4. Revenue Recognition

The Company utilizes the cost-to-cost method of percentage-of-completion to recognize revenue on the majority of its performance obligations that are satisfied over time because it best depicts the transfer of control to the customer. Under the cost-to-cost method of percentage-of-completion, the Company measures progress based on the ratio of costs incurred to date to total estimated costs for the performance obligation. The Company recognizes changes in estimated sales or costs and the resulting profit or loss on a cumulative basis. Contract adjustments represent the cumulative effect of the changes on prior periods. If a loss is expected on a performance obligation, the complete estimated loss is recorded in the period in which the loss is identified.

There is significant judgment involved in estimating costs, particularly in the Transport segment. The Transport segment considers risks of contract performance such as technical requirements, schedule, duration and key contract dependencies. Contract estimates are subject to change throughout the duration of the contract as additional information becomes available that impacts risks and estimated revenue and costs. In addition, as contract modifications such as new orders are received, the additional units are factored into the overall contract estimate of costs and transaction price.

Net contract adjustments impacted the Company’s results as follows (in millions, except per share amounts):

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2025

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

Net sales

 

$

(12.3

)

 

$

(27.3

)

 

$

18.8

 

Operating income

 

 

(33.1

)

 

 

(44.8

)

 

 

2.9

 

Net income

 

 

(25.4

)

 

 

(34.3

)

 

 

2.2

 

Diluted earnings per share

 

$

(0.39

)

 

$

(0.52

)

 

$

0.03

 

The Transport segment incurs pre-production engineering, factory setup and other contract fulfillment costs related to products produced for its customers under long-term contracts. A deferred contract cost asset is recognized for costs incurred to fulfill an existing contract or highly-probable anticipated contract if such costs generate or enhance resources that will be used in satisfying performance obligations in the future and the costs are expected to be recovered. Costs related to customer-owned tooling that will be used in production and for which the customer has provided a non-cancelable right to use the tooling to perform during the contract term are also recognized as a deferred contract cost asset. Deferred contract costs related to the NGDV contract with the USPS are amortized over the anticipated production volume of the NGDV contract. The Company periodically assesses its deferred contract costs for impairment.

Deferred contract costs, the majority of which are related to the NGDV contract, consisted of the following (in millions):

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2025

 

 

2024

 

Engineering costs

 

$

497.8

 

 

$

506.1

 

Customer-owned tooling

 

 

274.3

 

 

 

277.3

 

Factory setup costs

 

 

52.2

 

 

 

52.5

 

Costs for anticipated contracts

 

 

1.2

 

 

 

6.7

 

Deferred contract costs

 

$

825.5

 

 

$

842.6

 

The Company estimates that deferred contract costs exceed future profits on existing orders by approximately $135 million at December 31, 2025.

Changes in the Company’s deferred contract costs were as follows (in millions):

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2025

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

Balance at beginning of period

 

$

842.6

 

 

$

710.7

 

 

$

415.8

 

Additions to deferred contract costs

 

 

16.0

 

 

 

136.1

 

 

 

305.7

 

Amortization of deferred contract costs

 

 

(32.5

)

 

 

(4.2

)

 

 

(10.8

)

Impairment of deferred contract costs

 

 

(0.6

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at end of period

 

$

825.5

 

 

$

842.6

 

 

$

710.7

 

Disaggregation of Revenue

Consolidated net sales disaggregated by segment and timing of revenue recognition are as follows (in millions):

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 2025

 

 

 

Access

 

 

Vocational

 

 

Transport

 

 

Corporate and Other

 

 

Total

 

Point in time

 

$

4,416.2

 

 

$

2,812.8

 

 

$

67.0

 

 

$

19.2

 

 

$

7,315.2

 

Over time

 

 

78.2

 

 

 

914.1

 

 

 

2,029.7

 

 

 

85.1

 

 

 

3,107.1

 

 

$

4,494.4

 

 

$

3,726.9

 

 

$

2,096.7

 

 

$

104.3

 

 

$

10,422.3

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 2024

 

 

 

Access

 

 

Vocational

 

 

Transport

 

 

Corporate and Other

 

 

Total

 

Point in time

 

$

5,097.8

 

 

$

2,459.4

 

 

$

16.6

 

 

$

(3.3

)

 

$

7,570.5

 

Over time

 

 

66.9

 

 

 

850.9

 

 

 

2,138.6

 

 

 

103.3

 

 

 

3,159.7

 

 

$

5,164.7

 

 

$

3,310.3

 

 

$

2,155.2

 

 

$

100.0

 

 

$

10,730.2

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 2023

 

 

 

Access

 

 

Vocational

 

 

Transport

 

 

Corporate and Other

 

 

Total

 

Point in time

 

$

4,936.5

 

 

$

2,001.4

 

 

$

12.1

 

 

$

(8.4

)

 

$

6,941.6

 

Over time

 

 

53.5

 

 

 

576.7

 

 

 

1,989.3

 

 

 

96.8

 

 

 

2,716.3

 

 

$

4,990.0

 

 

$

2,578.1

 

 

$

2,001.4

 

 

$

88.4

 

 

$

9,657.9

 

See Note 24 for further disaggregated sales information.

Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities

The timing of billing does not always match the timing of revenue recognition. In instances where the Company recognizes revenue prior to billing, the Company records a contract asset (i.e., unbilled receivables). The Company reduces contract assets when the Company has an unconditional right to payment. The Company establishes allowances for expected credit losses. The Company did not record any losses on unbilled receivables in 2025, 2024 or 2023.

The Company is generally entitled to bill its customers upon satisfaction of its performance obligations, except for its long-term contracts in the Transport segment which typically allow for billing upon acceptance of the finished goods, payments received from customers in advance of performance, payments for rights to purchase future goods and extended warranties that are billed in advance of the warranty coverage period. Customer payment terms generally do not exceed one year. See Note 9 for additional information on the Company’s receivables balances.

With the exception of Pierce in the Vocational segment, the Company’s contracts typically do not contain a significant financing component. Pierce customers earn interest on customer advances at a rate determined in a separate financing transaction between Pierce and the customer at the time of receipt. Interest on customer advances is recorded in “Interest expense” and was $51.0 million, $39.2 million and $25.9 million in 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

In instances where a customer pays consideration in advance or when the Company is entitled to bill a customer in advance of recognizing the related revenue, the Company records a contract liability. The Company reduces contract liabilities when the Company transfers control of the promised goods and services. Contract assets and liabilities are determined on a net basis for each contract.

Contract liabilities consisted of the following (in millions):

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2025

 

 

2024

 

Customer advances

 

$

737.1

 

 

$

648.8

 

Other current liabilities

 

 

134.6

 

 

 

113.6

 

Non-current customer advances

 

 

1,222.7

 

 

 

1,154.4

 

Other non-current liabilities

 

 

85.1

 

 

 

72.7

 

Total contract liabilities

 

$

2,179.5

 

 

$

1,989.5

 

 

Revenue recognized during the period from beginning of the year contract liabilities was as follows (in millions):

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2025

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

Beginning liabilities recognized in revenue

 

$

640.5

 

 

$

640.7

 

 

$

582.7

 

The Company offers a variety of service-type warranties, including optionally priced extended warranty programs. Outstanding balances related to service-type warranties are included within contract liabilities. Revenue related to service-type warranties is deferred until after the expiration of the standard warranty period. The revenue is then recognized ratably over the term of the service-type warranty period. Changes in the Company’s service-type warranties were as follows (in millions):

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2025

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

Balance at beginning of period

 

$

96.0

 

 

$

85.4

 

 

$

76.1

 

Deferred revenue for new service warranties

 

 

52.7

 

 

 

43.7

 

 

 

34.2

 

Amortization of service warranty revenue

 

 

(39.6

)

 

 

(32.9

)

 

 

(25.1

)

Foreign currency translation

 

 

1.3

 

 

 

(0.2

)

 

 

0.2

 

Balance at end of period

 

$

110.4

 

 

$

96.0

 

 

$

85.4

 

Classification of service-type warranties in the Consolidated Balance Sheets consisted of the following (in millions):

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2025

 

 

2024

 

Other current liabilities

 

$

39.3

 

 

$

36.0

 

Other non-current liabilities

 

 

71.1

 

 

 

60.0

 

 

$

110.4

 

 

$

96.0

 

Remaining Performance Obligations

As of December 31, 2025, the Company had unsatisfied performance obligations for contracts with an original duration greater than one year totaling $12.4 billion, of which $4.8 billion is expected to be satisfied and recognized in revenue in 2026, $4.6 billion is expected to be satisfied and recognized in revenue in 2027 and $3.0 billion is expected to be satisfied and recognized in revenue beyond 2027.

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2025Feb 17, 2026Showing above
2024Feb 20, 2025
2023Feb 29, 2024
2022Feb 21, 2023
2021Nov 16, 2021
2020Nov 18, 2020
2019Nov 19, 2019

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.