Note 2 – Revenue Recognition

The Company measures revenue at the amounts that reflect the consideration to which it is expected to be entitled in exchange for transferring control of goods and services to customers. The Company recognizes revenue either at the point in time or over the period of time that performance obligations to customers are satisfied. Payment terms vary by segment and product type and are generally due within normal commercial terms. The Company’s contracts with customers may include multiple performance obligations (e.g. railcars, maintenance, management services, etc.). For such arrangements, the Company allocates revenues to each performance obligation based on their relative standalone selling price. The Company has disaggregated revenue from contracts with customers into categories which describe the principal activities from which the Company generates its revenues. See Note 14 - Segments for further disaggregated revenue information.

Manufacturing

Railcars are manufactured in accordance with contracts with customers. The Company recognizes revenue upon its customers’ acceptance of the completed railcars at a specified delivery point. From time to time, the Company enters into multi-year supply agreements. Each railcar delivery is considered a distinct performance obligation, such that the amounts that are recognized as revenue following railcar delivery are generally not subject to change.

The Company typically recognizes marine vessel manufacturing revenue over time using the cost input method, based on progress toward contract completion measured by actual costs incurred to date in relation to the estimate of total expected costs. This method best depicts the Company’s performance in completing the construction of the marine vessel for the customer and is consistent with the percentage of completion method used prior to the adoption of the new revenue standard.

Wheels, Repair & Parts

The Company operates a network of wheel, repair and parts shops in North America that provide complete wheelset reconditioning and railcar repair services.

Wheels revenue is recognized when wheelsets are shipped to the customer or when consumed by customers in the case of consignment arrangements. Parts revenue is recognized upon shipment of the parts to the customers.

Repair revenue is typically recognized over time using the cost input method, based on progress toward contract completion measured by actual costs incurred to date in relation to the estimate of total expected costs. This method best depicts the Company’s performance in repairing the railcars for the customer. Repair services are typically completed in less than 90 days.

Leasing & Services

The Company owns a fleet of new and used cars which are leased to third-party customers. Lease revenue is recognized over the lease-term in the period in which it is earned in accordance with ASC 840: Leases.

Syndication transactions represent new and used railcars which have been placed on lease to a customer and which the Company intends to sell to an investor with the lease attached. At the time of such sale, revenue and cost of revenue associated with railcars that the Company has manufactured are recognized in the Manufacturing segment; while revenue and cost of revenue associated with railcars which were obtained from a third-party with the intent to resell them and subsequently sold, are recognized in the Leasing & Services segment in accordance with ASC 840: Leases.

The Company enters into multi-year contracts to provide management and maintenance services to customers for which revenue is generally recognized ratably over the contract term as a stand-ready obligation. Costs to fulfill these contracts are recognized as incurred.

Contract balances

Contract assets primarily consist of unbilled receivables related to marine vessel construction and repair services, for which the respective contracts do not yet permit billing at the reporting date. Contract liabilities primarily consist of customer prepayments for manufacturing, maintenance, and other management-type services, for which the Company has not yet satisfied the related performance obligations.

The opening and closing balances of the Company’s contract balances are as follows:


(in thousands)	Balance sheet classification	September 1, 2018		November 30, 2018		$ change
Contract assets	Inventories	$	7,228	$	9,741	$	2,513
Contract liabilities ¹	Deferred revenue	$	41,250	$	36,763	$	(4,487	)

¹	Contract liabilities balance includes deferred revenue within the scope of the new revenue standard.

For the three months ended November 30, 2018, the Company recognized $5.3 million of revenue that was included in Contract liabilities as of September 1, 2018.

Performance obligations

As of November 30, 2018, the Company has entered into contracts with customers for which revenue has not yet been recognized. The following table outlines estimated revenue related to performance obligations wholly or partially unsatisfied, that the Company anticipates will be recognized in future periods.


(in millions)	November 30, 2018
Revenue type ¹:
Manufacturing – Railcar Sales	$	2,011.8
Manufacturing – Railcars intended for syndication ²	$	647.3
Manufacturing – Marine	$	55.9
Services	$	138.7

¹	Unsatisfied performance obligation related to Wheels, Repair & Parts revenue is not material

²	Not within the scope of the new revenue standard

Based on current production schedules and existing contracts, approximately $1.1 billion of the Railcar Sales amount is expected to be recognized in the remainder of fiscal 2019 while the remaining amount is expected in future periods. The table above excludes estimated revenue to be recognized at the Company’s Brazilian manufacturing operation, as they are accounted for under the equity method.

Revenue amounts reflected in Railcars intended for syndication may be syndicated to third parties or held in the Company’s fleet depending on a variety of factors.

Marine revenue is expected to be recognized from 2019-2020 as vessel construction is completed.

Services includes management and maintenance services of which approximately 60% are expected to be performed from 2019-2024 and the remaining amount ratably through 2037.