Item 1A. RISK FACTORS
A number of risks and uncertainties could affect our business and cause our actual results to differ from past performance or expected results. We consider the following risks and uncertainties to be those material to our business. If any of these risks occur, our business, financial condition and results of operations could suffer, and the trading price of our common stock could decline. We urge investors to consider carefully the risk factors described below in evaluating the information contained in this Annual Report.
Risks Which May Be Material to Our Business
Risks Relating to Products and Supply Chain
We are dependent on third-party suppliers and manufacturers to provide us with an adequate supply of high-quality products, and the loss of a large supplier or manufacturer could negatively affect our operating results.
Failure by our suppliers to provide us with an adequate supply of high-quality products on commercially reasonable terms, or to comply with applicable legal requirements, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or operating results. While we believe that we have positive relationships with our suppliers, the fiberglass insulation industry has encountered both shortages and periods of significant oversupply during past housing market cycles, leading to volatility in prices and allocations of supply, which affect our results. While we do not believe we depend on any sole or limited source of supply, we source the majority of our building products, primarily insulation, from a limited number of large suppliers. The loss of a large supplier, or a substantial decrease in the availability of products or components from our suppliers, could disrupt our business and adversely affect our operating results.
Our profit margins could decrease due to changes in the costs of the products we install and/or distribute.
The principal building products that we install and distribute have been subject to price changes in the past, some of which have been significant. Our results of operations for individual quarters can be, and have been, hurt by a delay between the time building product cost increases are implemented and the time we are able to increase prices for our installation or distribution services, if at all. Our supplier purchase prices may depend on our purchasing volume or other arrangements with any given supplier. While we have been able to achieve cost savings through volume purchasing or other arrangements with suppliers in the past, we may not be able to consistently continue to receive advantageous pricing for the products we distribute and install. If we are unable to maintain purchase pricing consistent with prior periods or are unable to pass on price increases, our costs could increase and our margins may be adversely affected.
The development of alternatives to distributors in the supply chain could cause a decrease in our sales and operating results and limit our ability to grow our business.
Our distribution customers could begin purchasing more of their products directly from manufacturers, which would result in decreases in our net sales and earnings. Our suppliers could invest in infrastructure to expand their own local sales force and sell more products directly to our distribution customers, which also would negatively impact our business.
New product innovations or new product introductions could negatively impact our business.
New product innovations or new product introductions could negatively impact demand for the products we install and distribute.
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We may not be able to identify new products or new product lines and integrate them into our distribution network, which may impact our ability to compete. Our expansion into new markets may present competitive, distribution, and regulatory challenges that differ from current ones.
Our business depends, in part, on our ability to identify future products and product lines that complement existing products and product lines and that respond to our customers’ needs. We may not be able to compete effectively unless our product selection keeps up with trends in the markets in which we compete, or trends in new products, which could cause us to lose market share. Our expansion into new markets, new products or new product lines may present competitive, distribution and regulatory challenges, as well as divert management’s attention away from our core business. In addition, our ability to integrate new products and product lines into our distribution network could affect our ability to compete.
Risks Relating to Potential Closures due to Events Beyond Our Control
Events beyond our control may negatively impact demand for our services or the products we distribute.
A variety of events uncontrollable by us may reduce demand for our services or the products that we distribute, impair our ability to deliver our services or products on schedule, or increase the cost of delivering our services or products. Demand for our services or products is dependent on a variety of macroeconomic factors, such as employment levels, interest rates, changes in stock market valuations, consumer confidence, housing demand, availability of financing for home buyers, availability and prices of new homes compared to existing inventory, and demographic trends. These factors, in particular consumer confidence, can be significantly adversely affected by a variety of factors beyond our control, including: catastrophic events or natural disasters (such as hurricanes, floods, wildfires, earthquakes, droughts, excessive heat or rain, epidemics, pandemics, and terrorist attacks); international, political or military developments; and significant volatility in debt and equity markets. Certain of these events can also have a serious impact on our customer’s ability to develop residential communities or commercial projects, or could cause delays in, prevent the completion of, or increase the cost of, developing one or more of them, which in turn could harm our sales and results of operations.
The ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic may cause further business and market disruptions, impacting demand for our services or the products we distribute, our ability to provide services, or our results of operations or financial condition.
There remains significant uncertainty around the breadth and duration of business disruptions related to COVID-19, as well as its impact on the U.S. economy and consumer confidence. The extent to which COVID-19 impacts our results will continue to depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including new information which may emerge concerning the severity of COVID-19, new or additional strains of COVID-19, and the actions taken to contain it or treat its impact. While we have not seen a significant impact on our busines resulting from COVID-19 to date, if the virus causes significant negative impacts to economic conditions or consumer confidence, our results of operations and financial condition could be adversely impacted. While we are currently able to operate in all of our locations, there is no guarantee that the services we provide will continue to be allowed or that other events making the provision of our services challenging or impossible, will not occur. For example, if there are surges in levels of COVID-19 infections in certain states, those states may respond by, among other things, deeming residential and commercial construction as nonessential.
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Risks Relating to Human Capital
The long-term performance of our businesses relies on our ability to attract, develop, and retain talented personnel, including sales representatives, branch managers, installers, and truck drivers, while controlling our labor costs.
We are highly dependent on the skills and experience of our senior management team and other skilled and experienced personnel. The failure to attract and retain key employees could negatively affect our competitive position and operating results.
Our business results also depend upon our branch managers and sales personnel, including those of businesses acquired. Our ability to control labor costs and attract qualified labor is subject to numerous external factors including prevailing wage rates, the labor market, the demand environment, the impact of legislation or regulations governing wages and hours, labor relations, immigration, healthcare benefits, and insurance costs. In addition, we compete with other companies to recruit and retain qualified installers and truck drivers in a tight labor market, and we invest significant resources in training and motivating them to maintain a high level of job satisfaction. These positions generally have high turnover rates, which can lead to increased training and retention costs. If we fail to attract qualified labor on favorable terms, we may not be able to meet the demand of our customers, which could adversely impact our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Changes in employment and immigration laws may adversely affect our business.
Various federal and state labor laws govern the relationship with our employees and impact operating costs. These laws include:
• workers’ compensation rates;
• immigration status;
• mandatory health benefits;
• tax reporting; and
• other wage and benefit requirements.
We have a significant exposure to changes in laws governing our relationships with our employees, including wage and hour laws and regulations, fair labor standards, minimum wage requirements, overtime pay, unemployment tax rates, workers’ compensation rates, citizenship requirements, and payroll taxes, which changes would have a direct impact on our operating costs. Significant additional government-imposed increases in the preceding areas could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
In addition, various states in which we operate are considering or have already adopted new immigration laws or enforcement programs, and the U.S. Congress and Department of Homeland Security from time to time consider and implement changes to federal immigration laws, regulations, or enforcement programs. These changes may increase our compliance and oversight obligations, which could subject us to additional costs and make our hiring process more cumbersome, or reduce the availability of potential employees. Although we verify the employment eligibility status of all our employees, including through participation in the “E-Verify” program where required, some of our employees may, without our knowledge, be unauthorized workers. Use of the “E-Verify” program does not guarantee that we will properly identify all applicants who are ineligible for employment. Unauthorized workers are subject to deportation and may subject us to fines or penalties and, if any of our workers are found to be unauthorized, we could experience adverse publicity that negatively impacts our brand and may make it more difficult to hire and retain qualified employees, which could disrupt our operations. We could also become subject to fines, penalties, and other costs related to claims that we did not fully comply with all recordkeeping obligations of federal and state immigration laws. These factors could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
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Union organizing activity and work stoppages could delay or reduce availability of products that we install and increase our costs.
Approximately ten percent of our employees are currently covered by collective bargaining or other similar labor agreements that expire on various dates through 2024. Any inability by us to negotiate collective bargaining arrangements could cause strikes or other work stoppages, and new contracts could result in increased operating costs. If any such strikes or other work stoppages occur, or if other employees become represented by a union, we could experience a disruption of our operations and higher labor costs. Further, if a significant number of additional employees were to unionize, including in the wake of any future legislation that makes it easier for employees to unionize, these risks would increase. In addition, certain of our suppliers have unionized work forces, and certain of the products we install and/or distribute are transported by unionized truckers. Strikes, work stoppages, or slowdowns could result in slowdowns or closures of facilities where the products that we install and/or distribute are manufactured, or could affect the ability of our suppliers to deliver such products to us. Any interruption in the production or delivery of these products could delay or reduce availability of these products and increase our costs.
Our business relies significantly on the expertise of our employees and we generally do not have intellectual property that is protected by patents.
Our business is significantly dependent upon our expertise in installation and distribution logistics, including significant expertise in the application of building science through our Environments for Living® program. We rely on a combination of trade secrets and contractual confidentiality provisions and, to a much lesser extent, copyrights and trademarks, to protect our proprietary rights. Accordingly, our intellectual property is more vulnerable than it would be if it were protected primarily by patents. We may be required to spend significant resources to monitor and protect our proprietary rights, and in the event a misappropriation or breach of our proprietary rights occurs, our competitive position in the market may be harmed. In addition, competitors may develop competing technologies and expertise that renders our expertise obsolete or less valuable.
Risks Relating toMergers and Acquisitions
We may not be successful in identifying and making acquisitions. In addition, acquisition integrations involve risks that could negatively affect our operating results, cash flows, and liquidity.
We have made, and in the future may continue to make, strategic acquisitions as part of our growth strategy. We may be unable to make accretive acquisitions or realize expected benefits of any acquisitions for any of the following reasons:
• failure to identify attractive targets in the marketplace;
• increased competition for attractive targets;
• failure to obtain acceptable financing; or
• restrictions in our debt agreements.
Our ability to successfully implement our business plan and achieve targeted financial results is dependent on our ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses. The process of integrating acquired businesses, may expose us to operational challenges and risks, including, but not limited to:
• the expense of integrating acquired businesses;
• increased indebtedness;
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• the availability of funding sufficient to meet increased capital needs;
• potential impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets;
Failure to successfully integrate any acquired business may result in reduced levels of revenue, earnings, or operating efficiency than might have been achieved if we had not acquired such business. In addition, our past acquisitions results, and any future acquisitions could result in the incurrence of additional debt and related interest expense, contingent liabilities, and amortization expenses related to intangible assets, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, operating results, and cash flow.
We may not be able to achieve the benefits that we expect to realize as a result of future acquisitions. Failure to achieve such benefits could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
We may not be able to realize anticipated cost savings, revenue enhancements, or other synergies from future acquisitions, either in the amount or within the time frame that we expect. In addition, the costs of achieving these benefits may be higher than, and the timing may differ from, what we expect. Our ability to realize anticipated cost savings, synergies, and revenue enhancements may be affected by a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the following:
While we expect future acquisitions to create opportunities to reduce our combined operating costs, these cost savings reflect estimates and assumptions made by our management, and it is possible that our actual results will not reflect these estimates and assumptions within our anticipated timeframe or at all.
If we fail to realize anticipated cost savings, synergies, or revenue enhancements, our financial results may be adversely affected, and we may not generate the cash flow from operations that we anticipate.
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Risks Relating to Legal and Regulatory Matters
Because we operate our business through highly dispersed locations across the U.S., our operations may be materially adversely affected by inconsistent local practices, and the operating results of individual branches and distribution centers may vary.
We operate our business through a network of highly dispersed locations throughout the United States, supported by executives and services at our Branch Support Center in Daytona Beach, Florida, with local branch management retaining responsibility for day-to-day operations and adherence to applicable local laws. Our operating structure can make it difficult for us to coordinate procedures across our operations. In addition, our branches and distribution facilities may require significant oversight and coordination from headquarters to support their growth. Inconsistent implementation of corporate strategy and policies at the local or regional level could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
Claims and litigation could be costly.
We are, from time to time, involved in various claims, litigation matters, and regulatory proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of our business and which could have a material adverse effect on us. These matters may include contract disputes, automobile liability and other personal injury claims, warranty disputes, environmental claims or proceedings, other tort claims, employment and tax claims, claims relating to the quality of products sourced from our suppliers, and other proceedings and litigation, including class actions. In addition, we are exposed to potential claims by our employees or others based on job related hazards.
We may also be subject to claims or liabilities arising from our acquisitions for the periods prior to our acquisition of them, including environmental, employee-related, and other liabilities and claims not covered by insurance. Our ability to seek indemnification from the former owners of our acquired businesses for these claims or liabilities may be limited by the respective acquisition agreements and the financial ability of the former owners to satisfy our indemnification claims.
Our builder and contractor customers are subject to product liability, casualty, negligence, construction defect, breach of contract, warranty, and other claims in the ordinary course of their business. Our contractual arrangements with our builder and contractor customers may include our agreement to defend and indemnify them against various liabilities.
We rely on manufacturers and other suppliers to provide us with most of the products we install. Because we do not have direct control over the quality of products manufactured or supplied by third-party suppliers, we are exposed to risks relating to the quality of those products. In addition, we are exposed to potential claims arising from the conduct of our employees, homebuilders, and other subcontractors, for which we may be liable contractually or otherwise.
Product liability, workmanship warranty, casualty, negligence, construction defect, breach of contract, and other claims and legal proceedings can be expensive to defend and can divert the attention of management and other personnel for significant periods of time, regardless of fault or the ultimate outcome. In addition, lawsuits relating to construction defects typically have statutes of limitations that can run as long as ten years. Claims of this nature could also have a negative impact on customer confidence in us and our services.
Although we intend to defend all claims and litigation matters vigorously, given the inherently unpredictable nature of claims and litigation, we cannot predict with certainty the outcome or effect of any claim or litigation matter.
We expect to maintain insurance against some, but not all, of our risks of loss resulting from claims and litigation. We may elect not to obtain insurance if we believe the cost of available insurance is excessive relative to the risks presented. The levels of insurance we maintain may not be adequate to fully cover any and all losses or liabilities. If any significant accident, judgment, claim, or other event is not fully insured or indemnified against, it could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
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Compliance with government regulation and industry standards could impact our operating results.
We are subject to federal, state, and local government regulations, particularly those pertaining to health and safety, including protection of employees and consumers, employment laws, including immigration and wage and hour regulations, contractor licensing, data privacy, and environmental issues. In addition to complying with current requirements, even more stringent requirements could be imposed in the future. Compliance with these regulations and industry standards is costly and may require us to alter our installation and distribution processes, product sourcing, or business practices, and makes recruiting and retaining labor in a tight labor market more challenging. Compliance with these regulations and industry standards could also divert our attention and resources to compliance activities and could cause us to incur higher costs. Further, if we do not effectively and timely comply with such regulations and industry standards, our results of operations could be negatively affected, and we could become subject to substantial penalties or other legal liability.
We are subject to environmental regulation and potential exposure to environmental liabilities.
We are subject to various federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations. Although we believe that we operate our business, including each of our locations, in compliance with applicable laws and regulations and maintain all material permits required under such laws and regulations to operate our business, we may be held liable or incur fines or penalties in connection with such requirements. In addition, environmental laws and regulations, including those related to energy use and climate change, may become more stringent over time, and any future laws and regulations could have a material impact on our operations or require us to incur material additional expenses to comply with any such future laws and regulations.
Changes in building codes and consumer preferences could affect our ability to market our service offerings and our profitability. Moreover, if we do not respond to evolving customer preferences or changes in building standards, or if we do not maintain or expand our leadership in building science, our business, results of operation, financial condition, and cash flow would be adversely affected.
Each of our lines of business is impacted by local and state building codes and consumer preferences, including a growing focus on energy efficiency. Our competitive advantage is due, in part, to our ability to respond to changes in consumer preferences and building codes. However, if our installation and distribution services and our leadership in building sciences do not adequately or quickly adapt to changing preferences and building standards, we may lose market share to competitors, which would adversely affect our business, results of operation, financial condition, and cash flows. Further, our growth prospects could be harmed if consumer preferences and building standards evolve more slowly than we anticipate towards energy efficient service offerings, which are more profitable than minimum code service offerings.
Risks Relating to theIndustry in Which We Operate
Our business relies on residential new construction activity, and to a lesser extent on residential repair/remodel and commercial construction activity, all of which are cyclical.
Demand for our services is cyclical and highly sensitive to general macroeconomic and local economic conditions over which we have no control. Macroeconomic and local economic conditions, including consumer confidence levels, fluctuations in home prices, unemployment and underemployment levels, income and wage growth, student loan debt, household formation rates, mortgage tax deduction limits, the age and volume of the housing stock, the availability of home equity loans and mortgages and the interest rates for such loans, and other factors, affect consumers’ discretionary spending on both residential new construction projects and residential repair/remodel activity. The commercial construction market is affected by macroeconomic and local economic factors such as interest rates, credit availability for commercial construction projects, material costs, employment rates, and vacancy and absorption rates. Changes or uncertainty regarding these and similar factors could adversely affect our results of operations and our financial position.
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We face significant competition, and increased competitive pressure may adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
The market for the distribution and installation of building products is highly fragmented and competitive, and barriers to entry are relatively low. Our installation competitors include national contractors, regional contractors, and local contractors, and we face many or all of these competitors for each project on which we bid. Our insulation distribution competitors include numerous specialty insulation distributors. In some instances, our insulation distribution business sells products to companies that may compete directly with our installation service business. We also compete with broad line building products distributors, big box retailers, and insulation manufacturers. In addition to price, we believe that competition in our industry is based largely on existing customer relationships, customer service and the quality and timeliness of installation services and distribution product deliveries in each local market. In the event that increased demand leads to higher prices for the products we sell and install, we may have limited ability to pass on price increases in a timely manner, or at all, due to the fragmented and competitive nature of our industry.
Our business is seasonal and is susceptible to adverse weather conditions and natural disasters. We also may be adversely affected by any natural or man-made disruptions to our facilities.
We normally experience stronger sales during the third and fourth calendar quarters, corresponding with the peak season for residential new construction and residential repair/remodel activity. Sales during the winter weather months are seasonally slower due to the lower construction activity. Historically, the installation of insulation lags housing starts by several months. In addition, to the extent that hurricanes, severe storms, earthquakes, droughts, floods, fires, other natural disasters, or similar events occur in the geographic areas in which we operate, our business may be adversely affected. Any widespread disruption to our facilities resulting from a natural disaster, an act of terrorism, or any other cause could materially impair our ability to provide installation and/or distribution services for our customers.
We are subject to competitive pricing pressure from our customers.
Residential homebuilders historically have exerted significant pressure on their outside suppliers to keep prices low in the highly fragmented building products supply and services industry. In addition, consolidation among homebuilders and changes in homebuilders’ purchasing policies or payment practices could result in additional pricing pressure.
Risks Relating to Information Technology and Cybersecurity
We rely on information technology systems, and in the event of a disruption or security incident, we could experience problems with customer service, inventory, collections, and cost control and incur substantial costs to address related issues.
Our operations are dependent upon our information technology systems, including systems run by third-party vendors which we do not control, to manage customer orders on a timely basis, to coordinate our installation and distribution activities across locations, and to manage invoicing. If we experience problems with our information technology systems, we could experience, among other things, delays in receiving customer orders, placing orders with suppliers, and scheduling production, installation services, or shipments.
A substantial disruption in our information technology systems could have an adverse impact on revenue, harm our reputation, and cause us to incur legal liability and costs, which could be significant, to address and remediate such events and related security concerns.
In addition, we could be adversely affected if any of our significant customers or suppliers experienced any similar events that disrupted their respective business operations or damaged their reputations.
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In the event of a cybersecurity incident, we could experience operational interruptions, incur substantial additional costs, become subject to legal or regulatory proceedings or suffer damage to our reputation.
In addition to the disruptions that may occur from interruptions in our information technology systems, cybersecurity threats and sophisticated and targeted cyberattacks pose a risk to our information technology systems. We have established security policies, processes and defenses designed to help identify and protect against intentional and unintentional misappropriation or corruption of our information technology systems and disruption of our operations. Despite these efforts, our information technology systems may be damaged, disrupted or shut down due to attacks by unauthorized persons, malicious software, computer viruses, undetected intrusion, hardware failures, or other events, and in these circumstances our disaster recovery plans may be ineffective or inadequate. These breaches or intrusions could lead to business interruptions, exposure of proprietary or confidential information, data corruption, damage to our reputation, exposure to legal and regulatory proceedings, and other costs. Such events could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. In addition, we could be adversely affected if any of our significant customers or suppliers experience any similar events that disrupt their business operations or damage their reputations.
We maintain monitoring practices and protections of our information technology to reduce these risks and test our systems on an ongoing basis for potential threats. We carry cybersecurity insurance to help mitigate the financial exposure and related notification procedures in the event of intentional intrusion. There can be no assurance, however, that our efforts will prevent the risk of a security breach of our databases or systems that could adversely affect our business.
Risks Relating to Liquidity and Our Ability to Finance Our Operations
If we are required to take significant non-cash charges, our financial resources could be reduced, and our financial flexibility may be negatively affected.
We have significant goodwill and other intangible assets related to business combinations on our balance sheet. The valuation of these assets is largely dependent upon the expectations for future performance of our businesses. Expectations about the growth of residential new construction, commercial construction, and residential repair/remodel activity may impact whether we are required to recognize noncash, pretax impairment charges for goodwill and other indefinite lived intangible assets, or other long-lived assets. If the value of our goodwill, other intangible assets, or long-lived assets is further impaired, our earnings and stockholders’ equity would be adversely affected and may impact our ability to raise capital in the future.
We may have future capital needs and may not be able to obtain additional financing on acceptable terms.
Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including industry and market conditions, our ability to successfully complete future business combinations and the expansion of our existing operations. We anticipate that we may need to raise additional funds in order to grow our business and implement our business strategy. Economic and credit market conditions, the performance of the construction industry, and our financial performance, as well as other factors may constrain our financing abilities. Our ability to secure additional financing and to satisfy our financial obligations will depend upon our future operating performance, the availability of credit, economic conditions, and financial, business, and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. Any financing, if available, may be on terms that are not favorable to us and will be subject to changes in interest rates and the capital markets environment. If we cannot obtain adequate capital, we may not be able to fully implement our business strategy and our business, operational results and financial condition could be adversely affected.
Our indebtedness and restrictions in our existing credit facility, Senior Notes or any other indebtedness we may incur in the future, could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, ability to make distributions to shareholders, and the value of our common stock.
Our indebtedness could have significant consequences on our future operations, including:
• making it more difficult for us to meet our payments and other obligations;
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Any of the above-listed factors could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, or ability to meet our payment obligations. If we are not able to generate sufficient cash flow to service our debt obligations, we may need to refinance or restructure our debt, sell certain assets, reduce or delay capital investments, or seek to raise additional capital, and some of these activities may be on terms that are unfavorable or highly dilutive. Our ability to refinance our indebtedness will depend on the capital markets and our financial condition at such time. If we are unable to implement one or more of these alternatives, we may not be able to meet our payment obligations.
Certain of our variable rate indebtedness uses LIBOR as a benchmark for establishing the rate of interest. LIBOR is the subject of recent national, international and other regulatory guidance and proposals for reform. These reforms and other pressures will cause LIBOR to be replaced with a new benchmark or to perform differently than in the past. The consequences of these developments cannot be entirely predicted, but could include an increase in the cost of our variable rate indebtedness.
Our existing term loan, revolving credit facility and the indenture governing our Senior Notes limit, and any future credit facility or other indebtedness we enter into may limit our ability to, among other things:
• incur or guarantee additional debt;
• make certain investments, acquisitions, or other restricted payments;
• incur certain liens or permit them to exist;
• acquire, merge, or consolidate with another company; and
• transfer, sell, or otherwise dispose of substantially all of our assets.
Our revolving credit facility contains, and any future credit facility or other debt instrument we may enter into will also likely contain, covenants requiring us to maintain certain financial ratios and meet certain tests, such as an interest coverage ratio, a leverage ratio, and a minimum test. Our ability to comply with those financial ratios and tests can be affected by events beyond our control, and we may not be able to comply with those ratios and tests when required to do so under the applicable debt instruments. For additional information regarding our outstanding debt see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Note 6. Long-Term Debt.
Adverse credit ratings could increase our costs of borrowing money and limit our access to capital markets and commercial credit.
Moody’s Investor Service and Standard & Poor’s routinely evaluate our credit ratings related to our Senior Notes. If these rating agencies downgrade any of our current credit ratings, our borrowing costs could increase and our access to the capital and commercial credit markets could be adversely affected.
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In connection with the Separation, Masco indemnified us for certain liabilities, and we indemnified Masco for certain liabilities. If we are required to act under these indemnities to Masco, we may need to divert cash to meet those obligations, which could adversely affect our financial results. Moreover, the Masco indemnity may not be sufficient to compensate us for the full amount of liabilities for which it may be liable, and Masco may not be able to satisfy its indemnification obligations to us in the future.
Indemnities that we may be required to provide Masco are not subject to any cap, may be significant, and could negatively affect our business, particularly indemnities relating to our actions that could affect the tax-free nature of the Separation. Third parties could also seek to hold us responsible for any of the liabilities that Masco has agreed to retain, and under certain circumstances, we may be subject to continuing contingent liabilities of Masco following the Separation, such as certain shareholder litigation claims. Further, Masco may not be able to fully satisfy its indemnification obligations, or such indemnity obligations may not be sufficient to cover our liabilities. Moreover, even if we ultimately succeed in recovering from Masco any amounts for which we are held liable, we may be temporarily required to bear these losses ourselves. Each of these risks could negatively affect our business, results of operations, liquidity, and financial condition.
Compliance with and changes in tax laws could adversely affect our performance.
We are subject to extensive tax liabilities imposed by multiple jurisdictions including income taxes; indirect taxes which include excise and duty, sales and use, and gross receipts taxes; payroll taxes; franchise taxes; withholding taxes; and ad valorem taxes. New tax laws and regulations, and changes in existing tax laws and regulations, are continuously being enacted or proposed which could result in increased expenditures for tax liabilities in the future. Many of these liabilities are subject to periodic audits by the respective taxing authority. Subsequent changes to our tax liabilities as a result of these audits may subject us to interest and penalties.
Risks Relating to Our Common Stock
The price of our common stock may fluctuate substantially, and the value of your investment may decline.
The market price of our common stock could fluctuate significantly due to a number of factors, many of which are beyond our control, including:
• announcements by us or our customers, suppliers, or competitors;
• changes in laws or regulations which adversely affect our industry or us;
• general economic, industry, and stock market conditions;
• future sales of our common stock by our stockholders;
• future issuances of our common stock by us; and
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Provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, and certain provisions of Delaware law, could delay or prevent a change in control.
The existence of some provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and Delaware law could discourage, delay, or prevent a change in control that a stockholder may consider favorable. These include provisions:
In addition, we are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which may have an anti-takeover effect with respect to transactions not approved in advance by our board of directors, including discouraging takeover attempts that could have resulted in a premium over the market price for shares of our common stock.
These provisions apply even if a takeover offer is considered beneficial by some stockholders and could delay or prevent an acquisition that our board of directors determines is not in our and our stockholders’ best interests.
Our bylaws designate the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a preferred judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, or other employees.
Our bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, or other employee to us or our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of Delaware General Corporation Law, our certificate of incorporation (including any certificate of designations for any class or series of our preferred stock), or our bylaws, in each case, as amended from time to time, or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine, shall be the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (provided, however, that in the event that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware lacks subject matter jurisdiction over such proceeding, the sole and exclusive forum for such action or proceeding shall be another state or federal court located within the State of Delaware), in all cases subject to the court having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock is deemed to have received notice of, and consented to, the foregoing provision. This forum selection provision may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable or cost effective for disputes with us or our directors, officers, or other employees, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and our directors, officers, and employees.
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Item 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
Item 2. PROPERTIES
We operate approximately 200 installation branch locations and approximately 75 distribution centers in the United States, most of which are leased. Our 65,700 square foot Branch Support Center is located at 475 North Williamson Boulevard in Daytona Beach, FL 32114. This lease expires in June 2029, assuming no exercise of any options set forth in the lease. We believe that our facilities have sufficient capacity and are adequate for our installation and distribution requirements.
Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
For information regarding legal proceedings, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Note 11. Other Commitments and Contingencies, which we incorporate herein by reference.
Item 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
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PART II
Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS, AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market Information and Holders of our Common Stock. Our common stock is traded on the NYSE under the symbol “BLD”. As of February 15, 2021, there were approximately 1,981 holders of our issued and outstanding common stock.
Dividends. No dividends were paid during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019. Our Amended Credit Agreement, in certain circumstances, limits the amount of dividends we may distribute. We do not anticipate declaring cash dividends to holders of our common stock in the foreseeable future.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities. The following table provides information regarding the repurchase of our common stock for the three months ended December 31, 2020, in thousands, except share and per share data:
All repurchases were made using cash resources. Excluded from this disclosure are shares repurchased to settle statutory employee tax withholdings related to the vesting of stock awards.
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Performance Graph and Table. The following graph and table compare the cumulative total return of our common stock from July 1, 2015, the date on which our common stock began trading on the NYSE, through December 31, 2020, with the total cumulative return of the Russell 2000 Index and the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index. The graph and table assume an initial investment of $100 in our common stock and each of the two indices at the close of business on July 1, 2015, and reinvestment of dividends.
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Item 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following table sets forth selected historical financial data that should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our audited financial statements and notes thereto, included in this Annual Report. The Consolidated Statements of Operations data for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, and the Consolidated Balance Sheet data as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, are derived from our audited financial statements included in this Annual Report. The Consolidated Statements of Operations data for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the Consolidated Balance Sheet data as of December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, were derived from our audited financial statements not included in this Annual Report. The selected historical financial data in this section is not intended to replace our historical financial statements and the related notes thereto.
Year Ended December 31,
Net income per common share:
At period end:
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Item 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The financial and business analysis below provides information which we believe is relevant to an assessment and understanding of our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows. This financial and business analysis should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and related notes.
In this section, we generally discuss the results of our operations for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the year ended December 31, 2019. For a discussion of the year ended December 31, 2019 to the year ended December 31, 2018, please refer to Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on February 25, 2020, which discussion is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Executive Summary
We are a leading installer and distributor of insulation and other building products to the U.S. construction industry. Demand for our products and services is driven primarily by residential new construction, commercial construction, and residential repair/remodel activity throughout the U.S. A number of local and national factors influence activity in each of our lines of business, including demographic trends, interest rates, employment levels, business investment, supply and demand for housing, availability of credit, foreclosure rates, consumer confidence, and general economic conditions.
Activity in the construction industry is seasonal, typically peaking in the summer months. Because installation of insulation historically lags housing starts by several months, we generally see a corresponding benefit in our operating results during the third and fourth quarters.
Strategy
We are the nation’s leading installer and distributor of residential and commercial insulation and other building products. We are committed to creating long-term value for all stakeholders – employees, customers, suppliers, and investors. Our core values include:
● Safety – We put the safety of our people first.
● Integrity – We deliver results with integrity, respect, and accountability.
● Focus – We are customer-focused, grounded in strong relationships.
● Innovation – We are continuously improving and encourage idea sharing.
● Unity – We are united as one team, valuing diversity.
● Community – We make a difference in the communities we serve.
● Empowerment – We are empowered to be our best, individually and as a team.
Our strategy is focused on growth and productivity including:
● Growing organically in the U.S. housing market;
● Expanding our business in commercial construction;
● Acquiring strategically aligned businesses;
● Driving operational efficiencies in the business.
Our operating results depend heavily on residential new construction activity and, to a lesser extent, on commercial construction and residential repair/remodel activity, all of which are cyclical. We are also dependent on third-party suppliers and manufacturers providing us with an adequate supply of high-quality products.
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COVID-19 Business Update
We continue to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on macroeconomic and local economic conditions. While we are currently able to operate in all of our locations, there is no guarantee that the services we provide will continue to be allowed or that other events making the provision of our services challenging or impossible, will not occur. For example, if there are surges in levels of COVID-19 infections in certain states, those states may respond by, among other things, deeming residential and commercial construction as nonessential in connection with a restriction of commercial activity.
We have implemented procedures and processes as required or recommended by governmental and medical authorities to ensure the safety of our employees, including increasing our cleaning and sanitizing practices at all locations and for all company vehicles, mandating social distancing on job sites and within our branch operations and limiting all but essential travel. However, we are not able to predict whether our customers will continue to operate at their current or typical volumes, and such decreases in their operations would have a negative impact on our business. We are also unable to predict how long the COVID-19 pandemic will last and the impact of the pandemic on demand for our products and services. For additional discussion of the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, see the sections entitled “Outlook” and “Risk Factors” included in this Annual Report.
Material Trends in Our Business
We remain optimistic about the U.S. housing market. Following a brief slowdown in the market during the 2nd quarter of 2020 due to the impacts from COVID-19, housing starts increased through much of 2020 and ended the year at nearly 1.4 million (based on seasonally-adjusted figures from the U.S. Census Bureau), the highest level of annual starts in more than a decade, yet below the 50-year historical average of approximately 1.4 million to 1.5 million housing starts per year. Additionally, housing starts in December 2020 were at a seasonally-adjusted rate of nearly 1.7 million. The current strong demand for housing, combined with the current low interest rate environment is driving optimism for the housing market for 2021 and beyond.
In 2020, we experienced a decline vs. prior year in our sales to commercial construction markets. This was primarily due to the impact of COVID-19 which caused a temporary halt on certain projects and has slowed production on others due to social distancing requirements on jobsites. We expect these markets, both light and heavy commercial, to improve going forward with revenue in heavy commercial uneven due to timing and the nature of these larger construction projects.
Seasonality
We normally experience stronger sales during the third and fourth calendar quarters, corresponding with the peak season for residential new construction and residential repair/remodel activity. Sales during the winter weather months are typically slower due to lower construction activity. Historically, the installation of insulation lags housing starts by several months. However, the normal lag on residential housing starts has extended recently as demand for residential housing has surged, causing building materials and labor to be constrained. These material and labor constraints, as well as additional safety precautions related to COVID-19, have also extended the build cycle related to commercial construction.
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Results of Operations
We report our financial results in conformity with GAAP.
The following table sets forth our net sales, gross profit, operating profit, and margins, as reported in our Consolidated Statements of Operations, in thousands:
Year Ended December 31,
Cost of sales ratio 72.5 % 74.0 %
Gross profit margin 27.5 % 26.0 %
Selling, general, and administrative expense 391,315 391,744
Selling, general, and administrative expense to sales ratio 14.4 % 14.9 %
Operating profit margin 13.1 % 11.0 %
Effective tax rate 23.5 % 24.7 %
Net margin 9.1 % 7.3 %
Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019
Sales and Operations
Net sales for 2020 increased 3.6 percent, or $93.9 million, to $2.7 billion. The increase was driven by a 1.6 percent increase in sales volume, 1.4 percent increase in sales from acquisitions, and 0.6 percent impact from higher selling prices.
Our gross profit margins were 27.5 percent and 26.0 percent for 2020 and 2019, respectively. Gross profit margin improved primarily due to operational efficiencies, lower material costs, higher selling prices, lower insurance costs, and savings from cost reduction activities, partially offset by higher depreciation expense.
Selling, general, and administrative expenses as a percentage of sales were 14.4 percent and 14.9 percent for 2020 and 2019, respectively. Decreased selling, general, and administrative expense as a percent of sales was primarily the result of higher sales, savings from cost reduction activities and reduced travel and entertainment activity.
Operating margins were 13.1 percent and 11.0 percent for 2020 and 2019, respectively. The increase in operating margins related to operational efficiencies, higher selling prices, lower insurance costs, savings from cost reduction activities and reduced travel and entertainment activity, partially offset by higher depreciation expense.
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Other Expense, Net
Other expense, net, which primarily consists of interest expense, decreased $3.8 million to $32.0 million in 2020 compared with 2019. The decrease is primarily related to lower LIBOR rates and a lower balance on our term loan.
Income Tax Expense
Our effective tax rate decreased from 24.7 percent in 2019 to 23.5 percent in 2020. The higher 2019 rate was primarily related to a revaluation of deferred tax assets & liabilities as a result of state filing position changes.
2020 and 2019 Business Segment Results
The following table sets forth our net sales and operating profit information by business segment, in thousands:
Year Ended December 31,
Net sales by business segment:
Operating profit by business segment (a):
Intercompany eliminations (24,305) (23,921)
Operating profit before general corporate expense 385,831 319,697 20.7 %
General corporate expense, net (b) (30,785) (30,174)
Operating profit margins:
Installation 15.2 % 13.3 %
Distribution 12.5 % 10.5 %
Operating profit margin before general corporate expense 14.2 % 12.2 %
Operating profit margin 13.1 % 11.0 %
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2020 and 2019 Business Segment Results Discussion
Changes in operating profit margins in the following business segment results discussion exclude general corporate expense, net in 2020 and 2019, as applicable.
Installation
Sales
Sales increased $36.7 million, or 1.9 percent, in 2020 compared to 2019. Sales increased 2.0 percent from acquisitions and 0.9 percent due to higher selling prices, partially offset by a 1.0 percent decrease in sales volume, primarily in our commercial markets.
Operating Results
Operating margins in the Installation segment were 15.2 percent and 13.3 percent for 2020 and 2019, respectively. The increase in operating margin was driven by operational efficiencies, lower material costs, higher selling prices, savings from cost reduction activities, lower insurance costs and reduced travel and entertainment activity, partially offset by higher depreciation expense.
Distribution
Sales
Sales increased $64.1 million, or 7.4 percent, in 2020 compared to 2019. Sales increased 7.9 percent due to higher sales volume, partially offset by 0.5 percent due to lower selling prices.
Operating Results
Operating margins in the Distribution segment were 12.5 percent and 10.5 percent for 2020 and 2019, respectively. The increase in operating margin was driven by higher sales, operational efficiencies, lower material costs, savings from cost reduction activities and reduced travel and entertainment activity, partially offset by higher depreciation expense.
Commitments and Contingencies
We are subject to certain claims, charges, litigation, and other proceedings in the ordinary course of our business. We believe we have adequate defenses in these matters, and we do not believe that the ultimate outcome of these matters will have a material adverse effect on us. For additional information see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Note 11. Other Commitments and Contingencies.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We have access to liquidity through our cash from operations and available borrowing capacity under our Amended Credit Agreement, which provides for borrowing and/or standby letter of credit issuances of up to $450 million under the Revolving Facility. For additional information regarding our outstanding debt and borrowing capacity see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Note 6. Long-Term Debt.
We are closely managing our balance sheet, including maximizing our cash flow, to maintain our strong foundation and provide stability for the future. We had solid liquidity available to us at December 31, 2020, with $330.0 million of cash and $389.6 million available borrowing capacity under our Revolving Facility. We believe that our cash flows from operations, combined with our current cash levels and available borrowing capacity, will be adequate to support our ongoing operations and to fund our debt service requirements, capital expenditures and working capital needs for at least the next twelve months.
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The following table summarizes our total liquidity, in thousands:
As of December 31,
Less: standby letters of credit (60,382) (61,382)
Availability under Revolving Facility 389,618 188,618
Cash Flows
The following table presents a summary of our cash flows provided by (used in) operating, investing and financing activities for the periods indicated, in thousands:
Year Ended December 31,
Changes in cash and cash equivalents:
Net cash provided by operating activities $ 357,884 $ 271,777
Net cash used in investing activities (121,883) (50,142)
Net cash used in financing activities (90,801) (137,757)
Net cash flows provided by operating activities increased $86.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, as compared to December 31, 2019. The increase was primarily due to an increase in net income and the timing of working capital collections and expenditures.
Net cash used in investing activities was $121.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, primarily comprised of $83.4 million for acquisitions and $40.9 million for purchases of property and equipment, primarily vehicles, partially offset by $2.5 million of proceeds from the sale of property and equipment. Net cash used in investing activities was $50.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, primarily comprised of $45.5 million for purchases of property and equipment, primarily vehicles, and $7.0 million for acquisitions, and partially offset by $2.3 million of proceeds from the sale of property and equipment.
Net cash used in financing activities was $90.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. We used $49.2 million for the repurchase of common stock pursuant to the 2019 Repurchase Program, $24.9 million for payments on our term loan under our Amended Credit Agreement and on our equipment notes, $14.9 million for purchases of common stock for tax withholding obligations related to the vesting and exercise of share-based incentive awards, and $2.3 million in debt issuance costs as a result of entering into a new term loan and revolving credit facility. Net cash used in financing activities was $137.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. We used $110.9 million for common stock repurchases related to our share repurchase programs, including $50.0 million under the 2019 ASR Agreement, $21.9 million for payments on our term loan, $13.0 million for purchases of common stock for tax withholding obligations related to the vesting and exercise of share-based incentive awards, $5.9 million for payments on our equipment financing notes, and $1.1 million for payments of contingent consideration for EcoFoam and Santa Rosa. We received $15.0 million of proceeds from equipment financing notes.
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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
We prepare our Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosure of assets and liabilities, and any related contingencies, at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of sales and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Our significant accounting policies are more fully described in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. However, certain of our accounting policies considered critical are those we believe are both most important to the portrayal of our financial condition and operating results and require our most difficult, subjective, or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. Judgments and uncertainties affecting the application of those policies may result in materially different amounts being reported under different conditions or using different assumptions. We consider the following policies to be most critical in understanding the judgments that are involved in preparing our Consolidated Financial Statements.
Revenue Recognition and Receivables
We recognize revenue for our Installation segment over time as the related performance obligation is satisfied with respect to each particular order within a given customer’s contract. Progress toward complete satisfaction of the performance obligation is measured using a cost-to-cost measure of progress method. The cost input is based on the amount of material installed at that customer’s location and the associated labor costs, as compared to the total expected cost for the particular order.The total expected cost is a significant estimate in the revenue recognition process, requires judgment, and is subject to variability throughout the duration of the contract as a result of contract modifications and other circumstances impacting job completion. Generally, this results in revenue being recognized as the customer is able to receive and utilize the benefits provided by our services. Each contract contains one or more individual orders, which are based on services delivered. When material and installation services are bundled in a contract, we combine these items into one performance obligation as the overall promise is to transfer the combined item.
Revenue from our Distribution segment is recognized when title to products and risk of loss transfers to our customers. This represents the point in time when the customer is able to direct the use of and obtain substantially all the benefits from the product. The determination of when control is deemed transferred depends on the shipping terms that are agreed upon in the contract.
At time of sale, we record estimated reductions to revenue for customer programs and incentive offerings, including special pricing and other volume-based incentives based on historical experience, which is continuously adjusted. The duration of our contracts with customers is relatively short, generally less than a 90-day period, and therefore there is not a significant financing component when considering the determination of the transaction price which gets allocated to the individual performance obligations, generally based on standalone selling prices. Additionally, we consider shipping costs charged to a customer as a fulfillment cost rather than a promised service and expense as incurred. Sales taxes, when incurred, are recorded as a liability and excluded from revenue on a net basis.
We record a contract asset when we have satisfied our performance obligation prior to billing and a contract liability when a customer payment is received prior to the satisfaction of our performance obligation. The difference between the beginning and ending balances of our contract assets and liabilities primarily results from the timing of our performance and the customer’s payment.
We maintain allowances for estimated losses resulting from the inability of customers to make required payments. In addition, we monitor our customer receivable balances and the credit worthiness of our customers on an on-going basis. During downturns in our markets, declines in the financial condition and creditworthiness of customers impact the credit risk of the receivables involved and we have incurred additional bad debt expense related to customer defaults.
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Business Combinations
The purchase price for business combinations is allocated to the estimated fair values of acquired tangible and intangible assets, including goodwill, and assumed liabilities, where applicable. Management uses significant judgments involving estimates and assumptions when determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. These estimates include, but are not limited to, discount rates, projected future revenue growth, cost synergies and expected cash flows, customer attrition rates, useful lives, and other prospective financial information. Additionally, we recognize customer relationships, trademarks and trade names, and non-competition agreements as identifiable intangible assets, which are recorded at fair value as of the transaction date. The fair value of these intangible assets is determined primarily using the income approach and using current industry information. Goodwill is recorded when consideration transferred exceeds the fair value of identifiable assets and liabilities. Measurement-period adjustments to assets acquired and liabilities assumed with a corresponding offset to goodwill are recorded in the period they occur, which may include up to one year from the acquisition date. Contingent consideration is recorded at fair value at the acquisition date.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
We have two reporting units, which are also our operating and reporting segments: Installation and Distribution, and both contain goodwill. Our operating segments engage in business activities for which discrete financial information including long range forecasts is available, and we complete the impairment testing of goodwill at this level, as defined by accounting guidance. Assets acquired and liabilities assumed are assigned to the applicable reporting unit based on whether the acquired assets and liabilities relate to the operations of such unit and determination of its fair value. Goodwill assigned to the reporting unit is the excess of the fair value of the acquired business over the fair value of the individual assets acquired and liabilities assumed for the reporting unit.
We perform our annual impairment testing of goodwill in the fourth quarter of each year, or as events occur or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. When assessing goodwill for impairment, we have the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If, after assessing the totality of events or circumstances, wedetermine it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then we recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value.If we conclude otherwise, then no further action is taken.We also have the option to bypass the qualitative assessment and only perform a quantitative assessment.
Fair value for ourreporting units is determined using a discounted cash flow method which includes significant unobservable inputs(Level 3 inputs). We believe this methodology is comparable to what would be used by other market participants. Using the discounted cash flow method requires us to make significant estimates and assumptions, including long term projections of cash flows, market conditions, and appropriate discount rates. Our judgments are based on historical experience, current market trends, consultations with external valuation specialists and other information. While we believe that the estimates and assumptions underlying the valuation methodology are reasonable, changes to estimates and assumptions could result in different outcomes. In estimating future cash flows, we rely on internally generated long-range forecasts for sales and operating profits, and generally a one to three percent long term assumed annual growth rate of cash flows for periods after the long-range forecast. We generally develop these forecasts based upon, among other things, recent sales data for existing products, and estimated U.S. housing starts.
When necessary, an impairment loss is recognized to the extent that a reporting unit’s recorded goodwill exceeds its fair value. In the fourth quarters of 2020 and 2019, we performed an assessment on our goodwill and determined that the estimated fairvalue of each reporting unit substantially exceeded its carrying value at December 31, 2020, and therefore the goodwillwas not impaired.
We did not recognize any impairment charges for goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018. As of December 31, 2020, net goodwill reflected $762.0 million of accumulated impairment losses, relating primarily to impairment charges taken in 2008-2010 following the substantial decrease in U.S. housing starts after the financial crisis of 2007-2008.
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Intangible assets with finite useful lives are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives. We evaluate the remaining useful lives of amortizable identifiable intangible assets at each reporting period to determine whether events and circumstances warrant a revision to the remaining periods of amortization.