2.	SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Accounting

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Trex Wood-Polymer Espana, S.L. (TWPE). Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

TWPE was formed to hold the Company’s 35% equity interest in Denplax, S.A. (Denplax), a venture with a Spanish company responsible for public environmental programs in southern Spain and with an Italian equipment manufacturer. The venture was formed to recycle polyethylene at a facility in El Ejido, Spain. The Company’s investment in Denplax is accounted for using the equity method. During 2010, the Company determined that its investment in Denplax and a related note receivable were no longer recoverable and recorded a $2.4 million charge to earnings to fully reserve the equity investment and note. Both the equity investment and note remain fully reserved as of December 31, 2016.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments purchased with original maturities of three months or less.

Concentrations and Credit Risk

The Company’s financial instruments that are exposed to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents and trade accounts receivable. The Company from time to time may have bank deposits in excess of insurance limits of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. As of December 31, 2016, substantially all deposits are maintained in one financial institution. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes it is not exposed to any significant credit risk related to its cash and cash equivalents.

The Company routinely assesses the financial strength of its customers and believes that its trade receivables credit risk exposure is limited. Trade receivables are carried at the original invoice amount less an estimate made for payment discounts and doubtful accounts. A valuation allowance is provided for known and anticipated credit losses and disputed amounts, as determined by management in the course of regularly evaluating individual customer receivables. This evaluation takes into consideration a customer’s financial condition and credit history, as well as current economic conditions. There was no valuation allowance recorded as of December 31, 2016 and 2015.

In the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, sales to certain customers accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s total net sales. For the year ended December 31, 2016, two customers of the Company represented approximately 39% of the Company’s net sales. For the year ended December 31, 2015, one customer of the Company represented approximately 27% of the Company’s net sales. For the year ended December 31, 2014, one customer of the Company represented approximately 24% of the Company’s net sales. At December 31, 2016, four customers represented 30%, 16%, 14%, and 13%, respectively, of the Company’s accounts receivable balance.

Approximately 33%, 35%, and 38% of the Company’s materials purchases for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, were purchased from its four largest suppliers.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (last-in, first-out, or LIFO, method) or market value. The Company periodically reviews its inventory for slow moving or obsolete items and writes down the related products to estimated realizable value. The Company’s reserves for estimated slow moving products or obsolescence are not material. At December 31, 2016, the excess of the replacement cost of inventory over the LIFO value of inventory was approximately $21.4 million. Due to the nature of the LIFO valuation methodology, liquidations of inventories will result in a portion of the Company’s cost of sales being based on historical rather than current year costs.

A majority of the Company’s products are made in a proprietary process that combines reclaimed wood fibers and scrap polyethylene. The Company grinds up scrap materials generated from its manufacturing process and inventories deemed no longer salable and reintroduces the reclaimed material into the manufacturing process as a substitute for raw materials. The reclaimed material is valued at the costs of the raw material components of the material.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at historical cost. The costs of additions and improvements are capitalized, while maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Depreciation is provided using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:


Buildings			40 years
Machinery and equipment			3-11 years
Furniture and equipment			10 years
Forklifts and tractors			5 years
Computer equipment and software			5 years

Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful life of the asset.

The Company reviews its long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable. To determine the recoverability of its long-lived assets, the Company evaluates the probability that future estimated undiscounted net cash flows will be less than the carrying amount of the long-lived assets. If the estimated cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the long-lived assets, the assets are written down to their fair value. The Company’s estimates of anticipated cash flows and the remaining estimated useful lives of long-lived assets could be reduced in the future. As a result, the carrying amount of long-lived assets could be reduced in the future. Long-lived assets held for sale are stated at the lower of cost or fair value less cost to sell.

Fair Value Measurement

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value are measured at the amount that would be received for selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date and classified into one of the following fair value hierarchy:

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Level 1 – Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

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Level 2 – Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets.

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Level 3 – Valuations derived from management’s best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date. Consideration is given to the risk inherent in the valuation technique and the risk inherent in the inputs to the model.

Contract Termination Costs

The Company leases 55,047 square feet of office and storage space in Dulles, Virginia, that it does not occupy, but has sublet all of the office space for the remainder of the term of its lease obligation, which ends June 30, 2019. The future sublease receipts are less than the remaining minimum lease payment obligations under the Company’s lease. Accordingly, the Company has recorded a liability for the present value of the shortfall.

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of cost over net assets acquired resulting from the Company’s 1996 purchase of the Mobil Composite Products Division and the 2011 purchase of the assets of the Iron Deck Corporation. The Company evaluates the recoverability of goodwill in accordance with Accounting Standard Codification Topic 350, “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other,” annually or more frequently if an event occurs or circumstances change in the interim that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of the asset below its carrying amount. Goodwill is considered to be impaired when the net book value of the reporting unit exceeds its estimated fair value.

The Company first assesses qualitative factors to determine if it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount to determine if it should proceed with the evaluation of goodwill for impairment. If the Company proceeds with the two-step impairment test, the Company first compares the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value. If the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the goodwill of that reporting unit is potentially impaired and step two of the impairment analysis is performed. In step two of the analysis, an impairment loss is recorded equal to the excess of the carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill over its implied fair value should such a circumstance arise.

The Company measures fair value of the reporting unit based on a present value of future discounted cash flows and a market valuation approach. The discounted cash flows model indicates the fair value of the reporting unit based on the present value of the cash flows that the reporting unit is expected to generate in the future. Significant estimates in the discounted cash flows model include: the weighted average cost of capital; long-term rate of growth and profitability of the business; and working capital effects. The market valuation approach indicates the fair value of the business based on a comparison of the Company against certain market information. Significant estimates in the market approach model include identifying appropriate market multiples and assessing earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) in estimating the fair value of the reporting unit.

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, the Company completed its annual impairment test of goodwill and noted no impairment. The Company performs the annual impairment testing of its goodwill as of October 31 of each year. However, actual results could differ from the Company’s estimates and projections, which would affect the assessment of impairment. As of December 31, 2016, the Company had goodwill of $10.5 million that is reviewed annually for impairment.

Product Warranty

The Company warrants that its products will be free from material defects in workmanship and materials. This warranty generally extends for a period of 25 years for residential use and 10 years for commercial use. With respect to Trex Signature^® Railing, the warranty period is 25 years for both residential and commercial use. With respect to the Company’s Transcend^®, Enhance^®, Select^® and Universal Fascia product, the Company further warrants that the product will not fade in color more than a certain amount and will be resistant to permanent staining from food substances or mold, provided the stain is cleaned within seven days of appearance. This warranty extends for a period of 25 years for residential use and 10 years for commercial use. If there is a breach of such warranties, the Company has an obligation either to replace the defective product or refund the purchase price. The Company establishes warranty reserves to provide for estimated future expenses as a result of product defects that result in claims. Reserve estimates are based on management’s judgment, considering such factors as cost per claim, historical experience, anticipated rates of claims, and other available information. Management reviews and adjusts these estimates, if necessary, on a quarterly basis based on the differences between actual experience and historical estimates.

Treasury Stock

The Company records the repurchase of shares of its common stock at cost. These shares are considered treasury stock, which is a reduction to stockholders’ equity. Treasury stock is included in authorized and issued shares but excluded from outstanding shares.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue when title is transferred to customers, which is generally upon shipment of the product to the customer. The Company does not grant contractual product return rights to customers other than pursuant to its product warranty. The Company does not expect future product returns to be material and, consequently, does not maintain an allowance for product returns.

The Company records all shipping and handling fees in sales and records all of the related costs in cost of sales. The Company offers sales incentive programs to dealers and distributors, including rebates, pricing discounts, favorable payment terms and cooperative advertising, many of which result in cash consideration made to dealers and distributors. The Company accounts for consideration made pursuant to these programs in accordance with accounting guidance that governs consideration given by a vendor to a customer. With the exception of cooperative advertising, the Company classifies sales incentives as a reduction in revenue in “Net sales.” Sales incentives are recorded in the period in which they are earned by customers. The Company’s cooperative advertising program meets the requirements for exclusion from net sales and the costs are recorded as expenses in “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Cooperative advertising costs are expensed as incurred.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company measures stock-based compensation at the grant date of the award based on the fair value. For stock options, stock appreciation rights and time-based restricted stock and time-based restricted stock units, stock-based compensation is recognized on a straight line basis over the vesting periods of the award. The Company recognizes forfeitures as they occur. For performance-based restricted stock and performance-based restricted stock units, expense is recognized ratably over the performance and vesting period of each tranche based on management’s judgment of the ultimate award that is probable to be paid out based on the achievement of predetermined performance measures. Stock-based compensation expense is included in “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

Income Taxes

The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the difference between the financial statement basis and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted rates expected to be in effect during the year in which the differences reverse. The Company assesses the likelihood that its deferred tax assets will be realized. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, after considering all available positive and negative evidence, it is determined that it is more likely than not that some portion, or all, of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. As of December 31, 2016, the Company has a valuation allowance of $4.1 million against these deferred tax assets. The Company analyzes its position in subsequent reporting periods, considering all available positive and negative evidence, in determining the expected realization of its deferred tax assets.

Research and Development Costs

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, research and development costs were $3.7 million, $1.5 million and $2.3 million, respectively, and have been included in “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

Advertising Costs

The Company expenses its branding and advertising communication costs as incurred. Significant production costs are deferred and recognized as expense in the period that the related advertisement is first used. At December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, $2.4 million and $0.8 million, respectively, were included in prepaid expenses for production costs.

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, branding expenses, including advertising expenses as described above, were $24.8 million, $23.4 million and $20.8 million, respectively.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company considers the recorded value of its financial assets and liabilities, consisting primarily of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities to approximate the fair value of the respective assets and liabilities at December 31, 2016 and 2015.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In November 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2015-17, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes.” The standard requires that all deferred tax assets and liabilities for a particular tax-paying component of an entity and within a particular tax jurisdiction, along with any valuation allowance, be offset and classified as a single noncurrent deferred tax asset or liability regardless of their nature or expected timing of reversal or recovery. The standard may be applied either prospectively, for all deferred tax assets and liabilities, or retrospectively. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company elected to early adopt the standard in the quarterly period ended December 31, 2016. The Company applied the standard prospectively in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016 and, accordingly, prior periods were not adjusted. Adoption of the standard will not impact the Company’s financial debt covenants or restrictions, and deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are no longer reported in current assets or current liabilities.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, “Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting.” The standard amends certain aspects of accounting for employee share-based payment transactions, including the accounting for income taxes related to those transactions and forfeitures. The standard requires recognizing excess tax benefits and deficiencies on share-based awards in the tax provision, instead of in equity. Also, the standard requires these amounts to be classified as an operating activity, and shares withheld to satisfy employee taxes to be classified as a financing activity in the statement of cash flows, rather than as currently classified as financing and operating activities, respectively. The standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and interim periods within that reporting period, with early adoption permitted. The Company elected to early adopt the standard in fiscal year 2016. The impact of the early adoption resulted in the following:

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The Company recorded a tax benefit of $1.7 million within income tax expense related to the excess tax benefits of the settlement or vesting of time-based restricted stock or time-based restricted stock units and performance-based restricted stock or performance-based restricted stock units. The Company applied this guidance prospectively as of January 1, 2016 and, accordingly, data for the prior years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 were not adjusted. Prior to adoption this amount would have been recorded as an increase in additional paid-in capital. Going forward, this change could create volatility in the Company’s effective tax rate.

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The Company elected to change its policy on accounting for forfeitures and recognize forfeitures as they occur. The Company applied this guidance on a modified retrospective transition method. The Company determined that the cumulative effect of applying the guidance under the modified retrospective transition method was not material to its Consolidated Financial Statements

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Excess tax benefits are now reported as an operating activity in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, rather than as a financing activity as was previously reported. As the Company applied this guidance prospectively as of January 1, 2016, excess tax benefits for the years ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 were not adjusted and continue to be reported in financing activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

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The standard requires the presentation of employee taxes as a financing activity in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. This provision did not impact the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements as the Company currently presents employee taxes as a financing activity in its Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

The Company excluded the excess tax benefits from the assumed proceeds available to repurchase shares in the computation of diluted earnings per share for 2016, which did not materially increase the diluted weighted average common shares outstanding. Data reported in Note 14, “Interim Financial Data (Unaudited),“for net income, diluted net income per share and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding for the each quarterly period in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, reflect adoption of the new standard.

New Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” and issued subsequent amendments to the initial guidance in August 2015 within ASU 2015-14, in March 2016 within ASU 2016-08, in April 2016 within ASU 2016-10, and in May 2016 within ASU 2016-12 (collectively, the new standard). The new standard provides a single, comprehensive model for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance. The new standard requires an entity to recognize revenue at an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for transferring goods or services to a customer. The Company intends to adopt the new standard in the first quarterly period of fiscal 2018. Currently, the Company intends to use the retrospective application to each reporting period presented, with the option to elect certain practical expedients as defined in the new standard. The Company does not believe adoption of the new standard will have a material impact on its Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, but expects expanded financial statement footnote disclosure. The Company is continuing to evaluate the impacts of the pending adoption. As such, the Company’s preliminary assessments are subject to change.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842).” The standard requires lessees to recognize leases on the balance sheet as a right-of-use asset and a lease liability, other than leases that meet the definition of a short-term lease. The liability will be equal to the present value of the lease payments. The asset will be based on the liability, subject to adjustment. For income statement purposes, the leases will continue to be classified as either operating or finance. Operating leases will result in straight-line expense (similar to current operating leases) and finance leases will result in a front-loaded expense pattern (similar to current capital leases). The standard is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The standard must be adopted using the modified retrospective transition method and provides for the option to elect a package of practical expedients upon adoption. The Company intends to adopt the standard in the first quarterly period of fiscal 2019, and is currently assessing the impact of adoption of the standard on its consolidated financial statements and related note disclosures. The Company has not made any decision on the option to elect adoption of the practical expedients.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, “Statement of Cash flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments.” The guidance is intended to reduce diversity in practice across all industries in how certain transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. The standard is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The guidance requires application using a retrospective translation method. The Company is assessing the impact of adoption of the new standard on its consolidated financial statements and related note disclosures.

Reclassifications

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.