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Daktronics, Inc.

dakt · NASDAQ Technology
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Sector Technology
Industry Hardware, Equipment & Parts
Employees 2520
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FY2019 Annual Report · Daktronics, Inc.
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2019 ANNUAL  REPORT 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2019 LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS

During fiscal 2019, we focused on winning more orders and maintaining our product release velocity.  We achieved both.  Our order 
volume was the third highest level in our company's history, even while we had fewer multimillion-dollar projects as compared to other 
record years.  This high order level attained at lower project sizes is an indication of our ability to serve new and existing customers 
across global markets by offering a comprehensive suite of solutions and services.  We invested in development resulting in continued 
progress on releasing new offerings to our already competitive and diverse line of solutions, positioning us to better meet our customer’s 
needs - both today and in the future.  Some examples of new solutions include a line of narrow pixel pitch displays, new control system 
features and functions, and a continued broadening of offerings in other areas to meet varying customer expectation on cost, quality, 
reliability, and lifetime.

Despite the success with orders, our financial results for fiscal 2019 were lower than anticipated.  Revenue and gross profit were lower 
in the second half of the year and were impacted by the timing of order bookings and the conversion to revenue due to our customers' 
schedules.  On a positive note, we are entering fiscal 2020 with $202 million in product backlog.  Global trade factors caused at least $6 
million in additional expenses, including the increased price of certain commodities and tariff costs.  We anticipate the global trade 
environment to be dynamic over the coming year and continue to evaluate ways to mitigate impacts.  We also incurred approximately 
$3 million of expenses for discrete project, litigation, and other claims during the year.

Even though our year was less profitable than desired, our balance sheet remains strong.  We generated positive free cash flow for the 
year  while  investing  over  $17  million  in  manufacturing  and  information  technology  equipment  and  over  $36  million  in  product 
development.  These investments will provide on-going benefits well into the future.

We enter fiscal 2020 with a strong backlog and positive outlook.  During fiscal 2020, we are focused on increasing orders as we serve a 
growing  global  customer  base  in  commercial,  sports  and  government  markets.   We  are  also  focused  on  maintaining  our  product 
development activities and continue to invest in new technologies and advanced manufacturing techniques.  Finally, we are focused on 
carefully managing capacity and spend on our path of long-term profitable growth.

Specifically, we see these opportunities and trends in the marketplace:

•

•
•

Sport, commercial, and governmental entities continuing to choose digital applications to support their needs.  This demand is
driving long-term growth globally in the LED video display industry as well as other digital applications.
Digital systems have a known end-of-life that will drive continued replacement or refurbishment in the installed base.
Our broad range of innovative product and technology solutions and global capabilities make us the industry’s most experienced
digital display provider.

• We continue to release new or enhanced product lines and comprehensive solutions targeted towards our broad market base,
specific customer needs, and new customers.  This allows for success in markets during natural ups and downs of each of our
business segments.

Thank you to all of our key stakeholders - to our customers for your years of support and trust, to our employees for ongoing performance 
in serving our customers, to our suppliers for your continued partnerships in making our operations run smoothly, and to our investors 
for learning about Daktronics and understanding the nature of our business.

We are looking forward to a successful fiscal 2020!

Reece A. Kurtenbach
Chairman of the Board
President and Chief Executive Officer

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Daktronics, Inc. and its subsidiaries are the world’s industry leader in designing and manufacturing electronic scoreboards, programmable 
display systems and large screen video displays for sporting, commercial and transportation applications. We serve our customers by 
providing the highest quality standard display products as well as custom-designed and integrated systems.  We offer a complete line of 
products, from small scoreboards and electronic displays to large multimillion-dollar video display systems as well as related control, 
timing, and sound systems.  We are recognized as a technical leader with the capabilities to design, market, manufacture, install and 
service complete integrated systems displaying real-time data, graphics, animation and video. We engage in a full range of activities: 
marketing and sales, engineering and product design and development, manufacturing, technical contracting, professional services and 
customer  service  and  support.  Our  business  is  organized  into  five  business  units:  Commercial,  Live  Events,  High  School  Park  and 
Recreation, Transportation, and International.  Our customers value our products for their customer and fan experience, and the ability 
to generate revenues and inform their audiences.  Our products have been installed in venues from grade school gyms to premier sports 
facilities, destination sites and in over 100 countries throughout the world.  We serve our customers through a network of offices in the 
United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, United Arab Emirates, Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Spain, Singapore, 
Brazil, Belgium, Ireland and Macau.

We employ 2,722 full-time and part-time employees.  Our engineering capabilities are second to none in the industry and we are committed 
to on-going product development to find new applications for our products and expand the markets we serve.  Daktronics stock is traded 
on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol DAKT.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share and share price data.) 

Net sales
Gross profit
Operating expenses
Operating income (loss)
Net income (loss)
Gross profit percentage
Operating margin percentage
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding
Diluted earnings (loss) per share
Cash dividend per share

Working capital
Total assets
Shareholders' equity
Product Backlog

Product design and development expense
Capital expenditures
Depreciation and amortization expense
Cash flow from operations
Regular dividend per share
Special dividend per share

Employees as of year-end:
Full-time
Part-time and students

Stock price during the fiscal year:
High
Low
Stock price at fiscal year-end

FY2015
$615,942
144,579
113,294
31,285
20,882

23.5%
5.1%

44,443
0.47
0.40

FY2016
$570,168
121,019
118,524
2,495
2,061
21.2%
0.4%

44,456
0.05
0.40

FY2017
$586,539
140,415
124,994
15,421
10,342

23.9%
2.6%

44,303
0.23
0.31

FY2018
$610,530
145,669
133,209
12,460
5,562
23.9%
2.0%

44,873
0.12
0.28

FY2019
$569,704
130,294
135,022
(4,728)
(958)
22.9 %
(0.8)%

44,926
(0.02)
0.28

$149,075
379,479
212,039
191,000

$24,652
21,837
14,968
53,513
0.40
0.00

$123,714
349,948
201,067
181,000

$26,911
17,056
16,943
13,283
0.40
0.00

$127,130
355,433
198,286
203,000

$29,081
8,502
18,562
39,407
0.27
0.04

$132,825
358,800
197,616
171,000

$35,530
18,127
17,784
30,361
0.28
0.00

$119,601
349,216
187,663
202,000

$35,557
17,268
18,635
29,546
0.28
0.00

2,420
330

2,470
315

2,405
304

2,405
308

2,412
310

$14.47
10.03
10.75

$12.24
6.90
8.70

$11.00
6.00
9.46

$10.76
8.55
9.01

$10.05
7.21
7.30

  
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Fiscal Year Ended April 27, 2019 
OR

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Transition Period From ___ to ___.
Commission File Number: 0-23246

Daktronics, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

South Dakota
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)

201 Daktronics Drive
Brookings, SD
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

46-0306862
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

57006
(Zip Code)

(605) 692-0200
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Common Stock, No Par Value
Preferred Stock Purchase Rights

Trading Symbol(s)
DAKT
DAKT

Name of each exchange on which registered
NASDAQ Global Select Market
NASDAQ Global Select Market

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:  None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. 

Yes 

  No 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. 

Yes 

  No 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities 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. 

 No 

Yes 

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 (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to 
submit such files). 

  No 

Yes 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a 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 
Non-accelerated filer 

Accelerated filer 
Smaller reporting company 
Emerging growth company 

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. 

 
 
 
 
                                             
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). 

Yes 

  No 

The aggregate market value of the registrant's common stock held by non-affiliates at October 27, 2018 (which is the last business day of the 
Registrant’s most recently completed second quarter), computed by reference to the closing sales price of the Registrant’s common stock on the 
NASDAQ Global Select Market on such date, was approximately $332,784,773.  For purposes of determining this number, individual shareholders 
holding more than 10 percent of the Registrant’s outstanding Common Stock are considered affiliates.  This number is provided only for the purpose 
of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and does not represent an admission by either the Registrant or any such person as to the status of such person.

The number of shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock outstanding as of June 3, 2019 was 45,180,770.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Registrant’s Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held September 4, 2019 are incorporated by reference 
in Part III of the Form 10-K, as indicated in Items 10 through 14 of Part III.

DAKTRONICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-K
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED APRIL 27, 2019 

Table of Contents

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

PART I
ITEM 1.

ITEM 1A.

ITEM 1B.

ITEM 2.

ITEM 3.

ITEM 4.

PART II

ITEM 5.

ITEM 6.

ITEM 7.

BUSINESS

RISK FACTORS

UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

PROPERTIES

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER 
MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS  

ITEM 7A.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

ITEM 8.

ITEM 9.

ITEM 9A.

ITEM 9B.

PART III

ITEM 10.

ITEM 11.

ITEM 12.

ITEM 13.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING 
AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

OTHER INFORMATION

DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT 
AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR 
INDEPENDENCE

ITEM 14.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

PART IV

ITEM 15.

SIGNATURES

EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD–LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Annual Report on Form 10-K (including exhibits and any information incorporated by reference herein) (the "Form 10-K" or the 
"Report") contains both historical and forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions.  The statements 
contained in this Report that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities 
Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21B of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements regarding our 
expectations, beliefs, intentions and strategies for the future.  These statements appear in a number of places in this Report and include 
all statements that are not historical statements of fact regarding the intent, belief or current expectations with respect to, among other 
things: (i.) our competition; (ii.) our financing plans; (iii.) trends affecting our financial condition or results of operations; (iv.) our 
growth and operating strategies; (v.) the declaration and payment of dividends; (vi.) the timing and magnitude of future contracts; (vii.) 
raw material shortages and lead times; (viii.) fluctuations in margins; (ix.) the seasonality of our business; (x.) the introduction of new 
products and technology; (xi.) the amount and frequency of warranty claims; (xii.) our ability to manage the impact that new or adjusted 
tariffs may have on the cost of raw materials and components and our ability to sell product internationally; (xiii.) the resolution of 
litigation contingencies; and (xiv.) the timing and magnitude of any acquisitions or dispositions.  The words “may,” “would,” “could,” 
“should,” “will,” “expect,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “plan” and similar expressions and variations thereof are 
intended to identify forward-looking statements.  Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees 
of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our ability to control, and that actual results may 
differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors discussed herein, including those 
discussed in the section of this Form 10-K entitled “Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors” and “Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and 
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and those factors discussed in detail in our other filings with the Securities 
and Exchange Commission.

PART I. 

Item 1.  BUSINESS

Business Overview

Daktronics, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”, “Daktronics”, “we”, “our”, or “us”) are the world's industry leader in designing 
and manufacturing electronic scoreboards, programmable display systems and large screen video displays for sporting, commercial and 
transportation applications.  We serve our customers by providing the highest quality standard display products as well as custom-designed 
and integrated systems.  We offer a complete line of products, from small scoreboards and electronic displays to large multimillion-dollar 
video display systems as well as related control, timing, and sound systems.  We are recognized as a technical leader with the capabilities 
to design, market, manufacture, install and service complete integrated systems displaying real-time data, graphics, animation and video.  
We engage in a full range of activities: marketing and sales, engineering and product design and development, manufacturing, technical 
contracting, professional services and customer service and support. 

We were founded in 1968 by Drs. Aelred Kurtenbach and Duane Sander, professors of electrical engineering at South Dakota State 
University in Brookings, South Dakota.  The Company began with the design and manufacture of electronic voting systems for state 
legislatures.  In 1971, Daktronics developed the patented Matside® wrestling scoreboard, the first product in the Company's growing 
and evolving line.  In 1994, Daktronics became a publicly traded company and invested in display technologies and new markets.  We 
have continued these investments and have supported our long-term customer relationships to grow from a small company operating out 
of a garage to the world leader in the display industry.  We currently employ 2,722 people globally.  We are headquartered at 201 Daktronics 
Dr., Brookings, SD 57006 telephone 605-692-4200.  Our Internet address is https://www.daktronics.com.

Our annual, quarterly and current reports and any amendments to those reports are freely available in the "Investor Relations" section of 
our website.  We post each of these documents on our website as soon as reasonably practicable after it is electronically filed with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").  These reports and other reports, proxy, and electronic filings are also found on the 
SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.  Information contained on our website is not deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Report or 
filed with the SEC.

We have organized our business into five segments: Commercial, Live Events, High School Park and Recreation, Transportation, and 
International.  These segments are based on the type of customer or geography and are the same as our business units.  Financial information 
concerning these segments is set forth in this Form 10-K in "Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition 
and Results of Operations" and "Note 3. Segment Reporting" of the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 
10-K.

Industry Background

1

 
Over  the  years,  our  products  have  evolved  significantly  from  scoreboards  and  matrix  displays  with  related  software  applications  to 
complex, integrated visual display systems which include full color video with text and graphics displays located on a local or remote 
network  that  are  tied  together  through  sophisticated  control  systems.  In  the  mid-1990's,  as  light  emitting  diodes  (“LEDs”)  became 
available in red, blue and green colors with outdoor brightness, we pioneered the development of full color LED video displays capable 
of replicating trillions of colors, thereby producing large format video systems with excellent color, brightness, energy efficiency and 
lifetime.  Due to our foundation of developing scoring and graphics display systems, we were able to add video capabilities so we could 
meet all our customers' large format display needs in a complete, integrated system.  This has proven to be a key factor in Daktronics 
becoming a leader in large electronic displays.  LED technologies continue to evolve and advance, creating new high-resolution and 
micro-LED display options.  Today, the industry continues development in both the construct of the micro-LED and production methods 
of micro-LED display panels using mass-transfer technology.

Description of Business

We are engaged in a full range of activities: marketing and sales, engineering and product design and development, manufacturing, 
technical contracting, professional services and customer service and support.  Each of those activities is described below:

Marketing and Sales.  Our sales force is comprised of direct sales staff and resellers located throughout the world supporting all customer 
types in both sales and service.  We primarily use a direct sales force for large integrated display system sales in professional sports, 
colleges and universities, and commercial spectacular projects.  We also use our direct sales force to sell third-party advertising and 
transportation applications.  We utilize resellers outside North America for large integrated system sales where we do not have a direct 
sales presence.  The majority of our products sold by resellers in North America are standard catalog products.  We support our resellers 
through direct mail/email advertising, trade journal advertising, product and installation training, trade show exhibitions and accessibility 
to our regional sales or service teams and demonstration equipment.

Engineering and Product Design and Development.  The large format electronic display industry is characterized by ongoing product 
innovations  and  developments  in  technology  and  complementary  services.  To  remain  competitive,  we  have  a  tradition  of  applying 
engineering resources throughout our business to anticipate and respond rapidly to the system needs in the marketplace.  We employ 
engineers and technicians in the areas of mechanical and electrical design; applications engineering; software design; quality design; and 
customer and product support.  We assign product managers to each product family to assist our sales staff in training and implementing 
product improvements which ensures each product is designed for maximum reliability and serviceability.  We employ process engineers 
to assist in quality and reliability processing in our product design testing and manufacturing areas.   

Manufacturing.  The majority of our products are manufactured in the United States, specifically in South Dakota and Minnesota.  We 
also have manufacturing facilities in China and Ireland.  We perform component manufacturing, system manufacturing (metal fabrication, 
electronic assembly, sub-assembly and final assembly) and testing in-house for most of our products to control quality, improve response 
time and maximize cost-effectiveness.  Our manufacturing facilities are somewhat aligned with our business segments' sales, marketing, 
and product design and development areas to accelerate technology improvements and improve our cost structure.  Given the cyclical 
nature of some parts of our business and dispersed sales geography, we balance and maintain our ability to manufacture the same products 
across our plants so we can efficiently utilize our capacity and reduce costs.  A key strategy of ours is to increase standardization and 
commonality of parts and manufacturing processes across product lines through use of product platforms to increase efficiencies.  Other 
strategies include supplier management programs and lean manufacturing techniques.  For more details on our facilities, see "Part II, 
Item 2. Properties".

Technical Contracting.  We serve as a technical contractor for larger display system installations requiring custom designs and innovative 
product solutions.  The purchase of display systems typically involves competitive proposals.  As part of our response to a proposal 
request,  we  may  suggest  additional  products  or  features  to  assist  the  prospective  customer  in  analyzing  the  optimal  type  of  display 
system.  We usually include site preparation and installation services related to the display system in our proposal.  In these cases, we 
serve as a contractor and may retain subcontractors for electrical, steel and installation labor.  We have developed relationships with many 
subcontractors throughout the United States and the world, which is an advantage for us in bidding and delivering on these projects.  We 
are licensed as a general contractor in many jurisdictions.  

Professional Services.  To assist our clients' ability to engage, inform and entertain their audiences, we provide professional services 
including event support, content creation, product maintenance, marketing assistance, training on hardware and software, control room 
design, and continuing technical support training for operators. 

Customer Service and Support.  We offer limited warranties on our products, ranging from one to 10 years, against failure due to defective 
parts or workmanship.  In addition, we offer service agreements of various scopes.  To serve our customers, we provide help-desk access, 
parts repair and replacement, display monitoring and on-site support.  Our technical help desk has experienced technicians who are on-
call 24 hours a day to support events and sites.  Our field service personnel and third-party service partners are trained to provide on-site 
support.  We use third-party service partners to allow us to respond to changes in volume of service during our seasonal peaks.

2

Products and Technologies

The two principal components of our systems are the display and the controller, which manages the operation of the display.  We produce 
displays varying in complexity, size and resolution.  The physical dimensions of a display depend on the size of the viewing area, the 
distance from the viewer to the display, and the amount and type of information to be displayed.  The controller is comprised of computer 
hardware  and  software  products  designed  to  compile  information  provided  by  the  operator  and  other  integrated  sources  to  display 
information, graphics or animation on the displays.  We customize our products according to the design specifications of the customer 
and the conditions of the environment in which our products function.

Our products are comprised of the following product families, all of which include software and controller options:

Scoreboards and timing systems 

•  Video displays 
• 
•  Message displays
• 
• 
• 
•  Out-of-Home advertising displays
•  Digit and price displays
• 

Indoor dynamic messaging systems

ITS (intelligent transportation systems) dynamic message signs 
Space availability displays
Sound systems

Each of these product families is described below:

Video Displays.  These displays are comprised of a large number of full-color pixels capable of showing various levels of video, graphics 
and animation.  These displays include red, green and blue LEDs arranged in various combinations to form pixels.  The electronic circuitry, 
which controls the pixels, allows for variances in the relative brightness of each LED to provide a full color spectrum, thereby displaying 
video images in striking, vibrant colors.  Variables in video displays include the spacing of the pixels (pixel pitch), the resolution of the 
displays (number of pixels), the brightness of the displays (nits), the number of discrete colors the display is able to produce (color depth), 
the viewing angles, and the LED mount technology (surface mount vs. through-hole). 

We offer a broad range of indoor and outdoor LED video displays with these varying features.  Examples of indoor offerings include 
centerhung displays, landmark displays, video walls, ribbon board displays, hanging banners, corporate office entrance displays, and 
video displays designed for retail stores, restaurants, malls, transportation hubs and other similar indoor facilities.  

 Video displays provide content to serve as a revenue generation source through advertising, an information and communication medium 
(e.g. scoring, statistics, way-finding, advertising), or provide interior design elements to create luxurious space to feature digital art.

Our mobile and modular display systems are transportable and are comprised of lightweight individual LED video panels less than a 
square meter in size and are assembled together to form a display in a customizable size.  These displays are used for both indoor and 
outdoor touring shows and for other live events.

Our display technology may be integrated with architectural mesh to deliver a dynamic communication medium that provides a semi-
transparent viewing experience within a building.  These displays can be mounted over a solid facade or in front of windows, resulting 
in a finished solution that is free from visible cabling and delivers a clean, semi-transparent view.  These displays are less than one inch 
in depth and provide an elegant, refined structural appearance.

Our line of freeform LED displays is architectural lighting and display products.  The ProPixel® freeform products use mountable LED 
elements to transform ordinary structures into stunning visual landmarks.  A flexible mounting platform allows designers to transform 
any structure into a full-motion video display. 

The control components for video displays in live event applications include our Show Control Software Suite, proprietary digital media 
players and video processors.  These control components provide advanced capabilities for the display of live video and real-time content 
on our displays.  The Show Control Software Suite can operate entire networks of displays from a single, intuitive control interface.  Its 
features allow users to instantly deliver media clips, camera feeds, and streaming information to any display in a network.  

Scoreboards and Timing Systems.  Our line of scoreboards and timing products include indoor and outdoor scoreboards for many different 
sports, digit displays, scoring and timing controllers, statistics software and other related products.  Indoor and outdoor systems range in 
complexity from small scoreboards to larger systems incorporating scoring, timing, video, message centers, advertising panels and control 
software.

3

We offer a variety of controllers complementing our scoreboards and displays.  These controllers vary in complexity from the All Sport® 
100, a handheld controller for portable scoreboards, to the All Sport® 5500, designed for more sophisticated scoring systems and allowing 
for more user-defined options.  

We  also  offer  timing  systems  for  sports  events,  primarily  aquatics  and  track  competitions.  A  component  of  these  systems  is  our 
OmniSport® 2000 timing console.  The system has the capability to time and rank the competitors and to interface with event management 
software to facilitate the sporting event.  Other timing system components include swimming touchpads, race start systems, and relay 
take-off platforms.

As a key component of an integrated system, we market sports statistics and results software under the DakStats® trademark.  The 
software allows the entry and display of sports statistics and other information.  It is one of the leading applications of its type in collegiate 
and high school sports.

Message  Displays.  The  Galaxy®  product  line  is  a  family  of  full-matrix  displays,  available  in  both  indoor  and  outdoor  models  and 
controlled with the Venus® Control Suite.  Galaxy® displays are full color or monochrome with varying pixel spacing depending on 
color, size and viewing distance.  Galaxy® displays can display text, graphics and animation, as well as prerecorded video clips.  They 
are used primarily as message centers to convey information and advertising to consumers.  

The Venus® Control Suite software is used to control the creation of messages and graphic sequences for uploading to the Galaxy® 
displays.  This software is designed to be user friendly and applicable to all general advertising or message applications.  It can be used 
to control a single message display or can scale up to provide a secure, cloud-based control center for large networks of message displays.  

ITS Dynamic Message Signs ("DMS").  DMS products include a wide range of LED displays for road management, mass transit and 
aviation applications.  The Vanguard® family of dynamic message displays is typically used to direct traffic and inform motorists.  These 
displays are used over freeways, on arterial roads, near bridges, at toll booths and in other locations.  We have also developed a control 
system for these displays to help transportation agencies manage large networks of displays.

Space Availability Displays.  This product line is our digit and directional displays, which are primarily marketed and sold for use in 
parking facilities.  They include multi-line displays delivered in vertical cabinets or drop-in digit panels designed to be mounted in existing 
structures or signs.

Sound Systems.  Our sound systems include both standard and custom options.  Standard systems are designed to meet the needs of a 
variety of indoor and outdoor sports venues based on the size and configuration of the facility.  Custom indoor and outdoor systems are 
tailored for larger venues and venues with unique seating configurations and are often integrated into an overall venue solution for scoring, 
timing, message display and/or video capability.  Our audio systems also complement our video display systems used in mall applications.

Out-of-Home Advertising Displays.  Our line of out-of-home advertising displays includes billboards and street furniture displays.  Our 
line of digital billboards offers a unique display solution for the Out-of-Home (“OOH”) advertising industry.  The products are used to 
display images which change at regular intervals.  These systems include many features unique to the outdoor advertising market, such 
as our patented mounting system, self-adjusting brightness, improved energy consumption, and enhanced network security.

Our line of digital street furniture engages people with advertising content at eye level as they walk through campuses, cityscapes, and 
outlet malls.  This design enhances the message and complements surrounding architecture.  These street furniture displays are our most 
flexible solution for digital OOH campaigns.

Digit and Price Displays.  This product line includes our DataTime® and Fuelight™ displays.  The DataTime® product line consists of 
outdoor time and temperature displays which use a remote sensor for temperature data.  Fuelight™ digit displays are specifically designed 
for the petroleum industry, offering high visibility and quick fuel price updates using the Fuelink™ control software.

Indoor Dynamic Messaging Systems.  Our ADFLOW DMSTM systems include indoor networked solutions for retailers, convenience 
stores and other businesses.  These solutions allow customers to broadcast advertising campaigns and other information through the 
software, media players and visual hardware.  

Software and Controller Options.  The Venus® Control Suite, Show Control, Vanguard®, and other options offer easy control solutions 
to  help  customers  manage  content  on  their  displays.    Content  includes  media,  scoring,  timing,  statistics,  advertising,  way-finding 
information, playback loops and entertainment type visualizations.  Software and controller options are available in on-premise and hosted 
cloud-based configurations and are accessible by multiple devices.

Raw Materials

4

Materials used in the production of our video display systems are sourced from around the world.  Examples of the materials we use in 
production include LEDs, integrated circuits, printed circuit boards, power supplies, plastics, aluminum, and steel.  We source some of 
our materials from a single-source or a limited number of suppliers due to the proprietary nature of the materials.  The loss of a key 
supplier, part unavailability, price changes or defects in the supplied material or component could have an adverse impact on our business 
and operations.  Our sourcing group works to implement strategies to mitigate these risks.  Periodically, we enter into pricing agreements 
or purchasing contracts under which we agree to purchase a minimum amount of product in exchange for guaranteed price terms over 
the length of the contract, which generally does not exceed one year.

During fiscal 2019, many electrical components were in high demand or market factors impacted availability, both of which caused 
extended lead-times and price volatility and resulted in an additional cost of $3.8 million for these materials.  We also incurred $2.5 
million of tariff related expenses on imports of materials to the U.S. due to the U.S. administration's implementation of tariffs on aluminum, 
steel, and items made in China.  We believe this estimate is useful to investors in evaluating our operating performance; however, this 
estimate is not a measure defined by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP"), and our methodology for 
determining this estimate may vary from the methodology used by other companies.

Intellectual Property

We own or hold licenses to use numerous patents, copyrights, and trademarks on a global basis.  Our policy is to protect our competitive 
position by filing U.S. and international patent applications to protect technology and improvements that we consider important to the 
development of our business.  This will allow us to pursue infringement claims against competitors for protection due to patent violations.  
We also rely on nondisclosure agreements with our employees and agents to protect our intellectual property.  Despite these intellectual 
property protections, there can be no assurance a competitor will not copy the functions or features of our products.

Seasonality

Our net sales and profitability historically have fluctuated due to the impact of uniquely configured orders, such as display systems for 
professional sports facilities, colleges and universities, and spectacular projects in the commercial area, as well as the seasonality of the 
sports market.  Uniquely configured orders can include several displays, controllers, and subcontracted structure builds, each of which 
can occur on varied schedules per the customer's needs.  Outdoor installation sales can be impacted by outdoor weather conditions and 
the construction season.  Our third fiscal quarter tends to be a slower quarter because it includes two holidays, it is affected by sports 
seasonality, and generally less outdoor construction work occurs due to weather conditions. 

Our gross margins tend to fluctuate more on uniquely configured orders than on limited configured orders.  Uniquely configured orders 
involving competitive bidding and substantial subcontract work for product installation generally have lower gross margins.  Although 
we follow the over time method of recognizing revenues for uniquely configured orders, we nevertheless have experienced fluctuations 
in operating results and expect our future results of operations will be subject to similar fluctuations.  

Because of the seasonality and volatility in business demand and variety of product types, we may not be able to utilize our capacity 
efficiently or accurately plan our capacity requirements, which may negatively affect our business and operating results.

Working Capital

For information regarding working capital items, see “Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and 
Results of Operations-Liquidity and Capital Resources” in this Form 10-K.

Customers

We have a large and diverse worldwide customer base, ranging from local main street business owners and out-of-home companies to 
the owners and operators of premier professional sports arenas.  Our customers are important to us, and we strive to serve them over the 
long-term to earn their future business.  The loss of one or more customers could have an adverse effect on us.  See "Note 3. Segment 
Reporting" of the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K for our primary markets and customers of 
each business unit.

Backlog

Our remaining performance obligations ("backlog") consist of contractually binding sales agreements or purchase orders for integrated 
electronic display systems and related products and service.  Orders are included in backlog when we are in receipt of an executed contract 
and any required deposits or security.  As a result, certain orders for which we have received binding letters of intent or contracts will 
not be included in backlog until all required contractual documents and deposits are received.  Backlog can fluctuate due to large order 

5

bookings and the timing and seasonality of net sales.  Because order backlog fluctuates and may be subject to extended delivery schedules, 
orders may be canceled and have varied estimated profitability.  Our backlog is not necessarily indicative of future net sales or net income.  
Backlog is not a measure defined by GAAP, and our methodology for determining backlog may vary from the methodology used by 
other companies in determining their backlog amounts.

Our backlog as of April 27, 2019 was $257 million as compared to $219 million as of April 28, 2018.  We expect to fulfill this backlog 
within the next 24 months.

Government and Other Regulation

In the United States and other countries, various laws, regulations and ordinances related to our products and controllers restrict the 
installation of outdoor signs and displays, particularly in the commercial and transportation markets.  These laws and regulations impose 
greater restrictions on electronic displays versus non-electronic displays due to alleged concerns over aesthetics or driver safety.  Globally, 
our products are also subject to various regulations and standards including electromagnetic interference, electromagnetic compatibility, 
electrical safety, and flammability standards.  We design and have our products tested for these regulations; however, these factors may 
prevent or inhibit us from selling products to some prospective customers in certain geographies.

Our manufacturing facilities and products comply with industry specific requirements, including environmental rules and regulations 
and  safety  standards.    These  requirements  include  quality,  manufacturing  process  controls,  manufacturing  documentation,  supplier 
certification of raw materials, and various safety tests.  Our products and production processes require the storage, use and disposal of a 
variety of hazardous chemicals under applicable laws.  

Our global supply chain and sales distribution channels subject us to various trade compliance regulations.  These requirements can 
include certification of country of origin, classification within the various tariff codes and trade agreements, compliance with other specific 
product or country import/export regulations, and payment of certain import or export tariffs, duties, or taxes.  

Our global operations subject us to various laws and regulations, including laws and regulations relating to tax compliance, anti-corruption, 
and data privacy.  These requirements vary and can include things like records management, policy creation and maintenance, data 
protection programs, compliance filings, and continued training of employees.    

We believe we are in material compliance with these requirements.

Competition

We encounter a wide variety of competitors that vary by product, geographic area, and business unit.  Our competitors include both United 
States and foreign companies and range in size and product offerings.  Our competitors may develop lower-cost or lower-featured products, 
may be willing to charge lower prices to increase their market share, or include different service and controller offerings.  Some competitors 
have more capital and other resources, which may allow them to take advantage of acquisition opportunities or adapt more quickly to 
changes in customer requirements.  Other competitors use sponsorships as a way to win business at a particular location or market.  In 
addition, our products compete with other forms of advertising, such as television, print media and fixed display signs.  

We believe that our ability to compete depends upon customer centric product and service quality and features, technical expertise, service 
breadth, and cost-effective solutions.

Research and Development

Our engineering, process design, and product and service design and development capabilities and experience are very important factors 
in continuing to develop, produce, and offer the most up-to-date digital displays and control system solutions desired by the market.  

Employees

As of April 27, 2019, we employed approximately 2,412 full-time employees and 310 part-time and temporary employees.  Of these 
employees, approximately 879 were in manufacturing, 570 were in sales and marketing, 570 were in customer service, 450 were in 
engineering and 253 were in general and administrative.  None of our employees are represented by a collective bargaining agreement.  We 
believe employee relations are good.

Item 1A.  RISK FACTORS

The factors that are discussed below, as well as the matters that are generally set forth in this Form 10-K and the documents incorporated 
by reference herein, could materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition. 

6

We operate in highly competitive markets and face significant competition and pricing pressure.  If we are unable to keep up 
with the rapidly changing product market or to compete effectively, we could lose market share as well as limited and uniquely 
configured orders, which could negatively impact our results of operations. 

The electronic display industry is characterized by ongoing product improvement, innovations and development.  We compete against 
products produced in foreign countries and the United States.  Our competitors may develop lower-cost or lower-featured products, may 
be willing to charge lower prices to increase their market share, or include different service and controller offerings.  Some competitors 
have more capital and other resources, which may allow them to take advantage of acquisition opportunities or adapt more quickly to 
changes in customer requirements.  Other competitors use sponsorships as a way to win business at a particular location or market.  In 
addition, our products compete with other forms of advertising, such as  television, print media and fixed display signs.  To remain 
competitive, we must anticipate and respond quickly to our customers’ needs, enhance our existing products, introduce new products and 
features, and continue to price our products competitively.

Our results of operations on a quarterly and annual basis are likely to fluctuate and are substantially affected by the size and 
timing of large contract order awards.

Our net sales and earnings have varied in the past and are likely to vary in the future.  When awarded large contracts, primarily in the 
college and professional sports facilities markets, the OOH niche, the transportation market, and the large spectacular niche, the timing 
and amount of these contracts could cause material fluctuations in our net sales and earnings.  Awards of large contracts and their timing 
and amounts are difficult to predict, may not be repeatable, and are outside of our control.  Operating results in one quarter or fiscal year 
may not be indicative of future operating results.  Some factors that may cause our operating results to vary include:

• 
• 
• 
• 

new product introductions;
variations in product mix; 
production capacity utilization; and
delays or cancellations of orders.

Our actual results could differ from the estimates and assumptions we make to prepare our financial statements, which could 
have a material impact on our financial condition and results of operations.

In connection with the preparation of our financial statements, including the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 
10-K, our management is required under GAAP to make estimates and assumptions based on historical experience and other factors.  
Our most critical accounting estimates are described in "Part II, Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition 
and Results of Operations" in this Form 10-K.  These estimates and assumptions affect the timing of net sales, costs, and profits or losses 
in applying the principles to contracts with customers under the cost incurred input method; estimated amounts for warranty costs; the 
valuation of our deferred tax assets; fair value estimates used in goodwill and long-term assets testing; and estimating the impact of 
uncertainties in the application of complex tax laws.  Although we believe these estimates and assumptions are reasonable under the 
circumstances,  they  are  subject  to  significant  uncertainties,  some  of  which  are  beyond  our  control.    If  management's  estimates  and 
assumptions change or are not correct, our financial condition or results of operation could be adversely affected.

Unanticipated warranty and other costs for defective products could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations 
and reputation.

We provide warranties on our products with terms varying from one to 10 years.  In addition, we offer extended warranties.  These 
warranties require us to repair or replace faulty products and meet certain performance standards, among other customary warranty 
provisions.  Although we continually monitor our warranty claims and accrue a liability for estimated warranty costs, unanticipated claims 
could have a material adverse impact on our financial results.  In some cases, we may be able to subrogate a claim back to a subcontractor 
or supplier if the subcontractor or supplier supplied the defective product or performed the service, but this may not always be possible.  
In addition, the need to repair or replace products with design and manufacturing defects could adversely affect our reputation.  Remediation 
of a claim may take time and could result in lost or deferred revenue, lead to costly warranty expenses, and could have a material adverse 
impact on our financial condition and operating results.

During fiscal 2016, we discovered a warranty issue caused by a mechanical device failure within a module for displays primarily in our 
OOH application built prior to fiscal 2013.  During our fiscal years 2019, 2018, and 2017, we recognized warranty expense and estimated 
equipment service agreement losses for probable and reasonably estimated costs to remediate this issue of $2.4 million, $4.5 million, and 
$1.8 million, respectively.  The increased warranty expense in fiscal 2018 is primarily based on our decision to preserve our market 
leadership and for customer relationship purposes in certain cases beyond our contractual obligations.  See "Note 18. Commitments and 
Contingencies" of the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K for more information regarding our 
warranty accrual. 

7

We enter into fixed-price contracts, which could reduce our profits if actual costs exceed estimated costs.

Because of the complexity of many of our client contracts, accurately estimating the cost, scope and duration of a particular contract can 
be a difficult task.  Unanticipated costs that exceed our original estimates may not be recoverable under fixed price contracts.  Unanticipated 
cost increases may occur as a result of several factors including, but not limited to: increases in the cost, shortages or non-availability of 
materials  or  labor;  unanticipated  technical  problems;  required  project  modifications  not  initiated  by  the  customer;  suppliers’  or 
subcontractors’ failure to perform or delay in performing their obligations; logistics disruptions or delays; and capacity constraints.  In 
addition to increased costs, these factors could delay delivery of products, which may result in the assessment of liquidated damages or 
other contractual damages which would negatively impact our profits.  

Backlog may not be indicative of future revenue or profitability.

Many of our products have long sales, delivery and acceptance cycles.  In addition, our backlog is subject to order cancellations and 
delays.  Orders normally contain cancellation provisions to permit our recovery of costs expended as well as a pro-rata portion of the 
profit.  If projects are delayed, revenue recognition can occur over longer periods of time, and projects may remain in backlog for extended 
periods of time.  If we receive relatively large orders in any given quarter, fluctuations in the levels of the quarterly backlog can result 
because the backlog may reach levels which may not be sustained in subsequent quarters.

We depend on a single-source or a limited number of suppliers for our raw materials and components.  The loss, interruption, 
or material change in our business relationships with our suppliers could cause a disruption in supply and a substantial increase 
in the costs of such materials.  Such changes could cause harm to our sales, financial condition, and results of operations.   

We obtain some of our raw materials and components used to manufacture our products from one or a limited number of suppliers in 
countries around the world.  An interruption from our suppliers of raw materials or components could affect our ability to manufacture 
our products until a new source of supply is located and, therefore, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition 
or results of operations.  Although we believe our supply of raw materials and components is adequate for the needs of our business, we 
cannot assure that new sources of supply will be available if needed.

If we fail to timely and effectively obtain shipments of raw materials and components from our suppliers or to send shipments 
of our manufactured product to our customers, our business and operating results could be adversely affected.

We cannot control all the various factors that might affect our suppliers' timely and effective delivery of raw materials and components 
to our manufacturing facilities or the availability of freight capacity for us to deliver products to our customers.  

Our utilization of  a complex supply chain for raw material and component imports and the global distribution of our products makes us 
vulnerable to many risks, including, among other things, risks of damage, destruction or confiscation of products while in transit to and 
from our manufacturing facilities; organized labor strikes and work stoppages, such as labor disputes, that could disrupt operations at 
ports-of-entry; transportation and other delays in shipments, including as a result of heightened security screening and inspection processes 
or other port-of-entry limitations or restrictions; unexpected or significant port congestion; lack of freight availability; and freight cost 
increases.  In addition, we may be required to arrange for products to be delivered through airfreight, which is significantly more expensive 
than standard shipping by sea.  We may not be able to obtain sufficient freight capacity on a timely basis or at favorable shipping rates 
and, therefore, may not be able to timely receive shipments of raw materials and components or deliver products to customers.  

Price fluctuations in, and shortages of, raw materials and components can have a significant impact on our price competitiveness 
and/or ability to produce our products which could cause harm to our sales, financial condition and results of operations. 

Price fluctuations and shortages of any raw materials and components used to manufacture our products can occur due to various factors 
(such as worldwide demand, natural disasters, logistic disruptions, and trade regulations).  Electronic components used in our products 
are sometimes in short supply, which may impact our ability to meet customer demand.  If we experience shortages or increases in the 
price of raw materials and components and are unable to pass on those increases to our customers or are unable to manufacture our 
products, it could negatively affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.  In addition to increased costs, these factors 
could delay delivery of products, which may result in the assessment of liquidated damages or other contractual damages that could 
negatively impact our profits.

During fiscal 2019, many electrical components were in high demand or market factors impacted availability, both of which caused 
extended lead-times and price volatility resulting in an estimated additional cost of $3.8 million for these materials.

We may depend on third parties to complete our contracts.  

8

Depending on the scope of work of a contract, we may hire third-party subcontractors to perform on-site installation and service-related 
activities, hire manufacturers of structures or elements of structures related to on-site installation, hire contract manufacturers for certain 
product  lines,  or  purchase  specialty  non-display  related  system  elements  from  other  companies.    If  we  are  unable  to  hire  qualified 
subcontractors, find qualified manufacturers for on-site elements, find qualified contract manufacturers, or purchase specialty non-display 
system elements, our ability to successfully complete a project could be impaired.  If we are not able to locate qualified third-party 
subcontractors or manufacturers, the amount we are required to pay may exceed what we have estimated, and we may suffer losses on 
these contracts.  If the subcontractor or manufacturer fails to perform, we may be required to source these services to other third parties 
on a delayed basis or on less favorable terms, which could impact contract profitability.  There is a risk that we may have disputes with 
our  subcontractors  relating  to,  among  other  things,  the  quality  and  timeliness  of  work  performed,  customer  concerns  about  the 
subcontractor, or faulty workmanship resulting in claims against us for failure to meet required project specifications and negatively 
impacting our financial condition and results of operations.   

Unanticipated events resulting in credit losses could have a material adverse impact on our financial results.

Significant portions of our sales are to customers who place large orders for custom products.  We closely monitor the creditworthiness 
of our customers and have not, to date, experienced significant credit losses.  We mitigate our exposure to credit risk, to some extent, by 
requiring deposits, payments prior to shipment, progress payments and letters of credit.  However, because some of our exposure to credit 
losses is outside of our control, unanticipated events resulting in credit losses could have a material adverse impact on our operating 
results.

We may not be able to utilize our capacity efficiently or accurately plan our capacity requirements, which may negatively affect 
our business and operating results.

We increase our production capacity and the overhead supporting production based on anticipated market demand.  Market demand, 
however, has not always developed as expected or remained at a consistent level.  This underutilization risk can potentially decrease our 
profitability and result in the impairment of certain assets.

The following factors are among those that could complicate capacity planning for market demand:

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

changes in the demand for and mix of products that our customers buy;
our ability to add and train our manufacturing staff in advance of demand;
the market’s pace of technological change;
variability in our manufacturing productivity; 
long lead time for components used in production; 
geography of the order and related shipping methods; and
long lead times for our plant and equipment expenditures.

Insurance coverage can be difficult or expensive to obtain, and our failure to obtain adequate insurance coverage could adversely 
affect our financial condition or results of operations.

We maintain insurance both as a corporate risk management strategy and to satisfy the requirements of many of our contracts with 
customers.  As the costs and availability of insurance change, we may decide not to be covered against certain losses where, in the judgment 
of management, the insurance is not warranted due to the cost or availability of coverage or the remoteness of the perceived risk.  We 
cannot provide assurance that all necessary or appropriate insurances will be available, cover every type of loss incurred, or be able to 
be economically secured.  For example, some insurers limit coverages, increase premium costs or increase deductibles when global 
catastrophic events occur.  As part of our corporate risk management strategy, we monitor and place our coverages with financially strong 
insurers, layer our risk with multiple insurers, and seek advice on the amount, breadth and type of insurance coverages to protect our 
interests.  We also contractually require subcontractors and others working on our behalf to carry common insurance coverages for the 
types of work they perform to mitigate any risk of our loss.  Our failure to obtain adequate insurance coverage could adversely affect our 
financial condition or results of operations.

The terms and conditions of our credit facilities impose restrictions on our operations, and if we default on our credit facilities, 
it could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition and make us vulnerable to adverse 
economic or industry conditions.

The terms and conditions of our credit facilities impose restrictions limiting our ability to incur debt, contingent liabilities, lease obligations 
or liens; make a substantial change of ownership; or acquire or purchase a business or its assets.  The availability of our credit facilities 
is also subject to certain financial covenants which impose restrictions on the level of cash dividends and capital expenditures.  A breach 
of any of these covenants could result in an event of default under our credit facility.  Upon the occurrence of an event of default, the 
lender could elect to declare any and all amounts outstanding under such facility to be immediately due and payable and terminate all 

9

 
commitments to extend further credit.  For additional information on financing agreements, see "Note 10. Financing Agreements" of the 
Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K.

For  the  foreseeable  future,  it  is  anticipated  that  our  cash  on  hand,  marketable  securities,  cash  provided  by  operating  activities,  and 
borrowings from our existing credit facilities should provide sufficient funds to finance our capital expenditures and working capital 
needs and otherwise meet operating expenses and debt service requirements.  However, if additional capital is required or we are unable 
to renew our existing credit facilities, there can be no assurance we will be able to obtain such capital when needed or on satisfactory 
terms.  Also, market conditions can negatively impact our customers' ability to fund their projects and can impact our vendors, suppliers, 
and subcontractors and may not allow them to perform their obligations to us.  We expect to enter into a new credit facility, loan agreement, 
and guaranty agreement prior to our current agreements expiring in November 2019.

The transition away from LIBOR may adversely affect our cost to obtain financing.

Central banks around the world, including the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, have commissioned working groups of market 
participants and official sector representatives with the goal of finding suitable replacements for the London Interbank Offered Rate 
(“LIBOR”) based on observable market transactions.  It is expected that a transition away from the widespread use of LIBOR to alternative 
rates will occur over the course of the next few years.  The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, has announced 
that it has commitments from panel banks to continue to contribute to LIBOR through the end of 2021, but that it will not use its powers 
to compel contributions beyond such date.  Accordingly, there is considerable uncertainty regarding the publication of such rates beyond 
2021.  The Federal Reserve Bank of New York and various other authorities have commenced the publication of reforms and actions 
relating to alternatives to U.S. dollar LIBOR.  Although the full impact of such reforms and actions, together with any transition away 
from LIBOR, including the potential or actual discontinuance of LIBOR publication, remains unclear, these changes may have a material 
adverse impact on the availability of financing, including LIBOR-based loans, and on our financing costs.

If we became unable to obtain adequate surety bonding or letters of credit, it could adversely affect our ability to bid on new 
work, which could have a material adverse effect on our future revenue and business prospects.

In line with industry practice, we are often required to provide performance and surety bonds to customers and may be required to provide 
letters of credit.  These bonds and letters of credit provide credit support for the client if we fail to perform our obligations under the 
contract.  If security is required for a particular project and we are unable to obtain a bond or letter of credit on terms acceptable to us 
and our client, we may not be able to pursue that project.  In addition, bonding may be more difficult to obtain in the future or may be 
available only at significant additional cost as a result of general conditions that affect the insurance and bonding markets.

We may be unable to protect our intellectual property rights effectively, or we may infringe upon the intellectual property of 
others, either of which may have a material adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition.

We rely on a variety of intellectual property rights we use in our products and services.  We may not be able to successfully preserve our 
intellectual property rights in the future, and these rights could be invalidated, circumvented or challenged.  In particular, the laws of 
certain countries in which our products are sold do not protect our products and intellectual property rights to the same extent as the laws 
of the United States.  If litigation is necessary in the future to enforce our intellectual property rights, to protect our trade secrets or to 
determine the validity and scope of the proprietary rights of others, such litigation could result in substantial costs and diversion of 
resources even if we ultimately prevail.

In addition, intellectual property of others also has an impact on our ability to offer some of our products and services for specific uses 
or at competitive prices.  Competitors' patents or other intellectual property may limit our ability to offer products or services to our 
customers.  Any infringement or claimed infringement by us of the intellectual property rights of others could result in litigation and 
adversely affect our ability to continue to provide, or could increase the cost of providing, products and services.

Weakened global economic conditions may adversely affect our industry, business and results of operations.

Our overall performance depends in part on worldwide economic conditions.  The United States and other key international economies 
have experienced cyclical downturns from time to time in which economic activity was impacted by falling demand for a variety of goods 
and services; restricted credit; poor liquidity; reduced corporate profitability; volatility in credit, equity and foreign exchange markets; 
bankruptcies; and overall uncertainty with respect to the economy.  These conditions affect consumer spending and could adversely affect 
our customers’ ability or willingness to purchase our products, delay prospective customers’ purchasing decisions, reduce the value of 
their contracts, or affect attrition rates, all of which could adversely affect our operating results.

Unexpected events, including natural disasters, may increase our cost of doing business or disrupt our operations.

10

The occurrence of one or more unexpected events, including war, terrorist acts, fires, tornadoes, floods and severe weather in the United 
States or in other countries in which we operate, may disrupt our operations as well as the operations of our customers.  Such acts could 
create additional uncertainties, forcing customers to reduce, delay, or cancel already planned projects.  These events could result in damage 
to, and a complete or partial closure of, one or more of our manufacturing facilities, which could make it difficult to supply our customers 
with product and provide our employees with work, thereby adversely affecting our business, operating results or financial condition.

Our global operations expose us to global regulatory, geopolitical, economic and social changes and add additional risks and 
uncertainties which can harm our business, operating results, and financial condition. 

Our United States and foreign operations, sales, earnings, and strategies for profitable growth can be adversely affected by global conditions 
and  compliance  with  global  regulations.    Global  conditions  include  political  developments,  economic  changes,  unfavorable  trading 
policies, difficulties in staffing and managing global operations, changes in foreign and domestic governmental regulations or requirements, 
treaty and trade relationships, changes in monetary and fiscal policies, changes in laws and regulations, or other activities of the United 
States and other foreign governments, agencies, and similar organizations.  These conditions include, but are not limited to, changes in 
a country's or region's economic or political conditions; pricing and marketing of products; local labor conditions and regulations; reduced 
protection of intellectual property rights; changes in the regulatory or legal environment; lack of well-developed legal systems; restrictions 
and foreign exchange rate fluctuations; and burdensome taxes and tariffs and other trade regulations or barriers.  Other exposures and 
uncertainties exist include changing social conditions and attitudes, terrorism, or political hostilities and war.  Other difficulties of global 
operations include staffing and managing our various locations, including logistical and communication challenges.  The likelihood of 
such occurrences and their overall effect on us vary greatly from country to country and are not predictable.

As a result of U.S. Administrative trade actions in 2018 and 2019, we experienced volatility in supply and increases in pricing of aluminum, 
electrical, and other components we use in our production.  Further trade disputes could make us subject to additional regulatory costs 
and challenges, affect global economic and market conditions, and contribute to volatility in foreign exchange markets, which we may 
be unable to effectively manage through our foreign exchange risk management program.  We continue to monitor the situation and 
evaluate ways to minimize these impacts through vendor negotiations, alternative sources, and potential price adjustments.  We estimate 
fiscal 2019 results were impacted by approximately $6.3 million of additional costs for price changes and tariffs.

Our business could be impacted by the United Kingdom's potential withdrawal from the European Union (known as "Brexit").  Brexit 
may adversely affect global economic and market conditions and could contribute to volatility in foreign exchange markets, which we 
may be unable to effectively manage through our foreign exchange risk management program.  Brexit may also adversely affect our 
revenues and could subject us to new regulatory costs and challenges in addition to other adverse effects that we are unable to effectively 
anticipate.

Our  future  results  may  be  affected  by  compliance  risks  related  to  United  States  and  other  countries'  anti-bribery  and  anti-
corruption laws, trade controls, economic sanctions, and similar laws and regulations.  Our failure to comply with these laws and 
regulations could subject us to civil, criminal and administrative proceedings or penalties and harm our reputation. 

Doing business on a worldwide basis requires us to comply with the laws and regulations of the United States government and various 
foreign jurisdictions.  These laws and regulations place restrictions on our operations, trade practices, partners, and investments. 

In particular, we and our operations are subject to U.S. and foreign anti-corruption and trade control laws and regulations, such as the 
United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (the “FCPA”); United Kingdom Bribery Act (the “Bribery Act”); and export controls and 
economic  sanctions  programs,  including  those  administered  by  the  U.S.  Treasury  Department’s  Office  of  Foreign Assets  Control 
(“OFAC”), the State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (the “DDTC”), and the Bureau of Industry and Security of the 
U.S. Department of Commerce.  

As part of our business, we deal with state-owned business enterprises, the employees of which are considered to be foreign officials for 
purposes of the FCPA's prohibition on United States companies from engaging in bribery, providing anything of value, or making other 
prohibited payments to foreign officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business, and other similar regulations in other areas of 
the world.  In addition, the provisions of the Bribery Act apply to bribery of foreign officials and also to transactions with individuals 
that a government does not employ.  The FCPA also requires us to maintain specific record-keeping standards and adequate internal 
accounting controls.  In addition, we are subject to similar requirements in other countries.  Some of the international locations in which 
we do business lack a developed legal system and have higher than normal levels of corruption.  Our expansion outside of the United 
States, and our development of new partnerships and joint venture relations worldwide, could increase the risk of violation of the FCPA, 
OFAC, the Bribery Act or similar laws and regulations. 

As an exporter, we must comply with various laws and regulations relating to the export of products and technology from the U.S. and 
other countries having jurisdiction over our operations and trade sanctions against embargoed countries and destinations administered 
by OFAC.  Before shipping certain items, we must obtain an export license or verify that license exemptions are available.  Any failures 

11

to comply with these laws and regulations could result in fines, adverse publicity, and restrictions on our ability to export our products.  
Repeat failures could carry more significant penalties. 

Bribery, corruption, and trade laws and regulations, and the enforcement thereof, are increasing in frequency, complexity and severity 
on a global basis.  Violations of anti-corruption, anti-bribery and trade control laws and sanctions regulations are punishable by civil 
penalties, including fines, denial of export privileges, injunctions, asset seizures, debarment from government contracts and revocations 
or restrictions of licenses, as well as criminal fines and imprisonment, and could harm our reputation, create negative shareholder sentiment 
and affect our share value.  We have established policies and procedures with the intention of providing reasonable assurance of compliance 
with these laws and regulations and trained our employees to comply with these laws and regulations.  However, our employees, contractors, 
agents and licensees involved in our international operations may take actions in violations of such policies.  If our employees, agents, 
distributors, suppliers and other third parties with whom we do business violate anti-bribery, anti-corruption or similar laws and regulations, 
we may incur severe fines, penalties and reputational damage.  Additionally, there can be no assurance that our policies and procedures 
will effectively prevent us from violating these regulations in every transaction in which we may engage or provide a defense to any 
alleged violation.  In particular, we may be held liable for the actions that our joint venture partners take inside or outside of the United 
States even though our partners may not be subject to these laws.  Such a violation, even if our policies prohibit it, could have an adverse 
effect on our reputation, business, financial condition and results of operations.  In addition, various state and municipal governments, 
universities  and  other  investors  maintain  prohibitions  or  restrictions  on  investments  in  companies  that  do  business  with  sanctioned 
countries, persons and entities, which could adversely affect our reputation, business, financial condition and results of operations. 

Global tax law changes may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are subject to the income tax laws of the United States and its various state and local governments as well as several foreign tax 
jurisdictions.  Our future income taxes could be materially adversely affected by changes in the amount or mix of earnings amongst 
countries with differing statutory tax rates, changes in the valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities, changes in tax rates or the 
interpretation of tax rules and regulations in jurisdictions in which we do business, changes in tax laws, or the outcome of income tax 
audits and any related litigation.  The U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is one such example of recent legislation that impacts our effective tax 
rate.

Further changes in the tax laws of the United States and foreign jurisdictions could arise, including additional tax reform in the United 
States and the base erosion and profit shifting project undertaken by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 
(“OECD”).  Both the United States tax reform and the OECD proposed recommendations, that, in some cases, would make substantial 
changes to numerous long-standing tax positions and principles.  These contemplated changes could increase tax uncertainty and may 
adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Acquisitions and divestitures pose financial, management and other risks and challenges.

We routinely explore acquiring other businesses and assets.  Periodically, we may also consider disposing of certain assets, subsidiaries, 
or lines of business.  Acquisitions or divestitures present financial, managerial and operational challenges.  These include, but are not 
limited to, the following:

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

diversion of management attention;
difficulty with integrating acquired businesses;
difficulty with the integration of different corporate cultures; 
personnel issues;
increased expenses;
assumption of unknown liabilities and indemnification obligations;
potential disputes with the buyers or sellers;
the time involved in evaluating or modifying the financial systems of an acquired business; and
establishment of appropriate internal controls. 

There can be no assurance that we will engage in any acquisitions or divestitures or that we will be able to do so on terms that will result 
in any expected benefits.

If goodwill or other intangible assets in connection with our acquisitions become impaired, we could take significant non-cash 
charges against earnings.

We have pursued and will continue to seek potential acquisitions to complement and expand our existing businesses, increase our revenues 
and profitability, and expand our markets.  As a result of prior acquisitions, we have goodwill and intangible assets recorded in our 
consolidated balance sheets as described in "Note 7. Goodwill and Intangible Assets" of the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements 
included in this Form 10-K.  Goodwill represents the purchase price paid in excess of the fair value of net tangible and intangible assets 

12

acquired in a business combination.  Goodwill is not amortized and remains in our consolidated balance sheets indefinitely unless there 
is an impairment or a sale of a portion of the business.  Under current accounting guidelines, we must assess, at least annually, whether 
the value of goodwill and other intangible assets has been impaired.  Any reduction or impairment of the value of goodwill or other 
intangible assets will result in charges against earnings, which would adversely affect our results of operations in future periods.  During 
fiscal 2017, we recorded a technology and customer list intangible asset impairment of $0.8 million and a gain from the sale of our non-
digital assets of $1.3 million in fiscal 2018.  We had no impairments in fiscal 2018 or 2019.

Our data systems could fail or their security could be compromised, causing a material adverse effect on our business.

We rely heavily on digital technologies for the successful operation of our business, for the support of our controller offerings, and for 
the collection and retention of business data.  Any failure of our digital systems, or any breach of our systems’ security measures, could 
adversely affect our operations, at least until our data can be restored and/or the breaches remediated.  Despite the security measures we 
have in place, our facilities and systems and those of our third-party service providers may be vulnerable to cybersecurity breaches, acts 
of  vandalism,  computer  viruses,  misplaced  or  lost  data,  programming  issues,  and/or  human  errors  or  other  similar  events.   Any 
misappropriation, loss or other unauthorized disclosure of confidential or personally identifiable information, whether by us or by our 
third-party service providers, could adversely affect our business and operations.  We could face significant fines and penalties under 
various global laws revolving around data loss, lack of adequate date protection or lack of required reporting.  Any disruption in our 
digital technologies could affect our business and operations, causing potentially significant expenses to recover and modify the data 
systems, to reimburse customers losses, and to investigate and remediate any vulnerabilities, which could severely damage our reputation 
with customers, suppliers, employees and investors and expose us to risk of litigation and liability.

Regulation in the areas of privacy, data protection and information security could increase our costs and affect or limit our 
business opportunities and how we collect or use personal information.  

As privacy, data protection and information security laws, including data localization laws, are interpreted and applied, compliance costs 
may increase, particularly in the context of ensuring that adequate data protection and data transfer mechanisms are in place.  In recent 
years, there has been increasing regulatory enforcement and litigation activity in the areas of privacy, data protection and information 
security in the U.S. and in various countries in which we operate.  For example, effective in May 2018, the General Data Protection 
Regulation (“GDPR”) became effective, and the GDPR applies to any organization, including Daktronics, that holds or uses data on 
people inside the European Union (“EU”).  Under the GDPR, businesses must generally obtain consent from individuals in the EU before 
they store or process personal information, and data cannot be held longer than necessary.  The GDPR creates new compliance obligations, 
which have caused us to change some of our business practices relative to the EU.  The GDPR greatly increases the jurisdictional reach 
of EU law and significantly increases financial penalties for noncompliance, including possible fines of up to 4% of global annual turnover 
for the preceding financial year or €20  million (whichever is higher) for the most serious infringements.

In addition, state and federal legislators and/or regulators in the U.S. and other countries in which we operate are increasingly adopting 
or revising privacy, data protection and information security laws that potentially could have significant impact on our current and planned 
privacy, data protection and information security-related practices; our collection, use, sharing, retention and safeguarding of consumer 
and/or employee information; and some of our current or planned business activities.  New legislation or regulation could increase our 
costs of compliance and business operations and could reduce revenues from certain business initiatives.  Moreover, the application of 
existing or new laws to existing technology and practices can be uncertain and may lead to additional compliance risk and cost.  

Compliance with current or future privacy, data protection and information security laws relating to consumer and/or employee data 
could result in higher compliance and technology costs and could restrict our ability to provide certain products and services, which could 
materially and adversely affect our results of operations.  Our failure to comply with privacy, data protection and information security 
laws  could  result  in  potentially  significant  regulatory  and/or  governmental  investigations  and/or  actions,  litigation,  fines,  sanctions, 
ongoing regulatory monitoring, customer attrition, customer indemnity claims, decreases in the use or acceptance of our products and 
services, and damage to our reputation and our brand.

We may fail to continue to attract, develop and retain key management personnel, which could negatively impact our operating 
results.

We depend on the performance of our senior executives and key employees, including experienced and skilled technical personnel.  The 
loss of any of our senior executives could negatively impact our operating results and ability to execute our business strategy.  Our future 
success will also depend upon our ability to attract, train, motivate and retain qualified personnel.

Although we intend to continue to provide competitive compensation packages to attract and retain key personnel, some of our competitors 
for these employees have greater resources and more experience, making it difficult for us to compete successfully for key personnel.  If 
we cannot attract and retain sufficiently qualified technical employees for our research and development and manufacturing operations, 
we may be unable to achieve the synergies expected from mergers and acquisitions, or to develop and commercialize new products or 

13

new applications for existing products.  Furthermore, possible shortages of key personnel, including engineers, in the regions surrounding 
our facilities could require us to pay more to hire and retain key personnel, thereby increasing our costs. 

The outcome of pending and future claims, investigations or litigation can have a material adverse impact on our business, financial 
condition, and results of operations.

We are involved from time to time in a variety of litigation, investigations, inquires or similar matters arising in our business.  Litigation, 
investigations and regulatory proceedings are subject to inherent uncertainties, and unfavorable rulings and outcomes can and do occur.  
Pending or future claims against us could result in professional liability, product liability, criminal liability, warranty obligations, indemnity 
claims, or other liabilities to the extent we are not insured against a loss or our insurance fails to provide adequate coverage.  Also, a well-
publicized actual or perceived threat of litigation could adversely affect our reputation and reduce the demand for our products.  See 
"Note 18. Commitments and Contingencies" of the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K for further 
information on litigation obligations. 

Our  business  involves  the  use  of  hazardous  materials,  and  we  must  comply  with  environmental,  health  and  safety  laws  and 
regulations, which can be expensive and restrict how we do business.  

Our business involves the blending, controlled storage, use and disposal of hazardous materials.  We and our suppliers are subject to 
federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations governing the use, manufacture, storage, handling and disposal of these hazardous 
materials.  Although we believe the safety procedures we utilize for handling and disposing of these materials comply with the standards 
prescribed by these laws and regulations, we cannot eliminate the risk of accidental contamination or injury from these materials.  In the 
event of an accident, local, state, federal or foreign authorities may curtail the use of these materials and interrupt our business operations.  
If we are subject to any liability as a result of activities involving hazardous materials, our business, financial condition and results of 
operations may be adversely affected and our reputation may be harmed.

If our internal control over financial reporting is found to be ineffective, our financial statements may not be fairly stated, raising 
concerns for investors and potentially adversely affecting our stock price.

Under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, we are required to evaluate and determine the effectiveness of our internal controls 
over financial reporting.  We have made, and will continue to make, changes to our internal controls and procedures for financial reporting 
and accounting systems to meet our reporting obligations as a public company.  We may encounter problems or delays in completing the 
review and evaluation, implementing improvements, or receiving a positive attestation from our independent registered public accounting 
firm.  In addition, our assessment of internal controls may identify deficiencies in our internal controls over financial reporting or other 
matters which may raise concerns for investors, which may adversely affect our stock price.

The protections we have adopted and to which we are subject may discourage takeover offers favored by our shareholders.

Our articles of incorporation, by-laws and other corporate governance documents and the South Dakota Business Corporation Act ("SD 
Act") contain provisions that could have an anti-takeover effect and discourage, delay or prevent a change in control or an acquisition 
that many shareholders may find attractive.  These provisions make it more difficult for our shareholders to take some corporate actions.  
These provisions relate to:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

the ability of our Board of Directors, without shareholder approval, to authorize and issue shares of stock with voting, liquidation, 
dividend and other rights and preferences that are superior to our common stock;
the classification of our Board of Directors, which effectively prevents shareholders from electing a majority of the directors at 
any one meeting of shareholders;
the adoption of a shareholder rights plan providing for the exercise of junior participating preferred stock purchase rights when 
a person becomes the beneficial owner of 20 percent or more of our outstanding common stock and upon the occurrence of 
certain similar events (subject to certain exceptions);
under the SD Act, limitations on the voting rights of shares acquired in specified types of acquisitions and restrictions on specified 
types of business combinations; and
under the SD Act, prohibitions against engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested shareholder” for a period of 
four years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested shareholder unless the business combination 
is approved.

These provisions may deny shareholders the receipt of a premium on their common stock, which in turn may have a depressive effect 
on the market price of our common stock.

Our common stock has at times been thinly traded, which may result in low liquidity and price volatility.

14

The daily trading volume of our common stock has at times been relatively low.  If this were to occur in the future, the liquidity and 
appreciation of our common stock may not meet our shareholders’ expectations, and the price at which our stock trades may be volatile.  
The market price of our common stock could be adversely impacted as a result of sales by existing shareholders of a large number of 
shares of common stock in the market or by the perception such sales could cause.

Significant changes in the market price of our common stock could result in securities litigation claims against us.

The market price of our common stock has fluctuated and will likely continue to fluctuate and, in the past, companies that have experienced 
significant changes in the market price of their stock have been subject to securities litigation claims.  We may be the target of this type 
of litigation in the future.  Securities litigation against us could result in substantial costs and divert our management’s attention from 
other business concerns, which could harm our business.

Additionally, if we fail to meet or exceed the expectations of security analysts and investors, or if one or more of the security analysts 
who cover us adversely change their recommendation regarding our stock, the market price of our common stock could decline.  Moreover, 
our stock price may be based on expectations, estimates and forecasts of our future performance that may be unrealistic or that may not 
be met.  Further, our stock price may fluctuate based on reporting by the financial media, including television, radio, press reports and 
blogs.

There can be no assurance that we will pay dividends on our common stock.

Our Board of Directors has approved a regular dividend since fiscal 2006.  The declaration, amount and timing of such dividends are 
determined by our Board of Directors at their discretion.  Such determinations are subject to capital availability, compliance with all 
respective laws and our agreements applicable to the declaration and payment of cash dividends, strategic investment cash needs, business 
outlook and other factors balancing our long-term needs of our business and the interests of our shareholders.  

Our ability to pay dividends will depend upon, among other factors, our cash balances and potential future capital requirements for 
strategic transactions, including acquisitions, results of operations, financial condition and other factors that our Board of Directors may 
deem relevant.  A reduction in or elimination of our dividend payments and/or our dividend program could have a material negative effect 
on our stock price.

Our executive officers, directors and principal shareholders have the ability to significantly influence all matters submitted to 
our shareholders for approval.

Dr. Aelred Kurtenbach served as our Chairman of the Board until September 3, 2014, when he retired.  Mr. Reece Kurtenbach, who is 
Dr. Aelred Kurtenbach's son, serves as our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer.  In addition, Dr. Aelred Kurtenbach has 
two other children who serve as our Vice President of Human Resources and as our Vice President of Manufacturing.  Together, these 
individuals, in the aggregate, beneficially owned 8.9% of our outstanding common stock as of June 3, 2019, assuming the exercise by 
them of all of their options that were currently exercisable or that vest within 60 days of June 3, 2019.  Our other executive officers and 
directors, in the aggregate, beneficially owned an additional 4.5% of our outstanding common stock as of June 3, 2019, assuming the 
exercise by them of all of their options currently exercisable or that vest within 60 days of June 3, 2019.  Although this does not represent 
a majority of our outstanding common stock, if these shareholders were to choose to act together, they would be able to significantly 
influence all matters submitted to our shareholders for approval, as well as our management and affairs.  For example, these persons, if 
they choose to act together, could significantly influence the election of directors and the approval of any merger, consolidation, sale of 
all or substantially all of our assets or other business combination or reorganization requiring shareholder approval.  This concentration 
of voting power could delay or prevent an acquisition of us on terms that other shareholders may desire.  The interests of this group of 
shareholders may not always coincide with the interests of other shareholders, and they may act in a manner that advances their best 
interests and not necessarily those of other shareholders, including seeking a premium value for their common stock, that might affect 
the prevailing market price for our common stock.

We have been required to conduct a good faith reasonable country of origin analysis on our use of “conflict minerals”, which has 
imposed and may impose additional costs on us and could raise reputational challenges and other risks.

The SEC has promulgated rules in connection with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act regarding disclosure 
of the use of certain minerals, known as conflict minerals, mined from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and adjoining countries.  
As required, we have filed annual Forms SD since 2014 reporting our work performed to gain information on the source of conflict 
minerals we use.  We incur costs associated with complying with these disclosure requirements.  As we continue our due diligence, we 
may face reputational challenges if we continue to be unable to verify the origins of all conflict minerals used in our products.  We may 
also encounter challenges in our efforts to satisfy customers that may require all of the components of products purchased to be certified 
as conflict free.  If we are not able to meet customer requirements, customers may choose to disqualify us as a supplier.

15

Item 1B.  UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

Item 2.  PROPERTIES

Our principal properties include space for manufacturing products, designing and testing new developments or processes, and employee 
collaboration space.  Our properties are somewhat aligned with our business segments; however, we manufacture the same products 
across our manufacturing facilities to efficiently utilize capacity and reduce costs.  We consider all our properties to be both suitable and 
adequate to meet our requirements for the foreseeable future.

Our principal properties consist of the following:

Facilities

Brookings, SD, USA

Redwood Falls, MN, USA

Ennistymon, Ireland

Sioux Falls, SD, USA

Shanghai, China

Owned or
Leased

Square
Footage Facility Activities

Owned

Owned

Owned

Leased

Leased

773,000 Corporate Office, Manufacturing, Sales, Service

151,000 Manufacturing, Sales, Service, Office

60,000 Manufacturing, Sales, Service, Office

278,000 Manufacturing, Sales, Service, Office

137,000 Manufacturing, Sales, Service, Office

We also utilize sales and service offices located throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, South America, and the Asia-Pacific 
regions.  These spaces are generally small leased offices used for sales related activities.  See "Note 18. Commitments and Contingencies" 
of the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K for further information on lease obligations. 

Item 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

We are involved in a variety of legal actions relating to various matters during the normal course of business.  Although we are unable 
to predict the ultimate outcome of these legal actions, it is the opinion of management that the disposition of these matters, taken as a 
whole, will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.  See "Note 18. Commitments and 
Contingencies" of the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K for further information on any legal 
proceedings and claims.

Item 4.  MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

16

 
PART II

Item  5.  MARKET  FOR  REGISTRANT’S  COMMON  EQUITY,  RELATED  STOCKHOLDER  MATTERS  AND  ISSUER 
PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Stock Performance

Our common stock is quoted on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol DAKT.  Daily market activity along with 
quoted prices and other trading information are readily available for our common stock on numerous websites including www.nasdaq.com.  
As of June 3, 2019, we had 1,024 shareholders of record.

The following graph shows changes during the period from April 26, 2014 to April 27, 2019 in the value of $100 invested in: (1) our 
common stock; (2) The NASDAQ Composite; and (3) the Standard and Poor's 600 Index for Electronic Equipment Manufacturers.  The 
values of each investment as of the dates indicated are based on share prices plus any cash dividends, with the dividends reinvested on 
the date they were paid.  The calculations exclude trading commissions and taxes.

Share Repurchases

On June 17, 2016, our Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program under which Daktronics, Inc. may purchase up to $40 
million of its outstanding shares of common stock.  Under this program, we may repurchase shares from time to time in open market 
transactions and in privately negotiated transactions based on business, market, applicable legal requirements and other considerations.  
The repurchase program does not require the repurchase of a specific number of shares and may be terminated at any time.  During fiscal 
2019 and 2018, we had no repurchases of shares of our outstanding common stock.  During fiscal 2017, we repurchased 0.3 million
shares of common stock at a total cost of $1.8 million.  As of April 27, 2019, we had $38 million of remaining capacity under our current 
share repurchase program.

17

 
Item 6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA (in thousands, except per share data)

The table below provides selected historical financial data, which should be read in conjunction with "Management's Discussion and 
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes to the Consolidated 
Financial Statements, which are included in Part II, Items 7 and 8 in this Form 10-K.  The statement of operations data for the fiscal years 
ended April 27, 2019, April 28, 2018 and April 29, 2017 and the balance sheet data at April 27, 2019 and April 28, 2018 are derived from, 
and are qualified by reference to, the audited Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-K.  The statement 
of operations data for the fiscal years ended April 30, 2016 and May 2, 2015 and the balance sheet data at April 29, 2017, April 30, 2016
and May 2, 2015 are derived from audited financial statements that are not included in this Form 10-K. 

Statement of Operations Data:

Net sales
Gross profit
Gross profit margin
Operating (loss) income
Operating margin
Net (loss) income

Diluted (loss) earnings per share
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding
Balance Sheet Data:
Working capital
Total assets
Total long-term liabilities
Total shareholders' equity
Cash dividends per share

2019(2)(3)(5)(7)

2018(4)(5)(7)

2017(6)(7)

2016(7)(8)

2015(1)(9)(10)

$ 569,704
130,294

$

610,530
145,669

$

586,539
140,415

$

570,168
121,019

$

615,942
144,579

22.9 %

(4,728)

(0.8)%
(958)
(0.02)
44,926

23.9%

12,460

2.0%

5,562
0.12
44,873

23.9%

15,421

2.6%

10,342
0.23
44,303

21.2%
2,495

0.4%

2,061
0.05
44,456

23.5%

31,285

5.1%

20,882
0.47
44,443

$ 119,601
349,216
27,481
187,663
0.28

$

132,825
358,800
29,876
197,616
0.28

$

127,130
355,433
26,552
198,286
0.31

$

123,714
349,948
27,364
201,067
0.40

$

149,075
379,479
25,420
212,039
0.40

(1) Fiscal year 2015 consisted of 53 weeks.  Each of the other fiscal years presented consisted of 52 weeks.
(2) Includes the net assets acquired of AJT Systems, Inc.  See "Note 5. Business Combination" of the Notes to our Consolidated 

Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K for further information.

(3) Includes the release of $2.7 million in unrecognized tax benefits related to the lapse of a statute of limitations and the release 
of $0.5 million for a valuation allowance reversal related to foreign net operating loss carryforwards.  See "Note 14. Income 
Taxes" of the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K for further information.

  (4) Includes the sale of our non-digital division assets.  See "Note 6. Sale of Non-Digital Division Assets" of the Notes to our 

Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K for further information.

  (5) Includes the effects of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which impacted our deferred tax asset valuation and increased tax 
expense.  See "Note 14. Income Taxes" of the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K 
for further information.

  (6) Includes an impairment loss on intangible assets.  See "Note 6. Sale of Non-Digital Division Assets" of the Notes to our 

Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K for further information.

  (7) Includes an additional warranty charge in our OOH product application in fiscal years 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2016 of $2.4 
million, $4.5 million, $1.8 million, and $9.2 million, respectively.  See "Note 18. Commitments and Contingencies" of the 
Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K for further information.

  (8) Includes the acquisition of ADFLOW Networks, Inc. in March 2016.  See "Note 4. Business Combinations" of the Notes to 
our Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2016 
for further information.

  (9)  Includes  the  acquisition  of  Data  Display  in August  2014.    See  "Note  4.  Business  Combinations"  of  the  Notes  to  our 
Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 2, 2015 for 
further information.

  (10) Includes the sale of our automated rigging systems division for theatre applications.  See "Note 5. Sale of Theatre Rigging 
Division" of the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal 
year ended May 2, 2015 for further information.

Item 7.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF 
OPERATIONS

18

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The  following  discussion  provides  our  highlights  and  commentary  related  to  factors  impacting  our  financial  conditions  and  further 
describes the results of operations.  The most significant risks and uncertainties are discussed in "Item 1A. Risk Factors."    

This discussion should be read in conjunction with the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to the Consolidated 
Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K.

EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW

Our mission is to be the world leader at informing and entertaining audiences through dynamic audio-visual communication systems.  
We organize into business units to focus on customer loyalty over time to earn new and replacement business because our products have 
a finite lifetime.  See "Note 3. Segment Reporting" of the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K 
for further information.  Our strategies include the creation of a comprehensive line of innovative solutions and systems and our ability 
to create and leverage platform designs and technologies.  These strategies align us to effectively deliver value to our varied customers 
and their market needs, while serving our stakeholders over the long-term.  We focus on creating local capabilities for sales, service, and 
manufacturing in geographies with expected digital market opportunities.  We believe consistently generating profitable growth will 
provide value to our stakeholders (customers, employees, shareholders, suppliers, and communities).

We measure our success using a variety of measures including:

•  Our percentage of market share by comparing our estimated revenue to the total estimated global digital display revenue,
•  Our order growth compared to the overall digital market order change, 
• 
•  Customer retention and expansion rates, and 
•  Our ability to generate profits over the long-term to provide a shareholder return.  

Financial metrics such as annual order volume and profit change as compared to our previous financial results, 

Certain factors impact our ability to succeed in these strategies and impact our business units to varying degrees.  For example, the overall 
cost to manufacture and the selling prices of our products have decreased over the years and are expected to continue to decrease in the 
future.  Our competitors outside the U.S. are impacted differently by the global trade environment allowing them to avoid tariff costs or 
reduce prices.  As a result, additional competitors have entered the market and each year we must sell more product to generate the same 
or greater level of net sales as in previous fiscal years.  However, the decline of digital solution pricing over the years and increased user 
adoption and applications have increased the size of the global market.

Competitor offerings, actions and reactions also can vary and change over time or in certain customer situations.  Projects with multimillion-
dollar revenue potential attracts competition, and competitors can use marketing or other tactics to win business.

Each of our business unit's long-term performance can be impacted by economic conditions in different ways and to different degrees.  
The effects of an adverse economy are generally less severe on our sports related business as compared to our other businesses, although 
in severe economic downturns, the sports business can also be seriously impacted.

We can be impacted by short-term events like the U.S. Administrative trade actions in 2018 or a number of other factors that are disclosed 
in "Item 1A. Risk Factors" included in this Form 10-K.  

The outlook and unique key growth drivers and challenges by our business units include:

Commercial Business Unit: Over the long-term, we believe growth in the Commercial business unit will result from a number of factors, 
including:

• 

Standard display product market growth due to market adoption and lower product costs, which drive marketplace expansion.  
Standard display products are used to attract or communicate with customers and potential customers of retail, commercial, and 
other establishments.  Pricing and economic conditions are the principal factors that impact our success in this business unit.  
We utilize a reseller network to distribute our standard products.

•  National accounts standard display market opportunities due to customers' desire to communicate their message, advertising 
and  content  consistently  across  the  country.    Increased  demand  is  possible  from  national  retailers,  quick-serve  restaurants, 
petroleum retailers, and other nationwide organizations.  

•  Additional standard display offerings using micro-LED designs.
• 

Increasing use of LED technologies replacing signage previously using liquid crystal display ("LCD") technology by existing 
and new customers.
Increasing interest in spectaculars, which include very large and sometimes highly customized displays as part of entertainment 
venues such as casinos, shopping centers, cruise ships and Times Square type locations.

• 

•  Dynamic messaging systems demand growth due to market adoption and expanded use of this technology.  

19

•  The use of architectural lighting products for commercial buildings, which real estate owners use to add accents or effects to an 

entire side or circumference of a building to communicate messages or to decorate the building.

•  The continued deployment of digital billboards as out-of-home ("OOH") advertising companies continue developing new sites 
and replacing digital billboards reaching end of life.  This is dependent on no adverse changes occurring in the digital billboard 
regulatory environment restricting future billboard deployments, as well as maintaining our current market share in a business 
that is concentrated in a few large OOH companies.

•  Replacement cycles within each of these areas.  

Live Events Business Unit: Over the long-term, we believe growth in the Live Events business unit will result from a number of factors, 
including:

Facilities spending more on larger display systems to enhance the game-day and event experience for attendees.

• 
•  Lower product costs, driving an expansion of the marketplace.
•  Our  product  and  service  offerings,  including  additional  micro-LED  offerings  which  remain  the  most  integrated  and 

comprehensive offerings in the industry.

•  The competitive nature of sports teams, which strive to out-perform their competitors with display systems.
•  The desire for high-definition video displays, which typically drives larger displays or higher resolution displays, both of which 

increase the average transaction size.

•  Dynamic messaging system needs throughout a sports facility. 
• 
•  Replacement cycles within each of these areas.  

Increasing use of LED technologies replacing signage previously using LCD technology in and surrounding live events facilities.  

High School Park and Recreation Business Unit: Over the long-term, we believe growth in the High School Park and Recreation business 
unit will result from a number of factors, including:

• 

• 

Increased demand for video systems in high schools as school districts realize the revenue generating potential of these displays 
compared to traditional scoreboards and these systems' ability to provide or enhance academic curriculum offerings for students.
Increased  demand  for  different  types  of  displays  and  dynamic  messaging  systems,  such  as  message  centers  at  schools  to 
communicate to students, parents and the broader community.

•  Lower system costs driving the use of more sophisticated displays in school athletic facilities, such as large integrated video 

systems.

•  Expanding control system options tailored for the markets' needs.

Transportation Business Unit: Over the long-term, we believe growth in the Transportation business unit will result from increasing 
applications and acceptance of electronic displays to manage transportation systems, including roadway, airport, parking, transit and 
other applications.  Effective use of the United States transportation infrastructure requires intelligent transportation systems.  This growth 
is highly dependent on government spending, primarily by state and federal governments, along with the continuing acceptance of private/
public partnerships as an alternative funding source.  Growth is also expected in dynamic messaging systems for advertising and way-
finding use in public transport and airport terminals due to expanded market usage and displays, with LED technology replacing prior 
LCD installations and additional display offerings using micro-LEDs.  

International Business Unit: Over the long-term, we believe growth in the International business unit will result from achieving greater 
penetration in various geographies and building products more suited to individual markets.  We continue to broaden our product offerings 
into the transportation segment in Europe and the Middle East.  We also focus on sports facility, spectacular-type, OOH advertising 
products, and architectural lighting market opportunities and the factors listed in each of the other business units to the extent they apply 
outside of the United States and Canada.  Additional opportunities exist with expanded market usage of LED technology due to price 
considerations, usage of LED technology replacing prior LCD installations and additional display offerings using micro-LEDs.  

20

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

The following Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations ("MD&A") are based upon our 
consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United 
States ("GAAP").  This discussion should be read in conjunction with the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes 
to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Report.  The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make 
estimates and judgments affecting the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and related disclosure of contingent 
assets and liabilities.  Although our significant accounting policies are described in "Note 1. Nature of Business and Summary of Significant 
Accounting Policies", the following discussion is intended to highlight and describe those accounting policies that are especially critical 
to the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.   

 A critical accounting policy is defined as a policy that is both very important to the portrayal of a company's financial condition and 
results and requires management's most difficult, subjective or complex judgments.  We regularly review our critical accounting policies 
and evaluate them based on these factors.  We believe the estimation process for uniquely configured contracts and warranties are most 
material and critical.  These areas contain estimates with a reasonable likelihood to change, and those changes could have a material 
impact on our financial condition and reported results of operations.  The estimation processes for these areas are also difficult, subjective 
and use complex judgments.  Our critical accounting estimates are based on historical experience; on our interpretation of GAAP, current 
laws and regulations; and on various other assumptions believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the 
basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities not readily apparent from other sources.  Actual results may 
differ from these estimates.

Revenue recognition on uniquely configured contracts.  Revenue for uniquely configured (custom) or integrated systems is recognized 
over time using the cost incurred input method.  Over time revenue recognition is appropriate because we have no alternative use for the 
uniquely configured system and have an enforceable right to payment for work performed.  The cost incurred input method measures 
cost incurred to date compared to estimated total costs for each contract.  This method is the most faithful depiction of our performance 
because it measures the value of the contract transferred to the customer.  Costs to perform the contract include direct and indirect costs 
for  contract  design,  production,  integration,  installation,  and  assurance-type  warranty  reserve.    Direct  costs  include  material  and 
components; manufacturing, project management and engineering labor; and subcontracting expenses.  Indirect costs include allocated 
charges for such items as facilities and equipment depreciation and general overhead.  Provisions of estimated losses on uncompleted 
contracts are made in the period when such losses are capable of being estimated.

We account for these types of contracts as a combined single performance obligation with no segmentation between types of products 
and services.  In our judgment, this accounting treatment is most appropriate because the substantial part of our promise to our customer 
is to provide significant integration services and incorporate individual goods and services into a combined output or system.  Often times 
the system is customized or significantly modified to the customer's desired configurations and location, and the interrelated goods and 
services provide utility to the customer as a package.  See "Note 1. Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" 
of the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K for further information on our revenue recognition 
policies.

Warranties.  We have recognized an accrued liability for warranty obligations equal to our estimate of the actual costs to be incurred in 
connection with our performance under the contractual warranties.  Warranty estimates include the cost of direct material and labor 
estimates to repair products over their warranty coverage period.  Generally, estimates are based on historical experience considering 
known or expected changes.  If we would become aware of an increase in our estimated warranty costs, additional accruals may become 
necessary, resulting in an increase in cost of sales.  Although prior estimates have been materially correct, estimates for warranty liabilities 
can change based on actual versus estimated defect rates over the lifetime of the warranty coverage, a difference in actual to estimated 
costs to conduct repairs for the components and related labor needed, and other site related actual to estimated cost changes.  

As of April 27, 2019 and April 28, 2018, we had approximately $24.5 million and $30.0 million accrued for these warranty obligations, 
respectively.  Due to the difficulty in estimating probable costs related to certain warranty obligations, there is a reasonable likelihood 
that the ultimate remaining costs to remediate the warranty claims could differ materially from the recorded accrued liabilities.  See "Note 
18. Commitments and Contingencies" of the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K for further 
information on warranties. 

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

For a summary of recently issued accounting pronouncements and the effects those pronouncements have on our financial results, refer 
to "Note 1. Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" of the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements 
included elsewhere in this Form 10-K.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

21

Net Sales

The following table shows information regarding net sales for the fiscal years ended April 27, 2019, April 28, 2018, and April 29, 
2017: 

(dollars in thousands)
Net Sales:

Commercial
Live Events
High School Park and Recreation
Transportation
International

Orders:

Commercial
Live Events
High School Park and Recreation
Transportation
International

April 27,
2019

April 28,
2018

Amount

Amount

2019 vs 2018

Dollar
Change

Percent
Change

April 29,
2017

Amount

2018 vs 2017

Dollar
Change

Percent
Change

$ 148,833
170,952
91,187
64,391
94,341
$ 569,704

$ 162,592
179,217
98,139
73,059
95,873
$ 608,880

$ 134,535
236,333
87,627
59,578
92,457
$ 610,530

$ 135,363
203,036
87,243
50,581
107,244
$ 583,467

$ 14,298
(65,381)
3,560
4,813
1,884
$ (40,826)

$ 27,229
(23,819)
10,896
22,478
(11,371)
$ 25,413

10.6 % $ 148,073
213,982
(27.7)
82,798
4.1
8.1
52,426
89,260
2.0
(6.7)% $ 586,539

20.1 % $ 151,562
222,965
(11.7)
83,605
12.5
62,638
44.4
92,734
(10.6)
4.4 % $ 613,504

$ (13,538)
22,351
4,829
7,152
3,197
$ 23,991

$ (16,199)
(19,929)
3,638
(12,057)
14,510
$ (30,037)

(9.1)%
10.4
5.8
13.6
3.6
4.1 %

(10.7)%
(8.9)
4.4
(19.2)
15.6
(4.9)%

Fiscal Year 2019 as compared to Fiscal Year 2018

Commercial: The increase in net sales for fiscal 2019 compared to fiscal 2018 was primarily due to the timing of large custom projects 
in the spectacular niche and increased order volumes in the on-premise and OOH niches.

The increase in orders for fiscal 2019 compared to fiscal 2018 was primarily due to an active spectacular market in Times Square, Las 
Vegas, and other similar locations.  In addition, orders grew in the OOH niche because of higher demand for digital billboard replacements 
and new installations and due to winning a multimillion-dollar OOH airport installation.

We continue to see increased adoption of video solutions in our Commercial business unit marketplace.  We see opportunity for orders 
and sales over the coming years in our OOH, on-premise, and spectacular focused niches due to replacement cycles, expansion of dynamic 
messaging systems usage, our releases of new solutions, additional distribution methods, and increased market size due to the decline of 
digital pricing over the years as well as the desire for higher resolution technology.  Due to a number of factors, such as the discretionary 
nature of customers committing to a system, economic dependencies, regulatory environments, and competitive factors, it is difficult to 
predict orders and net sales for fiscal 2020.  We expect growth in the Commercial business unit over the long-term, assuming favorable 
economic conditions and our success in counteracting competitive pressures.

Live Events:  The decrease in net sales for fiscal 2019 compared to fiscal 2018 was primarily due to decreased orders for the reasons 
described below. 

We had continued order success throughout most of our Live Event sports and entertainment markets; however, we had a decrease in 
orders for fiscal 2019 compared to fiscal 2018, which was primarily the result of fewer project wins in professional sports due to fewer 
project opportunities in the market and strong competition.  During fiscal 2018, we were awarded three projects each valued at over $5 
million as compared to one project valued at over $5 million in fiscal 2019.

We continue to see ongoing interest from venues at all levels to increase the size and capability of their display systems and in the usage 
of dynamic messaging systems throughout their facilities in our Live Events business unit marketplace.  A number of factors, such as the 
discretionary nature of customers committing to upgrade systems, long replacement cycles, the limited number of large custom projects, 
and competitive factors, make forecasting fiscal 2020 orders and net sales difficult.  We expect similar results in fiscal 2020 and continued 
growth  in  this  business  unit  over  the  long-term,  assuming  favorable  economic  conditions  and  success  in  counteracting  competitive 
pressures.  

22

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
High School Park and Recreation:  The increase in net sales for fiscal 2019 compared to fiscal 2018 was primarily due to increased order 
volumes described below and the related timing of converting orders into sales dependent on customers' schedules.   

The increase in orders for fiscal 2019 compared to fiscal 2018 was primarily due to the market’s increased demand for video products 
and control systems and our on-going success selling catalog marques and scoring systems.  Video projects have a larger average selling 
price than historical sales, which consisted of a higher concentration of classic scoring systems in this business unit.

We expect larger video systems and our classic scoring and message centers to remain in demand in fiscal 2020, primarily in high school 
facilities, which benefit from our sports marketing services that generate advertising revenue to fund the display systems and because of 
schools' desires to communicate with students and parents using these systems.  Several factors, such as the discretionary nature of 
customers committing to upgrade systems, replacement cycles and competitive factors, make forecasting fiscal 2020 orders and net sales 
difficult.  We expect growth in this business unit over the long-term, assuming favorable economic conditions.  

Transportation:  The increase in net sales for fiscal 2019 compared to fiscal 2018 was primarily due to the increased production of large 
orders, the timing of customer schedules, and an increase in demand for intelligent transportation systems. 

The increase in orders for fiscal 2019 compared to fiscal 2018 was primarily due to increased orders for intelligent transportation systems 
and tolling applications as state transportation departments and private public partnerships continue to invest in ways to better inform 
travelers, manage transport systems, and collect revenues. 

Several factors, such as transportation funding, the competitive environment, and customer delivery changes, make forecasting orders 
and net sales difficult for fiscal 2020.  However, the stability of long-term federal transportation funding and the number of capital projects 
for highways and public transit that include dynamic message signs and for advertising and way-finding use in public transport and airport 
terminals continues to rise.  We expect continued growth in this business unit over the long-term, assuming favorable economic conditions 
and continued transportation funding.  

International:  The increase in net sales for fiscal 2019 compared to fiscal 2018 was primarily the result of timing on large project orders 
being completed.

The decrease in orders for fiscal 2019 compared to fiscal 2018 was primarily due to the general variations in timing of large contracts 
and account-based order placements.

We  expect  demand  for  larger  video  systems  for  commercial  and  sports  applications,  indoor  and  outdoor  OOH  applications,  and 
transportation applications to remain strong over the long-term.  Macroeconomic factors, the discretionary nature of customers committing 
to new systems or replacements, and the pace of market growth may impact order bookings and timing, making it difficult to predict 
order and sales levels for fiscal 2020.  For the long-term, we believe the International business unit has the potential for sales growth as 
we penetrate markets with our established sales networks to increase our International market share, continue to enhance our tailored 
portfolio of product and control solution offerings, and increase the use and adoption of our technology globally. 

Product Order Backlog:  The product order backlog as of April 27, 2019 was $202 million as compared to $171 million as of April 28, 
2018.  Historically, our backlog varies due to the seasonality of our business, the timing of large projects, and customer delivery schedules 
for these orders.  The product order backlog increased from one year ago in our Commercial, Transportation, Live Events, and High 
School Park and Recreation business units and decreased in our International business unit.

Fiscal Year 2018 as compared to Fiscal Year 2017

Commercial: The decrease in net sales for fiscal 2018 compared to fiscal 2017 was primarily due to lower order volume in the on-premise 
niche and the timing of delivery of large projects in the spectacular niche, which was partially offset by an increase in sales in the OOH 
niche.

The decrease in orders for fiscal 2018 compared to fiscal 2017 was primarily due to decreases in orders in the on-premise and spectacular 
focused niches due to several factors, including competitive market pricing, a timing difference in national account-based opportunities, 
and the natural volatility of large project timing, which was partially offset by an increase in orders in the OOH niche.

Live Events:  The increase in net sales for fiscal 2018 compared to fiscal 2017 was primarily the timing of the demand for upgraded or 
new solutions for arenas, professional sports, and colleges and universities.  These types of installations occur for new construction or 
refurbishment needs of the customer and can vary in timing and size in accordance with the needs of the customer.  During fiscal 2018, 
we completed and recognized more than $21 million of sales for two specific significant customer orders, which contributed to the increase 
in sales.

23

  
The decrease in orders for fiscal 2018 compared to fiscal 2017 was primarily the result of the size and timing of large contract order 
awards.  During fiscal 2017, we were awarded five projects valued at over $5 million as compared to three of such contracts in fiscal 
2018.

High School Park and Recreation:  The increase in net sales for fiscal 2018 compared to fiscal 2017 was primarily due to continued 
success in winning orders in the growing market and the timing of shipments of scoring systems and message centers.

The increase in orders for fiscal 2018 compared to fiscal 2017 was primarily due to overall strong market demand and an increase in the 
number of projects for larger video systems.

Transportation:  The increase in net sales for fiscal 2018 compared to fiscal 2017 was primarily due to the variability of large order 
production timing caused by customer project schedules. 

The decrease in orders for fiscal 2018 compared to fiscal 2017 was primarily due to the variability of the size of orders and large order 
timing.

International:  The increase in net sales for fiscal 2018 compared to fiscal 2017 was primarily the result of increased demand in the OOH 
niche market and improved economic conditions.

The increase in orders for fiscal 2018 compared to fiscal 2017 was primarily due to variability caused by large order timing and included 
a number of orders for global OOH niche customers and professional soccer sports stadiums.  In addition, we continued to market our 
solutions through multiple geographies to gain recognition and increase our market share.

Gross Profit

(dollars in thousands)
Commercial
Live Events
High School Park and
Recreation
Transportation
International

April 27, 2019

Year Ended
April 28, 2018

April 29, 2017

 Amount

As a Percent
of Net Sales

 Amount

As a Percent
of Net Sales

 Amount

$

$

31,785
32,164

26,858
22,525
16,962
130,294

21.4% $
18.8

29.5
35.0
18.0
22.9% $

26,665
49,755

29,317
21,247
18,685
145,669

19.8% $
21.1

33.5
35.7
20.2
23.9% $

36,514
40,810

26,388
18,027
18,676
140,415

As a Percent
of Net Sales
24.7%
19.1

31.9
34.4
20.9
23.9%

Fiscal Year 2019 as compared to Fiscal Year 2018

Gross profit is net sales less cost of sales.  Cost of sales consists primarily of inventory, consumables, salaries, other employee-related 
costs, facilities-related costs for manufacturing locations, machinery and equipment maintenance and depreciation, site sub-contractors, 
warranty costs, and other service delivery expenses.

The gross profit percentage decrease for fiscal 2019 compared to fiscal 2018 was primarily due to lower sales volumes over relatively 
fixed infrastructure costs, $3.4 million in expenses for an unprofitable project and a litigation claim, and an increase in commodity costs 
due to the current global trade environment, which was partly offset by lower warranty expenses and a change in sales mix.  The following 
describes the overall impact by business unit:

Commercial:  The gross profit percent increase in the Commercial business unit for fiscal 2019 compared to fiscal 2018 was primarily 
the result of lower warranty expenses and sales mix.

Live Events:  The gross profit percent decrease in the Live Events business unit for fiscal 2019 compared to fiscal 2018 was the result of 
lower sales volumes over relatively fixed infrastructure costs and an unprofitable project, which was partly offset by lower warranty 
expenses.

High School Park and Recreation:  The gross profit percent decrease in the High School Park and Recreation business unit for fiscal 
2019 compared to fiscal 2018 was primarily due to a litigation claim, a change in sales mix, and competitive bidding on large projects, 
which was partly offset by higher sales volumes over relatively fixed infrastructure costs.

24

 
 
 
 
Transportation: The gross profit percent decrease in the Transportation business unit for fiscal 2019 compared to fiscal 2018 was primarily 
due to a change in sales mix, which was partly offset by higher sales volumes over relatively fixed infrastructure costs.

International:  The gross profit percent decrease in the International business unit for fiscal 2019 compared to fiscal 2018 was primarily 
the result of a $1.3 million gain from the sale of our non-digital assets that was recorded in fiscal 2018, which was partly offset by higher 
sales volumes over relatively fixed infrastructure costs.

It is difficult to project gross profit levels for fiscal 2020 because of the uncertainty regarding the level of sales, the sales mix and timing, 
tariff impact, and the competitive factors in our business.  We are focused on improving our gross profit margins as we execute our 
strategies  for  improved  profitability,  which  include  releasing  new  product  designs  to  lower  overall  costs  of  the  product;  improving 
reliability  to  reduce  warranty  expenses;  expanding  our  global  capacity  and  planning;  meeting  customer  solution  expectations;  and 
continued improvements in operational effectiveness in manufacturing, installation, and service delivery areas.

Fiscal Year 2018 as compared to Fiscal Year 2017

The gross profit percentage remained flat for fiscal 2018 compared to fiscal 2017.  The following describes the overall impact by business 
unit:

Commercial:  The gross profit percent decrease in the Commercial business unit for fiscal 2018 compared to fiscal 2017 was primarily 
the result of higher warranty expenses and lower sales volumes over relatively fixed infrastructure costs.

Live Events:  The gross profit percent increase in the Live Events business unit for fiscal 2018 compared to fiscal 2017 was the result of 
an increased volume of sales over relatively fixed infrastructure costs and improved performance on large projects as compared to original 
estimates.

High School Park and Recreation:  The gross profit percent increase in the High School Park and Recreation business unit for fiscal 2018 
compared to fiscal 2017 was primarily due to a favorable sales mix and improved productivity.

Transportation: The gross profit percent increase in the Transportation business unit for fiscal 2018 compared to fiscal 2017 was primarily 
due to an increased volume of sales over relatively fixed infrastructure costs and improved productivity.

International:  The gross profit percent decrease in the International business unit for fiscal 2018 compared to fiscal 2017 was primarily 
the result of higher warranty expenses, which were offset by a $1.3 million gain from the sale of our non-digital division assets.

Contribution Margin

(dollars in thousands)
Commercial
Live Events
High School Park and
Recreation
Transportation
International

April 27, 2019

Year Ended

April 28, 2018

April 29, 2017

As a
Percent of
Net Sales

Percent
Change

As a
Percent of
Net Sales

Percent
Change

As a
Percent of
Net Sales

Amount

Amount

8.9% 65.5 % $
10.8

(47.8)

7,986
35,439

5.9% (55.7)% $
15.0

27.7

18,046
27,750

(20.7)
7.1
(71.7)

15.9
28.4
1.2
11.5% (20.8)% $

18,317
17,048
4,119
82,909

20.9
28.6
4.5
13.6%

13.7
26.6
22.8
5.3 % $

16,114
13,465
3,353
78,728

12.2%
13.0

19.5
25.7
3.8
13.4%

Amount

$

$

13,218
18,484

14,518
18,260
1,166
65,646

Fiscal Year 2019 as compared to Fiscal Year 2018

Contribution margin consists of gross profit less selling expenses.  Selling expenses consist primarily of salaries, other employee-related 
costs, travel and entertainment expenses, facility-related costs for sales and service offices, bad debt expenses, third-party commissions, 
and expenditures for marketing efforts, including the costs of collateral materials, conventions and trade shows, product demonstrations, 
customer relationship management systems, and supplies.  

Contribution margin is impacted by the previously discussed sales and gross margin for each business unit.  The impact of changes in 
selling expenses on each business unit's contribution margin are as follows:

25

 
 
 
 
Selling expense for fiscal 2019 compared to fiscal 2018 increased in our High School Park and Recreation and International business 
units, decreased in our Live Events business unit, and remained relatively flat in our Commercial and Transportation business units.  High 
School Park and Recreation selling expenses increased year-over-year primarily due to the allocation of additional resources to this unit's 
selling efforts.  International selling expenses increased year-over-year primarily due to third-party commissions and increased personnel 
related expenses.  Live Events selling expenses decreased year-over-year primarily due to decreases in bad debt expenses and travel and 
entertainment expenses.

During fiscal 2020, we plan to invest in areas to enable order growth, but we continue to expect constraints in selling expenses.  We 
expect selling expenses will increase in dollars for fiscal 2020 as compared to fiscal 2019 because fiscal 2020 will be a 53-week year, 
adding an additional week of expenses.

Fiscal Year 2018 as compared to Fiscal Year 2017

Selling expense for fiscal 2018 compared to fiscal 2017 increased in our Commercial, Live Events, and High School Park and Recreation 
business units and decreased in our Transportation and International business units.  Live Events selling expense increased year-over-
year  primarily  due  to  increased  conventions/advertising  expenses  and  bad  debt  expenses.    Commercial  and  High  School  Park  and 
Recreation business unit selling expense increased year-over-year primarily due to increased personnel expenses.  Transportation business 
unit selling expense decreased primarily due to lower bad debt expense.  International business unit selling expense decreased primarily 
due to lower bad debt expense and personnel expenses.

Other Operating Expenses

Year Ended

Amount
(dollars in thousands)
General and administrative
$ 34,817
Product design and development $ 35,557

April 27, 2019
As a
Percent of
Net Sales

April 28, 2018
As a
Percent of
Net Sales

Percent
Change Amount
(0.3)% $ 34,919
0.1 % $ 35,530

6.1%
6.2%

Percent
Change Amount
2.0% $ 34,226
22.2% $ 29,081

5.7%
5.8%

April 29, 2017
As a
Percent of
Net Sales

5.8%
5.0%

Fiscal Year 2019 as compared to Fiscal Year 2018

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries, other employee-related costs, professional fees, shareholder relations 
costs, facilities and equipment-related costs for administrative departments, training costs, and the cost of supplies.  

General and administrative expenses in fiscal 2019 as compared to fiscal 2018 remained relatively flat.

We expect general and administrative expenses to increase in dollars for fiscal 2020 as compared to fiscal 2019 due to planned investments 
in information technology and due to the additional week of personnel expenses for fiscal 2020 as compared to fiscal 2019 because fiscal 
2020 will be a 53-week year.  

Product design and development expenses consist primarily of salaries, other employee-related costs, professional services, facilities 
costs and equipment-related costs and supplies.  Product design and development investments in the near term are focused on developing 
or improving our video technology over a wide range of pixel pitches for both indoor and outdoor applications.  These new or improved 
technologies are focused on varied pixel density for image quality and use, expanded product line offerings for our various markets and 
geographies, improved quality and reliability, and improved cost points.  During fiscal 2020, we plan to make continued investments in 
our software and controller capabilities throughout our various product offerings.  Through our design efforts, we focus on standardizing 
display components and control systems for both single site and network displays.  

Our costs for product design and development represent an allocated amount of costs based on time charges, professional services, material 
costs and the overhead of our engineering departments.  Generally, a significant portion of our engineering time is spent on product design 
and development, while the rest is allocated to large contract work and included in cost of sales.  

Product  design  and  development  expenses  in  fiscal  2019  compared  to  fiscal  2018  remained  relatively  flat.   To  deliver  value  to  our 
customers and serve the markets' expectations, we expect a slight increase in expenditures for new or enhanced customer solutions and 
the additional week of personnel expenses for fiscal 2020 as compared to fiscal 2019 because fiscal 2020 will be a 53-week year. 

Fiscal Year 2018 as compared to Fiscal Year 2017

26

 
General and administrative expenses in fiscal 2018 increased as compared to fiscal 2017 primarily due to increases in personnel expenses 
and information technology software and hardware expenses.

Product design and development expenses in fiscal 2018 increased compared to fiscal 2017 primarily due to increased labor costs and 
professional services assigned to product design and development projects relating to our strategy to accelerate the deployment of products 
and solutions to our markets.

Other Income and Expenses

(dollars in thousands)
Interest income, net
Other (expense) income, net

April 27, 2019
As a
Percent of
Net Sales

Year Ended

April 28, 2018
As a
Percent of
Net Sales

Amount
$
871
$ (1,087)

Percent
Change Amount
506
(537)

72.1% $
0.2 %
(0.2)% 102.4% $

Percent
Change Amount
521
(354)

(2.9)% $
0.1 %
(0.1)% 51.7 % $

April 29, 2017
As a
Percent of
Net Sales

0.1 %
(0.1)%

Fiscal Year 2019 as compared to Fiscal Year 2018

Interest income, net:  We generate interest income through short-term cash investments, marketable securities, and product sales on an 
installment  basis  or  in  exchange  for  the  rights  to  sell  and  retain  advertising  revenues  from  displays,  which  result  in  long-term 
receivables.  Interest expense is comprised primarily of interest costs on long-term obligations.  

The change in interest income, net for fiscal 2019 as compared to fiscal 2018 was primarily due to the change in investment levels caused 
by the volatility of working capital needs. 

Other (expense) income, net: The change in other income and expense, net for fiscal 2019 as compared to fiscal 2018 was primarily due 
to foreign currency volatility and losses recorded from an equity method affiliate.  

Fiscal Year 2018 as compared to Fiscal Year 2017

Interest income, net decreased in fiscal 2018 as compared to fiscal 2017 due to lower long-term receivables which bore imputed interest 
rates.

Other (expense) income, net: The change in other income and expense, net for fiscal 2018 as compared to fiscal 2017 was primarily due 
to foreign currency volatility and the losses recorded from an equity method affiliate.

Income Taxes

Our effective tax rate was approximately 80.6 percent, 55.2 percent and 33.7 percent for fiscal years 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively. 

Fiscal 2019 effective tax rate increased primarily due to the tax benefits of a book loss plus permanent credits and deductions, the release 
of $2.7 million in unrecognized tax benefits, and the reversal of a valuation allowance of $0.5 million related to foreign net operating 
loss carryforwards as compared to the prior year.  See "Note 14. Income Taxes" of the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements 
included in this Form 10-K for further information.

Our fiscal 2018 tax rate was significantly impacted by the Tax Act, which was signed into law on December 22, 2017.  Most notably, the 
Tax Act reduced the statutory U.S. federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%.  Because we file our tax return based on our fiscal 
year rather than the calendar year, the statutory tax rate for our fiscal 2018 tax return was a blended rate of 30.4%.  In addition to the 
effect of the lower overall federal tax rate, the Tax Act resulted in a provisional $3.5 million one-time expense for the estimated re-
measurement of our net deferred tax asset and a $0.3 million estimated one-time transition tax on certain undistributed earnings of our 
foreign subsidiaries in fiscal 2018. 

Our fiscal 2017 tax rate was impacted by the benefits of increased research and development tax credits, which was offset by valuation 
allowances in certain foreign jurisdictions.

Our consolidated effective tax rate is impacted by the statutory income tax rates applicable to each of the jurisdictions in which we operate.  
Due to various factors, and because we operate in multiple state and foreign jurisdictions, our effective tax rate is subject to fluctuation; 
however, with the lower U.S. statutory tax rate enacted by the Tax Act, we expect our fiscal 2020 effective tax rate to be approximately 
21%.

27

 
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

(dollars in thousands)
Net cash provided by (used in):

Operating activities
Investing activities
Financing activities
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

April 27,
2019

Year Ended

April 28,
2018

Percent
Change

$

$

29,546
(11,842)
(11,932)
215
5,987

$

$

30,361
(19,563)
(13,262)
(620)
(3,084)

(2.7)%
(39.5)
(10.0)
(134.7)
294.1 %

Net cash provided by operating activities:  Operating cash flows consist primarily of net income adjusted for non-cash items, including 
depreciation  and  amortization,  stock-based  compensation,  deferred  income  taxes,  and  the  effect  of  changes  in  operating  assets  and 
liabilities.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $29.5 million for fiscal 2019 compared to $30.4 million in fiscal 2018.  The $0.8 million
decrease in cash from operating activities from fiscal 2018 to fiscal 2019 was the result of changes in net operating assets and liabilities 
of $10.0 million; a $0.9 million increase in depreciation and amortization; a $0.8 million gain on the sale of property, equipment and 
other assets; and a $0.4 million increase in other non-cash items, net, adjusted by a decrease of $6.5 million in net income and a decrease
of $6.5 million in our deferred income taxes, net.

Overall, changes in operating assets and liabilities can be impacted by the timing of cash flows on large orders, which can cause significant 
short-term and seasonal fluctuations in inventory, accounts receivables, accounts payable, contract assets and liabilities, and various other 
operating assets and liabilities.  Variability in contract assets and liabilities relates to the timing of billings on construction-type contracts 
and revenue recognition, which can vary significantly depending on contractual payment terms and build and installation schedules.  
Balances are also impacted by the sports market seasonality.  For specific quantitative changes in operating assets and liabilities, see 
"Note 15. Cash Flow Information" of the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K.

Net cash used in investing activities:  Net cash used in investing activities totaled $11.8 million for fiscal 2019 compared to $19.6 million
in fiscal 2018.  Purchases of property and equipment totaled $17.3 million in fiscal 2019 compared to $18.1 million in fiscal 2018.  
Marketable securities, net totaled $8.4 million for fiscal 2019 as compared to $(2.2) million for fiscal 2018.  Proceeds from the sale of 
property, equipment and other assets totaled $0.6 million for fiscal 2019 compared to $2.2 million for fiscal 2018; this was mostly related 
to the sale of our non-digital division assets in fiscal 2018.  During fiscal 2019, we had a net cash outflow of $2.3 million for the acquisition 
of assets of AJT Systems, Inc.

Net cash used in financing activities:  Net cash used in financing activities was $11.9 million for fiscal 2019 compared to $13.3 million
in fiscal 2018.  Dividends of $12.6 million, or $0.28 per share, were paid to Daktronics shareholders during fiscal 2019 compared to 
$12.4 million, or $0.28 per share, paid to Daktronics shareholders during fiscal 2018.  Principal payments on long-term obligations for 
fiscal 2019 was $0.5 million compared to $1.0 million in fiscal 2018, which was mostly related to a contingent liability payment.  Proceeds 
from the exercise of stock options for fiscal 2019 were $1.3 million compared to $0.5 million in fiscal 2018.

Other Liquidity and Capital Resources Discussion:  The timing and amounts of working capital changes, dividend payments, stock 
repurchase program, and capital spending impact our liquidity.  

Working capital was $119.6 million at April 27, 2019 and $132.8 million at April 28, 2018.  The changes in working capital, particularly 
changes in accounts receivable, accounts payable, inventory, and contract assets and liabilities, and the sports market seasonality can 
have a significant impact on the amount of net cash provided by operating activities largely due to the timing of payments and receipts.  
On multimillion-dollar orders, the time between order acceptance and project completion may extend up to or exceed 12 months depending 
on the amount of custom work and a customer’s delivery needs.  We often receive down payments or progress payments on these orders. 

We had $2.9 million of retainage on long-term contracts included in receivables and contract assets as of April 27, 2019, which has an 
impact on our liquidity.  We expect to collect these amounts within one year.  When working capital is needed, we have historically 
financed our cash needs through a combination of cash flow from operations and borrowings under bank credit agreements.  During the 
fourth quarter of fiscal 2019, we violated one of our bank covenants, but we received a waiver from our banking institution for the year 
ended April 27, 2019.  For additional information on financing agreements, see, "Note 10. Financing Agreements" of the Notes to our 
Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K.

28

 
 
 
 
 
 
We utilize cash on hand to pay dividends to our shareholders.  The following table summarizes the quarterly dividends declared and/or 
paid since the prior fiscal year end of April 28, 2018:

Date Declared

May 31, 2018

September 6, 2018

November 29, 2018

February 28, 2019

May 30, 2019

Record Date

June 11, 2018

September 17, 2018

December 10, 2018

March 11, 2019

June 10, 2019

Payment Date

June 21, 2018

September 27, 2018

December 20, 2018

March 21, 2019

June 20, 2019

Amount per Share

$0.07

$0.07

$0.07

$0.07

$0.05

Although we expect to continue to pay dividends for the foreseeable future, the nature and amounts of dividends will be reviewed regularly 
and declared by the Board of Directors at its discretion.  In addition, our credit facility imposes limitations on our ability to pay dividends 
as further described in "Note 10. Financing Agreements" of the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 
10-K.

We have an authorized share repurchase program allowing for the purchase of shares from the open market and in privately negotiated 
transactions.  During fiscal 2017, we repurchased 0.3 million shares.  Although we have authorization for additional share repurchases 
and could use repurchased shares in treasury after purchase, all subsequent purchases or sales are reviewed regularly for price, market 
conditions, and compliance with various regulations for company share repurchase programs.  For additional information on the share 
repurchase program, see, "Note 11. Share Repurchase Program" of the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this 
Form 10-K.

We are sometimes required to obtain performance bonds for display installations, and we have a bonding line available through a surety 
company for an aggregate of $150.0 million in bonded work outstanding.  If we were unable to complete the work and our customer 
would call upon the bond for payment, the surety company would subrogate its loss to Daktronics.  At April 27, 2019, we had $9.9 million
of bonded work outstanding against this line.  

Our business growth and profitability improvement strategies depend on investments in capital expenditures and strategic investments.  
We are projecting capital expenditures to be less than $25 million for fiscal 2020 for purchases of manufacturing equipment for new or 
enhanced  product  production,  expanded  capacity,  investments  in  quality  and  reliability  equipment,  and  continued  information 
infrastructure investments.  We also evaluate and may invest in new technologies or acquire companies aligned with our business strategy.     

We believe our working capital available from all sources will be adequate to meet the cash requirements of our operations and strategies 
in the foreseeable future.  If our growth extends beyond current expectations, or if we make significant strategic investments, we may 
need to utilize and possibly increase our credit facilities or seek other means of financing.  We anticipate we will be able to obtain any 
needed  funds  under  commercially  reasonable  terms  from  our  current  lenders  or  other  sources,  although  this  availability  cannot  be 
guaranteed.  

29

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS AND CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

We are obligated to make cash payments in connection with non-cancelable operating leases for facilities and for unconditional purchase 
obligations primarily for inventory, information technology maintenance or software as a service commitment, advertising rights, and 
various other commitments.  

Our acquisition-related contingent payments are liabilities contingent on project milestones or certain employment conditions.  The 
present value of these payment obligations is recorded in the "Accrued expense" line item in our Consolidated Balance Sheet.   

We provide bank or insurance company issued standby letters of credit, bank guarantees, or surety bonds to certain customers to guarantee 
our ability to complete a contract.  If we do not meet the contractual specifications, the customer may obtain cash payment through these 
guarantees.  We have provided an indemnity to the bank and insurance companies for these instruments.     

We enter into written agreements with our customers, and those agreements often contain indemnification provisions that require us to 
make the customer whole if certain acts or omissions by us cause the customer financial loss.  We make efforts to negotiate reasonable 
caps and limitations on the recovery of such damages.  As of April 27, 2019, we were not aware of any indemnification claim from a 
customer.

As of April 27, 2019, our contractual obligations were as follows (in thousands):

Contractual Obligations
Cash commitments:

Unconditional purchase obligations
Operating leases
Acquisition-related contingency payments
Unrecognized tax benefits(1)

Total

Other off-balance sheet arrangements:

Standby letters of credit and bank guarantees
Surety bonds

Total

Less than
1 year

1-3 Years

4-5 Years

After 5
Years

$

$

$
$

15,319
7,719
2,688
578
26,304

13,293
9,900

$

$

$
$

6,055
3,038
2,088
—
11,181

12,501
9,900

$

$

$
$

7,178
4,118
600
—
11,896

$

$

1,933
462
—
—
2,395

$

$

792
$
— $

— $
— $

153
101
—
—
254

—
—

(1)  We are not able to reasonably estimate the timing of future payments relating to these non-current tax benefits.  This 
obligation is retired when the uncertain tax position is settled or when the applicable tax year is no longer subject to examination 
by the tax authorities.

Item 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Foreign Currency Exchange Rates
Our results of operations could be affected by factors such as changes in foreign currency rates or weak economic conditions in foreign 
markets.  We derive net sales in U.S. dollars and other currencies including Canadian dollars, Euros, Chinese renminbi, British pounds, 
Australian dollars, or other currencies.  For fiscal 2019, 19% of net sales were derived in currencies other than U.S. dollars.  We incur 
expenses in currencies other than U.S. dollars relating to specific contracts with customers and for our operations outside the U.S.  

If we believe currency risk in any foreign location or specific sales or purchase transaction is significant, we utilize foreign exchange 
hedging contracts to manage our exposure to the currency fluctuations.  The notional amount of the foreign currency agreements as of 
April 27, 2019 was $7.8 million, and all contracts mature within 23 months.  These contracts are marked to market each balance sheet 
date and are not designated as hedges.  See "Note 17. Derivative Financial Instruments" of the Notes to our Consolidated Financial 
Statements included in this Form 10-K for further details.  We estimate that a 10 percent change in all foreign exchange rates would 
impact our reported income before taxes by approximately $1.0 million.  This sensitivity analysis disregards the possibilities that rates 
can move in opposite directions and that losses from one geographic area may be offset by gains from another geographic area.

Over the long term, net sales to international markets are expected to increase as a percentage of total net sales and, consequently, a 
greater portion of our business could be denominated in foreign currencies.  As a result, operating results may become more subject to 
fluctuations based upon changes in the exchange rates of certain currencies in relation to the U.S. dollar.  To the extent we engage in 
international sales denominated in U.S. dollars, an increase in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to foreign currencies could make our 
products less competitive in international markets.  This effect is also impacted by sources of raw materials from international sources 
and costs of our sales, service, and manufacturing locations outside the U.S.  

30

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
We will continue to monitor and minimize our exposure to currency fluctuations and, when appropriate, use financial hedging techniques 
to minimize the effect of these fluctuations.  However, exchange rate fluctuations as well as differing economic conditions, changes in 
political climates, and other rules and regulations could adversely affect our ability to effectively hedge exchange rate fluctuations in the 
future.

We have foreign currency cash accounts to operate our global business.  These accounts are impacted by changes in foreign currency 
rates.  Of our $35.4 million in cash balances at April 27, 2019, $28.5 million were denominated in U.S. dollars, of which $3.0 million
were held by our foreign subsidiaries.  As of April 27, 2019, we had an additional $6.9 million in cash balances denominated in foreign 
currencies, of which $6.3 million were maintained in accounts of our foreign subsidiaries.

Interest Rate Risks
Our exposure to market risks relate primarily to changes in interest rates on cash and marketable securities.  We do not expect our income 
or cash flows to be significantly impacted by interest rates. 

Commodity Risk
We are dependent on basic raw materials, sub-assemblies, components, and other supplies used in our production operations.  Our financial 
results could be affected by changes in the availability, prices, and global tariff regulations of these materials.  Some of these materials 
are sourced from one or a limited number of suppliers in countries around the world.  Some of these materials are also key source materials 
for our competitors and for other technology companies.  Some of these materials are sourced outside of the countries in which we 
manufacture our products and are subject to transportation delays.  Any of these factors may cause a sudden increase in costs and/or 
limited or unavailable supplies.  As a result, we may not be able to acquire key production materials on a timely basis, which could impact 
our ability to produce products and satisfy incoming sales orders on a timely basis.  Our sourcing and material groups work to implement 
strategies to monitor and mitigate these risks.  Periodically, we enter into pricing agreements or purchasing contracts under which we 
agree to purchase a minimum amount of product in exchange for guaranteed price terms over the length of the contract, which generally 
does not exceed one year.  Over the years, we have been impacted by the factors noted; however, we believe that we have adequate 
sources of supply for our key materials in the near-term.  

31

Item 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the shareholders and the Board of Directors of Daktronics, Inc. 

Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Daktronics, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of April 27, 
2019 and April 28, 2018, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, shareholders' equity, and cash flows, 
for each of the two years in the period ended April 27, 2019, and the related notes and the schedule listed in the Index at Item 15 (collectively 
referred to as the "financial statements"). We also have audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of April 27, 
2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations 
of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as 
of April 27, 2019 and April 28, 2018, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended 
April 27, 2019, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, the 
Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of April 27, 2019, based on criteria 
established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.

Basis for Opinions

The  Company’s  management  is  responsible  for  these  financial  statements,  for  maintaining  effective  internal  control  over  financial 
reporting,  and  for  its  assessment  of  the  effectiveness  of  internal  control  over  financial  reporting,  included  in  the  accompanying 
Management’s  Report  on  Internal  Control  Over  Financial  Reporting.  Our  responsibility  is  to  express  an  opinion  on  these  financial 
statements and an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting 
firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with 
respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and 
Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits 
to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, 
and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

Our  audits  of  the  financial  statements  included  performing  procedures  to  assess  the  risks  of  material  misstatement  of  the  financial 
statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures to respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on 
a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting 
principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. 
Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, 
assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control 
based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. 
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of 
financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting 
principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance 
of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide 
reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally 
accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations 
of  management  and  directors  of  the  company;  and  (3)  provide  reasonable  assurance  regarding  prevention  or  timely  detection  of 
unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections 
of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in 
conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

32

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Minneapolis, Minnesota
June 7, 2019

We have served as the Company's auditor since 2017.

33

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors and Shareholders of Daktronics, Inc. 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, shareholders' equity and cash flows 
of Daktronics, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) for the year in the period ended April 29, 2017.  Our audit also included the financial 
statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a)(2).  These financial statements and schedule are the responsibility of the Company's 
management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedule based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those 
standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of 
material misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial 
statements.  An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as 
evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated results of Daktronics, 
Inc. and subsidiaries operations and their cash flows for the year in the period ended April 29, 2017, in conformity with U.S. generally 
accepted accounting principles.  Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic 
financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects, the information set forth therein. 

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Minneapolis, Minnesota
June 9, 2017 

34

DAKTRONICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except per share data)

ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:

Cash and cash equivalents
Restricted cash
Marketable securities
Accounts receivable, net
Inventories
Contract assets
Current maturities of long-term receivables
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Income tax receivables
Property and equipment and other assets available for sale

Total current assets

Property and equipment, net
Long-term receivables, less current maturities
Goodwill
Intangibles, net
Investment in affiliates and other assets
Deferred income taxes

TOTAL ASSETS

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:

Accounts payable
Contract liabilities
Accrued expenses
Warranty obligations
Income taxes payable

Total current liabilities

Long-term warranty obligations
Long-term contract liabilities
Other long-term obligations
Long-term income tax payable
Deferred income taxes

Total long-term liabilities

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:

Common stock, no par value, authorized 115,000,000 shares; 45,317,267 and
44,779,534 shares issued at April 27, 2019 and April 28, 2018, respectively

Additional paid-in capital
Retained earnings
Treasury stock, at cost, 303,957 and 303,957 shares at April 27, 2019 and April 28,
2018, respectively
Accumulated other comprehensive loss

TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

35

April 27,
2019

April 28,
2018

$

$

$

$

$

$

35,383
359
26,344
65,487
78,832
33,704
2,300
8,319
1,087
1,858
253,673

65,314
1,214
7,889
4,906
5,052
11,168
349,216

44,873
47,178
32,061
9,492
468
134,072

14,978
10,053
1,339
578
533
27,481

57,699
42,561
93,593

(1,834)
(4,356)
187,663
349,216

$

$

29,727
28
34,522
77,387
75,335
30,968
1,752
9,029
5,385
—
264,133

68,059
1,641
8,264
3,682
5,091
7,930
358,800

48,845
39,379
28,533
13,891
660
131,308

16,062
7,475
2,285
3,440
614
29,876

54,731
40,328
107,105

(1,834)
(2,714)
197,616
358,800

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DAKTRONICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share data)

Net sales
Cost of sales

Gross profit

Operating expenses:

Selling
General and administrative
Product design and development

Operating (loss) income

Nonoperating income (expense):

Interest income
Interest expense
Other (expense) income, net

(Loss) income before income taxes
Income tax (benefit) expense
Net (loss) income

Weighted average shares outstanding:

Basic
Diluted

(Loss) earnings per share:

Basic
Diluted

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

$

April 27,
2019
569,704
439,410
130,294

Year Ended
April 28,
2018
610,530
464,861
145,669

$

$

April 29,
2017
586,539
446,124
140,415

64,648
34,817
35,557
135,022
(4,728)

1,031
(160)
(1,087)

(4,944)
(3,986)
(958)

62,760
34,919
35,530
133,209
12,460

61,687
34,226
29,081
124,994
15,421

723
(217)
(537)

751
(230)
(354)

12,429
6,867
5,562

$

15,588
5,246
10,342

$

44,926
44,926

44,457
44,873

44,114
44,303

(0.02)
(0.02)

$
$

0.13
0.12

$
$

0.23
0.23

$

$
$

36

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DAKTRONICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(in thousands)

April 27,
2019

Year Ended
April 28,
2018

April 29,
2017

Net (loss) income

$

(958)

$

5,562

$

10,342

Other comprehensive (loss) income:

Cumulative translation adjustments
Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities,
net of tax

Total other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax
Comprehensive (loss) income

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

(1,749)

107
(1,642)
(2,600)

$

1,808

(141)
1,667
7,229

$

(1,472)

(11)
(1,483)
8,859

$

37

DAKTRONICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(in thousands)

Common
Stock

Additional
Paid-In
Capital

$

51,347
—
—

35,351
—
—

Retained
Earnings
$ 117,276
10,342
—

$

Balance as of April 30, 2016:

$

Net income
Cumulative translation adjustments
Unrealized gain (loss) on available-
for-sale securities, net of tax

Share-based compensation
Exercise of stock options
Tax payments related to RSU
issuances
Employee savings plan activity
Dividends paid ($0.31 per share)
Treasury stock purchase

Balance as of April 29, 2017:

Net income
Cumulative translation adjustments
Unrealized gain (loss) on available-
for-sale securities, net of tax

Share-based compensation
Exercise of stock options
Tax payments related to RSU
issuances
Employee savings plan activity
Dividends paid ($0.28 per share)

Balance as of April 28, 2018:

Net loss
Cumulative translation adjustments
Unrealized gain (loss) on available-
for-sale securities, net of tax

Share-based compensation
Exercise of stock options
Tax payments related to RSU
issuances
Employee savings plan activity
Dividends paid ($0.28 per share)

Balance as of April 27, 2019:

$

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

—
—
343

—
840
—
—
52,530
—
—

—
—
519

—
1,682
—
54,731
—
—

—
—
1,318

—
1,650
—
57,699

Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss

Treasury
Stock

Total

(9) $
—
—

—
—
—

—
—
—
(1,825)
(1,834)
—
—

—
—
—

—
—
—
(1,834)
—
—

—
—
—

(2,898) $ 201,067
10,342
(1,472)

—
(1,472)

(11)
—
—

—
—
—
—
(4,381)
—
1,808

(141)
—
—

—
—
—
(2,714)
—
(1,749)

107
—
—

(11)
2,914
343

(261)
840
(13,651)
(1,825)
198,286
5,562
1,808

(141)
2,635
519

(311)
1,682
(12,424)
197,616
(958)
(1,749)

107
2,479
1,318

—
2,914
—

(261)
—
—
—
38,004
—
—

—
2,635
—

(311)
—
—
40,328
—
—

—
2,479
—

—
—
—

—
—
(13,651)
—
113,967
5,562
—

—
—
—

—
—
(12,424)
107,105
(958)
—

—
—
—

(246)
—
—
42,561

$

—
—
(12,554)
93,593

$

—
—
—
(1,834) $

$

—
—
—

(246)
1,650
(12,554)
(4,356) $ 187,663

38

 
 
 
 
 
 
DAKTRONICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

Net (loss) income
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating

activities:

Depreciation and amortization
Impairment of intangible assets
(Gain) loss on sale of property, equipment and other assets
Share-based compensation
Contingent consideration adjustment
Equity in loss of affiliate
Provision for doubtful accounts
Deferred income taxes, net
Change in operating assets and liabilities

Net cash provided by operating activities

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

Purchases of property and equipment
Proceeds from sales of property, equipment and other assets
Purchases of marketable securities
Proceeds from sales or maturities of marketable securities
Purchases of and loans to equity investment
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired

Net cash used in investing activities

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

Payments on notes payable
Principal payments on long-term obligations
Dividends paid
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
Payments for common shares repurchased
Tax payments related to RSU issuances

Net cash used in financing activities

April 27,
2019

Year Ended
April 28,
2018

April 29,
2017

$

(958)

$

5,562

$

10,342

18,635
—
(441)
2,479
286
844
194
(3,379)
11,886
29,546

(17,268)
607
(25,337)
33,706
(1,300)
(2,250)
(11,842)

—
(450)
(12,554)
1,318
—
(246)
(11,932)

17,784
—
(1,252)
2,635
—
481
140
3,148
1,863
30,361

(18,127)
2,179
(17,438)
15,273
(1,450)
—
(19,563)

—
(1,046)
(12,424)
519
—
(311)
(13,262)

18,562
830
36
2,914
—
136
1,426
(2,043)
7,204
39,407

(8,502)
199
(24,159)
15,928
(1,646)
—
(18,180)

(8)
(921)
(13,651)
343
(1,825)
(261)
(16,323)

EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND
RESTRICTED CASH

215

(620)

(591)

5,987

(3,084)

4,313

CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH:

Beginning of period
End of period

29,755
35,742

$

32,839
29,755

$

28,526
32,839

$

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

39

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands, except per share data)

Note 1. Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of business:  Daktronics, Inc. and its subsidiaries are engaged principally in the design, market, and manufacture of a wide range 
of integrated electronic display systems and related products which are sold in a variety of markets throughout the world and the rendering 
of  related  maintenance  and  professional  services.  Our  products  are  designed  primarily  to  inform  and  entertain  people  through  the 
communication of content.

Fiscal year:  We operate on a 52- or 53-week fiscal year, with our fiscal year ending on the Saturday closest to April 30 of each year.  
When April 30 falls on a Wednesday, the fiscal year ends on the preceding Saturday.  Within each fiscal year, each quarter is comprised 
of 13-week periods following the beginning of each fiscal year.  In each 53-week year, an additional week is added to the first quarter, 
and each of the last three quarters is comprised of a 13-week period.  The years ended April 27, 2019, April 28, 2018, and April 29, 2017 
contained operating results for 52 weeks.  Fiscal 2020 will be a 53-week year.

Principles of consolidation:  The consolidated financial statements include Daktronics, Inc. and its subsidiaries.  All intercompany accounts 
and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. 

Certain prior year amounts in the consolidated balance sheet have been reclassified to conform to the current year's presentation due to 
the adoption of Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606).  Billings in excess 
of costs and estimated earnings, customer deposits, and deferred revenue are combined to present contract liabilities.  Costs and estimated 
earnings in excess of billings now represent contract assets.  We also combined current portion of other long-term obligations and accrued 
expenses to present accrued expenses.  These reclassifications had no effect on reported net income, comprehensive income, cash flows, 
total assets or total liabilities.

Investments in affiliates:  Investments in affiliates over which we have significant influence are accounted for under the equity method 
of accounting, in accordance with the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 323, Investments - Equity Method and 
Joint Ventures.  Investments in affiliates over which we do not have the ability to exert significant influence over the affiliate's operating 
and financing activities are accounted for under the cost method of accounting in accordance with the provisions of ASC 321, Investments 
- Equity Securities.  We have evaluated our relationships with our affiliates and have determined that these entities are not variable interest 
entities.  

The aggregate amount of investments accounted for under the equity method was $3,657 and $3,647 at April 27, 2019 and April 28, 
2018, respectively.  The equity method requires us to report our share of losses up to our equity investment amount.  Cash paid for 
investments in affiliates is included in the "Purchases of equity investment" line item in our consolidated statements of cash flows.  Our 
proportional  share  of  the  respective  affiliates'  earnings  or  losses  is  included  in  the  "Other  (expense)  income,  net"  line  item  in  our 
consolidated statements of operations.  For the fiscal years ended April 27, 2019 and April 28, 2018, our share of the losses of our affiliates 
was $844 and $481, respectively. 

The aggregate amount of investments without readily determinable fair values was $42 at April 27, 2019 and April 28, 2018, respectively.  
There have not been any identified events or changes in circumstances that may have a significant adverse effect on their fair value, and 
it is not practical to estimate their fair value.  We record equity investments without readily determinable fair values at cost, less any 
impairment, adjusted for observable price changes.  During fiscal 2019, we did not record any changes in the measurement of such 
investments.

Use of estimates:  The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United 
States ("GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions affecting the reported amounts of assets and liabilities; the 
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements; the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during 
the reporting period; and our ability to continue as a going concern.  Due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making estimates, actual 
results in future periods may differ from those estimates.  Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change in the 
near-term relate to the determination of the estimated total costs on uniquely configured contracts, estimated costs to be incurred for 
product warranties and income taxes.  Estimation processes are also used in inventory valuation, the allowance for doubtful accounts, 
share-based compensation, goodwill impairment, and extended warranty and product maintenance agreements.  Changes in estimates 
are reflected in the periods in which they become known.

Cash and cash equivalents:  All highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase are considered 
to be cash equivalents and consist primarily of government repurchase agreements, savings accounts and money market accounts that 
are carried at cost, which approximates fair value.  We maintain our cash in bank deposit accounts, the balances of which at times may 
exceed federally insured limits.  We have not experienced any losses in such accounts.

40

Restricted cash:  Restricted cash consists of cash and cash equivalents held in bank deposit accounts to secure issuances of foreign bank 
guarantees.  

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported within the consolidated balance sheets 
that sum to the totals of the same amounts shown in the consolidated statement of cash flows: 

Cash and cash equivalents

Restricted cash
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in the consolidated
statement of cash flows

April 27,
2019

April 28,
2018

April 29,
2017

$

$

35,383

359

35,742

$

$

29,727

28

29,755

$

$

32,623

216

32,839

Inventories:  In accordance with ASC 330, Inventory, our inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out method) and net 
realizable value.  Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs 
of completion, disposal, and transportation.  Cost is measured as the price of the components and allocated expenses for production or 
betterment of the inventory item.  When we estimate net realizable value to be lower than cost, any necessary adjustments are charged 
to cost of sales in that period.  In determining net realizable value, we review various factors such as current inventory levels, forecasted 
demand, costs of completion, and technological obsolescence.  

Allowance for doubtful accounts:  We make estimates regarding the collectability of our accounts receivable, long-term receivables, 
contract assets and other receivables.  In evaluating the adequacy of our allowance for doubtful accounts, we analyze specific balances, 
customer creditworthiness, changes in customer payment cycles, and current economic trends.  If the financial condition of any customer 
were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of its ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required.  We charge off 
receivables at such time as it is determined collection will not occur in accordance with ASC 310, Receivables.  

Revenue recognition:  We adopted ASU 2014-09 and its related guidance under the modified retrospective method during the first quarter 
of fiscal 2019 by applying the guidance to all open contracts at the adoption date.  The adoption of this standard did not materially change 
the timing or amount of revenue recognized, primarily based upon our assessment of "point in time" and "over time" revenue recognition.

Our accounting policies and estimates as a result of adopting ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), are as 
follows:

Contracts are identified and follow the revenue recognition policies when all of the following occur: we have evidence that all parties to 
the contract have approved the contract and are committed to perform their respective obligations, we can identify each party’s rights 
regarding the goods or services to be transferred, we can identify the payment terms for the goods or services to be transferred, the contract 
has commercial substance, and it is probable we will collect substantially all of the consideration to which we would be entitled in 
exchange for the goods or services.

Precontract costs are generally expensed as incurred, unless they are directly associated with an anticipated contract and recoverability 
from that contract is probable.  Precontract costs directly associated with anticipated contracts expected to be recoverable include $857 
and $217 as of April 27, 2019 and April 28, 2018, respectively.  These are included in the "Inventories" line item in our consolidated 
balance sheets.

At contract inception, we identify performance obligations by reviewing the agreement for material distinct goods and services.  Goods 
and services are distinct when the customer can benefit from them on their own and our promises to transfer these items are identifiable 
from other promises within the contract.  When we are contracted to provide a single promise (an integrated system), we often treat it as 
a single performance obligation as we are providing goods and services with the same pattern of transfer, that are highly integrated or 
interdependent, that are modified or customized by other goods or services promised, or that provide a combined outcome for which the 
customer has contracted.  When less interdependency or integration is necessary, or the customer can benefit from distinct items, we 
separate  the  contract  into  multiple  performance  obligations.   We  account  for  extended  warranties  and  other  services  ("service-type 
warranty") that represent a distinct service as a separate performance obligation.

Our contracts can contain multiple components of transaction price.  We evaluate each contract for these components and include fixed 
consideration, variable consideration, financing components, and non-cash consideration and exclude consideration payable to a customer 
and sales taxes in the transaction price.  When we are responsible for site installations which include subcontracted work, we maintain 
the contractual responsibilities and risks and include the consideration for these services in the transaction price.  When our contract 

41

contains variable consideration, including return rights, discounts, claims, unpriced change orders, and liquidated damages, we estimate 
the transaction price using the expected value (i.e., the sum of the probability-weighted amount) or the most likely amount method, 
whichever is expected to better predict revenue for that contract situation.  We also constrain the revenue to the extent that it is probable 
that a significant reversal of the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable 
consideration is subsequently resolved.  We consider the following factors in determining revenue associated with variable consideration: 
(a) the contract or other evidence providing legal basis, (b) additional costs caused by unforeseen circumstances, (c) evidence supporting 
the claim, and (d) historical evidence and patterns of customers.  We adjust the contract price for the effects of a significant financing 
component if we expect, at contract inception, that the period between when we transfer goods and services to a customer will exceed 
one year from the time the customer pays and represents financing.  If the payment structures exceed a year but are structured to account 
for risks with a contract or correspond to payments on milestones or are scheduled for performance, we do not adjust the contract price 
for a financing component.  See "Note 9. Receivables" for amounts recorded in long-term receivables.

When separate performance obligations are identified, we allocate the transaction price to the individual performance obligation based 
on the best method we judge as faithfully depicting the value of the performance obligation.  Many of our contracts are bundled, and we 
do not have separate selling prices for each performance obligation; therefore, for these contracts, we primarily use the cost plus a margin 
approach to allocate the relative transaction price to identified performance obligations, as it is the best representative of our pricing 
methods.

Revenue is recognized when we satisfy a performance obligation.  We receive payments from customers based on a billing schedule as 
established in our contracts.  Billing schedules include down payments and progress billings over time; set milestone payments that are 
specific to the project; are scheduled for performance-based payments or are set time-based payment(s).  Variability in contract assets 
and contract liabilities relates to the timing of billings and revenue recognition, which can vary significantly depending on contractual 
payment terms and build and installation schedules and the related timing differences in transfer of control.  Balances are also impacted 
by the seasonality in our business.

Significant judgments and estimates are used in our revenue policies.  Throughout the revenue cycle, we evaluate contractual evidence, 
monitor our performance, evaluate variable consideration changes, update estimated costs to complete cost-to-cost projects, and obtain 
evidence of deliveries or other control change evidence for appropriate and consistent revenue recognition.  We maintain internal policies 
and procedures to provide guidance for those involved in recording revenue.  We monitor for changes in our business sales practices and 
customer interactions to capture the appropriate types of performance obligations and adjust for any change in control terms and conditions.

Our material performance obligation types include:

Unique  configuration  contracts:  audio-visual  communication  systems  uniquely  configured  (custom)  or  integrated  for  a 
customer's particular location and system configuration may include all or a combination of the following: engineering services, 
project management services, video display(s), control solution(s), installation and integration services, scoring and messaging 
equipment, training, other on-site services, spare parts, software licenses, and assurance-type warranties.

We account for these types of contracts as a combined single performance obligation with no segmentation between types of 
products and services.  In our judgment, this accounting treatment is most appropriate because the substantial part of our promise 
to customers is to provide significant integration services and incorporate individual goods and services into a combined output 
or system.  Often times, the system is customized or significantly modified to the customer's desired configurations and location, 
and the interrelated goods and services provide utility to the customer as a package.

Revenue for uniquely configured (custom) or integrated systems is recognized over time using the cost incurred input method.  
Over time revenue recognition is appropriate because we have no alternative use for the uniquely configured system and have 
an enforceable right to payment for work performed.  The cost incurred input method measures cost incurred to date compared 
to estimated total costs for each contract.  This method is the most faithful depiction of our performance because it measures 
the value of the contract transferred to the customer.  Costs to perform include direct and indirect costs for contract design, 
production,  integration,  installation,  and  assurance-type  warranty  reserve.    Direct  costs  include  material  and  components; 
manufacturing, project management and engineering labor; and subcontracting expenses.  Indirect costs include allocated charges 
for such items as facilities and equipment depreciation and general overhead.  Provisions of estimated losses on uncompleted 
contracts are made in the period when such losses are capable of being estimated.

Contract modifications to existing contracts with customers are evaluated in accordance with the five-step revenue model.  We 
treat contract modifications as a separate contract and new performance obligations when the additional goods or services are 
distinct and do not add to the unique configuration or are outside the integrated system and when the consideration reflects 
standalone selling prices.  If the additional goods or services offered under the modification enhance the uniquely configured 
or integrated systems, revenue is allocated to the existing contracts' performance obligation.  Modifications may cause changes 
in the timing of revenue recognition depending on the allocation to various performance obligations.

42

The time between contract order and project completion is typically less than 12 months but may extend longer depending on 
the amount of custom work and customers’ delivery needs.

Limited configuration (standard systems) and after-sale parts contracts: Limited configured (standard systems) or after-sale 
parts contracts with limited or no configuration or limited integration are recognized as distinct individual performance obligations 
when material.  When not distinct, we combine into one performance obligation the goods and/or services with each other until 
the bundle of goods or services are distinct.  For standard display purchases made in large quantities, we account for each piece 
of equipment separately as a distinct performance obligation from which a customer derives benefit.  Immaterial goods or services 
in the context of the contract are included with the display system performance obligation.  Standard systems and equipment 
with limited configurations or integrations may include all or a combination (when immaterial) of the following performance 
obligations: engineering services, project management services, video display(s), control solution(s), installation and integration 
services, scoring, messaging and audio equipment, training, spare parts, software licenses, assurance-type warranties, and after-
sale parts.

Revenue is recognized at a point in time when control passes, or over time as services are performed.  When fulfilling limited 
configuration performance obligations, we are typically able to  redirect the  video displays or  scoring,  messaging,  or audio 
equipment to another customer without incurring significant economic losses.  Therefore, we have an alternative use for the 
performance obligation and recognize revenue upon our substantial completion and at the point in time we estimate control has 
transferred to the customer.  When limited configured single performance obligations are more service-type (i.e., installation 
and integration services), we recognize revenue over time using the cost-to-cost input method, which is the most faithful depiction 
of the customer obtaining control and benefits from the work performed.

Services and other: Services sold on a stand-alone basis or after the initial system sale include performance obligations such as 
event support, control room design, on-site training, equipment service, service-type warranties, technical support, software sold 
as a service, and other immaterial revenue streams.  These are contracted with a customer generally per service event or service 
type on a stand-alone basis.  Services and other are recognized as net sales when the services are performed, and control is 
transferred to the customer at a point in time when title or control passes or over time as services are performed and for time-
based "stand ready to perform" type obligations.  We use professional judgment to determine control transfer.  If we have the 
right to consideration from a customer that directly corresponds with the value of our performance (where we bill a fixed amount 
for each hour of service provided), we recognize revenue related to the work completed.

Software:  Revenues from software license fees on sales, other than uniquely configured type contracts, are recognized when delivery of 
the product has occurred.  Subscription-based licenses include the right for a customer to use our licenses and receive related support for 
a specified term, and revenue is recognized pro-rata over the term of the engagement.

Shipping and handling costs:  Shipping and handling costs collected from our customers in connection with our sales are recorded as 
revenue.  We record shipping and handling costs as a component of cost of sales at the time the product is shipped.

Warranty:  We offer a standard parts coverage warranty for periods varying from one to five years for most of our products.  We also 
offer additional types of warranties to include on-site labor, routine maintenance and event support.  In addition, the terms of warranties 
on some installations can vary from one to 10 years.  The specific terms and conditions of these warranties vary primarily depending on 
the type of product sold.  We estimate the costs which may be incurred under the contractual warranty obligations (assurance type warranty) 
and record a liability in the amount of such estimated costs at the time the revenue is recognized.  Factors affecting our estimate of the 
cost of our warranty obligations include historical experience and expectations of future conditions.  We continually assess the adequacy 
of our recorded warranty accruals and, to the extent we experience any changes in warranty claim activity or costs associated with servicing 
those claims, our accrued warranty obligation is adjusted accordingly.  For service-type warranty contracts, we allocate revenue to this 
performance obligation and recognize the revenue over time and recognize costs as incurred.

Long-term receivables and advertising rights:  We occasionally sell and install our products at facilities in exchange for the rights to sell 
or to retain future advertising revenues.  For these transactions, we recognize revenue equal to the amount of the present value of the 
future advertising payments if enough advertising is sold to obtain normal margins on the contract, and we record the related receivable 
in long-term receivables.  We recognize imputed interest as earned.  

Property and equipment:  In accordance with ASC 360, Property, Plant, and Equipment, property and equipment are stated at cost and 
depreciated principally on the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:

43

Buildings and improvements

Machinery and equipment

Office furniture and equipment

Computer software and hardware

Equipment held for rental

Demonstration equipment

Transportation equipment

Years

5 - 40

5 - 7

3 - 5

3 - 5

2 - 7

3 - 5

5 - 7

Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the lesser of the useful life of the asset or the term of the lease.

Property and equipment held for sale:  In accordance with ASC 360, Property, Plant, and Equipment, property and equipment held for 
sale are reported separately when we have a plan to dispose of the asset by sale, it is probable we will find a buyer in the near future, and 
a change in plan is unlikely.  The value is stated at the lower of carrying value or fair value, and no depreciation is charged.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets:  In accordance with ASC 360, Property, Plant, and Equipment, we assess long-lived tangible assets 
and definite-lived intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be 
recoverable.

When evaluating long-lived assets for potential impairment, we first compare the carrying value of the asset to the asset's estimated future 
cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges).  If the estimated future cash flows are less than the carrying value of the asset, 
we calculate an impairment loss.  The impairment loss calculation compares the carrying value of the asset to the asset's estimated fair 
value.  We recognize an impairment loss if the amount of the asset's carrying value exceeds the asset's estimated fair value.  If we recognize 
an impairment loss, the adjusted carrying amount of the asset becomes its new cost basis.  For a depreciable long-lived asset, the new 
cost basis will be depreciated (amortized) over the remaining useful life of that asset.

Our impairment loss calculations contain uncertainties because they require management to make assumptions and to apply judgment to 
estimate future cash flows and asset fair values, including forecasting useful lives of the assets and selecting the discount rate that reflects 
the risk inherent in future cash flows.  

During fiscal 2017, we recognized an impairment loss of $830 on intangible assets related to a technology and customer list.  No intangible 
asset impairment was recognized for fiscal 2019 or 2018.  See "Note 7. Goodwill and Intangible Assets" for further information.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets:  We account for goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives in accordance with ASC 
350,  Goodwill  and  Other.  Under  these  provisions,  goodwill  is  not  amortized  but  is  tested  for  impairment  on  at  least  an  annual 
basis.  Impairment testing is required more often than annually if an event or circumstance indicates an impairment or a decline in value 
may have occurred.  Such circumstances could include, but are not limited to, a worsening trend of orders and sales without a corresponding 
way to preserve future cash flows or a significant decline in our stock price.  In conducting our impairment testing, we compare the fair 
value of each of our business units (reporting unit) to the related carrying value.  If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying 
value, goodwill is not impaired.  If the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is measured and 
recognized.

We utilize an income approach to estimate the fair value of each reporting unit.  We selected this method because we believe it most 
appropriately measures our income producing assets.  We considered using the market approach and cost approach, but concluded they 
were not appropriate in valuing our reporting units given the lack of relevant and available market comparisons.  The income approach 
is based on the projected cash flows, which are discounted to their present value using discount rates which consider the timing and risk 
of the forecasted cash flows.  We believe that this approach is appropriate because it provides a fair value estimate based upon the reporting 
unit's expected long-term operating cash performance.  This approach also mitigates the impact of the cyclical trends occurring in the 
industry.  Fair value is estimated using internally-developed forecasts and assumptions.  The discount rate used is the average estimated 
value of a market participant’s cost of capital and debt, derived using customary market metrics.  Other significant assumptions include 
terminal value margin rates, future capital expenditures, and changes in future working capital requirements.  We also compare and 
reconcile our overall fair value to our market capitalization.  Although there are inherent uncertainties related to the assumptions used 
and to our application of these assumptions to this analysis, we believe the income approach provides a reasonable estimate of the fair 
value of our reporting units.  The foregoing assumptions to a large degree were consistent with our long-term performance, with limited 
exceptions.  We believe our future investments for capital expenditures as a percent of revenue will remain similar to the historical rates 
as  a  percentage  of  sales  in  future  years.    Our  investments  are  expected  to  relate  to  equipment  replacements  and  new  product  line 

44

 
manufacturing equipment needs, and to keep our information technology infrastructure robust.  These assumptions could deviate materially 
from actual results.

Software costs to be sold, leased, or marketed:  We follow the provisions of ASC 985, Software, which states software development costs 
are expensed as incurred until technological feasibility has been established.  At such time, such costs are capitalized until the product is 
made available for release to customers.  Additionally, costs incurred after release to customers are expensed as research and development 
expenses.  As of April 27, 2019 and April 28, 2018, capitalized software to be sold, leased, or otherwise marketed had a net book value 
of $2,523 and $869, respectively. 

Foreign currency translation:  We follow the provisions of ASC 830, Foreign Currency Matters.  Our foreign subsidiaries use the local 
currency of their respective countries as their functional currency.  The assets and liabilities of foreign operations are generally translated 
at the exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date.  The operating results of foreign operations are translated at weighted average 
exchange rates.  The related translation gains or losses are reported as a separate component of shareholders’ equity in accumulated other 
comprehensive loss.

Income taxes:  We account for income taxes in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes.  We record a tax provision for anticipated tax 
consequences of the reported results of operations.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using currently enacted tax rates and 
statutory tax rates applicable to the years in which we expect these temporary differences will affect taxable income.  These assets and 
liabilities are analyzed regularly, and we assess the likelihood that deferred tax assets will be recoverable from future taxable income.  
When necessary, a valuation allowance is established if it is more likely than not the deferred tax asset will not be realized.  We report 
the net deferred tax asset and liability as a long-term asset or liability.  Net deferred assets or liabilities are calculated by combining based 
on their jurisdiction. 

In addition, because we operate in multiple income tax jurisdictions both within the United States and internationally, the calculation of 
tax liabilities involves significant judgment in estimating the impact of uncertainties in the application of complex tax laws.  Resolution 
of these uncertainties in a manner inconsistent with our expectations could have a material impact on our financial condition and operating 
results.  See "Note 14. Income Taxes" for further information.

Comprehensive (loss) income:  We follow the provisions of ASC 220, Reporting Comprehensive Income, which establishes standards 
for reporting and displaying comprehensive income and its components, and disclose these components in the consolidated statements 
of comprehensive income.  Comprehensive (loss) income reflects the change in equity of a business enterprise during a period from 
transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources.  For us, comprehensive income represents net income adjusted 
for cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments and unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities.  The foreign 
currency translation adjustment included in the comprehensive income calculation has not been tax affected, as the investments in foreign 
affiliates are deemed to be permanent.  

Product design and development:  We follow the provisions of ASC 730, Research and Development, which states all expenses related 
to product design and development are charged to operations as incurred.  Our product design and development activities include the 
enhancement of existing products and technologies and the development of new products and technologies.

Advertising costs:  In accordance with ASC 720-35, Advertising Costs, we expense advertising costs as incurred.  Advertising expenses 
were $2,969, $2,855 and $2,125 for the fiscal years 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Earnings per share (“EPS”):  We follow the provisions of ASC 260, Earnings Per Share, where basic EPS is computed by dividing income 
attributable to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period.  Diluted EPS reflects 
the potential dilution which may occur if securities or other obligations to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common 
stock or resulted in the issuance of common stock which share in our earnings.

45

 
 
The following is a reconciliation of the net (loss) income and common share amounts used in the calculation of basic and diluted EPS 
for the fiscal years ended April 27, 2019, April 28, 2018 and April 29, 2017:

For the year ended April 27, 2019:
Basic loss per share

Dilution associated with stock compensation plans

Diluted loss per share
For the year ended April 28, 2018:
Basic earnings per share

Dilution associated with stock compensation plans

Diluted earnings per share
For the year ended April 29, 2017:
Basic earnings per share

Dilution associated with stock compensation plans

Diluted earnings per share

Net (loss)
income

Shares

Per share
(loss) income

$

$

$

$

$

$

(958)
—
(958)

5,562
—
5,562

10,342
—
10,342

44,926
—
44,926

44,457
416
44,873

44,114
189
44,303

$

$

$

$

$

$

(0.02)
—
(0.02)

0.13
(0.01)
0.12

0.23
—
0.23

Options outstanding to purchase 2,304, 1,548 and 2,112 shares of common stock with a weighted average exercise price of $9.99, $11.69 
and $13.30 for the fiscal years ended April 27, 2019, April 28, 2018 and April 29, 2017, respectively, were not included in the computation 
of diluted earnings per share because the effects would be anti-dilutive.

Share-based  compensation:  We  account  for  share-based  compensation  in  accordance  with  ASC  718,  Compensation-Stock 
Compensation.  Under the fair value recognition provisions of ASC 718, we measure share-based compensation cost at the grant date 
based on the fair value of the award and recognize the compensation expense over the requisite service period, which is the vesting 
period.  See "Note 12. Shareholders’ Equity and Share-Based Compensation" for additional information and the assumptions we use to 
calculate the fair value of share-based employee compensation.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting Standards Adopted

In October  2016,  the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB")  issued ASU  2016-16,  Income  Taxes (Topic 740) Intra-Entity 
Transfers of Assets Other than Inventory, which is intended to improve the accounting for the income tax consequences of intra-entity 
transfers of assets other than inventory.  Current GAAP prohibits the recognition of current and deferred income taxes for an intra-entity 
asset transfer until the asset has been sold to an outside party, which is an exception to the principle of comprehensive recognition of 
current and deferred income taxes in GAAP.  This update eliminates the exception by requiring entities to recognize the income tax 
consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs.  We adopted ASU 2016-16 during the 
first quarter of fiscal 2019.  The adoption of ASU 2016-16 did not have an impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606).  Subsequently, the FASB also issued 
ASUs 2016-08, 2016-10, 2016-12, and 2016-20 to give further guidance to revenue recognition matters.  ASU 2014-09 and related 
guidance supersedes revenue recognition requirements under FASB ASC Topic 605 and related industry specific revenue recognition 
guidance.  This new standard defines a comprehensive revenue recognition model, requiring a company to recognize revenue from the 
transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that the entity expects to receive in exchange for 
those goods or services.  It defines a five-step process to achieve this core principle that allows companies to use more judgment and 
make more estimates than under current guidance.  In addition, it requires additional disclosures about the nature, amount, timing, and 
uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts and provides guidance on transition requirements.

We adopted ASU 2014-09 and its related guidance under the modified retrospective method during the first quarter of fiscal 2019 by 
applying the guidance to all open contracts at the adoption date.  The adoption did not materially change the timing or amount of revenue 
recognized, primarily based upon our assessment of "point in time" and "over time" revenue recognition.  No adjustment to beginning 
retained earnings was recorded, and we have made additional disclosures related to revenue from contracts with customers as required 
by the new standard upon adoption.  See "Note 2. Revenue Recognition" for more information. 

Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of 
Certain  Tax  Effects  from  Accumulated  Other  Comprehensive  Income,  which  allows  a  reclassification  from  accumulated  other 

46

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the newly enacted federal corporate income tax rate 
under the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "Tax Act").  ASU 2018-02 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 
15, 2018, with early adoption permitted that can be made on a prospective or retrospective basis.  We plan to adopt this new standard in 
the first quarter of fiscal 2020.  We have completed our evaluation under the new standard and have assessed that the adoption will not 
have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In  January  2017,  the  FASB  issued ASU  2017-04,  Intangibles-Goodwill  and  Other  (Topic  350),  which  simplifies  the  subsequent 
measurement of goodwill by removing the second step of the two-step impairment test.  The amendment requires an entity to perform 
its annual or interim goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount.  A goodwill 
impairment will be the amount by which a reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of 
goodwill.  ASU 2017-04 is effective for an entity's annual or any interim goodwill impairments tests in fiscal years beginning after 
December 15, 2019 and will require adoption on a prospective basis.  We are currently evaluating the effect that adopting ASU 2017-04 
will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which provides guidance regarding 
the measurement and recognition of credit impairment for certain financial assets.  ASU 2016-13 is effective for fiscal years beginning 
after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted, and will require adoption on a modified retrospective basis.  We are currently 
evaluating the effect that adopting ASU 2016-13 will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which sets out the principles for the recognition, measurement, 
presentation and disclosure of leases for both parties to a contract (that is, lessees and lessors).  ASU 2016-02 requires lessees to classify 
leases as either finance or operating leases based on the principle of whether or not the lease is effectively a financed purchase of the 
leased asset by the lessee.  This classification will determine whether the lease expense is recognized based on an effective interest method 
or on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.  A lessee is also required to record a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for all 
leases with a term greater than 12 months regardless of their classification.  In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-10, Codification 
Improvements  to  Topic  842  (Leases),  and ASU  2018-11,  Leases  (Topic  842),  Targeted  Improvements,  which  provide  (i.)  narrow 
amendments to clarify how to apply certain aspects of the new lease standard; and (ii.) entities with an additional transition method to 
adopt the new standard.  All ASUs identified in this paragraph are effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual 
periods, beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted, and will require adoption on a modified retrospective basis.

We will adopt ASU 2016-02 and its related guidance during the first quarter of fiscal 2020.  We will be adopting the "Comparatives Under 
840 Option" approach to transition.  Under this method, financial information related to periods prior to adoption will be as originally 
reported under the current standard - Accounting Standards ("ASC") 840, Leases.  We have completed our evaluation under the new 
standard and assessed that we will adopt the package of practical expedients and not change historical conclusions related to (1) contracts 
that contain leases, (2) existing lease classification, and (3) initial direct costs.  Based on our current estimates, we expect to recognize 
right of use assets and lessee lease liabilities of approximately $7,134 with respect to operating leases.

Note 2. Revenue Recognition

Disaggregation of revenue
In accordance with ASC 606-10-50, we disaggregate revenue from contracts with customers by the type of performance obligation and 
the timing of revenue recognition.  We determine that disaggregating revenue in these categories achieves the disclosure objective to 
depict how the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows are affected by economic factors and to enable users 
of financial statements to understand the relationship to each reportable segment.  As noted in the segment information footnote, we are 
organized in five business segments: Commercial, Live Events, High School Park and Recreation, Transportation, and International.

The following table presents our disaggregation of revenue by segments:

47

Commercial

Live Events

High School
Park and
Recreation

Transportation

International

Total

Fiscal Year 2019

Type of performance 
obligation

Unique configuration

Limited configuration

Service and other

Timing of revenue 
recognition

Goods/services transferred
at a point in time

Goods/services transferred
over time

$

$

$

$

25,171

$

119,569

$

21,792

$

38,490

$

44,989

$

108,921

14,741

30,107

21,276

66,825

2,570

23,799

2,102

42,134

7,218

250,011

271,786

47,907

148,833

$

170,952

$

91,187

$

64,391

$

94,341

$

569,704

111,617

$

35,313

$

60,763

$

24,500

$

44,758

$

276,951

37,216

135,639

30,424

39,891

49,583

148,833

$

170,952

$

91,187

$

64,391

$

94,341

$

292,753

569,704

See "Note 3. Segment Reporting" for a disaggregation of revenue by geography.

Contract balances
Contract assets represent revenue recognized in excess of amounts billed and include unbilled receivables.  Unbilled receivables, which 
represent an unconditional right to payment subject only to the passage of time, are reclassified to accounts receivable when they are 
billed under the contract terms.  Contract liabilities represent amounts billed to the clients in excess of revenue recognized to date.

The following table reflects the changes in our contract assets and liabilities:

April 27,
2019

April 28,
2018

Dollar
Change

Percent
Change

Contract assets

$

33,704

$

30,968

$

Contract liabilities - current

Contract liabilities - noncurrent

47,178

10,053

39,379

7,475

2,736

7,799

2,578

8.8%

19.8

34.5

The changes in our contract assets and contract liabilities from April 28, 2018 to April 27, 2019 were due to the timing of billing schedules 
and revenue recognition, which can vary significantly depending on the contractual payment terms and the seasonality of the sports 
markets.  We had no material impairments of contract assets for fiscal 2019.

As of April 27, 2019 and April 28, 2018, we had six and two contracts in progress that were identified as loss contracts, for which we 
recorded a provision for losses of $2,353 and $30, respectively.  These were included in the "Accrued expenses" line item in our consolidated 
balance sheets.

During fiscal 2019, we recognized revenue of $35,676 related to our contract liabilities as of April 28, 2018.

Remaining performance obligations
As of April 27, 2019, the aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to the remaining performance obligations was $257,037.  
We expect approximately $223,139 of our remaining performance obligations to be recognized over the next 12 months, with the remainder 
recognized  thereafter.    Remaining  performance  obligations  related  to  product  and  service  agreements  are  $202,209  and  $54,828, 
respectively.  Although remaining performance obligations reflect business that is considered to be legally binding, cancellations, deferrals 
or  scope  adjustments  may  occur.   Any  known  project  cancellations,  revisions  to  project  scope  and  cost,  foreign  currency  exchange 
fluctuations and project deferrals are reflected or excluded in the remaining performance obligation balance, as appropriate.

Note 3. Segment Reporting 

We organize and manage our business by five segments which meet the definition of reportable segments under ASC 280-10, Segment 
Reporting: Commercial, Live Events, High School Park and Recreation, Transportation, and International.  These segments are based on 
the customer type or geography and are the same as our business units.

48

Our Commercial business unit primarily consists of sales of our integrated video display systems, digital billboards, Galaxy® and Fuelight™
product lines, and dynamic messaging systems to resellers (primarily sign companies), out-of-home ("OOH") companies, national retailers, 
quick-serve restaurants, casinos, shopping centers, cruise ships, commercial building owners, and petroleum retailers.  Our Live Events 
business unit primarily consists of sales of integrated scoring and video display systems to college and professional sports facilities and 
convention centers and sales of our mobile display technology to video rental organizations and other live events type venues.  Our High 
School Park and Recreation business unit primarily consists of sales of scoring systems, Galaxy® displays and video display systems to 
primary and secondary education facilities and resellers (primarily sign companies).  Our Transportation business unit primarily consists 
of sales of intelligent transportation system dynamic messaging signs for road management, mass transit, and aviation applications and 
other electronic signage for advertising and way-finding needs, which includes our Vanguard® and Galaxy® product lines and other 
intelligent transportation systems dynamic message signs, to governmental transportation departments, transportation industry contractors, 
airlines and other transportation related customers.  Our International business unit consists of sales of all product lines outside the United 
States and Canada.  In our International business unit, we focus on product lines related to integrated scoring and video display systems 
for sports and commercial applications, OOH advertising products, architectural lighting, and transportation related products for sale 
outside  of  the  United  States  and  Canada  to  the  related  type  of  company,  including  sports  and  commercial  business  facilities,  OOH 
companies, and governmental transportation agencies.  

We evaluate segment performance based on operating results through contribution margin, which is comprised of gross profit less selling 
expense.  Gross profit is net sales less cost of sales.  Cost of sales consists primarily of inventory and components, consumables, salaries, 
other employee-related costs, facilities-related costs for manufacturing locations, machinery and equipment maintenance and depreciation, 
site sub-contractors, warranty costs, enterprise resource and service management systems, inventory obsolescence and write-downs, 
inventory procurement and handling costs, and other manufacturing, installation, and service delivery expenses.  Selling expenses consist 
primarily of salaries, other employee-related costs, travel and entertainment expenses, facilities-related costs for sales and service offices, 
bad debt expenses, third-party commissions and expenditures for marketing efforts, including the costs of collateral materials, conventions 
and trade shows, product demonstrations, customer relationship management systems, and supplies.  Contribution margin excludes general 
and administration expense, product design and development expense, non-operating income and expense and income tax expense.  Assets 
are not allocated to the segments.  Depreciation and amortization are allocated to each segment based on various financial measures; 
however, some depreciation and amortization are corporate in nature and remain unallocated.  Our segments follow the same accounting 
policies as those described in "Note 1. Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies."  Some expenses or services 
are not directly allocable to a sale or segment or the resources and related expenses are shared across business segment areas.  These 
expenses are allocated using estimates and allocation methodologies based on some financial measures and professional judgment.  Shared 
or unabsorbed manufacturing costs are allocated to the business unit benefiting most from that manufacturing location's production 
capabilities.  Shared or unabsorbed costs of domestic field sales and services infrastructure, including most field administrative staff, are 
allocated  to  the  Commercial,  Live  Events,  High  School  Park  and  Recreation,  and  Transportation  business  units  based  on  cost  of 
sales.  Shared manufacturing, buildings and utilities, and procurement costs are allocated based on payroll dollars, square footage and 
various other financial measures in the segment analysis.  Separate financial information is available and regularly evaluated by our chief 
operating decision-maker ("CODM"), who is our president and chief executive officer, in making resource allocation decisions for our 
segments.

We do not maintain information on sales by products; therefore, disclosure of such information is not practical.

49

 
The following table sets forth certain financial information for each of our five reporting segments for the periods indicated:

April 27,
2019

Year Ended
April 28,
2018

April 29,
2017

$

$

$

$

148,833
170,952
91,187
64,391
94,341
569,704

31,785
32,164
26,858
22,525
16,962
130,294

13,218
18,484
14,518
18,260
1,166
65,646

34,817
35,557
(4,728)

1,031
(160)
(1,087)

(4,944)
(3,986)
(958)

4,795
5,194
1,965
1,102
2,829
2,750
18,635

$

$

$

$

134,535
236,333
87,627
59,578
92,457
610,530

26,665
49,755
29,317
21,247
18,685
145,669

7,986
35,439
18,317
17,048
4,119
82,909

34,919
35,530
12,460

723
(217)
(537)

12,429
6,867
5,562

6,199
4,783
1,646
1,138
1,163
2,855
17,784

$

$

$

$

148,073
213,982
82,798
52,426
89,260
586,539

36,514
40,810
26,388
18,027
18,676
140,415

18,046
27,750
16,114
13,465
3,353
78,728

34,226
29,081
15,421

751
(230)
(354)

15,588
5,246
10,342

6,337
5,032
1,725
1,267
2,317
2,714
19,392

Net sales:

Commercial
Live Events
High School Park and Recreation
Transportation
International

Gross profit:

Commercial
Live Events
High School Park and Recreation
Transportation
International

Contribution margin: (1)

Commercial
Live Events
High School Park and Recreation
Transportation
International

Non-allocated operating expenses:

General and administrative
Product design and development
Operating (loss) income

Nonoperating income (expense):

Interest income
Interest expense
Other (expense) income, net

(Loss) Income before income taxes
Income tax (benefit) expense
Net (loss) income

Depreciation, amortization and impairment:

Commercial
Live Events
High School Park and Recreation
Transportation
International
Unallocated corporate depreciation

(1) Contribution margin consists of gross profit less selling expense.

50

 
 
 
 
 
 
No single geographic area comprises a material amount of our net sales or property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation, 
other than the United States.  The following table presents information about net sales and property and equipment, net of accumulated 
depreciation, in the United States and elsewhere:

Net sales:

United States
Outside United States

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation:

United States
Outside United States

April 27,
2019

Year Ended
April 28,
2018

April 29,
2017

$

$

$

$

460,099
109,605
569,704

59,192
6,122
65,314

$

$

$

$

501,646
108,884
610,530

61,206
6,853
68,059

$

$

$

$

485,044
101,495
586,539

62,425
4,324
66,749

We have numerous customers worldwide for sales of our products and services, and no customer accounted for 10% or more of net sales; 
therefore, we are not economically dependent on a limited number of customers for the sale of our products and services. 

We have numerous raw material and component suppliers, and no supplier accounts for 10% or more of our cost of sales; however, we 
have a number of single-source suppliers that could limit our supply or cause delays in obtaining raw material and components needed 
in manufacturing.

Note 4. Marketable Securities 

We have a cash management program which provides for the investment of cash balances not used in current operations.  We classify 
our investments in marketable securities as available-for-sale in accordance with the provisions of ASC 320, Investments – Debt and 
Equity Securities.  Marketable securities classified as available-for-sale are reported at fair value with unrealized gains or losses, net of 
tax, reported  in accumulated other comprehensive  loss  in  the consolidated balance sheets.  As  it relates to  fixed income marketable 
securities, it is not likely we will be required to sell any of these investments before recovery of the entire amortized cost basis.  In 
addition, as of April 27, 2019, we anticipate we will recover the entire amortized cost basis of such fixed income securities, and we have 
determined no other-than-temporary impairments associated with credit losses were required to be recognized.  The cost of securities 
sold is based on the specific identification method.  Where quoted market prices are not available, we use the market price of similar 
types of securities traded in the market to estimate fair value.  

As of April 27, 2019 and April 28, 2018, our available-for-sale securities consisted of the following:

Balance as of April 27, 2019:
Certificates of deposit
U.S. Government securities
U.S. Government sponsored entities
Municipal bonds

Balance as of April 28, 2018:
Certificates of deposit
U.S. Government securities
U.S. Government sponsored entities
Municipal bonds

Amortized
Cost

Unrealized
Losses

Fair Value

$

$

$

$

3,464
10,779
10,510
1,626
26,379

8,669
999
20,072
4,936
34,676

$

$

$

$

— $
(5)
(28)
(2)
(35)

$

— $
(7)
(123)
(24)
(154)

$

3,464
10,774
10,482
1,624
26,344

8,669
992
19,949
4,912
34,522

Realized gains or losses on investments are recorded in our consolidated statements of operations as "Other (expense) income, net."  Upon 
the sale of a security classified as available-for-sale, the security’s specific unrealized gain (loss) is reclassified out of accumulated other 
comprehensive loss into earnings based on the specific identification method.  In the fiscal years ended April 27, 2019 and April 28, 2018, 
the reclassifications from accumulated other comprehensive loss to net earnings were immaterial. 

51

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
All available-for-sale securities are classified as current assets, as they are readily available to support our current operating needs.  The 
contractual maturities of available-for-sale debt securities as of April 27, 2019 were as follows:

Certificates of deposit
U.S. Government securities
U.S. Government sponsored entities
Municipal bonds

Note 5. Business Combination 

AJT Systems, Inc. Acquisition

Less than 12
months

1-5 Years

Total

$

$

2,234
10,774
7,245
1,624
21,877

$

$

1,230
—
3,237
—
4,467

$

$

3,464
10,774
10,482
1,624
26,344

We acquired the net assets of AJT Systems, Inc. ("AJT"), a Florida-based company, on June 21, 2018.  The results of its operations have 
been included in our consolidated financial statements since the date of acquisition.  We have not made pro forma disclosures about our 
acquisition of AJT because the results of its operations are not material to our consolidated financial statements.

AJT is a developer of real-time live to air graphics rendering and video server systems for the broadcast TV industry.  This acquisition 
will allow our organization to grow and strengthen our solution offerings to the market.  This acquisition was primarily funded with cash 
on hand and with payments made over a three-year time frame.

Note 6. Sale of Non-Digital Division Assets 

During fiscal 2018, we sold our non-digital division assets, primarily consisting of inventory, non-digital manufacturing equipment, 
patented and unpatented technology and know-how, customer lists, and backlog, net of warranty obligations and accounts payable with 
a net book value of $517.  We recorded a gain of $1,267 on the disposal, which is included in cost of sales in the International business 
unit during fiscal 2018.

During fiscal 2017, we chose to transition out of the non-digital market in our International business unit.  At that time, we identified 
certain related technology and customer lists with carrying values deemed to not be recoverable, and we recognized an impairment loss 
of $830.  This was included in cost of sales and selling expense in the consolidated statement of operations during fiscal 2017 in the 
International business unit.  The impairment loss was calculated based on expected future cash flows using Level 3 inputs.  The Level 3 
inputs included weighted average estimated future cash flows from non-digital product sales and estimated selling value of non-digital 
intellectual property.

Note 7. Goodwill and Intangible Assets 

We account for goodwill and intangible assets in accordance with ASC 350, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.

Goodwill

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill related to each reportable segment for the fiscal year ended April 27, 2019 were as 
follows: 

Balance as of April 28, 2018:

Foreign currency translation

Balance as of April 27, 2019:

Live Events
2,295
$
(19)
2,276

$

Commercial
3,344
$
(126)
3,218

$

Transportation
67
$
(18)
49

$

International
2,558
$
(212)
2,346

$

$

$

Total

8,264
(375)
7,889

We perform an analysis of goodwill on an annual basis, and it is tested for impairment more frequently if events or changes in circumstances 
indicate that an asset might be impaired.  We perform our annual analysis during our third quarter of each fiscal year, based on the goodwill 
amount as of the first business day of our third fiscal quarter.

In conducting our impairment testing, we compare the fair value of each of our business units to the related carrying value of the allocated 
assets.  We utilize the income approach based on discounted projected cash flows to estimate the fair value of each unit.  The projected 
cash flows use many estimates including market conditions, expected market demand and our ability to grow or maintain market share, 

52

 
 
 
gross profit, and expected expenditures for capital and operating expenses.  Assets shared or not directly attributed to a reportable segment's 
activities are allocated to the reportable segment based on sales and other measures. 

We performed our annual impairment test and concluded no goodwill impairment existed for fiscal years 2019, 2018, and 2017.

Intangible Assets

The following table summarizes intangible assets, net, as of April 27, 2019 and April 28, 2018:

April 27, 2019

Weighted
Average Life
(in years)

Gross 
Carrying 
Amount

Registered trademarks
Software
Customer relationships
Other
Total amortized intangible assets

Registered trademarks
Software
Customer relationships
Other
Total amortized intangible assets

19.5
3.0
10.0
1.4
6.0

Weighted
Average Life
(in years)

20.0
3.0
10.0
1.0
7.8

$

$

$

$

Accumulated 
Amortization
148
$
3,807
888
103
4,946

$

Net Carrying 
Amount

$

$

531
2,523
1,832
20
4,906

679
6,330
2,720
123
9,852

April 28, 2018

Gross 
Carrying 
Amount

709
2,978
2,859
100
6,646

Accumulated 
Amortization
118
$
2,109
637
100
2,964

$

Net Carrying 
Amount

$

$

591
869
2,222
—
3,682

In the fiscal years 2019, 2018, and 2017, amortization expense including impairment related to intangible assets was $2,157, $1,330, and 
$2,546,  respectively.   Amortization  expenses  are  included  primarily  in  product  design  and  development  and  selling  expense  in  the 
consolidated statement of operations.

As of April 27, 2019, amortization expenses for future periods were estimated to be as follows:

Fiscal years ending
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Thereafter
Total expected amortization expense

Amount

1,495
1,492
485
288
287
859
4,906

$

$

Note 8. Selected Financial Statement Data 

Inventories consisted of the following: 

Raw materials
Work-in-process
Finished goods

Property and equipment, net consisted of the following:

April 27,
2019

April 28,
2018

$

$

30,789
8,239
39,804
78,832

$

$

30,570
8,645
36,120
75,335

53

 
 
 
 
Land
Buildings
Machinery and equipment
Office furniture and equipment
Computer software and hardware
Equipment held for rental
Demonstration equipment
Transportation equipment

Less accumulated depreciation

April 27,
2019

April 28,
2018

$

$

1,738
66,403
96,486
6,195
55,460
287
7,422
7,715
241,706
176,392
65,314

$

$

2,161
67,773
93,439
5,878
53,004
287
7,035
7,632
237,209
169,150
68,059

Our depreciation expense was $16,564, $16,273, and $16,732 for the fiscal years 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively.

In the fiscal years 2019, 2018, and 2017, the pretax impairment charges for property and equipment were immaterial. 

Accrued expenses consisted of the following:

Compensation
Taxes, other than income taxes
Accrued employee benefits
Short-term accrued expenses
Claims liabilities
Acquisition-related contingency consideration

Other (expense) income, net consisted of the following:

Foreign currency transaction (losses) gains
Equity in losses of affiliates
Other

Note 9. Receivables 

April 27,
2019

April 28,
2018

12,766
2,685
3,046
8,520
2,685
2,359
32,061

$

$

12,841
2,907
2,829
6,437
2,711
808
28,533

April 27,
2019

Year Ended
April 28,
2018

April 29,
2017

(262)
(844)
19
(1,087)

$

$

29
(481)
(85)
(537)

$

$

(331)
(136)
113
(354)

$

$

$

$

We invoice customers based on a billing schedule as established in our contracts.  We sometimes have the ability to file a contractor’s 
lien against the product installed as collateral and to file claims against surety bonds to protect our interest in receivables.  Foreign sales 
are at times secured by irrevocable letters of credit or bank guarantees.  Accounts receivable are reported net of an allowance for doubtful 
accounts of $2,208 and $2,151 at April 27, 2019 and April 28, 2018, respectively.  Included in accounts receivable as of April 27, 2019
and April 28, 2018 was $440 and $964, respectively, of retainage on construction-type contracts, all of which is expected to be collected 
within one year.

In some contracts with customers, we agreed to installment payments exceeding 12 months.  The present value of these contracts and 
leases are recorded as a receivable as the revenue is recognized in accordance with GAAP, and profit is recognized to the extent the 
present value is in excess of cost.  We generally retain a security interest in the equipment or in the cash flow generated by the equipment 
until the contract is paid.  The present value of long-term contracts and lease receivables, including accrued interest and current maturities, 
was $3,514 and $3,393 as of April 27, 2019 and April 28, 2018, respectively.  Contract and lease receivables bearing annual interest rates 
of 4.8 to 9.0 percent are due in varying annual installments through August 2024.  The face amount of long-term receivables was $3,271
as of April 27, 2019 and $3,733 as of April 28, 2018.  

54

 
 
 
 
 
Note 10. Financing Agreements

On November 15, 2016, we entered into a credit agreement and a related revolving note with a U.S. bank.  The agreement and note have 
a maturity date of November 15, 2019.  The revolving amount of the agreement and note is $35,000, including up to $15,000 for commercial 
and standby letters of credit.  The interest rate ranges from the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") plus 145 basis points to LIBOR 
plus 195 basis points depending on the ratio of our interest-bearing debt to EBITDA.  EBITDA is defined as net income before deductions 
for interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, all as determined in accordance with GAAP.  The effective interest 
rate was 3.9 percent at April 27, 2019.  We are assessed a loan fee equal to 0.125 percent per annum on any unused portion of the loan.  As 
of April 27, 2019, there were no advances to us under the loan portion of the line of credit, and the balance of letters of credit outstanding 
was approximately $9,797.  

The credit agreement is unsecured and requires us to be in compliance with the following financial ratios:

•  A minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 2 to 1 at the end of any fiscal year.  The ratio is equal to (a) EBITDA minus 
the sum of dividends or other distributions (unless the bank approves), share repurchases, a maintenance capital expenditure 
reserve in the amount of $6,000, and income tax to (b) all principal and interest payments with respect to indebtedness, excluding 
principal payments on the line of credit; and

•  A ratio of funded debt, excluding any marketing obligations, to EBITDA of less than 1 to 1 at the end of any fiscal quarter.

On November 15, 2016, we entered into an amended and restated loan agreement and a continuing and unlimited guaranty agreement 
with another U.S. bank which supports our credit needs outside of the United States.  The loan and guaranty have a maturity date of 
November 15, 2019.  The revolving amount of the loan is $20,000.  We intend to use the borrowings under the agreement to support 
credit needs for general corporate purposes outside the United States.  This credit agreement is unsecured.  It contains the same covenants 
as the credit agreement on the line of credit and contains an inter creditor agreement whereby the debt has a cross default provision with 
the primary credit agreement.  Total credit allowed between the two credit agreements is limited to $55,000.  The interest rate is equal 
to LIBOR plus 1.5 percent.  As of April 27, 2019, there were no advances outstanding under the loan agreement and approximately $3,496
in bank guarantees under this line of credit.

We expect to enter into a new credit facility, loan agreement, and guaranty agreement prior to our current agreements expiring in November 
2019.

Note 11. Share Repurchase Program 

On June 17, 2016, our Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program under which we may purchase up to $40,000 of the 
Company's outstanding shares of common stock.  Under this program, we may repurchase shares from time to time in open market 
transactions and in privately negotiated transactions based on business, market, applicable legal requirements and other considerations.  
The repurchase program does not require the repurchase of a specific number of shares and may be terminated at any time.  During fiscal 
2018 and 2019, we had no repurchases of shares of our outstanding common stock.  During fiscal 2017, we repurchased 284 shares of 
common stock at a total cost of $1,825.  As of April 27, 2019, we had $38,175 of remaining capacity under our current share repurchase 
program.

Note 12. Shareholders’ Equity and Share-Based Compensation

Common stock:  Our 120,000 authorized shares consist of 115,000 shares of common stock and 5,000 shares of “undesignated stock.”  Our 
Board of Directors has the power to authorize and issue any or all of the shares of undesignated stock without shareholder approval, 
including the authority to establish the rights and preferences of the undesignated stock.

Each outstanding share of our common stock includes one preferred share purchase right.  Each right entitles the registered holder to 
purchase from us one one-thousandth of one share of our Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock at an initial exercise price of $25
per right, subject to adjustment and the terms of the shareholder rights agreement under which the dividend was declared and paid.  The 
rights become exercisable immediately after the earlier of (i.) 10 business days following a public announcement that a person or group 
has acquired beneficial ownership of 20 percent or more of our outstanding common shares (subject to certain exclusions) or (ii.) 10
business days following the commencement or announcement of an intention to make a tender offer or exchange offer for our common 
shares, the consummation of which would result in the beneficial ownership by a person or group of 20 percent or more of our outstanding 
common shares.  The rights expire on November 19, 2021, which date may be extended by our Board of Directors subject to certain 
additional conditions.

Stock incentive plans:  During fiscal 2016, we established the 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (“2015 Plan”) and ceased granting options under 
the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan ("2007 Plan").  The 2015 Plan provides for the issuance of stock-based awards, including stock options, 
restricted stock, restricted stock units and deferred stock, to employees, directors and consultants.  Stock options issued to employees 
under the plans generally have a 10-year life, an exercise price equal to the fair market value on the grant date and a five-year annual 

55

vesting period.  Stock options granted to independent directors under these plans have a seven-year life and an exercise price equal to 
the fair market value on the date of grant.  Stock options granted to independent directors vest in one year, provided that the directors 
remain on the Board.  The restricted stock granted to independent directors vests in one year, provided that the directors remain on the 
Board.  Restricted stock units are granted to employees and have a five-year annual vesting period.  As with stock options, restricted 
stock and restricted stock unit ownership cannot be transferred during the vesting period.

At April 27, 2019, the aggregate number of shares available for future grant under the 2015 Plan for stock options and restricted stock 
awards was 1,536 shares.  Shares of common stock subject to all stock awards granted under the 2015 Plan are counted as one share of 
stock for each share of stock subject to the award.  Although the 2007 Plan remains in effect for options outstanding that were granted 
under the 2007 Plan until the earlier of the exercise of the options or their expiration or termination without being exercised, no new 
options can be granted under the 2007 Plan.

Restricted stock and restricted stock units: We issue restricted stock to our non-employee directors and restricted stock units to employees.  
Restricted stock issued to non-employee directors are participating securities and receive dividends prior to vesting.  Unvested restricted 
stock will terminate and be forfeited upon termination of employment or service.  The fair value of restricted stock and our restricted 
stock unit awards are measured on the grant date based on the market value of our common stock.  The related compensation expense 
as calculated under ASC 718, net of estimated forfeitures, is recognized over the applicable vesting period.  Unrecognized compensation 
expense related to the restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards was approximately $2,286 at April 27, 2019, which is expected to 
be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.8 years.  The total fair value of restricted stock vested was $1,530, $1,274, and $1,214
in fiscal years 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively.

A summary of nonvested restricted stock and restricted stock units for fiscal years 2019, 2018, and 2017 is as follows:

April 27, 2019

Number of
Nonvested
Shares

Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Per Share

437
181
(169)
(5)
444

$

$

8.48
6.79
9.05
7.74
7.58

Year Ended
April 28, 2018

Number of
Nonvested
Shares

Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Per Share

402
178
(141)
(2)
437

$

$

8.69
8.46
9.06
8.93
8.48

April 29, 2017

Number of
Nonvested
Shares

Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Per Share

384
157
(134)
(5)
402

$

$

9.10
8.00
9.03
8.98
8.69

Outstanding at beginning of year

Granted
Vested
Forfeited

Outstanding at end of year

Stock Options:  We issue incentive stock options to our employees and non-qualified stock options to our independent directors.  A 
summary of stock option activity under our 2007 Plan and 2015 Plan during the fiscal year ended April 27, 2019 is as follows:

Outstanding at April 28, 2018

Granted
Canceled or forfeited
Exercised

Outstanding at April 27, 2019

Shares vested and expected to vest
Exercisable at April 27, 2019

Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price Per
Share

Stock
Options

2,305
175
(119)
(159)
2,202

2,179
1,684

$

$

$
$

10.02
7.83
8.88
8.31
10.03

10.05
10.32

Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life (Years)
4.51
—
—
—
4.41

4.37
3.30

$

$

$
$

Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value

356
—
—
98
—

—
—

The aggregate intrinsic value of stock options represents the difference between the exercise price of stock options and the fair market 
value of the underlying common stock for all in-the-money options.  We define in-the-money options at April 27, 2019 as options having 
exercise prices lower than the $7.30 per share market price of our common stock on that date.  There were in-the-money options to 
purchase 0 shares exercisable at April 27, 2019.  The total intrinsic value of options exercised during fiscal years 2019, 2018, and 2017
was $98, $65, and $64, respectively.  The total fair value of stock options vested was $667, $977, and $1,102 for fiscal years 2019, 2018, 
and 2017, respectively.

56

 
 
We estimate the fair value of stock options granted using the Black-Scholes option valuation model.  We recognize the fair value of the 
stock options on a straight-line basis as compensation expense.  All options are recognized over the requisite service periods of the awards, 
which are generally the vesting periods.

The Black-Scholes option-pricing model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options which have no vesting 
restrictions and are fully transferable.  In addition, option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions, including 
the expected stock price volatility.  ASC 718 requires us to estimate forfeitures at the time of grant and revise those estimates in subsequent 
periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates.  We use historical data to estimate pre-vesting option forfeitures and record share-
based compensation expense only for those awards expected to vest.  The following factors are the significant assumptions used in the 
computation of the fair value of options:

Expected life.  The expected life of options granted represents the period of time they are expected to be outstanding.  We estimate 
the expected life of options granted based on historical exercise patterns, which we believe are representative of future behavior.  We 
have examined our historical pattern of option exercises in an effort to determine if there were any discernible patterns of activity 
based  on  certain  demographic  characteristics.  Demographic  characteristics  tested  included  age,  salary  level,  job  level  and 
geographic  location.  We  have  determined  there  were  no  meaningful  differences  in  option  exercise  activity  based  on  the 
demographic characteristics tested.

Expected volatility.  We estimate the volatility of our common stock at the date of grant based on historical volatility consistent 
with ASC 718 and Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107, Share Based Payments.  

Risk-free interest rate.  The rate is based on the U.S. Treasury zero-coupon yield curve on the grant date for a term similar to the 
expected life of the options.

Dividend yield.  We use an expected dividend yield consistent with our historical dividend yield pattern.

The following table provides the weighted-average fair value of options granted and the related assumptions used in the Black-Scholes 
model:

Fair value of options granted
Risk-free interest rate
Expected dividend rate
Expected volatility
Expected life of option

April 27,
2019

Year Ended
April 28,
2018

April 29,
2017

$

$

2.16
2.83%
3.37%
38.58%
6.83 years

2.82
1.95%
3.27%
42.51%
6.83 years

$

2.93

1.31 - 1.44%
3.15%
44.12 - 44.51%
5.78 - 6.98 years

Employee stock purchase plan:  We have an employee stock purchase plan (“ESPP”), which enables employees after six months of 
continuous employment to elect, in advance and semi-annually, to contribute up to 15 percent of their compensation, subject to certain 
limitations, toward the purchase of our common stock at a purchase price equal to 85 percent of the lower of the fair market value of the 
common stock on the first or last day of the participation period.  The ESPP requires participants to hold any shares purchased under the 
ESPP for a minimum period of one year after the date of purchase.  Compensation expense recognized on shares issued under our ESPP 
is based on the value of a traded option to purchase shares of our stock at a 15 percent discount to the stock price.  The total number of 
shares reserved under the ESPP is 4,000.  The number of shares of common stock issued under the ESPP totaled 241, 223, and 118 shares 
in fiscal 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively.  The number of shares of common stock reserved for future employee purchases under the 
ESPP totaled 1,433 shares at April 27, 2019.  The ESPP is intended to qualify under Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 
(the "Code"). 

Total share-based compensation expense:  As of April 27, 2019, there was $3,306 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to 
nonvested share-based compensation arrangements granted under all equity compensation plans.  Total unrecognized compensation cost 
will be adjusted for future changes in estimated forfeitures.  We expect to recognize the cost over a weighted-average period of 2.9 years. 

57

The following table presents a summary of the share-based compensation expense by equity type as follows:

Stock options
Restricted stock and stock units
Employee stock purchase plans

April 27,
2019

Year Ended
April 28,
2018

April 29,
2017

$

$

593
1,446
440
2,479

$

$

763
1,442
430
2,635

$

$

1,072
1,287
555
2,914

A summary of the share-based compensation expense for stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units and shares issued under 
the ESPP for fiscal years 2019, 2018, and 2017 is as follows:

Cost of sales
Selling
General and administrative
Product design and development

April 27,
2019

Year Ended
April 28,
2018

April 29,
2017

$

$

578
625
772
504
2,479

$

$

619
644
851
521
2,635

$

$

714
723
877
600
2,914

We received $1,318 in cash from option exercises under all share-based payment arrangements for the fiscal year ended April 27, 2019.  
The tax (expense) benefit related to non-qualified options and restricted stock units under all share-based payment arrangements totaled 
$(52), $9, and $2 for fiscal years 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively.

Note 13. Retirement Benefits

We sponsor a 401(k) savings plan providing benefits for substantially all United States-based employees of Daktronics, Inc. and its 
subsidiaries, subject to certain Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") limits.  We make matching cash contributions equal to 50 percent of the 
employee's  qualifying  contribution  up  to  six  percent  of  such  employee's  compensation.    Employees  are  eligible  to  participate  upon 
completion of three months of continuous service if they have attained the age of 21.  We contributed $2,754, $2,612 and $2,463 for 
matches to the plan for fiscal years 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively.

Note 14. Income Taxes

The Tax Act was enacted on December 22, 2017, which reduced the U.S. federal statutory tax rate to 21 percent effective January 1, 
2018.  Pursuant to the Tax Act, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118, Income Tax Accounting Implications of the Tax 
Act (SAB 118), which allows us to record provisional amounts during a measurement period not to extend beyond one year from the 
enactment date.  We finalized the accounting for the re-measurement of U.S. deferred tax assets and deemed repatriation tax, resulting 
in an immaterial tax expense for fiscal 2019.  We have also elected to recognize tax resulting from any Global Intangible Low Taxed 
Income (GILTI) inclusion as a period cost if, and when, incurred.

During fiscal 2019, our effective income tax rate increased primarily due to a tax benefit of a book loss plus permanent credits and 
deductions, the release of $2,741 in unrecognized tax benefits, and the reversal of a valuation allowance of $471 related to foreign net 
operating loss carryforwards. 

The effective income tax rate for fiscal 2018 was higher than the federal statutory rate primarily due to the impacts of the Tax Act signed 
into law on December 22, 2017, which included a $3,534 re-measurement of deferred taxes resulting in an impact to tax expense and a 
$285 estimated one-time transition tax on certain undistributed earnings for our foreign subsidiaries.  The Tax Act reduced the federal 
normal statutory rate from 35 percent to 21 percent; however, since we are a fiscal year tax filer, a blended rate of 30.4 percent was used 
for fiscal year 2018.

The effective income tax rate for fiscal 2017 included the impact of benefits from increased research and development tax credits, which 
were offset by valuation allowances recorded during the current year in certain foreign jurisdictions.

58

 
 
 
 
 
The following tables reflect the significant components of our income tax provision.  The pretax income attributable to domestic and 
foreign operations was as follows:

Domestic
Foreign

Income before income taxes

Income tax (benefit) expense consisted of the following:

Current:
Federal
State
Foreign
Deferred:
Federal
State
Foreign

April 27,
2019

Year Ended
April 28,
2018

(8,402)
3,458
(4,944)

$

$

9,235
3,194
12,429

April 27,
2019

Year Ended
April 28,
2018

(2,142)
384
1,151

(2,725)
(390)
(264)
(3,986)

$

$

1,646
868
1,205

3,693
27
(572)
6,867

$

$

$

$

April 29,
2017

16,010
(422)
15,588

April 29,
2017

5,268
1,158
863

(1,625)
(397)
(21)
5,246

$

$

$

$

The reconciliation of the provision for income taxes and the amount computed by applying the federal statutory rate to income before 
income taxes is as follows:

Computed income tax (benefit) expense at federal statutory rates
Change in uncertain tax positions
Research and development tax credit
Other, net
Change in valuation allowances
GILTI
Stock compensation
Meals and entertainment
Dividends paid to retirement plan
State taxes, net of federal benefit
Impact of Tax Act
Domestic production activities deduction

April 27,
2019

Year Ended
April 28,
2018

April 29,
2017

$

$

(1,038)
(2,600)
(1,278)
587
(471)
391
308
248
(158)
25
—
—
(3,986)

$

$

3,779
65
(1,598)
559
(486)
—
336
333
(238)
592
3,819
(294)
6,867

$

$

5,456
97
(1,573)
378
388
—
497
299
(293)
539
—
(542)
5,246

59

 
 
 
 
 
The components of the net deferred tax asset were as follows:

Deferred tax assets:

Accrued warranty obligations
Vacation accrual
Deferred maintenance revenue
Allowance for excess and obsolete inventory
Equity compensation
Allowance for doubtful accounts
Inventory capitalization
Accrued compensation and benefits
Unrealized loss on foreign currency exchange
Net operating loss carry forwards
Research and development tax credit carry forwards
Other

Valuation allowance

Deferred tax liabilities:

Property and equipment
Prepaid expenses
Intangible assets
Unrealized gain on foreign currency exchange
Other

April 27,
2019

April 28,
2018

$

$

5,912
1,571
716
1,600
486
402
567
549
—
1,059
1,299
1,647
15,808
(893)
14,915

(3,100)
(476)
(623)
(6)
(75)
(4,280)
10,635

$

$

7,282
1,567
392
1,376
553
531
481
651
37
1,286
334
1,042
15,532
(1,506)
14,026

(4,881)
(486)
(1,302)
—
(41)
(6,710)
7,316

The classification of net deferred tax assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets is:

Non-current assets
Non-current liabilities

April 27,
2019

April 28,
2018

$

$

11,168
(533)
10,635

$

$

7,930
(614)
7,316

The summary of changes in the amounts related to unrecognized uncertain tax benefits are:  

Balance at beginning of year

Gross increases related to prior period tax positions
Gross decreases related to prior period tax positions
Gross increases related to current period tax positions
Lapse of statute of limitations

Balance at end of year

April 27,
2019

April 28,
2018

$

$

3,178
13
(18)
146
(2,741)
578

$

$

3,113
82
(30)
152
(139)
3,178

All of our unrecognized tax benefits would have an impact on the effective tax rate if recognized.  It is reasonably possible that the amount 
of unrecognized tax benefits could change due to one or more of the following events occurring in the next 12 months: expiring statutes, 
audit activity, tax payments, or competent authority proceedings.  A statute of limitations relating to $159 of the unrecognized tax benefits 
(including interest) expires in the next 12 months.  The benefit will be recognized if the statute lapses with no further action taken by 
regulators.  Additionally, we recognized the release of $2,741 in unrecognized tax benefits related to the lapse of a statute of limitations 
in fiscal 2019.

60

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest and penalties incurred associated with uncertain tax positions are included in the "Income tax expense" line item in our consolidated 
statement of operations.  Accrued interest and penalties are included in the related tax liability line item in our consolidated balance sheets 
of $26 and $238 as of April 27, 2019 and April 28, 2018, respectively.

As of April 27, 2019, we had foreign net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards of approximately $5,722 primarily related to our operations 
in  Belgium  and  Ireland,  which  have  indefinite  lives.   A  deferred  tax  asset  has  been  recorded  for  all  NOL  carryforwards  totaling 
approximately $1,059.  However, due to uncertainty in future taxable income, a valuation allowance totaling approximately $687 has 
been recorded in Belgium.  During fiscal 2019, the previous valuation allowance related to Ireland of $471 was reversed because it was 
determined that future taxable income is expected to realize the losses.  If sufficient evidence of our ability to generate future taxable 
income in the jurisdictions in which we currently maintain a valuation allowance causes us to determine that our deferred tax assets are 
more likely than not realizable, we would release our valuation allowance, which would result in an income tax benefit being recorded 
in our consolidated statement of operations.

Additional tax information:  

We are subject to U.S. federal income tax as well as income taxes of multiple state and foreign jurisdictions.  Fiscal years 2016, 2017 
and  2018  remain  open  to  federal  tax  examinations,  and  fiscal  years  2015,  2016,  2017  and  2018  remain  open  for  state  income  tax 
examinations.  Certain subsidiaries are also subject to income tax in several foreign jurisdictions which have open tax years varying by 
jurisdiction beginning in fiscal 2008.  In the event of any future tax assessments, we have elected to record the income taxes and any 
related interest and penalties as income tax expense in our consolidated statement of operations.

As of April 27, 2019, we had no deferred tax liability recognized relating to our investment in foreign subsidiaries where the earnings 
have been indefinitely reinvested.  The Tax Act generally eliminates U.S. federal income taxes on dividends from foreign subsidiaries, 
and, as a result, the accumulated undistributed earnings would be subject only to other taxes, such as withholding taxes and state income 
taxes, on the distribution of such earnings.  No additional withholding or income taxes have been provided for any remaining undistributed 
foreign earnings not subject to the one-time deemed repatriation tax, as it is our intention for these amounts to continue to be indefinitely 
reinvested in foreign operations in all of our non-U.S. jurisdictions.

61

Note 15. Cash Flow Information

The changes in operating assets and liabilities consisted of the following:

April 27,
2019

Year Ended
April 28,
2018

April 29,
2017

(Increase) decrease:
Account receivable
Long-term receivables
Inventories
Contract assets
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Income taxes receivables
Investment in affiliates and other assets

Increase (decrease):
Accounts payable
Contract liabilities
Accrued expenses
Warranty obligations
Long-term warranty obligations
Income taxes payable
Long-term marketing obligations and other payables

$

$

10,856
329
(4,076)
(3,040)
472
4,250
48

(2,747)
10,774
4,631
(4,393)
(1,079)
(3,023)
(1,116)
11,886

$

$

2,266
1,548
(8,517)
5,911
(1,252)
(4,747)
413

(2,573)
3,480
3,472
346
1,729
(592)
379
1,863

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information consisted of the following:

Cash payments for:

Interest
Income taxes, net of refunds

April 27,
2019

Year Ended
April 28,
2018

$

177
(1,934)

$

193
8,937

$

$

$

(2,718)
2,213
3,581
(6,203)
(980)
4,201
(611)

5,544
278
3,208
(2,986)
389
1,331
(43)
7,204

April 29,
2017

228
3,196

Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities consisted of the following:

Demonstration equipment transferred to inventory

$

97

$

72

$

218

April 27,
2019

Year Ended
April 28,
2018

April 29,
2017

Purchases of property and equipment included in

accounts payable

Contributions of common stock under the ESPP

Contingent consideration related to acquisition

Note 16. Fair Value Measurement

1,106

1,650

—

1,983

1,682

—

2,524

840

31

ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement, defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an 
exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.  It also establishes a fair value hierarchy which 
requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.  The 
fair value hierarchy within ASC 820 distinguishes between the following three Levels of inputs which may be utilized when measuring 
fair value:

Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 - Observable inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 for the assets or liabilities, either directly or indirectly (for 
example, quoted market prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or quoted market prices for identical assets or 

62

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
liabilities in markets not considered to be active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, or 
market-corroborated input).

Level 3 - Unobservable inputs supported by little or no market activity based on our own assumptions used to measure assets and liabilities.

The fair values for fixed-rate long-term receivables are estimated using a discounted cash flow analysis based on interest rates currently 
being offered for contracts with similar terms to customers with similar credit quality.  The carrying amounts reported in our consolidated 
balance sheets for long-term receivables approximate fair value and have been categorized as a Level 2 fair value measurement.  Fair 
values  for  fixed-rate  long-term  marketing  obligations  are  estimated  using  a  discounted  cash  flow  calculation  applying  interest  rates 
currently being offered for debt with similar terms and underlying collateral.  The total carrying value of long-term marketing obligations 
as reported in our consolidated balance sheets within other long-term obligations approximates fair value and has been categorized as a 
Level 2 fair value measurement.

The following table sets forth by Level within the fair value hierarchy our financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair 
value on a recurring basis at April 27, 2019 and April 28, 2018 according to the valuation techniques we used to determine their fair 
values.  There have been no transfers of assets or liabilities among the fair value hierarchies presented.

Balance as of April 27, 2019:
Cash and cash equivalents
Restricted cash
Available-for-sale securities:
Certificates of deposit
U.S. Government securities
U.S. Government sponsored entities
Municipal bonds

Derivatives - asset position
Derivatives - liability position
Acquisition-related contingency consideration

Balance as of April 28, 2018:
Cash and cash equivalents
Restricted cash
Available-for-sale securities:
Certificates of deposit
U.S. Government securities
U.S. Government sponsored entities
Municipal bonds

Derivatives - asset position
Derivatives - liability position
Acquisition-related contingency consideration

Level 1

Fair Value Measurements
Level 3
Level 2

Total

$

$

$

$

35,383
359

—
10,774
—
—
—
—
—
46,516

29,727
28

—
992
—
—
—
—
—
30,747

$

$

$

$

— $
—

— $
—

35,383
359

3,464
—
10,482
1,624
91
(4)
—
15,657

$

—
—
—
—
—
—
(3,065)
(3,065)

$

3,464
10,774
10,482
1,624
91
(4)
(3,065)
59,108

— $
—

— $
—

29,727
28

8,669
—
19,949
4,912
41
(236)
—
33,335

$

—
—
—
—
—
—
(1,000)
(1,000)

$

8,669
992
19,949
4,912
41
(236)
(1,000)
63,082

A roll forward of the Level 3 contingent liabilities, both short- and long-term, for the fiscal year ended April 27, 2019 is as follows:

Acquisition-related contingency consideration as of April 28, 2018

$

Additions

Fair value adjustments (1)

Interest

Foreign currency translation

1,000

1,739

286

88

(48)

Acquisition-related contingency consideration as of April 27, 2019

$

3,065

(1) We recorded an adjustment to the contingent consideration liability during fiscal 2019, resulting in a decrease in income from operations.  
The adjustment was caused by a change in the fair value of the contingent liability.

63

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instrument.  There have been no 
changes in the valuation techniques used by us to value our financial instruments.

Cash  and  cash  equivalents:    Consists  of  cash  on  hand  in  bank  deposits  and  highly  liquid  investments,  primarily  money  market 
accounts.  The fair value was measured using quoted market prices in active markets.  The carrying amount approximates fair value.

Restricted cash:  Consists of cash and cash equivalents held in bank deposit accounts to secure issuances of foreign bank guarantees.  The 
fair value of restricted cash was measured using quoted market prices in active markets.  The carrying amount approximates fair value.

Certificates of deposit:  Consists of time deposit accounts with original maturities of less than three years and various yields.  The fair 
value of these securities was measured based on valuations observed in less active markets than Level 1 investments from a third-party 
financial institution.  The carrying amount approximates fair value.

U.S. Government securities:  Consists of U.S. Government treasury bills, notes, and bonds with original maturities of less than three years 
and various yields.  The fair value of these securities was measured using quoted market prices in active markets.

U.S. Government sponsored entities:  Consists of Fannie Mae and Federal Home Loan Bank investment grade debt securities trading 
with sufficient frequency and volume to enable us to obtain pricing information on an ongoing basis.  The fair value of these securities 
was  measured  based  on  valuations  observed  in  less  active  markets  than  Level  1  investments.  The  contractual  maturities  of  these 
investments vary from one month to three years.

Municipal bonds:  Consists of investment grade municipal bonds trading with sufficient frequency and volume to enable us to obtain 
pricing information on an ongoing basis.  The contractual maturities of these investments vary from two to three years.  The fair value 
of these bonds was measured based on valuations observed in less active markets than Level 1 investments.

Derivatives – currency forward contracts:  Consists of currency forward contracts trading with sufficient frequency and volume to enable 
us to obtain pricing information on an ongoing basis.  The fair value of these securities was measured based on a valuation from a third-
party bank.  See "Note 17. Derivative Financial Instruments" for more information regarding our derivatives.

Contingent liabilities:  Consists of the fair value of liabilities measured on expected future payments relating to business acquisitions if 
specified future events occur or conditions are met.  The contingent liabilities were calculated by estimating the discounted present value 
of expected future payments as of the acquisition date and subsequently at the end of each reporting period.  The fair value measurement 
is based on significant unobservable inputs as of April 27, 2019 and April 28, 2018.  The unobservable inputs included management 
expectations and forecasts.  To the extent that these assumptions change or actual results differ from these estimates, the fair value of the 
contingent consideration liabilities could change from $3,065 to $0.  The contingent liabilities are presented in the "Accrued expenses" 
and "Other long-term obligations" line items in our consolidated balance sheets.

Non-recurring measurements:  The fair value measurement standard also applies to certain non-financial assets and liabilities measured 
at  fair  value  on  a  nonrecurring  basis.  Certain  long-lived  assets  such  as  goodwill,  intangible  assets  and  property  and  equipment  are 
measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis and are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances, such as when there is 
evidence of impairment. 

Other measurements using fair value:  Some of our financial instruments, such as accounts receivable, long-term receivables, prepaid 
expense and other assets, contract assets and liabilities, accounts payable, warranty obligations, and other long-term obligations, are 
reflected in the consolidated balance sheets at carrying value, which approximates fair value due to their short-term nature.

Note 17. Derivative Financial Instruments

We utilize derivative financial instruments to manage the economic impact of fluctuations in currency exchange rates on those transactions 
denominated in currencies other than our functional currency, which is the U.S. dollar.  We enter into currency forward contracts to 
manage these economic risks.  We account for all derivatives in the consolidated balance sheets within accounts receivable or accounts 
payable measured at fair value, and changes in fair values are recognized in earnings unless specific hedge accounting criteria are met 
for cash flow or net investment hedges.  As of April 27, 2019 and April 28, 2018, we had not designated any of our derivative instruments 
as accounting hedges, and thus we recorded the changes in fair value in "Other (expense) income, net" line item in the consolidated 
statements of operations.

64

 
The foreign currency exchange contracts in aggregated notional amounts in place to exchange U.S. dollars at April 27, 2019 and 
April 28, 2018 were as follows:

Foreign Currency Exchange Forward Contracts:

U.S. Dollars/Australian Dollars

U.S. Dollars/Canadian Dollars

U.S. Dollars/British Pounds

U.S. Dollars/Singapore Dollars

U.S. Dollars/Euros

U.S. Dollars/Swiss Franc

U.S. Dollars/Malaysian Ringgit

April 27, 2019

April 28, 2018

U.S.
Dollars

Foreign
Currency

U.S.
Dollars

Foreign
Currency

2,688

625

3,547

—

—

927

60

3,772

821

2,680

—

—

925

246

1,081

2,165

5,856

236
(854)
41

—

1,400

2,819

4,368

312
(708)
40

—

As of April 27, 2019, there was an asset and liability of $91 and $4, respectively, and as of April 28, 2018, there was an asset and liability 
of $41 and $236, respectively, representing the fair value of foreign currency exchange forward contracts, which were determined using 
Level 2 inputs from a third-party bank.  As of April 27, 2019 all contracts mature within 23 months.

Note 18. Commitments and Contingencies

Litigation:  We are a party to legal proceedings and claims which arise during the ordinary course of business.  We review our legal 
proceedings and claims, regulatory reviews and inspections, and other legal matters on an ongoing basis and follow appropriate accounting 
guidance when making accrual and disclosure decisions.  We establish accruals for those contingencies when the incurrence of a loss is 
probable and can be reasonably estimated, and we disclose the amount accrued and the amount of a reasonably possible loss in excess 
of the amount accrued, if such disclosure is necessary for our financial statements to not be misleading.  We do not record an accrual 
when the likelihood of loss being incurred is probable, but the amount cannot be reasonably estimated, or when the loss is believed to 
be only reasonably possible or remote, although disclosures will be made for material matters as required by ASC 450-20, Contingencies 
- Loss Contingencies.  Our assessment of whether a loss is reasonably possible or probable is based on our assessment and consultation 
with legal counsel regarding the ultimate outcome of the matter following all appeals.

As of April 28, 2018, we recorded a liability and related other receivable of $1,904 for a net claim from a customer against work performed 
by one of our subcontractors during installation which damaged our customer's property.  The amount recorded was for the probable and 
reasonably estimated cost to remediate the damage.  During fiscal 2019, this claim settled and was fully covered by insurance.

As of April 27, 2019 and April 28, 2018, a customer was withholding $1,969 of payment claiming we did not perform to the customer's 
specifications.    While  we  believe  that  we  have  performed  to  the  agreed-upon  written  specifications  and  have  strong  contractual 
documentation to support our position, in order to preserve our relationship, we agreed to provide additional services and products in 
fiscal 2019 at a loss of $1,516, which is included in cost of sales in the Live Events business unit.  We were paid in full on this matter 
after April 27, 2019. 

For other unresolved legal proceedings or claims, we do not believe there is a reasonable probability that any material loss would be 
incurred.  Accordingly, no material accrual or disclosure of a potential range of loss has been made related to these matters.  We do not 
expect the ultimate liability of these unresolved legal proceedings or claims to have a material effect on our financial position, liquidity 
or capital resources.

Warranties:  See "Note 1. Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" for more information regarding warranties.  
During fiscal 2016, we discovered a warranty issue caused by a mechanical device failure within a module for displays primarily in our 
OOH application built prior to fiscal 2013.  During fiscal 2019, 2018, and 2017, we recognized warranty expense and estimated equipment 
service agreement losses for probable and reasonably estimated costs to remediate this issue of $2,427, $4,539, and $1,766, respectively.  
As of April 27, 2019, we had $984 remaining accrued for equipment service agreement obligations for the estimate of probable future 
claims related to this issue.  Our contractual warranty arrangements have expired for products with this issue, and we do not expect 
material changes to the equipment service agreement accrual.

65

 
 
 
 
 
 
Changes in our warranty obligation for the fiscal years ended April 27, 2019, April 28, 2018, and April 29, 2017 consisted of the following:

Beginning accrued warranty obligations
Warranties issued during the period
Settlements made during the period
Changes in accrued warranty obligations for pre-

existing warranties during the period, including
expirations

Ending accrued warranty obligations

April 27, 2019
29,953
$
9,239
(16,715)

April 28, 2018
27,899
$
11,961
(17,653)

April 29, 2017
30,496
$
10,930
(16,790)

1,993
24,470

$

7,746
29,953

$

3,263
27,899

$

Performance  guarantees:  We  have  entered  into  standby  letters  of  credit  and  surety  bonds  with  financial  institutions  relating  to  the 
guarantee of our future performance on contracts, primarily construction-type contracts.  As of April 27, 2019, we had outstanding letters 
of credit and surety bonds in the amount of $13,293 and $9,900, respectively.  Performance guarantees are issued to certain customers 
to guarantee the operation and installation of the equipment and our ability to complete a contract.  These performance guarantees have 
various terms but are generally one year.  We enter into written agreements with our customers, and those agreements often contain 
indemnification provisions that require us to make the customer whole if certain acts or omissions by us cause the customer financial 
loss.  We make efforts to negotiate reasonable caps and limitations on the recovery of such damages.  As of April 27, 2019, we were not 
aware of any indemnification claim from a customer.

Leases:  We lease vehicles, office space and equipment for various global sales and service locations, including manufacturing space in 
the United States and China.  Some of these leases, including the lease for manufacturing facilities in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, include 
provisions for extensions or purchase.  The lease for the facilities in Sioux Falls, South Dakota can be extended for an additional five 
years past its current term, which ends March 31, 2022.  This lease contains an option to purchase the property subject to the lease from 
March 31, 2017 to March 31, 2022 for $9,000, which approximates fair value.  If the lease is extended, the purchase option increases to 
$9,090 for the year ending March 31, 2023 and $9,180 for the year ending March 31, 2024.  Rental expense for operating leases was 
$3,495, $3,477 and $3,175 for the fiscal years 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively.  

Future minimum payments under noncancelable operating leases, excluding executory costs such as management and maintenance fees, 
with initial or remaining terms of one year or more consisted of the following at April 27, 2019:

Fiscal years ending
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Thereafter

Amount

3,038
2,510
1,608
269
193
101
7,719

$

$

Purchase commitments:  From time to time, we commit to purchase inventory, advertising, cloud-based information systems, information 
technology maintenance and support services, and various other products and services over periods that extend beyond one year.  As of 
April 27, 2019, we were obligated under the following unconditional purchase commitments:

Fiscal years ending
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Thereafter

Note 19. Subsequent Events

Amount

6,055
4,485
2,693
1,820
113
153
15,319

$

$

On May 30, 2019, our Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.05 per share on our common stock payable on 
June 20, 2019 to holders of record of our common stock on June 10, 2019.

66

 
 
 
Note 20. Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

The following table presents summarized quarterly financial data:

Net sales
Gross profit
Net income (loss)
Basic earnings (loss) per share
Diluted earnings (loss) per share

Net sales
Gross profit
Net income (loss)
Basic earnings (loss) per share
Diluted earnings (loss) per share

$

$

July 28,
2018
154,188
38,247
4,574
0.10
0.10

July 29,
2017
172,728
44,646
8,429
0.19
0.19

Fiscal Year 2019(1)(2)

October 27,
2018

$

172,692
42,757
8,606
0.19
0.19

$

January 26,
2019
115,069
24,869
(3,319)
(0.07)
(0.07)

Fiscal Year 2018(3)(4)(5)

October 28,
2017

$

169,309
42,604
7,132
0.16
0.16

$

January 27,
2018
130,316
28,567
(6,189)
(0.14)
(0.14)

$

$

April 27,
2019
127,755
24,421
(10,819)
(0.24)
(0.24)

April 28,
2018
138,177
29,852
(3,810)
(0.09)
(0.09)

(1)  The financial data for the quarter ended October 27, 2018 includes the net assets acquired of AJT Systems, Inc.  See "Note 

5. Business Combination" for further information.

(2)  The financial data for the quarter ended January 26, 2019 includes the release of $2,775 in unrecognized tax benefits related 
to the lapse of a statute of limitations and the release of $480 for a valuation allowance reversal related to foreign net operating 
loss carryforwards.  For the year, see "Note 14. Income Taxes" for further information.

(3)  The financial data for the quarter ended October 28, 2017 includes the sale of our non-digital division assets.  See "Note 6. 

Sale of Non-Digital Division Assets" for further information. 

(4)  The financial data for the quarters ended October 28, 2017 and April 28, 2018 includes additional warranty charges due to 
specific site issues of $3,179 and $2,354, respectively.  For the year, see "Note 18. Commitments and Contingencies" for 
further information. 

(5)  The financial data for the quarters ended January 27, 2018 and April 28, 2018 includes the effects of the Tax Act, which 
impacted our deferred tax asset valuation and our deemed repatriation of foreign earnings with an increase to tax expense 
of $4,280 and a decrease to tax expense of $461.  See "Note 14. Income Taxes" for further information.

67

Item 9.  CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL 
DISCLOSURE

None.  

Item 9A.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Management of our Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective disclosure controls and procedures as defined in 
Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  As of April 27, 2019, an evaluation was performed, under the supervision 
and with the participation of management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the 
design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures.  Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief 
Financial Officer concluded that as of April 27, 2019, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance 
level to ensure information required to be disclosed in this Annual Report on Form 10-K was recorded, processed, summarized and 
reported within the time period required by the SEC’s rules and forms and accumulated and communicated to management, including 
our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

During the quarter ended April 27, 2019, there have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially 
affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined 
in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  Our internal control system was designed to provide reasonable assurance 
to our management and board of directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements.  All internal 
control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations.  Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can 
provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, 
we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control
—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework).  Based 
on our evaluation under the framework in Internal Control—Integrated Framework, our management concluded our internal control over 
financial reporting was effective as of April 27, 2019.

Our internal control over financial reporting as of April 27, 2019 has been audited by Deloitte & Touche, LLP, our independent registered 
public accounting firm, which is included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

By /s/ Reece A. Kurtenbach

Reece A. Kurtenbach

Chief Executive Officer

June 7, 2019

By /s/ Sheila M. Anderson

Sheila M. Anderson

Chief Financial Officer

June 7, 2019

68

 
 
 
 
 
Item 9B.  OTHER INFORMATION

None.

PART III.

Item 10.  DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The information required by this Item 10 will be included under the captions “Proposal One - Election of Directors” and “Corporate 
Governance” in our Proxy Statement for our 2019 annual meeting of shareholders (“Proxy Statement”) to be filed within 120 days after 
our  most  recent  fiscal  year-end.  Information  concerning  the  compliance  of  our  officers,  directors  and  10  percent  shareholders  with 
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is incorporated by reference to the information to be contained in the Proxy Statement 
under the caption “Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports.”  The information regarding Audit Committee members and “Audit Committee 
Financial Experts” is incorporated by reference to the information to be contained in the Proxy Statement under the caption “Corporate 
Governance–Committees of the Board of Directors.”  The information regarding our Code of Conduct is incorporated by reference to 
the information to be contained in the Proxy Statement under the heading “Corporate Governance – Code of Conduct.”

Item 11.  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Information regarding the compensation of our directors and officers for the fiscal year ended April 27, 2019 will be in the Proxy Statement 
under the heading “Proposal One - Election of Directors” and “Executive Compensation” and is incorporated herein by reference.

We maintain a Code of Conduct which applies to all of our employees, officers and directors.  Included in the Code of Conduct are ethics 
provisions  that  apply  to  our  Chief  Executive  Officer,  Chief  Financial  Officer  and  all  other  financial  and  accounting  management 
employees.  A copy of our Code of Conduct can be obtained from our website at www.daktronics.com on the Investor Relations page and 
will be made available free of charge to any shareholder upon request.  Information on or available through our website is not part of this 
Form 10-K.  We intend to disclose any waivers from, or amendments to, the Code of Conduct by posting a description of such waiver or 
amendment on our Internet website.  However, to date, we have not granted a waiver from the Code of Conduct.

Item  12.  SECURITY  OWNERSHIP  OF  CERTAIN  BENEFICIAL  OWNERS  AND  MANAGEMENT  AND  RELATED 
STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

The security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management will be contained in the Proxy Statement under the heading “Security 
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” and “Executive Compensation - Securities Authorized for Issuance Under 
Equity Compensation Plans” and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 13.  CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

Information  required  by  this  item  is  incorporated  by  reference  from  the  sections  entitled  “Proposal  One  –  Election  of  Directors  – 
Independent Directors” and “Corporate Governance - Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” that will be contained 
in our Proxy Statement.  There were no related party transactions in fiscal 2019.

Item 14.  PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

Information regarding our principal accountant will be contained in the Proxy Statement under the heading “Proposal Three - Ratification 
of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” and is incorporated herein by reference. 

69

PART IV.

Item 15.  EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

(a)(1)  Financial Statements

Our financial statements, a description of which follows, are contained in Part II, Item 8:

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm - Deloitte & Touche LLP
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm - Ernst & Young LLP
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of April 27, 2019 and April 28, 2018
Consolidated Statements of Operations for each of the three fiscal years ended April 27, 2019, April 28, 2018, and April 29, 2017
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for each of the three fiscal years ended April 27, 2019, April 28, 2018, and 
April 29, 2017
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for each of the three fiscal years ended April 27, 2019, April 28, 2018, and April 
29, 2017
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for each of the three fiscal years ended April 27, 2019, April 28, 2018, and April 29, 2017
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 

(2) 

Schedules

The following financial statement schedule is submitted herewith:

Schedule II – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

Other schedules are omitted because they are not required or are not applicable or because the required information is included in 
the financial statements listed above.

(3) 

Exhibits

A list of exhibits required to be filed as part of this report is set forth in the Index of Exhibits, which immediately precedes such 
exhibits, and is incorporated herein by reference. 

ADFLOW®, AJT Systems®, All Sport®, Daktronics®, D®, DakStats®, DataTime®, Fuelight™, Fuelink™, Galaxy®, GalaxyPro™, Go 
Digital®,  Hoffend®,  Keyframe®,  Matside®,  OmniSport®,  ProAd®,  ProPixel®,  ProRail®,  ProStar®,  Replay®,  Sportsound®, 
Statvision®, Tuff Sport®, Uniview®, Vac®, Vanguard®, Venus®, Visiconn®, V-Tour®, V-Link®, and Web-Sync® are trademarks of 
Daktronics, Inc.  All other trademarks referenced are the intellectual property of their respective companies.

70

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Annual 
Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on June 7, 2019.

DAKTRONICS, INC.

By:  /s/ Reece A. Kurtenbach

Chief Executive Officer and President

(Principal Executive Officer)

By:  /s/ Sheila M. Anderson

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf 
of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature

By /s/ Byron J. Anderson 
Byron J. Anderson

By /s/ Robert G. Dutcher 
Robert G. Dutcher

By /s/ Nancy D. Frame 
Nancy D. Frame

By /s/ Reece A. Kurtenbach 
Reece A. Kurtenbach

By /s/ James B. Morgan 
James B. Morgan

By /s/ John P. Friel
John P. Friel

By /s/ Kevin P. McDermott
Kevin P. McDermott

Title

Director

Date

June 7, 2019

Director

June 7, 2019

Director

June 7, 2019

Director

June 7, 2019

Director

June 7, 2019

Director

June 7, 2019

Director

June 7, 2019

71

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DAKTRONICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS 
(in thousands)

Description

For the year ended April 27, 2019:

Deducted from asset accounts:

Additions

Balance at
Beginning
of Year

Charged to 
Costs and
 Expenses

Charged to
Other
Accounts

Deductions

Balance
at End
of Year

Allowance for doubtful accounts

$

2,151

$

1,620

$

—

$

(1,563) (a) $

2,208

For the year ended April 28, 2018:

Deducted from asset accounts:

Allowance for doubtful accounts

2,610

1,451

For the year ended April 29, 2017:

Deducted from asset accounts:

Allowance for doubtful accounts

2,797

2,496

(a) 

Write-off of uncollected accounts, net of collections.

—

—

(1,910) (a)

2,151

(2,683) (a)

2,610

72

 
Index of Exhibits

Certain of the following exhibits are incorporated by reference from prior filings.  The form with which each exhibit was filed and 
the date of filing are as indicated below; the reports described below are filed as Commission File No. 0-23246 unless otherwise 
indicated.

73

3.1

3.2

4.1

4.2

4.3

4.5

4.6

4.7

4.8

4.9

10.1

10.2

10.3

10.4

10.5

16.1

21.1
23.1
23.2
24
31.1

31.2

32.1

32.2

101

Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the 
Current Report on Form 10-Q/A (Amendment No. 1) of Daktronics, Inc. filed on December 21, 2018). 

Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 filed with our Annual Report 
on Form 10-K on June 12, 2013).
Form of Stock Certificate Evidencing Common Stock, without par value, of the Company (Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.1 filed with our Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 on January 12, 1994 as
Commission File No. 33-72466).**
Rights Agreement dated as November 16, 2018 between Daktronics, Inc. and Equiniti Trust Company, as Rights Agent 
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Current Report on Form 8-K of Daktronics, Inc. filed on November 16, 
2018).
Daktronics, Inc. 2007 Incentive Stock Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 filed with our Quarterly Report 
on Form 10-Q on August 20, 2007).*
Daktronics, Inc. 2015 Incentive Stock Plan ("2015 Plan") (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit A to the Company's 
Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on July 14, 2015).*
Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement under the 2015 Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 filed with 
our Current Report on Form 8-K on September 3, 2015).*
Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement Terms and Conditions under the 2015 Plan (Incorporated by reference 
to Exhibit 10.3 filed with our Current Report on Form 8-K on September 3, 2015).*
Form of Incentive Stock Option Terms and Conditions under the 2015 Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 
filed with our Current Report on Form 8-K on September 3, 2015).*
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Terms and Conditions under the 2015 Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 
filed with our Current Report on Form 8-K on September 3, 2015).*
Credit Agreement dated November 15, 2016 by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association 
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 filed with our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 16, 2016).
Revolving Note dated November 15, 2016 issued by the Company to U.S. Bank National Association (Incorporated by 
reference to Exhibit 10.2 filed with our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 16, 2016).
Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated November 15, 2016 by and between the Company and Bank of America, 
N.A.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 filed with our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 16, 
2016).
Continuing and Unconditional Guaranty dated November 15, 2016 by and between the Company and Bank of America, 
N.A. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 filed with our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 16, 
2016).
Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated May 5, 2017 by and between the Company and Bank of America, N.A. 
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 filed with our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on June 9, 2017).
Letter from Ernst & Young LLP, dated September 14, 2017, to the Securities and Exchange Commission (Incorporated 
by reference to Exhibit 16.1 filed with our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 15, 2017).

Subsidiaries of the Company.  (1)
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.  (1)
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.  (1)
Power of Attorney.  (1)
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) under the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (1)
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange 
Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (1)
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. 
Section 1350). (1)
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. 
Section 1350). (1)
The following financial information from our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 27, 2019,
formatted in Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) the
Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iv) the
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity, (v) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, (vi) Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements, and (vii) document and entity information. (1)
(1)
**
*

Filed herewith electronically.
Paper filing.
Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

74

 
(This page has been left blank intentionally.)

DIRECTORS & COMPANY MANAGERS

Byron J. Anderson2, 3
Former Senior Vice President
Agilent Technologies, Inc.

James B. Morgan1, 3
Former President and CEO
Daktronics, Inc.

1 Member of Audit Committee
2 Member of Compensation Committee
3 Member of Nominating and Governance Committee

Reece A. Kurtenbach 
Chairman of the Board, President and CEO

Sheila M. Anderson
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer 

Matthew J. Kurtenbach
Vice President of Manufacturing

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

Robert G. Dutcher2
Former Strategic Advisor Lead Member of 
MEDRAD, Inc.

Nancy D. Frame3
Former Deputy Director
U.S. Trade and Development Agency

Kevin P. McDermott1
Chief Audit Executive of Pinnacle 
Financial Partners, Inc. 
Former Partner KPMG LLP 

John P. Friel1, 2
CEO Vascor, Inc.
Former President & CEO of MEDRAD, 
Inc.

NON-INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Bradley T. Wiemann
Executive Vice President of Commerical, 
High School Park and Recreation, and 
Transportation Business Units 

Carla S. Gatzke
Vice President of Human Resources and 
Secretary 

Brett D. Wendler
Vice President of Engineering
Jay W. Parker
Vice President of Live Events Sales
Pete F. Egart
Vice President of EMELA Sales

OTHER OFFICERS

Sarah B. Rose
Vice President of Services
Seth T. Hansen
Vice President of Project Management
Daniel J. Chase
Vice President of Asia-Pacific Sales

Rich E. Hintz
Vice President of Information Technology
Judd C. Guthmiller
Vice President of International Operations

INVESTOR INFORMATION

ANNUAL MEETING
September 4, 2019, 7:00pm Central Daylight Time
Daktronics, Inc.
201 Daktronics Drive
Brookings, South Dakota
Shareholders of record on July 8, 2019 will be eligible to vote 
at the meeting.

INQUIRIES & INFORMATION
Daktronics, Inc.
Investor Relations
PO Box 5128
Brookings, SD 57006
Website: www.daktronics.com
Email: investor@daktronics.com
Phone: 605-692-0200
Fax: 605-697-4700

STOCK TRANSFER AGENT & REGISTRAR
Equiniti Trust Company
(Formerly Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.)
EQ Shareowner Services
PO Box 64874
St. Paul, MN  55164-0874
Or Overnight Mail:  
1110 Centre Pointe Curve, Suite 101
Mendota Heights, MN 55120

800-468-9716
www.shareowneronline.com

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC 
ACCOUNTING FIRM
Deloitte & Touche, LLP 
Minneapolis, Minnesota

LEGAL COUNSEL
Winthrop & Weinstine, P.A., 
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:
This annual report, including information incorporated by reference and the Annual Report on Form 10-K, contains both historical and forward-looking statements that 
involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The statements contained in this report that (including exhibits and any information incorporated by reference) are not purely 
historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21B of the Securities Exchange Act 
of 1934, as amended, including statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, intentions and strategies for the future. These statements appear in a number of places in 
this report and include all statements that are not historical statements of fact regarding the intent, belief or current expectations with respect to, among other things: (i.) 
our competition; (ii.) our financing plans; (iii.) trends affecting our financial condition or results of operations; (iv.) our growth and operating strategies; (v.) the declaration 
and payment of dividends; (vi.) the timing and magnitude of future contracts; (vii.) raw material shortages and lead times; (viii.) fluctuations in margins; (ix.) the seasonality 
of our business; (x.) the introduction of new products and technology; (xi.) the amount and frequency of warranty claims; (xii.) our ability to manage the impact that new 
or adjusted tariffs may have on the cost of raw materials and components and our ability to sell product internationally; (xiii.) the resolution of litigation contingencies; 
and (xiv.) the timing and magnitude of any acquisitions or dispositions. The words “may,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “will,” “expect,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” 
“intend,” “plan” and similar expressions and variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking 
statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our ability to control, and that actual results may differ 
materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors discussed herein, including those discussed in the section of the Annual 
Report on Form 10-K entitled “Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors” and “Part, II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” 
and those factors discussed in detail in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Copyright © 2019 Daktronics, Inc.