SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

12 Months Ended

Jan. 31, 2020

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Principles of Consolidation – The accompanying financial statements consolidate the operating results and financial position of REX American Resources Corporation and its wholly-owned and majority owned subsidiaries (the “Company” or "REX"). All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. As of January 31, 2020, the Company owns interests in five operating entities – four are consolidated and one is accounted for using the equity method of accounting. The results of One Earth are included on a delayed basis of one month lag as One Earth has a fiscal year end of December 31. The other consolidated entities have the same fiscal year end as the parent company.

Fiscal Year – All references in these consolidated financial statements to a particular fiscal year are to the Company’s fiscal year ended January 31. For example, “fiscal year 2019” means the period February 1, 2019 to January 31, 2020. The Company refers to its fiscal year by reference to the year immediately preceding the January 31 fiscal year end date.

Segments – In fiscal year 2017, the Company began reporting the results of its refined coal operation as a new segment as a result of the August 10, 2017 acquisition of an entity that operates a refined coal facility (see Note 3). Prior to the acquisition, the Company had one reportable segment, ethanol. Beginning with the third quarter of fiscal year 2017, the Company has two reportable segments: i) ethanol and by-products and ii) refined coal. Within the ethanol and by-products segment, the Company has equity investments in three ethanol limited liability companies, two of which are majority ownership interests. Within the refined coal segment, the Company has a majority equity interest in one refined coal limited liability company.

In applying the criteria set forth in ASC 280, the Company determined that based on the nature of the products and production process and the expected financial results, the Company’s operations at its ethanol plants are aggregated into one reporting segment.

Use of Estimates – The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash Equivalents – Cash equivalents are principally short-term investments with original maturities of three months or less. The carrying amount of cash equivalents approximates fair value.

Basis of Presentation –Interest and other income, net includes the following (amounts in thousands):

	Fiscal Year
	2019		2018			2017
Interest income	$	4,120	$	3,514		$	1,556
Grant income		—		—			691
Loss on sale of investment		—		—			(13	)
Loss on disposal of real estate and property and equipment, net		—		(104	)		(192	)
Other		92		(22	)		18
Total	$	4,212	$	3,388		$	2,060

Concentrations of Risk –The Company maintains cash and cash equivalents in accounts with financial institutions which exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts. The Company does not believe there is significant credit risk related to its cash and cash equivalents. Eight (fiscal year 2019) and six (fiscal years 2018 and 2017) customers accounted for approximately 85%, 85% and 87% of the Company’s net sales and revenue during fiscal years 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. At January 31, 2020 and 2019, these customers represented approximately 88% and 80%, respectively, of the Company’s accounts receivable balance.

Inventory – Inventories are carried at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost for all inventories is determined using the first-in, first-out method. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonable predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. Inventory includes direct production costs and certain overhead costs such as depreciation, property taxes and utilities related to producing ethanol and related by-products and refined coal. Inventory is permanently written down for instances when cost exceeds estimated net realizable value; such write-downs are based primarily upon commodity prices as the market value of inventory is often dependent upon changes in commodity prices. The company recorded approximately $1.3 million of inventory write-downs in cost of sales during fiscal year 2019. There were no significant write-down of inventory during fiscal years 2018 or 2017. Fluctuations in the write-down of inventory generally relate to the levels and composition of such inventory at a given point in time and commodity prices. The components of inventory are as follows (amounts in thousands):

	January 31,
	2020		2019
Ethanol and other finished goods	$	10,864	$	5,767
Work in process		3,258		3,094
Grain and other raw materials		21,512		9,616
Total	$	35,634	$	18,477

Property and Equipment – Property and equipment is recorded at cost or the fair value on the date of acquisition (for property and equipment acquired in a business combination). Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method. Estimated useful lives are 5 to 40 years for buildings and improvements, and 2 to 20 years for fixtures and equipment. The components of property and equipment are as follows (amounts in thousands):

	January 31,
	2020			2019
Land and improvements	$	21,957		$	21,469
Buildings and improvements		23,643			23,608
Machinery, equipment and fixtures		300,972			297,807
Construction in progress		193			708
		346,765			343,592
Less: accumulated depreciation		(183,438	)		(161,071	)
Total	$	163,327		$	182,521

In accordance with ASC 360-05 “Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets”, the carrying value of long-lived assets is assessed for recoverability by management when changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews its long-lived assets, consisting of property and equipment, equity method investments and operating lease right-of-use assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. The Company assesses long-lived assets for impairment by first determining the forecasted, undiscounted cash flows the asset group is expected to generate. If this total is less than the carrying value of the asset, the Company will then determine the fair value of the asset group. An impairment loss would be recognized in the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeded the fair value of the asset. Significant management judgement is required to determine the fair value of long-lived assets, which includes discounted cash flows. Such estimates could be significantly affected by future changes in market conditions. The Company recorded no impairment charges in fiscal years 2019, 2018 and 2017.

Depreciation expense was approximately $23,007,000, $24,828,000 and $21,462,000 in fiscal years 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Investments – The method of accounting applied to long-term investments, whether consolidated, equity or cost, involves an evaluation of the significant terms of each investment that explicitly grant or suggest evidence of control or influence over the operations of the investee and also includes the identification of any variable interests in which the Company is the primary beneficiary. The Company accounts for investments in limited liability companies in which it may have a less than 20% ownership interest, using the equity method of accounting when the factors discussed in ASC 323 “Investments-Equity Method and Joint Ventures” are met. The excess of the carrying value over the underlying equity in the net assets of equity method investees is allocated to specific assets and liabilities. Investments in businesses that the Company does not control but for which it has the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial matters are accounted for using the equity method. The Company accounts for its investment in Big River using the equity method of accounting and includes the results of Big River on a delayed basis of one month as it has a fiscal year end of December 31.

The Company periodically evaluates its investments for impairment due to declines in market value considered to be other than temporary. Such impairment evaluations include, in addition to persistent, declining market prices, general economic and company-specific evaluations. If the Company determines that a decline in market value is other than temporary, then a charge to earnings is recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and a new cost basis in the investment is established.

Short-term investments, consisting of U.S. government obligations and certificates of deposit, are considered held-to-maturity, and, therefore are carried at amortized historical cost.

Revenue Recognition – For ethanol and by-products segment sales, the Company recognizes sales of ethanol, distillers grains and non-food grade corn oil when obligations under the terms of the respective contracts with customers are satisfied; this occurs with the transfer of control of products, generally upon shipment from the ethanol plant or upon loading of the rail car used to transport the products. For refined coal segment sales, the Company recognizes sales of refined coal when obligations under the term of the contract with its customer are satisfied; this occurs when control of the product transfers to the customer, generally upon the coal leaving the refined coal plant. Refined coal sales are recorded net of the cost of coal as the Company purchases the coal feedstock from the customer to which refined coal is sold (after processing). Sales, value add and other taxes the Company collects concurrent with revenue producing activities are excluded from net sales and revenue.

The majority of the Company’s sales have payment terms ranging from 5 to 10 days after transfer of control. The Company has determined that sales contracts do not generally include a significant financing component. The Company has not historically, and does not intend to, enter into sales contracts in which payment is due from a customer prior to transferring product to the customer. Thus, the Company does not record unearned revenue.

See Note 14 for disaggregation of net sales and revenue by operating segment and by product.

Cost of Sales – Cost of sales includes depreciation, costs of raw materials, inbound freight charges, purchasing and receiving costs, inspection costs, other distribution expenses, warehousing costs, plant management, certain compensation costs and general facility overhead charges.

SG&A Expenses – The Company includes non-production related costs such as professional fees, outbound freight charges, selling charges and certain payroll in SG&A expenses.

Financial Instruments – Certain of the forward grain purchase and ethanol, distillers grains and non-food grade corn oil sale contracts are accounted for under the “normal purchases and normal sales” scope exemption of ASC 815, because these arrangements are for purchases of grain that will be delivered in quantities expected to be used and sales of ethanol, distillers grains and non-food grade corn oil that will be produced in quantities expected to be sold by us over a reasonable period of time in the normal course of business. During the years ended January 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 there were no material settlements of forward contracts that were recorded at fair value. The company recorded a liability of $230,000 and $21,000 at January 31, 2020 and January 31, 2019, respectively associated with contracts not accounted for under the “normal purchases and normal sales” scope exemption of ASC 815.

The Company uses derivative financial instruments (exchange-traded futures contracts) to manage a portion of the risk associated with changes in commodity prices, primarily related to corn and ethanol. The Company monitors and manages this exposure as part of its overall risk management policy. As such, the Company seeks to reduce the potentially adverse effects that the volatility of these markets may have on its operating results. The Company may take hedging positions in these commodities as one way to mitigate risk. While the Company attempts to link its hedging activities to purchase and sale activities, there are situations in which these hedging activities can themselves result in losses. The Company does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. The changes in fair value of these derivative financial instruments are recognized in current period earnings as the Company does not use hedge accounting.

Stock Compensation – The Company has a stock-based compensation plan, approved by its shareholders, which reserves a total of 550,000 shares of common stock for issuance pursuant to its terms. The plan provides for the granting of shares of stock, including options to purchase shares of common stock, stock appreciation rights tied to the value of common stock, restricted stock, and restricted stock unit awards to eligible employees, non-employee directors and consultants. The Company measures share-based compensation grants at fair value on the grant date, adjusted for estimated forfeitures. The Company records noncash compensation expense related to equity and liability awards in its consolidated financial statements over the requisite service period on a straight-line basis. See Note 10 for a further discussion of restricted stock.

Income Taxes – The Company provides for deferred tax liabilities and assets for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. The Company provides for a valuation allowance if, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company’s annual effective tax rate includes the impact of its refined coal operation and the expected federal income tax credits to be earned and the impact of research and experimentation credits. In addition, for fiscal year 2017, the Company’s annual effective tax rate includes a benefit related to remeasuring deferred tax liabilities at a federal income tax rate of 21% compared to 35% in historical periods, a result of the Tax Act, which reduced the federal income tax rate on corporations from 35% to 21%.

Comprehensive Income – The Company has no components of other comprehensive income, and therefore, comprehensive income equals net income.

New Accounting Pronouncements – Effective February 1, 2019, the Company adopted the amended guidance in ASC Topic 842 “Leases” and all related amendments (“ASC 842”), which requires virtually all leases be recognized by lessees on their balance sheet as right-of-use assets and corresponding lease liabilities. The adoption of ASC 842 had a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet as total assets and total liabilities increased by approximately $20.9 million upon adoption. The adoption of ASC 842 did not have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations for fiscal year 2019. See Note 7 for a further discussion of the Company’s adoption of this amended guidance.

In August 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2018-13, “Changes to Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurements”, which improves the effectiveness of recurring and non-recurring fair value measurements disclosures. This standard removes, modifies and adds certain disclosure requirements and is effective for the Company beginning February 1, 2020.