OPERATING SEGMENTS

The Company has two operating segments: the Flight Support Group (“FSG”), consisting of HEICO Aerospace and HEICO Flight Support Corp. and their collective subsidiaries; and the Electronic Technologies Group (“ETG”), consisting of HEICO Electronic and its subsidiaries. The Company's operating segment reporting structure is consistent with how management reviews the business, makes investing and resource decisions and assesses operating performance. Additionally, characteristics such as similarity of products, customers, economic characteristics and various other factors are considered when identifying the Company's operating segments. The FSG designs, manufactures, repairs, overhauls and distributes jet engine and aircraft component replacement parts. The parts and services are approved by the FAA. The FSG also manufactures and sells specialty parts as a subcontractor for aerospace and industrial original equipment manufacturers and the U.S. government. Additionally, the FSG is a leading supplier, distributor, and integrator of military aircraft parts and support services primarily to foreign military organizations allied with the U.S. and is a leading manufacturer of advanced niche components and complex composite assemblies for commercial aviation, defense and space applications. Further, the FSG engineers, designs and manufactures thermal insulation blankets and parts and is a leading distributor of aviation electrical interconnect products and electromechanical parts. The ETG collectively designs and manufactures electronic, microwave, and electro-optical equipment and components, three-dimensional microelectronic and stacked memory products, high-speed interface products, high voltage interconnection devices, high voltage advanced power electronics products, power conversion products, underwater locator beacons, electromagnetic interference shielding, traveling wave tube amplifiers, harsh environment electronic connectors and other interconnect products, communications and electronic intercept receivers and tuners, crashworthy and ballistically self-sealing auxiliary fuel systems for military rotorcraft, radio frequency (RF) and microwave amplifiers, transmitters and receivers, satellite microwave modules and integrated subsystems and high performance active antenna systems primarily for the aviation, defense, space, medical, telecommunications and electronics industries.

The Company’s reportable operating segments offer distinctive products and services that are marketed through different channels. They are managed separately because of their unique technology and service requirements.

Segment Profit or Loss

The accounting policies of the Company’s operating segments are the same as those described in Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. Management evaluates segment performance based on segment operating income.

Information on the Company’s two operating segments, the FSG and the ETG, for each of the last three fiscal years ended October 31 is as follows (in thousands):



	Segment				Other, Primarily Corporate and Intersegment ⁽¹⁾			Consolidated Totals
	FSG		ETG		Other, Primarily Corporate and Intersegment ⁽¹⁾			Consolidated Totals
Year ended October 31, 2017:
Net sales		$967,540		$574,261		($16,988	)		$1,524,813
Depreciation	13,042		8,609		227			21,878
Amortization	18,026		24,167		752			42,945
Operating income	179,278		157,451		(30,071		)	306,658
Capital expenditures	15,665		10,100		233			25,998
Total assets	1,042,925		1,339,363		130,143			2,512,431

Year ended October 31, 2016:
Net sales		$875,870		$511,272		($10,884	)		$1,376,258
Depreciation	12,113		8,030		218			20,361
Amortization	16,590		22,664		662			39,916
Operating income	163,427		126,031		(24,113		)	265,345
Capital expenditures	18,434		11,962		467			30,863
Total assets	877,672		1,015,696		105,044			1,998,412

Year ended October 31, 2015:
Net sales		$809,700		$390,982		($12,034	)		$1,188,648
Depreciation	10,859		6,803		168			17,830
Amortization	13,470		15,945		662			30,077
Operating income	149,798		98,833		(18,975		)	229,656
Capital expenditures	11,737		6,201		311			18,249
Total assets	867,213		743,873		89,771			1,700,857

⁽¹⁾ Intersegment activity principally consists of net sales from the ETG to the FSG.

The following table summarizes the Company’s net sales to external customers by product lines included in each operating segment (in thousands):



	Year ended October 31,
	2017			2016			2015
Flight Support Group:
Aftermarket replacement parts ⁽¹⁾		$489,644			$405,108			$356,070
Repair and overhaul parts and services ⁽²⁾	270,482			251,357			258,952
Specialty products ⁽³⁾	207,414			219,405			194,678
Total net sales	967,540			875,870			809,700

Electronic Technologies Group:
Electronic component parts for defense, space and aerospace equipment ⁽⁴⁾	420,991			371,297			255,095
Electronic component parts for equipment in various other industries ⁽⁵⁾	153,270			139,975			135,887
Total net sales	574,261			511,272			390,982

Other, primarily corporate and intersegment	(16,988		)	(10,884		)	(12,034		)

Total consolidated net sales		$1,524,813			$1,376,258			$1,188,648


⁽¹⁾	Includes various jet engine and aircraft component replacement parts.


⁽²⁾	Includes primarily the sale of parts consumed in various repair and overhaul services on selected jet engine and aircraft components, avionics, instruments, composites and flight surfaces of commercial and military aircraft.


⁽³⁾	Includes primarily the sale of specialty components such as thermal insulation blankets, renewable/reusable insulation systems, advanced niche components, complex composite assemblies, and expanded foil mesh.

⁽⁴⁾

Includes various component parts such as electro-optical infrared simulation and test equipment, electro-optical laser products, electro-optical, microwave and other power equipment, high-speed interface products, power conversion products, underwater locator beacons, traveling wave tube amplifiers, microwave power modules, three-dimensional microelectronic and stacked memory products, crashworthy and ballistically self-sealing auxiliary fuel systems, radio frequency (RF) and microwave amplifiers, transmitters and receivers, high performance communications and electronic intercept receivers and tuners and high performance active antenna systems.


⁽⁵⁾	Includes various component parts such as electromagnetic and radio interference shielding, high voltage interconnection devices, high voltage advanced power electronics, harsh environment connectivity products and custom molded cable assemblies.

Major Customer and Geographic Information

The Company markets its products and services in approximately 110 countries. The following table summarizes the Company’s net sales to customers located in the United States and to those in other countries for each of the last three fiscal years ended October 31 (in thousands). Net sales are attributed to countries based on the location of the customer. Net sales to any one customer or originating from any one foreign country did not account for 10% or more of the Company’s consolidated net sales during any of the last three fiscal years. The following table also summarizes the Company’s long-lived assets held within and outside of the United States as of October 31 of the last three fiscal years (in thousands). Long-lived assets consist of net property, plant and equipment.



	2017		2016		2015
Net Sales:
United States of America		$1,007,491		$904,670		$785,567
Other countries	517,322		471,588		403,081
Total net sales		$1,524,813		$1,376,258		$1,188,648

Long-lived assets:
United States of America		$97,367		$94,889		$85,253
Other countries	32,516		26,722		20,417
Total long-lived assets		$129,883		$121,611		$105,670