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General (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation
Basis of Presentation. The consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes thereto (referred to herein as consolidated financial statements) as of March 31, 2020 and 2019 and or the years ended March 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018 were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (US GAAP).
Consolidation
Consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Reclassifications
Reclassifications. Certain reclassifications were made for prior periods presented to conform to the current period presentation.

Use of Estimates
Use of Estimates. The preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported. Management bases these estimates and assumptions upon historical experience, existing and known circumstances, authoritative accounting pronouncements and other factors that management believes to be reasonable. Although the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is unknown and cannot be reasonably estimated, the Company has made appropriate accounting estimates based on the facts and circumstances available as of the reporting date. To the extent there are differences between these estimates and actual results, the Company’s consolidated financial statements may be materially affected.

Significant areas requiring the use of management estimates relate to inventory write-downs, trade accounts receivable allowances, including variable consideration for net sales provided to customers, contract assets and liabilities, stock-based compensation, impairment assessments, goodwill and other intangible assets, depreciation and amortization, income tax receivables and liabilities, uncertain tax positions, the fair value of financial instruments, the reasonably certain lease term, lease classification, and the Company's incremental borrowing rate (IBR) utilized to discount its unpaid lease payments to measure its operating lease assets and liabilities.
Foreign Currency Translation
Foreign Currency Translation. The Company considers the United States (US) dollar as its functional currency. The Company’s wholly-owned foreign subsidiaries have various assets and liabilities, primarily cash, receivables, and payables, which are denominated in currencies other than their functional currency. The Company remeasures these monetary assets and liabilities using the exchange rate at the end of the reporting period, which results in gains and losses that are recorded in selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income as incurred. In addition, the Company translates assets and liabilities of subsidiaries with reporting currencies other than US dollars into US dollars using the exchange rates at the end of the reporting period, which results in financial statement translation gains and losses recorded in other comprehensive income or loss (OCI).

Reportable Operating Segments Reportable Operating Segments. The Company’s six reportable operating segments include the worldwide wholesale operations of the UGG brand, HOKA brand, Teva brand, Sanuk brand, and Other brands, as well as DTC (referred to herein as reportable operating segments).

Information reported to the Chief Operating Decision Maker (CODM), who is the Company’s Principal Executive Officer, is organized into six reportable operating segments and is consistent with how the CODM evaluates performance and allocates resources. The Company does not consider international operations to be a separate reportable operating segment, and the CODM reviews such operations in the aggregate with the reportable operating segments. Inter-segment sales from the Company’s wholesale reportable operating segments to the DTC reportable operating segment are at the Company’s cost, and there is no inter-segment profit on these inter-segment sales, nor are they reflected in income (loss) from operations of the wholesale reportable operating segments.

The Company evaluates reportable operating segment performance primarily based on net sales and income (loss) from operations. The wholesale operations of each brand are generally managed separately because each requires different marketing, research and development, design, sourcing, and sales strategies. The income (loss) from operations of each of the reportable operating segments includes only those costs which are specifically related to each reportable operating segment, which consist primarily of cost of sales, research and development, design, sales and marketing, depreciation, amortization, and the direct costs of employees within those reportable operating segments. The Company does not allocate corporate overhead costs or non-operating income and expenses to reportable operating segments, which include unallocable overhead costs associated with distribution centers, certain executive and stock-based compensation, accounting, finance, legal, information technology, human resources, and facilities, among others.
Assets allocated to each reportable operating segment include trade accounts receivable, net, inventories, net, property and equipment, net, operating lease assets, goodwill, other intangible assets, net, and certain other assets that are specifically identifiable for one of the Company's reportable operating segments. Unallocated assets are those assets not directly related to a specific reportable operating segment and generally include cash and cash equivalents, deferred tax assets, net, and various other corporate assets shared by the Company's reportable operating segments.

Restructuring Plan
Restructuring Plan. In February 2016, the Company announced the implementation of a multi-year restructuring plan which was designed to realign its brands across its Fashion Lifestyle and Performance Lifestyle groups, optimize the Company’s worldwide owned retail store fleet, and consolidate its management and operations. In general, the intent of this restructuring plan was to reduce overhead costs and create operating efficiencies while improving collaboration across brands. As of March 31, 2019, the Company has completed its restructuring plan, incurred cumulative restructuring charges to date, and does not anticipate incurring restructuring charges in connection with this plan in future periods.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Recent Accounting Pronouncements. The Financial Accounting Standards Board has issued accounting standards updates (ASUs) that have been adopted and not yet adopted by the Company for its annual and interim reporting periods as stated below.

Recently Adopted. Adopted ASUs during the year ended March 31, 2020 and the impact on the Company, were as follows:
Standard
 
Description
 
Impact on Adoption
ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (as amended by ASUs 2015-14, 2018-01, 2018-10, 2018-11, 2018-20, and 2019-01)
 
Requires a lessee to recognize a lease asset and lease liability in its consolidated balance sheets. A lessee should recognize a right-of-use (ROU) asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the estimated lease term, and a liability for related lease payments.
 
The Company adopted this ASU (the new lease standard) on a modified retrospective basis beginning April 1, 2019. On adoption, the Company recorded a $230,048 increase to total assets due to the recognition of ROU assets, net of prior legacy US GAAP lease-related balances for deferred rent obligations and tenant allowances of $27,895, as previously recorded in other accrued expenses, deferred rent obligations, and other long-term liabilities, in the consolidated balance sheets. In addition, the Company recorded a corresponding $254,538 increase to total liabilities due to the recognition of lease liabilities, net of a prior legacy US GAAP lease-related balance for prepaid rent of $4,846, as previously recorded in prepaid expenses, in the consolidated balance sheets. ROU assets and lease liabilities include lease obligations for operating leases for retail stores, showrooms, offices, and distribution facilities. ROU assets and related lease liabilities are presented as operating lease assets and operating lease liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.

In addition, the Company recorded a net cumulative effect after-tax decrease to opening retained earnings of $1,068 in the consolidated balance sheets due to the impairment of select operating lease assets related to retail stores whose fixed assets had been previously impaired and for which the initial carrying value of the operating lease assets were determined to be above fair market value on adoption.

The adoption of the new lease standard did not materially affect the consolidated statements of comprehensive income as the classification and recognition of lease cost did not materially change from legacy US GAAP. Similarly, it did not have a material impact on the Company's liquidity or on its debt covenant compliance under current agreements
 including its borrowing strategy subject to leverage ratios. However, it did result in additional disclosures and presentation changes to the consolidated statements of cash flows in the current period, including supplemental cash flow disclosure, as well as expanded disclosures on existing and new lease commitments.

The Company elected the “package of practical expedients” permitted under the transition guidance of this ASU, which provides a number of transition options, including (1) exemption from reassessment of prior conclusions about lease identification, classification and initial direct costs; (2) the ability to elect a short-term lease recognition exemption; and (3) the option to not separate lease and non-lease components. In addition, the Company did not apply the optional hindsight election and maintained original lease terms as estimated at lease inception.

The comparative consolidated financial statements have not been restated and continue to be reported under legacy US GAAP in effect for those prior reporting periods presented. Refer to Note 7, “Leases and Other Commitments,” for further information, including expanded disclosures required under the new lease standard. Refer to the section below entitled “Operating Lease Assets and Lease Liabilities” for further details on the Company’s accounting policy.
Standard
 
Description
 
Impact on Adoption
ASU No. 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging: Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities (as amended by ASUs 2018-16 and 2019-04)
 
Seeks to improve the transparency and understandability of information conveyed to financial statement users about an entity's risk management activities and to reduce the complexity of and simplify the application of hedge accounting. This ASU eliminates the requirement to separately measure and report hedge ineffectiveness.
 
The Company adopted this ASU (the new hedging standard) beginning April 1, 2019 on a prospective basis, which did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

However, the Company made a change in accounting policy with respect to ineffective hedges and elected not to exclude hedge components from the periodic assessment of hedge effectiveness. Under legacy US GAAP, these amounts were excluded from hedge effectiveness and therefore excluded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss (AOCL), and immediately recorded in SG&A expenses in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Under the new hedging standard, these gains or losses will now be recorded as a component of AOCL and will be reclassified to net sales in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income in the same period or periods as the related net sales are recorded.

The comparative consolidated financial statements have not been restated and continue to be reported under legacy US GAAP in effect for those prior reporting periods presented.

Refer to Note 9, “Derivative Instruments,” for further information on the Company's hedging instruments.

Not Yet Adopted. Applicable ASUs issued that have not yet been adopted by the Company, the planned period of adoption, and the expected impact on the Company on adoption, are as follows:
Standard
 
Description
 
Planned Period of Adoption
 
Expected Impact on Adoption
ASU No. 2017-04, Goodwill and Other: Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment (as amended by ASU 2019-06)
 
Requires annual and interim goodwill impairment tests be performed by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount, effectively eliminating step two of the goodwill impairment test under legacy US GAAP. The amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value will continue to be recognized as an impairment charge.
 
Q1 FY 2021
 
The Company does not expect that the adoption of this ASU will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (as amended by ASUs 2018-19, 2019-04, 2019-05, 2019-11, 2020-02, and 2020-03)
 
Replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology in legacy US GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates.

 
Q1 FY 2021
 
The Company does not expect that the adoption of this ASU will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
ASU No. 2019-12, Income Taxes - Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes
 
Removes certain exceptions for recognizing deferred taxes for investments, performing intra-period allocation and calculating income taxes in interim periods, as well as reduces complexity in certain areas, including recognizing deferred taxes for tax goodwill and allocating taxes to members of a consolidated group.
 
Q1 FY 2022
 
The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this ASU; however, the Company does not expect that the adoption will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Standard
 
Description
 
Planned Period of Adoption
 
Expected Impact on Adoption
ASU No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform - Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting
 
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) is a benchmark interest rate referenced in a variety of agreements that are used by all types of entities. At the end of 2021, banks will no longer be required to report information that is used to determine LIBOR. As a result, LIBOR could be discontinued. Other interest rates used globally could also be discontinued for similar reasons.

This ASU provides companies with optional guidance to ease the potential accounting burden associated with transitioning away from reference rates that are expected to be discontinued. Guidance is limited for adoption through December 31, 2022.
 
Q4 FY 2021
 
The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this ASU on its consolidated financial statements.

Cash Equivalents Cash Equivalents. The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Allowances for Doubtful Accounts. The Company provides an allowance against trade accounts receivable for estimated losses that may result from customers’ inability to pay. The Company determines the amount of the allowance by analyzing known uncollectible accounts, aged trade accounts receivable, economic conditions and forecasts, historical experience and the customers’ creditworthiness. Trade accounts receivable that are subsequently determined to be uncollectible are charged or written off against this allowance. Additions to the allowance represent bad debt expense estimates which are recorded in SG&A expenses in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. The allowance includes specific allowances for trade accounts, for which all or a portion are identified as potentially uncollectible based on known or anticipated losses.
Inventories
Inventories. Inventories, principally finished goods on hand and in transit, are stated at the lower of cost (weighted average) or net realizable value less an approximate normal profit margin at each financial statement date. Cost includes shipping, duty, and handling fees which are subsequently expensed to cost of sales. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation.
Cloud Computing Arrangements
Cloud Computing Arrangements. The Company enters into various cloud computing arrangements (CCA) that are governed by service contracts (hosting arrangements) to support operations. Application development stage implementation costs (implementation costs) of a hosting arrangement are deferred and recorded to prepaid expenses and other assets in the consolidated balance sheets. Implementation costs are expensed on a straight-line basis and recorded in SG&A expenses in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income over the term of the hosting arrangement, including reasonably certain renewals, which are generally one to five years.
Property and Equipment, Depreciation and Amortization
Property and Equipment, Depreciation and Amortization. Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization, and generally have a useful life of at least one year. Property and equipment include tangible, non-consumable items owned by the Company. Software implementation costs are capitalized if they are incurred during the application development stage and relate to costs to obtain computer software from third parties, including related consulting expenses, or costs incurred to modify existing software that results in additional upgrades or enhancements that provide additional functionality.

Depreciation of property and equipment is calculated using the straight-line method based on the estimated useful life. Leasehold improvements are amortized to their residual value, if any, on the straight-line basis over their estimated economic useful lives or the lease term, whichever is shorter. Changes in the estimate of the useful life of an asset may occur after an asset is placed in service. For example, this may occur as a result of the Company incurring costs that prolong the useful life of an asset and are recorded as an adjustment to depreciation over the revised remaining useful life. Depreciation and amortization are recorded in SG&A expenses in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.
Operating Lease Assets and Lease Liabilities
Operating Lease Assets and Lease Liabilities. The Company determines if an arrangement contains a lease at inception of a contract. The Company recognizes operating lease assets and lease liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets on the lease commencement date, based on the present value of the outstanding lease payments over the reasonably certain lease term. The lease term includes the non-cancelable period at the lease commencement date, plus any additional periods covered by the Company's options to extend (or not to terminate) the lease that are reasonably certain to be exercised, or an option to extend (or not to terminate) a lease that is controlled by the lessor.

Operating lease assets are initially measured at cost, which comprises the initial amount of the associated lease liabilities, adjusted for lease payments made at or before the lease commencement date, plus any initial direct costs incurred, less any lease incentives, such as tenant allowances. Operating lease assets are subsequently measured throughout the lease term at the carrying amount of the associated lease liabilities, plus initial direct costs, plus or minus any prepaid or accrued lease payments, less the unamortized balance of lease incentives received. Operating lease assets and lease liabilities are presented separately in the consolidated balance sheets on a discounted basis. The current portion of operating lease liabilities is presented within current liabilities, while the long-term portion is presented separately as long-term operating lease liabilities. Refer to Note 7, “Leases and Other Commitments,” for further information on discount rate methodology used to measure operating lease assets and lease liabilities.

Rent expense for operating lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term and recorded in SG&A expenses in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Lease payments recorded in the operating lease liability are (1) fixed payments, including in-substance fixed payments and fixed rate increases, owed over the lease term and (2) exclude any lease prepayments as of the periods presented. Refer to Note 7, “Leases and Other Commitments,” for further information on the nature of variable lease payments and timing of recognition in rent expense.

The Company has elected not to recognize operating lease assets and lease liabilities for short-term leases, which are defined as those operating leases with a term of 12 months or less. Instead, lease payments for short-term leases are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term in rent expense and recorded as a component of SG&A expenses in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

The Company monitors for events that require a change in estimates for its operating lease assets and lease liabilities, such as modifications to the terms of the contract, including the lease term, economic events that may trigger a contractual term contingency, such as minimum lease payments or termination rights, and related changes in discount rates used to measure the operating lease assets and liabilities, as well as events or circumstances that result in lease abandonment or operating lease asset impairments. When a change in estimates results in the remeasurement of the operating lease liability, a corresponding adjustment is made to the carrying amount of the operating lease asset. The operating lease assets are remeasured and amortized on a straight-line basis over the remaining lease term, with no impact on the related operating lease liabilities. Refer to the paragraph titled “Other Long-Lived Assets” below for further information on the Company’s accounting policy for evaluating the carrying amount of its operating lease assets and related leasehold improvements (asset group) for indicators of impairment.
Asset Retirement Obligations Asset Retirement Obligations. The Company is contractually obligated under certain of its lease agreements to restore certain retail, office, and warehouse facilities back to their original conditions. At lease inception, the present value of the estimated fair value of these liabilities is recorded along with the related asset. The liability is estimated based on assumptions requiring management’s judgment, including facility closing costs and discount rates, and is accreted to its projected future value over the life of the asset.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets. Goodwill is initially recorded as the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired in a business combination. Indefinite-lived intangible assets consist primarily of trademarks, customer and distributor relationships, patents, lease rights and non-compete agreements arising from the application of purchase accounting.

Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized but are instead tested for impairment annually, or when an event occurs or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. The Company evaluates the goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level for the UGG and HOKA brands wholesale reportable operating segments annually as of December 31st of each year and evaluates the Teva brand indefinite-lived trademarks for impairment annually as of October 31st of each year.

The Company first assesses qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform a quantitative assessment of goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible assets. In general, conditions that may indicate impairment include, but are not limited to the following: (1) a significant adverse change in customer demand or business climate that could affect the value of an asset; (2) change in market share, budget-to-actual performance, and consistency of operating margins and capital expenditures; (3) changes in management or key personnel; or (4) changes in general economic conditions. The Company does not calculate the fair value of the assets unless the Company determines, based on a qualitative assessment, that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than its carrying amount. If the Company concludes that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than its carrying amount, then the Company prepares a quantitative assessment.

The quantitative assessment requires an analysis of several best estimates and assumptions, including future sales and results of operations, and other factors that could affect fair value or otherwise indicate potential impairment. The goodwill impairment assessment involves valuing the Company’s various reporting units that carry goodwill, which are currently the same as the Company’s reportable operating segments. This includes considering the reporting units’ projected ability to generate income from operations and positive cash flow in future periods, as well as perceived changes in consumer demand and acceptance of products, or factors impacting the industry generally. Upon completion of the quantitative assessment, the Company compares the fair value of the asset to its carrying amount, and if the fair value exceeds its carrying amount, no impairment charge is recognized. If the fair value is less than its carrying amount, the Company will record an impairment charge to write down the asset to its fair value.
Other Long-Lived Assets

Definite-Lived Intangible and Other Long-Lived Assets. Definite-lived intangible and other long-lived assets, which include definite-lived trademarks, machinery and equipment, internal-use software, operating lease assets, and leasehold improvements are amortized to their estimated residual values, if any, on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life and reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset group may not be recoverable. Amortization or depreciation are recorded in SG&A expenses in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

At least quarterly, the Company evaluates factors that would necessitate an impairment assessment, which include a significant adverse change in the extent or manner in which an asset group is used, a significant adverse change in legal factors or the business climate that could affect the value of the asset group or a significant decline in the observable market value of the asset group, among others. When an impairment-triggering event has occurred, the Company tests for recoverability of the asset group’s carrying value using estimates of undiscounted future cash flows based on the existing service potential of the applicable asset group. In determining the service potential of a long-lived asset group, the Company considers its remaining useful life, cash-flow generating capacity, and physical output capacity. These estimates include the undiscounted future cash flows associated with future expenditures necessary to maintain the existing service potential. These assets are grouped with other assets and liabilities at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities.

Recoverability of definite-lived intangible and other long-lived assets is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset group. If the carrying amount exceeds the estimated undiscounted future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair value of the asset group. Fair value of the asset group is measured using an observable or quoted market price. An impairment loss, if any, would only reduce the carrying amount of the long-lived assets in the asset group based on its fair value limitation and is allocated to individual assets in the asset group, unless doing so would reduce the carrying amount of a long-lived asset in the asset group to an amount less than zero. Impairment charges are recorded in SG&A expenses in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.
Derivatives
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. The Company may use derivative instruments to partially offset its business exposure to foreign currency risk on expected cash flows and certain existing assets and liabilities, primarily intercompany balances. To reduce the volatility in earnings from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, the Company may hedge a portion of forecasted sales denominated in foreign currencies. The Company may enter into foreign currency forward or option contracts (derivative contracts), generally with maturities of 15 months or less, to manage this risk and certain of these derivative contracts are designated as cash flow hedges of forecasted sales (Designated Derivative Contracts). The Company may also enter into derivative contracts that are not designated as cash flow hedges (Non-Designated Derivative Contracts), to offset a portion of anticipated gains and losses on certain intercompany balances until the expected time of repayment. The Company does not use derivative contracts for trading purposes.

The notional amounts of outstanding Designated and Non-Designated Derivative Contracts are recorded at fair value measured using Level 2 fair value inputs, consisting of forward spot rates at the end of the applicable periods, recorded in other current assets or other accrued expenses in the consolidated balance sheets. The after-tax unrealized gains or losses from changes in fair value of Designated Derivative Contracts are recorded as a component of AOCL and are reclassified to net sales in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income in the same period or periods as the related sales are recorded. When it is probable that a forecasted transaction will not occur, the Company discontinues hedge accounting and the accumulated gains or losses in AOCL related to the hedging relationship are immediately recorded in OCI in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Changes in the fair value of Non-Designated Derivative Contracts are recorded in SG&A expenses in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. The changes in fair value for these contracts are generally offset by the remeasurement gains or losses associated with the underlying foreign currency-denominated balances, which are also recorded in SG&A expenses in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

The Company generally enters into over-the-counter derivative contracts with high-credit-quality counterparties, and therefore, considers the risk that counterparties fail to perform according to the terms of the contract as low. The Company factors the nonperformance risk of the counterparties into the fair value measurements of its derivative contracts.

Revenue Recognition
Revenue Recognition. Revenue is recognized when a performance obligation is completed at a point in time and when the customer has obtained control. Control passes to the customer when they have the ability to direct the use of, and obtain substantially all the remaining benefits from, the goods transferred. The amount of revenue recognized is based on the transaction price, which represents the invoiced amount less known actual amounts or estimates of variable consideration. The Company recognizes revenue and measures the transaction price net of taxes, including sales taxes, use taxes, value-added taxes, and some types of excise taxes, collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities. The Company presents revenue gross of fees and sales commissions. Sales commissions are expensed as incurred and are recorded in SG&A expenses in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. The Company's customer contracts do not have a significant financing component due to their short durations, which are typically effective for one year or less and have payment terms that are generally 30-60 days.

Wholesale and international distributor revenue are recognized either when products are shipped or when delivered, depending on the applicable contract terms. Retail store and e-commerce revenue transactions are recognized at the point of sale and upon shipment, respectively. Shipping and handling costs paid to third-party shipping companies are recorded as cost of sales in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Shipping and handling costs are a fulfillment service, and, for certain wholesale and all e-commerce transactions, revenue is recognized when the customer is deemed to obtain control upon the date of shipment.

Refer to Note 2, “Revenue Recognition,” for further information regarding the Company’s components of variable consideration, including allowances for sales discounts, chargebacks and sales return contract assets and liabilities.

Cost of Sales. Cost of sales for the Company’s goods are for finished goods, which includes the purchase costs and related overhead. Overhead includes all costs for planning, purchasing, quality control, freight, duties, royalties paid to third parties and shrinkage. Cost includes allocation of initial molds and tooling cost that are amortized based on minimum contractual quantities of related product and recorded in cost of sales when the product is sold in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Revenue Recognition

Variable Consideration. Components of variable consideration include estimated discounts, markdowns or chargebacks, and sales returns. Estimates for variable consideration are based on the amounts earned or estimates to be claimed as an adjustment to sales. Estimated variable consideration is included in the transaction price to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal of the cumulative revenue recognized will not occur in a future period.

Allowance for Sales Discounts. The Company provides a trade accounts receivable allowance for sales discounts for wholesale channel sales, which reflects a discount that customers may take, generally based on meeting certain order, shipment or prompt payment terms. The Company uses the amount of the discounts that are available to be taken against the period-end trade accounts receivable to estimate and record a corresponding reserve for sales discounts. Additions to the allowance are recorded against gross sales in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income and write-offs are recorded against the allowance for trade accounts receivable in the consolidated balance sheets. This is consistent with the presentation of such amounts during the prior period. Refer to Schedule II, “Total Valuation and Qualifying Accounts,” for further information regarding the Company’s allowance for sales discounts.

Allowance for Chargebacks. The Company provides a trade accounts receivable allowance for chargebacks from wholesale customers. When customers pay their invoices, they may take deductions against their invoices that can include chargebacks for price differences, markdowns, short shipments and other reasons. Therefore, the Company records an allowance for known or unknown circumstances based on historical trends related to the timing and amount of chargebacks taken against wholesale channel customer invoices. Additions to the allowance are recorded against gross sales or SG&A expenses in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income and write-offs are recorded against the allowance for trade accounts receivable in the consolidated balance sheets. This is consistent with the presentation of such amounts during the prior period. Refer to Schedule II, “Total Valuation and Qualifying Accounts,” for further information regarding the Company’s allowance for chargebacks.

Contract Assets and Liabilities. Contract assets represent the Company’s right to consideration subject to conditions other than the passage of time, such as additional performance obligations to be satisfied. Contract liabilities are performance obligations that the Company expects to satisfy or relieve within the next 12 months, advance consideration obtained prior to satisfying a performance obligation, or unconditional obligations to provide goods or services under non-cancelable contracts before the transfer of goods or services to the customer has occurred. Contract assets and liabilities are recorded in other current assets and other accrued expenses, respectively, in the consolidated balance sheets.
 
Sales Return Liability. Reserves are recorded for anticipated future returns of goods shipped prior to the end of the reporting period. In general, the Company accepts returns for damaged or defective products for up to one year. The Company also has a policy whereby returns are accepted from DTC customers for up to 30 days from point of sale for cash or credit. Amounts of these reserves are based on known and actual returns, historical returns, and any recent events that could result in a change from historical return rates. Sales returns are a contract asset for the right to recover product-related inventory and a contract liability for advance consideration obtained prior to satisfying a performance obligation. Changes to the sales return liability are recorded against gross sales for the contract liability and cost of sales for the contract asset in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. The contract liability is recorded in other accrued expenses and the related contract asset for the cost of sales for estimated product returns is recorded in other current assets in the consolidated balance sheets.

Activity during the years ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 related to estimated sales returns for the Company’s existing customer contracts for all channels, were as follows:
 
Contract Asset
 
Contract Liability
Balance, March 31, 2018
$
11,251

 
$
(23,156
)
Net additions to sales return liability*
36,223

 
(120,102
)
Actual returns
(37,033
)
 
118,471

Balance, March 31, 2019
10,441

 
(24,787
)
Net additions to sales return liability*
36,028

 
(117,969
)
Actual returns
(36,806
)
 
117,089

Balance, March 31, 2020
$
9,663

 
$
(25,667
)


*Net additions to sales return liability include a provision for anticipated sales returns which consists of both contractual return rights and discretionary authorized returns.

Loyalty Programs. The Company has a customer loyalty program for the UGG brand in its DTC channel where customers earn rewards from qualifying purchases or activities. The Company defers recognition of revenue for unredeemed awards until the following occurs: (1) rewards are redeemed by the customer, (2) points or certificates expire, or (3) an estimate of the expected unused portion of points or certificates is applied, which is based on historical redemption patterns. As of March 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company’s contract liability for loyalty programs was $6,950 and $5,171, respectively, and is recorded in other accrued expenses in the consolidated balance sheets.
Research and Development Costs Research and Development Costs. All research and development costs are expensed as incurred.
Advertising, Marketing and Promotion Expenses Advertising, Marketing, and Promotion Expenses. Advertising, marketing and promotion expenses include media advertising (television, radio, print, social, digital), tactical advertising (signs, banners, point-of-sale materials) and other promotional costs, with $144,948, $118,291, and $111,658 for the years ended March 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, recorded in SG&A expenses in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Advertising costs are expensed the first time the advertisement is run or communicated. All other costs of advertising, marketing, and promotion are expensed as incurred.
Stock Compensation Stock-Based Compensation. All of the Company’s stock-based compensation is classified within stockholders’ equity. Stock-based compensation expense is measured at the grant date based on the value of the award and is expensed ratably over the service period. The Company recognizes expense only for those awards that management deems probable of achieving the performance criteria and service conditions. Determining the fair value and related expense of stock-based compensation requires judgment, including estimating the percentage of awards that will be forfeited and probabilities of meeting the awards’ performance criteria. If actual forfeitures differ significantly from the estimates or if probabilities change during a period, stock-based compensation expense and the Company’s results of operations could be materially impacted. Stock-based compensation expense is recorded in SG&A expenses in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Previously, the Company approved the issuance of LTIP NQSOs under the 2015 SIP, including in June 2017 (2018 LTIP NQSOs), which were awarded to certain members of the Company’s management team, with a maximum contractual term of seven years from the grant date. If the recipient provides continuous service, the LTIP NQSOs will vest after the Company has determined it achieved the target performance criteria by the date specified in the award. As of March 31, 2020, the Company determined that the target performance criteria related to the LTIP NQSOs for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020 were achieved. Each vested LTIP NQSO provides the recipient the right to purchase a specified number of shares of the Company’s common stock at a fixed exercise price per share based on the closing price of the common stock on the date of grant.

In September 2018, the Company approved LTIP awards under the 2015 SIP for the issuance of PSUs (2019 LTIP PSUs), which were awarded to certain members of the Company’s senior management team, including the Company’s named executive officers. The 2019 LTIP PSUs are subject to vesting based on service conditions over three years, as well as the Company meeting certain revenue and pre-tax income performance targets for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021. To the extent financial performance is achieved above the threshold levels for each of these performance criteria, the number of PSUs that will vest will increase up to a maximum of 200% of the targeted amount for that award. No vesting of any portion of the 2019 LTIP PSUs will occur if the Company fails to achieve revenue and pre-tax income amounts equal to at least 90% of the threshold amounts for these criteria. Following the determination of the Company’s achievement with respect to the revenue and pre-tax income criteria for the measurement period, the vesting of each 2019 LTIP PSUs will be subject to adjustment based on the application of a TSR modifier. The amount of the adjustment will be determined based on a comparison of the Company’s TSR relative to the TSR of a pre-determined set of peer group companies for the 36-month performance period commencing on April 1, 2018 and ending on the vesting date. A Monte Carlo simulation model was used to determine the grant date fair value by simulating a range of possible future stock prices for the Company and each member of the peer group over the 36-month performance period. The Company granted Annual RSUs and Annual PSUs under the 2015 SIP, which entitle the recipients to receive shares of the Company’s common stock upon vesting. The Annual RSUs are subject to time-based vesting criteria and vest in equal annual installments over three years following the date of grant. The vesting of Annual PSUs are subject to the achievement of pre-established Company performance criteria measured over the fiscal year during which they are granted, and to the extent the performance criteria has been met, vest in equal annual installments over three years thereafter. As of March 31, 2020, the Company determined that the target performance criteria related to the Annual PSUs for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020 were achieved.
Retirement Plan Retirement Plan. The Company provides a 401(k) defined contribution plan that eligible US employees may elect to participate in through tax-deferred contributions or other deferrals. The Company matches 50% of each eligible participant’s deferrals on up to 6% of eligible compensation. Internationally, the Company has various defined contribution plans. Certain international locations require mandatory contributions under social programs, and the Company contributes at least the statutory minimums. US 401(k) matching contributions totaled $3,251, $3,060, and $2,269 during the years ended March 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and were recorded in SG&A expenses in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. In addition, the Company may also make discretionary profit-sharing contributions to the plan.
Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Non-qualified Deferred Compensation. In 2010, the Company sponsors a non-qualified deferred compensation plan that permits a select group of management employees to defer earnings to a future date on a non-qualified basis. For each plan year, the Company’s Board of Directors may, but is not required to, contribute any amount it desires to any participant. The Company’s contribution guidelines are determined by the Board of Directors annually. In March 2015, the Board of Directors approved a Company contribution feature for future plan years beginning in calendar year 2016 and gave management the authority to approve actual contributions. As of March 31, 2020 and 2019, no material payments were made or pending under the plan. Deferred compensation is recognized based on the fair value of the participants’ accounts. A rabbi trust was established as a reserve for benefits payable under this plan, with the assets invested in Company-owned life insurance policies.
Self-Insurance
Self-Insurance. The Company is self-insured for a significant portion of its employee medical, including pharmacy, and dental liability exposures. Liabilities for self-insured exposures are accrued for the amounts expected to be paid based on historical claims experience and actuarial data for forecasted settlements of claims filed and for incurred but not yet reported claims. Accruals for self-insured exposures are included in current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. Excess liability insurance has been purchased to limit the amount of self-insured risk on claims.

Income Taxes
Income Taxes. Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income during the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recorded in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income in the period that includes the enactment date.

The Company recognizes the effect of income tax positions in the consolidated financial statements only if those positions are more likely than not to be sustained upon examination. Recognized income tax positions are measured at the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50% likely to be realized upon settlement. Changes in recognition or measurement are recorded in the period in which the change in judgment occurs. The Company records interest and penalties accrued for income tax contingencies as interest expense in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.
Comprehensive Income Comprehensive Income. Comprehensive income or loss is the total of net earnings and all other non-owner changes in equity. Comprehensive income or loss includes net income or loss, foreign currency translation adjustments, and unrealized gains and losses on cash flow hedges.
Net Income Per Share Net Income per Share. Basic net income or loss per share represents net income or loss divided by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted net income or loss per share represents net income or loss divided by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding, including the dilutive impact of potential issuances of common stock.The equity awards excluded from the dilutive effect are generally excluded due to one of the following: (1) the shares were anti-dilutive; (2) the necessary conditions had not been satisfied for the shares to be issuable based on the Company's performance for the relevant performance period; or (3) the Company recorded a net loss during the period presented. The number of shares stated for each of these excluded awards is the maximum number of shares issuable pursuant to these awards. For those awards with performance criteria, the actual number of shares to be issued pursuant to such awards will be based on Company performance in future periods, net of forfeitures. Refer to Note 8, “Stock-Based Compensation,” for further information on the Company's equity incentive plans.
Fair Value Measurement

The accounting standard for fair value measurements provides a framework for measuring fair value, which is defined as the price that would be received for an asset or the exit price that would be paid to transfer a liability in the principal or most advantageous market in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The fair value hierarchy under this accounting standard requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs, where available. The following summarizes the three levels of inputs required:

Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.

Level 2: Observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.

Level 3: Unobservable inputs in which little or no market activity exists, therefore requiring the Company to develop its own assumptions.

The carrying amount of the Company’s financial instruments, which principally include cash and cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable, net, trade accounts payable, accrued payroll, and other accrued expenses, approximates fair value due to their short-term nature. The carrying amount of the Company’s short-term borrowings and mortgage payable, which are considered Level 2 liabilities, approximates fair value based upon current rates and terms available to the Company for similar debt.