We are a neighborhood discount retailer in the United States (“U.S.”). At January 30, 2021, we operated 1,408 stores in 47 states and an e-commerce platform. Our mission is to help people live BIG and save LOTS. Our vision is to be the BIG difference for a better life by delivering unmatched value through surprise and delight, by building a “Best Places to Work” culture, by rewarding shareholders with consistent growth and top tier returns, and by doing good as we do well. Our values are leading with our core customer (whom we refer to as Jennifer), treating all like friends, succeeding together, and playing to win.

The consolidated financial statements include Big Lots, Inc. and all of its subsidiaries, have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), and include all of our accounts. We consolidate all majority-owned and controlled subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates, judgments, and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period, as well as the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. The use of estimates, judgments, and assumptions creates a level of uncertainty with respect to reported or disclosed amounts in our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates, judgments, and assumptions, including those that management considers critical to the accurate presentation and disclosure of our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Management bases its estimates, judgments, and assumptions on historical experience, current trends, and various other factors that it believes are reasonable under the circumstances. Because of the inherent uncertainty in using estimates, judgments, and assumptions, actual results may differ from these estimates.

Our fiscal year ends on the Saturday nearest to January 31, which results in fiscal years consisting of 52 or 53 weeks. Unless otherwise stated, references to years in this report relate to fiscal years rather than calendar years. Fiscal year 2020 (“2020”) was comprised of the 52 weeks that began on February 2, 2020 and ended on January 30, 2021. Fiscal year 2019 (“2019”) was comprised of the 52 weeks that began on February 3, 2019 and ended on February 1, 2020. Fiscal year 2018 (“2018”) was comprised of the 52 weeks that began on February 4, 2018 and ended on February 2, 2019.

Cash and cash equivalents primarily consist of amounts on deposit with financial institutions, outstanding checks, credit and debit card receivables, and highly liquid investments, such as money market funds, treasury bills, and commercial paper, which are unrestricted to withdrawal or use and which have an original maturity of three months or less. We review cash and cash equivalent balances on a bank by bank basis in order to identify book overdrafts. Book overdrafts occur when the aggregate amount of outstanding checks and electronic fund transfers exceed the cash deposited at a given bank. We reclassify book overdrafts, if any, to accounts payable on our consolidated balance sheets. Amounts due from banks for credit and debit card transactions are typically settled in less than three days, and at January 30, 2021 and February 1, 2020, totaled $34.7 million and $28.8 million, respectively.

Investment securities are classified as available-for-sale, held-to-maturity, or trading at the date of purchase. Investments are recorded at fair value as either current assets or non-current assets based on the stated maturity or our plans to either hold or sell the investment. Unrealized holding gains and losses on trading securities are recognized in earnings. Unrealized holding gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are recognized in other comprehensive income until realized. We did not own any held-to-maturity or available-for-sale securities as of January 30, 2021 and February 1, 2020.

Merchandise inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market using the average cost retail inventory method. Cost includes any applicable inbound shipping and handling costs associated with the receipt of merchandise into our distribution centers (see the discussion below under the caption “Selling and Administrative Expenses” for additional information regarding outbound shipping and handling costs to our stores). Market is determined based on the estimated net realizable value, which generally is the merchandise selling price. Under the average cost retail inventory method, inventory is segregated into classes of merchandise having similar characteristics at its current retail selling value. Current retail selling values are converted to a cost basis by applying an average cost factor to each specific merchandise class’s retail selling value. Cost factors represent the average cost-to-retail ratio computed using beginning inventory and all fiscal year-to-date purchase activity specific to each merchandise class.

Under the average cost retail inventory method, permanent sales price markdowns result in cost reductions in inventory. Our permanent sales price markdowns are typically related to end of season clearance events and are recorded as a charge to cost of sales in the period of management’s decision to initiate sales price reductions with the intent not to return the price to regular retail. Promotional markdowns are recorded as a charge to net sales in the period the merchandise is sold. Promotional markdowns are typically related to specific marketing efforts with respect to products maintained continuously in our stores or products that are only available in limited quantities but represent substantial value to our customers. Promotional markdowns are principally used to drive higher sales volume during a defined promotional period.

We record a reduction to inventories and charge to cost of sales for an allowance for shrinkage. The allowance for shrinkage is calculated as a percentage of sales for the period from the last physical inventory date to the end of the reporting period. Such estimates are based on a combination of our historical experience and current year physical inventory results.

We record a reduction to inventories and charge to cost of sales for any excess or obsolete inventory. The excess or obsolete inventory is estimated based on a review of our aged inventory and takes into account any items that have already received a cost reduction as a result of the permanent markdown process discussed above. We estimate the reduction for excess or obsolete inventory based on historical sales trends, age and quantity of product on hand, and anticipated future sales.

Depreciation and amortization expense of property and equipment are recorded on a straight‑line basis using estimated service lives. The estimated service lives of our depreciable property and equipment by major asset category were as follows:


Land improvements			15 years
Buildings			40 years
Leasehold improvements			5 - 10 years
Store fixtures and equipment			2 - 7 years
Distribution and transportation fixtures and equipment			5 - 15 years
Office and computer equipment			3 - 5 years
Computer software costs			3 - 8 years
Company vehicles			3 years

Depreciation estimates are revised prospectively to reflect the remaining depreciation or amortization of the asset over the shortened estimated service life when a decision is made to dispose of property and equipment prior to the end of its previously estimated service life. The cost of assets sold or retired and the related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts with any resulting gain or loss included in selling and administrative expenses. Major repairs that extend service lives are capitalized. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. Capitalized interest was not significant in any period presented.

Our long-lived assets primarily consist of property and equipment - net and operating lease right-of-use assets. In order to determine if impairment indicators are present for store property and equipment and operating lease right-of-use assets, we review historical operating results at the store level on an annual basis, or when other impairment indicators are present. Generally, all other property and equipment and operating lease right-of-use assets are reviewed for impairment at the enterprise level. If the net book value of a store’s long-lived assets is not recoverable by the expected undiscounted future cash flows of the store, we estimate the fair value of the store’s assets and recognize an impairment charge for the excess net book value of the store’s long-lived assets over their fair value. Our assumptions related to estimates of undiscounted future cash flows are based on historical results of cash flows adjusted for management projections for future periods. We estimate the fair value of our long-lived assets using expected cash flows, including salvage value, which is based on readily available market information for similar assets.

During 2018, we acquired the Broyhill® trademark and trade name. This trademark and trade name have indefinite lives. We test the trademark and trade name for impairment annually or whenever circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the asset may not be recoverable. We estimate the fair value of these intangible assets based on an income approach. We perform our annual impairment testing during our fourth fiscal quarter of each year.

We have a savings plan with a 401(k) deferral feature and a nonqualified deferred compensation plan with a similar deferral feature for eligible employees. We provide a matching contribution based on a percentage of employee contributions. Our matching contributions are subject to Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) regulations. For 2020, 2019, and 2018, we expensed $9.2 million, $8.3 million, and $8.5 million, respectively, related to our matching contributions. In connection with our nonqualified deferred compensation plan, we had liabilities of $33.0 million and $33.9 million at January 30, 2021 and February 1, 2020, respectively, which are recorded in other liabilities. In December 2020, we notified plan participants in our nonqualified deferred compensation plan of our decision to terminate the plan and distribute all account balances to plan participants by the end of 2021.

We account for income taxes under the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the consolidated financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial statement basis and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted law and tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

We assess the adequacy and need for a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets. In making such assessment, we consider all available positive and negative evidence, including scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, tax planning strategies and recent financial operations. We have established a valuation allowance to reduce our deferred tax assets to the balance that is more likely than not to be realized.

We recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within the income tax expense line in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. Accrued interest and penalties are included within the related tax liability line in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

The effective income tax rate in any period may be materially impacted by the overall level of income (loss) before income taxes, the jurisdictional mix and magnitude of income (loss), changes in the income tax laws (which may be retroactive to the beginning of the fiscal year), subsequent recognition, de-recognition and/or measurement of an uncertain tax benefit, changes in a deferred tax valuation allowance, and adjustments of a deferred tax asset or liability for enacted changes in tax laws or rates.

We are self-insured for certain losses relating to property, general liability, workers’ compensation, and employee medical, dental, and prescription drug benefit claims, a portion of which is paid by employees. We purchase stop-loss coverage to limit significant exposure in these areas. Accrued insurance-related liabilities and related expenses are based on actual claims filed and estimates of claims incurred but not reported and are reliably determinable. The accruals are determined by applying actuarially-based calculations.

The fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy, as defined below, gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs.

Level 2, defined as observable inputs other than Level 1 inputs. These include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in an active market, quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

We recognize sales revenue at the time the customer takes possession of the merchandise (i.e., the point at which we transfer the goods). Sales are recorded net of discounts (i.e., the amount of consideration we expect to receive for the goods) and estimated returns and exclude any sales tax. The reserve for merchandise returns is estimated based on our prior return experience.

We sell gift cards in our stores, online, and through third-party retailers, and issue merchandise credits, typically as a result of customer returns, on stored value cards. We do not charge administrative fees on unused gift card or merchandise credit balances and our gift cards and merchandise credits do not expire. We recognize sales revenue related to gift cards and merchandise credits (1) when the gift card or merchandise credit is redeemed in a sales transaction by the customer or (2) as breakage occurs. We recognize gift card and merchandise credit breakage when we estimate that the likelihood of the card or credit being redeemed by the customer is remote and we determine that we do not have a legal obligation to remit the value of unredeemed cards or credits to the relevant regulatory authority. We estimate breakage based upon historical redemption patterns. The liability for the unredeemed cash value of gift cards and merchandise credits is recorded in accrued operating expenses in our consolidated balance sheets.

We offer price hold contracts and buy now pick up later arrangements on merchandise. Revenue for price hold contracts and buy now pick up later arrangements is recognized when the customer makes the final payment and takes possession of the merchandise. Amounts paid by customers under price hold contracts and buy now pick up later arrangements are recorded in accrued operating expenses in our consolidated balance sheets until a sale is consummated.

We recognize sales revenue for direct-to-customer transactions on our e-commerce platform at the time the merchandise is shipped (i.e., the point at which we transfer the goods). We also offer buy online pick up in store services on our e-commerce platform. Revenue for buy online pick up in store transactions is recognized when the customer takes possession of the merchandise at the store.

Cost of sales includes the cost of merchandise, net of cash discounts and rebates, markdowns, and inventory shrinkage. Cost of merchandise includes related inbound freight to our distribution centers, duties, and commissions. We classify warehousing, distribution and outbound transportation costs as selling and administrative expenses. Due to this classification, our gross margin rates may not be comparable to those of other retailers that include warehousing, distribution and outbound transportation costs in cost of sales.

Selling and administrative expenses include store expenses (such as payroll and occupancy costs) and costs related to warehousing, distribution, outbound transportation to our stores, advertising, purchasing, insurance, non-income taxes, accepting credit/debit cards, and overhead. Our selling and administrative expense rates may not be comparable to those of other retailers that include warehousing, distribution, and outbound transportation costs in cost of sales. Distribution and outbound transportation costs included in selling and administrative expenses were $251.0 million, $191.8 million, and $180.5 million for 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.

We determine if an arrangement contains a lease at inception of the agreement. Our leased property consists of our retail stores, our distribution centers, store security, and other office equipment. Certain of our store and distribution center leases have rent escalations and/or have tenant allowances or other lease incentives, which are fixed in nature and included in our calculation of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities. Certain of our store leases provide for contingent rents, which are recorded as variable

costs and not included in our calculation of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities. Many of our leases obligate us to pay for our applicable portion of real estate taxes, common area maintenance costs (“CAM”), and property insurance, which are recorded as variable costs and not included in our calculation of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities, except for certain fixed CAM and insurance charges that are not variable. Many of our leases contain provisions for options to renew, extend the original term for additional periods, or terminate the lease if certain sales thresholds are not attained. We have assessed the reasonable certainty of these provisions to determine the appropriate lease term. Our lease agreements do not contain material residual value guarantees (excluding the Synthetic Lease discussed in note 5 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements), restrictions, or covenants.

We recognize a lease liability and right-of-use asset at commencement of the lease when possession of the property is taken from the lessor, which, for stores, normally includes a construction or set-up period prior to store opening. We begin recognizing rent expense at commencement of the lease. Rent expense for operating leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term and is included in selling and administrative expenses.

Advertising costs, which are expensed as incurred, consist primarily of television and print advertising, digital, social media, internet and e-mail marketing and advertising, and in-store point-of-purchase signage and presentations. Advertising expenses are included in selling and administrative expenses. Advertising expenses were $102.8 million, $95.2 million, and $93.6 million for 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.

We expense our non-vested restricted stock units with graded vesting as a single award with an average estimated life over the entire term of the award. The expense for the non-vested restricted stock units is recorded on a straight-line basis over the vesting period.

In 2020, we awarded performance share units with a restriction feature to certain members of senior management, which vest based on the achievement of share price performance goals and a minimum service requirement of one year (“PRSUs”). The PRSUs have a contractual term of three years. The grant date fair value and estimated vesting period of the PRSUs is determined by a third party using a Monte Carlo simulation. The awards are expensed over their estimated vesting period on a straight-line basis.

Compensation expense for performance share units (“PSUs”) is recorded based on fair value of the award on the grant date and the estimated achievement of financial performance objectives. From an accounting perspective, the grant date is established once all financial performance targets have been set. We monitor the estimated achievement of the financial performance objectives at each reporting period and will potentially adjust the estimated expense on a cumulative basis. The expense for the PSUs is recorded on a straight-line basis from the grant date through the end of the performance period.

Basic earnings per share is based on the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during each period. Diluted earnings per share is based on the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during each period and the additional dilutive effect of stock options, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units, PRSUs, and PSUs, calculated using the treasury stock method.

We use derivative instruments to mitigate the risk of market fluctuations in diesel fuel prices. We do not enter into derivative instruments for speculative purposes. Our derivative instruments may consist of collar or swap contracts. Our current derivative instruments do not meet the requirements for cash flow hedge accounting. Instead, our derivative instruments are marked-to-market to determine their fair value and any gains or losses are recognized currently in other income (expense) on our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.


(In thousands)	2020		2019		2018
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	$	6,366	$	17,446	$	10,292
Cash paid for income taxes, excluding impact of refunds	217,308		29,375		59,691
Gross proceeds from long-term debt	514,500		1,811,000		1,861,900
Gross payments of long-term debt	757,727		1,891,609		1,687,600
Gross financing proceeds from sale and leaseback	133,999		—		—
Gross repayments of financing from sale and leaseback	10,564		—		—
Cash paid for operating lease liabilities	340,747		292,048		—
Non-cash activity:
Assets acquired under finance or capital leases	—		70,831		902
Accrued property and equipment	17,791		17,632		32,264
Operating lease right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities	$	694,811	$	1,493,888	$	—

In August 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2018-15 Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software. This update evaluates the accounting for costs paid by a customer to implement a cloud computing arrangement. The new guidance aligns cloud computing arrangement implementation cost accounting with the capitalization requirements for internal-use software development, while leaving the accounting for service elements unchanged. On February 2, 2020, we adopted ASU 2018-15 on a prospective basis. The impact of the adoption was immaterial to the consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The update requires a lessee to recognize, on the balance sheet, a liability to make lease payments and a right-of-use asset representing a right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. Additionally, this guidance expanded related disclosure requirements. On February 3, 2019, we adopted the new standard and elected the optional transition method, as allowed by ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842), Targeted Improvements, to apply the new standard as of the effective date. Therefore, we have not applied the new standard to the comparative prior periods presented in the consolidated financial statements. We elected to apply the following practical expedients and policy elections at adoption:


Practical expedient package						We have not reassessed whether any expired or existing contracts are, or contain, leases.
						We have not reassessed the lease classification for any expired or existing leases.
						We have not reassessed initial direct costs for any expired or existing leases.
Hindsight practical expedient						We have not elected the hindsight practical expedient, which permits the use of hindsight when determining lease term and impairment of operating lease assets.
Separation of lease and non-lease components						We have elected to establish an accounting policy to account for lease and non-lease components as a single component for our real estate class of assets.
Short-term policy						We have elected to establish a short-term lease exception policy, permitting us to not apply the recognition requirements of the new standard to short-term leases (i.e., leases with terms of 12 months or less).

Adoption of this ASU 2016-02, in the first quarter of 2019, resulted in the recognition of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for operating leases of $1,110 million and $1,138 million, respectively, with difference in amounts being primarily comprised of pre-existing deferred rent and prepaid rent. The impact of the adoption was immaterial to the consolidated statements of shareholders’ equity. For further discussion on our leases, see note 5 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

We have evaluated events and transactions subsequent to the balance sheet date. Based on this evaluation, we are not aware of any events or transactions that occurred subsequent to the balance sheet date but prior to filing that would require recognition or disclosure in our consolidated financial statements.