Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Notes to Financial Statements  
Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]
Note
2
- Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 
Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
 
The consolidated financial statements of the Company are presented in U.S. dollars in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
 
 
Use of Estimates
 
 
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. These estimates and assumptions are based on management’s most recent assessment of underlying facts and circumstances using the most recent information available. Actual results could differ significantly from these estimates and assumptions, and the differences could be material.
 
Estimates and assumptions are evaluated periodically and adjusted when necessary. The more significant estimates affecting amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements relate to the fair value estimates used in accounting for business combinations including the valuation of identifiable intangible assets and contingent consideration, fair value estimates in determining the fair value of the Company’s reporting units for goodwill impairment assessment, revenue recognition on the percentage-of-completion method, allowances for uncollectible accounts and provision for income taxes.
 
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents include cash on deposit with financial institutions and investments in high quality overnight money market funds, all of which have maturities of
three
months or less when purchased. The Company from time to time
may
be exposed to credit risk with its bank deposits in excess of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance limits and with uninsured money market investments. Management believes cash and cash equivalent balances are not exposed to significant credit risk due to the financial position of the depository institutions in which those deposits are held.
 
 
Concentration of Credit Risk
 
Trade receivable balances carried by the Company are comprised of accounts from a diverse client base across a broad range of industries and are not collateralized. However, approximately
34%,
42%
and
45%
of the Company’s gross revenues for the years ended
December
31,
2016,
2015
and
2014.
The Company did not have any clients representing more than
10%
of our gross revenues during
2016
or
2015.
During
2014,
 
two
clients accounted for
21%
of our gross revenues, which is included in the INF segment.
Furthermore, approximately
46%
and
63%
of the Company’s accounts receivable as of
December
31,
2016
and
2015
are from public and quasi-public clients. Management continually evaluates the creditworthiness of these and future clients and provides for bad debt reserves as necessary.
 
 
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
 
A financial instrument’s categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The
three
levels of valuation hierarchy are defined as follows:
 
Level
1
- inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
 
 
Level
2
- inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.
 
Level
3
- inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.
 
The Company considers cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, income taxes payable, accrued liabilities and debt obligations to meet the definition of financial instruments. As of
December
31,
2016
and
2015,
the carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, income taxes payable and accrued liabilities approximate their fair value due to the relatively short period of time between their origination and their expected realization or payment. The carrying amounts of debt obligations approximate their fair values as the terms are comparable to terms currently offered by local lending institutions for arrangements with similar terms to industry peers with comparable credit characteristics.
 
The Company applies the provisions of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”)
805,
Business Combinations
, in the accounting for its acquisitions, which requires recognition of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed at their acquisition date fair values, separately from goodwill. Goodwill as of the acquisition date is measured as the excess of consideration transferred and the net of the acquisition date fair values of the tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The allocation of the purchase price to identifiable intangible assets (customer relationships, customer backlog, trade name and non-compete) is based on valuations performed to determine the fair values of such assets as of the acquisition dates. The Company engaged a
third
-party independent valuation specialist to assist in management’s determination of fair values of tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed for the
2016
and
2015
acquisitions, except for the
2016
acquisition of Weir and the
2015
acquisition of Allwyn acquisitions which was prepared internally. The fair values of earn-out arrangements are included as part of the purchase price of the acquired companies on their respective acquisition dates.  The Company estimates the fair value of contingent earn-out payments as part of the initial purchase price and records the estimated fair value of contingent consideration as a liability on the consolidated balance sheet. Changes in the estimated fair value of contingent earn-out payments are included in General and Administrative expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Net Income and Comprehensive Income.
 
Several factors are considered when determining contingent consideration liabilities as part of the purchase price, including whether (i) the valuation of the acquisitions is not supported solely by the initial consideration paid, and the contingent earn-out formula is a critical and material component of the valuation approach to determining the purchase price; and (ii) the former owners of the acquired companies that remain as key employees receive compensation other than contingent earn-out payments at a reasonable level compared with the compensation of other key employees.  The contingent earn-out payments are not affected by employment termination.
 
We review and re-assess the estimated fair value of contingent consideration liabilities on a quarterly basis, and the updated fair value could differ materially from the initial estimates.  Adjustments to the estimated fair value related to changes in all other unobservable inputs are reported in operating income.
 
The Company measures contingent consideration recognized in connection with business combinations at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs classified within Level
3,
as defined in the accounting guidance. The Company uses a probability-weighted discounted cash flow approach as a valuation technique to determine the fair value of the contingent consideration liabilities on the acquisition date and at each reporting period. The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurements are projections over the earn-out period, and the probability outcome percentages that are assigned to each scenario. Significant increases or decreases to either of these inputs in isolation could result in a significantly higher or lower liability with a higher liability capped by the contractual maximum of the contingent consideration liabilities. Ultimately, the liability will be equivalent to the amount paid, and the difference between the fair value estimate on the acquisition date and amount paid will be recorded in earnings (see Note
10).
 
 
Property and Equipment
 
Property and equipment is stated at cost. Property and equipment acquired in a business combination is stated at fair value at the acquisition date. The Company capitalizes the cost of improvements to property and equipment that increase the value or extend the useful lives of the assets. Normal repair and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. Depreciation and amortization is computed on a straight-line basis over the following estimated useful lives of the assets. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the lesser of their estimated useful lives or the remaining terms of the related lease agreement.
 
Asset
 
Depreciation Period
   
Office furniture and equipment
 
5 Years
   
Computer equipment
 
3 Years
   
Survey and field equipment
 
5 Years
   
Leasehold improvements
 
Lesser of the estimated useful lives or
remaining term of the lease
   
 
 
Property and equipment balances are periodically reviewed by management for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the asset
may
not be recoverable. If an indicator of impairment exists, the Company compares the estimated future cash flows of the asset, on an undiscounted basis, to the carrying value of the asset. If the undiscounted cash flows exceed the carrying value, no impairment is indicated. If the undiscounted cash flows do not exceed the carrying value, then impairment is measured as the difference between fair value and carrying value, with fair value typically based on a discounted cash flow model. The Company has
not
recognized an impairment charge relating to property and equipment during the years ended
December
31,
2016,
2015
and
2014.
 
 
 
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
 
Goodwill is the excess of consideration paid for an acquired entity over the amounts assigned to assets acquired, including other identifiable intangible assets and liabilities assumed in a business combination. To determine the amount of goodwill resulting from a business combination, the Company performs an assessment to determine the acquisition date fair value of the acquired company’s tangible and identifiable intangible assets and liabilities.
 
Goodwill is required to be evaluated for impairment on an annual basis or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the asset
may
be impaired. An entity has 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. These qualitative factors include: macroeconomic and industry conditions, cost factors, overall financial performance and other relevant entity-specific events. If the entity determines that this threshold is met, then performing the
two
-step quantitative impairment test is unnecessary. The
two
-step impairment test requires a comparison of the carrying value of the assets and liabilities associated with a reporting unit, including goodwill, with the fair value of the reporting unit. The Company determines fair value through multiple valuation techniques, and weights the results accordingly.
NV5
Global is required to make certain subjective and complex judgments in assessing whether an event of impairment of goodwill has occurred, including assumptions and estimates used to determine the fair value of its reporting units. If the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit, the Company would calculate the implied fair value of its reporting unit goodwill as compared to the carrying value of its reporting unit goodwill to determine the appropriate impairment charge, if any. The Company has elected to perform its annual goodwill impairment review on
August
1
of each year. The Company historically conducts its annual impairment tests on the goodwill using the quantitative method of evaluating goodwill.
 
      Identifiable intangible assets primarily include customer backlog, customer relationships, trade names and non-compete agreements. Amortizable intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives and reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the assets
may
be impaired. If an indicator of impairment exists, the Company compares the estimated future cash flows of the asset, on an undiscounted basis, to the carrying value of the asset. If the undiscounted cash flows exceed the carrying value, no impairment is indicated. If the undiscounted cash flows do not exceed the carrying value, then impairment, if any, is measured as the difference between fair value and carrying value, with fair value typically based on a discounted cash flow model.
 
See Note
7
for further information on goodwill and identified intangibles.
 
Earnings per Share
 
Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common stock that then shared in the earnings of the Company. In accordance with the FASB ASC
260,
Earnings per Share
, the effect of potentially dilutive securities is not considered during periods of loss or if the effect is anti-dilutive. The weighted average number of shares outstanding in calculating basic earnings per share for the years ended
December
31,
2016,
2015
and
2014
exclude
489,553,
413,088
and
607,906
non-vested restricted shares, respectively, issued since
2010.
These non-vested restricted shares are not included in basic earnings per share until the vesting requirement is met. The weighted average number of shares outstanding in calculating diluted earnings per share for the years ended
December
31,
2016,
2015
and
2014
includes, if outstanding, non-vested restricted shares and units, issuable shares related to acquisitions, and the warrants associated with the Company’s initial public offering. In calculating diluted earnings per share for the years ended
December
31,
2016,
2015
and
2014,
there were no potentially dilutive securities.
 
The following table represents a reconciliation of the net income and weighted average shares outstanding for the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the years ended
December
31,
2016,
2015
and
2014:
 
 
 
Year Ended
 
 
 
December 31
 
 
December 31
 
 
December 31
 
 
 
2016
 
 
2015
 
 
2014
 
Numerator:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income – basic and diluted
  $
11,607
    $
8,492
    $
4,893
 
                         
Denominator:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic weighted average shares outstanding
   
9,125,167
     
6,773,135
     
5,102,058
 
Effect of dilutive non-vested restricted shares and units
   
213,907
     
332,014
     
326,660
 
Effect of issuable shares related to acquisitions
   
80,779
     
12,759
     
30,666
 
Effect of warrants
   
120,198
     
97,990
     
132,626
 
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding
   
9,540,051
     
7,215,898
     
5,592,010
 
 
 
 
Revenue Recognition
 
The Company enters into contracts with its clients that contain
two
principal types of pricing provisions: cost-reimbursable and fixed-price. The majority of the Company’s contracts are cost-reimbursable contracts that fall under the subcategory of time and materials contracts.
 
Cost-reimbursable contracts
. Cost-reimbursable contracts consist of
two
similar contract types: time and materials contracts and cost-plus contracts.
 
 
Time and materials contracts are common for smaller scale professional and technical consulting and certification services projects. Under these types of contracts, there is no predetermined fee. Instead, the Company negotiates hourly billing rates and charges the clients based upon actual hours expended on a project. In addition, any direct project expenditures are passed through to the client and are typically reimbursed. These contracts
may
have a fixed-price element in the form of an initial not-to-exceed or guaranteed maximum price provision.
 
 
Cost-plus contracts are the predominant contracting method used by U.S. federal, state, and local governments. These contracts provide for reimbursement of the actual costs and overhead (at predetermine rates) incurred, plus a predetermined fee.
 
 
Fixed-price contracts.
Fixed-price contracts also consist of
two
contract types: lump-sum contracts and fixed-unit price contracts.
 
 
Lump-sum contracts typically require the performance of all of the work under the contract for a specified lump-sum fee, subject to price adjustments if the scope of the project changes or unforeseen conditions arise. Many of the Company’s lump-sum contracts are negotiated and arise in the design of projects with a specified scope and project deliverables.
 
 
Fixed-unit price contracts typically require the performance of an estimated number of units of work at an agreed price per unit, with the total payment under the contract determined by the actual number of units performed.
 
Revenues from engineering services are recognized in accordance with the accrual basis of accounting. Revenues under cost-reimbursable contracts are recognized when services are performed and revenues from fixed-price contracts are recognized on the percentage-of-completion method, generally measured by the direct costs incurred to date as compared to the estimated total direct costs for each contract. The Company includes other direct costs (for example,
third
party field labor, subcontractors, or the procurement of materials or equipment) in revenues and cost of revenue when the costs of these items are incurred, and the Company is responsible for the ultimate acceptability of such costs. Recognition of revenue under this method is dependent upon the accuracy of a variety of estimates, including engineering progress, materials quantities, achievement of milestones, labor productivity and cost estimates. Due to uncertainties inherent in the estimation process, it is possible that actual completion costs
may
vary from estimates.
 
If estimated total costs on contracts indicate a loss or reduction to the percentage of total contract revenues recognized to date, these losses or reductions are recognized in the period in which the revisions are known. The cumulative effect of revisions to revenues, estimated costs to complete contracts, including penalties, incentive awards, change orders, claims, anticipated losses and others are recorded in the period in which the revisions are identified and the loss can be reasonably estimated. Such revisions could occur in any reporting period and the effects on the results of operations for that reporting period
may
be material depending on the size of the project or the adjustment.
 
Change orders and claims typically result from changes in scope, specifications, design, performance, materials, sites, or period of completion. Costs related to change orders and claims are recognized when incurred. Change orders are included in total estimated contract revenues when it is probable that the change order will result in an addition to the contract value and can be reliably estimated.
 
Federal Acquisition Regulations (“FAR”), which are applicable to the Company’s federal government contracts and
may
be incorporated in local and state agency contracts, limit the recovery of certain specified indirect costs on contracts. Cost-plus contracts covered by FAR or certain state and local agencies also
may
require an audit of actual costs and provide for upward or downward adjustments if actual recoverable costs differ from billed recoverable costs.
 
 
Unbilled work results when the appropriate contract revenues has been recognized when services are performed or based on the percentage-of-completion accounting method but the revenue recorded has not been billed due to the billing terms defined in the contract. Unbilled amounts as of the reporting date are included within accounts receivable in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. In certain circumstances, the contract
may
allow for billing terms that result in the cumulative amounts billed in excess of revenues recognized. The liability “Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts” represents billings in excess of revenues recognized on these contracts as of the reporting date.
 
Advertising
 
Advertising costs are charged to expense in the period incurred and amounted to
$500,
$195
and
$86
for the years ended
December
31,
2016,
2015
and
2014,
respectively, which is included in General and Administrative Expenses on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Net Income and Comprehensive Income.
 
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
 
The Company records billed and unbilled receivables net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. The allowance is estimated based on management’s evaluation of the contracts involved and the financial condition of clients. Factors the Company considers include, but are not limited to: client type (federal government or commercial client), historical performance, historical collection trends and general economic conditions. The allowance is increased by the Company’s provision for doubtful accounts which is charged against income. All recoveries on receivables previously charged off are credited to the accounts receivable recovery account are included in income, while direct charge-offs of receivables are deducted from the allowance.
 
Leases
 
The Company’s office leases are classified as operating leases and rent expense is included in facilities and facilities related expense in the Company’s consolidated statements of net income and comprehensive income. Some lease terms include rent and other concessions and rent escalation clauses which are included in computing minimum lease payments. Minimum lease payments are recognized on a straight-line basis over the minimum lease term. The variance of rent expense recognized from the amounts contractually due pursuant to the underlying leases is included in accrued liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
 
Income Taxes
 
The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC Topic No. 
740
Income Taxes
” (“Topic No. 
740”).
 Deferred income taxes reflect the impact of temporary differences between amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and such amounts as measured by tax laws. A valuation allowance against the Company’s deferred tax assets is recorded when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In determining the need for a valuation allowance, management is required to make assumptions and to apply judgment, including forecasting future earnings, taxable income, and the mix of earnings in the jurisdictions in which the Company operates. Management periodically assesses the need for a valuation allowance based on the Company’s current and anticipated results of operations. The need for and the amount of a valuation allowance can change in the near term if operating results and projections change significantly.
 
The Company recognizes the consolidated financial statement benefit of a tax position only after determining that the relevant tax authority would more likely than not sustain the position following an audit. For tax positions meeting the more likely-than-not threshold, the amount recognized in the consolidated financial statements is the largest benefit that has a greater than
50
percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant tax authority. The Company applies the uncertain tax position guidance to all tax positions for which the statute of limitations remains open. The Company’s policy is to classify interest and penalties as income tax expense.