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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
12 Months Ended
Jul. 31, 2022
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Nature of Operations – THOR Industries, Inc. was founded in 1980 and is the sole owner of operating subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company” or “THOR”), that, combined, represent the world’s largest manufacturer of recreational vehicles by units sold and revenue. The Company manufactures a wide variety of RVs in the United States and Europe and sells those vehicles, as well as related parts and accessories, primarily to independent, non-franchise dealers throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. Unless the context requires or indicates otherwise, all references to “THOR,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer to THOR Industries, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

The Company’s business activities are primarily comprised of three distinct operations, which include the design, manufacture and sale of North American towable recreational vehicles, North American motorized recreational vehicles and European recreational vehicles, with the European vehicles including both towable and motorized products as well as other RV-related products and services. Accordingly, the Company has presented financial information for these three segments in Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Principles of Consolidation – The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of THOR Industries, Inc. and its subsidiaries. The Company consolidates all majority-owned subsidiaries, and all intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated upon consolidation. The results of any companies acquired during a year are included in the consolidated financial statements for the applicable year from the effective date of the acquisition.

Estimates – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Key estimates include the valuation of acquired assets and liabilities, reserves for inventory, incurred but not reported medical claims, warranty claims, workers’ compensation claims, vehicle repurchases, uncertain tax positions, product and non-product litigation and assumptions made in asset impairment assessments. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The Company believes that such estimates are made using consistent and appropriate methods. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents – Interest-bearing deposits and other investments with maturities of three months or less when purchased are considered cash equivalents. At July 31, 2022 and July 31, 2021, cash and cash equivalents of $217,411 and $260,101, respectively, were held by one U.S. financial institution. In addition, at July 31, 2022 and July 31, 2021, the equivalent of $30,609 and $111,215, respectively, was held in Euros at one European financial institution and $8,522 and $27,926, respectively, was held in Euros by a different European financial institution.

Derivatives – The Company uses derivative financial instruments to manage its risk related to changes in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. The Company does not hold derivative financial instruments of a speculative nature or for trading purposes. The Company records all derivatives on the Consolidated Balance Sheet at fair value using available market information and other observable data. See Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments – The fair value of long-term debt is discussed in Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Inventories – Inventories are primarily determined on the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) basis, with the remainder on the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) basis. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value, except for inventories determined based on LIFO, which are stated at the lower of cost or market value. Manufacturing costs included in inventory include materials, labor, freight-in and manufacturing overhead. Unallocated overhead and abnormal costs are expensed as incurred.

Depreciation – Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:
Buildings and improvements – 10 to 39 years
Machinery and equipment – 3 to 10 years
Rental vehicles – 6 years
Depreciation expense is recorded in cost of products sold, except for $25,388, $22,409 and $15,060 in fiscal 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively, which relates primarily to office buildings and office equipment and is recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses.

Business Combinations – The Company accounts for the acquisition of a business using the acquisition method of accounting. Assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including amounts attributed to noncontrolling interests, are recorded at the acquisition date at their fair values. Assigning fair values requires the Company to make significant estimates and assumptions regarding the fair value of identifiable intangible assets, inventory, property, plant and equipment, deferred tax asset valuation allowances, and liabilities, such as uncertain tax positions and contingencies. The Company may refine these estimates if necessary, over a period not to exceed one year from the acquisition date, by taking into consideration new information that, if known at the acquisition date, would have affected the fair values ascribed to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

Goodwill – Goodwill results from the excess of purchase price over the net assets of an acquired business. The Company's reporting units are generally the same as its operating segments, which are identified in Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment annually as of May 31 of each fiscal year and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that an impairment may have occurred. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, an impairment charge equal to that excess is recognized, not to exceed the amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit.

Long-lived and Intangible Assets – Property, plant and equipment and identifiable intangibles that are amortized are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable from future cash flows. If the carrying value of a long-lived asset is impaired, an impairment charge is recorded for the amount by which the carrying value of the long-lived asset exceeds its fair value. Intangible assets consist of trademarks, dealer networks/customer relationships, design technology, backlog and non-compete agreements. Trademarks are amortized on a straight-line basis over 15 to 25 years. Dealer networks/customer relationships are amortized on an accelerated basis over 12 to 20 years, with amortization beginning after backlog amortization is completed, if applicable. Design technology and non-compete agreements are amortized using the straight-line method over 2 to 15 years. Backlog is amortized using a straight-line basis over the associated fulfillment period, typically nine months or less.

Product Warranties – Estimated warranty costs are provided at the time of sale of the related products. See Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.

Insurance Reserves – Generally, the Company is self-insured for workers’ compensation, products liability and group medical insurance. Upon the exhaustion of the applicable deductibles or retentions, the Company maintains insurance coverage. Under these plans, liabilities are recognized for claims incurred, including those incurred but not reported. The liability for workers’ compensation claims is determined by the Company with the assistance of a third-party administrator and actuary using various state statutes and historical claims experience. Group medical reserves are estimated using historical claims experience. The Company has established a liability for product liability and personal injury occurrences based on historical data, known cases and actuarial information.

Revenue Recognition – Revenue is recognized as performance obligations under the terms of contracts with customers are satisfied. The Company’s recreational vehicle and other sales contracts have a single performance obligation of providing the promised goods (recreational vehicles or component parts, as applicable), which is satisfied when control of the goods is transferred to the customer.

For recreational vehicle sales, the Company recognizes revenue when its performance obligation has been satisfied and control of the product is transferred to the dealer, which generally aligns with shipping terms. Shipping terms vary depending on regional contracting practices. U.S. customers primarily contract under FOB shipping point terms. European customers generally contract on ExWorks (“EXW”) incoterms (meaning the seller fulfills its obligation to deliver when it makes goods available at its premises, or another specified location, for the buyer to collect). Under EXW incoterms, the performance obligation is satisfied and control is transferred at the point when the customer is notified that the vehicle is available for pickup. Customers do not have a right of return. The majority of warranties provided are assurance-type warranties.

In addition to recreational vehicle sales, the Company also sells specialized component parts and aluminum extrusions to RV original equipment manufacturers and aftermarket sales through dealers and retailers. The Company’s European recreational vehicle reportable segment also sells accessory items and provides repair services through our two owned dealerships. Each part or item represents a distinct performance obligation satisfied when control of the good is transferred to the customer. Service and repair contracts with customers are short term in nature and are recognized when the service is complete.
Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for the Company’s products and services. The amount of revenue recognized includes adjustments for any variable consideration, such as sales discounts, sales allowances, promotions, rebates and other sales incentives which are included in the transaction price and allocated to each performance obligation based on the standalone selling price. The Company estimates variable consideration based on the expected value of total consideration to which customers are likely to be entitled to based primarily on historical experience and current market conditions. Included in the estimate is an assessment as to whether any variable consideration is constrained. Revenue estimates are adjusted at the earlier of a change in the expected value of consideration or when the consideration becomes fixed. During fiscal 2022, fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2020, adjustments to revenue from performance obligations satisfied in prior periods, which relate primarily to changes in estimated variable consideration, were immaterial.

Amounts billed to customers related to shipping and handling activities are included in net sales. The Company has elected to account for shipping and handling costs as fulfillment activities, and these costs are included in cost of products sold. We do not disclose information about the transaction price allocated to the remaining performance obligations at period end because our contracts generally have original expected durations of one year or less. In addition, we expense when incurred contract acquisition costs, primarily sales commissions, because the amortization period, which is aligned with the contract term, is one year or less.

Advertising Costs – Advertising costs, which consist primarily of trade shows, are expensed as incurred, and were $55,461, $44,638 and $67,019 in fiscal 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Foreign Currency – The financial statements of the Company’s foreign operations with a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars using the exchange rate at each balance sheet date for assets and liabilities, and, for revenues and expenses, the weighted-average exchange rate for each applicable period, and the resulting translation adjustments are recorded in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), net of tax. Transaction gains and losses from foreign currency exchange rate changes are recorded in Other income (expense), net in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.

Repurchase Agreements – The Company is contingently liable under terms of repurchase agreements with financial institutions providing inventory financing for certain independent domestic and foreign dealers of certain of its RV products. See Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.

Income Taxes – The objectives of accounting for income taxes are to recognize the amount of taxes payable or refundable for the current year and deferred tax liabilities and assets for the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in our financial statements or tax returns. Judgment is required in assessing the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in our financial statements or tax returns. The actual outcome of these future tax consequences could differ from our estimates and have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

The Company recognizes liabilities for uncertain tax positions based on a two-step process. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step requires the Company to estimate and measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement. It is inherently difficult and subjective to estimate such amounts, as the Company has to determine the probability of various possible outcomes. The Company reevaluates these uncertain tax positions on a quarterly basis. This evaluation is based on factors including, but not limited to, changes in facts or circumstances, changes in tax law, effectively settled issues under audit, voluntary settlements and new audit activity. Such a change in recognition or measurement would result in the recognition of a tax benefit or an additional charge to the tax provision.

Significant judgment is required in determining the Company’s provision for income taxes, the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities and the valuation allowance recorded against the Company’s deferred tax assets. Valuation allowances must be considered due to the uncertainty of realizing deferred tax assets. The Company assesses whether valuation allowances should be established against our deferred tax assets on a tax jurisdictional basis based on the consideration of all available evidence, including cumulative income over recent periods, using a more likely than not standard.

Research and Development – Research and development costs are expensed when incurred and totaled $38,998, $26,775 and $19,123 in fiscal 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Stock-Based Compensation – The Company records compensation expense based on the fair value of stock-based awards, including restricted stock and performance stock units, on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is generally three years, while some stock-based awards use a graded vesting period. Stock-based compensation expense is recorded net of estimated forfeitures, which is based on historical forfeiture rates over the vesting period of employee awards.

Earnings Per Share – Basic earnings per common share (“EPS”) is computed by dividing net income attributable to THOR Industries, Inc. by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted EPS is computed by dividing net income attributable to THOR Industries, Inc. by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding assuming dilution. The difference between basic EPS and diluted EPS is the result of unvested restricted stock units and performance stock units as follows:
202220212020
Weighted-average shares outstanding for basic earnings per share55,034,653 55,333,959 55,172,694 
Unvested restricted stock units and performance stock units229,393 353,294 224,682 
Weighted-average shares outstanding assuming dilution55,264,046 55,687,253 55,397,376 

The Company will exclude unvested restricted stock units and performance stock units that have an antidilutive effect from its calculation of weighted-average shares outstanding. Antidilutive unvested restricted stock units and performance stock units excluded from the July 31, 2022, July 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020 calculations were not material.

Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting,” which provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform, if certain criteria are met. The optional expedients and exceptions are available for all entities as of March 12, 2020, through December 31, 2022. The Company adopted ASU 2020-04, effective March 12, 2020. While there was no impact to the Company’s consolidated financial statements at the time of adoption, the impact of this ASU will ultimately depend on the terms of any future contract modification related to a change in reference rate, including potential future modifications to the Company’s debt facilities and cash flow hedges.