Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Smith-Midland Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. The Company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries consist of Smith-Midland Corporation, a Virginia corporation, Smith-Carolina Corporation, a North Carolina corporation, Easi-Set Industries, Inc., a Virginia corporation, Concrete Safety Systems, Inc., a Virginia corporation, and Midland Advertising and Design, Inc., doing business as Midland Advertising + Design, a Virginia corporation. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all unrestricted cash and money market accounts purchased with an original maturity of three months or less as cash and cash equivalents.

Investments

Investments in marketable securities are classified as available-for-sale and are stated at market value with unrealized holding gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported as a separate component of stockholders' equity until realized.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method, or market.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment is stated at cost. Expenditures for ordinary maintenance and repairs are charged to income as incurred. Costs of betterments, renewals, and major replacements are capitalized. At the time properties are retired or otherwise disposed of, the related cost and allowance for depreciation are eliminated from the accounts and any gain or loss on disposition is reflected in income.

Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:



	Years
Buildings		10-33
Trucks and automotive equipment		3-10
Shop machinery and equipment		3-10
Land improvements		10-15
Office equipment		3-10

Income Taxes

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

As of December 31, 2015, the Company has not identified any unrecognized tax positions. The Company files tax returns in the U.S. Federal and various state jurisdictions. The Company recognized, when applicable interest and penalties related to income taxes in other income (expense) in its consolidated statement of income (loss). The Company is no longer subject to U.S. or state tax examinations for the years prior to 2012. The Company does not believe there will be any material changes in unrecognized tax positions over the next twelve months.

Stock Options

Stock based compensation is measured based on the fair value of the award on the date of grant and the corresponding expense is recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide services in exchange for the award. The fair value of each stock option is estimated using a Black-Scholes option pricing model based on certain assumptions including expected term, risk-free interest rate, stock price volatility and dividend yield. The assumption for expected term is based on evaluations of historical and expected future employee exercise behavior. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury rates at the date of grant with maturity dates approximately equal to the expected term at the grant date. The historical volatility of the Company’s stock is used as the basis for the volatility assumption. See Note 6 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information related to stock based compensation. There have been no option grants since 2008. Substantially all options become vested and exercisable ratably over a three-year period.

Revenue Recognition

The Company primarily recognizes revenue on the sale of its standard precast concrete products at shipment date, including revenue derived from any projects to be completed under short-term contracts. Installation of the Company’s standard products is typically performed by the customer; however, in some circumstances, the Company will install certain products at the time of delivery and will recognize the installation revenue at that time. The installation activities are usually completed the day of delivery or the following day. In utility building sales, the majority of the buildings are erected on the Company’s site and delivered completely installed.

Leasing fees are paid at the beginning of the lease agreement and are recorded as deferred revenue. The deferred revenue is then recognized each month as lease income.

Royalties are recognized as revenue as they are earned. The Company licenses certain other precast companies to produce its licensed products to our engineering specifications under licensing agreements. The agreements are typically for five year terms and require royalty payments from 4% to 6% which are paid on a monthly basis. The revenue from licensing agreements are recognized in the month earned.

Certain sales of Soundwall, architectural precast panels and Slenderwall™ concrete products revenue is recognized using the percentage-of-completion method for recording revenues on long term contracts under ASC 605-35. The contracts are executed by both parties and clearly stipulate the requirements for progress payments and a schedule of delivery dates. Provisions for estimated losses on contracts are made in the period in which such losses are determined.

Shipping revenues are recognized in the period the shipping services are provided to the customer.

Smith-Midland products are typically sold pursuant to an implicit warranty as to merchantability only. Warranty claims are reviewed and resolved on a case by case method. Although the Company does incur costs for these types of expense, historically the amount of expense is minimal.

Shipping and Handling

Amounts billed to customers are recorded in sales and the costs associated with the shipping and handling are recorded as cost of goods sold.

Sales and Use Taxes

Use taxes on construction materials are reported gross in general and administrative expense.

Risks and Uncertainties

The Company sells products to highway contractors operating under government funded highway programs and other customers and extends credit based on an evaluation of the customer’s financial condition, generally without requiring collateral. Exposure to losses on receivables is principally dependent on each customer’s financial condition. The Company monitors its exposure to credit losses and maintains allowances for anticipated losses. Management reviews accounts receivable on a weekly basis to determine the probability of collection. Any accounts receivable that are deemed to be uncollectible along with a general reserve, which is calculated based upon the aging category of the receivable, is included in the overall allowance for doubtful accounts. Management believes the allowance for doubtful accounts at December 31, 2015 is adequate. However, actual write-offs may exceed the recorded allowance. Due to inclement weather, the Company may experience reduced revenues from December through February and may realize the substantial part of its revenues during the other months of the year.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying value for each of the Company’s financial instruments (consisting of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and short-term line of credit) approximates fair value because of the short-term nature of those instruments. The estimated fair value of the long-term debt approximates carrying value based on current rates offered to the Company for debt of the similar maturities.

Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Reclassifications

Certain minor reclassifications have been made to prior year amounts to conform to the current year presentation.

Advertising Costs

The Company expenses all advertising costs as incurred.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings (loss) per share are based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock and dilutive common stock equivalents outstanding. Basic earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing income (loss) available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings (loss) per share reflect the potential dilution of securities that could share in earnings (losses) of an entity.

Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews the carrying values of its long-lived and identifiable intangible assets for possible impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of assets may not be recoverable based on undiscounted estimated future operating cash flows. When any such impairment exists, the related assets will be written down to fair value. No impairment losses have been recorded through December 31, 2015.

Subsequent Events

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

The standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods therein, using either of the following transition methods: (i) a full retrospective approach reflecting the application of the standard in each prior reporting period with the option to elect certain practical expedients, or (ii) a retrospective approach with the cumulative effect of initially adopting ASU 2014-09 recognized at the date of adoption (which includes additional footnote disclosures). We are currently evaluating the impact of our pending adoption of ASU 2014-09 on our consolidated financial statements and have not yet determined the method by which we will adopt the standard in 2018.

In February 2016, the FASB updated the guidance within ASC 842, Leases. The update requires lessees to put most leases on their balance sheets while recognizing expenses on their income statements in a manner similar to current GAAP. The guidance also eliminates current real estate-specific provisions for all entities. For lessors, the guidance modifies the classification criteria and the accounting for sales-type and direct financing leases. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. Accordingly, the Company expects to adopt the provisions of this new accounting standard at the beginning of 2019, and is currently assessing the impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In November 2015, the FASB issued accounting guidance that requires all deferred tax assets and liabilities, along with any related valuation allowance, to be classified as noncurrent on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position. Current guidance requires the deferred taxes for each jurisdiction to be presented as a net current asset or liability and net noncurrent asset or liability. As a result of the new guidance, each jurisdiction will now only have one net noncurrent deferred tax asset or liability. The new guidance does not change the existing requirement that only permits offsetting deferred tax assets and liabilities within a single jurisdiction. Entities have the option to apply the new guidance prospectively or retrospectively. The new guidance is effective January 1, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The impact of adoption of this ASU by the Company is not expected to be material.

In July 2015, the FASB issued changes to the subsequent measurement of inventory. Currently, an entity is required to measure its inventory at the lower of cost or market, whereby market can be replacement cost, net realizable value, or net realizable value less an approximately normal profit margin. The changes require that inventory be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value, thereby eliminating the use of the other two market methodologies. Net realizable value is defined as the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. These changes do not apply to inventories measured using LIFO (last-in, first-out) or the retail inventory method. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after January 1, 2017. The impact of adoption of this ASU by the Company is not expected to be material.

In April 2015, FASB issued ASU 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. This update requires that debt issuance costs be reported in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the face amount of the related liability, consistent with the presentation of debt discounts. Further, the update requires the amortization of debt issuance costs to be reported as interest expense. Similarly, debt issuance costs and any discount or premium are considered in the aggregate when determining the effective interest rate on the debt. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The new guidance must be applied retrospectively. The impact of adoption of this ASU by the Company is not expected to be material.

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASU 2014-09), which supersedes nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP. The core principle of ASU 2014-09 is to recognize revenues when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 defines a five step process to achieve this core principle and, in doing so, more judgment and estimates may be required within the revenue recognition process than are required under existing U.S. GAAP.

In June 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-12, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718), Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period. A performance target in a share-based payment that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period should be accounted for as a performance condition under Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation. As a result, the target is not reflected in the estimation of the award's grant date fair value. Compensation cost would be recognized over the required service period, if it is probable that the

performance condition will be achieved. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015 and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect this ASU to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position and related disclosures.