Summary of business and significant accounting policies | Summary of business and significant accounting policies HealthEquity, Inc. was incorporated in the state of Delaware on September 18, 2002, and was organized to offer a full range of innovative solutions for managing health care accounts (Health Savings Accounts ("HSAs"), Health Reimbursement Arrangements ("HRAs"), and Flexible Spending Accounts ("FSAs")) for health plans, insurance companies, and third-party administrators. In February 2006, HealthEquity, Inc. received designation by the U.S. Department of Treasury to act as a passive non-bank custodian, which allows HealthEquity, Inc. to hold custodial assets for individual account holders. On July 24, 2017, HealthEquity, Inc. received designation by the U.S. Department of Treasury to act as both a passive and non-passive non-bank custodian, which allows HealthEquity, Inc. to hold custodial assets for individual account holders and use discretion to direct investment of such assets held. As a passive and non-passive non-bank custodian according to Treasury Regulations section 1.408-2(e)(5)(ii)(B), the Company must maintain net worth (assets minus liabilities) greater than 2% of passive custodial funds held at each calendar year-end and 4% of the non-passive custodial funds held at each calendar year-end in order to take on additional custodial assets. The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or GAAP, which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The financial statements and notes are representations of the Company's management, which is responsible for their integrity and objectivity. These accounting policies conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and have been consistently applied in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements, except for the new accounting pronouncements, which were adopted during the year ended January 31, 2019 as described below. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year amounts to conform to the current year presentation. Principles of consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of HealthEquity, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries, HealthEquity Trust Company, HEQ Insurance Services, Inc., HealthEquity Advisors, LLC and HealthEquity Retirement Services, LLC (collectively referred to as the "Company"). During the year ended January 31, 2015, the Company and an unrelated company formed a limited partnership for investment in and the management of early stage companies in the healthcare industry. The Company has a 22% ownership interest in such partnership that is accounted for using the equity method of accounting. The investment was approximately $0.2 million as of January 31, 2019 and is included in other assets on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. During the year ended January 31, 2016, the Company purchased an approximate 1% ownership interest in a limited partnership that engages in the development of technology-based financial healthcare products. The Company elected the measurement alternative for non-marketable investments previously accounted for under the cost method of accounting to account for the investment. The investment was $0.5 million as of January 31, 2019 and is included in other assets on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. During the year ended January 31, 2017, the Company formed HealthEquity Trust Company, a Wyoming corporation and non-depository trust company, to act as the master custodian of all investment assets held in HSAs administered by the Company. During the year ended January 31, 2018, the Company formed HealthEquity Retirement Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, to acquire and own the assets of BenefitGuard LLC and provide ERISA plan fiduciary services. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. Segments The Company operates in one segment. Management uses one measurement of profitability and does not segregate its business for internal reporting. All long-lived assets are maintained in the United States of America. Cash and cash equivalents The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company’s cash and cash equivalents were held in institutions in the U.S. and include deposits in a money market account that was unrestricted as to withdrawal or use. Accounts receivable Accounts receivable represent monies due to the Company for monthly service revenue, custodial revenue and interchange revenue. As of January 31, 2019 and 2018 , service revenue receivables, net, were $6.3 million and $7.9 million , custodial revenue receivables were $13.8 million and $9.0 million , and interchange revenue receivables were $5.6 million and $4.7 million , respectively. The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts to reserve for potentially uncollectible receivable amounts. In evaluating the Company’s ability to collect outstanding receivable balances, the Company considers various factors including the age of the balance, the creditworthiness of the customer, which is assessed based on ongoing credit evaluations and payment history, and the customer’s current financial condition. As of January 31, 2019 and 2018 , the Company had allowance for doubtful accounts of $0.1 million and $0.2 million , respectively. Investments In January 2019, the Company sold all the marketable securities it previously held. See Note 3—Cash, Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities for additional information regarding the realized loss on sale of marketable securities. The Company classified marketable securities, which consisted primarily of mutual funds invested in corporate bonds, U.S. government agency securities, U.S. treasury bills, commercial paper, certificates of deposit, municipal notes, and bonds with original maturities beyond three months at the time of purchase as available-for-sale. Marketable securities were reported at fair value with changes included in other expense, net in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. The Company used the specific identification method to determine cost in calculating the realized loss upon the sale of marketable securities. The Company periodically evaluated its marketable securities to assess whether those with unrealized loss positions were other-than-temporarily impaired. The Company considered impairments to be other than temporary if they were related to deterioration in credit risk or if it was likely it would sell the securities before the recovery of their cost basis. Equity investments are accounted for using the equity method of accounting if the investment gives the Company the ability to exercise significant influence, but not control, over an investee. Equity-method investments are included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets. The Company's share of the earnings or losses as reported by equity-method investees, amortization of basis differences, and related gains or losses, if any, are recognized in other expense, net on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. Equity investments without readily determinable fair values and for which the Company does not have the ability to exercise significant influence are accounted for using the measurement alternative and are classified as other assets on the consolidated balance sheets. All gains and losses on these investments, realized and unrealized, are recognized in other expense, net on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. The Company assesses whether an other-than-temporary impairment loss on equity method investments and an impairment loss on measurement alternative investments has occurred due to declines in fair value or other market conditions. If any impairment is considered other than temporary for equity method investments or impairment is identified for measurement alternative investments, the Company will write down the investment to its fair value and record the corresponding charge through other expense, net in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. Other assets Other assets consist primarily of contract costs, prepaid expenditures, income tax receivables, inventories, and various other assets. Amounts expected to be recouped or recognized over a period of twelve months or less have been classified as current in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Property and equipment Property and equipment, including leasehold improvements, are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is determined using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of individual assets. The useful life for leasehold improvements is the shorter of the estimated useful life or the term of the lease ranging from 3 - 5 years . The useful life used for computing depreciation for all other asset classes is described below: Computer equipment 3-5 years Furniture and fixtures 5 years Maintenance and repairs are expensed when incurred, and improvements that extend the economic useful life of an asset are capitalized. Gains and losses on the disposal of property and equipment are reflected in operating expenses. Capitalized software development costs We account for the costs of computer software developed or obtained for internal use in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 350-40, “Internal-Use Software.” Costs incurred during operation and post-implementation stages are charged to expense. Costs incurred during the application development stage that are directly attributable to developing or obtaining software for internal use are capitalized. Management’s judgment is required in determining the point when various projects enter the stages 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. See Note 5—Intangible assets and goodwill for additional information. Intangible assets, net Intangible assets are carried at cost and amortized, typically, on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. The useful life used for computing amortization for all intangible asset classes is described below: Computer software and capitalized software development costs 3 years 401(k) customer relationships 10 years Acquired HSA intangible member assets 15 years Acquired intangible member assets are the result of various acquisitions of HSA portfolios. A significant portion of the purchase price from each acquisition has been allocated to the acquired HSA assets, which consists of the contractual rights to administer the activities related to the individual HSAs acquired. The Company used its HSA customer relationship period assumption and the historical attrition rates of member accounts to determine that an average useful life of 15 years and the use of a straight-line amortization method are appropriate to reflect the pattern over which the economic benefits of existing member assets are realized. The Company reviews identifiable amortizable intangible assets to be held and used for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. Determination of recoverability is based on the lowest level of identifiable estimated undiscounted cash flows resulting from use of the asset and its eventual disposition. Measurement of any impairment loss is based on the excess of the carrying value of the asset over its fair value. During the year ended January 31, 2019, the Company incurred a loss on disposal of approximately $0.7 million of previously capitalized software development costs. No impairment charges have been recorded during the years ended January 31, 2018 and 2017. See Note 5—Intangible assets and goodwill for additional information. Goodwill Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired in a business combination. Goodwill is not amortized, but is tested for impairment annually on January 31 or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset may be impaired. The Company’s impairment tests are based on a single operating segment and reporting unit structure. The goodwill impairment test involves a two-step process. The first step involves comparing the Company's market capitalization to the carrying value of the reporting unit, including goodwill. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the second step of the test is performed by comparing the carrying value of the goodwill in the reporting unit to its implied fair value. An impairment charge is recognized for the excess of the carrying value of goodwill over its implied fair value. The Company’s annual goodwill impairment test resulted in no impairment charges in any of the periods presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. Self insurance The Company is self-insured for medical insurance up to certain annual stop-loss limits. The Company establishes a liability as of the balance sheet date for claims, both reported and incurred but not reported, using currently available information as well as historical claims experience, and as determined by an independent third party. Other long-term liabilities The Company recognizes rental expense for its office lease on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Other long-term liabilities includes deferred rent, which represents the difference between actual operating lease payments due and straight-line rent expense. The excess is recorded as a deferred credit in the early periods of the lease, when cash payments are generally lower than straight-line rent expense, and is reduced in the later periods of the lease when payments begin to exceed the straight-line expense. Revenue recognition On February 1, 2018, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers ("ASC 606") , which replaced most existing revenue recognition guidance in GAAP, using the modified retrospective method for all contracts not completed as of the date of adoption. The Company recorded the cumulative effect of initially applying ASC 606 as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. The comparative period information has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for that period. The adoption of ASC 606 did not have a material impact on the Company's revenue for the year ended January 31, 2019 . Effective February 1, 2018, the Company capitalizes incremental contract acquisition costs, such as sales commissions, previously included in sales and marketing expenses in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income, and amortizes these costs over the average estimated economic life of an HSA Member, RA customer relationship, and 401(k) customer relationship. The Company's prior practice was to fully expense sales commissions when the respective account was added to the Company's platform. The cumulative effect of the changes made to the Company's consolidated balance sheet as of February 1, 2018 for the adoption of ASC 606 is as follows: (in thousands) January 31, 2018 Adjustments February 1, 2018 Other current assets $ 3,310 $ 1,366 $ 4,676 Deferred tax asset 5,461 (4,187 ) 1,274 Other assets 2,180 15,847 18,027 Deferred tax liability — 18 18 Accumulated earnings $ 85,300 $ 13,007 $ 98,307 The impact of adoption on the Company's consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income for the year ended January 31, 2019 is as follows: (in thousands) As reported Without adoption of ASC 606 Effect of change higher (lower) Sales and marketing $ 29,498 $ 31,335 $ (1,837 ) Income from operations 77,670 75,833 1,837 Income tax provision 1,919 1,470 449 Net income $ 73,899 $ 72,511 $ 1,388 The impact of adoption on the Company's consolidated balance sheet as of January 31, 2019 is as follows: (in thousands) As reported Without adoption of ASC 606 Effect of change higher (lower) Other current assets $ 7,534 $ 5,815 $ 1,719 Deferred tax asset 1,677 5,415 (3,738 ) Other assets 21,122 3,790 17,332 Deferred tax liability 916 — 916 Accumulated earnings $ 171,850 $ 157,455 $ 14,395 Under ASC 606, the Company recognizes revenue when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to its customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. The Company determines revenue recognition through the following steps: • identification of the contract, or contracts, with a customer; • identification of the performance obligations in the contract; • determination of the transaction price; • allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and • recognition of revenue when, or as, we satisfy a performance obligation. Disaggregation of revenue. The Company's primary sources of revenue are service, custodial, and interchange revenue and are disclosed in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. All of the Company's sources of revenue are deemed to be revenue contracts with customers. Each revenue source is affected differently by economic factors as it relates to the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty. Costs to obtain a contract. ASC 606 requires capitalizing the costs of obtaining a contract when those costs are expected to be recovered. Since incremental commissions paid to sales team members as a result of obtaining contracts are recoverable, the Company recorded a $17.2 million cumulative catch-up capitalized asset on February 1, 2018. As of January 31, 2019 , the net amount capitalized as contract costs was $19.1 million , which is included in other current assets and other assets. In order to determine the amortization period for sales commissions contract costs, the Company applied the portfolio approach. Accordingly, the amortization period of the assets has been determined to be the average economic life of an HSA Member, RA customer relationship, and 401(k) customer relationship, which is estimated to be 15 years, 7 years, and 10 years, respectively. Amortization of capitalized sales commission contract costs is included in sales and marketing expenses in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. Performance obligations. ASC 606 requires disclosure of the aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to unsatisfied performance obligations; however, as permitted by ASC 606, the Company has elected to exclude from this disclosure any contracts with an original duration of one year or less and any variable consideration that meets specified criteria. Amounts excluded are not significant to the Company's consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. Service revenue. The Company hosts its platform, prepares statements, provides a mechanism for spending funds, and provides customer support services. All of these services are consumed as they are received. The Company will continue to recognize service revenue, in an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to be entitled to in exchange for those services, on a monthly basis as it satisfies its performance obligations. Custodial revenue. The Company deposits custodial cash at federally-insured custodial depository partners and investment assets with an investment partner. The deposit of funds represents a service that is simultaneously received and consumed by the custodial depository partners and investment partner. The Company will continue to recognize custodial revenue, in an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to be entitled to in exchange for the service, each month based on the amount received by its custodial partners and investment partners. Interchange revenue. The Company satisfies its interchange performance obligation each time payments are made with its cards via payment networks. The Company will continue to recognize interchange revenue, in an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to be entitled to in exchange for the service, in the month the payment transaction occurs. Contract balances. The Company does not recognize revenue in advance of invoicing its customers and therefore has no related contract assets. The Company records a receivable when revenue is recognized prior to payment and the Company has unconditional right to payment. Alternatively, when payment precedes the related services, the Company records a contract liability, or deferred revenue, until its performance obligations are satisfied. The Company's deferred revenue as of January 31, 2019 and 2018 was $0.3 million and $0.4 million , respectively. The balances related to cash received in advance for a certain interchange revenue arrangement. From the deferred revenue balance as of February 1, 2018, revenue recognized during the year ended January 31, 2019 was $0.2 million . The Company expects to satisfy its remaining obligations for this arrangement. Significant judgments. The Company makes no significant judgments in determining the amount or timing of revenue recognition. The Company has estimated the average economic life of an HSA Member, RA customer relationship, and a 401(k) customer relationship to be 15 years, 7 years, and 10 years, respectively, and which has been determined to be the amortization period for the capitalized sales commissions contract costs. Practical expedients. The Company has applied the practical expedient which allows an entity to account for incremental costs of obtaining a contract at a portfolio level. The Company has also applied the practical expedient to recognize incremental costs of obtaining contracts as an expense when incurred if the amortization period would have been one year or less. Cost of revenue The Company incurs cost of revenue related to servicing member accounts, managing customer and partner relationships, and processing reimbursement claims. Expenditures include personnel-related costs, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation, common expense allocations, new member and participant supplies and other operating costs of the Company’s related member account servicing departments. Other components of the Company’s cost of revenue sold include interest retained by members on custodial assets held and interchange costs incurred in connection with processing card transactions initiated by members. Stock-based compensation The Company grants stock-based awards, which consist of stock options, restricted stock units ("RSUs") and restricted stock awards ("RSAs"), to certain team members, executive officers, and directors. The Company recognizes compensation expense for stock-based awards based on the grant date estimated fair value. Expense for stock-based awards is generally recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, and is reversed as pre-vesting forfeitures occur. The fair value of stock options is determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The determination of fair value for stock options on the date of grant using an option pricing model requires management to make certain assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective variables. The fair value of RSUs and RSAs is based on the current value of the Company's closing stock price on the date of grant less the present value of future expected dividends discounted at the risk-free interest rate. For stock-based awards with performance conditions, the Company evaluates the probability of achieving the performance criteria and of the number of shares that are expected to vest, and compensation expense is then adjusted to reflect the number of shares expected to vest and the requisite service period. For awards with performance conditions, compensation expense is recognized using the graded-vesting attribution method in accordance with the provisions of FASB ASC Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation ("Topic 718") . See Note 9—Stock-based compensation for additional information. Upon the exercise of a stock option or release of an RSU/RSA, common shares are issued from authorized, but not outstanding, common stock. Income tax provision The Company accounts for income taxes and the related accounts under the liability method as set forth in the authoritative guidance for accounting for income taxes. Under this method, current tax liabilities and assets are recognized for the estimated taxes payable or refundable on the tax returns for the current fiscal year. 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, for net operating losses, and for tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted statutory tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be realized or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of changes in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is provided for when it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets may not be realized in future years. After weighing both the positive and negative evidence, the Company has recorded a valuation allowance with respect to realized capital losses for which the Company does not expect to generate capital gains in order to utilize the capital losses in the future. The Company believes that it is more likely than not that all other deferred tax assets will be realized as of January 31, 2019 . The Company uses the tax law ordering approach of intraperiod allocation in determining when excess tax benefits have been realized for provisions of the tax law that identify the sequence in which those amounts are utilized for tax purposes. The Company has also elected to exclude the indirect tax effects of share-based compensation deductions in computing the income tax provision recorded within the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. Also, the Company uses the portfolio approach in releasing income tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive income. The Company recognizes the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return using a two-step approach. The first step is to evaluate the tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained upon examination by the relevant taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. For tax positions that are more likely than not to be sustained upon audit, the second step is to measure the tax benefit in the financial statements as the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being sustained upon settlement. The Company recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of other expense in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. Significant judgment is required to evaluate uncertain tax positions. Changes in facts and circumstances could have a material impact on the Company’s effective tax rate and results of operations. Comprehensive income Comprehensive income is defined as a change in equity of a business enterprise during a period, resulting from transactions from non-owner sources, including unrealized gains and losses on marketable securities prior to the February 1, 2018 adoption of ASU 2016-01. Asset acquisitions During the year ended January 31, 2019, the Company acquired the rights to be the custodian of an HSA portfolio. During the year ended January 31, 2018, the Company acquired the rights to be the custodian of two HSA portfolios and rights to act as sole administrator of one portfolio. Substantially all of the fair value of the gross portfolio assets acquired was concentrated in a group of similar HSA assets and therefore the acquisitions did not constitute a business. Accordingly, the acquisitions were accounted for under the asset acquisition method of accounting in accordance with ASC 805-50, Business Combinations—Related Issues. Under the asset acquisition method of accounting, the Company is required to fair value the assets transferred. The cost of the assets acquired was allocated to the individual assets acquired based on their relative fair values and does not give rise to goodwill. The purchase price was allocated to acquired intangible member assets. Furthermore, transaction costs that are incurred in conjunction with an asset acquisition are allocated to the acquired intangible member assets. Business combination Acquisition-related expenses incurred in conjunction with the acquisition of a business as defined by ASC 805-10 are recognized in earnings in the period in which they are incurred and are included in other expense, net on the consolidated statement of operations. During the years ended January 31, 2019 , 2018 and 2017 , the Company incurred an expense of $2.1 million , $2.2 million, and $0.6 million, respectively, for acquisition-related activity. There were no business combinations during the years ended January 31, 2019 and 2017 . Concentration of market risk The Company derives a substantial portion of its revenue from providing services for healthcare accounts. A significant downturn in this market or changes in state and/or federal laws impacting the preferential tax treatment of healthcare accounts could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations. For the years ended January 31, 2019 , 2018 and 2017 , no one customer accounted for greater than 10% of revenue or accounts receivable. Concentration of credit risk Financial instruments, which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk, consist primarily of cash. The Company maintains its cash and cash equivalents in bank and other depository accounts, which, frequently exceeds federally insured limits. The Company’s cash and cash equivalents held in banks as of January 31, 2019 was $361.5 million , of which $1.0 million was covered by federal depository insurance. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes it is not exposed to any significant credit risk on cash. The Company’s accounts receivable balance as of January 31, 2019 was $25.7 million . The Company has not experienced any significant write-offs to accounts receivable and believes that it is not exposed to significant credit risk with respect to accounts receivable. Interest rate risk The Company has entered into depository agreements with financial institutions for its custodial cash deposits. The contracted interest rates were negotiated at the time the depository agreements were executed. A significant reduction in prevailing interest rates may make it difficult for the Company to continue to place custodial deposits at the current contracted rates. Use of estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP 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 the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Management has made estimates for the allowance for doubtful accounts, capitalized software development costs, evaluating goodwill and long-lived assets for impairment, useful lives of property and equipment and intangible assets, accrued compensation, accrued liabilities, grant date fair value of stock options and income taxes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Change in estimate. Effective November 1, 2018, the Company prospectively changed its estimate of the useful life of capitalized incremental costs to obtain an RA contract to better reflect the estimated periods during which the intangible asset is expected to generate cash flows. The incremental costs to obtain an RA contract were previously amortized over the same life as the incremental costs to obtain an HSA contract, which is estimated to be 15 y |