Interim Financial Statements	6 Months Ended
Feb. 28, 2022
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Interim Financial Statements	Note 1 – Interim Financial Statements The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. and its subsidiaries (Greenbrier or the Company) as of February 28, 2022 and for the three and six months ended February 28, 2022 and 2021 have been prepared to reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) that, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, operating results and cash flows for the periods indicated. The results of operations for the three and six months ended February 28, 2022 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the entire year ending August 31, 2022. Certain notes and other information have been condensed or omitted from the interim financial statements presented in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Therefore, these unaudited financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2021. In the first quarter of 2022 the Company renamed two of its reportable segments to more prominently display the nature of the customer solutions it provides and markets in which it operates. The new names of its reportable segments are Manufacturing (unchanged), Maintenance Services (previously Wheels, Repair & Parts), and Leasing & Management Services (previously Leasing & Services). The name changes have no impact on the organization’s reporting structure nor on financial information previously reported. Separately, effective September 1, 2021, the Company changed its measurement basis for allocating syndication revenue between the Manufacturing and Leasing & Management Services reportable segments. This change in measurement reflects the information currently used by management to assess the Company's operating performance in accordance with its refined leasing strategy and has no impact to the Company’s total consolidated revenue. Segment results for the prior periods have been recast to conform to the current period presentation. Greenbrier-Astra Rail was formed in 2017 between the Company’s existing European operations headquartered in Poland and Astra Rail, based in Romania. Greenbrier-Astra Rail is controlled by the Company with an approximate 75% interest. In 2017, Astra Rail received a put option to sell its entire noncontrolling interest to Greenbrier. The option was exercisable 30 business days prior to and up until June 1, 2022. During the second quarter of 2022, the option was extended to be exercisable 30 business days prior to and up until June 1, 2026. Management Estimates – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (GAAP) requires judgment on the part of management to arrive at estimates and assumptions on matters that are inherently uncertain. These estimates may affect the amount of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities within the financial statements. Estimates and assumptions are periodically evaluated and may be adjusted in future periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Initial Adoption of Accounting Standards Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity In August 2020, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update 2020-06, Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity (ASU 2020-06), which simplifies the accounting for certain convertible instruments, amends guidance on derivative scope exceptions for contracts in an entity’s own equity and modifies the guidance on diluted EPS calculations as a result of these changes. The Company adopted this guidance effective September 1, 2021 on a modified retrospective basis and recorded a cumulative effect adjustment to increase Retained earnings by $5 million. The impact of adoption also resulted in a reduction to Additional paid in capital of approximately $59 million related to amounts attributable to conversion options that had previously been recorded in equity and the associated derecognition of related deferred tax liabilities of $17 million. Additionally, the Company recorded an increase to its convertible notes balance by an aggregate amount of approximately $71 million as a result of derecognizing the debt discount. The adoption of this guidance also decreased the amount of non-cash interest expense to be recognized in future periods as a result of eliminating the discount associated with the equity component. The Company did not incur any impact to liquidity or cash flows. As of September 1, 2021, when calculating net earnings attributable to Greenbrier per share of common stock, the Company uses the if-converted method as required under ASU 2020-06 to determine the dilutive effect of its convertible notes. Simplification of Accounting for Income Taxes In December 2019, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (ASU 2019-12), which simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740 for: recognizing deferred taxes for investments, performing intra-period allocations and calculating taxes in interim periods. The ASU also improves consistent application of GAAP for other areas of Topic 740 by clarifying and amending existing guidance to reduce complexity in certain areas, including recognizing deferred taxes for tax goodwill and allocating taxes to members of a consolidated group. The Company adopted this guidance September 1, 2021 with no impact to the Company's consolidated financial statements. The ongoing application of ASU 2019-12 is not expected to materially impact the Company's consolidated financial statements. Prospective Accounting Changes Reference Rate Reform In March 2020, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting (ASU 2020-04), which provides practical expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The elective amendments provide expedients to contract modification, affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The expedients and exceptions provided by this guidance apply only to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference the London interbank offered rate (LIBOR) or another reference rate expected to be discontinued as a result of reference rate reform. This guidance is not applicable to contract modifications made and hedging relationships entered into or evaluated after December 31, 2022. The guidance can be applied immediately through December 31, 2022. The Company expects to adopt this standard when LIBOR is discontinued if there is a mismatch in its interest rate swap and derivatives for a period of time. The Company does not expect a material impact to its financial condition, results of operations or disclosures based on the current debt portfolio and capital structure.

Interim Financial Statements

6 Months Ended

Feb. 28, 2022

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Note 1 – Interim Financial Statements

The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. and its subsidiaries (Greenbrier or the Company) as of February 28, 2022 and for the three and six months ended February 28, 2022 and 2021 have been prepared to reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) that, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, operating results and cash flows for the periods indicated. The results of operations for the three and six months ended February 28, 2022 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the entire year ending August 31, 2022.

Certain notes and other information have been condensed or omitted from the interim financial statements presented in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Therefore, these unaudited financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2021.

In the first quarter of 2022 the Company renamed two of its reportable segments to more prominently display the nature of the customer solutions it provides and markets in which it operates. The new names of its reportable segments are Manufacturing (unchanged), Maintenance Services (previously Wheels, Repair & Parts), and Leasing & Management Services (previously Leasing & Services). The name changes have no impact on the organization’s reporting structure nor on financial information previously reported. Separately, effective September 1, 2021, the Company changed its measurement basis for allocating syndication revenue between the Manufacturing and Leasing & Management Services reportable segments. This change in measurement reflects the information currently used by management to assess the Company's operating performance in accordance with its refined leasing strategy and has no impact to the Company’s total consolidated revenue. Segment results for the prior periods have been recast to conform to the current period presentation.

Greenbrier-Astra Rail was formed in 2017 between the Company’s existing European operations headquartered in Poland and Astra Rail, based in Romania. Greenbrier-Astra Rail is controlled by the Company with an approximate 75% interest. In 2017, Astra Rail received a put option to sell its entire noncontrolling interest to Greenbrier. The option was exercisable 30 business days prior to and up until June 1, 2022. During the second quarter of 2022, the option was extended to be exercisable 30 business days prior to and up until June 1, 2026.

Management Estimates – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (GAAP) requires judgment on the part of management to arrive at estimates and assumptions on matters that are inherently uncertain. These estimates may affect the amount of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities within the financial statements. Estimates and assumptions are periodically evaluated and may be adjusted in future periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Initial Adoption of Accounting Standards

Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity

In August 2020, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update 2020-06, Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity (ASU 2020-06), which simplifies the accounting for certain convertible instruments, amends guidance on derivative scope exceptions for contracts in an entity’s own equity and modifies the guidance on diluted EPS calculations as a result of these changes. The Company adopted this guidance effective September 1, 2021 on a modified retrospective basis and recorded a cumulative effect adjustment to increase Retained earnings by $5 million. The impact of adoption also resulted in a reduction to Additional paid in capital of approximately $59 million related to amounts attributable to conversion options that had previously been recorded in equity and the associated derecognition of related deferred tax liabilities of $17 million. Additionally, the Company recorded an increase to its convertible notes balance by an aggregate amount of approximately $71 million as a result of derecognizing the debt discount. The adoption of this guidance also decreased the amount of non-cash interest expense to be recognized in future periods as a result of eliminating the discount associated with the equity component. The Company did not incur any impact to liquidity or cash flows. As of September 1, 2021, when calculating net earnings attributable to Greenbrier per share of common stock, the Company uses the if-converted method as required under ASU 2020-06 to determine the dilutive effect of its convertible notes.

Simplification of Accounting for Income Taxes

In December 2019, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (ASU 2019-12), which simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740 for: recognizing deferred taxes for investments, performing intra-period allocations and calculating taxes in interim periods. The ASU also improves consistent application of GAAP for other areas of Topic 740 by clarifying and amending existing guidance to reduce complexity in certain areas, including recognizing deferred taxes for tax goodwill and allocating taxes to members of a consolidated group. The Company adopted this guidance September 1, 2021 with no impact to the Company's consolidated financial statements. The ongoing application of ASU 2019-12 is not expected to materially impact the Company's consolidated financial statements.

Prospective Accounting Changes

Reference Rate Reform

In March 2020, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting (ASU 2020-04), which provides practical expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The elective amendments provide expedients to contract modification, affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The expedients and exceptions provided by this guidance apply only to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference the London interbank offered rate (LIBOR) or another reference rate expected to be discontinued as a result of reference rate reform. This guidance is not applicable to contract modifications made and hedging relationships entered into or evaluated after December 31, 2022. The guidance can be applied immediately through December 31, 2022. The Company expects to adopt this standard when LIBOR is discontinued if there is a mismatch in its interest rate swap and derivatives for a period of time. The Company does not expect a material impact to its financial condition, results of operations or disclosures based on the current debt portfolio and capital structure.