1. Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. and its subsidiaries (“we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company”). All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.

Business

The Company is principally engaged in the production, processing and distribution of shell eggs. The Company’s operations are significantly affected by the market price fluctuation of its principal product, shell eggs, and the costs of its principal feed ingredients, corn, soybean meal, and other grains.

The Company sells shell eggs to a diverse group of customers, including national and local grocery store chains, club stores, foodservice distributors, and egg product consumers. The Company’s sales are primarily in the southeastern, southwestern, mid-western and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. Credit is extended based upon an evaluation of each customer’s financial condition and credit history and generally collateral is not required. Credit losses have consistently been within management’s expectations. Two customers, Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club, on a combined basis, accounted for 28.9%, 25.7% and 28.2% of the Company’s net sales in fiscal years 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively.

Fiscal Year

The Company’s fiscal year-end is on the Saturday nearest May 31, which was May 28, 2016, May 30, 2015, and May 31, 2014 for the most recent three fiscal years. All three years fiscal years were 52 week years.

Use of Estimates

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

Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. We maintain bank accounts that are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) up to $250,000. At May 28, 2016 and routinely throughout these years, the Company maintained cash balances with certain financial institutions in excess of federally insured amounts. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts. The Company manages this risk through maintaining cash deposits and other highly liquid investments in high quality financial institutions.

We primarily utilize a cash management system with a series of separate accounts consisting of lockbox accounts for receiving cash, concentration accounts where funds are moved to, and several zero-balance disbursement accounts for funding payroll and accounts payable. Checks issued, but not presented to the banks for payment, may result in negative book cash balances, which are included in accounts payable. At May 28, 2016, and May 30, 2015, checks outstanding in excess of related book cash balances totaled zero and $1.8 million, respectively.

Investment Securities

Our investment securities are accounted for in accordance with ASC 320, “Investments-Debt and Equity Securities” (“ASC 320”). The Company considers all of its investment securities for which there is a determinable fair market value and there are no restrictions on the Company's ability to sell within the next 12 months as available-for-sale. Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses reported as a separate component of stockholders' equity. We had unrealized gains, net of tax, of $363,000 and $372,000 at May 28, 2016 and May 30, 2015, respectively, which are included in the line item “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax” on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. Realized gains and losses are included in other income. The cost basis for realized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities is determined on the specific identification method.

At May 28, 2016 and May 30, 2015, we had $360.5 million and $250.0 million, respectively, of current investment securities available-for-sale consisting of commercial paper, time deposits, U.S. government obligations, government agency bonds, taxable municipal bonds, tax-exempt municipal bonds, zero coupon municipal bonds and corporate bonds with maturities of three months or longer when purchased. We classified these securities as current, because the amounts invested are available for current operations. At May 28, 2016 and May 30, 2015 we had $1.9 million and $1.7 million, respectively, of investments in mutual funds which are considered long term and are a part of “Other Investments” in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Investment in Affiliates

The equity method of accounting is used when the Company has a 20% to 50% interest in other entities or when the Company exercises significant influence over the entity. Under the equity method, original investments are recorded at cost and adjusted by the Company’s share of undistributed earnings or losses of these entities. Nonmarketable investments in which the Company has less than a 20% interest and in which it does not have the ability to exercise significant influence over the investee are initially recorded at cost, and periodically reviewed for impairment.

Trade Receivables and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Trade receivables are comprised primarily of amounts owed to the Company from customers, which amounted to $62.0 million at May 28, 2016 and $99.0 million at May 30, 2015. They are presented net of an allowance for doubtful accounts of $727,000 at May 28, 2016 and $513,000 at May 30, 2015. The Company extends credit to customers based upon an evaluation of each customer’s financial condition and credit history. Although credit risks associated with our customers are considered minimal, we routinely review our accounts receivable balances and make provisions for probable doubtful accounts. In circumstances where management is aware of a specific customer’s inability to meet its financial obligations to us (e.g., bankruptcy filings), a reserve is recorded to reduce the receivable to the amount expected to be collected. For all other customers, we recognize reserves for bad debt based on the length of time the receivables are past due, generally 100% for amounts more than 60 days past due. Collateral is generally not required. Credit losses have consistently been within management’s expectations. At both May 28, 2016 and May 30, 2015 two customers accounted for approximately 29% and 24% of the Company’s trade accounts receivable, respectively.

Inventories

Inventories of eggs, feed, supplies and livestock are valued principally at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out method) or market.

The cost associated with flocks, consisting principally of chick purchases, feed, labor, contractor payments and overhead costs, are accumulated during a growing period of approximately 22 weeks. Flock costs are amortized to cost of sales over the productive lives of the flocks, generally one to two years. Flock mortality is charged to cost of sales as incurred.

The Company does not disclose the gross cost and accumulated amortization with respect to its flock inventories since this information is not utilized by management in the operation of the Company.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is provided by the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives, which are 15 to 25 years for buildings and improvements and 3 to 12 years for machinery and equipment. Repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred. Expenditures that increase the value or productive capacity of assets are capitalized. When property, plant, and equipment are retired, sold, or otherwise disposed of, the asset’s carrying amount and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is included in operations. The Company capitalizes interest cost incurred on funds used to construct property, plant, and equipment as part of the asset to which it relates, and is amortized over the asset’s estimated useful life.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews the carrying value of long-lived assets, other than goodwill, for impairment whenever events and circumstances indicate the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable from the estimated future cash flows expected to result from its use and eventual disposition. In cases where expected future cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges) are less than the carrying value, an impairment loss is recognized equal to an amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of assets. The factors considered by management in performing this assessment include current operating results, trends and prospects, the manner in which the property is used, and the effects of obsolescence, demand, competition, and other economic factors.

Intangible Assets

Included in other intangible assets are separable intangible assets acquired in business acquisitions, which include franchise fees, non-compete agreements and customer relationship intangibles, and are amortized over their estimated useful lives of 3 to 25 years. The gross cost and accumulated amortization of intangible assets are removed when the recorded amounts have been fully amortized and the asset is no longer in use or the contract has expired. Included in other long-lived assets are loan acquisition costs, which are amortized over the life of the related loan.

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired. Goodwill is evaluated for impairment annually by first performing a qualitative assessment to determine whether a quantitative goodwill test is necessary. After assessing the totality of events or circumstances, if we determine it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then we perform additional quantitative tests to determine the magnitude of any impairment.

Accrued Self Insurance

We use a combination of insurance and self-insurance mechanisms to provide for the potential liabilities for health and welfare, workers’ compensation, auto liability and general liability risks. Liabilities associated with our risks retained are estimated, in part, by considering claims experience, demographic factors, severity factors and other actuarial assumptions.

Dividends

Cal-Maine pays a dividend to shareholders of its Common Stock and Class A Common Stock on a quarterly basis for each quarter for which the Company reports net income computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in an amount equal to one-third (1/3) of such quarterly income. Dividends are paid to shareholders of record as of the 60th day following the last day of such quarter, except for the fourth fiscal quarter. For the fourth quarter, the Company will pay dividends to shareholders of record on the 65th day after the quarter end. Dividends are payable on the 15th day following the record date. Following a quarter for which the Company does not report net income, the Company will not pay a dividend for a subsequent profitable quarter until the Company is profitable on a cumulative basis computed from the date of the last quarter for which a dividend was paid. Dividends payable were zero and $15.4 million at May 28, 2016 and May 30, 2015, respectively. These amounts represent accrued unpaid dividends applicable to the Company’s fourth quarter net income for each fiscal year.

Treasury Stock

Treasury stock purchases are accounted for under the cost method whereby the entire cost of the acquired stock is recorded as treasury stock. The grant of restricted stock through the Company’s share-based compensation plans is funded through the issuance of treasury stock. Gains and losses on the subsequent reissuance of shares in accordance with the Company’s share-based compensation plans are credited or charged to paid-in capital in excess of par value using the average-cost method.

Revenue Recognition and Delivery Costs

The Company recognizes revenue only when all of the following criteria have been met:

Persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists;

Delivery has occurred;

The fee for the arrangement is determinable; and

Collectability is reasonably assured.

The Company believes the above criteria are met upon delivery and acceptance of the product by our customers. Costs to deliver product to customers are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income and totaled $49.6 million, $47.0 million, and $43.0 million in fiscal years 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively. Sales revenue reported in the accompanying consolidated statements of income is reduced to reflect estimated returns and allowances. The Company records an estimated sales allowance for returns and discounts at the time of sale using historical trends based on actual sales returns and sales.

Sales Incentives provided to Customers

The Company periodically provides incentive offers to its customers to encourage purchases. Such offers include current discount offers (e.g., percentage discounts off current purchases), inducement offers (e.g., offers for future discounts subject to a minimum current purchase), and other similar offers. Current discount offers, when accepted by customers, are treated as a reduction to the sales price of the related transaction, while inducement offers, when accepted by customers, are treated as a reduction to sales price based on estimated future redemption rates. Redemption rates are estimated using the Company’s historical experience for similar inducement offers. Current discount and inducement offers are presented as a net amount in ‘‘Net sales.’’

Advertising Costs

The Company expensed advertising costs as incurred of $10.3 million, $9.3 million, and $8.5 million in fiscal 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively.

Income Taxes

Income taxes are provided using the liability method. Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. The Company’s policy with respect to evaluating uncertain tax positions is based upon whether management believes it is more likely than not the uncertain tax positions will be sustained upon review by the taxing authorities. The tax positions must meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold with consideration given to the amounts and probabilities of the outcomes that could be realized upon settlement using the facts, circumstances and information at the reporting date. The Company will reflect only the portion of the tax benefit that will be sustained upon resolution of the position and applicable interest on the portion of the tax benefit not recognized. The Company shall initially and subsequently measure the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon settlement with a taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. Based upon management’s assessment, there are no uncertain tax positions expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Stock Based Compensation

We account for share-based compensation in accordance with ASC 718, “Compensation-Stock Compensation” (“ASC 718”). ASC 718 requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, restricted stock and performance-based shares to be recognized in the income statement based on their fair values. ASC 718 requires the benefits of tax deductions in excess of recognized compensation cost to be reported as a financing cash flow. See Note 11: Stock Compensation Plans for more information.

Net Income per Common Share

Basic net income per share is based on the weighted average common and Class A shares outstanding. Diluted net income per share includes any dilutive effects of stock options outstanding and unvested restricted shares.

Basic net income per share was calculated by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common and Class A shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per share was calculated by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period plus the dilutive effects of stock options and unvested restricted shares. The computations of basic net income per share and diluted net income per share are as follows (in thousands):


	May 28, 2016	May 30, 2015	May 31, 2014
Net income attributable to Cal-Maine Foods, Inc.	$ 316,041	$ 161,254	$ 109,207

Basic weighted-average common shares (including Class A)	48,195	48,136	48,095

Effect of dilutive securities:
Common stock options and restricted stock	170	301	202
Dilutive potential common shares	48,365	48,437	48,297

Net income per common share:
Basic	$ 6.56	$ 3.35	$ 2.27

Diluted	$ 6.53	$ 3.33	$ 2.26

Contingencies

Certain conditions may exist as of the date the financial statements are issued that may result in a loss to the Company but which will only be resolved when one or more future events occur or fail to occur. The Company’s management and its legal counsel assess such contingent liabilities, and such assessment inherently involves an exercise of judgment. In assessing loss contingencies related to legal proceedings that are pending against the Company or unasserted claims that may result in such proceedings, the Company’s legal counsel evaluates the perceived merits of any legal proceedings or unasserted claims as well as the perceived merits of the amount of relief sought or expected to be sought therein.

If the assessment of a contingency indicates it is probable that a material loss has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be estimated, the estimated liability would be accrued in the Company’s financial statements. If the assessment indicates a potentially material loss contingency is not probable, but is reasonably possible, or is probable but cannot be estimated, then the nature of the contingent liability, together with an estimate of the range of possible loss if determinable and material, would be disclosed. Loss contingencies considered remote are generally not disclosed unless they involve guarantees, in which case the nature of the guarantee would be disclosed.

The Company expenses the costs of litigation as they are incurred.

Impact of Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASU 2014-09). The standard provides companies with a single model for use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific revenue guidance. The core principle of the model is to recognize revenue when control of the goods or services transfers to the customer in an amount that reflects the consideration that is expected to be received for those goods or services. In August 2015, FASB issued ASU 2015-14 which deferred the effective date of ASU 2014-09 until annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is not permitted. The guidance permits companies to either apply the requirements retrospectively to all prior periods presented, or apply the requirements in the year of adoption, through a cumulative adjustment. The Company does not expect ASU 2014-09 to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statement presentation.

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Income Taxes – Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes. The purpose of the standard is to simplify the presentation of deferred taxes on a classified balance sheet. Under current GAAP, deferred income tax assets and liabilities are separated into current and noncurrent amounts in the balance sheet. The amendments in ASU 2015-17 require that all deferred tax assets and liabilities be classified as noncurrent in the balance sheet. ASU 2015-17 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. Early application is permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2015-17 during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016 and retrospectively applied it to all reported periods. Adoption of ASU 2015-17 impacted our previously reported current ratio for fiscal 2015 by increasing it from 3.86 as reported in the prior year to 5.01 as reported in this report.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases. The purpose of the standard is to improve transparency and comparability related to the accounting and reporting of leasing arrangements. The guidance will require balance sheet recognition for assets and liabilities associated with rights and obligations created by leases with terms greater than twelve months. ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2016-02 on its financial statements and presentation.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Compensation Accounting. ASU 2016-09 requires that excess tax benefits are recorded on the income statement as opposed to additional paid-in-capital, and treated as an operating activity on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-09 also allows companies to make an accounting policy election to either estimate the number of awards that are expected to vest or account for forfeitures when they occur. ASU 2016-09 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect ASU 2016-09 to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statement presentation.