Financial Statements (Policy)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis of presentation [Policy Text Block]

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all estimates and adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. However, actual results could differ from those estimates. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2017. The year-end Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2016 was derived from audited financial statements. This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, references to “we,” “us,” “our,” and the “Company” refer collectively to L.B. Foster Company and its consolidated subsidiaries.

Recently issued accounting standards[Policy Text Block]

Recently issued accounting standards

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)” (“ASU 2014-09”), which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Accounting Standards Codification 605, “Revenue Recognition” (“ASC 605”). ASU 2014-09 is based on the principle that revenue is recognized to depict the transfer of 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 or services. It also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue, cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments, and assets recognized from costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract. ASU 2014-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. The Company continues to evaluate our contracts with customers and assess the impact that this standard will have on the Company's results of operations, cash flows, and financial position. The Company anticipates using the modified retrospective approach at adoption as it relates to ASU 2014-09.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842)” (“ASU 2016-02”). The new accounting requirements include the accounting for, presentation of, and classification of leases. The guidance will result in most leases being capitalized as a right of use asset with a related liability on our balance sheets. The requirements of the new standard are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those annual periods. The Company is in the process of analyzing the impact of ASU 2016-02 on our financial position and results of operations. The Company has a significant number of leases, and, as a result, expects this guidance to have a material impact on its consolidated balance sheet.

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, “Income Taxes – Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory (Topic 740),” (“ASU 2016-16”) which will require an entity to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset, other than inventory, when the transfer occurs. The ASU is effective on January 1, 2018 with early adoption permitted. The Company continues to evaluate the impact this standard will have on the Company’s financial statements.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, “Compensation – Retirement Benefits (Topic 715),” (“ASU 2017-07”) which improves the presentation of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost. The guidance requires that the entity report the service cost component in the same line item or items as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period, and report the other components of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside a subtotal of income from operations. Of the components of net periodic benefit cost, only the service cost component will be eligible for asset capitalization. The new standard will be effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those annual periods. The Company is evaluating its implementation approach and assessing the impact of ASU 2017-07 on our results of operations, cash flows, and financial position.

Recently adopted accounting guidance [Policy Text Block]

Recently adopted accounting guidance

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, “Inventory (Topic 330)” (“ASU 2015-11”). The pronouncement was issued to simplify the measurement of inventory and changes the measurement from lower of cost or market to lower of cost and net realizable value. The standard defines net realizable value as the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. This standard requires prospective application and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of this guidance by the Company did not have a material impact on its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, “Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718)” (“ASU 2016-09”), which simplifies the accounting for share-based compensation. Among other things, ASU 2016-09 provides for (i) the simplification of accounting presentation of excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies, (ii) an accounting policy election regarding forfeitures to use an estimate or account for when incurred, and (iii) simplification of cash flow presentation for excess tax benefits. The standard is effective for the annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and the transition method required by ASU 2016-09 varies by amendment. The provisions of ASU 2016-09 related to the recognition of excess tax benefits in the income statement and classification in the statement of cash flows were adopted prospectively and prior periods were not retrospectively adjusted. ASU 2016-09 permits companies to make an accounting policy election to recognize forfeitures of stock-based awards as they occur or make an estimate by applying a forfeiture rate each quarter. The Company previously estimated forfeitures and will continue to apply this accounting policy.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350),” (“ASU 2017-04”) which simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Under the new guidance, an entity will recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value. This standard is effective for annual or any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. The adoption of this guidance by the Company did not to have a material impact on its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements or interim goodwill testing.