| Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies | Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies Energy Recovery, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (the “Company” or “Energy Recovery”) designs and manufactures solutions that make industrial processes more efficient and sustainable. Leveraging the Company’s pressure exchanger technology, which generates little to no emissions when operating, the Company’s solutions lower costs, save energy, reduce waste and minimize emissions for companies across a variety of industrial processes. As the world coalesces around the urgent need to address climate change and its impacts, the Company is helping companies reduce their energy consumption in their industrial processes, which in turn, reduces their carbon footprint. The Company believes that its customers do not have to sacrifice quality and cost savings for sustainability and is committed to developing solutions that drive long-term value – both financial and environmental. The Company’s solutions are marketed, sold in, or developed for, the fluid-flow and gas markets, such as seawater and industrial wastewater desalination, natural gas, chemical processing and refrigeration systems, under the trademarks ERI ® , PX ® , Pressure Exchanger ® , PX ® Pressure Exchanger ® (“PX”), Ultra PX ™ , PX G ™ , PX G1300 ™ ,PX PowerTrain ™ , AT ™ , and Aquabold ™ . The Company owns, manufactures and/or develops its solutions, in whole or in part, in the United States of America (the “U.S.”). Basis of Presentation The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Energy Recovery, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Reclassifications Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and certain notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements to conform to the current period presentation. Use of Estimates The preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), requires the Company’s management to make judgments, assumptions and estimates that affect the amounts reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes. The accounting policies that reflect the Company’s significant estimates and judgments and that the Company believes are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating its reported financial results are revenue recognition; valuation of stock options; useful life and valuation of equipment; valuation and impairment of goodwill; inventory; deferred taxes and valuation allowances on deferred tax assets; evaluation and measurement of contingencies, and warranty obligations. Those estimates could change, and as a result, actual results could differ materially from those estimates. Although there has been uncertainty and disruption in the global economy, supply chain and financial markets, the Company is not aware of any specific event or circumstance that would require an update to its estimates or judgments or a revision of the carrying value of its assets or liabilities as of February 22, 2023, the date of issuance of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. These estimates may change, as new events occur and additional information is obtained. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly these estimates for any reason after the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, except as required by law. Cash and Cash Equivalents The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original or remaining contractual maturity on date of purchase of less than or equal to three months to be classified and presented as cash equivalents on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates fair value. The Company’s cash and cash equivalents may include demand deposit accounts with large financial institutions, institutional money market funds, U.S. treasury securities, and corporate notes and bonds. The Company monitors the creditworthiness of the financial institutions, institutional money market funds, and corporations in which the Company invests its surplus funds. The Company has experienced no credit losses from its cash investments. Allowance for Doubtful Accounts The Company records a provision for doubtful accounts based on historical experience and an estimate of the expected credit losses. In estimating the allowance for doubtful accounts, the Company considers, among other factors, the aging of the accounts receivable, its historical write-offs, the credit worthiness of each customer, and general economic conditions. Account balances are charged off against the allowance when the Company believes that it is probable that the receivable will not be recovered. Actual write-offs may be in excess of the Company’s estimated allowance. Short-term and Long-term Investments The Company’s short-term and long-term investments consist primarily of investment-grade debt securities, such as U.S. treasury securities, corporate notes and bonds, and municipal and agency notes and bonds, all of which are classified as available-for-sale. Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value. Amortization or accretion of premium or discount is included in other income (expense) on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Changes in the fair value of available-for-sale securities are reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss within stockholders’ equity on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Realized gains and losses on the sale of available-for-sale securities are determined by specific identification of the cost basis of each security. The Company categorizes and classifies short-term and long-term available-for-sale investments on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets as follows: • Short-term investments: Investments purchased with an original or remaining maturity at time of purchase greater than three months and that are expected to mature within 12 months from the balance sheet date are classified as short-term investments and are presented in current assets. • Long-term investments: Investments purchased with an original or remaining maturity at time of purchase greater than three months and that are expected to mature more than 12 months from the balance sheet date are classified as long-term investments and are presented in non-current assets. Inventories Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (using the first-in, first-out “FIFO” method) or net realizable value. The Company calculates inventory valuation adjustments for excess and obsolete inventory based on current inventory levels, movement, expected useful lives, and estimated future demand of the products and spare parts. Property and Equipment Property and equipment is recorded at cost and reduced by accumulated depreciation. Depreciation expense is recognized over the estimated useful lives of the assets using the straight-line method. The following table presents the estimated useful life, or range of useful lives, of the Company’s property and equipment. Maintenance and repairs are charged directly to expense as incurred. Minimum Maximum Machinery and equipment (excluding equipment used for manufacturing of ceramic components) ) 3 years 7 years Machinery and equipment used for manufacturing of ceramic components 3 years 10 years Leasehold improvements (1) 1 year 6.4 years Software (2) 3 years 5 years Office equipment, furniture, and fixtures 3 years 5 years Automobiles 1 year 7 years (1) Leasehold improvements represent remodeling and retrofitting costs for leased office and manufacturing space and are depreciated over the shorter of either the estimated useful lives or the term of the lease. See Note 7, Commitments and Contingencies, §Operating Lease Obligations, for further discussion of lease terms. (2) Software purchased for internal use consists primarily of amounts paid for perpetual licenses to third-party software providers and implementation costs . Estimated useful lives are periodically reviewed, and when appropriate, changes are made prospectively. When certain events or changes in operating conditions occur, asset lives may be adjusted and an impairment assessment may be performed on the recoverability of the carrying amounts. The Company evaluates the recoverability of long-lived assets by comparing the carrying amount of an asset to estimated future net undiscounted cash flows generated by the asset (asset group). If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment recognized is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. The evaluation of recoverability involves estimates of future operating cash flows based upon certain forecasted assumptions, including, but not limited to, revenue growth rates, gross profit margins, and operating expenses. Leases The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease, or contains a lease, at the inception of the arrangement and evaluates whether the lease is an operating or a finance lease at the commencement date. The Company recognizes right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and lease liabilities for operating leases with terms greater than 1 year. ROU assets represent the Company’s right to use an asset for the lease term, while lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term at the lease commencement date. The Company uses the implicit interest rate or, if not readily determinable, its incremental borrowing rate as of the lease commencement date to determine the present value of lease payments. The incremental borrowing rate is based on the Company’s unsecured borrowing rate, adjusted for the effects of collateral. Operating lease ROU assets are recognized net of any lease prepayments and incentives. Based on materiality, the Company accounts for both the non-lease components and related lease components as a single lease component. Lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. Operating lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company applies lease modifications that change the contractual terms and conditions of a lease, that were not part of the original lease, and grants additional right of use with a price consistent with the market, as a new lease. These modifications will be assessed in compliance with the above parameters. For other types of lease modification, the modified lease is reassessed and all new assumptions are applied in the calculation of the updated lease liability and the ROU asset. Goodwill Our goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of a business combination over the fair value of the net assets acquired. Goodwill is not amortized but is evaluated annually (July 1) for impairment at the reporting unit level or when indicators of a potential impairment are present. Goodwill impairment testing requires significant judgment and management estimates, including, but not limited to, the determination of (i) the number of reporting units, (ii) the goodwill and other assets and liabilities to be allocated to the reporting units and (iii) the fair values of the reporting units. The estimates and assumptions described above, along with other factors such as discount rates, will significantly affect the outcome of the impairment tests and the amounts of any resulting impairment losses. We perform a quantitative assessment of goodwill for impairment on an annual basis during the third quarter of each year, and between annual tests, a qualitative assessment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. If these interim qualitative factors were to indicate that it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value, we would then perform a quantitative assessment, which would consist primarily of a discounted cash flow (“DCF”) analysis to determine the fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill. The forecast of future cash flows, which is based on the Company’s best estimate of future net sales and operating expenses, is based primarily on expected category expansion, pricing, market segment, and general economic conditions. In addition, the Company incorporates other significant inputs to its fair value calculations, including discount rate and market multiples, to reflect current market conditions. To the extent the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s allocated goodwill exceeds the unit’s fair value, we recognize an impairment of goodwill for the excess up to the amount of goodwill of that reporting unit. Fair Value of Financial Instruments The Company’s financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, investments in marketable securities, accounts receivable, and accounts payable. The carrying amounts for these financial instruments reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets approximate their fair values. See Note 5, “Investments and Fair Value Measurements,” for further discussion related to fair value. Revenue Recognition Revenues are recognized when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to the Company’s customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. Performance obligations are identified and the total transaction price is allocated to the performance obligations at execution of the contract. The Company’s payment terms vary based on the credit risk of its customer. For certain customer types, the Company requires payment before the products or services are delivered to the customer. The Company performs an evaluation of customer credit worthiness on an individual contract basis to assess whether collectability is reasonably assured at the inception of the contract. As part of this evaluation, the Company considers many factors about the individual customer, including the underlying financial strength of the customer and/or partnership consortium and the Company’s prior history or industry-specific knowledge about the customer and its supplier relationships. For smaller projects, the Company requires the customer to remit payment generally within 30 to 60 days after product delivery. In some cases, if credit worthiness cannot be determined, prepayment or other security is required. Sales commissions are expensed as incurred when product revenue is earned. These costs are recorded within sales and marketing expenses. Arrangements with Multiple Performance Obligations and Termination for Convenience The Company’s contracts with customers may include multiple performance obligations. For such arrangements, the Company allocates revenue to each performance obligation based on its relative stand-alone selling price. The Company generally determines stand-alone selling prices based on the prices charged to customers. With respect to termination, the Company does not have the ability to cancel the contract for convenience. In general, customers can cancel for convenience upon the payment of a termination fee that covers costs and profit. It is rare for customers to cancel contracts. Practical Expedients and Exemptions In the Water segment, the time period between when the Company transfers control of products to the customer and the payment for the products is, in general, less than one year and, therefore, the practical expedient with respect to a financing component has been adopted by the Company. With respect to taxes, the Company has made the policy election to exclude taxes from the measurement of the transaction price. The Company does not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for (i) contracts with an original expected length of one year or less; and (ii) contracts for which the Company recognizes revenue at the amount to which the Company has the right to invoice for services performed. Contract Costs The Company recognizes the incremental cost of obtaining contracts as an expense when incurred if the amortization period of the assets that the Company otherwise would have recognized is one year or less. The costs of obtaining contracts are included in sales and marketing expenses. Product and Service Revenue Recognition - Water Segment In the Company’s Water segment, a contract is established by a written agreement (executed sales order, executed purchase order or stand-alone contract) with the customer with fixed pricing, and a credit risk assessment is completed prior to the signing of the agreement to ensure that collectability is reasonably assured. The Company adheres to consistent pricing in the stand-alone sale of products and services. The Company does not generally bundle performance obligations in the Water segment. Performance obligations consist of delivery of products, such as the Company’s PXs, hydraulic turbochargers, pumps and spare parts. Service obligations, such as commissioning, which are not material, are deferred as contract liabilities until the services are performed. The transfer of control for the Company’s products follows transfer of title which typically occurs upon shipment or delivery of the equipment in accordance with International Commercial Terms (commonly referred to as “incoterms”). The specified product performance criteria for the Company’s products pertain to the ability of the Company’s product to meet its published performance specifications and warranty provisions, which the Company’s products have demonstrated on a consistent basis. This factor, combined with historical performance metrics, provides the Company’s management with a reasonable basis to conclude that the products will perform satisfactorily upon commissioning of the plant. Installation is relatively simple, requires no customization, and is performed by the customer under the supervision of the Company’s personnel. Based on these factors, the Company concluded that performance has been completed upon shipment or delivery when title transfers based on the shipping terms, and that product revenue is recognized at a point in time. The Company does not provide its customers with a right of product return; however, the Company will accept returns of products that are deemed to be damaged or defective when delivered that are covered by the terms and conditions of the product warranty. Product warranty is provided consistent with the industry and is considered to be an assurance warranty, not a separate performance obligation. Product returns and warranty charges have not been material. For large projects, stand-alone contracts are utilized. For these contracts, consistent with industry practice, the Company’s customers typically require their suppliers, including the Company, to accept contractual holdback provisions (also referred to as a retention payment) whereby the final amounts due under the sales contract are remitted over extended periods of time or alternatively, stand-by letters of credit are issued. These retention payments are generally 10% or less of the total contract amount and are due and payable based upon the contractual milestone billing, generally up to 24 to 36 months from the date of product delivery. These retention payments with performance conditions are recorded as contract assets and align with the product warranty period. Given that they are not material in the context of the contract, they are not considered to be a financing component. Shipping and handling charges billed to customers are pass-through from the freight forwarder to the customer and are included in product revenue. The cost of shipping to customers is included in product cost of revenue. License and Development Revenue Recognition - Emerging Technologies Segment Revenue is recognized when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to customers. For example, stand-alone selling price was established at the inception of a license agreement by taking the transaction to market on a non-exclusive basis, and pricing in an exclusivity premium. Since the license agreement included an up-front non-refundable payment at the inception and future products and services are provided after initial commercialization, the Company completed an analysis and concluded that there was no material right included in the pricing of the license agreement. Performance obligations, such as the exclusive license to the Company’s missile technology and upgrades prior to and subsequent to the date of full commercial launch, have been identified. Value has been allocated to the performance obligations and license and development revenue is recognized over time based on the input measure of progress of the cost of salaries, wages and travel costs related to the project prior to full commercialization, and ratably for the unspecified upgrades for the period subsequent to full commercialization until the expiration of the license agreement. In June 2020, the license agreement was terminated and all unrecognized future revenue under the license agreement was recognized in the second quarter of fiscal year 2020. Warranty Costs The Company sells products with a limited warranty for a period ranging from 18 months to five years. The Company accrues for warranty costs based on estimated product failure rates, historical activity, and expectations of future costs. Periodically, the Company evaluates and adjusts the warranty costs to the extent that actual warranty costs vary from the original estimates. Stock-based Compensation The Company measures and recognizes stock-based compensation expense based on the fair value measurement for all stock-based awards made to its employees, non-employee consultants and directors, including restricted stock units (“RSUs”), and incentive stock options over the requisite service period (typically the vesting period of the awards). The fair value of RSUs is based on the Company’s common stock price on the date of grant. The fair value of stock options is calculated on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes (also referred to as the “Black-Scholes-Merton”) model, which requires a number of complex assumptions including the expected life to exercise a vested award based upon the Company’s exercise history, expected volatility based upon the Company’s historical stock prices, risk-free interest rate based upon the U.S. Treasury rates, and the Company’s dividend yield. The estimation of awards that will ultimately vest requires judgment, and to the extent that actual results or updated estimates differ from the Company’s current estimates, such amounts are recorded as a cumulative adjustment in the period in which the estimates are revised. See Note Income Taxes Current and non-current tax assets and liabilities are based upon an estimate of taxes refundable or payable for each of the jurisdictions in which the Company is subject to tax. In the ordinary course of business, there is inherent uncertainty in quantifying income tax positions. The Company assesses income tax positions and records tax benefits for all years subject to examination based upon the Company’s evaluation of the facts, circumstances, and information available at the reporting dates. For those tax positions where it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will be sustained, the Company records the largest amount of tax benefit with a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with a taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. For those income tax positions where it is not more likely than not that a tax benefit will be sustained, no tax benefit is recognized in the financial statements. When applicable, associated interest and penalties are recognized as a component of income tax expense. Accrued interest and penalties are included within the related tax asset or liability on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Deferred income taxes are provided for temporary differences arising from differences in bases of assets and liabilities for tax and financial reporting purposes. Deferred income taxes are recorded on temporary differences using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the temporary differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Significant judgment is required in determining whether and to what extent any valuation allowance is needed on the Company’s deferred tax assets. In making such a determination, the Company considers all available positive and negative evidence including recent results of operations, scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future income, and available tax planning strategies. See Note 8, “Income Taxes,” for further discussion of tax valuation allowances. The Company’s operations are subject to income and transaction taxes in the U.S. and in foreign jurisdictions. Significant estimates and judgments are required in determining the Company’s worldwide provision for income taxes. Some of these estimates are based on interpretations of existing tax laws or regulations. The ultimate amount of tax liability may be uncertain as a result. In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848) (“ASU 2020-04”), which provided optional expedients and exceptions for applying U.S. GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by the discontinuation of the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or by another reference rate expected to be discontinued. The FASB later issued ASU No. 2021-01, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Scope, to clarify the scope of Topic 848 so that derivatives affected by the discounting transition are explicitly eligible for certain optional expedients and exceptions in Topic 848 (“ASU 2021-01”). Entities may apply the provisions of the new standards as of the beginning of the reporting period when the election is made (i.e., as early as the first quarter of 2020). Unlike other topics, the provisions of this update are only available until December 31, 2022, when the reference rate replacement activity is expected to have been completed. An entity may elect to apply amendments prospectively through December 31, 2022. On July 15, 2022, the Company amended its existing credit agreement (as defined in Note 6, “Lines of Credit”) to change the reference rate for borrowings from LIBOR to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”). The Company applied ASU 2020-04 and the optional expedients at the time of this modification. The Company’s adoption of ASU 2020-04 and ASU 2021-01 on July 15, 2022, did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. Refer to Note 6, “Lines of Credit,” for more information. |
