Revenue Recognition—The Company’s retail operations segment recognizes merchandise revenue at the “point of sale”. An allowance for sales returns is recorded as a component of net sales in the period in which the related sales are recorded. Sales taxes collected from customers are excluded from revenue and are recorded in trade accounts payable and accrued expenses until remitted to the taxing authorities.

Citibank, N.A. (“Citi”) owns and manages Dillard’s private label cards under a 10-year agreement (“Citibank Alliance”) which expires in fiscal 2034. Pursuant to the Citibank Alliance, we receive on-going cash compensation from Citi based upon the portfolio’s earnings. The compensation received from the portfolio is determined monthly and has no recourse provisions. The amount the Company receives is dependent on the level of sales on Citi accounts, the level of balances carried on Citi accounts by Citi customers, payment rates on Citi accounts, finance charge rates and other fees on Citi accounts, the level of credit losses for the Citi accounts as well as Citi’s ability to extend credit to our customers. The Company’s share of income under the Citibank Alliance and former Wells Fargo Alliance is included as a component of service charges and other income. The Company recognized income of $54.1 million, $67.2 million and $67.8 million from the Citibank Alliance and former Wells Fargo Alliance in fiscal 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The Company participates in the marketing of the private label credit cards, which includes the cost of customer reward programs. Through the reward programs, customers earn points that are redeemable for discounts on future purchases.

The Company defers a portion of its net sales upon the sale of merchandise to its customer reward program members that is recognized in net sales when the reward is redeemed or expired at a future date.

Revenue from CDI construction contracts is generally measured based on the ratio of costs incurred to total estimated contract costs (the “cost-to-cost method”). The length of each contract varies but is typically nine to eighteen months. The progress towards completion is determined by relating the actual costs of work performed to date to the current estimated total costs of the respective contracts. When the estimate on a contract indicates a loss, the entire loss is recorded in the current period.

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2025Mar 28, 2025Showing above
2022Mar 29, 2022

About Revenue Disclosures

Revenue disclosures under ASC 606 explain how a company identifies performance obligations, allocates transaction prices, and determines when revenue is recognized. This section is essential for understanding whether reported revenue reflects genuine economic activity or aggressive accounting choices. Analysts examine the mix of point-in-time versus over-time recognition, which directly affects revenue timing and comparability.

Key signals: rising contract liabilities (deferred revenue) suggest strong future revenue visibility, while declining contract assets may indicate slowing project milestones. Watch for variable consideration estimates — rebates, returns, and performance bonuses that require management judgment. Significant changes in disaggregated revenue by geography or product line can reveal shifting business mix before it appears in headline numbers. Compare revenue growth against contract liability growth to assess sustainability, and scrutinize any changes in the timing of recognition that coincide with earnings pressure.