Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Nature of Business

Smith-Midland Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (the “Company”) develop, manufacture, license, sell and install precast concrete products for the construction, transportation and utilities industries in the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Midwestern and Southeastern regions of the United States.

Principles of Consolidation

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, Smith-Columbia Corporation, a South 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

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

Investments

Investments in marketable securities are classified as available-for-sale and are stated at market value.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method, or net realizable value. Inventory reserves (in thousands) were approximately $72 and $65 at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment is stated at cost. Expenditures for ordinary maintenance and repairs are charged to income as incurred. Costs of improvements, 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 expense is computed using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:

	Years
Buildings		10-40
Trucks and automotive equipment		3-10
Shop machinery and equipment		3-10
Land improvements		10-15
Rental equipment		5-10
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, 2019, the Company has not identified any uncertain tax positions. The Company files tax returns in the U.S. Federal and various state jurisdictions. The Company recognizes, when applicable, interest and penalties related to income taxes in other income (expense) in its consolidated statement of income. The Company is no longer subject to U.S. or state tax examinations for the years prior to 2016. The Company does not have any uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2019, and believes there will be no material changes in unrecognized tax positions over the next twelve months.

Stock Compensation

On October 13, 2016, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted the 2016 Equity Incentive Plan which allows the Company to grant up to 400,000 shares of common stock of the Company to employees, officers, directors and consultants. The grants may be in the form of restricted or performance shares of common stock of the Company. The fair value of each restricted stock grant is estimated to be the sales price of the common stock at the close of business on the day of the grant.

Revenue Recognition

Product Sales - Over Time

Under Topic 606, the Company recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for goods or services provided. Revenue associated with contracts with customers is recognized over time as the Company's performance creates or enhances customer controlled assets or creates or enhances an asset with no alternative use, which the Company has an enforceable right to receive compensation as defined under the contract for performance completed. To determine the amount of revenue to recognize over time, the Company recognizes revenue over the contract terms based on the output method. The Company applied the "as invoiced" practical expedient as the amount of consideration the Company has the right to invoice corresponds directly with the value of the Company's performance to date.

As the output method is driven by units produced, the Company recognizes revenues based on the value transferred to the customer relative to the remaining value to be transferred. The Company also matches the costs associated with the units produced. If a contract is projected to result in a loss, the entire contract loss is recognized in the period when the loss was first determined and the amount of the loss updated in subsequent reporting periods. Revenue recognition also includes an amount related to a contract asset or contract liability. If the recognized revenue is greater than the amount billed to the customer, a contract asset is recorded in accounts receivable - unbilled. Conversely, if the amount billed to the customer is greater than the recognized revenue, a contract liability is recorded in customer deposits on uncompleted contracts. Changes in the job performance, job conditions and final contract settlements are factors that influence management’s assessment of total contract value and therefore, profit and revenue recognition.

A portion of the work the Company performs requires financial assurances in the form of performance and payment bonds or letters of credit at the time of execution of the contract. Some contracts include retention provisions of up to 10% which are generally withheld from each progress payment as retainage until the contract work has been completed and approved. 

Product Sales - Point in Time

For certain product sales that do not meet the over time criteria, under Topic 606 the Company recognizes revenue when the product has been shipped to the destination in accordance with the terms outlined in the contract where a present obligation to pay exists as the customers have gained physical possession of the product.

Accounts Receivable and Contract Balances

The timing of when we bill our customers is generally dependent upon advance billing terms, milestone billings based on the completion of certain phases of the work, or when services are provided or products are shipped. Projects with performance obligations recognized over time that have costs and estimated earnings recognized to date in excess of cumulative billings, are reported on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as "Accounts receivable trade - unbilled" (contract assets). Projects with performance obligations recognized over time that have cumulative billings in excess of costs and estimate earnings recognized to date, are reported on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as "Customer deposits" (contract liabilities).

Any uncollected billed amounts for our performance obligations recognized over time, including contract retentions, are recorded within accounts receivable trade - billed. At December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, accounts receivable included contract retentions (in thousands) of approximately $2,146 and $1,704, respectively, which are considered contract assets.

Our billed and unbilled revenue may be exposed to potential credit risk if our customers should encounter financial difficulties, and we maintain reserves for specifically-identified potential uncollectible receivables. At December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, our allowances for doubtful accounts (in thousands) were $333 and $214, respectively.

Effect of Adopting ASC Topic 606

No adjustment to beginning 2018 retained earnings was recorded as a result of our adoption of Topic 606 due to no changes in the timing of our revenue recognition for our uncompleted contracts at that time. Further, the difference in our results for 2018 between application of the new standard on our contracts and what results would have been if such contracts had been reported using the accounting standards previously in effect, for such contracts, did not change.

Sale to Customer with a Buy-Back Guarantee - Lease Income

The Company entered into a buy-back agreement with one specific customer. Under this agreement, the Company guaranteed to buy-back product at a predetermined price at the end of the long-term project, subject to the condition of the product. Although the Company receives payment in full as the product is produced, we are required to account for these transactions as operating leases. The amount of sale proceeds equal to the buy-back obligation, included in "Deferred buy-back lease obligation" in the liabilities section of the consolidated balance sheet, is deferred until the buy-back is exercised or expired. The remaining sale proceeds are deferred in the same account and recognized on a straight-line basis over the usage period, such usage period commencing on delivery to the job-site and ending at the time the buy-back is exercised or expired. The Company capitalizes the cost of the product on the consolidated balance sheet shown in "Deferred buy-back lease asset, net", and depreciates the value, less residual value, to cost of leasing revenue in "Cost of goods sold" over the estimated useful life of the asset.

In the case the customer does not exercise the buy-back option and retains ownership of the product at the end of the usage period, the guarantee buy-back liability and any deferred revenue balances related to the product are settled to revenue, and the net book value of the asset is expensed to cost of leasing revenue. If the customer exercises the buy-back guarantee option, the Company purchases the product back in the amount equal to the buy-back guarantee, the Company settles any remaining deferred balances, in excess of the buy-back payment, to leasing revenue, and the Company reclassifies the net book value of the product on the consolidated balance sheet to "Inventories" or "Property and equipment, net" depending on the intended use at the time. The revenue is being recognized in accordance with Topic 842, Leases.

Barrier Rentals - Lease Income

Leasing fees are paid by customers at the beginning of the lease agreement and are recorded as deferred revenue. The deferred revenue is then recognized each month as lease income for the duration of the lease, in accordance with Topic 842, Leases.

Royalty Income

The Company licenses certain products to other precast companies to produce the Company's products to engineering specifications under the licensing agreements. The agreements are typically for five year terms and require royalty payments from 4% to 6% of total sales of licensed products, which are paid on a monthly basis. The revenues from licensing agreements are recognized in the month earned, in accordance with Topic 606-10-55-65.

Shipping and Installation

Shipping and installation revenues are recognized as a distinct performance obligation in the period the shipping and installation services are provided to the customer, in accordance with Topic 606.

Disaggregation of Revenue

In the following table, revenue is disaggregated by primary sources of revenue (in thousands):

Revenue by Type (Disaggregated Revenue)	2019		2018		Change			% Change
Product Sales:
Soundwall Sales	$	7,736	$	9,867	$	(2,131	)		(21.6	)%
Architectural Sales		1,104		876		228			26.0	%
SlenderWall Sales		5,063		5,572		(509	)		(9.1	)%
Miscellaneous Wall Sales		1,685		1,760		(75	)		(4.3	)%
Barrier Sales		8,582		7,264		1,318			18.1	%
Easi-Set and Easi-Span Building Sales		5,937		2,114		3,823			180.8	%
Utility Sales		1,608		1,232		376			30.5	%
Miscellaneous Sales		513		474		39			8.2	%
Total Product Sales		32,228		29,159		3,069			10.5	%
Barrier Rentals		2,488		1,729		759			43.9	%
Royalty Income		1,672		1,675		(3	)		(0.2	)%
Shipping and Installation Revenue		10,303		7,657		2,646			34.6	%
Total Service Revenue		14,463		11,061		3,402			30.8	%
Total Revenue	$	46,691	$	40,220	$	6,471			16.1	%

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.

The revenue items: soundwall sales, architectural sales, SlenderWall sales, miscellaneous wall sales, barrier rentals, and royalty income are recognized as revenue over time. The revenue items: barrier sales, Easi-Set and Easi-Span building sales, utility sales, miscellaneous sales, and shipping and installation revenue are recognized as revenue at the point in time.

Sales and Use Taxes

The Company does report sales taxes as part of revenue and use taxes on construction materials are reported gross in cost of goods sold.

Segment Reporting

Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise for which separate financial information is available and evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker, or decision making group, in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company currently operates in one operating and reportable business segment for financial reporting purposes.

Risks and Uncertainties

As discussed further in Note 9, on January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization ("WHO") announced a global health emergency because of a new strain of coronavirus originating in Wuhan, China (the "COVID-19 outbreak") and on March 11, 2020, the WHO classified the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic. Management is actively monitoring the global situation on its financial condition, liquidity, operations, suppliers, industry, and workforce. Given the daily evolution of the COVID-19 outbreak and the global responses to curb its spread, the Company is not able to estimate the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak on its results of operations, financial condition, or liquidity for fiscal year 2020.

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. In performing this evaluation, the Company analyzes the payment history and its significant past due accounts, subsequent cash collections on these accounts and comparative accounts receivable aging statistics. Based on this information, along with other related factors, the Company develops what it considers to be a reasonable estimate of the uncollectible amounts included in accounts receivable. Management believes the allowance for doubtful accounts at December 31, 2019 is adequate. However, actual write-offs may exceed the recorded allowance. Due to inclement weather, the Company may experience reduced revenue from December through February and may realize the substantial part of its revenue during the other months of the year.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying value for each of the Company’s financial instruments 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 (U.S. GAAP) 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 revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Advertising Costs

The Company expenses all advertising costs as incurred. Advertising expense (in thousands) was approximately $393 and $384 in 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Earnings Per Share

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

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 during the two years ended December 31, 2019.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncement 

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, “Fair Value (“FV”) Measurement (Topic 820).” Among other modifications, the standard removes the requirements to disclose: (i) the amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the FV hierarchy; (ii) the policy for timing transfers between levels; and (iii) the valuation process for Level 3 FV measurements. The standard will require public entities to disclose: (a) the changes in unrealized gains and losses for the period included in other comprehensive income for recurring Level 3 FV measurements held at the end of the reporting period; and (b) the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements. For certain unobservable inputs, an entity may disclose other quantitative information in lieu of the weighted average if the entity determines that other quantitative information would be a more reasonable and rational method to reflect the distribution of unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 FV measurements. The additional disclosure requirements should be applied prospectively for the most recent interim or annual period presented in the fiscal year of adoption. All other amendments should be applied retrospectively to all periods presented. The amendments in this standard are effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted, and an entity may adopt the removed or modified disclosures and delay the adoption of new disclosures until the effective date. We have not completed our assessment of the standard but we do not expect the adoption to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncement

In 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842).” Topic 842 establishes a new lease accounting model for leases. The most significant changes include the clarification of the definition of a lease, the requirement for lessees to recognize for all leases a right-of-use asset and a lease liability in the consolidated balance sheet, and additional quantitative and qualitative disclosures which are designed to give financial statement users information on the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. Expenses are recognized in the consolidated statement of income in a manner similar to current accounting guidance. Lessor accounting under the new standard is substantially unchanged. We adopted this standard, and all related amendments thereto, effective January 1, 2019, using the transition approach, which applies the provisions of the new guidance at the effective date without adjusting the comparative periods presented. We have elected the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance within the new standard, which among other things, allows us to carry forward the historical accounting relating to lease identification and classification for existing leases upon adoption. We have made an accounting policy election to keep leases with an initial term of 12 months or less off the consolidated balance sheet.

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-02, “Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220).” This standard provides an option to reclassify stranded tax effects within accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”) to retained earnings due to the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate change in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. This standard was effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. We did not exercise the option to make this reclassification.