Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

x      QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Quarterly Period Ended October 31, 2018

or

o         TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT

For the Transition Period from              to           

Commission File Number 001-31756

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

One Church Street, Suite 201, Rockville, Maryland 20850

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

(301) 315-0027

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

(Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, if Changed since Last Report)

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit such files).  Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer o Accelerated filer x Non-accelerated filer o Smaller reporting company o Emerging growth company o

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the Registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No x

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the Registrant’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Common stock, $0.15 par value: 15,570,719 shares as of November 30, 2018.

Table of Contents

ARGAN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

FORM 10-Q QUARTERLY REPORT

OCTOBER 31, 2018

INDEX

2

Table of Contents

ARGAN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

3

Table of Contents

ARGAN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

4

Table of Contents

ARGAN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

5

Table of Contents

ARGAN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

OCTOBER 31, 2018

(Tabular dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

NOTE 1 — DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Description of the Business

Argan, Inc. (“Argan”) conducts operations through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Gemma Power Systems, LLC and affiliates (“GPS”), which provided 61% and 89% of consolidated revenues for the nine months ended October 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively; The Roberts Company, Inc. (“TRC”); Atlantic Projects Company Limited and affiliates (“APC”); and Southern Maryland Cable, Inc. (“SMC”). Argan and these consolidated subsidiaries are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Company.”

Through GPS and APC, the Company provides a full range of engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, operations management, maintenance, project development, technical and consulting services to the power generation and renewable energy markets. The wide range of customers includes independent power producers, public utilities, power plant equipment suppliers and global energy plant construction firms. Including consolidated joint ventures and variable interest entities (“VIEs”), GPS and APC represent the Company’s power industry services reportable segment. Through TRC, the industrial fabrication and field services reportable segment provides on-site services that support maintenance turnarounds, shutdowns and emergency mobilizations for industrial plants primarily located in the southern United States and that are based on its expertise in producing, delivering and installing fabricated steel components such as piping systems, pressure vessels and heat exchangers. Through SMC, which conducts business as SMC Infrastructure Solutions, the telecommunications infrastructure services segment provides project management, construction, installation and maintenance services to commercial, local government and federal government customers primarily in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States.

Basis of Presentation

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Argan, its wholly owned subsidiaries, its financially controlled joint ventures and any variable interest entities for which the Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary (see Note 3). All significant inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain comparative amounts in the balance sheet and statement of cash flows were reclassified to conform to the current year presentation (see Note 4). In Note 14, the Company has provided certain financial information relating to the operating results and assets of its reportable segments based on the manner in which management disaggregates the Company’s financial reporting for purposes of making internal operating decisions. The Company’s fiscal year ends on January 31 of each year.

These condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with US GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations, although the Company believes that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information not misleading. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements and notes should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements, the notes thereto, and the independent registered public accounting firm’s report thereon that are included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2018.

The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of October 31, 2018, the condensed consolidated statements of earnings for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2018 and 2017, and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine months ended October 31, 2018 and 2017 are unaudited. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of January 31, 2018 has been derived from audited financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments, which are of a normal and recurring nature, considered necessary to present fairly the financial position of the Company as of October 31, 2018, and its earnings and cash flows for the interim periods presented. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for any other interim period or for a full fiscal year.

6

Table of Contents

Effective February 1, 2018, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” and a series of amendments which together hereinafter are referred to as “ASC Topic 606”, using the permitted modified retrospective method. Accordingly, the new guidance was applied retrospectively to contracts that were not completed as of the adoption date. Financial results for the reporting period which began February 1, 2018 and ended October 31, 2018 have been presented under ASC Topic 606, while prior period operating result amounts have not been adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with previous guidance. See Note 4 for additional discussion about the adoption of ASC Topic 606 and its impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

The carrying value amounts presented in the condensed consolidated balance sheets for the Company’s current assets, which primarily include cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable and contract assets, and its current liabilities are reasonable estimates of their fair values due to the short-term nature of these items. The fair value amounts of reporting units (as needed for purposes of identifying goodwill impairment losses) are determined by averaging valuations that are calculated using market-based and income-based approaches deemed appropriate in the circumstances.

NOTE 2 — RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

There are no recently issued accounting pronouncements that have not yet been adopted that we consider material to the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements except for the following professional guidance related to leases.

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, which amends the existing guidance and which will require recognition of operating leases with lease terms of more than twelve months on the balance sheet. For these leases, companies will record assets for the rights and liabilities for the obligations that are created by the leases. The pronouncement will require disclosures that provide qualitative and quantitative information for the lease assets and liabilities presented in the financial statements. Although the adoption of this pronouncement, which is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, is expected to affect primarily the presentation of the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet, the Company has not yet determined the complete extent or significance of the changes.

NOTE 3 — SPECIAL PURPOSE ENTITIES

Variable Interest Entity

In January 2018, the Company was deemed to be the primary beneficiary of a VIE that is performing the project development activities for the construction of a new natural gas-fired power plant. Consideration for the Company’s engineering and financial support includes the right to build the power plant pursuant to a turnkey engineering, procurement and construction services (“EPC”) contract that has been negotiated and announced. The account balances of the VIE are included in the condensed consolidated financial statements, including the development costs incurred during the three and nine-month periods ended October 31, 2018 in the amounts of $0.7 million and $1.4 million, respectively.

Construction Joint Ventures

GPS assigned its EPC contracts for two natural gas-fired power plants, which were substantially completed during the year ended January 31, 2017, to two separate joint ventures that were formed in order to perform the work for the applicable project and to spread the bonding risk of each project. Both joint ventures were liquidated in October 2018 and final cash distributions in the total amount of approximately $0.3 million were made. Due to the financial control of GPS, the accounts of the joint ventures were included in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

NOTE 4 — REVENUES FROM CONTRACT WITH CUSTOMERS

Update to Significant Accounting Policies

ASC Topic 606 outlines a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenues arising from contracts with customers. The new standard supersedes most previous revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. Upon adoption of ASC Topic 606, the Company revised its accounting policy on revenue recognition from the policy provided in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2018. The revised accounting policy for revenue recognition is provided below.

7

Table of Contents

Central to the new revenue recognition framework is a five-step revenue recognition model that requires reporting entities to:

1.   Identify the contract,

2.   Identify the performance obligations of the contract,

3.   Determine the transaction price of the contract,

4.   Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations, and

5.   Recognize revenue.

The new guidance focuses on the transfer of the contractor’s control of the goods and/or services to the customer, as opposed to the transfer of risk and rewards. Major provisions cover the determination of which goods and services are distinct and represent separate performance obligations, the appropriate treatments for variable consideration, and the evaluation of whether revenues should be recognized at a point in time or over time. Where a performance obligation is satisfied over time, the related revenues are also recognized over time. The new standard for revenue recognition also requires enhanced disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenues and cash flows from contracts with customers.

The transaction price for a contract represents the value of the corresponding contract used to determine the amount of revenues recognized as of the balance sheet date. It may reflect amounts of variable consideration, which could be either increases or decreases to the transaction price. These adjustments can be made from time-to-time during the period of contract performance as circumstances evolve related to such items as variations in the scope and price of contracts, claims, incentives and liquidated damages.

The Company includes the estimated amount of variable consideration in the transaction price to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenues recognized on the particular contract will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is resolved. The Company’s determination of the amount of variable consideration to be included in the transaction price of a particular contract is based largely on an assessment of the Company’s anticipated performance and all information (historical, current and forecasted) that is reasonably available. The effect of any revisions to the transaction price on the amount of previously recognized revenues that is due to the addition or reduction of variable consideration is recorded currently as an adjustment to revenues on a cumulative catch-up basis. In the event that any amounts of variable consideration that are reflected in the transaction price of a contract are not resolved in the Company’s favor, there could be reductions in, or reversals of, previously recognized revenues.

Most of the Company’s long-term contracts have a single performance obligation as the promises to transfer individual goods or services are not separately identifiable from other promises in the contracts and, therefore, are not distinct. Under previous revenue recognition guidance, the Company also generally accounted for its long-term contracts as single units of account (i.e., a single performance obligation).

Most of the Company’s revenues are recognized primarily under various types of long-term construction contracts, including those for which revenues are based on either a fixed price, time and materials or cost-plus-fee basis, and primarily over time as performance obligations are satisfied due to the continuous transfer of control to the project owner or other customer. Significant contracts typically have durations of three months to three years. Revenues from fixed price contracts, including a portion of estimated profit, are recognized as services are provided, based on costs incurred and estimated total contract costs using the percentage-of-completion method. However, costs incurred on a particular contract that are related to materials or equipment items over which the corresponding project owner has yet to obtain control shall be excluded from the measurement of progress toward the satisfaction of the corresponding performance obligation determined as of the report date. If at any time, the estimate of contract profitability indicates an anticipated loss on a contract, the Company will recognize the total loss in the quarter it is identified. Revenues from time and materials contracts are recognized when the related services are provided to the customer. Revenues from cost-plus-fee construction contracts are recognized on the basis of costs incurred during the period plus the fee earned, measured using the cost-to-cost method.

The timing of when the Company bills its customers is generally dependent upon negotiated billing terms, the achievement of certain contract milestones, the completion of certain other phases of the work, or when services are provided or products are shipped. Projects with performance obligations satisfied over time will typically have revenues recognized to date in amounts different from the amounts of cumulative billings. As the rights and obligations in contracts are interdependent, the differences for each contract are combined with certain other asset and liability amounts related to the corresponding contracts in order to determine the net asset or net liability amounts, on a contract-by-contract basis. The amounts for each contract in a net asset position are totaled at the report date and presented in the corresponding consolidated balance sheet as contract assets. Likewise, the amounts for each contract in a net liability position are totaled at the report date and presented in the corresponding consolidated balance sheet as contract liabilities.

8

Table of Contents

Contract assets are defined in the new standard to include amounts that represent the rights to receive payment for goods or services that have been transferred to the project owner, with the rights conditional upon something other than the passage of time. Contract liabilities are defined in the new standard to include the amounts that reflect obligations to provide goods or services for which payment has been received. Accordingly, the amounts presented in prior consolidated balance sheets that were identified as “costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings” and “billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings” are now reflected in the line items entitled “contract assets” and “contract liabilities.”

In addition, accounts receivable has been redefined to represent unconditional rights to receive payments which only require the passage of time. Billed amounts retained by project owners until a defined phase of a contract or project has been completed and accepted, which were historically included in accounts receivable, are now reflected in contract assets or contract liabilities depending on the net contract position of the particular contract. Retention amounts and the length of retention periods may vary. Retainage amounts related to active contracts are considered current regardless of the term of the applicable contract; such amounts are generally collected by the completion of the applicable contract.

Further, the proper accounting for certain costs that may be incurred to obtain contracts or that may be incurred on contracts but do not represent actual progress, has been altered. Significant costs that are typically incurred during the initial phases of a contract are no longer charged to contract costs when incurred. Such costs, identified as contract fulfillment costs, are capitalized, are treated as contract assets, and are amortized to contract costs over the contract performance period.

Impact of the Adoption of the New Accounting Standard

The effect of the adoption of ASC Topic 606 on retained earnings as of February 1, 2018 was an income tax-effected increase of less than $0.1 million. The differences between the Company’s reported operating results for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2018, which reflect the application of the new standard on the Company’s contracts, and the results that would have been reported if the accounting was performed pursuant to the accounting standards previously in effect, were not material.

In accordance with the new standard, the Company has reported balances for contract assets and contract liabilities in its condensed consolidated balance sheets as of October 31, and January 31, 2018. Balances as of January 31, 2018 for the accounts identified below were recast in order to conform to the presentation as of October 31, 2018:

The total of amounts retained by project owners under construction contracts at October 31, 2018 was $14.2 million, most of which related to active projects that the Company expects to collect before January 31, 2019.

The net balance for capitalized contract fulfillment costs as of October 31, 2018 that are being charged to active contracts on an amortization basis was $0.3 million. Costs incurred by the Company to obtain contracts have not been material historically.

The increase in contracts-in-progress, net, for the nine months ended October 31, 2018 in the amount of $79.6 million was caused primarily by a decline of $93.1 million in billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings and an increase in costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings in the amount of $38.8 million, offset partially by a decrease in customer retainages in the amount of $55.5 million. Revenues recognized during the nine months ended October 31, 2018 that were considered contract liabilities as of January 31, 2018 totaled $45.6 million. For the nine months ended October 31, 2017, a decrease of $62.4 million in the amounts of billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings, an increase in customer retainages in the amount of $28.7 million, and an increase of $7.0 million in the amounts of costs incurred and estimated earnings recorded on certain contracts in excess of the amounts of billings on those contracts were the primary factors in the use of cash in the amount of $94.6 million related to contracts-in-progress.

9

Table of Contents

Variable Consideration

Contract variations for which the Company has project-owner directive for additional work or other scope change, but not for the price associated with the corresponding additional effort, are included in the transaction price and are reflected in revenues when it is considered probable that the applicable costs will be recovered through a modification to the contract price. The aggregate amounts of such contract variations included in the transaction prices that were used to determine project-to-date revenues at October 31 and January 31, 2018, were $10.6 million and $9.3 million, respectively. The effects of any revision to a transaction price can be determined at any time and they could be material. Actual costs related to any changes in the scope of the corresponding contract are expensed as they are incurred. Changes to total estimated contract costs and losses, if any, are reflected in operating results for the period in which they are determined. The Company may include in the corresponding transaction price a portion of the amount claimed in a dispute that it expects to receive from a project owner. Once a settlement of the dispute has been reached with the project owner, the transaction price may be revised again to reflect the final resolution. Variations related to the Company’s contracts typically represent modifications to the existing contracts and performance obligations, and do not represent new performance obligations.

The Company’s long-term contracts typically have schedule dates and other performance objectives that if not achieved could subject the Company to liquidated damages. These contract requirements generally relate to specified activities that must be completed by an established date or by the achievement of a specified level of output or efficiency. Each applicable contract defines the conditions under which a project owner may be entitled to liquidated damages. At the outset of each of the Company’s contracts, the potential amounts of liquidated damages typically are not constrained, or subtracted, from the transaction price as the Company believes that it has included activities in its contract plan, and the associated costs, that will be effective in preventing such damages. Of course, circumstances may change as the Company executes the corresponding contract. The transaction price is reduced by an applicable amount when the Company no longer considers it probable that a future reversal of revenues will not occur when the matter is resolved.

In general, the Company considers potential liquidated damages, the costs of other related items and potential mitigating factors in determining the adequacy of its regularly updated estimates of the amounts of gross profit expected to be earned on active projects. In other cases, the Company may have the grounds to assert liquidated damages against subcontractors, suppliers, project owners or other parties related to a project. Such circumstances may arise when the Company’s activities and progress are adversely affected by delayed or damaged materials, challenges with equipment performance or other events out of the Company’s control where the Company has rights to recourse, typically in the form of liquidated damages. In general, the Company does not adjust the corresponding contract accounting until it is probable that the favorable cost relief will be realized. Such adjustments have been and could be material.

The Company records adjustments in revenues and profits on contracts, including those associated with contract variations and estimated cost changes, using a cumulative catch-up method. Under this method, the impact of an adjustment to the amount of revenues recognized to date is recorded in the period the adjustment is identified. Revenues and profits in future periods of contract performance are recognized using the adjusted amounts of transaction price and estimated contract costs. For the three and nine months ended October 31, 2018, the net impacts on revenues of changes that the Company made to transaction prices and to estimates of the costs-to-complete active contracts were increases of approximately $16.7 million and $29.7 million, respectively.

Remaining Unsatisfied Performance Obligations

The amount of the Company’s remaining unsatisfied performance obligations (“RUPO”) represents the unrecognized revenue value of active contracts with customers as determined under ASC Topic 606. Increases to RUPO during a reporting period represent the transaction prices associated with new contracts, as well as additions to the transaction prices of existing contracts. The amounts of such changes may vary significantly each reporting period based on the timing of major new contract awards and the occurrence and assessment of contract variations. At October 31, 2018, the Company had RUPO of $129.7 million. Approximately one-half of the Company’s RUPO as of October 31, 2018 is anticipated to be recognized as revenues during the three months ending January 31, 2019, with the remainder recognized as revenues during the year ending January 31, 2020.

Although the amount of reported RUPO includes business that is considered to be firm, it is important to note that cancellations, deferrals or scope adjustments may occur. RUPO may be adjusted to reflect any known project cancellations, revisions to project scope and cost, foreign currency exchange fluctuations and project deferrals, as applicable.

10

Table of Contents

Disaggregation of Revenues

The following table presents consolidated revenues for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2018 and 2017, disaggregated by the geographic area where the work was performed:

The consolidated revenues are disaggregated by reportable segment in Note 14 to the condensed consolidated financial statements. Prior period financial operating results have not been adjusted for the adoption of ASC Topic 606 under the Company’s application of the modified retrospective method.

NOTE 5 — CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS

The Company considers all liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents. Short-term investments as of October 31 and January 31, 2018 consisted solely of certificates of deposit purchased from Bank of America (the “Bank”) with weighted average initial maturities of 230 days and 293 days, respectively (the “CDs”). The Company has the intent and ability to hold the CDs until they mature, and they are carried at cost plus accrued interest which approximates fair value. The total carrying value amounts as of October 31 and January 31, 2018 included accrued interest of $1.0 million and $1.9 million, respectively. Interest income is recorded when earned and is included in other income. At October 31 and January 31, 2018, the weighted average annual interest rates of the CDs were 2.5% and 1.5%, respectively. The Company has cash on deposit in excess of federally insured limits at the Bank, has purchased CDs from the Bank, and has money market accounts at the Bank. Management does not believe that maintaining substantially all such assets with the Bank represents a material risk.

NOTE 6 — ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

The Company may extend credit to a customer based on an evaluation of the customer’s financial condition, generally without requiring collateral. Exposure to losses on accounts and notes receivable is expected to differ by customer due to the varying financial condition of each customer. The Company monitors its exposure to credit losses and maintains an allowance for anticipated losses considered necessary under the circumstances based on historical experience with uncollected accounts and a review of its currently outstanding amounts receivable. At October 31, 2018, Company’s allowance for uncollectible accounts was $0.2 million. As of January 31, 2018, the amount of the allowance for uncollectible accounts was not material.

NOTE 7 — PURCHASED INTANGIBLE ASSETS

At both October 31 and January 31, 2018, the goodwill balances related to the acquisitions of GPS, TRC and APC were $18.5 million, $13.8 million and $2.0 million, respectively. Purchased intangible assets, other than goodwill, consisted of the following elements as of October 31 and January 31, 2018:

11

Table of Contents

NOTE 8 — FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS

The Company maintains financing arrangements with the Bank that are described in an Amended and Restated Replacement Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), dated May 15, 2017, which superseded the Company’s prior agreement with the Bank. The Credit Agreement provides a revolving loan with a maximum borrowing amount of $50.0 million that is available until May 31, 2021 with interest at the 30-day LIBOR plus 2.0%. The Company may also use the borrowing ability to cover other credit instruments issued by the Bank for the Company’s use in the ordinary course of business. At October 31 and January 31, 2018, the Company had credit outstanding under the Credit Agreement, but no borrowings, in the approximate amounts of $15.5 million and $18.9 million, respectively.

The Company has pledged the majority of its assets to secure its financing arrangements. The Bank’s consent is not required for acquisitions, divestitures, cash dividends or significant investments as long as certain conditions are met. The Bank requires that the Company comply with certain financial covenants at its fiscal year-end and at each of its fiscal quarter-ends. The Credit Agreement includes other terms, covenants and events of default that are customary for a credit facility of its size and nature. At October 31 and January 31, 2018, the Company was compliant with the financial covenants of the Credit Agreement.

NOTE 9 — LEGAL MATTERS

In the normal course of business, the Company may have pending claims and legal proceedings. It is the opinion of management, based on information available at this time, that there are no current claims and proceedings that could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

On February 1, 2016, TRC was sued in Person County, North Carolina, by a subcontractor, PPS Engineers, Inc. (“PPS”), in an attempt to force TRC to pay invoices for services rendered in the total amount of $2.3 million. In addition, PPS placed liens on the property of customers in several states where work was performed by PPS and it also filed a claim in Tennessee against the bond issued on behalf of TRC relating to one significant project located there. On March 4, 2016, TRC filed responses to the claims of PPS, asserting that PPS failed to deliver a number of items required by the applicable contract between the parties, that the invoices rendered by PPS covering the disputed services would not be paid until such deliverables were supplied, and that certain sums were owed to it by PPS for services, furniture, fixtures, equipment, and software that were supplied by TRC on behalf of PPS. The amounts invoiced by PPS were accrued by TRC and the corresponding liability amounts were included in accounts payable in the condensed consolidated balance sheet as January 31, 2018. TRC did not record an account receivable for the amounts it believes are owed to it by PPS. A mediation effort was attempted in 2016 but it was unproductive in resolving the disputes. In December 2017, an amended complaint was filed by the plaintiff and TRC filed an amended counterclaim and the discovery process began. In July 2018, the parties agreed to a settlement of all claims made against each other with TRC agreeing to make a payment to PPS in the amount of $0.9 million. As the total of the previously accrued amounts exceeded the negotiated settlement amount, the Company recorded a gain on the settlement in the amount of $1.4 million that is included in other income for the nine-month period ended October 31, 2018.

GPS was in a dispute with a former subcontractor on one of its power plant construction projects that was settled pursuant to binding arbitration in June 2018. The arbitration panel awarded approximately $5.2 million, plus interest and arbitration fees, to the subcontractor. The substantial portion of the total amount, which was paid by GPS to the subcontractor in July 2018, was charged to cost of revenues. In connection with the settlement, the legal claims made by the parties against each other were dismissed with prejudice and without costs to the parties, all liens filed by the subcontractor related to the project were released, and each party provided the other with a release from future claims related to this matter.

NOTE 10 — STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

The Company’s board of directors may make awards under the 2011 Stock Plan (the “Stock Plan”) to officers, directors and key employees. Awards may include incentive stock options (“ISOs”), nonqualified stock options (“NSOs”), and restricted or unrestricted stock. All stock options awarded under the Stock Plan shall have an exercise price per share at least equal to the common stock’s market value per share at the date of grant. ISOs shall have a term no longer than ten years; NSOs may have up to a ten-year term. In the past, stock options typically became exercisable one year from the date of award. Commencing in January 2018, stock options were awarded with three-year vesting schedules. As of October 31, 2018, there were approximately 1.8 million shares of the Company’s common stock reserved for issuance under the Company’s stock plans. This number includes 675,500 shares of the Company’s common stock available for future awards.

12

Table of Contents

Summaries of stock option activity under the Company’s stock plans for the nine months ended October 31, 2018 and 2017, along with corresponding weighted average per share amounts, are presented below (shares in thousands):

The changes in the number of non-vested options to purchase shares of common stock for the nine months ended October 31, 2018 and 2017, and the weighted average fair value per share for each number, are presented below (shares in thousands):

In April 2018 and pursuant to terms of the Stock Plan, the Company awarded performance-based restricted stock units to two senior executives covering up to 36,000 shares of common stock plus a number of shares to be determined based on the amount of cash dividends deemed paid on shares earned pursuant to the awards. The release of the stock restrictions depends on the total shareholder return performance of the Company’s common stock measured against the performance of a peer-group of common stocks over a three-year period.

Compensation expense related to stock awards was $0.3 million and $1.3 million for the three months ended October 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and was $1.2 million and $3.6 million for the nine months ended October 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. At October 31, 2018, there was $3.6 million in unrecognized compensation cost related to outstanding stock awards that the Company expects to expense over the next three years. The total intrinsic value of the stock options exercised during the nine months ended October 31, 2018 and 2017, was $0.1 million and $3.1 million, respectively. At October 31, 2018, the aggregate market value amounts of the shares of common stock subject to outstanding and exercisable stock options, that were “in-the-money”, exceeded the aggregate exercise prices of such options by $7.1 million and $6.4 million, respectively.

The Company estimates the weighted average fair value of stock options on the date of award using a Black-Scholes option pricing model, which was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options that have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. The Company believes that its stock option exercise activity is sufficient to provide it with a reasonable basis upon which to estimate the expected life of newly awarded stock options.

13

Table of Contents

The fair values of stock options granted during the periods presented below were estimated on the corresponding dates of award using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model based on the following weighted average assumptions:

NOTE 11 — CASH DIVIDENDS

On September 12, 2018, the Company’s board of directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend in the amount of $0.25 per share of common stock, which was paid on October 31, 2018 to stockholders of record at the close of business on October 24, 2018. In both April 2018 and July 2018, the Company also made regular quarterly cash dividend payments based on a per share amount of $0.25. In September 2017, the Company’s board of directors declared a regular annual cash dividend of $1.00 per share of common stock, which was paid on October 31, 2017.

NOTE 12 — INCOME TAXES

Research and Development Tax Credits

The Company has completed a detailed review of the activities of its engineering staff on major EPC services projects in order to identify and quantify the amounts of research and development credits that may be available to reduce current and prior year income taxes. This study was begun last year and focused on project costs incurred during the three-year period ended January 31, 2018. Based on the results of the study, management has identified and estimated significant amounts of income tax benefits that have not previously been recognized in the Company’s operating results for the current or any prior year reporting period.

Income tax positions must meet a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold to be recognized. Income tax positions that previously failed to meet the more-likely-than-not threshold are recognized in the first subsequent financial reporting period in which that threshold is met. Management considers the three-month period ended October 31, 2018 as the initial reporting period in which it had sufficient data on which to make an evaluation and reach a conclusion on the amount of income tax credit benefits related to prior year project costs that, more likely than not, qualified as research and development costs under the rules and regulations of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “IRC”), and certain states. The income tax benefits associated with research and development activities conducted in prior years in the total amount of $16.5 million have been recognized in income taxes for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2018, and represented a favorable effect on dilutive earnings per share of $1.05 for each period. This net benefits amount reflects the establishment of a deferred tax valuation allowance of $0.7 million related to certain state research and development credits. The Company believes it is more likely than not that these credits will not be realized.

If the benefits had been recognized in the fiscal years that the related research and development costs were incurred, which were the years ended January 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, the income tax amounts for such years would have been favorably impacted by $0.5 million, $11.0 million and $5.0 million, respectively. The amount of income tax benefits related to qualifying research and development costs incurred for the year ending January 31, 2019 is not expected to be significant.

The amount of identified but unrecognized income tax benefits related to research and development credits as of October 31, 2018 is $5.3 million, which, if recognized in the years that the related costs were incurred, would have favorably impacted income taxes for the years ended January 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018 by $0.3 million, $2.7 million and $2.3 million, respectively. As of October 31, 2018, the Company does not believe that it has any other material uncertain income tax positions reflected in its accounts.

As described below, during the extended term of a current examination, the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) intends to review the research and development credit that will be included in the amendment of the Company’s consolidated federal income tax return for the year ended January 31, 2016. The Company does not anticipate any significant changes to the income tax benefit amounts identified above within the next twelve months except for the addition of amounts related to research and development credits that may be available in Pennsylvania as it is an application-based state. However, such credit amounts could be material. In the future, if previously recognized tax positions no longer meet the more-likely-than-not threshold, the related benefits will be derecognized in the first subsequent financial reporting period in which that threshold is no longer met.

14

Table of Contents

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”)

The Tax Act was signed into law on December 22, 2017 and significantly changes tax law in the United States by, among other items, reducing the federal corporate income tax rate from a maximum of 35% to 21% (effective January 1, 2018). The Tax Act embraces a territorial system for the taxation of future foreign earnings and modifies certain business deductions by, among other changes, repealing the domestic production activities deduction, further limiting the deductibility of certain executive compensation and increasing the limitation on the deductibility of certain meals and entertainment expenses. As a result of the reduction in the corporate income tax rate, the Company revalued its deferred taxes as of December 22, 2017 and recognized an income tax benefit of $0.8 million for the year ended January 31, 2018.

The Company did not record a liability as of January 31, 2018 related to transition taxes as it did not have any unremitted foreign earnings. Its foreign operations had incurred a cumulative net operating loss since the acquisition of APC in May 2015. The Company currently estimates that the Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (“GILTI”) provision of the Tax Act will not have a material impact on its operating results for the year ending January 31, 2019. Nonetheless, it has included GILTI tax related to current year operations in its estimated annual effective tax rate.

In the event that any new guidance related to the Tax Act is issued by the IRS or other regulatory or standard-setting bodies, the Company will conduct additional analysis and may make adjustments that could materially impact the Company’s income tax expense for the period in which such adjustments are made.

Income Tax Expense Reconciliation

The Company’s income tax expense amounts for the nine months ended October 31, 2018 and 2017 differed from corresponding amounts computed by applying the federal corporate income tax rates of 21% and 35%, respectively, to income before income taxes for the periods as shown in the table below.

The amount of state income tax benefit for the nine months ended October 31, 2018 that is presented above reflects recognized research and development state tax credit benefits of $2.7 million. Foreign income tax expense for the nine months ended October 31, 2018 was $0.5 million; the comparable amount for the nine months ended October 31, 2017 was not material. As of October 31, 2018, the balance of other current assets in the condensed consolidated balance sheet included income tax refunds offset partially by accrued income taxes in the amounts of approximately $16.5 million and $1.5 million, respectively. The income tax refunds are amounts expected to be received after the filing of amended tax returns claiming research and development tax credits in prior years. At January 31, 2018, other current assets included prepaid income taxes in the amount of $7.9 million.

Income Tax Returns

The Company is subject to income taxes in the United States, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and various other state and foreign jurisdictions. Tax treatments within each jurisdiction are subject to the interpretation of the related tax laws and regulations which require significant judgment to apply. The Company is no longer subject to income tax examinations by authorities for its fiscal years ended on or before January 31, 2015 except for several notable exceptions including the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and several states where the open periods are one year longer.

15

Table of Contents

The IRS is conducting an examination of the Company’s federal consolidated tax return for the year ended January 31, 2016. As a result of conclusions reached by the IRS examiner, the Company recorded a $1.7 million income tax benefit in the quarter ended October 31, 2018 related to additional net operating losses of acquired companies that are available for the fiscal years ending January 31, 2016 through January 31, 2021. The IRS has represented to the Company that no other adjustment items were noted during the examination. However, the Company has agreed to an extension of the audit timeline so that the IRS may examine the amendment to the income tax return for the year ended January 31, 2016, reflecting the research and development credit for the year, which the Company intends to file before the end of the current fiscal year.

NOTE 13 — EARNINGS PER SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF ARGAN, INC.

Basic and diluted earnings per share are computed as follows (shares in thousands except in the footnote below):

(1)         These numbers exclude the effects of antidilutive stock options which covered 581,500 shares for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2018, and 155,000 shares for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2017.

NOTE 14 — SEGMENT REPORTING

Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker, or decision-making group, in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company’s reportable segments, power industry services, industrial fabrication and field services, and telecommunications infrastructure services, are organized in separate business units with different management teams, customers, talents and services, and may include more than one operating segment.

Intersegment revenues and the related cost of revenues, are netted against the corresponding amounts of the segment receiving the intersegment services. For the three and nine months ended October 31, 2018, intersegment revenues totaled approximately $0.4 million and $0.8 million, respectively. For the three and nine months ended October 31, 2017, intersegment revenues totaled approximately $0.2 million and $1.8 million, respectively. Intersegment revenues for the aforementioned periods primarily related to services provided between the industrial fabrication and field services segment and the power industry services segment and are based on prices negotiated by the parties.

16

Table of Contents

Presented below are summarized operating results and certain financial position data of the Company’s reportable business segments for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2018 and 2017. The “Other” column in each summary includes the Company’s corporate and unallocated expenses:

(1) The amount of total assets for each segment has been recast to conform to the presentation as of October 31, 2018.

17

Table of Contents