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GENERAL (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
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, 2024, and 2023 and for the years ended March 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022 (referred to herein as “year ended” or “years ended,” or as “fiscal year 2024,” “fiscal year 2023,” and “fiscal year 2022,” respectively) are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles 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.
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. In addition, the Company has considered the potential impact of macroeconomic factors, including inflation, foreign currency exchange rate volatility, changes in interest rates, changes in commodity pricing, changes in discretionary spending and recessionary concerns, on its business and operations. Although the full impact of these factors is unknown, the Company believes it has made appropriate accounting estimates and assumptions based on the facts and circumstances available as of the reporting date. However, actual results could differ materially from these estimates and assumptions, which may result in material effects on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and liquidity. 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 and assumptions relate to inventory write-downs; trade accounts receivable allowances, including variable consideration for net sales provided to customers, such as the sales return asset and liability; contract assets and liabilities; stock-based compensation; impairment assessments, including goodwill, other intangible assets, and long-lived 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 measure its operating lease assets and lease 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 its 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) in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.
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 (primarily consisting of the Koolaburra brand, as well as the recently launched AHNU brand in March 2024), as well as DTC (collectively, the Company’s reportable operating segments).
Information reported to the CODM, who is the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), President, and Principal Executive Officer (PEO), is organized into the Company’s 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.

Segment Net Sales and Income from Operations. The Company evaluates reportable operating segment performance primarily based on net sales and income (loss) from operations. The wholesale operations of each brand are 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 the Company’s warehouses and DCs, certain executive and stock-based compensation, accounting, finance, legal, IT, human resources, and facilities, among others. 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 as these transactions are eliminated in consolidation.
Segment Assets. Assets allocated to each reportable operating segment include trade accounts receivable, net, inventories, 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.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Recent Accounting Pronouncements. The Financial Accounting Standards Board has issued Accounting Standards Updates (ASU) that have been adopted and not yet adopted by the Company for its annual and interim reporting periods as stated below.

Recently Adopted. The following is a summary of an ASU adopted by and its impact on the Company:
StandardDescriptionImpact Upon Adoption
ASU 2022-04 - Supplier Finance Program (SFP)
The ASU requires that a buyer in a SFP disclose qualitative and quantitative information about its program on an interim basis, including the nature of the SFP and key terms, outstanding amounts as of the end of the reporting period, and presentation in its financial statements.

The interim portion of this ASU is effective on a retrospective basis for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted.

The annual requirement that requires a buyer in a SFP disclose an activity roll forward of outstanding balances as of the end of the reporting period has not yet been adopted.

This annual portion of this ASU is effective on a retrospective basis for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023. Early adoption is not permitted.
This ASU did not have a material impact on the recognition, measurement, or presentation of supplier finance programs in the Company’s annual and interim consolidated financial statements. However, it did result in additional disclosure.

The Company retrospectively adopted this ASU beginning on April 1, 2023, except for the roll forward requirements. Refer to Note 14, “Supplier Finance Program,” for further information on the Company’s SFP. key terms and outstanding balances recorded in the consolidated balance sheets.

The Company plans to adopt the annual roll forward requirement beginning with its fiscal year (FY) ending March 31, 2025, and does not expect the adoption to have a material impact on its annual and interim consolidated financial statements.
Not Yet Adopted. The following is a summary of each ASU that has been issued and is applicable to the Company, but which has not yet been adopted, as well as the planned period of adoption, and the expected impact on the Company upon its adoption:
StandardDescriptionPlanned Period of AdoptionExpected Impact on Adoption
ASU 2023-07 - Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures
The ASU requires annual and interim disclosures of significant segment expenses, including an amount and composition description for other segment items, and how reported measures of profit or loss are used by the chief operating decision maker (CODM) in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources. The ASU is effective on a retrospective basis for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted.
Q4 FY 2025
and
Q1 FY 2026
The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this ASU on its annual and interim consolidated financial statements.
ASU 2023-09 - Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures
The ASU requires annual disclosures of prescribed standard categories for the components of the effective tax rate reconciliation, disclosure of income taxes paid disaggregated by jurisdiction, and other income-tax related disclosures. The ASU is effective on a prospective basis, with retrospective application permitted, for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted.
Q4 FY 2026
The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this ASU on its annual and interim consolidated financial statements.
Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, demand deposits, and all highly liquid investments, such as money-market funds, with an original maturity of three months or less. The carrying value of money-market funds approximates the fair value as it is considered a highly liquid investment when purchased. Money-market funds are recorded in cash and cash equivalents in the consolidated balance sheets.
Cash and Cash Equivalents. The Company maintains a portion of its cash in Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insured bank deposit accounts which, at times, may exceed federally insured limits. To date, the Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts. Based on the size and strength of the banking institutions used, the Company does not believe it is exposed to any significant credit risks in cash.
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. 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. Additions to the allowance represent bad debt expense estimates which are recorded in SG&A expenses in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.
Inventories Inventories. Inventories, which are principally comprised of finished goods on hand and in transit, are stated at the lower of cost (weighted average) or net realizable value at each financial statement date. Cost includes sourcing as well as inventory procurement costs, including freight, 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 to sell. The Company regularly reviews inventory for excess, obsolete, and impaired inventory to evaluate write-downs to the lower of cost or realizable value.
Cloud Computing Arrangements Cloud Computing Arrangements. The Company enters into various cloud computing arrangements (CCAs) 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 three 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, which would be 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 period covered by the Company’s option to extend (or not to terminate) the lease that is 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, “Commitments and Contingencies,” for further information on the 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 liabilities (1) are 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, “Commitments and Contingencies,” for further information on the nature of variable lease payments and the timing of recognition of 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 lease 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 liabilities, a corresponding adjustment is made to the carrying amount of the operating lease assets. 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 “Definite-Lived Intangible and 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 for indicators of impairment.
Leases. The Company primarily leases retail stores, showrooms, offices, and distribution facilities under operating lease contracts which vary in lease terms but, in the aggregate, continue in effect through calendar year 2035. Some of the Company’s operating leases contain extension options between one to 15 years. Historically, the Company has not entered into finance leases and its lease agreements generally do not contain residual value guarantees, options to purchase underlying assets, or material restrictive covenants.

Variable Lease Payments. Certain leases require additional payments based on (1) actual or forecasted sales volume (either monthly or annually), (2) reimbursement for real estate taxes (tax), (3) common area maintenance (CAM), and (4) insurance (collectively, variable lease payments). Variable lease payments are generally excluded from operating lease assets and lease liabilities and are recorded in rent expense as a component of SG&A expenses in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Some leases are dependent upon forecasted annual sales volume, and lease payments are recognized on a straight-line basis as rent expense over each annual period when the achievement of the related sales target is reasonably likely to occur. Other variable lease payments, such as tax, CAM, and insurance, are recognized in rent expense as incurred. Some leases contain one fixed lease payment that include variable lease payments, which are considered non-lease components. The Company has elected to account for these instances as a single lease component and the total of these fixed payments is used to measure the operating lease assets and lease liabilities.

Discount Rate. The Company discounts its unpaid lease payments using the interest rate implicit in the lease or, if the rate cannot be readily determined, its IBR. Generally, the Company cannot determine the interest rate implicit in the lease because it does not have access to the lessor’s estimated residual value or the amount of the lessor's deferred initial direct costs. The Company has a centralized treasury function, which enables the Company to use a portfolio approach to discount lease obligations. Therefore, the Company generally derives a discount rate at the lease commencement date by utilizing its IBR, which is based on what the Company would have to pay on a collateralized basis to borrow an amount equal to its lease payments under similar terms. Because the Company does not currently borrow on a collateralized basis under its revolving credit facilities, it uses the interest rate it pays on its non-collateralized borrowings under its Primary Credit Facility as an input for deriving an appropriate IBR, adjusted for the amount of the lease payments, the lease term, and the effect on that rate of designating specific collateral with a value equal to the unpaid lease payments for that lease.
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 Indefinite-Lived 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 and consists of the UGG brand and HOKA brand goodwill balances. Indefinite-lived intangible assets consist of the Teva brand trademark.
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, discount rates, 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 customer demand and acceptance of products, or other factors impacting the industry. 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.
Definite-Lived Intangible and 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 related 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 of the asset group exceeds the estimated undiscounted future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the estimated fair value of the asset group, which is based on either discounted future cash flows or appraised values. 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.
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
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 enters into foreign currency forward or option contracts (derivative contracts), generally with maturities of 15 months or less to manage foreign currency 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 from counterparties, which are corroborated by market-based pricing, and are 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 accumulated other comprehensive loss (AOCL) in the consolidated balance sheets and are reclassified to net sales in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income in the same period or periods as the related sales are recognized. 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. The Company includes all hedge components in its assessment of effectiveness for its derivative contracts.

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 intercompany balances, which are 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.
Stock Repurchase Program Stock Repurchase Program. Repurchased shares of the Company’s common stock are retired. The par value of repurchased shares is deducted from common stock and the excess repurchase price over par value as well as the portion due for excise taxes, is allocated to retained earnings in the consolidated balance sheets.
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 to 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.
Variable Consideration. Components of variable consideration include estimated allowance for sales discounts, allowance for chargebacks, and sales return asset and liability. 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 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.

Allowance for Chargebacks. The Company provides a trade accounts receivable allowance for chargebacks for wholesale channel sales. 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 primarily for known circumstances as well as unknown circumstances based on historical trends related to the timing and amount of chargebacks taken against customer invoices. Additions to the allowance are recorded against gross sales or SG&A expenses in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Sales Return Asset and 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 generally accepted from customers and end consumers between 30 to 90 days from the point of sale for cash or credit.

Sales returns are a refund asset for the right to recover the inventory and a refund liability for the stand-ready right of return. Changes to the refund asset for the right to recover the inventory are recorded against cost of sales and changes in the refund liability are recorded against gross sales in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. The refund asset for the right to recover the inventory is recorded in other current assets and the related refund liability is recorded in other accrued expenses in the consolidated balance sheets. The amounts of these reserves are determined based on several factors, including known and actual returns, historical returns, and any recent events that could result in a change from historical return rates.
Contract Liabilities. 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 liabilities are recorded in other accrued expenses in the consolidated balance sheets and include loyalty programs and other deferred revenue.
Loyalty Programs. The Company has a loyalty program for the UGG brand in its DTC channel where consumers can earn rewards from qualifying purchases or activities. The Company defers recognition of revenue for unredeemed awards until one of the following occurs: (1) rewards are redeemed by the consumer, (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 and expiration patterns. The Company’s contract liability for loyalty programs is recorded in other accrued expenses in the consolidated balance sheets.Deferred Revenue. Revenue is deferred for wholesale channel transactions when certain conditions outlined within the contract terms, including the transfer of control or delivery of product, has not occurred, such as when a wholesale channel customer prepays for ordered product. The contract liability for deferred revenue is recorded in other accrued expenses in the consolidated balance sheets.
Cost of Sales
Cost of Sales. Cost of sales for the Company’s goods are for finished goods and related overhead. Finished goods includes material costs, including commodities, for our products, 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. Overhead includes certain costs for planning, purchasing, quality control, freight, and duties.
Distribution Costs Distribution Costs. Distribution expenses include costs for warehousing, third-party logistic provider service fees, receiving, inspecting, allocating, and packaging product, which are expensed as incurred.
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, and amounted to $348,852, $271,140, and $255,881 for the years ended March 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively, which are 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-Based 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 fair value of the award and is expensed to the consolidated statements of comprehensive income ratably over the vesting period. 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, as well as the Company’s reliance on the closing price of its stock on the New York Stock Exchange at or near the time of grant. 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, net of forfeitures, is recorded in SG&A expenses in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Long-Term Incentive Plan Options. The Company approved the issuance of LTIP NQSOs under the 2015 SIP, including the November 2016 (2017 LTIP NQSOs) and June 2017 (2018 LTIP NQSOs) grants, which were awarded to certain members of the Company’s management team, with a maximum contractual term ending March 31, 2026. As of March 31, 2019, and 2020, the target performance criteria were achieved and all LTIP NQSOs under the 2017 LTIP NQSOs and 2018 LTIP NQSOs, respectively, were fully vested. 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.
Grants to Directors. Each of the Company’s nonemployee directors was entitled to receive common stock with a total value of $170 for annual service on the Board of Directors during the year ended March 31, 2024. The shares are issued in equal quarterly installments with the number of shares being determined using the rolling average of the closing price of the Company’s common stock during the last ten trading days leading up to, and including, the grant date, which is in alignment with the Company’s equity grant guidelines. Each of these shares is fully vested and recorded as compensation expense in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income on the date of issuance.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The 2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) authorizes 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock for sale to eligible employees using their after-tax payroll deductions, which are refundable until purchases are made, and are liability-classified. ESPP shares are excluded from basic earnings per share until purchases are made but are included in diluted earnings per share as after-tax payroll deductions are made. Each consecutive purchase period is six months (purchase period) in duration and shares are purchased on the last trading day of the purchase period (no look-back provision) at a 15% discount to the closing price on that date. Purchase windows take place in February and August of each fiscal year. The net difference between the timing of compensation expense incurred and remeasured during the purchase period and purchase windows are recorded in other accrued expenses in the consolidated balance sheets.
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 $5,129, $4,433, and $3,953 during the years ended March 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, 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 began sponsoring an unfunded, non-qualified deferred compensation plan (NQDC Plan) that permits certain members of its management team the opportunity to defer compensation into the NQDC Plan. The NQDC Plan year is from January 1st to December 31st. Participants may defer up to 50% of their annual base salary and up to 85% of any cash incentive bonus under the NQDC Plan. The Company holds all its non-qualified deferred compensation plan investments in mutual funds. In March 2015, the Board of Directors approved a Company contribution feature to allow the option, but not the obligation, for the Company to make discretionary or matching cash contributions to NQDC Plan participants.
As of March 31, 2024, and 2023, no material payments are 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 accrued payroll 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 net operating loss carryforwards and 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.Excluded Awards. The equity awards excluded from the calculation of the dilutive effect have been excluded due to one of the following: (1) the shares were antidilutive; (2) the necessary conditions had not been satisfied for the shares to be deemed issuable based on the Company’s performance for the relevant performance period; or (3) the Company recorded a net loss during the period presented (such that inclusion of these equity awards in the calculation would have been antidilutive). 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 subject to the achievement of 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, and may be materially lower than the number of shares presented, which could result in a lower dilutive effect.
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. When the Company makes short-term borrowings, the carrying amounts, which are considered Level 2 liabilities, approximate fair value based upon current rates and terms available to the Company for similar debt. The Company does not currently have any Level 3 assets or liabilities.
Supplier Finance Program
Supplier Finance Program. The Company has a voluntary SFP administered through a third-party platform that provides the Company’s independent manufacturers that supply its inventory (inventory suppliers) the opportunity to sell their receivables due from the Company to participating financial institutions in advance of the invoice due date, at the sole discretion of both inventory suppliers and the financial institutions The Company is not party to the agreements between these third parties and has no economic interest in an inventory suppliers’ decision to sell a receivable.
The Company’s payment obligations, including the amounts due and payment terms, which generally do not exceed 90 days, are not impacted by the inventory suppliers’ election to participate in the SFP, and the Company provides no guarantees to any third parties under the SFP. Accordingly, amounts due to inventory suppliers that elected to participate in the SFP are presented in trade accounts payable in the consolidated balance sheets.