Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation - The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Jason Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Take Shape For Life, Inc., Seven Crondall Associates, LLC, Jason Properties, LLC, Medifast Franchise Systems, Inc. and Jason Enterprises, Inc. All inter-Company transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles 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 reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents - Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on deposit in financial institutions, institutional money funds and other short-term investments with a maturity of 90 days or less at the time of purchase.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Concentration of Credit Risk – Our cash and cash equivalents and available-for-sale securities are maintained at several financial institutions, and the balances with these financial institutions often exceed the amount of insurance provided on such accounts by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The cash and cash equivalents generally are maintained with financial institutions with reputable credit, and therefore bear minimal credit risk. Historically, we have not experienced any losses due to such concentration of credit risk.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Our financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, investment in available-for-sale securities, trade receivables and debt. The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, and trade receivables approximate fair value due to their short maturities. The fair values of investment in available-for-sale securities are based on dealer quotes. The Company believes that its indebtedness approximates fair value based on current yields for debt instruments with similar terms.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Sales Returns and Doubtful Accounts

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Sales Returns and Doubtful Accounts - Accounts receivable are recorded net of reserves for sales returns and allowances, and net of provisions for doubtful accounts.

We review the reserves for customer returns at each reporting period and adjust them to reflect data available at that time. To estimate reserves for returns, we consider actual return rates in preceding periods. To the extent the estimate of returns changes, we will adjust the reserve, which will impact the amount of product sales revenue recognized in the period of the adjustment. Our estimates for returns have not differed materially from our actual returns. The provision for estimated returns as of December 31, 2012 and 2011 was $300,000 and $234,000, respectively.

Allowances for doubtful accounts are based primarily on an analysis of aged accounts receivable balances and the credit worthiness of our customers as determined by credit checks and analysis, as well as customer payment history. The allowance for doubtful accounts as of December 31, 2012 and 2011 was $242,000 and $270,000, respectively.

Inventory

Inventory - Inventories consist principally of packaged meal replacements held in the Company’s warehouses. Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or market, utilizing the first-in, first-out method. The cost of finished goods includes the cost of raw materials, packaging supplies, direct and indirect labor and other indirect manufacturing costs. On a quarterly basis, management reviews inventory for unsalable or obsolete inventory.

Investment Securities

Investment Securities –The Company’s investments consist of debt and equity securities classified as available-for-sale securities. Available-for-sale securities are stated at fair value, and unrealized holding gains and losses, net of the related deferred tax effect, are reported as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income in stockholders' equity. Interest and dividends on marketable debt and equity securities are recognized in income when declared. Realized gains and losses, including losses from declines in value of specific securities determined by management to be other-than-temporary, if any, are included in income.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes – The benefit of a tax position is recognized in the financial statements in the period during which, based on all available evidence, management believes it is more-likely-than-not that the position will be sustained upon examination, including the resolution of appeals or litigation processes, if any. Tax positions taken are not offset or aggregated with other positions. Tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold are measured as the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50 percent likely of being realized upon settlement with the applicable taxing authority. The portion of the benefits associated with tax positions taken that exceeds the amount measured as described above is reflected as a liability for unrecognized tax benefits in the accompanying balance sheet along with any associated interest and penalties that would be payable to the taxing authorities upon examination.

We evaluated our tax positions and determined that we did not have any material uncertain tax positions requiring recognition of a liability. Our policy is to recognize interest and penalties accrued on uncertain tax positions as part of income tax expense. For the years ending December 31, 2012 and 2011, no material estimated interest or penalties were recognized for the uncertainty of certain tax positions. We file income tax returns in the United States and various states jurisdictions. With few exceptions, we are no longer subject to U.S. federal, state and local income tax examinations by tax authorities for the years before 2009.

Deferred tax assets are recognized for deductible temporary differences and deferred tax liabilities are recognized for taxable temporary differences. Temporary differences are the differences between the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and their tax bases. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted for the effects of changes in tax laws and rates on the date of enactment.

Advertising Costs

Advertising Costs - Advertising costs are expensed as incurred, except for the preparation, layout, design and production of advertising costs which are expensed when the advertisement is first used. Advertising expense for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010, amounted to $31 million, $27 million, and $23 million, respectively.

Operating Leases

Operating Leases - Medifast leases retail stores, distribution facilities, and office space under operating leases. Many of our lease agreements contain tenant improvement allowances, rent holidays, rent escalation clauses, and contingent rent provisions. The Company recognizes incentives and minimum rental expenses on a straight-line basis over the terms of the leases. We commence recording rent expense on the date of initial possession, which is generally when we enter the space and begin to make improvements to properties for our intended use. For tenant improvement allowances and rent holidays, we record a deferred rent liability on the consolidated balance sheets and amortize the deferred rent over the terms of the leases as reductions to rent expense on the consolidated statements of income.

For scheduled rent escalation clauses during the lease terms or for rental payments commencing at a date other than the date of initial occupancy, we record minimum rental expenses on a straight-line basis over the terms of the leases on the consolidated statements of income. Several leases provide for contingent rents, which are determined as a percentage of gross sales in excess of specified levels. We record a contingent rent liability on the consolidated balance sheets and the corresponding rent expense when we determine achieving the specified levels is probable.

Store Opening Costs

Clinic Opening Costs - Clinic opening costs are expensed as incurred.

Property, Plant, and Equipment

Property, Plant, and Equipment - Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. The Company computes depreciation and amortization using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets acquired as follows:

Building and building improvements	10 - 35 years
Equipment and fixtures	3 - 15 years
Leasehold Improvements	Lease term
Vehicles	5 years

The depreciation life for leasehold improvements is the lesser of the estimated useful life of the addition or the term of the related lease.

The carrying amount of all long-lived assets is evaluated periodically to determine whether adjustment to the useful life or to the unamortized balance is warranted. Such evaluation is based principally on the expected utilization of the long-lived assets and the projected undiscounted cash flows of the operations in which the long-lived assets are used.

Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that 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 estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset.

Intangible Assets

Intangible Assets - The Company has acquired certain intangible assets which include customer lists, trademarks, patents, and copyrights. The customer lists are being amortized over a 3-year period based on management’s best estimate of the expected useful life. The costs of trademarks, patents and copyrights are amortized over 2 to 7 years based on their estimated useful life.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition - Revenue is recognized net of discounts, rebates, promotional adjustments, price adjustments, and estimated returns and upon transfer of title and risk to the customer which occurs at shipping (F.O.B. terms). Upon shipment, the Company has no further performance obligations and collection is reasonably assured as the majority of sales are paid prior to shipping. Medifast Weight Control Centers program fees are recognized over the estimated service period.

Shipping and Handling Costs

Shipping and Handling Costs - Our shipping and handling costs for shipments of our product to our customers are included in cost of sales. All shipping and handling charges that are billed to customers are included in net revenue. All other shipping and handling costs are included in selling, general and administration expenses.

Earnings per Share

Earnings per Share - Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) computations are calculated utilizing the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the periods presented. Diluted EPS is calculated utilizing the weighted average number of common shares outstanding adjusted for the effect of dilutive common stock equivalents.

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted EPS for the fiscal years ended December 31:

	2012		2011		2010
Numerator:
Net income	$	15,876,000	$	18,541,000	$	19,611,000
Denominator:
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding		13,721,997		13,965,018		14,082,213
Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents		17,827		233,477		490,708
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding		13,739,824		14,198,495		14,572,921
EPS:
Basic	$	1.16	$	1.33	$	1.39
Diluted	$	1.16	$	1.31	$	1.35

Share-Based Compensation

Share-Based Compensation - Share-based compensation, primarily restricted stock awards to employees and directors, is measured at the grant date, based on the calculated fair value of the award, and is recognized as an expense over the requisite service period.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Other comprehensive income (loss) refers to revenues, expenses, gains and losses that are not included in net income but rather are recorded directly in stockholders’ equity. Comprehensive income (loss) consists of net income and unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

We have considered all new accounting pronouncements and have concluded that there are no new pronouncements that may have a material impact on our results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows, based on current information, except for Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2013-02, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.

In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2013-02, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. This amendment requires the Company to present the effects of net income line items that are significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income if the item is required under U.S. GAAP to be reclassified to net income in entirety in the same reporting period. The Company must also cross-reference to other U.S. GAAP disclosures for other reclassification items, not required under U.S. GAAP, to be reclassed directly to net income in entirety in the same reporting period. Management is currently evaluating the effect that the provisions of ASU 2013-02 will have on the Company’s financial statements.