| Basis of Presentation | Note 2—Basis of Presentation
Interim consolidated financial statements — The interim condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 have been prepared in accordance with Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). As such, certain disclosures, which would substantially duplicate the disclosures contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on March 16, 2015, which contains the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2014, have been omitted.
This Third Quarter 2015 Report should be read in concert with the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. The interim financial information is unaudited. In the opinion of management, the interim information includes all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for the fair presentation of the interim financial information.
Revenue recognition
Fixed-price contracts — Historically, a substantial portion of the Company’s revenue has been generated under fixed-price contracts. For fixed-price contracts, the Company recognizes revenues primarily using the percentage-of-completion method, which may result in uneven and irregular results. In the percentage-of-completion method, estimated contract values, estimated cost at completion and total costs incurred to date are used to calculate revenues earned. Unforeseen events and circumstances can alter the estimate of the costs and potential profit associated with a particular contract. Total estimated costs, and thus contract revenues and income, can be impacted by changes in productivity, scheduling, the unit cost of labor, subcontracts, materials and equipment. Additionally, external factors such as weather, client needs, client delays in providing permits and approvals, labor availability, governmental regulation and politics may affect the progress of a project’s completion and thus the timing of revenue recognition. To the extent that original cost estimates are modified, estimated costs to complete increase, delivery schedules are delayed, or progress under a contract is otherwise impeded, cash flow, revenue recognition and profitability from a particular contract may be adversely affected.
The Company considers unapproved change orders to be contract variations for which it has customer approval for a change in scope but for which it does not have an agreed upon price change. Costs associated with unapproved change orders are included in the estimated cost to complete the contracts and are treated as project costs as incurred. The Company recognizes revenue equal to costs incurred on unapproved change orders based on an estimated probability of realization from change order approval. Unapproved change orders involve the use of estimates, and it is reasonably possible that revisions to the estimated costs and recoverable amounts may be required in future reporting periods to reflect changes in estimates or final agreements with customers.
The Company considers claims to be amounts it seeks, or will seek, to collect from customers or others for customer-caused changes in contract specifications or design, or other customer-related causes of unanticipated additional contract costs on which there is no agreement with customers on both scope and price changes. Claims are included in the calculation of revenues when realization is probable and amounts can be reliably determined. Revenues in excess of contract costs incurred on claims are recognized when the amounts have been agreed upon with the customer. Revenue in excess of contract costs from claims is recognized when an agreement is reached with customers as to the value of the claims, which in some instances may not occur until after completion of work under the contract. Costs associated with claims are included in the estimated costs to complete the contracts and are treated as project costs when incurred.
Other contract forms — The Company also uses unit-price, time and material, and cost reimbursable plus fee contracts. For these jobs, revenue is recognized primarily based on contractual terms. For example, time and material contract revenues are generally recognized on an input basis, based on labor hours incurred and on purchases made. Similarly, unit price contracts generally recognize revenue on an output based measurement such as the completion of specific units at a specified unit price.
At any time during a fixed-price contract if an estimate of total contract cost indicates a loss on a contract, the projected loss is recognized in full at that time. The loss amount is recognized as an “accrued loss provision” and is included in the accrued expenses and other liabilities amount on the balance sheet. As the percentage-of-completion method is used to calculate revenues, the accrued loss provision is changed so that the gross profit for the contract remains zero in future periods. If we anticipate that there will be a loss for unit price or cost reimbursable contracts, the projected loss is recognized in full at that time.
Changes in job performance, job conditions and estimated profitability, including those arising from final contract settlements, may result in revisions to costs and income. These revisions are recognized in the period in which the revisions are identified.
In all forms of contracts, the Company estimates its collectability of contract amounts at the same time that it estimates project costs. If the Company anticipates that there may be issues associated with the collectability of the full amount calculated as revenues, the Company may reduce the amount recognized as revenue to reflect the uncertainty associated with realization of the eventual cash collection. For example, when a cost reimbursable project exceeds the client’s expected budget amount, the client frequently requests an adjustment to the final amount. Similarly, some utility clients reserve the right to audit costs for significant periods after performance of the work. In these situations, the Company may choose to defer recognition of revenue up to the time that the client pays for the services.
The caption “ Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings ” in the Consolidated Balance Sheet represents unbilled receivables, which arise when revenues have been recorded but the amount will not be billed until a later date. Balances represent: (a) unbilled amounts arising from the use of the percentage-of-completion method of accounting which may not be billed under the terms of the contract until a later date, (b) incurred costs to be billed under cost reimbursement type contracts, (c) amounts arising from routine lags in billing, or (d) the revenue associated with unapproved change orders or claims when realization is probable and amounts can be reliably determined. For those contracts in which billings exceed contract revenues recognized to date, the excess amounts are included in the caption “ Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings ”.
In accordance with applicable terms of certain construction contracts, retainage amounts may be withheld by customers until completion and acceptance of the project. Some payments of the retainage may not be received for a significant period after completion of our portion of a project. In some jurisdictions, retainage amounts are deposited into an escrow account.
Significant revision in contract estimate — Revenue recognition is based on the percentage-of-completion method for firm fixed-price contracts. Under this method, the costs incurred to date as a percentage of total estimated costs are used to calculate revenue. Total estimated costs, and thus contract revenues and margin, are impacted by many factors, which can cause significant changes in estimates during the life cycle of a project.
For projects that were in process at the end of the prior year or prior quarter, there can be a difference in revenues and profits that would have been recognized in the prior year or prior quarter, had current estimates of costs to complete been known at the end of the prior year or prior quarter.
Customer Concentration — The Company operates in multiple industry segments encompassing the construction of commercial, industrial and public works infrastructure assets throughout primarily the United States. Typically, the top ten customers in any one calendar year generate revenues in excess of 50% of total revenues; however, the group that comprises the top ten customers varies from year to year.
During the three and nine months ending September 30, 2015, revenues generated by the top ten customers were $325 million and $848 million, respectively, which represented 58.5% and 59.2%, respectively, of total revenues during the periods. During these respective periods of 2015, a pipeline operator represented 6.7% and 10.3% of total revenues and TXDOT represented 9.9% and 10.0% of total revenues.
During the three and nine months ending September 30, 2014, revenues generated by the top ten customers were $309 million and $884 million, respectively, which represented 50.3% and 55.3%, respectively, of total revenues during the periods. During these respective periods of 2014, TXDOT represented 7.8% and 8.6%, respectively, of total revenues and a petrochemical operating company represented 8.0% and 8.0%, respectively, of total revenues.
At September 30, 2015, approximately 6.6% of the Company’s accounts receivable were due from one customer, and that customer provided 7.9% of the Company’s revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. In addition, of total accounts receivable, approximately 13.2% of total accounts receivable are currently in dispute resolution. See “Note 18 — Commitments and Contingencies ”.
At September 30, 2014, approximately 12.4% of the Company’s accounts receivable were due from one customer, and that customer provided 8.0% of the Company’s revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. In addition, of total accounts receivable at September 30, 2014, approximately 13.1% are currently in dispute resolution. See “Note 18 — Commitments and Contingencies ”.
Multiemployer Plans — Various subsidiaries in the West segment are signatories to collective bargaining agreements. These agreements require that the Company participate in and contribute to a number of multiemployer benefit plans for its union employees at rates determined by the agreements. The trustees for each multiemployer plan determine the eligibility and allocations of contributions and benefit amounts, determine the types of benefits and administer the plan. Federal law requires that if the Company were to withdraw from an agreement, it would incur a withdrawal obligation. The potential withdrawal obligation may be significant. In accordance with GAAP, any withdrawal liability would be recorded when it is probable that a liability exists and can be reasonably estimated. In November 2011, the Company withdrew from the Central States Southeast and Southwest Areas Pension Fund multiemployer pension plan, as discussed in “Note 18 — Commitments and Contingencies ”. The Company has no plans to withdraw from any other agreements.
Inventory and uninstalled contract materials — Inventory consists of expendable construction materials and small tools that will be used in construction projects and is valued at the lower of cost, using first-in, first-out method, or market. Uninstalled contract materials are certain job specific materials not yet installed, primarily for highway construction projects, which are valued using the specific identification method relating the cost incurred to a specific project. In most cases, the Company has been able to invoice a state agency for the materials, but title has not yet passed to the state agency. |
