Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies The accompanying consolidated financial statements reflect the application of certain significant accounting policies as described below and elsewhere in these Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Principles of Consolidation The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, TechTarget Securities Corporation (“TSC”), TechTarget Limited, TechTarget (HK) Limited (“TTGT HK”), TechTarget (Australia) Pty Ltd., TechTarget (Singapore) Pte Ltd., E-Magine Médias SAS (“LeMagIT”) and TechTarget Germany GmbH. TSC is a Massachusetts corporation. TechTarget Limited is a subsidiary doing business principally in the United Kingdom. TTGT HK is a subsidiary incorporated in Hong Kong in order to facilitate the Company’s activities in the Asia-Pacific region. In 2018, TechTarget modified its PRC operations consolidating its activities with other TechTarget locations. TechTarget (Beijing) Information Technology Consulting Co. Ltd. (“TTGT Consulting”) and Keji Wangtuo Information Technology Co., Ltd., (“KWIT”), which were incorporated under the laws of the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”), were closed during 2018. TechTarget (Australia) Pty Ltd. and TechTarget (Singapore) Pte Ltd. are the entities through which the Company does business in Australia and Singapore, respectively; LeMagIT and TechTarget Germany GmbH, both wholly-owned subsidiaries of TechTarget Limited, are entities through which the Company does business in France and Germany, respectively. Reclassifications The Company historically presented it revenue broken out into online and events, the events product line was phased out in 2017. Immaterial 2017 events revenue was reclassed for presentation purposes into the current revenue presentation on the Consolidated Statements of Income. This reclassification had no effect on total revenue, operating expenses or net income. Use of Estimates The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, including those related to revenues, long-lived assets, goodwill, the allowance for doubtful accounts, stock-based compensation, earnouts, self-insurance accruals, the allocation of purchase price to intangibles and goodwill, and income taxes. Estimates of the carrying value of certain assets and liabilities are based on historical experience and on various other assumptions that the Company believes to be reasonable. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Revenue Recognition On January 1, 2018, we adopted Topic 606 using the modified retrospective method applied to those contracts which were not completed as of January 1, 2018. Results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2018 are presented under Topic 606, while prior period amounts are not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with our historic accounting under Topic 605 . The Company generates revenues from the sale of targeted marketing and advertising campaigns, which it obtains via its network of websites and delivers through its various data analytics solutions. Revenue is recognized when performance obligations are satisfied by transferring promised goods or services to customers, as determined by applying a five-step process consisting of: a) identifying the contract, or contracts, with a customer, b) identifying the performance obligations in the contract, c) determining the transaction price, d) allocating the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract, and e) recognizing revenue when, or as, performance obligations are satisfied. Revenue Recognition under Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 605, Revenue Recognition During 2017, the Company recognized revenue under ASC 605. The Company generates its revenues from the sale of targeted marketing and advertising campaigns, which are delivered via its data analytics solutions. In all cases, revenue is recognized only when the price is fixed or determinable, persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the service is performed, and collectability of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured. Revenue Recognition under ASC 606, Revenue from Contacts with Customers (“ASC 606”) During 2019 and 2018, the Company recognized revenue under ASC 606. The Company generates its revenues from the sale of targeted marketing and advertising campaigns The Company’s offerings consist of: IT Deal Alert: IT Deal Alert provides a suite of products that leverages detailed purchase intent data that the Company collect about end-user IT organizations. Through proprietary scoring methodologies, we use this insight to help our customers identify and prioritize accounts. We provide this insight primarily through Priority Engine TM TM TM Demand Solutions, Brand Solutions, and Custom Content: Demand solutions offerings provide the Company’s customers the opportunity to maximize return on investment by capturing sales leads from the distribution and promotion of content to its audience. Demand solutions may contain the following components: White Papers, Webcasts, Podcasts, Videocasts and Virtual Trade Shows, and Content Sponsorship, which the Company may utilize at its discretion. Brand Solutions provide the Company’s customers to target audiences of IT and business professionals actively researching information related to their products and services. This can be accomplished through on-network or off-network branding as well as through the hosting of Microsites. The Company will at times create white papers, case studies, webcasts, or videos to its customers’ specifications through its Custom Content team (“custom content”). Revenue from demand and brand solutions is primarily recognized when the transfer of control occurs. Certain of the contracts within demand and brand solutions are duration-based campaigns which, in the event of customer cancellation, provide the Company with an enforceable right to a proportional payment for the portion of the campaign based on services provided. Accordingly, revenue from duration-based campaigns is recognized using a time-based measure of progress, which the Company believes best depicts how it satisfies its performance obligations in these arrangements as control is continuously transferred throughout the contract period. To determine standalone selling price for the individual performance obligations in the arrangement, the Company uses an estimate of the observable selling prices in separate transactions. The Company establishes best estimates considering multiple factors including, but not limited to, class of client, size of transaction, available inventory, pricing strategies and market conditions. The Company uses a range of amounts to estimate stand-alone selling price when it sells the goods and services separately and needs to determine whether a discount is to be allocated based upon the relative stand-alone selling price to the various goods and services. J udgment is required to determine the standalone selling price for each distinct performance obligation. Fair Value of Financial Instruments Financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, short-term and long-term investments, accounts receivable, accounts payable, long-term debt and contingent consideration. Due to their short-term nature and liquidity, the carrying value of these instruments, with the exception of contingent consideration and long-term debt, approximates their estimated fair values. See Note 4 for further information on the fair value of the Company’s investments. The Company classifies all of its short-term and long-term investments as available-for-sale. Amounts outstanding under the Company’s long-term debt are subject to variable rates of interest based on current market rates, and as such, the Company believes the carrying amount of these obligations approximates fair value. The fair value of contingent consideration was estimated using a discounted cash flow method. Long-Lived Assets , Long-lived assets consist primarily of property and equipment, capitalized software, goodwill and other intangible assets. The Company reviews long-lived assets, including property and equipment and finite intangible assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Conditions that would trigger an impairment assessment include, but are not limited to, a significant adverse change in legal factors or business climate that could affect the value of an asset or an adverse action or a significant decrease in the market price. A specifically identified intangible asset must be recorded as a separate asset from goodwill if either of the following two criteria is met: (1) the intangible asset acquired arises from contractual or other legal rights; or (2) the intangible asset is separable. Accordingly, intangible assets consist of specifically identified intangible assets. Goodwill is the excess of any purchase price over the estimated fair value of net tangible and intangible assets acquired. Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized but are reviewed annually for impairment or more frequently if impairment indicators arise. Separable intangible assets that are not deemed to have an indefinite life are amortized over their estimated useful lives, which range from eighteen months to seventeen years, using methods of amortization that are expected to reflect the estimated pattern of economic use, and are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances suggest that the assets may not be recoverable. Consistent with the Company’s determination that it has a single reporting segment, it has been determined that there is a single reporting unit and goodwill is therefore tested for impairment at the entity level. The Company performs its annual test of impairment of goodwill as of December 31st of each year and whenever events or changes in circumstances suggest that the carrying amount may not be recoverable using the two-step process required by ASC 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other Based on the aforementioned evaluation, the Company believes that, as of the balance sheet date presented, none of the Company’s goodwill or other long-lived assets were impaired. The Company did not have any intangible assets with indefinite lives as of December 31, 2019 or 2018. Allowance for Doubtful Accounts The Company reduces gross trade accounts receivable for an allowance for doubtful accounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in its existing accounts receivable. The allowance for doubtful accounts is reviewed on a regular basis, and all past due balances are reviewed individually for collectability. Account balances are charged against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote. Provisions for doubtful accounts are recorded in general and administrative expense. Below is a summary of the changes in the Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017. Balance at Beginning of Year Provision Acquired in Business Combinations Write-offs, Net of Recoveries Balance at End of Year Year ended December 31, 2017 $ 1,961 $ 806 — $ (984 ) $ 1,783 Year ended December 31, 2018 $ 1,783 $ 986 — $ (670 ) $ 2,099 Year ended December 31, 2019 $ 2,099 $ 339 — $ (539 ) $ 1,899 Property and Equipment and Other Capitalized Assets Property and equipment and other capitalized assets are stated at cost. Property and equipment acquired through acquisitions of businesses are initially recorded at fair value. Depreciation is calculated on the straight-line method based on the month the asset is placed in service over the following estimated useful lives: Estimated Useful Life Furniture and fixtures 5 - 10 years Computer equipment and software 3 years Internal-use software and website development costs 3 - 5 years Leasehold improvements Shorter of useful life or remaining duration of lease Property and equipment and other capitalized assets consist of the following: As of December 31, 2019 2018 Furniture and fixtures $ 1,267 $ 1,266 Computer equipment and software 4,461 4,201 Leasehold improvements 3,779 3,844 Internal-use software and website development costs 28,546 29,692 38,053 39,003 Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization (25,682 ) (28,102 ) $ 12,371 $ 10,901 Depreciation expense was $4.9 million, $4.4 million, and $4.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively. Repairs and maintenance charges that do not increase the useful life of the assets are charged to operations as incurred. The Company wrote off approximately $7.3 million, $1.5 million, and $0.6 million of fully depreciated assets that were no longer in service during 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively. Depreciation expense is classified as a component of operating expense in the Company’s results of operations with the exception of certain depreciation expense which is classified as a component of cost of goods sold. Internal-Use Software and Website Development Costs The Company capitalizes costs incurred during the development of its website applications and infrastructure as well as certain costs relating to internal-use software. The Company begins to capitalize costs to develop software and website applications when planning stage efforts are successfully completed, management has authorized and committed project funding, and it is probable that the project will be completed, and the software will be used as intended. Judgment is required in determining the point at which various projects enter the state at which costs may be capitalized, in assessing the ongoing value of the capitalized costs and in determining the estimated useful lives over which the costs are amortized, which is generally four years. To the extent that the Company changes the manner in which it develops and tests new features and functionalities related to its websites, assesses the ongoing value of capitalized assets, or determines the estimated useful lives over which the costs are amortized, the amount of website development costs it capitalizes and amortizes in future periods would be impacted. The estimated useful life of costs capitalized is evaluated for each specific project. Capitalized internal-use software and website development costs are reviewed for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. An impairment loss would be recognized only if the carrying amount of the asset is not recoverable and exceeds its fair value. The Company capitalized internal-use software and website development costs of $5.1 million, $3.0 million, and $2.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively. Concentrations of Credit Risk and Off-Balance Sheet Risk Financial instruments that potentially expose the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist mainly of cash and cash equivalents, investments and accounts receivable. The Company maintains its cash and cash equivalents and investments principally in accredited financial institutions of high credit standing. The Company routinely assesses the credit worthiness of its customers. The Company generally has not experienced any significant losses related to individual customers or groups of customers in any particular industry or area. The Company does not require collateral. Due to these factors, no additional credit risk beyond amounts provided for collection losses is believed by management to be probable in the Company’s accounts receivable. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, no customer represented 10% of total accounts receivable. No single customer accounted for 10% or more of total revenues in the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, or 2017. Income Taxes The Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized based on temporary differences between the financial reporting and income tax bases of assets and liabilities using statutory rates. A valuation allowance is established against net deferred tax assets if, based upon the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company records a liability for unrecognized tax benefits resulting from uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return using a “more likely than not” threshold as required by the provisions of ASC 740-10, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits, if any, in income tax expense. Stock-Based Compensation The Company has stock-based employee compensation plans which are more fully described in Note 11. Stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income using the straight-line method over the vesting period of the award. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to determine the fair value of stock option awards. Comprehensive Income Comprehensive income includes all changes in equity during a period, except those resulting from investments by stockholders and distributions to stockholders. The Company's comprehensive income includes changes in the fair value of the Company’s unrealized gains on available for sale securities and foreign currency translation adjustments. There were no reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income in the periods ended December 31, 2019, 2018, or 2017. Foreign Currency The functional currency for each of the Company’s subsidiaries is the local currency of the country in which it is incorporated. All assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollar equivalents at the exchange rate in effect on the balance sheet date or at a historical rate. Revenues and expenses are translated at average exchange rates. Translation gains or losses are recorded in stockholders’ equity as an element of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Net Income Per Share Basic earnings per share is computed based on the weighted average number of common shares and vested restricted stock units outstanding during the period. Because the holders of unvested restricted stock units do not have non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents, the Company does not consider these restricted stock units to be participating securities that should be included in its computation of earnings per share under the two-class method. Diluted earnings per share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares and vested, undelivered restricted stock units outstanding during the period, plus the dilutive effect of potential future issuances of common stock relating to stock option and restricted stock unit programs using the treasury stock method. In calculating diluted earnings per share, the dilutive effect of stock options and restricted stock units is computed using the average market price for the respective period. In addition, the assumed proceeds under the treasury stock method include the average unrecognized compensation expense of stock options and restricted stock units that are in-the-money. This results in the “assumed” buyback of additional shares, thereby reducing the dilutive impact of stock options and restricted stock units. A reconciliation of the numerator and denominator used in the calculation of basic and diluted net income per share is as follows: For the Years Ended December 31, 2019 2018 2017 Numerator: Net income $ 16,875 $ 12,955 $ 6,803 Denominator: Basic: Weighted average shares of common stock and vested, undelivered restricted stock units outstanding 27,873,745 27,738,178 27,550,044 Diluted: Weighted average shares of common stock and vested, undelivered restricted stock units outstanding 27,873,745 27,678,959 27,550,044 Effect of potentially dilutive shares 437,942 973,855 721,340 Total weighted average shares of common stock and vested, undelivered restricted stock units outstanding and potentially dilutive shares 28,311,687 28,652,814 28,271,384 Calculation of Net Income Per Common Share: Basic: Net income applicable to common stockholders $ 16,875 $ 12,955 $ 6,803 Weighted average shares of stock outstanding 27,873,745 27,738,178 27,550,044 Net income per common share $ 0.61 $ 0.47 $ 0.25 Diluted: Net income applicable to common stockholders $ 16,875 $ 12,955 $ 6,803 Weighted average shares of stock outstanding 28,311,687 28,652,814 28,271,384 Net income per common share(1) $ 0.60 $ 0.45 $ 0.24 (1) In calculating diluted earnings per share, 0.3 million, 0.5 million, and 0.7 million shares related to outstanding stock options and unvested, undelivered restricted stock units were excluded for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively, because they were anti-dilutive. Recent Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted Accounting Guidance In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU 2016-02”). ASU 2016-02 establishes a right-of-use (“ROU”) model that requires a lessee to record a ROU asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than twelve months. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income. ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. A modified retrospective transition approach is required for lessees, capital and operating leases, existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements, with certain practical expedients available. The Company adopted ASU 2016-02 in the first quarter of 2019 using the modified retrospective approach, and elected the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance. Results and disclosure requirements for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2019 are presented under Topic 842, while prior period amounts have not been adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with our historical accounting under Topic 840. We elected the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance, which allowed us to carryforward our historical lease classification, our assessment on whether a contract was or contains a lease, and our initial direct costs for any leases that existed prior to January 1, 2019. We also elected to combine our lease and non-lease components and to keep leases with an initial term of 12 months or less off the balance sheet and recognize the associated lease payments in the consolidated statements of income on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company recorded operating lease assets with right-of-use of $27.5 million and $2.9 million current operating lease liability and $29.2 million non-current operating lease liability as of January 1, 2019, of which $4.9 million and $0.3 million were reclassified from deferred rent and prepaid rent, respectively (see Note 10). In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) , Revenue Recognition The standard may be applied retrospectively to each prior period presented, or using the modified retrospective approach, with the cumulative effect recognized as of the date of initial application. The Company adopted the standard effective January 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective approach (see Note 3). Accounting Guidance Not Yet Adopted In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350), Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment ("ASU 2017-04"). ASU 2017-04 eliminates the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill to measure a goodwill impairment charge (step 2 of the goodwill impairment test) and instead requires only a one-step quantitative impairment test, performed by comparing the fair value of goodwill with its carrying amount. ASU 2017-04 is effective on a prospective basis effective for goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. We will adopt the new standard effective January 1, 2020 and do not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other-Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement that is a Service Contract, which requires implementation costs incurred by customers in cloud computing arrangements (i.e., hosting arrangements) to be capitalized under the same premises of authoritative guidance for internal-use software, and deferred over the non-cancellable term of the cloud computing arrangements plus any optional renewal periods that are reasonably certain to be exercised by the customer or for which the exercise is controlled by the service provider. ASU 2018-15 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. We will adopt the new standard effective January 1, 2020 and do not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-03, “Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,” (ASU 2016-03) which amends ASC 326 “Financial Instruments—Credit Losses” which introduces a new methodology for accounting for credit losses on financial instruments. The guidance establishes a new forward looking "expected loss model" that requires entities to estimate current expected credit losses on accounts receivable and financial instruments by using all practical and relevant information. We will adopt the new standard effective January 1, 2020 and do not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. In August 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update No. 2018-13, “Changes to Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurements” (Topic 820) (ASU 2018-13), which improved the effectiveness of disclosure requirements for recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements. The standard removes, modifies, and adds certain disclosure requirements. We will adopt the new standard effective January 1, 2020 and do not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. In December 2019, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): “Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes” (ASU 2019-12), which simplifies the accounting for income taxes. This guidance will be effective for us in the first quarter of 2021 on a prospective basis, and early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our consolidated financial statements. |