Summary of significant accounting policies (Policies) |
12 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Jan. 28, 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Accounting Policies [Abstract] | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal year |
Fiscal year The Company’s fiscal year is the 52 or 53 weeks ending on the Saturday closest to January 31. The Company’s fiscal years ended January 28, 2017 (fiscal 2016), January 30, 2016 (fiscal 2015) and January 31, 2015 (fiscal 2014) were 52 week years. |
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| Consolidation |
Consolidation The Company’s consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts, transactions and unrealized profit were eliminated in consolidation. |
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| Use of estimates |
Use of estimates The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the accounting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. |
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| Cash and cash equivalents |
Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less from the date of purchase. Cash equivalents include amounts due from third-party credit card receivables because such amounts generally convert to cash within one to three days with little or no default risk. |
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| Short-term investments |
Short-term investments The Company determines the balance sheet classification of its investments at the time of purchase and evaluates the classification at each balance sheet date. Money market funds, certificates of deposit and time deposits with maturities of greater than three months but no more than twelve months are carried at cost, which approximates fair value and are recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets in Short-term investments (see Note 9, “Investments”). |
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| Receivables |
Receivables Receivables consist principally of amounts receivable from vendors and landlord construction allowances earned but not yet received. These receivables are computed based on provisions of the vendor and lease agreements in place and the Company’s completed performance. The Company’s vendors are producers of consumer products and landlords. The Company does not require collateral on its receivables and does not accrue interest. Credit risk with respect to receivables is limited due to the diversity of vendors and landlords comprising the Company’s vendor base. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its vendors and evaluates the collectability of its receivables based on the length of time the receivable is past due and historical experience. The receivable for vendor allowances was $59,553 and $46,932 as of January 28, 2017 and January 30, 2016, respectively, and the receivable for landlord allowances was $23,186 and $10,250 as of January 28, 2017 and January 30, 2016, respectively. The allowance for doubtful receivables totaled $2,079 and $1,112 as of January 28, 2017 and January 30, 2016, respectively. |
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| Merchandise inventories |
Merchandise inventories Merchandise inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the weighted-average cost method and includes costs incurred to purchase and distribute goods. Inventory cost also includes vendor allowances related to co-op advertising, markdowns, and volume discounts. The Company maintains reserves for lower of cost or market and shrinkage. |
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| Fair value of financial instruments |
Fair value of financial instruments The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximates their estimated fair values due to the short maturities of these instruments. The Company had no outstanding debt as of January 28, 2017 and January 30, 2016. |
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| Property and equipment |
Property and equipment The Company’s property and equipment are stated at cost net of accumulated depreciation and amortization. Maintenance and repairs are charged to operating expense as incurred. The Company’s assets are depreciated or amortized using the straight-line method, over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or the expected lease term as follows:
The Company capitalizes costs incurred during the application development stage in developing or purchasing internal use software. These costs are amortized over the estimated useful life of the software. The Company periodically evaluates whether changes have occurred that would require revision of the remaining useful life of equipment and leasehold improvements or render them not recoverable. If such circumstances arise, the Company uses an estimate of the undiscounted sum of expected future operating cash flows during their holding period to determine whether the long-lived assets are impaired. If the aggregate undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the assets, the resulting impairment charges to be recorded are calculated based on the excess of the carrying value of the assets over the fair value of such assets, with the fair value determined based on an estimate of discounted future cash flows. The Company recognized $3,124 of fixed asset impairment charges related to store closures in Chicago, Illinois and Denham Springs, Louisiana in fiscal 2016,which is included in selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses in the statements of income. No significant impairment charges were recognized in fiscal 2015 or 2014. |
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| Customer loyalty program |
Customer loyalty program In early fiscal 2014, we completed the conversion of all our loyalty members to Ultamate Rewards, a points-based program. Ultamate Rewards enables customers to earn points based on their purchases. Points earned by members are valid for at least one year and may be redeemed on any product we sell. Prior to this conversion, we ran both Ultamate Rewards and our prior program, The Club at Ulta. The Club at Ulta was a certificate program offering customers reward certificates for free beauty products based on the level of purchases. The Company accrues the cost of anticipated redemptions related to these programs at the time of the initial purchase based on historical experience. The accrued liability related to these loyalty programs at January 28, 2017 and January 30, 2016 was $30,244 and $20,026 respectively. The cost of these programs, which was $77,145, $54,464 and $42,096 in fiscal 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, is included in cost of sales in the statements of income. |
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| Credit Cards |
Credit Cards During 2016, the Company entered into certain agreements (the Agreements) with third parties to provide our guests with private label and/or co-branded credit cards (collectively, the Credit Cards). The private label credit card can be used at any of our store locations and online and the co-branded credit card can be used anywhere the co-branded card is accepted. A third-party financing company is the sole owner of the accounts and underwrites the credit issued under the Credit Card programs. The Company receives payments and reimbursements of expenses in accordance with the Agreements and based on usage of the Credit Cards. We recognize income for such cash receipts when the amounts are fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured, which is generally the time at which the actual usage of the Credit Cards or specified transaction occurs. A majority of the funds received are recorded as a reduction of SG&A expenses, and the remaining portion is recognized as a reduction to cost of sales in our statements of income. Our loyalty members earn points through purchases at Ulta Beauty and anywhere the co-branded card is accepted. Consistent with the current accounting for the customer loyalty program, the Company accrues the cost of anticipated redemptions related to these programs at the time of the initial purchase and costs are included in cost of sales in the statements of income. Other administrative costs related to the Credit Card programs, including payroll, marketing expenses, and other direct costs, are included in SG&A in the statements of income. |
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| Deferred rent |
Deferred rent Many of the Company’s operating leases contain predetermined fixed increases of the minimum rental rate during the lease. For these leases, the Company recognizes the related rental expense on a straight-line basis over the expected lease term and records the difference between the amounts charged to expense and the rent paid as deferred rent. The lease term commences on the earlier of the date when the Company becomes legally obligated for rent payments or the date the Company takes possession of the leased space.
As part of many lease agreements, the Company receives construction allowances from landlords for tenant improvements. These leasehold improvements made by the Company are capitalized and amortized over the shorter of the lease term or 10 years. The construction allowances are recorded as deferred rent and amortized on a straight-line basis over the lease term as a reduction of rent expense. |
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| Revenue recognition |
Revenue recognition Net sales include merchandise sales, salon service revenue and e-commerce revenue. Revenue from merchandise sales at stores is recognized at the time of sale, net of estimated returns. The Company provides refunds for product returns within 60 days from the original purchase date. Salon revenue is recognized when services are rendered. Salon service revenue amounted to $241,105, $209,249 and $175,533 for fiscal 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Company coupons and other incentives are recorded as a reduction of net sales. State sales taxes are presented on a net basis as the Company considers itself a pass-through conduit for collecting and remitting state sales tax. E-commerce sales are recorded based on delivery of merchandise to the customer. E-commerce revenue amounted to $345,342, $221,077 and $149,857 for fiscal 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The Company’s gift card sales are deferred and recognized in net sales when the gift card is redeemed for product or services. The Company’s gift cards do not expire and do not include service fees that decrease customer balances. The Company has maintained Company-specific, historical data related to its large pool of similar gift card transactions sold and redeemed over a significant time frame. The Company recognizes gift card breakage to the extent there is no requirement for remitting balances to governmental agencies under unclaimed property laws. Gift card breakage is recognized over the same performance period, and in the same proportion, that the Company’s data has demonstrated that gift cards are redeemed. Gift card breakage was $5,335 and $3,728 at January 28, 2017 and January 30, 2016, respectively, and is recorded as a decrease in SG&A expense in the statements of income. Deferred gift card revenue was $46,268 and $31,830 at January 28, 2017 and January 30, 2016, respectively, and is included in accrued liabilities – accrued customer liabilities (see Note 5, “Accrued liabilities”). |
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| Vendor allowances |
Vendor allowances The Company receives allowances from vendors in the normal course of business including advertising and markdown allowances, purchase volume discounts and rebates, and reimbursement for defective merchandise, and certain selling and display expenses. Substantially all vendor allowances are recorded as a reduction of the vendor’s product cost and are recognized in cost of sales as the product is sold. |
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| Advertising |
Advertising Advertising expense consists principally of paper, print and distribution costs related to the Company’s advertising circulars, as well as television, radio and digital advertising. The Company expenses the production and distribution costs related to its advertising circulars in the period the related promotional event occurs. Total advertising costs, exclusive of incentives from vendors and start-up advertising expense, amounted to $212,714, $187,158 and $157,847 for fiscal 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Advertising expense as a percentage of sales was 4.4%, 4.8% and 4.9% for fiscal 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Prepaid advertising costs included in prepaid expenses and other current assets were $9,901 and $6,413 as of January 28, 2017 and January 30, 2016, respectively. |
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| Pre-opening expenses |
Pre-opening expenses Non-capital expenditures incurred prior to the grand opening of a new, remodeled or relocated store are charged against earnings as incurred. |
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| Cost of sales |
Cost of sales Cost of sales includes the cost of merchandise sold (retail and e-commerce), including a majority of vendor allowances, which are treated as a reduction of merchandise costs; warehousing and distribution costs including labor and related benefits, freight, rent, depreciation and amortization, real estate taxes, utilities, and insurance; shipping and handling costs; store occupancy costs including rent, depreciation and amortization, real estate taxes, utilities, repairs and maintenance, insurance, licenses, and cleaning expenses; salon payroll and benefits; customer loyalty program expense; and shrink and inventory valuation reserves. |
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| Selling, general and administrative expenses |
Selling, general and administrative expenses Selling, general and administrative expenses includes payroll, bonus, and benefit costs for retail and corporate employees; advertising and marketing costs; credit card program incentives; occupancy costs related to our corporate office facilities; public company expense including Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 compliance expenses; stock-based compensation expense; depreciation and amortization for all assets except those related to our retail and warehouse operations, which are included in cost of sales; and legal, finance, information systems and other corporate overhead costs. |
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| Income taxes |
Income taxes Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effect of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities used for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. The amounts reported were derived using the enacted tax rates in effect for the year the differences are expected to reverse. Income tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions are recognized only when it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities. The determination is based on the technical merits of the position and presumes that each uncertain tax position will be examined by the relevant taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. Penalties and interest related to unrecognized tax positions are recorded in income tax expense. |
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| Share-based compensation |
Share-based compensation Share-based compensation cost is measured at grant date, based on the fair value of the award, and is recognized on a straight-line method over the requisite service period for awards expected to vest. The Company recorded stock compensation expense of $19,340, $15,594 and $14,923 for fiscal 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively (see Note 10, “Share-based awards”). |
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| Insurance expense |
Insurance expense The Company has insurance programs with third party insurers for employee health, workers compensation and general liability, among others, to limit the Company’s liability exposure. The insurance programs are premium based and include retentions, deductibles and stop loss coverage. Current stop loss coverage per claim is $350 for employee health claims, $100 for general liability claims and $250 for workers compensation claims. The Company makes collateral and premium payments during the plan year and accrues expenses in the event additional premium is due from the Company based on actual claim results. |
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| Net income per common share |
Net income per common share Basic net income per common share is computed by dividing income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per share includes dilutive common stock equivalents, using the treasury stock method (see Note 11, “Net income per common share”). |
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| Recent accounting pronouncements not yet adopted |
Recent accounting pronouncements not yet adopted Revenue Recognition from Contracts with Customers In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, issued as a new Topic, Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606 (ASU 2014-09). The new revenue recognition standard provides a five-step analysis of transactions to determine when and how revenue is recognized. The core principle is that we will recognize revenue when we transfer promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which we expect to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which delayed the effective date of ASU 2014-09 by one year. With the deferral, the revenue recognition standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods with early adoption permitted for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim reporting periods. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (ASU 2016-08) which further clarifies how to implement revenue recognition guidance related to determining whether an entity is a principal or an agent in a revenue transaction. In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing (ASU 2016-10) which further clarifies the aspects of (a) identifying performance obligations and (b) the licensing implementation guidance. The effective date and transition requirements for ASU 2016-08 and ASU 2016-10 are the same as the effective date and transition requirements of ASU 2014-09. These standards allow for either full retrospective or modified retrospective adoption. The Company will adopt the new guidance in fiscal 2018, and anticipates using the modified retrospective method. The Company has formed a project team to review our current accounting policies and practices, assess the effect of the standard on our revenue transactions and identify potential differences. While we will continue to evaluate possible impacts on our consolidated financial statements, ASU 2014-09 is expected to impact the recognition timing or classification of revenues and expenses for our sales refund reserve, gift card breakage and loyalty program accounting, however, the Company does not expect a significant impact to pretax income upon adoption. In addition, we are in the process of evaluating changes to our business processes and controls to support recognition and disclosure under the new standard. Leases In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). This standard will change the way all leases of one year or more are treated. Under this guidance, lessees will be required to capitalize virtually all leases on the balance sheet as a right-of-use asset and recognize an associated financing lease liability or capital lease liability. The right-of-use asset represents the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the specified lease term. The lease liability represents the lessee’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease, measured on a discounted basis. Based on certain characteristics, leases are classified as financing leases or operating leases. Financing lease liabilities, those that contain provisions similar to capitalized leases, are amortized like capital leases under current GAAP as amortization expense and interest expense in the statement of operations. Operating lease liabilities are amortized on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease as lease expense in the statement of operations. ASU 2016-02 is effective for public companies for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim reporting periods. At January 28, 2017, the Company has made a decision to early adopt the new standard in fiscal 2018. The Company has formed a project team to review our current accounting policies and practices and assess the effect of the standard on our consolidated financial statements. The team has completed a preliminary assessment of the potential impact of adopting ASU 2016-02 on its financial statements. The adoption of this ASU 2016-02 will have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, however the Company does not believe adoption of this standard will have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations or cash flows. Liabilities – Extinguishments of Liabilities In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-04, Liabilities – Extinguishments of Liabilities (Subtopic 405-20): Recognition of Breakage for Certain Prepaid Stored – Value Products. This update entitles a company to derecognize amounts related to expected breakage to the extent that it is probable a significant reversal of the recognized breakage amount will not subsequently occur. ASU 2016-04 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2016-04 is not expected to have a material impact on the Corporation’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
Compensation – Stock Compensation In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. This guidance will change how companies account for certain aspects of share-based payments to employees. Companies will have to recognize all income tax effects of awards in the income statement when the awards vest or are settled, and additional paid-in capital pools will be eliminated. The guidance on employer’s accounting for an employee’s use of shares to satisfy the employer’s statutory income tax withholding obligation and for forfeitures is changing, and two practical expedients for non-public entities have been added. ASU 2016-09 is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and early adoption is permitted. The Company will adopt the new guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2017. The potential impact that the adoption of ASU 2016-9 will have on the Company’s financial statements during and after the period of adoption are dependent, in part, upon factors that are not fully controllable or predictable by the Company, including future vesting of stock-based awards, market price of the Company’s common stock, timing of employee exercises of vested stock options and achievement of performance criteria that affect the vesting of performance-based awards. However, based on the market price of the Company’s common stock and its outstanding restricted stock units and unexercised stock options as of January 28, 2017, the Company anticipates that the adoption of this pronouncement will result in lower income tax expense in fiscal year 2017 and this anticipated income tax benefit will be reported as a component of cash flows from operating activities. Additionally, the Company will continue to include the impact of estimated forfeitures when determining share-based compensation expense. Statement of Cash Flows In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (a consensus of the Emerging Issues Task Force). ASU 2016-15 provides classification guidance on certain cash receipts and cash payments, including, but not limited to, debt prepayment costs, contingent consideration payments made after a business combination, proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims, proceeds from the settlement of bank-owned life insurance policies and distributions received from equity method investees. The adoption of ASU 2016-15 requires a retrospective transition method applied to each period presented. ASU 2016-15 is effective for annual periods and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2016-15 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows. In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash (a consensus of the Emerging Issues Task Force), which amends ASU Topic 230. ASU 2016-18 requires entities to show the changes in the total of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. As a result, entities will no longer be required to present transfers between cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. When cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents are presented in more than one line item on the balance sheet, the new guidance requires a reconciliation of the totals in the statement of cash flows to the related captions in the balance sheet. Entities will also have to disclose the nature of their restricted cash and restricted cash equivalent balances. ASU 2016-18 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those years and early adoption is permitted. Entities are required to apply the guidance retrospectively. The adoption of ASU 2016-18 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Recently adopted accounting pronouncements Stock Compensation In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-12, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period. This update clarifies the accounting for share-based awards with performance targets. ASU 2014-12 is effective for public companies for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, including interim reporting periods. As permitted, the Company adopted this standard, prospectively, in its first quarter ended April 30, 2016 and its adoption had no impact on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Goodwill and other In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-05, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other – Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customers’ Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement. This standard provides guidance to determine whether a cloud-based computing arrangement includes a software license. If a cloud-based computing arrangement includes a software license, the customer must account for the software element of the arrangement consistent with the acquisition of other software licenses. Otherwise, the customer must account for the arrangement as a service contract. As permitted, the Company adopted this standard, prospectively, in its first quarter ended April 30, 2016 and its adoption had no impact on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
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