value of the uninvested cash position held by the fund) and is categorized as Level 1.

Mutual funds - Shares of mutual funds are valued at quoted prices that represent the NAV of shares held on the last day of the plan year and are categorized as Level 1. The mutual funds held by the Plan are deemed to be actively traded.

Collective investment trusts - CITs are public investment vehicles valued using a NAV provided by the manager of each fund. The NAV is based on the underlying net assets owned by the fund divided by the number of shares outstanding. The NAV’s unit price is quoted on a private market that is not active. However, the NAV is based on the fair value of the underlying securities within the fund, which are traded on an active market and valued at the closing price reported on the active market on which those individual securities are traded. These investments are priced daily and have no redemption restrictions.

The following tables set forth by level within the fair value hierarchy a summary of the Plan’s investments measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2021 and 2020:

 As of December 31, 2021
Active
Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)		Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)		Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)		Total
Common stock$18,636,651 $— $— $18,636,651 
Mutual funds24,664,759 — — 24,664,759 
Total assets in fair value hierarchy$43,301,410 $— $— $43,301,410 
Investments at net asset value:
Collective investment trusts123,920,299 
Investments at fair value$167,221,709 

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 As of December 31, 2020
Active
Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)		Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)		Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)		Total
Common stock$13,596,629 $— $— $13,596,629 
Mutual funds24,149,225 — — 24,149,225 
Total assets in fair value hierarchy$37,745,854 $— $— $37,745,854 
Investments at net asset value:
Collective investment trusts105,331,718 
Investments at fair value$143,077,572 

Transfers Between Levels - The availability of observable market data is monitored to assess the appropriate classification of financial instruments within the fair value hierarchy. Changes in economic conditions or model-based valuation techniques may require the transfer of financial instruments from one fair value level to another. In such instances, the transfer is reported at the beginning of the reporting period.

Plan management evaluates the significance of transfers between levels based upon the nature of the financial instrument and size of the transfer relative to total net assets available for benefits. For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, there were no transfers between levels.

4.FULLY BENEFIT-RESPONSIVE GUARANTEED INVESTMENT CONTRACT

The Plan has a fully benefit-responsive guaranteed investment contract (“GIC”) with Empower, which is managed by Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company ("Great West"). Great West maintains the contributions in a separate investment account, which is credited with earnings on the underlying investments and charged for participant withdrawals and administrative expenses. The GIC is included in the financial statements at contract value. Contract value represents contributions made under the contract, plus earnings, less participant withdrawals and administrative expenses. Earnings under the contract are based on a specified crediting rate that is determined periodically by Great West and cannot be less than 0%. Except for the limitations below, Empower is contractually obligated to allow participants to withdraw or transfer all or a portion of their investment at contract value.

Limitations on the Ability of the GIC to Transact at Contract Value - Certain events, such as Plan termination or a plan merger initiated by the Company, may limit the ability of the Plan to transact at contract value or may allow for the termination of the GIC at less than contract value. As discussed in Footnote 8, as of June 3, 2022, the Plan transitioned its recordkeeper to Principal Financial Group, with the GIC being terminated at market value as of June 3, 2022.

5.FEDERAL INCOME TAX STATUS

The Plan uses a volume submitter plan document sponsored by Empower (formerly, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company ("Mass Mutual")). Mass Mutual received an opinion letter from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), dated March 31, 2014, which states that the volume submitter document satisfies the applicable provisions of the IRC. The Plan itself has not received a determination letter from the IRS. The plan document has been amended since receiving the opinion letter. However, the Plan’s management believes that the Plan is currently designed and being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the IRC. Therefore, no provision for income tax has been included in the Plan’s financial statements.

GAAP requires Plan management to evaluate tax positions taken by the Plan and recognize a tax liability (or asset) if the Plan has taken an uncertain position that more likely than not would not be sustained upon examination by the IRS. The Plan is subject to routine audits by taxing jurisdictions; however, there are currently no audits for any tax periods in progress. The Plan administrator believes it is no longer subject to income tax examinations for years prior to 2018.


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6.PLAN TERMINATION

Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Company has the right under the Plan to terminate the Plan at any time subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event of Plan termination, participants will become 100% vested in their accounts. The Company may direct the trustee either to distribute the Plan’s assets to the participants or to continue the trust and distribute benefits as though the Plan had not been terminated.

7.EXEMPT PARTY-IN-INTEREST TRANSACTIONS

Plan investments include The Buckle Stock Fund, which is invested primarily in the stock of The Buckle, Inc., the Plan sponsor, and, therefore, these investments and actual transactions qualify as party-in-interest. The Plan held 376,871 shares of The Buckle, Inc. common stock at December 31, 2021 and 418,970 shares at December 31, 2020, which had a cost basis of $4,360,123 and $4,869,166, respectively. Dividend income received by the Plan from its investment in the stock of The Buckle, Inc. was $2,649,081 for the year ended December 31, 2021 and $1,852,742 for the year ended December 31, 2020. Dividends received from The Buckle Inc., which impact the per unit value of The Buckle Stock Fund, are included in the net appreciation in fair value of investments in the statement of changes in net assets available for benefits.

Empower serves as recordkeeper for the Plan and manages certain Plan investments. Therefore, these transactions qualify as party-in-interest.

8.SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On April 8, 2022, Plan participants were notified of a change in the Plan's recordkeeper/trustee to Principal Financial Group ("Principal"). A temporary blackout period was implemented starting June 1, 2022, with the conversion to Principal being effective as of June 3, 2022.

******

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BUCKLE 401(k) PLAN  
EMPLOYER ID NO: 47-0366193  
PLAN NO: 001  
    
SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE  
FORM 5500, SCHEDULE H, PART IV, LINE 4(i) - SCHEDULE OF ASSETS (HELD AT END OF YEAR)
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2021  
    
 Column BColumn CColumn E
 
 Identity of Issuer, Borrower, Lessor, or Similar PartyDescription of Investment: Including Maturity Date, Rate of Interest, Collateral, and Par or Maturity ValueCurrent Value
   
*
The Buckle, Inc. - The Buckle Stock Fund
755,418 units$18,636,651 
*
Stable Value Fund - SAGIC Diversified Bond Fund
383,462 shares5,362,825 
Bond Fund:
Metropolitan West Total Return Bond Fund218,615 shares2,236,429 
Northern Trust Collective Aggregate Bond Index Fund7,982 shares1,075,760 
Large Value Fund - John Hancock Disciplined Value Fund
127,491 shares2,994,753 
 
Large Blend Fund - Northern Trust Collective S&P 500 Index Fund
15,566 shares7,066,531 
 
Large Growth Fund - Harbor Capital Appreciation Fund
79,993 shares8,060,896 
 
Mid-Cap Value Fund - JP Morgan Mid Cap Value Fund
69,622 shares2,896,955 
 
Mid-Cap Blend Fund - Northern Trust Collective Extended Market Index Fund
5,244 shares1,805,245 
Mid-Cap Growth Fund - T. Rowe Price / Frontier Mid Cap Growth Fund
100,665 shares2,605,211 
 
Small Value Fund - MFS New Discovery Value Fund
73,708 shares1,519,860 
 Small Growth Fund - Principal Small Cap Growth Fund86,951 shares1,485,990 
 
Foreign Fund:
 
American Funds Europacific Growth Fund
44,256 shares2,864,665 
 
Northern Trust Collective MSCI ACWI ex-US IMI Index Fund
10,752 shares1,992,142 
 
Lifecycle Fund:
T. Rowe Price 2005 Collective Investment Trust
77,655 shares1,551,548 
 
T. Rowe Price 2010 Collective Investment Trust
799 shares16,962 
T. Rowe Price 2015 Collective Investment Trust
2,281 shares52,638 
 
T. Rowe Price 2020 Collective Investment Trust
28,337 shares709,273 
T. Rowe Price 2025 Collective Investment Trust
175,593 shares4,784,914 
 
T. Rowe Price 2030 Collective Investment Trust
696,626 shares20,501,697 
T. Rowe Price 2035 Collective Investment Trust
457,740 shares14,318,096 
 
T. Rowe Price 2040 Collective Investment Trust
362,224 shares11,862,831 
T. Rowe Price 2045 Collective Investment Trust
441,993 shares14,740,461 
 
T. Rowe Price 2050 Collective Investment Trust
628,160 shares20,961,703 
T. Rowe Price 2055 Collective Investment Trust
443,868 shares14,802,986 
 
T. Rowe Price 2060 Collective Investment Trust
350,002 shares7,472,547 
T. Rowe Price 2065 Collective Investment Trust15,353 shares204,965 
*
Participant Loans
Maturing from Jan. 2022 to Sep. 2031; interest rates of 4.25% - 6.50%1,344,809 
 
 
 $173,929,343 
*
Party-in-interest.
  
See accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees (or other persons who administer the employee benefit plan) have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
 BUCKLE 401(k) PLAN 
    
Date: June 29, 2022By:/s/ Thomas B. Heacock 
  Thomas B. Heacock 
  Senior Vice President of Finance, Treasurer, 
  and Chief Financial Officer 


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EXHIBIT INDEX

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM


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