Basis of Presentation (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Oct. 01, 2016

Basis of Presentation

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

We prepare our financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, which require us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.  Our estimates and assumptions are reviewed periodically, and the effects of changes, if any, are reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Operations in the period that they are determined.

During 2016 and 2015, we changed our estimates of revenues and costs on certain long-term contracts that are accounted for under the percentage-of-completion method of accounting.  These changes in estimates increased income from continuing operations before income taxes in the third quarter of 2016 and 2015 by $18 million and $14 million, respectively, ($11 million and $9 million after tax, or $0.04 and $0.03 per diluted share, respectively).  For the third quarter of 2016 and 2015, the gross favorable program profit adjustments totaled $21 million and $20 million, respectively, and the gross unfavorable program profit adjustments totaled $3 million and $6 million, respectively.

The changes in estimates increased income from continuing operations before income taxes in the first nine months of 2016 and 2015 by $57 million and $68 million, respectively, ($36 million and $43 million after tax, or $0.13 and $0.15 per diluted share, respectively).  For the first nine months of 2016 and 2015, the gross favorable program profit adjustments totaled $74 million and $93 million, respectively, and the gross unfavorable program profit adjustments totaled $17 million and $25 million, respectively.

New Accounting Pronouncements

New Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, that outlines a comprehensive five-step revenue recognition model based on the principle that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services. In July 2015, the FASB approved a one-year deferral of the effective date of the standard to the beginning of 2018 for public companies, with an option that would permit companies to adopt the standard as early as the original effective date of 2017.  The new standard may be adopted either retrospectively or on a modified retrospective basis whereby it would be applied to new contracts and existing contracts with remaining performance obligations as of the effective date, with a cumulative catch-up adjustment recorded to beginning retained earnings at the effective date for those contracts.  We are currently evaluating the impacts of adoption on our consolidated financial position, results of operations and related disclosures, along with the implementation approach to be used.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases, that requires all leases with a term greater than 12 months be recognized on the balance sheet, while lease expenses would continue to be recognized in the statement of operations in a manner similar to current accounting guidance.  The new standard is effective for our company at the beginning of fiscal 2019 and early adoption is permitted.  Entities must adopt the standard on a modified retrospective basis whereby it would be applied at the beginning of the earliest comparative year.  We are currently evaluating the impact of adoption on our consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses. For most financial assets, such as trade and other receivables, loans and other instruments, this standard changes the current incurred loss model to a forward-looking expected credit loss model, which generally will result in the earlier recognition of allowances for losses.  The new standard is effective for our company at the beginning of fiscal 2020 with early adoption permitted beginning in fiscal 2019.  Entities are required to apply the provisions of the standard through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the effective date.  We are currently evaluating the impact of adoption on our consolidated financial statements.