ARCBEST CORP /DE/ Goodwill & Intangibles Disclosure
NOTE D – GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Goodwill represents the excess of cost over the fair value of net identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired. The goodwill balance of $304.8 million at December 31, 2025 and 2024 relates to the Asset-Light segment. The accumulated impairment of goodwill at December 31, 2025 and 2024 totaled $20.0 million.
Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized but evaluated for impairment annually as of October 1, or more frequently if indicators of impairment exist (see Note B). The annual impairment evaluation of the goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets of the Asset-Light reporting unit was performed as of October 1, 2025. A third-party valuation specialist was utilized in performing the annual impairment analysis and it was determined that there was no impairment to the recorded goodwill balance. However, it was determined that its indefinite-lived trade name within the Asset-Light reporting unit was impaired. A noncash asset impairment charge of $6.6 million, included within the asset impairments charges line of Asset-Light segment operating expenses, was recorded during the fourth quarter of 2025 as the result of a decline in projected revenue and profitability in the current recessionary freight environment (see Note C).
The evaluation of goodwill impairment requires management’s judgement and the use of estimates and assumptions to determine if indicators of impairment exist at an interim date. Assumptions require considerable judgement because changes in broad economic factors and industry factors can result in variable and volatile fair values. Changes in key estimates and assumptions that impact the fair value of the operations, including the impact of excess capacity and a soft truckload market rate environment, could materially affect future analyses and result in material impairments of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets.
Intangible assets as of December 31 consisted of the following:
2025 | 2024 |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Weighted-Average | Accumulated | Impairment | Net | Accumulated | Net |
| ||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization Period | | Cost | | Amortization | | Charge | | Value | | Cost | | Amortization | | Value |
| ||||||||
(in years) | (in thousands) | (in thousands) |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Finite-lived intangible assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Customer relationships |
| 12 | $ | 99,579 | $ | 68,206 | $ | — | $ | 31,373 | $ | 99,579 | $ | 59,782 | $ | 39,797 | ||||||||
Other | 9 | 30,655 | 18,297 | — | 12,358 | 30,438 | 13,920 | 16,518 | ||||||||||||||||
| 11 |
| 130,234 |
| 86,503 | — |
| 43,731 | 130,017 |
| 73,702 |
| 56,315 | |||||||||||
Indefinite-lived intangible asset | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Trade name(1) |
| N/A |
| 32,300 |
| N/A | 6,640 |
| 25,660 | 32,300 |
| N/A |
| 32,300 | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total intangible assets |
| N/A | $ | 162,534 | $ | 86,503 | $ | 6,640 | $ | 69,391 | $ | 162,317 | $ | 73,702 | $ | 88,615 | ||||||||
| (1) | A noncash asset impairment charge was recorded in fourth quarter 2025, as previously discussed. |
As of December 31, 2025, the future amortization for intangible assets acquired through business acquisitions was as follows:
| Amortization of | | ||
Intangible Assets |
| |||
(in thousands) | ||||
2026 | $ | 8,693 | ||
2027 |
| 7,269 | ||
2028 |
| 7,269 | ||
2029 |
| 7,223 | ||
2030 | 6,712 | |||
Thereafter | 6,565 | |||
Total amortization | $ | 43,731 | ||
Historical Timeline
| Fiscal Year | Filed | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Feb 25, 2026 | Showing above |
| 2024 | Mar 3, 2025 | |
| 2023 | Feb 23, 2024 | |
| 2022 | Feb 24, 2023 | |
| 2021 | Feb 25, 2022 | |
| 2020 | Feb 26, 2021 | |
| 2019 | Feb 28, 2020 | |
| 2018 | Feb 28, 2019 | |
| 2017 | Feb 28, 2018 | |
| 2016 | Feb 28, 2017 | |
| 2015 | Feb 26, 2016 | |
About Goodwill & Intangibles Disclosures
Goodwill and intangible asset disclosures reveal the premium paid in acquisitions and how management assesses whether that premium retains its value. Since goodwill is no longer amortized under US GAAP, the annual impairment test is the only mechanism that adjusts carrying values downward — making the assumptions behind that test critically important for investors.
Key signals: a history of goodwill impairments suggests management consistently overpays for acquisitions. Watch the gap between reporting unit fair value and carrying amount — when fair value exceeds carrying amount by less than 10-20%, a small decline in business performance could trigger a write-down. For finite-lived intangibles, examine useful life assumptions across customer relationships, technology, and trade names; aggressive estimates inflate near-term earnings. Compare total intangibles-to-total-assets ratios against peers to assess acquisition dependency. Rising goodwill as a percentage of equity can signal balance sheet fragility.