Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value

NOTE 7 — ASSETS AND LIABILITIES MEASURED AT FAIR VALUE

Accounting Standards Codification 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC 820”) emphasizes fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity-specific measurement. Therefore, a fair value measurement should be determined based on the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. As a basis for considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, ASC 820 establishes a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between market participant assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs classified within Levels 1 and 2 of the hierarchy) and the reporting entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions (unobservable inputs classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy).

Level 1 inputs utilize quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs may include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, as well as inputs observable for the asset or liability (other than quoted prices), such as interest rates, foreign exchange rates and yield curves observable at commonly quoted intervals. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, which are typically based on an entity’s own assumptions, as there is little, if any, related market activity. In instances where the determination of the fair value measurement is based on inputs from different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the entire fair value measurement falls is based on the lowest level input significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Our assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the asset or liability.

Cash Traded Investments

Our cash traded investments are generally classified within Level 1 or Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices, broker or dealer quotations, or alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency. Certain types of cash traded instruments are classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy because they trade infrequently and therefore have little or no price transparency. The valuation of these securities involves management’s judgment, after consideration of market factors and the absence of market transparency, market liquidity and observable inputs. Our valuation models derived fair market values compared to tax-equivalent yields of other securities of similar credit worthiness and similar effective maturities.

Derivative Financial Instruments

We have entered into interest rate swap agreements to manage our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. The valuation of these instruments is determined using widely accepted valuation techniques, including discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows of each derivative. This analysis reflects the contractual terms of the derivatives, including the period to maturity, and uses observable market-based inputs, including interest rate curves and implied volatilities. We incorporate credit valuation adjustments to reflect both our own nonperformance risk and the respective counterparty’s nonperformance risk in the fair value measurements.

Although we determined the majority of the inputs used to value our derivatives fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, the credit valuation adjustments associated with our derivatives utilize Level 3 inputs, such as estimates of current credit spreads to evaluate the likelihood of default by us and our counterparties. We assessed the significance of the impact of the credit valuation adjustments on the overall valuation of our derivative positions, and at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, we determined the credit valuation adjustments were not significant to the overall valuation of our derivatives.

The following tables summarize our assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, aggregated by the level in the fair value hierarchy within which those measurements fall (dollars in millions):

	September 30, 2016
	Fair Value			Fair Value Measurements Using
				Quoted Prices  in Active Markets for Identical Assets and Liabilities (Level 1)			Significant  Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)			Significant Unobservable  Inputs (Level 3)
Assets:
Investments of insurance subsidiaries:
Debt securities:
States and municipalities	$	388		$	—		$	382		$	6
Money market funds		11			11			—			—
		399			11			382			6
Equity securities		4			4			—			—
Investments of insurance subsidiaries		403			15			382			6
Less amounts classified as current assets		(49	)		(11	)		(38	)		—
	$	354		$	4		$	344		$	6
Liabilities:
Interest rate swaps (Income taxes and other liabilities)	$	83		$	—		$	83		$	—
	December 31, 2015
				Fair Value Measurements Using
	Fair Value			Quoted Prices  in Active Markets for Identical Assets and Liabilities (Level 1)			Significant  Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)			Significant Unobservable  Inputs (Level 3)
Assets:
Investments of insurance subsidiaries:
Debt securities:
States and municipalities	$	444		$	—		$	438		$	6
Money market funds		34			34			—			—
		478			34			438			6
Equity securities		4			4			—			—
Investments of insurance subsidiaries		482			38			438			6
Less amounts classified as current assets		(50	)		(34	)		(16	)		—
	$	432		$	4		$	422		$	6
Liabilities:
Interest rate swaps (Income taxes and other liabilities)	$	110		$	—		$	110		$	—

The estimated fair value of our long-term debt was $33.343 billion and $31.411 billion at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, compared to carrying amounts, excluding net debt issuance costs, aggregating $31.619 billion and $30.655 billion, respectively. The estimates of fair value are generally based upon the quoted market prices or quoted market prices for similar issues of long-term debt with the same maturities.