Use of Estimates

General – The preparation of our Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities.  We believe our most significant estimates and judgments are associated with:

If the underlying estimates and assumptions upon which our Financial Statements are based change in the future, actual amounts may differ materially from those included in the Financial Statements.

COVID-19 and Volatile Oil Prices – COVID-19 is a widespread public health crisis that continues to adversely affect global economies and financial markets. Additionally, the National Bureau of Economic Research indicated on June 8, 2020 that the U.S. economy entered a recession in February 2020. The duration and severity of the U.S. recession, which is ongoing, remains unclear at this time.  

During 2020, our operations (as well as the operations of our customers, subcontractors and other counterparties) were negatively impacted by the physical distancing, quarantine and isolation measures recommended by national, state and local authorities on large portions of the population, and mandatory business closures that were enacted in an attempt to control COVID-19. We continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on our operations and recognize that it could continue to negatively impact our business and results of operations during the remainder of 2021 and beyond. Even with widespread distribution and acceptance of vaccines, their long-term efficacy, as well as their efficacy against the emergence of potential new strains of COVID-19 are unknown. The extent to which our operations and financial performance will be impacted by COVID-19 during the remainder of 2021 will depend largely on future developments, including global availability and acceptance of the vaccines. Authorities in some areas of the U.S. have begun to relax COVID-19 restrictions; however, if the areas where we have our headquarters and operating facilities, or areas where our customers, subcontractors and other counterparties have operations, were to experience a resurgence in the numbers of cases of the virus, including through the spread of new, more contagious strains of the virus, authorities may reinstate restrictions, including quarantine and isolation measures. The measures taken, while intended to protect human life, have had and are expected to continue to have a serious adverse impact on domestic and foreign economies of uncertain severity and duration. 

This continued level of uncertainty means the ultimate business and financial impacts of COVID-19 and volatility in oil prices cannot be reasonably estimated at this time, but have included, or may include, among other things, reduced bidding activity, suspension or termination of backlog, deterioration of customer financial condition, potential supply disruptions and unanticipated project costs due to project disruptions and schedule delays, lower labor productivity, increased employee and contractor absenteeism and turnover, craft labor hiring challenges, lack of performance by subcontractors and suppliers, and contract disputes. Management’s estimates in future periods will be revised for any events and changes in circumstances arising after the date of this Report for the impacts of COVID-19 and volatile oil prices.

Income (Loss) Per Share

Basic income (loss) per share is calculated by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted income (loss) per share reflects the assumed conversion of dilutive securities.  See Note 6 for calculations of our basic and diluted income (loss) per share.

Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Short-Term Investments

Cash Equivalents – We consider investments with original maturities of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.

Restricted Cash – At March 31, 2021, we had $10.3 million of restricted cash as security for letters of credit issued under our letter of credit facility (“LC Facility”) with Hancock Whitney Bank (“Whitney Bank”). Our restricted cash is held in an interest-bearing money market account with Whitney Bank. The classification of the restricted cash as current and noncurrent is determined by the contractual maturity dates of the letters of credit being secured, with letters of credit having maturity dates of twelve months or less from the balance sheet date classified as current, and letters of credit having maturity dates of longer than twelve months from the balance sheet date classified as noncurrent. We had no restricted cash at December 31, 2020. See Note 4 for further discussion of our cash security requirements under our LC Facility.  

Inventory

Inventory is recorded at the lower of cost or net realizable value determined using the first-in-first-out basis.  The cost of inventory includes acquisition costs, production or conversion costs, and other costs incurred to bring the inventory to a current location and condition.  Net realizable value is our estimated selling price in the normal course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation.  An allowance for excess or inactive inventory is recorded based on an analysis that considers current inventory levels, historical usage patterns, estimates of future sales and salvage value.  

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

In the normal course of business, we extend credit to our customers on a short-term basis and contract receivables are generally not collateralized; however, we typically have the right to place liens on our projects in the event of nonpayment by our customers. We routinely review individual contract receivable balances for collectability and make provisions for probable uncollectible amounts as necessary. Among the factors considered in our review are the financial condition of our customer and its access to financing, underlying disputes with the customer, the age and value of the receivable balance, and economic conditions in general. See Note 2 for further discussion of our allowance for doubtful accounts.

Stock-Based Compensation

Awards under our stock-based compensation plans are calculated using a fair value-based measurement method. We use the straight-line method to recognize share-based compensation expense over the requisite service period of the award.  We recognize the excess tax benefit or tax deficiency resulting from the difference between the deduction we receive for tax purposes and the stock-based compensation expense we recognize for financial reporting purposes created when common stock vests, as an income tax benefit or expense on our Consolidated Statement of Operations (“Statement of Operations”).  

Tax payments made on behalf of employees to taxing authorities in order to satisfy employee income tax withholding obligations from the vesting of shares under our stock-based compensation plans are classified as a financing activity on our Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (“Statement of Cash Flows”).

Assets Held for Sale

Assets held for sale are measured at the lower of their carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell. See Note 3 for further discussion of our assets held for sale.

Depreciation Expense

Property, plant and equipment are depreciated on a straight-line basis over estimated useful lives ranging from three to 25 years. Ordinary maintenance and repairs, which do not extend the physical or economic lives of the plant or equipment, are charged to expense as incurred.

Long-Lived Assets

Long-lived assets, which include property, plant and equipment and our lease assets included within other noncurrent assets, are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.  If a recoverability assessment is required, we compare the estimated future undiscounted cash flow associated with the asset or asset group to its carrying amount to determine if an impairment exists. An asset group constitutes the minimum level for which identifiable cash flows are principally independent of the cash flows of other assets or asset groups. An impairment loss is measured by comparing the fair value of the asset or asset group to its carrying amount and the excess of the carrying amount of the asset or asset group over its fair value is recorded as an impairment charge. Fair value is determined based on discounted cash flows, appraised values or third-party indications of value, as appropriate. See Note 3 for further discussion of our long-lived asset impairments.

Leases

We record a right-of-use asset and an offsetting lease liability on our Balance Sheet equal to the present value of our lease payments for leases with an original term of longer than twelve months. We do not record an asset or liability for leases with an original term of twelve months or less and we do not separate lease and non-lease components for our leases. Our lease assets are reflected within other noncurrent assets, and the current and noncurrent portions of our lease liabilities are reflected within accrued expenses and other liabilities, and other noncurrent liabilities, respectively, on our Balance Sheet. For leases with escalations over the life of the lease, we recognize expense on a straight-line basis.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair value determinations for financial assets and liabilities are based on the particular facts and circumstances. Financial instruments are required to be categorized within a valuation hierarchy based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.  The three levels of the valuation hierarchy are as follows:

The carrying amounts of our financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate their fair values. Our fair value assessments for determining impairments of inventory, long-lived assets and assets held for sale are non-recurring fair value measurements that fall within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. See Note 3 for further discussion of our assets held for sale.

Revenue Recognition

General – Our revenue is derived from customer contracts and agreements that are awarded on a competitively bid and negotiated basis using a range of contracting options, including fixed-price, unit-rate and T&M.  Our contracts primarily relate to the fabrication and construction of steel structures, modules and marine vessels, and project management services and other service arrangements. We recognize revenue from our contracts in accordance with Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, Topic 606 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“Topic 606”).  

Topic 606 requires entities to recognize revenue in a way that depicts the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Additionally, provisions of Topic 606 specify which goods and services are distinct and represent separate performance obligations (representing the unit of account in Topic 606) within a contract and which goods and services (which could include multiple contracts or agreements) should be aggregated. In general, a performance obligation is a contractual obligation to construct and/or transfer a distinct good or service to a customer. The transaction price of a contract is allocated to each distinct performance obligation and recognized as revenue when, or as, the performance obligation is satisfied. Revenue for performance obligations satisfied over time are recognized as the work progresses. Revenue for performance obligations that do not meet the criteria for over time recognition are recognized at a point-in-time when a performance obligation is complete and a customer has obtained control of a promised asset.

Fixed-Price and Unit-Rate Contracts – Revenue for our fixed-price and unit-rate contracts is recognized using the percentage-of-completion method based on contract costs incurred to date compared to total estimated contract costs (an input method).  Contract costs include direct costs, such as materials and labor, and indirect costs attributable to contract activity.  Material costs that are significant to a contract and do not reflect an accurate measure of project completion are excluded from the determination of our contract progress. Revenue for such materials is only recognized to the extent of costs incurred.  Revenue and gross profit for contracts accounted for using the percentage-of-completion method can be significantly affected by changes in estimated cost to complete such contracts. Significant estimates impacting the cost to complete a contract include: forecast costs of engineering, materials, equipment and subcontracts; forecast costs of labor and labor productivity; schedule durations, including subcontractor and supplier progress; contract disputes, including claims; achievement of contractual performance requirements; and contingency, among others.  Although our customers retain the right and ability to change, modify or discontinue further work at any stage of a contract, in the event our customers discontinue work, they are required to compensate us for the work performed to date.  The cumulative impact of revisions in total cost estimates during the progress of work is reflected in the period in which these changes become known, including, to the extent required, the reversal of profit recognized in prior periods and the recognition of losses expected to be incurred on contracts. Due to the various estimates inherent in our contract accounting, actual results could differ from those estimates, which could result in material changes to

Pre-Contract Costs

Pre-contract costs are generally charged to cost of revenue as incurred, but in certain cases their recognition may be deferred if specific probability criteria are met. At March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, we had no deferred pre-contract costs.

Other (Income) Expense, Net

Other (income) expense, net, generally represents recoveries or provisions for bad debts, gains or losses associated with the sale or disposition of property and equipment other than assets held for sale, and income or expense associated with certain nonrecurring items.  For the three months ended March 31, 2020, other (income) expense also includes a gain of $10.0 million associated with the settlement of a contract dispute for a project completed in 2015.

Income Taxes

Income taxes have been provided using the liability method. Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes using enacted rates expected to be in effect during the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Due to state income tax laws related to the apportionment of revenue for our projects, judgment is required to estimate the effective tax rate expected to apply to tax differences that are expected to reverse in the future.

A valuation allowance is provided to reserve for deferred tax assets (“DTA(s)”) if, based upon the available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the DTAs will not be realized. The realization of our DTAs depends on our ability to generate sufficient taxable income of the appropriate character and in the appropriate jurisdictions. Our effective tax rate differs from our statutory rate as a full valuation allowance was recorded against our federal deferred tax assets generated during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020. Income taxes recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 represent state income taxes.

Reserves for uncertain tax positions are recognized when we consider it more likely than not that additional tax will be due in excess of amounts reflected in our income tax returns, irrespective of whether or not we have received tax assessments.  Interest and penalties on uncertain tax positions are recorded within income tax expense.  

New Accounting Standards

Income taxes – During the first quarter 2021, we adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2019-12, “Income Taxes,” which simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles and simplifies areas such as franchise taxes, step-up in tax basis goodwill, separate entity financial statements and interim recognition of enacted tax laws or rate changes. Adoption of the new standard did not have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations or related disclosures.