v3.26.1
Summary of Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2026
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

1. Summary of Accounting Policies

 

Organization

 

The Company is principally engaged in the design, development and manufacture of precision time and frequency control products and components for microwave integrated circuit applications.

 

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation:

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Frequency Electronics, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (the “Company” or “Registrant”). References to “FEI” are to the parent company alone and do not refer to any of its subsidiaries. See Note 13 for information regarding the Company’s business segments: (1) FEI-NY (which includes the subsidiaries FEI Government Systems, Inc., FEI Communications, Inc., and until April 30, 2026, included FEI-Elcom Tech, Inc. (“FEI-Elcom”)), and (2) FEI-Zyfer, Inc. (“FEI-Zyfer”). Effective as of April 30, 2026, FEI-Elcom converted into a Delaware limited liability company; however, the ongoing business operations of FEI-Elcom will continue under the FEI-NY segment. For more information regarding the Company’s restructuring, see “Restructuring” below. Intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

 

Use of Estimates:

 

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) and require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported and disclosed in the consolidated financial statements and related notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Significant estimates include, but are not limited to, accounting for revenue recognition using a cost-to-cost input model, inventory reserves, deferred compensation plans, impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets, stock-based compensation, and income taxes including deferred income taxes.

 

Cash Equivalents:

 

The Company considers certificates of deposit and other highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company places its temporary cash investments with high credit quality financial institutions. Such investments may at times be in excess of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) and Securities Investor Protection Corporation insurance limits. No losses have been experienced on such investments.

  

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses:

 

Accounts receivable, net, consists of amounts collectible from customers recorded at the original invoiced amount. Management analyzes accounts receivable and the potential for credit losses based on customer concentrations, credit worthiness, current economic trends and changes in customer payment terms. Accounts receivable are recorded at their stated amount, less allowance for credit losses. When it is determined amounts are not recoverable, the receivable is written off against the allowance.

 

Property, Plant and Equipment:

 

Property, plant and equipment is recorded at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization. Expenditures for betterments are capitalized; maintenance and repairs are charged to operations when incurred. When fixed assets are sold or retired, the cost and related accumulated depreciation and amortization are eliminated from the respective accounts and any gain or loss is credited or charged to operations.

 

If events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a long-lived asset may not be recoverable, the Company estimates the future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition. If the sum of the expected future cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges) is less than the carrying amount of the long-lived asset, an impairment loss is recognized based on the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of the long-lived asset. No impairment losses have been recognized in the years ended April 30, 2026 and 2025.

 

Depreciation and Amortization:

 

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment is computed on the straight-line method based upon the estimated useful lives of the assets (40 years for buildings and 3 to 10 years for machinery, equipment, furniture, and other depreciable assets). Leasehold improvements are amortized on the straight-line method over the lesser of the lease term or the estimated useful life of the asset.

Inventories:

 

Inventories, which consist of raw materials, work-in-process and finished goods are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value, with cost determined on the first-in, first-out method. The cost of work-in-process and finished goods generally include the cost of materials, labor, overhead and other costs that are directly related to their production. The Company reviews its inventories quarterly to determine reserves for excess or obsolete inventory based upon historical sales trends, expected production usage, and other factors. Changes to inventory are charged to cost of revenues in the period when such changes are identified.

 

Inventories represent raw materials, work-in-process, and finished goods that relate to non-customized products sold to customers at a point in time. Inventories also represent raw materials and in-process and completed components parts that are used in multiple customer projects but have not been allocated to a specific customer project or incorporated in the creation of customized products that are sold to specific customers over a period of time.

 

Goodwill:

 

The Company records goodwill as the excess of purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired. The Company performs a qualitative evaluation of events and circumstances impacting each reporting unit to determine the likelihood of goodwill impairment. Based on this evaluation, if it is determined that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, no further evaluation is necessary. Otherwise, the Company will perform a quantitative impairment test to compare the fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying value, including goodwill. If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, goodwill of the reporting unit is not impaired. If the carrying value of the reporting unit, including goodwill, exceeds its fair value, a goodwill impairment loss will be recognized in an amount equal to that excess. Due to the restructuring of FEI-Elcom at April 30, 2026 goodwill has been written down in full. Management has determined that goodwill was not impaired as of April 30, 2025, based on its qualitative assessment of impairment for the period.

 

Revenue and Cost Recognition:

 

Revenue is recognized when or as performance obligations are satisfied, which is when control over goods or services are transferred to the customer, in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to receive. A performance obligation is a distinct product or service that is transferred to the customer based on the contract. The transaction price is allocated to each performance obligation and is recognized as revenue upon satisfaction of that performance obligation.

 

The Company derives a majority of its revenue through contracts with customers that involve the sale of goods and services with specifications, frequencies and significant customization to address the requirements of a specific customer and contracts where the end user is the U.S. Government. These contracts generally include one performance obligation, which is typically a customized product or a series of distinct customized products. Control over this performance obligation transfers to the customer over time as the Company creates the customized product because such product does not have an alternative use to the Company and the contract provides the Company with an enforceable right to payment for performance completed to date. In certain cases, the customer also controls the product as it is being created by the Company. Accordingly, revenue is reported in operating results over time using the percentage-of-completion (“POC”) cost-to-cost method. Under this method, revenue is recorded based on the ratio of costs incurred over total estimated contract costs. This method provides a faithful depiction of the transfer of the customized product to the customer because the costs incurred represent the Company’s inputs towards satisfying the performance obligation. Each month management reviews estimated contract costs through a process of aggregating actual costs incurred and estimating additional costs to complete based on current available information, project status, historical experience with similar contracts, changes to product specifications, and other factors. The estimation of total costs through completion is complicated and subject to many variables. Total cost estimates can be affected by a number of factors such as changes in the assessment of the nature and complexity of the work; design challenges including changes to design specifications; technical challenges including those related to quality control; production challenges including those resulting from the timeliness of customer funding, and the unavailability or reduced productivity of qualified labor; supplier challenges including the cost, availability, and quality of raw materials and subcontractor services; changes in laws or regulations; actions necessary for long-term customer satisfaction; and natural disasters or other matters. Changes in these cost estimates could result in the recognition of unfavorable cumulative catch-up adjustments to the Company’s operating results of the period when such changes are made. Costs to satisfy the performance obligation, which include direct materials, direct labor, manufacturing overhead and other direct costs, are expensed as incurred except when the Company determines that the total estimated costs through completion will exceed total revenue, resulting in a contract loss. Such contract loss is accrued for immediately in the period when the loss is identified.

The Company also derives its revenue through contracts or purchase orders from customers that involve the sale of goods and services that are not significantly customized and therefore, such goods and services have an alternative use to the Company because they can be resold to other customers. These contracts typically include one performance obligation, which is a non-customized product or service ordered by the customer. Control over this performance obligation transfers to the customer and revenue is recorded at a point time when passage-of-title (“POT”) occurs as reflected by either (i) shipment of the product or (ii) performance of the services, which are generally completed within a very short period. When payment is contingent upon customer acceptance, revenue is deferred until such acceptance is received. Costs directly related to the production of a non-customized product are capitalized in inventory and are generally expensed when the product is shipped to or accepted by the customer. Cost of services are expensed as incurred. 

 

Contract costs include all direct material costs, direct labor costs, manufacturing overhead and other direct costs related to contract performance. Selling, general and administrative costs are charged to expense as incurred.

 

Practical Expedients

 

The Company expenses sales commissions as sales and marketing expenses in the period they are incurred if the expected amortization period is one year or less.

 

The Company expenses costs, other than sales commissions, to obtain a contract in the period for which they are incurred as these amounts would have been incurred even if the contract had not been obtained.

 

The Company elected the practical expedient to account for shipping and handling activities that occur after the customer has obtained control of a good as fulfillment activities rather than as a promised service.

 

The Company elected the practical expedient not to disclose the transaction price allocated to the remaining performance obligations because the duration of the Company’s contracts is typically one year or less in consideration of the customer’s option to terminate its contract for convenience without incurring a substantive termination penalty.

 

Payments under long-term contracts may be received before or after revenue is recognized. The U.S. Government customer typically withholds payment of a small portion of the contract price until contract completion. Therefore, long-term contracts typically generate unbilled receivables (contract assets) but may generate advances and progress billings (contract liabilities). Long-term contracts are typically negotiated with a schedule of milestones, with criteria to be met, which are billed on completion. Long-term contract unbilled receivables and advances and progress billings are not considered a significant financing component because they are intended to protect either the customer or the Company in the event that some or all of the obligations under the contract are not completed. In addition, the Company does not assess whether a significant financing component exists if the period between when the Company performs its obligations under the contract and when the customer pays is one year or less.

Disaggregation of Revenue

 

Total revenue recognized over time using the POC method was approximately $57.7 million and $65.8 million of the $63.2 million and $69.8 million reported for the years ended April 30, 2026 and 2025, respectively. The amounts by segment and product line were as follows:

 

   Fiscal Year Ended April 30, 2026 
   (In thousands) 
   POC
 Revenue
   POT
Revenue
   Total
Revenue
 
FEI-NY  $40,263   $5,388   $45,651 
FEI-Zyfer   17,421    4,310    21,731 
Intersegment   -    (4,155)   (4,155)
Revenue  $57,684   $5,543   $63,227 

 

   Fiscal Year Ended April 30, 2025 
   (In thousands) 
   POC
 Revenue
   POT
Revenue
   Total
Revenue
 
FEI-NY  $49,585   $3,684   $53,269 
FEI-Zyfer   16,206    2,454    18,660 
Intersegment   -    (2,118)   (2,118)
Revenue  $65,791   $4,020   $69,811 

 

   Fiscal Years Ended April 30, 
   (in thousands) 
   2026   2025 
Revenues by Product Line:        
Satellite revenue  $23,128   $40,897 
Government non-space revenue   38,011    26,549 
Other commercial & industrial revenue   2,088    2,365 
Consolidated revenues  $63,227   $69,811 

Research and Development:

 

The Company engages in R&D activities to identify new applications for its core technologies, to improve existing products and to improve manufacturing processes to achieve cost reductions and manufacturing efficiencies. R&D costs include basic research, applied research, concept formulation studies, design, development, related test activities, and all associated direct labor, manufacturing overhead, direct materials and contracted services. Such costs are expensed as incurred. The Company also, from time to time, engages in customer-funded R&D activity. Any customer funds received in connection therewith would appear in revenues and the associated expenses are included in cost of revenues. Additionally, some of our programs include engineering and development efforts which are also incorporated in costs to complete the program and are recognized in revenues and costs of revenues.

 

Income Taxes:

 

The Company recognizes deferred tax liabilities and assets based on the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns. Under this method, deferred tax liabilities and assets are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Valuation allowances are established and adjusted when necessary to increase or reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.

 

The Company analyzes its tax positions under accounting standards which prescribe recognition thresholds that must be met before a tax benefit is recognized in the financial statements and provides guidance on de-recognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. Under these standards, the Company may only recognize or continue to recognize tax positions that meet a “more likely than not” threshold. Interest and penalties recognized on income taxes are recorded as income tax expense.

 

Earnings (Loss) per Share:

 

Basic earnings (loss) per share are computed by dividing net earnings (loss) by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding. Diluted earnings (loss) per share are computed by dividing net earnings (loss) by the sum of the weighted average number of shares of common stock and the if-converted effect of unexercised stock options and stock appreciation rights (“SARs”). Diluted earnings (loss) per share excludes the if-converted effect of such items if their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.

 

Fair Values of Financial Instruments:

 

Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, short-term credit obligations, and cash surrender value of life insurance are reflected in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets at amounts considered by management to reasonably approximate fair value based upon the nature of the instrument and current market conditions. Management is not aware of any factors that would significantly affect the value of these amounts. The Company also has an investment in a privately-held Russian company, Morion, Inc. (“Morion”), see Note 9 for additional information. 

 

The fair value accounting framework provides a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements).

 

The levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:

 

Level 1Inputs to the valuation methodology are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities.

 

Level 2Inputs to the valuation methodology include: -Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; and -Inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

 

Level 3Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

 

The asset’s or liability’s fair value measurement level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Valuation techniques used need to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The business account and U.S. securities are valued on a Level 1 basis. The fixed income corporate debt securities are valued on a Level 2 basis. Level 2 securities are valued at the closing prices and are consistent with quoted prices of similar assets reported in active markets. See Note 11 for additional information.

Equity-based Compensation:

 

The cost of employee services received in exchange for awards of equity instruments are based on the grant-date fair value of the award. We recognize the fair value of the award as compensation expense over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award. For awards with performance conditions, we recognize the fair value of the award as compensation expense when it is probable that the performance condition will be achieved. The Company has elected an accounting policy to account for award forfeitures as they occur, with no adjustment for estimated forfeitures.

 

Concentration of Credit Risk:

 

Financial instruments, which potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk, consist principally of cash and cash equivalents and trade receivables. The Company maintains cash accounts at several commercial banks at which the balances exceed FDIC limits. The Company has not experienced any losses on such amounts. Concentration of credit risk with respect to trade receivables is generally diversified due to the large number of entities comprising the Company’s customer base and their dispersion across geographic areas, principally within the U.S. The Company routinely addresses the financial strength of its customers and, as a consequence, believes that its receivable credit risk exposure is limited. The Company does not require customers to post collateral.

 

Restructuring:

 

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, the Company approved a plan to exit its FEI-Elcom business. Effective as of April 30, 2026, FEI-Elcom, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, was converted into a Delaware limited liability company and the ongoing business operations, including the net book value of the assets and liabilities at April 30, 2026, of FEI-Elcom have been transferred to the FEI-NY segment. As FEI-Elcom was already reported within the FEI-NY segment, the restructuring did not result in a change in the financial presentation of any segment information. The remaining workforce will continue as employees of FEI-NY while remaining in the New Jersey office location. As a result of the restructuring, the Company recognized approximately $3.8 million of inventory write offs included in cost of revenues, approximately $0.4 million of SG&A expense related to severance and legal costs, and approximately $0.4 million of other expense for derecognition of goodwill in the consolidated statement of operations. All charges noted related to restructuring have been recorded in the FEI-NY segment. The Company believes that the charges associated with this restructuring are substantially complete as of April 30, 2026.

 

New Accounting Pronouncements:

 

In December 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued ASU No. 2023-09, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures” (“ASU 2023-09”). ASU 2023-09 is intended to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures. The amendments in ASU 2023-09 address investor requests for enhanced income tax information primarily through changes to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid information. Early adoption is permitted. A public entity can apply the amendments in ASU 2023-09 prospectively or retrospectively to all annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. The guidance was adopted by the Company prospectively for the year ended April 30, 2026, and the Company, accordingly, made the required changes in its income tax related disclosure. See Note 12 for additional information. The adoption of ASU 2023-09 did not have any material impact on the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements.

 

In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU No. 2024-03, Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income – Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses. This ASU requires entities to disclose certain expenses, including purchases of inventory, employee compensation, depreciation, and intangible asset amortization, by caption. Additionally, entities must provide a qualitative description of the amounts remaining in relevant expense captions that are not separately disaggregated quantitatively. The amendments are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026 and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this standard will have on the consolidated financial statements.

 

In December 2025, the FASB issued ASU No. 2025-11, Interim Reporting (Topic 270): Narrow Scope Improvements, an amendment of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification. The amendments in this ASU primarily provide clarification on interim reporting requirements and enhanced disclosure requirements. The amendments also include a disclosure principle to disclose all events since the end of the last annual reporting period that have a material impact on the Company. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027, and all interim reporting periods within applicable annual periods, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that this standard will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

Reclassifications:

 

Certain amounts in prior years have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.