1. Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Organization

Arista Networks, Inc. (together with our subsidiaries, “we,” “our” or “us”) is a supplier of cloud networking solutions that use software innovations to address the needs of large-scale Internet companies, cloud service providers and next-generation enterprise. Our cloud networking solutions consist of our Extensible Operating System (“EOS”), a set of network applications and our 10/25/40/50/100 Gigabit Ethernet switching and routing platforms. We were incorporated in October 2004 in the State of California under the name Arastra, Inc. In March 2008, we reincorporated in the State of Nevada and in October 2008 changed our name to Arista Networks, Inc. We reincorporated in the state of Delaware in March 2014. Our corporate headquarters are located in Santa Clara, California, and we have wholly-owned subsidiaries throughout the world, including North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Arista Networks, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries and have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for interim reporting. As permitted under those rules, certain footnotes or other financial information that are normally required by GAAP can be condensed or omitted. In management’s opinion, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements and include all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair presentation of our financial information. The results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full fiscal year. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2017 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Our condensed consolidated financial statements and related financial information in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related footnotes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, filed with the SEC on February 20, 2018. Certain reclassifications of prior period amounts were made in the current year to conform to the current period presentation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported and disclosed in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Those estimates and assumptions include, but are not limited to, revenue recognition and deferred revenue; allowance for doubtful accounts, sales rebates and return reserves; valuation of goodwill and acquisition-related intangible assets, accounting for income taxes, including the valuation allowance on deferred tax assets and reserves for uncertain tax positions; estimate of useful lives of long-lived assets including intangible assets; valuation of inventory and contract manufacturer/supplier liabilities; recognition and measurement of contingent liabilities; valuation of equity investments in privately-held companies; determination of fair value for stock-based awards; and valuation of warranty accruals. We evaluate our estimates and assumptions based on historical experience and other factors and adjust those estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

Significant Accounting Policies

During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we completed two business acquisitions (see Note 2) and adopted several recent accounting pronouncements as discussed in the section titled Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements of this Note 1. As a result, we updated certain significant accounting policies as described below. There have been no other significant changes to our accounting policies described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, filed with the SEC on February 20, 2018.

Investments in Privately-held Companies

Our equity investments in privately-held companies without readily determinable fair values are measured using the measurement alternative, defined by Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 321-Investments-Equity Securities as cost, less impairments, and adjusted up or down based on observable price changes in orderly transactions for identical or similar investments of the same issuer. Any adjustments resulting from impairments and/or observable price changes are recorded as “Other income (expense), net” in our condensed consolidated statements of operations. Prior to 2018, such investments were accounted for under the cost method and were recorded at historical cost at the time of investment, with adjustments to the balance only in the event of an impairment.

Our equity investments in privately-held companies are included in “Investments” in our condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Revenue Recognition

Effective January 1, 2018, we adopted a new revenue recognition policy in accordance with ASC 606 - Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”) using the modified retrospective method as discussed in the section titled Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements of this Note 1. Prior to 2018, our revenue recognition policy was based on ASC 605 - Revenue Recognition (“ASC 605”), and is described in Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 8 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, filed with the SEC on February 20, 2018.

We generate revenue from sales of our products, which incorporate our EOS software and accessories such as cables and optics, to direct customers and channel partners together with post-contract customer support (“PCS”). We typically sell products and PCS in a single contract. We recognize revenue upon transfer of control of promised products or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to receive in exchange for those products or services. We apply the following five-step revenue recognition model:


•	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


•	Recognition of revenue when (or as) we satisfy the performance obligation

Post-Contract Customer Support

Post-contract support, which includes technical support, hardware repair and replacement parts beyond standard warranty, bug fixes, patches and unspecified upgrades on a when-and-if-available basis, is offered under renewable, fee-based contracts. We initially defer PCS revenue and recognize it ratably over the life of the PCS contract as there is no discernable pattern of delivery related to these promises. We do not provide unspecified upgrades on a set schedule and addresses customer requests for technical support if and when they arise, with the related expenses recognized as incurred. PCS contracts generally have a term of one to three years. We include billed but unearned PCS revenue in deferred revenue.

Contracts with Multiple Performance Obligations

Most of our contracts with customers, other than renewals of PCS, contain multiple performance obligations with a combination of products and PCS. Products and PCS generally qualify as distinct performance obligations. Our hardware includes EOS software, which together deliver the essential functionality of our products. For contracts which contain multiple performance obligations, we allocate revenue to each distinct performance obligation based on the standalone selling price (“SSP”). Judgment is required to determine the SSP for each distinct performance obligation. We use a range of amounts to estimate SSP for products and PCS sold together in a contract to determine whether there is a discount to be allocated based on the relative SSP of the various products and PCS.

If we do not have an observable SSP, such as when we do not sell a product or service separately, then SSP is estimated using judgment and considering all reasonably available information such as market conditions and information about the size and/or purchase volume of the customer. We generally use a range of amounts to estimate SSP for individual products and services based on multiple factors including, but not limited to the sales channel (reseller, distributor or end customer), the geographies in which our products and services are sold, and the size of the end customer.

We limit the amount of revenue recognition for contracts containing forms of variable consideration, such as future performance obligations, customer-specific returns, and acceptance or refund obligations. We include some or all of an estimate of the related at risk consideration in the transaction price only to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recorded under each contract will not occur when the uncertainties surrounding the variable consideration are resolved.

We account for multiple contracts with a single partner as one arrangement if the contractual terms and/or substance of those agreements indicate that they may be so closely related that they are, in effect, parts of a single contract.

We may occasionally accept returns to address customer satisfaction issues even though there is generally no contractual provision for such returns. We estimate returns for sales to customers based on historical returns rates applied against current-period shipments. Specific customer returns and allowances are considered when determining our sales return reserve estimate.

Our policy applies to the accounting for individual contracts. However, we have elected a practical expedient to apply the guidance to a portfolio of contracts or performance obligations with similar characteristics so long as such application would not differ materially from applying the guidance to the individual contracts (or performance obligations) within that portfolio. Consequently, we have chosen to apply the portfolio approach when possible, which we do not believe will happen frequently. Additionally, we will evaluate a portfolio of data, when possible, in various situations, including accounting for commissions, rights of return and transactions with variable consideration.

We report revenue net of sales taxes. We include shipping charges billed to customers in revenue and the related shipping costs are included in cost of product revenue.

Contract Balances

A contract asset is recognized when we have performed under the contract, but our right to consideration is conditional on something other than the passage of time. Contract assets are included in “Other current assets” on our condensed consolidated balance sheets.

A contract liability is recognized when we have received customer payments in advance of our satisfaction of a performance obligation under a contract that is cancellable. Contract liabilities are included in “Other current liabilities” and “Other long-term liabilities” on our condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Assets Recognized from Costs to Obtain a Contract with a Customer

Effective January 1, 2018 in connection with the adoption of ASC 606, we recognize an asset for the incremental costs of obtaining a contract with a customer if we expect the benefit of those costs to be longer than one year. We have determined that certain sales commissions earned by our sales force meet the requirements for capitalization. These costs are deferred and then amortized over a period of benefit that we have determined to be five years. Total capitalized costs to obtain a contract are included in other current and long-term assets on our condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Business Combinations

We use the acquisition method to account for our business combinations in accordance with ASC 805 - Business Combinations (“ASC 805”). We allocate the total purchase consideration to the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values. The excess of the consideration transferred over the fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed is recorded as goodwill. The results of operations of the acquired businesses are included in our consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition. Acquisition-related costs and restructuring costs are expensed as incurred.

Goodwill

We perform our annual goodwill impairment analysis in the fourth quarter of each year or more frequently if there are any events or circumstances that would indicate the carrying amount is not recoverable. We first perform a qualitative assessment to determine if it’s necessary to perform a quantitative assessment. If after our qualitative assessment, we determine it is more likely than not that the fair value of the Company is less than its carrying amount, then a quantitative test is performed by comparing the fair value of the Company with its carrying amount in accordance with Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) No. 2017-04, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. We would recognize an impairment loss for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair value.

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets are carried at cost less accumulated amortization. All intangible assets have been determined to have definite lives and are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated remaining useful lives, ranging from one to seven years. Intangible assets are tested for impairment annually in the fourth quarter of each year or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Revenue Recognition

During May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). In 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-08, ASU No. 2016-10 and ASU No. 2016-12, which provide interpretive clarifications on the new guidance in Topic 606 (collectively, “the new standard”). Under the new standard, the recognition of revenue is based on consideration we expect to be entitled to from the transfer of goods or services to a customer.

The primary impact of the new standard is related to the deferral of incremental commission costs of obtaining customer service contracts, which were previously expensed as incurred. Under the new standard, we defer all such costs and amortize them over the expected period of benefit. The new standard also requires companies to account for termination clauses at the onset of an arrangement. While there is limited history of cancellations, our prepaid subscription offerings are generally cancellable by customers with 30 days’ notice, therefore, the subscription contracts are considered month-to-month. While these prepaid amounts have historically been recorded to deferred revenue, the new standard requires that we record these amounts as other liabilities. In addition, the new standard may impact the amount and timing of revenue recognition of certain sales arrangements and the related disclosures on our consolidated financial statements.

We adopted the new standard in our first quarter of 2018 using the modified retrospective method, which resulted in a cumulative effect adjustment of $3.5 million that increased retained earnings to capitalize certain commission costs that were expensed in the prior year. Correspondingly, we increased prepaid expenses and other current assets by $2.0 million, other assets by $2.2 million, and decreased deferred tax assets by $0.7 million as of January 1, 2018. In addition, we reclassified $16.5 million of deferred revenue as of January 1, 2018 to other current liabilities and other long-term liabilities related to our prepaid subscription offerings. The impact of adopting the new standard was not material to our financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and we do not expect the impact to be material to the financial results for our fiscal 2018.

We apply a practical expedient to expense costs as incurred for costs to obtain a contract with a customer when the amortization period would have been one year or less, as well as the portfolio approach for the contracts reviewed. These costs include a portion of our sales force compensation program as we have determined annual compensation is commensurate with recurring sales activities.

Financial Instruments

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments-Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (“ASU 2016-01”), which enhances the reporting model for financial instruments to provide users of financial statements with more decision-useful information. In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-03, Technical Corrections and Improvements to Financial Instruments, to clarify certain aspects of ASU 2016-01. ASU 2016-01 and ASU 2018-03 (collectively, the “new guidance”) address certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. We adopted this new guidance in our first quarter of fiscal 2018. Under the new guidance, there was no change in the accounting of our marketable securities as our investment policy only allows investments in debt securities. For our cost method equity investments in privately-held companies without readily determinable fair value, we elected to use the measurement alternative, defined as cost, less impairments, as adjusted up or down based on observable price changes in orderly transactions for identical or similar investments of the same issuer, which was adopted prospectively. Adjustments resulting from impairments and/or observable price changes are to be recorded as other income (expense) on a prospective basis.

The carrying amount of our equity investments and any related gain or loss may fluctuate in the future as a result of the re-measurement of such equity investments upon the occurrence of observable price changes and/or impairments.

Income Taxes on Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory, which addresses recognition of current and deferred income taxes for intra-entity asset transfers when assets are sold to an outside party. Current GAAP prohibits the recognition of current and deferred income taxes until the asset has been sold to an outside party. This prohibition on recognition is considered an exception to the principle of comprehensive recognition of current and deferred income taxes in GAAP. The new guidance requires an entity to recognize the income tax consequences when the transfer occurs eliminating the exception. The guidance must be applied on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment directly to retained earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption. We adopted this guidance in our first quarter of fiscal 2018. As a result, we recognized a cumulative effect adjustment in the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2018 by increasing the retained earnings and the deferred tax assets as of January 1, 2018 by approximately $0.1 million, respectively.

Restricted Cash in Statement of Cash Flows

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force (“ASU 2016-18”), which requires that amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. This standard is required to be applied using a retrospective transition method to each period presented. We retrospectively adopted ASU 2016-18 in our first quarter of fiscal 2018. As a result of the adoption, we adjusted the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 to increase the beginning-of-period and end-of-period cash amounts by $4.2 million and $5.5 million, respectively, and to decrease net cash used in investing activities by $1.3 million.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Effective

Nonemployee Share-Based Payments

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting (“ASU 2018-07”), to simplify the accounting for share-based payments to nonemployees by aligning it with the accounting for share-based payments to employees with certain exceptions. Under the guidance, the measurement of equity-classified nonemployee awards will be fixed at the grant date, which may lower their cost and reduce volatility in the income statement. The guidance is effective for us for our first quarter of 2019. Early adoption is permitted. ASU 2018-07 shall be applied on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the fiscal year in which the guidance is adopted. We are currently assessing the impact this guidance may have on our consolidated financial statements.

Leases

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (“ASU 2016-02”). In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements (“ASU 2018-11”). Under the guidance, lessees are required to recognize assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet for most leases including operating leases and provide enhanced disclosures. There are optional practical expedients that a company may elect to apply. The guidance is effective for our first quarter of 2019 and may be early adopted. Companies can adopt this guidance using a modified retrospective approach or, pursuant to ASU 2018-11, using an additional optional transition method. Under the optional transition method, a company initially applies the new leases standard at the adoption date and recognizes a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. We plan to adopt the guidance in the first quarter of 2019 using the additional optional transition method. Management’s evaluation of the new standard is underway, and we have identified the significant changes between the current guidance and the new guidance and expect to elect certain available transitional practical expedients. In addition, we have developed a project plan, performed a risk assessment, and have summarized the terms of our major lease agreements. We are in the process of reviewing our existing lease agreements to assess the impact this guidance may have on our consolidated financial statements. We currently anticipate that the adoption of ASU 2016-02 will materially affect our consolidated balance sheets by recognizing new right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for operating leases, but will not have a material impact on our consolidated statements of operations.

Credit Losses of Financial Instruments

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which requires a financial asset measured at amortized cost basis to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. Credit losses relating to available-for-sale debt securities should be recorded through an allowance for credit losses. This standard is effective for us for our first quarter of 2020. We are currently assessing the impact this guidance may have on our consolidated financial statements.