REVENUE RECOGNITION The Company's contracts with customers are comprised of purchase orders, and for larger customers, may also include long-term agreements. We account for a contract when it has approval and commitment from both parties, the rights of the parties and payment terms are identified, the contract has commercial substance and collectability of consideration is probable. These contracts with customers typically relate to the manufacturing of products, which represent single performance obligations that are satisfied when control of the product passes to the customer. The Company considers the timing of right to payment, transfer of risk and rewards, transfer of title, transfer of physical possession and customer acceptance when determining when control transfers to the customer. As a result, revenue is generally recognized at a point in time - either upon shipment or delivery - based on the specific shipping terms in the contract. The shipping terms vary across all businesses and depend on the product, customary local commercial terms and the type of transportation. Shipping and handling activities are accounted for as activities to fulfill a promise to transfer a product to a customer and as such, costs incurred are recorded when the related revenue is recognized. Payment for products is due within a limited time period after shipment or delivery, typically within 30 to 90 calendar days of the respective invoice dates. The Company does not generally offer extended payment terms.
Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration we expect to receive in exchange for transferring goods. Amounts billed and due from our customers are classified as accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts on the consolidated balance sheets. Certain contracts with customers, primarily distributor customers, have an element of variable consideration that is estimated when revenue is recognized under the contract. Variable consideration primarily includes volume incentive rebates, which are based on achieving a certain level of purchases and other performance criteria as established by our distributor programs. These rebates are estimated based on projected sales to the customer and accrued as a reduction of net sales as they are earned. The majority of our products are consumed by our customers or end users in the manufacture of their products. Historically, we have experienced very low levels of returned products and do not consider the effect of returned products to be material. We have recorded an estimated returned goods allowance to provide for any potential returns.
We warrant that products sold are free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use and service when correctly installed, used and maintained. This warranty terminates 30 days after delivery of the product to the customer and does not apply to products that have been subjected to misuse, abuse, neglect or improper storage, handling or maintenance. Products may be returned to Kennametal only after inspection and approval by Kennametal and upon receipt by the customer of shipping instructions from Kennametal. We have included an estimated allowance for warranty returns in our returned goods allowance discussed above.
The Company records a contract asset when it has a right to payment from a customer that is conditioned on events that have occurred other than the passage of time. The Company also records a contract liability when customers prepay but the Company has not yet satisfied its performance obligation. The Company did not have any material remaining performance obligations, contract assets or liabilities as of June 30, 2025 and 2024.
The Company pays sales commissions related to certain contracts, which qualify as incremental costs of obtaining a contract. However, the Company applies the practical expedient that allows an entity to recognize incremental costs of obtaining a contract as an expense when incurred if the amortization period of the asset that would have been recognized is one year or less. These costs are recorded within operating expense in our consolidated statements of income.
SHIPPING AND HANDLING FEES AND COSTS All fees billed to customers for shipping and handling are classified as a component of sales. All costs associated with shipping and handling are classified as a component of cost of goods sold.
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.