Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies | Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Presentation We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), which requires us to make estimates and assumptions that impact the amounts reported and disclosed in our consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes. We prepared these estimates based on the most current and best available information, but actual results could differ materially from these estimates and assumptions. In the first quarter of 2023, we made certain changes to our financial reporting to increase transparency and improve comparability. Specifically, we changed the expense captions within Operating income in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income to more clearly reflect the nature of the expenses. The change to natural expense classification had no impact on consolidated Revenues or Operating income. At the time of the change, we recast prior period amounts to conform to the current presentation. Consolidation Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of XPO, our wholly-owned subsidiaries, and our majority-owned subsidiaries and variable interest entity (“VIE”) where we are the primary beneficiary. We have eliminated intercompany accounts and transactions. To determine if we are a primary beneficiary of a VIE, we evaluate whether we are able to direct the activities that significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance, including whether we control the operations of each VIE and whether we can operate the VIE under our brand or policies. Investors in the VIE only have recourse to the assets owned by the VIE and not to our general credit. We do not have implicit support arrangements with the VIE. We consolidate the VIE, which is comprised of the special purpose entity related to the European trade securitization program discussed below. We have a controlling financial interest in entities generally when we own a majority of the voting interest. The noncontrolling interests reflected in our consolidated financial statements primarily related to a minority interest in XPO Logistics Europe SA (“XPO Logistics Europe”), a business we acquired majority ownership of in 2015. In 2021, we completed a buy-out offer and squeeze-out for the remaining 3% of XPO Logistics Europe that we did not already own. Significant Accounting Policies Revenue Recognition We recognize revenue when we transfer control of promised products or services to customers in an amount equal to the consideration we expect to receive for those products or services. Performance Obligations A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer. A contract’s transaction price is allocated to each distinct performance obligation and recognized as revenue when the performance obligation is satisfied. We generate revenue by providing less-than-truckload and other transportation services for our customers. Additional services may be provided to our customers under their transportation contracts, including unloading and other incidental services. The transaction price is based on the consideration specified in the customer’s contract. A performance obligation is created when a customer under a transportation contract submits a bill of lading for the transport of goods from origin to destination. These performance obligations are satisfied as the shipments move from origin to destination. We recognize transportation revenue proportionally as a shipment moves from origin to destination and the related costs are recognized as incurred. Some of our customer contracts contain our promise to stand ready to provide transportation services. For these contracts, we recognize revenue on a straight-line basis over the term of the contract because the pattern of benefit to the customer, and our efforts to fulfill the contract, are generally distributed evenly throughout the period. Performance obligations are generally short-term, with transit times usually less than one week. Generally, customers are billed on shipment of the freight or on a monthly basis and make payment according to approved payment terms. When we do not control the specific services, we recognize revenue as the difference between the amount the customer pays us for the service less the amount we are charged by third parties who provide the service. Generally, we can adjust our pricing based on contractual provisions related to achieving agreed-upon performance metrics, changes in volumes, services and market conditions. Revenue relating to these pricing adjustments is estimated and included in the consideration if it is probable that a significant revenue reversal will not occur in the future. The estimate of variable consideration is determined by the expected value or most likely amount method and factors in current, past and forecasted experience with the customer. Customers are billed based on terms specified in the revenue contract and they pay us according to approved payment terms. Contract Costs We expense the incremental costs of obtaining contracts when incurred if the amortization period of the assets is one year or less. These costs are included in Salaries, wages and employee benefits on our Consolidated Statements of Income. Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash We consider all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less on the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. As of December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, our restricted cash included in Other long-term assets Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses We record accounts receivable at the contractual amount and we record an allowance for credit losses for the amount we estimate we may not collect. In determining the allowance for credit losses, we consider historical collection experience, the age of the accounts receivable balances, the credit quality and risk of our customers, any specific customer collection issues, current economic conditions, and other factors that may impact our customers’ ability to pay. We also consider reasonable and supportable forecasts of future economic conditions and their expected impact on customer collections in determining our allowance for credit losses. We write off accounts receivable balances once the receivables are no longer deemed collectible. The roll-forward of the allowance for credit losses was as follows: Years Ended December 31, (In millions) 2023 2022 2021 Beginning balance $ 43 $ 36 $ 33 Provision charged to expense 33 27 20 Write-offs, less recoveries, and other adjustments (31) (20) (17) Ending balance $ 45 $ 43 $ 36 Trade Receivables Securitization and Factoring Programs We sell certain of our trade accounts receivable on a non-recourse basis to third-party financial institutions under factoring agreements. We account for these transactions as sales of receivables and present cash proceeds as cash provided by operating activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. We also sell trade accounts receivable under a securitization program for our European transportation business. We use trade receivables securitization and factoring programs to help manage our cash flows and offset the impact of extended payment terms for some of our customers. Under the trade receivables securitization program, a wholly-owned bankruptcy-remote special purpose entity of XPO sells trade receivables that originate with wholly-owned subsidiaries to unaffiliated entities. The program expires in July 2026 and contains financial covenants customary for this type of arrangement, including maintaining a defined average days sales outstanding ratio. We account for transfers under our securitization and factoring arrangements as sales because we sell full title and ownership in the underlying receivables and control of the receivables is considered transferred. For these transfers, the receivables are removed from our Consolidated Balance Sheets at the date of transfer. The maximum amount of net cash proceeds available at any one time under our securitization program, inclusive of any unsecured borrowings, is €200 million (approximately $221 million as of December 31, 2023). As of December 31, 2023, €1 million (approximately $1 million) was available under the program. The weighted average interest rate was 5.35% as of December 31, 2023. Information related to the trade receivables sold was as follows: Years Ended December 31, (In millions) 2023 2022 2021 Securitization programs Receivables sold in period $ 1,815 $ 1,744 $ 1,726 Cash consideration 1,815 1,744 1,726 Factoring programs Receivables sold in period 103 111 64 Cash consideration 103 111 64 Property and Equipment We generally record property and equipment at cost, or in the case of property and equipment acquired in a business combination, at fair value at the date of acquisition. In connection with the Yellow Asset Acquisition, on December 20, 2023, we acquired 28 LTL service centers for a purchase price of $918 million, including a cash payment of $870 million, the assumption of certain liabilities and direct transaction costs. Under the transaction, we purchased 26 of the service centers, primarily consisting of land and buildings, and assumed existing leases for the other two locations. The transaction was accounted for as an asset acquisition, with the assets recorded at cost. The Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the year ended December 31, 2023 reflects an $878 million investing cash outflow for this transaction. Maintenance and repair expenditures are charged to expense as incurred. For internally-developed computer software, all costs incurred during planning and evaluation are expensed as incurred. Costs incurred during the application development stage are capitalized and included in property and equipment. Capitalized software also includes the fair value of acquired internal-use technology. We compute depreciation expense on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows: Classification Estimated Useful Life Buildings and leasehold improvements Term of lease to 40 years Vehicles, tractors and trailers 3 to 14 years Machinery and equipment 3 to 10 years Computer software and equipment 1 to 5 years Leases We determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception. We recognize operating lease right-of-use assets and liabilities at the lease commencement date based on the estimated present value of the lease payments over the lease term. As most of our leases do not provide an implicit rate, we use incremental borrowing rates based on the information available at commencement date to determine the present value of future lease payments. This rate is determined from a hypothetical yield curve that takes into consideration market yield levels of our relevant debt outstanding as well as the index that matches our credit rating, and then adjusts as if the borrowings were collateralized. We include options to extend or terminate a lease in the lease term when we are reasonably certain to exercise such options. We exclude variable lease payments (such as payments not based on an index or reimbursements of lessor costs) from our initial measurement of the lease liability. We recognize leases with an initial term of 12 months or less as lease expense over the lease term and those leases are not recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. We account for lease and non-lease components within a contract as a single lease component for our real estate leases. For additional information on our leases, see Note 8—Leases. Asset Retirement Obligations A liability for an asset retirement obligation is recorded in the period in which it is incurred. When an asset retirement obligation liability is initially recorded, we capitalize the cost by increasing the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. For each subsequent period, the liability is increased for accretion expense and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the useful life of the related asset. In connection with the Yellow Asset Acquisition, in December 2023, we recognized $6 million of Asset Retirement Obligations. Goodwill We measure goodwill as the excess of consideration transferred over the fair value of net assets acquired in business combinations. We allocate goodwill to our reporting units for the purpose of impairment testing. We evaluate goodwill for impairment annually as of August 31, or more frequently if an event or circumstance indicates an impairment loss may have been incurred. We measure goodwill impairment, if any, at the amount a reporting unit’s carrying amount exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill. Our reporting units are our operating segments or one level below our operating segments for which discrete financial information is prepared and regularly reviewed by segment management. Accounting guidance allows entities to perform a qualitative assessment (a “step-zero” test) before performing a quantitative analysis. If an entity determines that it is not more-likely-than-not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, the entity does not need to perform a quantitative analysis for that reporting unit. The qualitative assessment includes a review of macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, internal cost factors, and overall financial performance, among other factors. For our 2023 annual goodwill assessment, we performed a step-zero qualitative analysis for our five reporting units. Based on the qualitative assessments performed, we concluded that it was not more-likely-than-not that the fair value of each of our reporting units was less than their carrying amounts and, therefore, further quantitative analysis was not performed, and we did not recognize any goodwill impairment. Similarly, for our 2022 annual goodwill assessment performed as of August 31, we performed a step-zero qualitative analysis for each of the three reporting units that existed at that time and reached the same conclusion. However, in the fourth quarter of 2022 and in connection with the RXO spin-off, we performed additional impairment tests because the number of our reporting units increased from three to five to reflect our new internal organization. Specifically, while our European Transportation business was previously considered a single reporting unit, after the spin-off of RXO, it was determined that the European Transportation business was comprised of four reporting units. As a result, in the fourth quarter of 2022, we tested each of the four new reporting units for potential impairment. A quantitative test was performed for each of these four new reporting units using a combination of income and market approaches and we recorded an aggregate impairment charge of $64 million related to two of these new reporting units. The income approach of determining fair value is based on the present value of estimated future cash flows, discounted at an appropriate risk-adjusted rate. We use our internal forecasts to estimate future cash flows and include an estimate of long-term future growth rates based on our most recent views of the long-term outlook for our business. The market approach of determining fair value is based on comparable market multiples for companies engaged in similar businesses, as well as recent transactions within our industry. Intangible Assets Our intangible assets subject to amortization consist primarily of customer relationships and favorable leases. In connection with the Yellow Asset Acquisition, the assumed leases contained favorable terms compared to market terms for similar leases and, as result, we recognized a $65 million favorable lease intangible asset in December 2023. We review long-lived assets to be held-and-used, including tangible assets and intangible assets subject to amortization, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. An asset is considered to be impaired if the sum of the undiscounted expected future cash flows over the remaining useful life of a long-lived asset group is less than its carrying amount. An impairment loss is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset group exceeds the fair value of the asset. We estimate fair value using the expected future cash flows discounted at a rate commensurate with the risks associated with the recovery of the asset. We amortize intangible assets on a straight-line basis or on a basis consistent with the pattern in which the economic benefits are realized. The estimated useful life for intangible assets at December 31, 2023 is 14 to 25 years. Accrued Expenses The components of accrued expenses as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows: As of December 31, (In millions) 2023 2022 Accrued salaries and wages $ 310 $ 294 Accrued transportation and facility charges 215 226 Accrued insurance claims 99 111 Accrued taxes 84 82 Other accrued expenses 67 61 Total accrued expenses $ 775 $ 774 Self-Insurance We use a combination of self-insurance programs and purchased insurance to provide for the costs of medical, casualty, liability, vehicular, cargo, workers’ compensation, cyber risk and property claims. We periodically evaluate our level of insurance coverage and adjust our insurance levels based on risk tolerance and premium expense. Liabilities for the risks we retain, including estimates of claims incurred but not reported, are not discounted and are estimated, in part, by considering historical cost experience, demographic and severity factors, and judgments about current and expected levels of cost per claim and retention levels. Changes in these assumptions and factors can impact actual costs paid to settle the claims and those amounts may be different than our estimates. Advertising Costs Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Stockholders’ Equity We retire shares purchased under our share repurchase program and return them to authorized and unissued status. We charge any excess of cost over par value to Additional paid-in capital if a balance is present. If Additional paid-in capital is fully depleted, any remaining excess of cost over par value will be charged to Retained earnings. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) The components of and changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”), net of tax, for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, are as follows: (In millions) Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments Derivative Hedges Defined Benefit Plans Liability AOCI Attributable to XPO As of December 31, 2021 $ (52) $ — $ (32) $ (84) Other comprehensive income (loss) (62) (2) (69) (133) Amounts reclassified from AOCI (7) — — (7) Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) (69) (2) (69) (140) Spin-off of RXO 2 — — 2 As of December 31, 2022 (119) (2) (101) (222) Other comprehensive income (loss) 37 3 (23) 17 Amounts reclassified from AOCI (9) (3) — (12) Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) 28 — (23) 5 As of December 31, 2023 $ (91) $ (2) $ (124) $ (217) Income Taxes We account for income taxes using the asset and liability method on a legal entity and jurisdictional basis, under which we recognize the amount of taxes payable or refundable for the current year and deferred tax assets and liabilities for the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in our financial statements or tax returns. Our calculation relies on several factors, including pre-tax earnings, differences between tax laws and accounting rules, statutory tax rates, tax credits, uncertain tax positions, and valuation allowances. We use judgment and estimates in evaluating our tax positions. Evaluating our tax positions would include but not be limited to our tax positions on internal restructuring transactions as well as the spin-offs of RXO and GXO. Valuation allowances are established when, in our judgment, it is more likely than not that our deferred tax assets will not be realized based on all available evidence. We record Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (“GILTI”) tax as a period cost. Our tax returns are subject to examination by U.S. Federal, state and foreign taxing jurisdictions. We regularly assess the potential outcomes of these examinations and any future examinations for the current or prior years. We recognize tax benefits from uncertain tax positions only if (based on the technical merits of the position) it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained on examination by the tax authority. We adjust these tax liabilities, including related interest and penalties, based on the current facts and circumstances. We report tax-related interest and penalties as a component of income tax expense. Foreign Currency Translation and Transactions The assets and liabilities of our foreign subsidiaries that use their local currency as their functional currency are translated to U.S. dollars (“USD”) using the exchange rate prevailing at each balance sheet date, with balance sheet currency translation adjustments recorded in AOCI on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. The assets and liabilities of our foreign subsidiaries whose local currency is not their functional currency are remeasured from their local currency to their functional currency and then translated to USD. The results of operations of our foreign subsidiaries are translated to USD using average exchange rates prevailing for each period presented. We convert foreign currency transactions recognized on our Consolidated Statements of Income to USD by applying the exchange rate prevailing on the date of the transaction. Gains and losses arising from foreign currency transactions and the effects of remeasuring monetary assets and liabilities are recorded in Other income on our Consolidated Statements of Income. Fair Value Measurements Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The levels of inputs used to measure fair value are: • Level 1—Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets; • Level 2—Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable in active markets; and • Level 3—Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable, generally utilizing pricing models or other valuation techniques that reflect management’s judgment and estimates. We base our fair value estimates on market assumptions and available information. The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued expenses and current maturities of long-term debt approximated their fair values as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 due to their short-term nature and/or being receivable or payable on demand. The Level 1 cash equivalents include money market funds valued using quoted prices in active markets and a cash deposit for the securitization program. For information on the fair value hierarchy of our derivative instruments, see Note 11—Derivative Instruments and for information on financial liabilities, see Note 12—Debt. The fair value hierarchy of cash equivalents was as follows: (In millions) Carrying Value Fair Value Level 1 December 31, 2023 $ 369 $ 369 $ 369 December 31, 2022 402 402 402 Derivative Instruments We record all derivative instruments on our Consolidated Balance Sheets as assets or liabilities at fair value. Our accounting treatment for changes in the fair value of derivative instruments depends on whether the instruments have been designated and qualify as part of a hedging relationship and on the type of hedging relationship. For those derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as hedging instruments, we must designate the derivative based on the exposure being hedged and assess, both at the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the designated derivative instruments are highly effective in offsetting changes in earnings and cash flows of the hedged items. When a derivative instrument is determined not to be highly effective as a hedge or the underlying hedged transaction is no longer probable, hedge accounting is discontinued prospectively. We link cash flow hedges to specific forecasted transactions or variability of cash flow to be paid. The gain or loss resulting from fair value adjustments on cash flow hedges are recorded in AOCI on our Consolidated Balance Sheets until the hedged item is recognized in earnings and is presented in the same income statement line item as the earnings effect of the hedged item. The gains and losses on the net investment hedges are recorded as cumulative translation adjustments in AOCI to the extent that the instruments are effective in hedging the designated risk. Gains and losses on cash flow hedges and net investment hedges representing hedge components excluded from the assessment of effectiveness will be amortized into Interest expense on our Consolidated Statements of Income in a systematic manner. Derivatives that are not designated as hedging instruments are adjusted to fair value through earnings and are recorded in Other income on our Consolidated Statements of Income. Defined Benefit Pension Plans We calculate defined benefit pension plan obligations using various actuarial assumptions and methodologies. Assumptions include discount rates, inflation rates, expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, mortality rates, and other factors. The assumptions used in recording the projected benefit obligation and fair value of plan assets represent our best estimates based on available information regarding historical experience and factors that may cause future expectations to differ. Our obligation and future expense amounts could be materially impacted by differences in actual experience or changes in assumptions. The impact of plan amendments, actuarial gains and losses and prior-service costs are recorded in AOCI and are generally amortized as a component of net periodic benefit cost over the remaining service period of the active employees covered by the defined benefit pension plans. Unamortized gains and losses are amortized only to the extent they exceed 10% of the higher of the fair value of plan assets or the projected benefit obligation of the respective plan. Stock-Based Compensation We account for stock-based compensation based on the equity instrument’s grant date fair value. For grants of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) subject to service-based or performance-based vesting conditions only, we establish the fair value based on the market price on the date of the grant. For grants of RSUs subject to market-based vesting conditions, we establish the fair value using the Monte Carlo simulation lattice model. We determined the fair value of our stock-based awards based on our stock price and a number of assumptions, including expected volatility, expected life, risk-free interest rate and expected dividends. We account for forfeitures as they occur. We recognize the grant date fair value of equity awards as compensation cost over the requisite service period. We recognize expense for our performance-based restricted stock units (“PRSUs”) over the awards’ requisite service period based on the number of awards expected to vest with consideration to the actual and expected financial results. We do not recognize expense until achievement of the performance targets for a PRSU award is considered probable. Adoption of New Accounting Standard In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, “Reference rate reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the effects of reference rate reform on financial reporting.” The ASU provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships and other transactions affected by reference rate reform. The amendments apply only to contracts and hedging relationships that reference London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or another reference rate expected to be discontinued due to reference rate reform. The amendments are elective and are effective upon issuance. In December 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-06, “Reference rate reform (Topic 848): Deferral of the sunset date of Topic 848” which defers the expiration date for Topic 848 from December 31, 2022 until December 31, 2024. At December 31, 2022, our revolving loan credit agreement (the “ABL Facility”) and senior secured term loan credit agreement, as amended (the “Existing Term Loan Facility”), provided for an interest rate based on LIBOR. In 2023, we amended the terms of our ABL Facility and Existing Term Loan Facility, including transitioning the interest rate from LIBOR to other base rates. See Note 12—Debt for further information. The modifications of these facilities to transition from LIBOR to other base rates did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. Accounting Pronouncements Issued but Not Yet Effective In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures.” The ASU modifies income tax disclosures by requiring (i) consistent categories and greater disaggregation of information in the rate reconciliations and (ii) the disclosure of income taxes paid disaggregated by jurisdiction, among other requirements. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2024 and should be applied on a prospective basis, with the option to apply the standard retrospectively. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new standard, which is limited to financial statement disclosures. In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, “Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures.” The amendments in the ASU improve reportable segment disclosure requirements primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. In addition, the amendments enhance interim disclosure requirements, clarify circumstances in which an entity can disclose multiple segment measures of profit and loss, and provide new segment disclosure requirements for entities with a single reportable segment, among other disclosure requirements. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023 and should be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new standard, which is limited to financial statement disclosures. |