Garmin 10-K 2020-12-26
Filed 2021-02-17. 19 sections, 356K characters. Original on sec.gov · Markdown · JSON
Cover and table of contents
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 |
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For the fiscal year ended December 26, 2020
or
| [☐] | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
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For the transition period from to
Commission file number 0-31983
GARMIN LTD.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

| Switzerland (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | 98-0229227 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
| Mühlentalstrasse 2 8200 Schaffhausen Switzerland (Address of principal executive offices) | N/A (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: +41 52 630 1600
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Registered Shares, CHF 0.10 Per Share Par Value | GRMN | The Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Title of each class) | (Trading Symbol) | (Name of each exchange on which registered) |
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. Yes [☑] NO [☐]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulations 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). Yes [☑] NO [☐]
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 | [☑] | Accelerated Filer | [☐] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-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 has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☑
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES [☐] NO [☑]
Aggregate market value of the common shares held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 27, 2020 (based on the closing price of the registrant's common shares on the Nasdaq Stock Market for June 26, 2020) was approximately $14,141,000,000.
Number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common shares as of February 12, 2021:
Registered Shares, CHF 0.10 par value – 191,571,374 (excluding treasury shares)
Documents incorporated by reference:
Portions of the following document are incorporated herein by reference into Part III of the Form 10-K as indicated:
| Document | Part of Form 10‑K into which Incorporated |
|---|---|
| Company's Definitive Proxy Statement for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders which will be filed no later than 120 days after December 26, 2020. | Part III |
Garmin Ltd.
2020 Form 10-K Annual Report
Table of Contents
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT WITH RESPECT TO FORWARD-LOOKING COMMENTS
The discussions set forth in this Annual Report on Form 10-K contain statements concerning potential future events. Such forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions by the Company’s management, as of the date of this Annual Report, including assumptions about risks and uncertainties faced by the Company. In addition, management may make forward-looking statements orally or in other writings, including, but not limited to, in press releases, in the annual report to shareholders and in the Company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers can identify these forward-looking statements by their use of such verbs as “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes” or similar verbs or conjugations of such verbs. Forward-looking statements include any discussion of the trends and other factors that drive our business and future results in “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations.” Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their date. If any of management’s assumptions prove incorrect or should unanticipated circumstances arise, the Company’s actual results could materially differ from those anticipated by such forward-looking statements. The differences could be caused by a number of factors or combination of factors including, but not limited to, those factors identified under Item 1A “Risk Factors.” Readers are strongly encouraged to consider those factors when evaluating any forward-looking statements concerning the Company. Except as may be required by law, the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements in this Annual Report to reflect future events or developments.
Part I
Item 1. Business
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Company Overview
For more than 30 years, Garmin Ltd. and subsidiaries (together, the “Company”) has pioneered new wireless devices and applications that are designed for people who live an active lifestyle, many of which feature location technology such as Global Positioning System (GPS). Garmin serves five primary markets, auto, aviation, fitness, marine, and outdoor, and we design, develop, manufacture, market, and distribute a diverse family of hand-held, wearable, portable, and fixed-mount GPS-enabled products and other navigation, communications, sensor-based and information products for these markets. Since the inception of its business, Garmin has delivered over 235 million products, which included more than 15 million products delivered during fiscal 2020.
Available Information
Garmin’s annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, proxy statement and Forms 3, 4 and 5 filed by Garmin’s directors and executive officers and all amendments to those reports will be made available free of charge through the Investor Relations section of Garmin’s website (http://www.garmin.com) as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The SEC maintains a website (http://www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. The reference to Garmin’s website address does not constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained on this website, and such information should not be considered part of this report on Form 10-K or in any other report or document we file with the SEC, and any references to our website are intended to be inactive textual references only.
This discussion of Garmin Ltd. ("Garmin" or the "Company") should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified by reference to, “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” under Item 7 herein and the information set forth in response to Item 101 of Regulation S-K in such Item 7 is incorporated herein by reference in partial response to this Item 1.
Products
Garmin offers a broad range of solutions across its reported segments as outlined below. In general, Garmin believes that its products are known for their value, high performance, ease of use, innovation, and ergonomics.
Many of the Company’s products utilize Global Positioning System (GPS) and other global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) receivers as a product feature that can be utilized in a variety of applications, including navigation, global positioning and tracking. GPS is a United States owned satellite network constellation that supports global positioning and navigation, providing precise geographic location and related data to both commercial and government GPS receivers. Commercial access to GPS is provided free of charge.
In addition to GPS, other global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) utilized by Garmin products include Japan’s MTSAT-based Satellite Augmentation System (MSAS), the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) aviation Safety of Life (SoL) service, the Russian Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), the European Union Galileo system (Galileo), and the Chinese BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS).
Some of Garmin’s products utilize a combination of global navigation satellite systems to improve navigational fix, which results in improved accuracy.
On a subscription basis, certain Garmin products offer access to the Iridium satellite network, a synchronized constellation of 66 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites offering global data communication coverage. Iridium’s use of this constellation gives it the ability to span the entire globe, offering 100 percent coverage worldwide to enable reliable satellite-based communication.
Fitness
Garmin offers a broad range of products designed for use in health, wellness, and fitness activities. Garmin currently offers the following product categories within the Fitness segment to consumers around the world:
| • | Running and Multi-sport Watches: Garmin running and multi-sport watches are offered under the Forerunner® product series. The Forerunner series offers GPS-enabled watches with features unique to each model. Depending on the model, features include wrist-based heart rate monitoring, wrist-based pulse oximeter, music storage capabilities, mapping capabilities, and Garmin Pay™ contactless payment. |
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| • | Cycling Products: Garmin cycling products include cycling computers, power meters, bike radars, and smart lights. Additionally, Garmin offers Tacx® indoor training equipment including smart and basic trainers, and a smart bike. |
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| • | Activity Tracking and Smartwatch Devices: Garmin offers a wide range of activity tracking devices and smartwatch devices. The Garmin product offerings include activity tracking fitness bands, GPS-enabled smartwatches, and fashion-forward hybrid smartwatches with analog style displays. The activity tracking and smartwatch devices offered by Garmin are the vívomove® series, vívoactive® series, vívosmart® series, vívofit® series, vívosport® series, and the Venu®. Each series of activity tracking and smartwatch devices offered has unique features, all to enhance and promote healthy and active lifestyles. Features of the activity tracking and smartwatch devices, depending on the series and model, include Garmin Pay, music storage capabilities, and 24/7 health monitoring. |
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| • | Fitness and Cycling Accessories: Garmin offers a wide range of fitness and cycling accessories including chest strap heart rate monitors, cycling speed and cadence sensors, and smart scales. |
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| • | Garmin Connect and Garmin Connect Mobile: Garmin Connect™ and Garmin Connect™ Mobile are web and mobile platforms where users can track and analyze their fitness, activities and workouts, and wellness data. In addition, users can share their accomplishments, create training groups and group challenges, and get feedback and encouragement from the Connect community. |
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| • | Connect IQ: The Connect IQ™ application development platform enables third parties to create a variety of applications that run on a wide assortment of Garmin devices. Connect IQ provides developers with an easy-to-use software development kit (SDK) to facilitate development efforts in creating watch faces, applications, widgets, and data fields. These third-party applications are available for download by Garmin users via their mobile phone or computer and run on their compatible Garmin wearable, bike computer, golf device, or outdoor handheld. |
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Outdoor
Garmin offers a broad range of products designed for use in outdoor activities. Garmin currently offers the following product categories within the Outdoor segment to consumers around the world:
| • | Adventure Watches: Garmin adventure watches include the fēnix® series, Instinct® series, tactix® series, the Descent™ series, and the MARQ® collection. The fenix series offers premium multisport smartwatches with features such as wrist-based heart rate monitoring, wrist-based pulse oximeter, music storage capabilities, preloaded full-color topographical maps, Garmin Pay™, and solar charging, depending on model. The Instinct series offers a rugged and reliable outdoor GPS smartwatch with built-in sports apps, heart rate sensor, smart connectivity and wellness data. The tactix series provides preloaded full-color topographical maps and tactical-inspired features. The Descent series are watch style dive computers that offer divers GPS navigation, multiple dive modes, support for up to six gasses, as well as integrated air pressure monitoring. The MARQ series is a collection of six luxury smart tool watches with premium materials and features unique to each watch. |
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| • | Outdoor Handhelds: Garmin offers outdoor handhelds under the Oregon®, Rino®, Montana®, eTrex®, GPSMAP®, Foretrex® and inReach® product lines. Handhelds range from basic waypoints navigation |
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| capabilities to advanced color touchscreen devices offering barometric altimeter, 3-axis compass, camera, preloaded maps, wi-fi and smartphone connectivity, two-way satellite communication and other features. Each series of products is designed to serve various price points. Handhelds with inReach include global satellite technology which, when combined with an active subscription, offers 2-way text messaging, S.O.S. capabilities and weather forecasts while anywhere in the world. |
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| • | Golf Devices: Garmin golf devices are offered under the Approach® product line. The Approach series includes handhelds, wearables, club sensors, and laser ranging devices. Over 41,000 preloaded worldwide golf courses are available to be utilized on certain Garmin golf devices. Handheld and wearable golf devices provide yardage distances to the front, back, and middle of the green. In addition to course maps, the Approach G80 handheld device utilizes radar to provide swing metrics including estimated carry and roll, club head speed, ball speed, smash factor, and swing tempo. |
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| • | Dog Tracking and Training Devices: Garmin offers a variety of dog tracking and training devices, including those under the Astro®, Alpha®, PRO, BarkLimiter™, and Delta® product lines. |
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Marine
Garmin is a leading manufacturer of recreational marine electronics and offers a broad range of products. Garmin currently offers the following product categories within the Marine segment to consumers around the world:
| • | Chartplotters and Multi-Function Displays (MFDs): Garmin offers numerous chartplotters/MFDs under the GPSMAP® and ECHOMAP™ product lines. The offerings range from 4-inch portable and fix-mounted products to 24-inch fully integrated Glass Helm offerings and include wireless connectivity to the ActiveCaptain® mobile app. |
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| • | Cartography: Garmin is a premier supplier of cartography for the recreational marine market. Including the Garmin-owned Navionics® branded charting products, Garmin is a leading supplier of recreational marine content for most major chartplotters and MFDs on the market. |
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| • | Fishfinders: Garmin offers an advanced line of fishfinders, the Striker™ series, which incorporate GPS technology enabling Quickdraw™ Contours, and wireless features through the ActiveCaptain and StrikerCast mobile apps. |
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| • | SONAR: Garmin also offers the Panoptix™ all seeing sonar smart transducer line. Panoptix LiveScope™ provides real-time, high-resolution images that can be seen in downward, perspective, and forward-looking views for locating the fish and seeing what is coming before you get there. The Panoptix line also offers detailed 3D underwater views of fish and structure under your boat. Garmin’s CHIRP “black-box” sounders and “smart transducers” interface with Garmin MFDs to enhance their utility by providing the deep-water sounders and fish finder functions in a remote mounted package. |
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| • | Autopilot Systems: Garmin offers full-featured marine autopilot systems designed for sailboats and powerboats. The systems incorporate such features as Garmin’s patented Shadow Drive™ technology, which automatically disengages the autopilot if the helm is turned, remote steering and speed control, and integration with the Volvo Penta IPS steering and propulsion system. Garmin has also introduced steer-by-wire autopilot capabilities for various steering systems. |
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| • | RADAR: Garmin offers high-tech solid state Fantom™ radar with MotionScope™ Doppler technology, lowering system power consumption and increasing reliability, while greatly improving situational awareness of the captain. Fantom radars are available in both radomes and open array radar products with compatibility to any network-compatible Garmin chartplotter. Garmin also offers a full line of magnetron radars up to 25kW of transmit power. |
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| • | Instruments: Garmin offers NMEA 2000 and NMEA 0183 compliant instrument displays and sensors that show data from multiple remote sources on one screen. |
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| • | VHF Communication Radios: Garmin offers a full line-up of marine VHF radios and AIS transceivers with the latest feature sets including integrated GPS receivers for the communication needs of all |
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| types of mariners. Garmin radios are NMEA 2000 compatible and offer multi-station support, and monitor all AIS channels. |
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| • | Handhelds and Wearable Devices: Garmin offers the quatix® series wearable, GPS-enabled smartwatches designed for mariners, which include marine features for navigation, sailing, stereo control, and autopilot functions. Garmin also offers floating marine GPS handhelds with wireless data transfer between compatible units and preloaded cartography. Some handhelds contain built-in InReach® satellite communication and support Connect IQ™ applications. |
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| • | Sailing: Garmin has integrated many basic and advanced sailing features into our MFD and instrument systems. These SailAssist™ features include enhanced wind rose with true and apparent wind data, pre-race guidance, synchronized race timer, virtual starting line, time to burn and lay line data fields. |
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| • | Entertainment: Garmin’s entertainment brand, Fusion®, consists of marine audio head units, speakers and amplifiers. These products are designed specifically for the marine or RV environments and support many connectivity options for integrating with MFDs, smartphones, and Garmin wearables. |
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| • | Digital Switching: Garmin offers digital switching products under the EmpirBus™ product line. The Garmin EmpirBus products provide power distribution and control solutions for marine and RV applications which enable advanced logic controls and smart electrical systems to enhance features in a boat or RV. The system features fully customizable graphics and user interface that can be controlled through Garmin’s marine multi-function displays and RV OEM products. |
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| • | Trolling Motors: Garmin offers the Force™ Trolling Motor, a powerful, efficient scissor-lift style trolling motor with built-in CHIRP and Ultra High-Definition ClearVü and SideVü sonar. The Force product line also connects wirelessly to Garmin chartplotters/MFDs to provide navigation, autopilot, and anchor lock integration. |
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Aviation
Garmin designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of innovative aircraft avionics solutions to the broad and diverse aviation sector. Avionics are sold directly into original equipment manufacturer (OEM) applications as well as through Garmin’s worldwide dealer network for retrofit installations on existing aircraft.
Garmin has developed growth-minded products and technologies serving general aviation, business aviation, rotorcraft, and experimental/light sport markets. Our solutions are available for all aircraft categories and classes; from small piston and electric-powered general aviation aircraft, to large business jet aircraft, as well as a wide-ranging variety of helicopters serving critical public service and oil and gas missions, to name a few.
Garmin also provides innovative products and software-as-a-service solutions to other markets such as commercial air-carrier, military and defense, and Advanced Air Mobility / eVTOL. By offering products such as Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) and mission-optimized solutions to military and defense contractors/customers, and products tested and optimized for high duty cycle commercial aviation operations, Garmin is emerging as a strong competitor in these rapidly evolving business spaces.
Garmin currently offers the following products, systems, and services to the global aviation market:
| • | Integrated Flight Decks: Known for defining the integrated flight deck (IFD) space in general aviation and light business aviation applications, Garmin offers OEM and retrofit IFD systems scaled for any size aircraft and rotorcraft, featuring communication and navigation, weather information, terrain and traffic awareness and avoidance, aircraft performance, and automated safety solutions. |
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| • | Electronic Flight Displays and Instrumentation: Garmin flight display and instrument solutions can serve as primary and back-up instruments, which also provide a wealth of valuable information in the cockpit, dramatically increasing situational awareness and capability. |
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| • | Navigation and Communication Products: Garmin offers a wide range of integrated and stand-alone GPS and VHF navigation and communication products, with a variety of capabilities, available for all market segments. |
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| • | Automatic Flight Control Systems and Safety-Enhancing Technologies: Garmin offers scalable flight control systems with unique integrated safety features for aircraft and rotorcraft. Our Autopilot and Autonomí™ safety-enhancing solutions cover the entire spectrum of aircraft, from large-cabin business jets and helicopters, to light general aviation aircraft. Garmin’s award-winning Autoland system will autonomously land the aircraft in the event the pilot is not able to do so. We also offer an innovative smart rudder bias system that can help the pilot maintain control of a twin-engine aircraft in the event of an engine failure. |
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| • | Audio Control Systems: Garmin produces a broad array of cutting-edge audio panels, including panel-mount and remote-mounted units, incorporating features such as Bluetooth connectivity, voice command technology, and integrated intercoms. |
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| • | Engine Indication Systems: Garmin offers a variety of advanced engine indication systems for piston and turbine-powered aircraft with comprehensive data-logging capabilities as well as wireless offloading, cloud storage and analysis capability through our flyGarmin.com online services portal. |
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| • | Traffic Awareness and Avoidance Solutions: Garmin offers an array of traffic advisory and collision avoidance systems, including TAS and TCAS / ACAS solutions, with applications in all types of aircraft. |
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| • | ADS-B and Transponders: Garmin offers a full lineup of ADS-B and transponder solutions, including ADS-B “Out” compliant solutions as well as ADS-B “In” and Bluetooth capable units that allow pilots to connect to their mobile device to display ADS-B traffic and weather. |
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| • | Weather Information and Avoidance Solutions: Garmin offers multiple weather solutions, including onboard Doppler digital radar products, along with satellite-based SiriusXM, ground-based ADS-B, as well as Garmin Connext® global satellite weather options. |
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| • | Datalink and Connectivity: Garmin datalink and connectivity solutions allow pilots to download global weather data, communication via text/voice, as well as select mobile apps to transfer flight plans, manage database subscriptions, and stream weather and traffic data from installed avionics solutions. |
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| • | Portable GPS Navigators and Wearables: Garmin offers portable GPS navigators, smartwatches for pilots, satellite communicators, and portable traffic and weather solutions, providing pilots tools they can take with them from aircraft to aircraft. |
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| • | Services: Garmin offers a variety of services products to the aviation market. Web and mobile app-based products offered via FltPlan.com and our Garmin Pilot™ electronic flight bag application, help pilots plan, file, fly, and log flights and offer a wealth of information across all phases of flights. Business and commercial aviation customers also benefit from our safety management system, runway analysis and performance data, weight and balance, obstacle clearance, load planning, and navigation database solutions. Garmin continues to provide industry leading product support, and offers a wide selection of databases, training products, extended warranties, and subscription services for all aviation segments. |
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Auto
Garmin designs and develops products for use in the auto market that are offered to customers around the world.
Auto OEM
| • | Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Solutions: Garmin has cultivated key relationships with leading automobile manufacturers to be the provider of a variety of hardware and software solutions for their vehicles. These range from embedded computing models and infotainment systems that provide a broad range of functionality, to integrated camera solutions, embedded navigation solutions, and precise positioning technology solutions. These support not only the infotainment system in the vehicle, but also key advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) functionality as well. |
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Consumer Auto
| • | Personal Navigation Devices (PNDs): Garmin is a leading manufacturer of PNDs in the following categories, which include features such as large screens, Amazon Alexa integration, integrated traffic receivers for traffic avoidance, map updates, spoken street names, voice activated navigation, speed limit indication, lane assist with PhotoReal junction views (thousands of high-quality photos of actual upcoming junctions), Bluetooth hands-free capability, and driver awareness alerts: |
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| • | Consumer PND: The Drive series offers traditional PNDs for a wide range of consumers. |
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| • | Motorcycle: The zūmo® series offers motorcycle-specific features. |
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| • | Truck and fleet: The dēzl™ series offers over-the-road trucking features while the Garmin fleet™ series delivers an integrated tracking and dispatch fleet system. |
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| • | RV: The RV series offers features specific to the RV enthusiast. |
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| • | Offroad: The Overlander® is a rugged, all-terrain navigator with topography maps for off-road guidance. |
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| • | Racing: The Garmin Catalyst™ is an industry-first racing coach and driving performance optimizer. |
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| • | Camera*:* The Garmin Dash Cam™ series offers GPS-enabled dash cams that provide high-quality video recording, automatic saving of video footage with G-sensor incident detection, and forward collision and lane departure warnings. Dash cams are offered as compact, standalone cameras that can be mounted to a car windshield. Garmin also offers wireless backup cameras that can be utilized with compatible PNDs to display camera footage behind the vehicle. |
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Sales and Marketing
Garmin’s distribution strategy is to support a broad and diverse network of sales channels for our products while maintaining high quality standards to ensure end-user satisfaction. Our products are sold in approximately 100 countries through a large worldwide network of independent retailers, online retailers, dealers, distributors, installation and repair shops, as well as through original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). We also offer products through our online webshop, www.garmin.com. No single customer’s purchases represented 10% or more of Garmin’s consolidated net sales in the years ended December 26, 2020, December 28, 2019, and December 29, 2018. Marketing support is provided geographically from Garmin’s offices around the world.
Competition
We operate in highly competitive markets, though competitive conditions vary among our diverse target markets and geographies. Garmin believes the principal competitive factors impacting the market for its products are design, functionality, quality and reliability, customer service, brand, price, time-to-market and availability. Garmin believes that it generally competes favorably in each of these areas and as such, is generally a significant competitor in each of our major markets.
Garmin believes that its principal competitors for fitness products are Apple, Bryton, Elite, Fitbit, Huami, Huawei, Polar, Samsung, Sigma Sports, Suunto, Wahoo Fitness, and Xiaomi. Garmin believes that its principal competitors for outdoor product lines are Casio, Dogtra, Shearwater Research, Globalstar, SportDOG, Suunto, TAG Heuer, Tissot, and Vista Outdoor. For marine products, Garmin believes that its principal competitors are Flir Systems, Furuno, Johnson Outdoors, and Navico. Garmin considers its principal avionics competitors to be Aspen Avionics, Avidyne Corporation, CMC Electronics, Raytheon, Dynon Avionics, ForeFlight, Genesys Aerosystems, Honeywell Aerospace & Defense, Innovative Solutions and Support Inc., L-3 Avionics Systems, Safran SA, Thales, and Universal Avionics Systems Corporation. Garmin believes that its principal competitor for consumer automotive products is TomTom N.V., and Rand McNally. Garmin believes that its principal competitors for auto OEM infotainment solutions are Alpine Electronics, Harman International Industries, Continental, Bosch, the Mitsubishi Group, and Panasonic Corporation.
Research and Development
Garmin’s product innovations are driven by its strong emphasis on research and development and the close partnership between Garmin’s engineering and manufacturing teams. Garmin’s products are created by its engineering and development staff. Garmin’s manufacturing staff includes manufacturing process engineers who work closely with Garmin’s design engineers to ensure manufacturability and manufacturing cost control for its products. Garmin’s development staff includes industrial designers, as well as software engineers, electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, and cartographic engineers. Garmin believes the industrial design of its products has played an important role in Garmin’s success.
Manufacturing and Operations
Garmin believes one of its core competencies and strengths is its vertically integrated manufacturing capabilities at its Taiwan facilities in Xizhi, Jhongli and LinKou, its China facility in Yangzhou, its Netherlands facility in Oegstgeest, its Poland facility in Wroclaw, and at its U.S. facilities in Olathe, Kansas and Salem, Oregon. Garmin believes that its ownership and operation of its own manufacturing facilities and distribution networks provides significant capability and flexibility to address the breadth and depth of resources necessary to serve its diverse products and markets.
Specifically, Garmin believes that its vertical integration of its manufacturing capabilities provides advantages to product cost, quality, and time to market.
Cost: Garmin’s manufacturing resources rapidly and iteratively prototype designs, concepts, products and processes, achieving higher efficiency, resulting in lower cost. Garmin’s vertical integration approach enables leveraging of manufacturing resources across high, mid and low volume products. Sharing of these resources across product lines favorably affects Garmin’s costs to produce its range of products, with lower volume products realizing the economies of scale of higher volume products. The ownership and integration of its resources allows Garmin to optimize the design for manufacturing of its products, yielding improved cost.
Quality: Garmin’s automation and advanced production processes provide in-service robustness and consistent reliability standards that enable Garmin to maintain strict process and quality control of the products manufactured, thereby improving the overall quality of our products. Additionally, the immediate feedback throughout the manufacturing processes is provided to the development teams, providing integrated continuous improvement throughout design and supply chain.
Time to Market: Garmin uses multi-disciplinary teams of design engineers, process engineers, and supply chain specialists to develop products, allowing them to quickly move from concept to manufacturing. This integrated ownership provides inherent flexibility to enable faster time to market.
Garmin’s design, manufacturing, distribution, and service functions in its U.S., Taiwan, China and U.K. facilities are certified to ISO 9001, an international quality standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization. Garmin’s automotive operations in Taiwan, China, U.K., and Olathe have achieved IATF 16949 certification, a quality standard for automotive suppliers. Garmin’s Olathe and Salem aviation operations have achieved certification to AS9100, the quality standard for the aviation industry.
Garmin International, Inc., Garmin (Europe) Ltd., and Garmin Corporation have also achieved certification of their environmental management systems to the ISO 14001 standard, recognizing Garmin’s systems and processes which minimize or prevent harmful effects on the environment and continually strive to improve its environmental performance.
Materials
Although most components essential to Garmin’s business are generally available from multiple sources, certain key components are currently obtained by the Company from single or limited sources, which subjects Garmin to supply and pricing risks. Many of these and other key components that are available from multiple sources, including, but not limited to, NAND flash memory, dynamic random access memory (DRAM), GPS chipsets and certain LCDs, are subject, at times, to industry-wide shortages and commodity pricing fluctuations.
Garmin and other participants in the personal computer, tablet, mobile communication, automotive, aviation electronics, and consumer electronics industries also compete for various components with other industries that have experienced increased demand for their products. In addition, Garmin uses some custom components that are not common to the rest of the personal computer, tablet, mobile communication, and consumer electronics industries. New products introduced by the Company often utilize custom components available from only one source until Garmin has evaluated whether there is a need for, and subsequently qualifies, additional suppliers. When a component or product uses new technologies, initial capacity constraints may exist until the suppliers’ yields have matured or manufacturing capacity has increased. Garmin makes efforts to manage risks in these areas through the use of supply agreements and safety stock for strategically important components.
Seasonality
Our net sales are subject to seasonal fluctuation. Sales of our consumer products are generally higher in the fourth quarter due to increased demand during the holiday buying season, and, to a lesser extent, the second quarter due to increased demand during the spring and summer season. Sales of consumer products are also influenced by the timing of the release of new products. Our auto OEM and aviation products do not experience much seasonal variation, but are more influenced by the timing of auto program manufacturing, aircraft certifications, regulatory mandates, and the release of new products when the initial demand is typically the strongest.
Intellectual Property
Our success and ability to compete is dependent in part on our proprietary technology. We rely on a combination of patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret laws, as well as confidentiality agreements, to establish and protect our proprietary rights. In addition, Garmin often relies on licenses of intellectual property for use in its business.
As of January 28, 2021, Garmin has been issued over 1,450 patents throughout the world and holds more than 930 trademark registrations. The duration of patents varies in accordance with the provisions of applicable local law. We believe that our continued success depends on the intellectual skills of our employees and their ability to continue to innovate. Garmin will continue to file and prosecute patent applications when appropriate to attempt to protect Garmin’s rights in its proprietary technologies.
There is no assurance that our current patents, or patents which we may later acquire, may successfully withstand any challenge, in whole or in part. It is also possible that any patent issued to us may not provide us with any competitive advantages, or that the patents of others will preclude us from manufacturing and marketing certain products. Despite our efforts to protect our proprietary rights, unauthorized parties may attempt to copy aspects of our products or to obtain and use information that we regard as proprietary. Litigation may be necessary in the future to enforce our intellectual property rights, to protect our trade secrets, to determine the validity and scope of the proprietary rights of others or to defend against claims of infringement or invalidity.
Regulations
The telecommunications industry is highly regulated, and the regulatory environment in which Garmin operates is subject to change. In accordance with the United States’ Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules and regulations, wireless transceiver products are required to be certified by the FCC and comparable authorities in foreign countries where they are sold. Garmin’s products sold in Europe are required to comply with relevant directives of the European Commission. A delay in receiving required certifications for new products, or enhancements to Garmin’s products, or losing certification for Garmin’s existing products could adversely affect our business. In addition, aviation products that are intended for installation in “type certificated aircraft” are required to be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), its European counterpart, the European Aviation Safety Agency, and other comparable organizations before they can be used in an aircraft.
Because Garmin Corporation, one of the Company’s principal subsidiaries, is located in Taiwan, foreign exchange control laws and regulations of Taiwan with respect to remittances into and out of Taiwan may have an impact on Garmin’s operations. The Taiwan Foreign Exchange Control Statute, and regulations thereunder, provides that all foreign exchange transactions must be executed by banks designated to handle such business by the Ministry of Finance of Taiwan and by the Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan), also referred to as the CBC. Current regulations favor trade-related foreign exchange transactions. Consequently, foreign currency earned from exports of merchandise and services may now be retained and used freely by exporters, while all foreign currency needed for the import of merchandise and services may be purchased freely from the designated foreign exchange banks. Aside from trade-related foreign exchange transactions, Taiwan companies and residents may, without foreign exchange approval, remit outside and into Taiwan foreign currencies of up to $50 million and $5 million respectively, or their equivalent, each calendar year. Currency conversions within the limits are processed by the designated banks and do not have to be reviewed and approved by the CBC. The above limits apply to remittances involving a conversion between Taiwan Dollars and U.S. Dollars or other foreign currencies. The CBC typically approves foreign exchange in excess of the limits if a party applies with the CBC for review and presents legitimate business reasons justifying the currency conversion. A requirement is also imposed on all enterprises to register all medium and long-term foreign debt with the CBC.
Environmental Matters
Garmin’s operations are subject to various environmental laws, including laws addressing air and water pollution and management of hazardous substances and wastes. Substantial noncompliance with applicable environmental laws could have a material adverse effect on our business. Capital expenditures for environmental controls are included in our normal capital budget. Historically, capital expenditures associated with environmental controls have not been material and compliance with environmental laws has not had a material impact on the Company’s competitive position.
Many of Garmin's products are subject to laws relating to the chemical and material composition of our products and their energy efficiency. Garmin is also subject to laws requiring manufacturers to be financially responsible for collection, recovery and recycling of wastes from certain electronic products. Compliance with current environmental laws does not have a material impact on our business, but the impact of future enactment of environmental laws cannot yet be fully determined and could be substantial.
Garmin has implemented multiple Environmental Management System (EMS) policies in accordance with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001 standard for Environmental Health and Safety Management. Garmin’s EMS policies set forth practices, standards, and procedures to ensure compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations at Garmin’s Kansas headquarters facility, Garmin’s European headquarters facility, and Garmin’s Taiwan and China manufacturing facilities.
Garmin continues to strive to reduce our carbon footprint by increasing our environmental sustainability efforts. Our manufacturing locations have implemented increased recycling processes that keep all obsolete Garmin manufactured material from entering the waste stream. Additionally, our most recently completed facility in Olathe, Kansas has been constructed with energy efficient considerations, including reduced water consumption, LED lighting, and reflective roofing to deflect solar radiation.
Human Capital
Successful execution of our strategy is dependent on attracting, developing, and retaining key employees and members of our management team. To facilitate talent attraction and retention, we strive to provide opportunities for our employees to grow and develop in their careers, supported by generous compensation and benefits, and through programs that build connections between our employees and their communities.
As of December 26, 2020, the Company had approximately 16,000 full and part-time employees worldwide, of whom approximately 6,000 were in the Americas region, 7,800 were in APAC, and 2,200 were in EMEA. Garmin’s vertical integration model enables us to provide a variety of opportunities across many different professions including engineering, human resources, information technology, marketing, sales, and operations. The Company’s products are created by its engineering and development staff, which numbered approximately 4,900 people worldwide as of December 26, 2020. Garmin’s manufacturing staff, which numbered approximately 6,100 people worldwide as of December 26, 2020, includes manufacturing process engineers who work closely with Garmin’s design engineers to ensure manufacturability and manufacturing cost control for its products.
Garmin respects the right of all employees to form and join an association to represent their interests as employees, to organize, and to bargain collectively or individually. We also respect any employee’s choice to refrain from joining a union. Except for some of Garmin’s employees in Sweden, none of Garmin’s employees are represented by a labor union and none of Garmin's North American or Taiwan employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement. We believe our efforts in managing our workforce have been effective, as evidenced by a strong company culture and positive relations between the Company and our employees.
We offer a range of robust benefits to our employees that enable us to attract and retain leading talent. In addition to salaries, these programs (which vary by country/region) include stock awards, retirement plans, healthcare and insurance benefits, health savings and flexible spending accounts, paid time off, family leave, and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which provides employees an opportunity to acquire company ownership for a discounted price. We also invest significant resources in our talent development programs to provide employees with the training and education they need to help achieve their career goals, build relevant skills, and lead their organizations. Employee Resource Groups provide opportunities for employees to connect, network, and become involved in community engagement initiatives.
We support local community engagement initiatives where we have a business presence, and we provide opportunities for employees to give back to those communities. One such initiative is through active engagement in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (“STEM”) community outreach programs. Our strategic aim in these educational programs is to educate and encourage local students to pursue careers in the engineering field, especially those in underrepresented groups, which we believe benefits not only our company but the overall industry.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
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The risks described below are not the only ones facing our company. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial may also impair our business operations. If any of the following risks occur, our business, financial condition or operating results could be materially adversely affected.
Risks Related to the Company
If we are not successful in the continued development, timely manufacture, and introduction of new products or product categories, demand for our products could decrease to the extent that lost sales and profits, or losses, from declining segments or product categories are not entirely offset.
We expect that a significant portion of our future revenue will continue to be derived from sales of newly introduced products. This is particularly important to replace sales and profits lost, or losses incurred, in declining segments or product categories. The market for our products is characterized by rapidly changing technology, evolving industry standards and changes in customer needs. If we fail to introduce new products, or to modify or improve our existing products, in response to changes in technology, industry standards or customer needs, our products could rapidly become less competitive or obsolete. We must continue to make significant investments in research and development in order to continue to develop new products, enhance existing products and achieve market acceptance for such products. However, there can be no assurance that development stage products will be successfully completed or, if developed, will achieve significant customer acceptance.
If we are unable to successfully develop and introduce competitive new products, and enhance our existing products, our future results of operations would be adversely affected. Our pursuit of necessary technology may require substantial time and expense. We may need to license new technologies to respond to technological change. These licenses may not be available to us on terms that we can accept or may materially change the gross profits that we are able to obtain on our products. We may not succeed in adapting our products to new technologies as they emerge. Development and manufacturing schedules for technology products are difficult to predict, and there can be no assurance that we will achieve timely initial customer shipments of new products. The timely availability of these products in volume and their acceptance by customers are important to our future success. Any future challenges related to new products, whether due to product development delays, manufacturing delays, lack of market acceptance, delays in regulatory approval, or otherwise, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
If we are unable to compete effectively with existing or new competitors, our resulting loss of competitive position could result in price reductions, fewer customer orders, reduced margins and loss of market share.
The markets for many of our products are highly competitive, and we expect competition to increase in the future. Some of our competitors have significantly greater financial, technical and marketing resources than we do. These competitors may be able to respond more rapidly to new or emerging technologies or changes in customer requirements. They may also be able to devote greater resources to the development, promotion and sale of their products or secure better product positioning with retailers. Increased competition could result in price reductions, fewer customer orders, reduced margins and loss of market share. Our failure to compete successfully against current or future competitors could seriously harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Public health emergencies or outbreaks of epidemics, pandemics, or contagious diseases have had and will likely continue to have significant impacts on our business.
Widespread public health emergencies or outbreaks of epidemics, pandemics, or contagious diseases, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, have had, and will likely continue to have, significant impacts on our business. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to rapidly evolve, creating disruption and uncertainty around the world, which has resulted in, and we expect will continue to result in, reduced overall demand for certain of our products and other operational impacts. There are unknown factors, such as the duration and severity of the pandemic, the nature and length of actions taken by governments, businesses and individuals to contain or mitigate its impact, the severity and duration of the economic impact caused by the pandemic, the uncertainty surrounding the efficacy, distribution and uptake of vaccines, along with the effectiveness of our response, that may affect the magnitude of effects to our business operations, results of operations, and its ultimate impact on our financial condition.
Demand for certain of our products has been, and is expected to continue to be, adversely affected in several ways. Consumers have been and may continue to be less able or less likely to purchase certain of our products due to economic hardships, governmental restrictions affecting them and the retail outlets that sell our products, voluntary behavior changes associated with public health guidance, the prioritization of other goods and services by online retailers that sell our products, restrictions on the ability of online retailers to ship products to certain areas, the cancellation of trade shows and other events that are otherwise important in the marketing and sale of our products, and the potential failure and closure of retail outlets and online retailers that sell our products. Certain of our sales and distribution offices have experienced and may again experience temporary closure due to governmental restrictions. Additional or prolonged closures of certain sales and distribution offices could affect our ability to market and distribute products to meet customer demand. The adverse impacts of the pandemic have created economic stress in the global marketplace, high levels of unemployment, loss of income and/or wealth for some individuals, and general economic uncertainty. These conditions have affected and are expected to continue to affect the willingness or ability of customers to purchase certain of our products or those of original equipment manufacturers in which our products are installed.
Our supply chain may also be adversely impacted by COVID-19. We may be unable to procure, or experience delays in procuring, certain components from our suppliers, and the cost of procuring components could increase. Reduced demand for certain of our products has resulted in, and may continue to result in, reduced utilization of certain of our manufacturing facilities and higher per-unit costs for certain products. Certain of our manufacturing facilities may also experience inopportune temporary closures or reduced hours, which could adversely affect the costs incurred to produce our products and our ability to meet demand.
COVID-19 has had and will continue to have several other operational impacts on our business, which will or may include employees working remotely, temporarily ceasing operations in some offices due to government restrictions, business travel restrictions, and the cancellation of events that are otherwise important in the development, marketing and sale of our products. These changes in our business operations may result in reduced efficiency and lower productivity. We have incurred and are expected to continue to incur increased costs as we provide additional benefits to assist our employees during the COVID-19 pandemic and provide a safe and healthy workplace for employees who continue to work in our facilities. Similar operational and financial hardships on our business partners may result in aged or uncollectable receivables, and the reduced de
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Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 2. Properties
Garmin and its subsidiaries own a majority of their principal properties and lease certain other properties. Depending on location, the properties could be used for manufacturing, warehousing, research and development, office space, or a combination of activities. Garmin’s principal properties are described below:
Garmin International, Inc. owns and occupies facilities of approximately 1,990,000 square feet on approximately 107 acres at 1200 East 151st Street, Olathe, Kansas, U.S. where the majority of product design and development work is conducted, the majority of aviation panel-mount products are manufactured, and products are warehoused, distributed, and supported for North, Central and South America. The 1,990,000 square feet includes a newly constructed 775,000 square foot manufacturing and distribution center. In connection with the bond financings for the facility in Olathe and the expansions of that facility, the City of Olathe holds the legal title to the Olathe facilities, which are leased to Garmin’s subsidiaries by the City. Upon the payment in full of the outstanding bonds, the City of Olathe is obligated to transfer title to Garmin’s subsidiaries for the aggregate sum of $200. Garmin International, Inc. has purchased all the outstanding bonds and expects to continue to hold the bonds until maturity in order to benefit from property tax abatement.
Garmin International, Inc. leases 148,000 square feet of land at New Century Airport at 1 New Century Pkwy, Gardner, Kansas, U.S. under a ground lease and occupies two aircraft hangars on this land, one of which is owned (47,000 square feet) and the other leased (53,000 square feet). Both properties serve as flight test and certification facilities that are used in development and certification of aviation products.
Garmin AT, Inc. leases approximately 18 acres of land at 2345 Turner Road SE, Salem, Oregon, U.S. under a ground lease. The current term of this ground lease ends in 2030, but Garmin AT, Inc. has the option to extend the ground lease until 2050. Garmin AT, Inc. owns and occupies a 115,000 square foot facility for office and manufacturing use and a 33,000 square foot aircraft hangar that serves as a flight test and certification facility on this land. Garmin AT, Inc. also owns and occupies an additional 66,000 square foot facility on the same property for customer support and research and development activities.
Garmin Corporation owns and occupies a 247,000 square foot facility at No. 68, Zhangshu 2nd Road, Xizhi Dist., New Taipei City, Taiwan, a 185,000 square foot facility at No.97, Sec. 1, Xintai 5th Rd., Xizhi Dist., New Taipei City, Taiwan, a 224,000 square foot facility at No. 24 Beiyuan Road, Jhongli, Tao-Yang County, Taiwan, and a 576,000 square foot facility at No. 270 Huaya 2nd Road, LinKou, Tao-Yang County, Taiwan. Garmin China YangZhou Co., Ltd. leases a 204,000 square foot manufacturing facility at No. 122, Jinshan Road, Bali Town, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China. These facilities are used for the manufacturing and warehousing of most of Garmin’s auto, fitness, marine, and outdoor products, as well as portable aviation products. These facilities are also used for research and development activities and marketing and support of products for Asia Pacific countries.
Garmin (Europe) Ltd. owns and occupies a 155,000 square foot building located at Liberty House, Hounsdown Business Park, Southampton, U.K., used as offices and a distribution facility.
Tacx B.V. owns and occupies a 291,000 square foot facility located at De Boeg 2, 2343 MA Oegstgeest, Netherlands. This facility is used for design and development, manufacturing, and warehousing of indoor training products.
Garmin Wroclaw sp. zo.o leases a 319,000 square foot facility located at Ul. Ryszarda Chomicza 2, 55-040 Biskupice Podgórne, Poland. This facility is used for the manufacturing of certain auto OEM products, as well as distribution of other Garmin products in the region.
Garmin also owns and leases other properties around the world that are not described above and used for office space, warehousing, and retail.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
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In the normal course of business, the Company and its subsidiaries are parties to various legal claims, actions, and complaints, including matters involving patent infringement, other intellectual property, product liability, customer claims and various other risks. It is not possible to predict with certainty whether or not the Company and its subsidiaries will ultimately be successful in any of these legal matters, or if not, what the impact might be. However, the Company’s management does not expect that the results in any of these legal proceedings will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or cash flows.
The Company settled or resolved certain matters during the fiscal year ended December 26, 2020 that did not individually or in the aggregate have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosure
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None.
Information about our Executive Officers
Pursuant to General Instruction G(3) of Form 10-K and instruction 3 to paragraph (b) of Item 401 of Regulation S-K, the following list is included as an unnumbered Item in Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K in lieu of being included in the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement in connection with its annual meeting of shareholders scheduled for June 4, 2021.
Dr. Min H. Kao, age 72, has served as Executive Chairman of Garmin Ltd. since January 2013 and was previously Chairman of Garmin Ltd. from August 2004 to December 2012 and Co-Chairman of Garmin Ltd. from August 2000 to August 2004. He served as Chief Executive Officer of Garmin Ltd. from August 2002 to December 2012 and previously served as Co-Chief Executive Officer from August 2000 to August 2002. Dr. Kao served as a director and officer of various subsidiaries of the Company from August 1990 until January 2013. Dr. Kao holds Ph.D. and MS degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Tennessee and a BS degree in Electrical Engineering from National Taiwan University.
Clifton A. Pemble, age 55, has served as a director of Garmin Ltd. since August 2004. He has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Garmin Ltd. since January 2013. Previously, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Garmin Ltd. from October 2007 to December 2012. Previously, he was Vice President, Engineering of Garmin International, Inc. from 2005 to October 2007, Director of Engineering of Garmin International, Inc. from 2003 to 2005, Software Engineering Manager of Garmin International, Inc. from 1995 to 2002, and a Software Engineer with Garmin International, Inc. from 1989 to 1995. Mr. Pemble has served as a director and officer of various Garmin subsidiaries since August 2003. Mr. Pemble holds BA degrees in Mathematics and Computer Science from MidAmerica Nazarene University.
Douglas G. Boessen, age 58, has served as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Garmin Ltd. since July 2014. He previously served as Chief Financial Officer of EiKO Global, LLC from September 2013 to May 2014, as well as Collective Brands, Inc. from November 1997 to November 2012. Mr. Boessen has served as a director and officer of various Garmin subsidiaries since July 2014. Mr. Boessen is a certified public accountant and holds a BS degree in Business from the University of Central Missouri and is a graduate of the executive development program at Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management.
Andrew R. Etkind, age 65, has served as Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Garmin Ltd. since June 2009. He was previously General Counsel and Secretary of Garmin Ltd. from August 2000 to June 2009. He has been Vice President and General Counsel of Garmin International, Inc. since July 2007, General Counsel since February 1998, and Secretary since October 1998. Mr. Etkind has served as a director and officer of various Garmin subsidiaries since December 2001. Mr. Etkind holds BA, MA and LLM degrees from Cambridge University, England and a JD degree from the University of Michigan Law School.
All executive officers are elected by and serve at the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors. None of the executive officers have an employment agreement with the Company. There are no arrangements or understandings between the executive officers and any other person pursuant to which he or she was or is to be selected as an officer. There is no family relationship among any of the executive officers.
PART II
Item 5. Market for the Company’s Common Shares, Related Shareholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
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Garmin’s shares have traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC under the symbol “GRMN” since its initial public offering on December 8, 2000 (the “IPO”). As of January 31, 2021, there were 199 shareholders of record.
The Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program on February 13, 2015, authorizing the Company to repurchase up to $300 million of the Company’s shares as market and business conditions warrant. The share repurchase authorization expired on December 31, 2017. The Company made no repurchases of shares during the years ended December 26, 2020, December 28, 2019, and December 29, 2018. See Note 11 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding the share repurchase plan.
We refer you to Item 12 of this report under the caption “Equity Compensation Plan Information” for certain equity plan information required to be disclosed by Item 201(d) of Regulation S-K.
Stock Performance Graph
This performance graph shall not be deemed ‘‘filed’’ with the SEC or subject to Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any of our filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
The graph below matches Garmin Ltd.'s cumulative 5-Year total shareholder return on common stock with the cumulative total returns of the Nasdaq Composite index and the Nasdaq 100 index. The graph tracks the performance of a $100 investment in our common stock and in each index (with the reinvestment of all dividends) from December 31, 2015 (“12/15”) to December 31, 2020 (“12/20”).

| 12/15 | 12/16 | 12/17 | 12/18 | 12/19 | 12/20 | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garmin Ltd. | 100.00 | 136.60 | 174.28 | 191.41 | 302.68 | 380.74 | ||||||||||||||||||
| NASDAQ Composite | 100.00 | 108.87 | 141.13 | 137.12 | 187.44 | 271.64 | ||||||||||||||||||
| NASDAQ 100 | 100.00 | 107.27 | 142.67 | 142.72 | 199.03 | 296.31 |
The stock price performance included in this graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.
Item 6. Selected Financial Data
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The following table sets forth selected consolidated financial data of the Company. The selected consolidated balance sheet data as of December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019 and the selected consolidated statements of income data for the years ended December 26, 2020, December 28, 2019, and December 29, 2018 were derived from the Company’s audited Consolidated Financial Statements and the related notes thereto which are included in Item 8 of this annual report on Form 10-K. The selected consolidated balance sheet data as of December 29, 2018, December 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016 and the selected consolidated statements of income data for the years ended December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were derived from the Company’s audited Consolidated Financial Statements, not included herein.
The information set forth below is not necessarily indicative of the results of future operations and should be read together with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes to those statements included in Items 7 and 8 in Part II of this Form 10-K.
The Company adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) effective beginning with the Company’s first quarter of 2018. Adoption of the new revenue recognition standard was applied using the full retrospective method, and information for prior periods within Item 6 in Part II of this Form 10-K have been restated accordingly.
In the table presented below, the selected consolidated statements of income and selected balance sheet data for the years ended December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 have been restated in accordance with the Company’s adoption of the new revenue recognition standard.
| Years ended (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. 26, 2020 | Dec. 28, 2019 | Dec. 29, 2018 | Dec. 30, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands, except per share data) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Consolidated Statements of Income Data: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 4,186,573 | $ | 3,757,505 | $ | 3,347,444 | $ | 3,121,560 | $ | 3,045,797 | ||||||||||
| Gross profit | 2,481,336 | 2,233,976 | 1,979,719 | 1,797,941 | 1,688,525 | |||||||||||||||
| Operating income | 1,054,240 | 945,586 | 778,343 | 683,637 | 632,864 | |||||||||||||||
| Net income (2) | 992,324 | 952,486 | 694,080 | 709,007 | 517,724 | |||||||||||||||
| Net income per share: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Diluted | $ | 5.17 | $ | 4.99 | $ | 3.66 | $ | 3.76 | $ | 2.73 | ||||||||||
| Weighted average common shares outstanding: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Diluted | 191,895 | 190,899 | 189,734 | 188,732 | 189,343 | |||||||||||||||
| Dividends declared per share (3) | $ | 2.44 | $ | 2.28 | $ | 2.12 | $ | 2.04 | $ | 2.04 | ||||||||||
| Balance Sheet Data (at end of Period): | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities | $ | 2,977,259 | $ | 2,609,505 | $ | 2,714,844 | $ | 2,313,208 | $ | 2,327,120 | ||||||||||
| Total assets | 7,031,373 | 6,166,799 | 5,382,858 | 4,948,289 | 4,484,549 | |||||||||||||||
| Total debt | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
| Total stockholders’ equity | 5,516,116 | 4,793,496 | 4,162,974 | 3,852,419 | 3,453,259 | |||||||||||||||
(1) Our fiscal year-end is the last Saturday of the calendar year and does not always fall on December 31. All years presented contain 52 weeks, excluding fiscal 2016 which includes 53 weeks.
(2) The following significant items are included in the Net income line that may affect comparability:
In 2020, a $14.3 million tax benefit was recognized resulting from the release of uncertain tax position reserves associated with a 2014 intercompany restructuring, partially offset by income tax expense of $11.0 million resulting from the revaluation of certain Switzerland tax assets related to the Switzerland tax reform transitional measures;
In 2019, a $118.0 million income tax benefit was recognized resulting from the revaluation and step-up of certain Switzerland tax assets as a result of the enactment of Switzerland Federal and Schaffhausen cantonal tax reform and related transitional measures;
In 2017, a $180.0 million income tax benefit was recognized, primarily related to the revaluation of certain Switzerland deferred tax assets resulting from the Company's election to align Switzerland corporate tax positions with global tax initiatives, partially offset by $22.6 million of income tax expense due to the expiration of certain share-based awards.
(3) Dividends declared per share refers to the cash dividend per share that has been approved by shareholders in the given fiscal year. See Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Dividends for additional detail.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
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The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations focuses on and is intended to clarify the results of our operations, certain changes in our financial position, liquidity, capital structure and business developments for the periods covered by the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K. This discussion should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified by reference to, the other related information including, but not limited to, the audited Consolidated Financial Statements (including the notes thereto), the description of our business, all as set forth in this Form 10-K, as well as the risk factors discussed above in Item 1A.
This section provides discussion and a year-to-year comparison for the fiscal years ended December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019. Discussion regarding our results of operations for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2018 and a year-to-year comparison between the fiscal years ended December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018 can be found in Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2019.
As previously noted, the discussion set forth below, as well as other portions of this Form 10-K, contain statements concerning potential future events. Readers can identify these forward-looking statements by their use of such verbs as “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes” or similar verbs or conjugations of such verbs. If any of our assumptions on which the statements are based prove incorrect or should unanticipated circumstances arise, our actual results could materially differ from those anticipated by such forward-looking statements. The differences could be caused by a number of factors or combination of factors including, but not limited to, those discussed above in Item 1A. Readers are strongly encouraged to consider those factors when evaluating any such forward-looking statement. Except as may be required by law, we do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements in this Form 10-K.
Garmin’s fiscal year is a 52-53 week period ending on the last Saturday of the calendar year. Fiscal years 2020, 2019 and 2018 contained 52 weeks. Unless otherwise stated, all years and dates refer to the Company’s fiscal year and fiscal periods. Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this document to "we," "us," "our" and similar terms refer to Garmin Ltd. and its subsidiaries.
Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts set forth in the tables are in thousands, except per share data.
Overview
We are a leading worldwide provider of navigation, communications and information devices, most of which are enabled by Global Positioning System, or GPS, technology. Garmin is organized in the six operating segments of auto OEM, aviation, consumer auto, fitness, marine, and outdoor. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer, who has been identified as the Chief Operating Decision Maker (CODM), allocates resources and assesses performance of each operating segment individually. The aviation, fitness, marine, and outdoor operating segments represent reportable segments. The auto OEM and consumer auto operating segments, which serve the auto market, do not meet the quantitative thresholds to separately qualify as reportable segments, and they are therefore reported together in an “all other” category captioned as auto. Auto, aviation, fitness, marine, and outdoor are collectively referred to as our reported segments.
The operating segments offer products through our network of subsidiary distributors and independent dealers and distributors, our own webshop, as well as through various auto, aviation, and marine OEMs. Each of the operating segments is managed separately. The consumer auto operating segment was previously referred to as our auto PND operating segment. We have revised the name of this operating segment to reflect the evolution of the product lines and focus of that part of our business. The name change did not impact the composition or operating results of the segment.
Since our first products were delivered in 1991, we have generated positive income from consolidated operations each year and have funded our growth from these profits.
Impacts of COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has created disruption and uncertainty in the global economy and has affected our business, suppliers, and customers. Our operating segments were not all impacted equally, as COVID-19 had an unfavorable impact on net sales and profitability of the auto and aviation segments during fiscal year 2020. However, the diversity of our business and product offerings helped mitigate the impacts to our consolidated net sales and operating income.
With pre-existing fundamentals such as trade credit insurance, direct online sales through our webshops, direct fulfillment arrangements with certain retailers, our strong cash and marketable securities position, market and product diversity, a vertically integrated business model, and ample inventory on hand, we were well-positioned to mitigate the initial impacts of COVID-19. While COVID-19 continues to evolve into a complicated and prolonged global pandemic, we have implemented further mitigation measures, such as initiating additional direct fulfillment arrangements with retailers, mitigating single source supplier dependencies, enhancing cleaning and sanitation within our facilities to maintain a healthy and safe environment for essential on-site functions, boosting functionality and security of technology for employees who are working from home, and fostering the safe reintegration of our on-site workforce. These mitigation efforts complement our top priorities of ensuring the health and safety of our employees and continuing to serve our customers. Additional benefits have been provided to many of our employees, including increased flexible work arrangements, remote work access, and flexible paid leave policies. We have also focused on mitigating impacts to operating income and liquidity by monitoring our expense structure and balance sheet, reducing and prioritizing certain discretionary operating expenses and capital expenditures, and slowing the number of new employees hired.
Sustained adverse impacts to us, our suppliers or our customers may affect the future valuation of certain assets and therefore may increase the likelihood of an impairment charge, write-off, write-down, reserve, or accelerated expense associated with such assets, including marketable securities, accounts receivable, inventories, prepaid expenses, property and equipment, tax assets, goodwill, indefinite and finite-lived intangible assets, capitalized preproduction design and development costs, and other assets.
Although we believe we have taken appropriate actions to help mitigate risks associated with COVID-19 as described above, the duration and magnitude of COVID-19 impacts to our business operations and financial results may be affected by a number of factors including uncertainty regarding the evolution of the pandemic, the imposition or relaxation of government restrictions on business and social gathering activities, voluntary behavior changes associated with public health guidance, the efficacy, distribution and uptake of vaccines, and those presented above in Item 1A. Risk Factors of this Annual Report.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
General
Our discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations are based upon the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The presentation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an on-going basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those related to customer sales programs and incentives, product returns, bad debts, inventories, investments, intangible assets, income taxes, warranty obligations, and contingencies and litigation. We base our estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
Goodwill
We allocate goodwill to reporting units in proportion to the expected benefit from each business combination. Each of the Company’s operating segments (auto OEM, aviation, consumer auto, fitness, marine, and outdoor) represents a distinct reporting unit. Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level on an annual basis and between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value. These events or circumstances could include a significant change in the operating performance indicators, competition, or expectations about future market or economic conditions.
Application of the goodwill impairment test requires significant judgment, including the identification of reporting units, assignment of assets and liabilities to reporting units, assignment of goodwill to reporting units, and determination of the fair value of each reporting unit. The fair value of each reporting unit is estimated through the use of a discounted cash flow methodology. This analysis requires significant assumptions, including discount rate, projected future revenues, projected future operating margins, and terminal growth rates. The estimates used to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit change from year to year based on operating results, market conditions, and other factors. Changes in these estimates and assumptions could materially affect the determination of fair value and goodwill impairment for each reporting unit.
Unrecognized Income Tax Benefits
We recognize liabilities associated with uncertain income tax positions, including those related to transfer pricing, based on our estimate of whether, and the extent to which, additional taxes will be due. We recognize the tax benefits from an uncertain tax position only if payment of these amounts ultimately proves to be not required or it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained upon examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such positions are measured based on the largest amount of benefit that is more likely than not to be realized upon ultimate settlement.
Assessing uncertain tax positions requires significant judgment, including the evaluation of unique facts and circumstances and the interpretation of laws and regulations, especially the assessment of pricing analyses that may produce various ranges of outcomes. Variations in the actual outcome of these future tax consequences could materially impact our consolidated financial statements.
Other
For further information on the Company’s critical accounting policies, refer to the discussion in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements as indicated in the table below:
| Intangible Assets | Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |
|---|---|
| Income Taxes | Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies & Note 6 - Income Taxes |
| Revenue Recognition | Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies & Note 13 - Revenue |
| Product Warranty | Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |
| Legal and Other Contingencies | Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies & Note 4 - Commitments and Contingencies |
Accounting Terms and Characteristics
Net Sales
Our net sales are primarily generated through sales to our retail partners, dealer and distributor network, our own webshop, and to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Refer to the Revenue Recognition discussion in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. We aim to achieve a quick turnaround on orders we receive from our retail, dealer, and distributor customers. Certain arrangements with OEM customers are entered into at the beginning of an aircraft or vehicle life cycle with the intent to fulfill customer purchasing requirements for the entire production life, although there are generally no firm volume commitments, and sales are therefore generated on an order-by-order basis. As a result, we do not believe backlog information is material to the understanding of our business.
Net sales are subject to seasonal fluctuation. Typically, sales of our consumer products are highest in the fourth quarter due to increased demand during the holiday buying season, and in the second quarter, due to increased demand during the spring and summer season. Our auto OEM and aviation products do not experience much seasonal variation but are more influenced by the timing of auto program manufacturing, aircraft certifications, regulatory mandates, and the release of new products when the initial demand is typically the strongest.
Cost of Sales/Gross Profit
Raw material costs are our most significant component of cost of goods sold. Our existing practice of performing the design and manufacture of our products in-house has enabled us to source components from different suppliers and, where possible, to redesign our products to leverage lower cost components. We believe that our flexible production model allows our factories to experience relatively low costs of manufacturing. In general, products manufactured in Taiwan have been our highest volume products. Our manufacturing labor costs historically have been lower in Taiwan and China than in Olathe and Salem.
Sales price variability has had and can be expected to have an effect on our gross profit. Our gross profit is dependent on segment mix, and to a lesser extent, product mix within each segment.
Advertising Expense
Our advertising expenses consist primarily of costs for media advertising, cooperative advertising with our retail partners, point of sale displays, and sponsorships.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Our selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of:
| • | salaries for sales, marketing and product support personnel; |
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| • | salaries and related costs for executives and administrative personnel; |
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| • | marketing, and other brand building costs; |
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| • | finance and legal costs; |
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| • | human resource costs; |
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| • | information systems and infrastructure costs; |
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| • | travel and related costs; and |
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| • | occupancy and other overhead costs. |
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Research and Development
The majority of our research and development costs represent engineering personnel costs, costs of test equipment and components used in product and prototype development, and outside product development costs.
We are committed to increasing the level of innovative design and development of new products as we strive for expanded ability to serve our existing consumer and aviation markets as well as new auto OEM programs and new markets for active lifestyle products.
Income Taxes
We have experienced a relatively low effective income tax rate due to the proportion of our income generated by entities in tax jurisdictions with low statutory rates.
Results of Operations
The following table sets forth our results of operations as a percentage of net sales during the periods shown (the table may not foot due to rounding):
| 52-Weeks Ended | 52-Weeks Ended | 52-Weeks Ended | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 26, 2020 | December 28, 2019 | December 29, 2018 | ||||||||||
| Net sales | 100 | % | 100 | % | 100 | % | ||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 41 | % | 41 | % | 41 | % | ||||||
| Gross profit | 59 | % | 59 | % | 59 | % | ||||||
| Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||
| Advertising | 4 | % | 4 | % | 5 | % | ||||||
| Selling, general and administrative | 14 | % | 14 | % | 14 | % | ||||||
| Research and development | 17 | % | 16 | % | 17 | % | ||||||
| Total operating expenses | 34 | % | 34 | % | 36 | % | ||||||
| Operating income | 25 | % | 25 | % | 23 | % | ||||||
| Other income (expense), net | 1 | % | 1 | % | 1 | % | ||||||
| Income before income taxes | 26 | % | 26 | % | 25 | % | ||||||
| Provision (benefit) for income taxes | 2 | % | 1 | % | 4 | % | ||||||
| Net income | 24 | % | 25 | % | 21 | % |
The table below sets forth our results of operations through operating income for each of our five reported segments and supplemental information for the consumer auto and auto OEM operating segments that management believes is useful. The Company’s CODM uses operating income as the measure of profit or loss, combined with other measures, to assess segment performance and allocate resources. Operating income represents net sales less costs of goods sold and operating expenses. Net sales are directly attributed to each segment. Most costs of goods sold and the majority of operating expenses are also directly attributed to each segment, while certain other costs of goods sold and operating expenses are allocated to the segments in a manner appropriate to the specific facts and circumstances of the expenses being allocated. For each line item in the table below, the total of the reported segments’ amounts equals the amount in the consolidated statements of income data included in Item 6.
As indicated in Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the methodology used to allocate certain selling, general, and administrative expenses was refined at the beginning of the 2019 fiscal year. The amounts presented below for the 52-weeks ended December 29, 2018 are presented here as they were originally reported. For comparative purposes, we estimate operating income for the 52-weeks ended December 29, 2018 would have been approximately $18 million less for aviation, approximately $11 million more for marine, approximately $7 million more for outdoor, and not significantly different for auto and fitness.
| Auto | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52-Weeks Ended December 26, 2020 | Fitness | Outdoor | Marine | Aviation | Total Auto | Consumer Auto | Auto OEM | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 1,317,498 | $ | 1,128,081 | $ | 657,848 | $ | 622,820 | $ | 460,326 | $ | 275,493 | $ | 184,833 | ||||||||||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 619,959 | 388,304 | 273,398 | 169,812 | 253,764 | 135,629 | 118,135 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross profit | 697,539 | 739,777 | 384,450 | 453,008 | 206,562 | 139,864 | 66,698 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Advertising expense | 66,157 | 49,957 | 21,549 | 2,921 | 10,582 | 10,387 | 195 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 190,109 | 143,714 | 94,376 | 76,504 | 65,542 | 40,094 | 25,448 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Research and development expense | 122,389 | 105,021 | 92,801 | 236,380 | 149,094 | 47,919 | 101,175 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 378,655 | 298,692 | 208,726 | 315,805 | 225,218 | 98,400 | 126,818 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 318,884 | $ | 441,085 | $ | 175,724 | $ | 137,203 | $ | (18,656 | ) | $ | 41,464 | $ | (60,120 | ) | ||||||||||||
| 52-Weeks Ended December 28, 2019 | Fitness | Outdoor | Marine | Aviation | Total Auto | Consumer Auto | Auto OEM | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 1,047,527 | $ | 917,567 | $ | 508,850 | $ | 735,458 | $ | 548,103 | $ | 365,511 | $ | 182,592 | ||||||||||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 514,923 | 319,124 | 205,901 | 192,073 | 291,508 | 193,293 | 98,215 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross profit | 532,604 | 598,443 | 302,949 | 543,385 | 256,595 | 172,218 | 84,377 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Advertising expense | 71,772 | 52,171 | 20,411 | 5,667 | 14,435 | 14,174 | 261 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 159,793 | 124,650 | 90,352 | 65,663 | 78,110 | 53,444 | 24,666 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Research and development expense | 109,181 | 87,581 | 82,310 | 219,112 | 107,182 | 41,301 | 65,881 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 340,746 | 264,402 | 193,073 | 290,442 | 199,727 | 108,919 | 90,808 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 191,858 | $ | 334,041 | $ | 109,876 | $ | 252,943 | $ | 56,868 | $ | 63,299 | $ | (6,431 | ) | |||||||||||||
| 52-Weeks Ended December 29, 2018 | Fitness | Outdoor | Marine | Aviation | Total Auto | Consumer Auto | Auto OEM | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 858,329 | $ | 809,883 | $ | 441,560 | $ | 603,459 | $ | 634,213 | $ | 425,684 | $ | 208,529 | ||||||||||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 386,565 | 281,629 | 182,804 | 153,307 | 363,420 | 245,822 | 117,598 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross profit | 471,764 | 528,254 | 258,756 | 450,152 | 270,793 | 179,862 | 90,931 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Advertising expense | 64,707 | 46,041 | 18,284 | 7,207 | 19,155 | 18,803 | 352 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 135,096 | 120,588 | 97,682 | 36,139 | 88,672 | 71,265 | 17,407 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Research and development expense | 90,216 | 71,115 | 79,446 | 202,060 | 124,968 | 46,653 | 78,315 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 290,019 | 237,744 | 195,412 | 245,406 | 232,795 | 136,721 | 96,074 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 181,745 | $ | 290,510 | $ | 63,344 | $ | 204,746 | $ | 37,998 | $ | 43,141 | $ | (5,143 | ) |
Net Sales
| Net Sales | 52-Weeks Ended December 26, 2020 | Year-over-Year Change | 52-Weeks Ended December 28, 2019 | Year-over-Year Change | 52-Weeks Ended December 29, 2018 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fitness | $ | 1,317,498 | 26 | % | $ | 1,047,527 | 22 | % | $ | 858,329 | ||||||||||
| Percentage of Total Net Sales | 31 | % | 28 | % | 26 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Outdoor | 1,128,081 | 23 | % | 917,567 | 13 | % | 809,883 | |||||||||||||
| Percentage of Total Net Sales | 27 | % | 24 | % | 24 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Marine | 657,848 | 29 | % | 508,850 | 15 | % | 441,560 | |||||||||||||
| Percentage of Total Net Sales | 16 | % | 13 | % | 13 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Aviation | 622,820 | (15 | %) | 735,458 | 22 | % | 603,459 | |||||||||||||
| Percentage of Total Net Sales | 15 | % | 20 | % | 18 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Auto | 460,326 | (16 | %) | 548,103 | (14 | %) | 634,213 | |||||||||||||
| Percentage of Total Net Sales | 11 | % | 15 | % | 19 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Consumer Auto | 275,493 | (25 | %) | 365,511 | (14 | %) | 425,684 | |||||||||||||
| Percentage of Total Net Sales | 7 | % | 10 | % | 13 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Auto OEM | 184,833 | 1 | % | 182,592 | (12 | %) | 208,529 | |||||||||||||
| Percentage of Total Net Sales | 4 | % | 5 | % | 6 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 4,186,573 | 11 | % | $ | 3,757,505 | 12 | % | $ | 3,347,444 |
Net sales increased 11% in 2020 when compared to the year-ago period. All operating segments had an increase in revenue except for aviation and consumer auto. Fitness revenue represented the largest portion of our revenue mix in 2020 at 31% compared to 28% in 2019.
Total unit sales decreased 1.3% to 15.4 million units in 2020 from 15.6 million units in 2019.
Fitness, outdoor, marine, and auto OEM revenues increased 26%, 23%, 29%, and 1%, respectively, when compared to the year-ago period. The fitness revenue increase was primarily driven by strong demand for advanced wearables and cycling products. The outdoor revenue increase was driven by sales growth across multiple product categories, primarily led by adventure watches. Marine revenue increases were driven by sales growth across all product categories, led primarily by chartplotters and SONAR products. The auto OEM revenue increase was driven by sales growth in new auto OEM programs. Aviation revenue decreased 15% from the year-ago period, due to fewer shipments to OEM customers and reduced contributions from ADS-B products. Consumer auto revenue decreased 25% from the year-ago period, primarily due to the ongoing personal navigation device market contraction.
Gross Profit
| Gross Profit | 52-Weeks Ended December 26, 2020 | Year-over-Year Change | 52-Weeks Ended December 28, 2019 | Year-over-Year Change | 52-Weeks Ended December 29, 2018 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fitness | $ | 697,539 | 31 | % | $ | 532,604 | 13 | % | $ | 471,764 | ||||||||||
| Percentage of Segment Net Sales | 53 | % | 51 | % | 55 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Outdoor | 739,777 | 24 | % | 598,443 | 13 | % | 528,254 | |||||||||||||
| Percentage of Segment Net Sales | 66 | % | 65 | % | 65 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Marine | 384,450 | 27 | % | 302,949 | 17 | % | 258,756 | |||||||||||||
| Percentage of Segment Net Sales | 58 | % | 60 | % | 59 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Aviation | 453,008 | (17 | %) | 543,385 | 21 | % | 450,152 | |||||||||||||
| Percentage of Segment Net Sales | 73 | % | 74 | % | 75 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Auto | 206,562 | (19 | %) | 256,595 | (5 | %) | 270,793 | |||||||||||||
| Percentage of Segment Net Sales | 45 | % | 47 | % | 43 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Consumer Auto | 139,864 | (19 | %) | 172,218 | (4 | %) | 179,862 | |||||||||||||
| Percentage of Segment Net Sales | 51 | % | 47 | % | 42 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Auto OEM | 66,698 | (21 | %) | 84,377 | (7 | %) | 90,931 | |||||||||||||
| Percentage of Segment Net Sales | 36 | % | 46 | % | 44 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 2,481,336 | 11 | % | $ | 2,233,976 | 13 | % | $ | 1,979,719 | ||||||||||
| Percentage of Total Net Sales | 59 | % | 59 | % | 59 | % |
Gross profit dollars in fiscal year 2020 increased 11%, primarily due to the increase in net sales compared to the year-ago period. Consolidated gross margin was relatively flat compared to fiscal year 2019. The fitness and consumer auto gross margin increases of 210 basis points and 365 basis points, respectively, were primarily attributable to product mix. Gross margin remained relatively flat within the outdoor segment. The marine and aviation gross margin decreases of 110 basis points and 115 basis points, respectively, were primarily attributable to product mix. The auto OEM gross margin decrease of 1,010 basis points was primarily attributable to product mix associated with growth in new auto OEM programs. This product mix and associated gross margin trend is generally expected to continue into 2021 and beyond.
Advertising Expenses
| Advertising | 52-Weeks Ended December 26, 2020 | Year-over-Year Change | 52-Weeks Ended December 28, 2019 | Year-over-Year Change | 52-Weeks Ended December 29, 2018 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fitness | $ | 66,157 | (8 | %) | $ | 71,772 | 11 | % | $ | 64,707 | ||||||||||
| Percentage of Segment Net Sales | 5 | % | 7 | % | 8 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Outdoor | 49,957 | (4 | %) | 52,171 | 13 | % | 46,041 | |||||||||||||
| Percentage of Segment Net Sales | 4 | % | 6 | % | 6 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Marine | 21,549 | 6 | % | 20,411 | 12 | % | 18,284 | |||||||||||||
| Percentage of Segment Net Sales | 3 | % | 4 | % | 4 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Aviation | 2,921 | (48 | %) | 5,667 | (21 | %) | 7,207 | |||||||||||||
| Percentage of Segment Net Sales | 0 | % | 1 | % | 1 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Auto | 10,582 | (27 | %) | 14,435 | (25 | %) | 19,155 | |||||||||||||
| Percentage of Segment Net Sales | 2 | % | 3 | % | 3 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Consumer Auto | 10,387 | (27 | %) | 14,174 | (25 | %) | 18,803 | |||||||||||||
| Percentage of Segment Net Sales | 4 | % | 4 | % | 4 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Auto OEM | 195 | (25 | %) | 261 | (26 | %) | 352 | |||||||||||||
| Percentage of Segment Net Sales | 0 | % | 0 | % | 0 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 151,166 | (8 | %) | $ | 164,456 | 6 | % | $ | 155,394 | ||||||||||
| Percentage of Total Net Sales | 4 | % | 4 | % | 5 | % |
Advertising expense decreased 8% in absolute dollars and decreased slightly as a percent of revenue in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019. The overall decrease in absolute dollars was primarily attributable to decreased media advertising in fitness and outdoor and decreased cooperative advertising in consumer auto. These decreases were partially offset by increased cooperative advertising expense in fitness, outdoor, and marine. Advertising expenses in all operating segments decreased slightly as a percent of revenue compared to the prior year.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
| Selling, General & Admin. Expenses | 52-Weeks Ended December 26, 2020 | Year-over-Year Change | 52-Weeks Ended December 28, 2019 | Year-over-Year Change | 52-Weeks Ended December 29, 2018 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fitness | $ | 190,109 | 19 | % | $ | 159,793 | 18 | % | $ | 135,096 | ||||||||||
| Percentage of Segment Net Sales | 14 | % | 15 | % | 16 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Outdoor | 143,714 | 15 | % | 124,650 | 3 | % | 120,588 | |||||||||||||
| Percentage of Segment Net Sales | 13 | % | 14 | % | 15 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Marine | 94,376 | 4 | % | 90,352 | (8 | %) | 97,682 | |||||||||||||
| Percentage of Segment Net Sales | 14 | % | 18 | % | 22 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Aviation | 76,504 | 17 | % | 65,663 | 82 | % | 36,139 | |||||||||||||
| Percentage of Segment Net Sales | 12 | % | 9 | % | 6 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Auto | 65,542 | (16 | %) | 78,110 | (12 | %) | 88,672 | |||||||||||||
| Percentage of Segment Net Sales | 14 | % | 14 | % | 14 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Consumer Auto | 40,094 | (25 | %) | 53,444 | (25 | %) | 71,265 | |||||||||||||
| Percentage of Segment Net Sales | 15 | % | 15 | % | 17 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Auto OEM | 25,448 | 3 | % | 24,666 | 42 | % | 17,407 | |||||||||||||
| Percentage of Segment Net Sales | 14 | % | 14 | % | 8 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 570,245 | 10 | % | $ | 518,568 | 8 | % | $ | 478,177 | ||||||||||
| Percentage of Total Net Sales | 14 | % | 14 | % | 14 | % |
Selling, general and administrative expense increased 10% in absolute dollars and was relatively flat as a percent of revenue when compared to the prior year. The absolute dollar increase was primarily attributable to information technology costs and personnel related expenses.
As noted above and in Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company refined its methodology to allocate certain selling, general and administrative expenses at the beginning of the 2019 fiscal year. The prior year amounts are presented here as originally reported. For comparative purposes, we estimate selling, general and administrative expenses for fiscal year 2018 would have been approximately $18 million more for aviation, approximately $11 million less for marine, approximately $7 million less for outdoor, and not significantly different for fitness and auto.
Research and Development Expense
| Research & Development | 52-Weeks Ended December 26, 2020 | Year-over-Year Change | 52-Weeks Ended December 28, 2019 | Year-over-Year Change | 52-Weeks Ended December 29, 2018 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fitness | $ | 122,389 | 12 | % | $ | 109,181 | 21 | % | $ | 90,216 | ||||||||||
| Percentage of Segment Net Sales | 9 | % | 10 | % | 11 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Outdoor | 105,021 | 20 | % | 87,581 | 23 | % | 71,115 | |||||||||||||
| Percentage of Segment Net Sales | 9 | % | 10 | % | 9 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Marine | 92,801 | 13 | % | 82,310 | 4 | % | 79,446 | |||||||||||||
| Percentage of Segment Net Sales | 14 | % | 16 | % | 18 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Aviation | 236,380 | 8 | % | 219,112 | 8 | % | 202,060 | |||||||||||||
| Percentage of Segment Net Sales | 38 | % | 30 | % | 33 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Auto | 149,094 | 39 | % | 107,182 | (14 | %) | 124,968 | |||||||||||||
| Percentage of Segment Net Sales | 32 | % | 20 | % | 20 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Consumer Auto | 47,919 | 16 | % | 41,301 | (11 | %) | 46,653 | |||||||||||||
| Percentage of Segment Net Sales | 17 | % | 11 | % | 11 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Auto OEM | 101,175 | 54 | % | 65,881 | (16 | %) | 78,315 | |||||||||||||
| Percentage of Segment Net Sales | 55 | % | 36 | % | 38 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 705,685 | 17 | % | $ | 605,366 | 7 | % | $ | 567,805 | ||||||||||
| Percentage of Total Net Sales | 17 | % | 16 | % | 17 | % |
Research and development expense increased 17% in absolute dollars when compared to the year-ago period and increased slightly as a percent of revenue. The absolute dollar increase was primarily due to engineering personnel costs across all of our operating segments and other expenses related to auto OEM programs. The auto OEM increase in absolute dollars and as a percent of revenue was primarily attributable to higher engineering personnel costs and other expenses related to investments in auto OEM programs and a lower proportion of such costs being contractually reimbursable in fiscal year 2020. This trend of increasing auto OEM research and development expense is expected to continue in 2021 as we expect higher total costs and the majority of costs will not be contractually reimbursable.
Operating Income
| Operating Income | 52-Weeks Ended December 26, 2020 | Year-over-Year Change | 52-Weeks Ended December 28, 2019 | Year-over-Year Change | 52-Weeks Ended December 29, 2018 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fitness | $ | 318,884 | 66 | % | $ | 191,858 | 6 | % | $ | 181,745 | ||||||||||
| Percentage of Segment Net Sales | 24 | % | 18 | % | 21 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Outdoor | 441,085 | 32 | % | 334,041 | 15 | % | 290,510 | |||||||||||||
| Percentage of Segment Net Sales | 39 | % | 36 | % | 36 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Marine | 175,724 | 60 | % | 109,876 | 73 | % | 63,344 | |||||||||||||
| Percentage of Segment Net Sales | 27 | % | 22 | % | 14 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Aviation | 137,203 | (46 | %) | 252,943 | 24 | % | 204,746 | |||||||||||||
| Percentage of Segment Net Sales | 22 | % | 34 | % | 34 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Auto | (18,656 | ) | (133 | %) | 56,868 | 50 | % | 37,998 | ||||||||||||
| Percentage of Segment Net Sales | (4 | %) | 10 | % | 6 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Consumer Auto | 41,464 | (34 | %) | 63,299 | 47 | % | 43,141 | |||||||||||||
| Percentage of Segment Net Sales | 15 | % | 17 | % | 10 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Auto OEM | (60,120 | ) | 835 | % | (6,431 | ) | 25 | % | (5,143 | ) | ||||||||||
| Percentage of Segment Net Sales | (33 | %) | (4 | %) | (2 | %) | ||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 1,054,240 | 11 | % | $ | 945,586 | 21 | % | $ | 778,343 | ||||||||||
| Percentage of Total Net Sales | 25 | % | 25 | % | 23 | % |
Total operating income increased 11% in absolute dollars and was relatively flat as a percent of revenue when compared to fiscal year 2019. The growth in total operating income on an absolute dollar basis was the result of revenue growth as discussed above. Operating income, in absolute dollars and as a percent of revenue, decreased in aviation primarily due to a decline in sales compared to the year-ago period. Auto OEM experienced an operating loss in fiscal year 2020, and we expect this trend of an operating loss to continue in 2021, primarily due to a lower gross margin and increased expense associated with certain programs, as described above.
Other Income (Expense)
| Other Income (Expense) | 52-Weeks Ended December 26, 2020 | 52-Weeks Ended December 28, 2019 | 52-Weeks Ended December 29, 2018 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interest income | $ | 37,002 | $ | 52,817 | $ | 47,147 | ||||||
| Foreign currency (losses) | 2,825 | (16,799 | ) | (7,616 | ) | |||||||
| Other income | 9,343 | 5,618 | 5,373 | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 49,170 | $ | 41,636 | $ | 44,904 |
The average returns on cash and investments, including interest and capital gain/loss returns during the 52-weeks ended December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019, were 1.4% and 2.0%, respectively. Interest income decreased primarily due to lower yields on fixed-income securities.
Foreign currency gains and losses for the Company are typically driven by movements of a number of currencies in relation to the U.S. Dollar. The Taiwan Dollar is the functional currency of Garmin Corporation, the Euro is the functional currency of several subsidiaries, and the U.S. Dollar is the functional currency of Garmin (Europe) Ltd., although some transactions and balances are denominated in British Pounds. Other notable currency exposures include the Australian Dollar, and Chinese Yuan. The majority of the Company’s consolidated foreign currency gain or loss is typically driven by the significant cash and marketable securities, receivables and payables held in a currency other than the functional currency at a given legal entity.
The $2.8 million currency gain recognized in fiscal 2020 was primarily due to the U.S. Dollar weakening against the Euro, Australian Dollar, Chinese Yuan, and British Pound Sterling, partially offset by the U.S. Dollar weakening against the Taiwan Dollar. During fiscal 2020, the U.S. Dollar weakened 9.2% against the Euro, 9.4% against the Australian Dollar, 7.2% against the Chinese Yuan, and 3.6% against the British Pound Sterling, resulting in gains of $21.1 million, $6.5 million, $2.9 million, and $2.6 million, respectively, while the U.S. Dollar weakened 7.1% against the Taiwan Dollar, resulting in a loss of $32.2 million. The remaining net currency gain of $1.9 million is related to the timing of transactions and impacts of other currencies, each of which was individually immaterial.
The $16.8 million currency loss recognized in fiscal 2019 was primarily due to the U.S. Dollar strengthening against the Euro and weakening against the Taiwan Dollar, offset by the U.S. Dollar weakening against the British Pound Sterling. During fiscal 2019, the U.S. Dollar strengthened 2.3% against the Euro and weakened 1.5% against the Taiwan Dollar, resulting in losses of $9.3 million and $7.1 million, respectively, while the U.S. Dollar weakened 2.9% against the British Pound Sterling, resulting in a gain of $2.8 million. The remaining net currency loss of $3.2 million is related to the timing of transactions and impacts of other currencies, each of which was individually immaterial.
Income Tax Provision
Income tax expense for the fiscal year ended December 26, 2020 was $111.1 million compared to income tax expense of $34.7 million for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2019, representing a net increase of $76.4 million. Contributing to the year-over-year increase in income tax expense in fiscal year 2020 was an income tax benefit of $118.0 million recognized in fiscal year 2019 associated with the revaluation and step-up of certain Switzerland tax assets as a result of the October 2019 enactment of Switzerland federal and Schaffhausen cantonal tax reform and related transitional measures. A revaluation of these assets performed in the fourth quarter of 2020 resulted in an $11.0 million income tax expense in fiscal year 2020. In connection with these transitional measures included in Switzerland tax reform, a reduced income tax rate will be utilized on certain Switzerland taxable income for up to five years. The Company also recognized a $14.3 million income tax benefit in fiscal 2020 due to the release of uncertain tax position reserves associated with a 2014 intercompany restructuring.
Excluding the aforementioned $11.0 million income tax expense and $14.3 million income tax benefit in fiscal 2020, and the $118.0 million tax benefit in fiscal 2019, income tax expense for fiscal years 2020 and 2019 was $114.4 million and $152.7 million, respectively. In this comparison, income tax expense for fiscal year 2020 was lower primarily due to a transaction initiated by the Company in February 2020 between wholly-owned subsidiaries to migrate ownership of certain intellectual property from Switzerland to the United States, the primary location of research, development, and executive management. The migration, which includes a multi-year intercompany license of intellectual property, has resulted in a favorable shift of income mix by jurisdiction and a reduction in expense related to uncertain tax positions. During the term of the license agreement, this transaction is expected to continue to result in a lower effective income tax rate as compared to the fiscal year 2019 effective income tax rate, excluding the $118.0 million income tax benefit in 2019 described above. The Company is pursuing an Advance Pricing Agreement between relevant jurisdictions related to this transaction. At the end of the license agreement, a higher percentage of income will be recognized in the United States.
Net Income
As a result of the various factors noted above net income increased 4% to $992.3 million from $952.5 million in the prior year.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of December 26, 2020, we had approximately $3.0 billion of cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities. We primarily use cash flow from operations, and expect that future cash requirements may be used, to fund our capital expenditures, support our working capital requirements, pay dividends, and fund strategic acquisitions. We believe that our existing cash balances and cash flow from operations will be sufficient to meet our short- and long-term projected working capital needs, capital expenditures, and other cash requirements.
It is management’s goal to invest the on-hand cash in accordance with the investment policy, which has been approved by the Company’s Board of Directors. The investment policy’s primary purpose is to preserve capital, maintain an acceptable degree of liquidity, and maximize yield within the constraint of low credit risk. Garmin’s average interest rate returns on cash and investments during fiscal 2020, 2019, and 2018 were approximately 1.4%, 2.0% and 1.9%, respectively. The fair value of our securities varies from period to period due to changes in interest rates, in the performance of the underlying collateral, and in the credit performance of the underlying issuer, among other factors. See Note 8 for additional information regarding marketable securities.
Operating Activities
| 52-Weeks Ended | 52-Weeks Ended | 52-Weeks Ended | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 26, 2020 | December 28, 2019 | December 29, 2018 | ||||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 1,135,267 | $ | 698,549 | $ | 919,520 |
The $436.7 million increase in cash provided by operating activities in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019 was due to a decrease in cash used in working capital of $294.3 million (which included an increase of $14.5 million in net receipts of accounts receivable, a decrease of $198.9 million in cash paid for inventory, a decrease of $13.6 million net cash used for income taxes, and a decrease of $92.0 million net cash used in other activities primarily driven by prior year payments associated with an amendment to a license agreement, partially offset by an increase of $24.7 million net cash used in accounts payable). Additional changes were due to the year-over-year increase in net income of $39.8 million and an increase in other non-cash adjustments to net income of $102.6 million primarily driven by a prior year income tax benefit of $118.0 million associated with the revaluation and step-up of certain Switzerland tax assets.
Investing Activities
| 52-Weeks Ended | 52-Weeks Ended | 52-Weeks Ended | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 26, 2020 | December 28, 2019 | December 29, 2018 | ||||||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | $ | (260,524 | ) | $ | (450,746 | ) | $ | (307,503 | ) |
The $190.2 million decrease in cash used in investing activities in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019 was primarily due to a decrease in cash payments for acquisitions of $151.6 million, an increase in net redemptions of marketable securities of $104.2 million, and partially offset by increased net purchases of property and equipment of $65.9 million.
Financing Activities
| 52-Weeks Ended | 52-Weeks Ended | 52-Weeks Ended | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 26, 2020 | December 28, 2019 | December 29, 2018 | ||||||||||
| Net cash used in financing activities | $ | (461,760 | ) | $ | (416,028 | ) | $ | (286,161 | ) |
The $45.7 million increase in cash used in financing activities in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019 was primarily due to an increase in dividend payments of $33.4 million.
Our declared dividend has increased from $0.53 per share for the four calendar quarters beginning in June 2018 to $0.57 per share for the four calendar quarters beginning in June 2019, and to $0.61 per share for the four calendar quarters beginning in June 2020.
Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments
As of December 26, 2020, operating leases comprise the substance of the Company’s commercial commitments with long-term scheduled payments, as summarized below:
| Payments due by period | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contractual Obligations | Total | Less than 1 year | 1-3 years | 3-5 years | More than 5 years | |||||||||||||||
| Operating Leases | $ | 107,859 | $ | 22,900 | $ | 36,965 | $ | 24,965 | $ | 23,029 |
The Company is party to certain other commitments, which include purchases of raw materials, capital expenditures, advertising, and other indirect purchases in connection with conducting our business. The aggregate amount of purchase orders and other commitments open as of December 26, 2020 was approximately $880.0 million. We cannot determine the aggregate amount of such purchase orders that represent contractual obligations because purchase orders may represent authorizations to purchase rather than binding agreements. Our purchase orders are generally based on our current needs and are typically fulfilled within short periods of time.
We may be required to make significant cash outlays related to unrecognized tax benefits. However, due to the uncertainty of the timing of future cash flows associated with our unrecognized tax benefits, we are unable to make reasonably reliable estimates of the period of cash settlement, if any, with the respective taxing authorities. Accordingly, unrecognized tax benefits of $85.0 million as of December 26, 2020, have been excluded from the contractual obligations table above. For further information related to unrecognized tax benefits, see Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Income Taxes and Note 6 – Income Taxes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Report.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
| --- | --- |
Market Sensitivity
We have market risk primarily in connection with the pricing of our products and services and the purchase of raw materials. Product pricing and raw materials costs are both significantly influenced by semiconductor market conditions. Historically, during cyclical industry downturns, we have been able to offset pricing declines for our products through a combination of improved product mix and success in obtaining price reductions in raw materials costs.
Inflation
We do not believe that inflation has had a material effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. If our costs were to become subject to significant inflationary pressures, we may not be able to fully offset such higher costs through price increases. Our inability or failure to do so could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
The operation of Garmin’s subsidiaries in international markets results in exposure to movements in currency exchange rates. We have experienced significant foreign currency gains and losses due to the strengthening and weakening of the U.S. dollar. The potential of volatile foreign exchange rate fluctuations in the future could have a significant effect on our results of operations. The Company has not historically hedged its foreign currency exchange rate risks.
The currencies that create a majority of the Company’s exchange rate exposure are the Taiwan Dollar, Euro, British Pound Sterling, Australian Dollar, Chinese Yuan, and Japanese Yen. Garmin Corporation, headquartered in Xizhi, Taiwan, uses the local currency as the functional currency. The Company translates all assets and liabilities at year‐end exchange rates and income and expense accounts at average rates during the year. In order to minimize the effect of the currency exchange fluctuations on our net assets, we have elected to retain most of our Taiwan subsidiary’s cash and investments denominated in U.S. Dollars.
Most European subsidiaries use the Euro as the functional currency. The functional currency of our largest European subsidiary, Garmin (Europe) Ltd. remains the U.S. Dollar, and as some transactions occur in British Pounds Sterling or Euros, foreign currency gains or losses have been realized historically related to the movements of those currencies relative to the U.S. Dollar. The Company believes that gains and losses may become more material in the future as our European presence grows.
During fiscal year 2020, the Company incurred a net foreign currency gain of $2.8 million. The U.S. Dollar weakening against the Euro, Australian Dollar, Chinese Yuan, and British Pound Sterling was partially offset by the U.S. Dollar weakening against the Taiwan Dollar. During fiscal 2020, the U.S. Dollar weakened 9.2% against the Euro, 9.4% against the Australian Dollar, 7.2% against the Chinese Yuan, and 3.6% against the British Pound Sterling, resulting in gains of $21.1 million, $6.5 million, $2.9 million, and $2.6 million, respectively, while the U.S. Dollar weakened 7.1% against the Taiwan Dollar, resulting in a loss of $32.2 million. The remaining net currency gain of $1.9 million was related to the timing of transactions and impacts of other currencies, each of which was individually immaterial. These and other currency moves during fiscal year 2020 also resulted in a currency translation adjustment of $107.7 million within Accumulated other comprehensive income.
We assessed the Company’s exposure to movements in currency exchange rates by performing a sensitivity analysis of adverse changes in exchange rates and the corresponding impact to our results of operations. Based on monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than respective functional currencies as of December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019, hypothetical and reasonably possible adverse changes of 10% for the Taiwan Dollar, Euro, and British Pound Sterling would have resulted in an adverse impact on income before income taxes of approximately $84 million and $90 million at December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019.
Interest Rate Risk
We have no outstanding long-term debt as of December 26, 2020. We, therefore, have no meaningful debt-related interest rate risk.
We are exposed to interest rate risk in connection with our investments in marketable securities. As interest rates change, the unrealized gains and losses associated with those securities will fluctuate accordingly.
The Company’s investment policy targets low risk investments with the objective of minimizing the potential risk of principal loss. The Company does not intend to sell securities in an unrealized loss position and it is not more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell such investments before recovery of their amortized costs bases, which may be maturity. During 2020 and 2019, the Company did not record any material impairment charges on its outstanding securities.
We assessed the Company’s exposure to interest rate risk by performing a sensitivity analysis of a parallel shift in the yield curve and the corresponding impact to the Company’s portfolio of marketable securities. Based on balance sheet positions as of December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019, the hypothetical and reasonably possible 100 basis point increases in interest rates across all securities would have resulted in declines in portfolio fair market value of approximately $34 million and $35 million at December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019, respectively. Such losses would only be realized if the Company sold the investments prior to maturity.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Garmin Ltd. and Subsidiaries
Years Ended December 26, 2020, December 28, 2019, and December 29, 2018
Contents
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Garmin Ltd. and Subsidiaries
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Garmin Ltd. and Subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 26, 2020, and the related notes and financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a) (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 26, 2020, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 26, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated February 17, 2021, expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the 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 audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that 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. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
Valuation of Goodwill
| Description of the Matter | The Company assigns goodwill acquired in business combinations to its reporting units as of each acquisition date. At December 26, 2020, the Company’s goodwill balance related to the consumer auto reporting unit was approximately $80 million. As discussed in Note 2 of the consolidated financial statements, goodwill is tested for impairment at least annually at the reporting unit level. The consumer auto market has declined in recent years as competing technologies have emerged and market saturation has occurred. This has resulted in periods of lower revenues and profits for the Company’s consumer auto reporting unit. Considering these qualitative factors, management performed a quantitative impairment test of the consumer auto reporting unit in the fourth quarter of 2020. Considering the uncertainty of future operating results and/or market conditions deteriorating faster or more drastically than the forecasts utilized in management’s estimation of fair value, the Company disclosed some or all of the approximately $80 million of goodwill associated with the consumer auto reporting unit is at risk of future impairment. Auditing management’s annual goodwill impairment test for the consumer auto reporting unit was complex and highly judgmental due to the significant estimation required in determining the fair value of the reporting unit. In particular, the fair value estimate was sensitive to significant assumptions such as the discount rate, projected future revenues, projected future operating margins, and terminal growth rates which are affected by expectations about future market or economic conditions. |
| How We Addressed the Matter in Our Audit | We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of controls over the Company’s consumer auto goodwill impairment review process. For example, we tested controls over management's review of the significant assumptions (e.g., discount rate, projected revenue growth rates, projected operating margins, terminal growth rates) used to develop the prospective financial information (PFI) for the quantitative analysis. We also tested management's controls to validate that the data used in the valuation was complete and accurate. To test the estimated fair value of the Company’s consumer auto reporting unit, we performed audit procedures that included, among others, assessing the methodology and testing the significant assumptions discussed above and the underlying data used by the Company in its analysis. We included valuation specialists on our team to review the Company’s model, method, and the more sensitive assumptions such as the discount rate and terminal growth assumptions. We compared the significant assumptions used by management to current industry and economic trends, changes to the Company’s business model, forecasts used in the Company’s annual operating plans and other relevant factors. We assessed the historical accuracy of management’s forecast estimates and performed sensitivity analyses of significant assumptions to evaluate the changes in the fair value of the consumer auto reporting unit that would r |
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Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
| --- | --- |
Garmin has incorporated by reference certain information in response or partial response to the Items under this Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K pursuant to General Instruction G(3) of this Form 10-K and Rule 12b-23 under the Exchange Act. Garmin’s definitive proxy statement in connection with its annual meeting of shareholders scheduled for June 4, 2021 (the “Proxy Statement”) will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission no later than 120 days after December 26, 2020.
| (a) | Directors of the Company |
|---|
The information set forth in response to Item 401 of Regulation S-K under the headings “Proposal 5 – Re-election of six directors” in the Proxy Statement is hereby incorporated herein by reference in partial response to this Item 10.
| (b) | Executive Officers of the Company |
|---|
The information set forth in response to Item 401 of Regulation S-K under the heading “Information about our Executive Officers” in Part I of this Form 10-K is incorporated herein by reference in partial response to this Item 10.
| (c) | Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports |
|---|
The information set forth in response to Item 405 of Regulation S-K under the heading “Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports” in the Proxy Statement is hereby incorporated herein by reference in partial response to this Item 10.
| (d) | Audit Committee and Audit Committee Financial Expert |
|---|
The information set forth in response to Item 402 of Regulation S-K under the heading “Board Meetings and Standing Committee Meetings - Audit Committee” in the Proxy Statement is hereby incorporated herein by reference in partial response to this Item 10.
The Audit Committee consists of Joseph J. Hartnett, Charles W. Peffer and Catherine A. Lewis. Mr. Peffer serves as the Chairman of the Audit Committee. All members of the Audit Committee are “independent” within the meaning of the rules of the SEC and the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules. Garmin’s Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Hartnett, Ms. Lewis, and Mr. Peffer are “audit committee financial experts” as defined by the SEC regulations implementing Section 407 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
| (e) | Code of Ethics |
|---|
Garmin’s Board of Directors has adopted the Code of Conduct of Garmin Ltd. and Subsidiaries (the “Code”). The Code is applicable to all Garmin employees including the President and Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Controller and other officers. A copy of the Code is available on Garmin’s website at: https://www8.garmin.com/aboutGarmin/invRelations/documents/Code_of_Conduct.pdf. If any amendments to the Code are made, or any waivers with respect to the Code are granted to the President and Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer or Controller, or any person performing a similar function, such amendment or waiver will be disclosed on Garmin’s website at: https://www8.garmin.com/aboutGarmin/invRelations/documents/Code_of_Conduct.pdf.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
| --- | --- |
The information set forth in response to Item 402 of Regulation S-K under the headings “Executive Compensation Matters” and “Proposal 5 - Re-election of six directors – Non-Management Director Compensation” in the Proxy Statement is hereby incorporated herein by reference in partial response to this Item 11.
The information set forth in response to Item 407(e)(4) of Regulation S-K under the heading “Proposal 5 -Re-election of six directors – Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation; Certain Relationships” in the Proxy Statement is hereby incorporated herein by reference in partial response to this Item 11.
The information set forth in response to Item 407(e)(5) of Regulation S-K under the heading “Executive Compensation Matters – Compensation Committee Report” in the Proxy Statement is hereby incorporated herein by reference in partial response to this Item 11.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
| --- | --- |
The information set forth in response to Item 403 of Regulation S-K under the heading “Stock Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” in the Proxy Statement is hereby incorporated herein by reference in partial response to this Item 12.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table gives information as of December 26, 2020 about the Garmin common shares that may be issued under all of the Company’s existing equity compensation plans, as adjusted for stock splits.
| A | B | C | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plan Category | Number of securities to be issued upon outstanding options, exercise of warrants and rights | Weighted- average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights | Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column A) | |||||||||
| Equity compensation plans approved by shareholders | 1,594,932 | $ 52.44 | 5,103,801 | |||||||||
| Equity compensation plans not approved by shareholders | — | — | — | |||||||||
| Total | 1,594,932 | $ 52.44 | 5,103,801 |
Table consists of the Garmin Ltd. 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (as Amended and Restated Effective June 5, 2010), the Garmin Ltd. 2000 Equity Incentive Plan, the Garmin Ltd. Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan, effective January 1, 2010 and the Garmin Ltd. 2011 Non-Employee Directors Equity Incentive Plan, effective June 3, 2011. The weighted-average exercise price does not reflect the shares that will be issued upon the payment of outstanding awards of RSUs.
The Company has no knowledge of any arrangement, the operation of which may at a subsequent date result in a change in control of the Company.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
| --- | --- |
The information set forth in response to Item 404 of Regulation S-K under the heading “Proposal 5 – Re-election of six directors - Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation; Certain Relationships” in the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference in partial response to this Item 13.
The information set forth in response to Item 407(a) of Regulation S-K under the headings “Proposal 5 – Re-election of six directors” in the Proxy Statement is hereby incorporated herein by reference in partial response to this Item 13.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
| --- | --- |
The information set forth under the headings “Audit Matters -- Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees” and “Pre-Approval of Services Provided by the Independent Auditor” in the Proxy Statement is hereby incorporated by reference in response to this Item 14.
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits, and Financial Statement Schedules
| --- | --- |
(a)List of Documents filed as part of this Report
| (1) | Consolidated Financial Statements |
|---|
The consolidated financial statements and related notes, together with the reports of Ernst & Young LLP, appear in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Form 10-K.
| (2) | Schedule II Valuation and Qualifying Accounts |
|---|
All other schedules have been omitted because they are not applicable, are insignificant or the required information is shown in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.
| (3) | Exhibits -- The following exhibits are filed as part of, or incorporated by reference into, this Annual Report on Form 10-K: |
|---|
- Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement pursuant to 601(b)(10)(iii)(A) of Regulation S-K.
(b)Exhibits
The exhibits listed on the accompanying Exhibit Index in Item 15(a)(3) are filed as part of, or are incorporated by reference into, this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
(c)Financial Statement Schedules
Reference is made to Item 15(a)(2) above.
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary
| --- | --- |
None.
SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
Garmin Ltd. and Subsidiaries
(In thousands)
| Additions | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Description | Balance at Beginning of Period | Charged to Costs and Expenses | Charged to Other Accounts | Deductions | Balance at End of Period | |||||||||||||||
| Year ended December 26, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Deducted from asset accounts | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Allowance for doubtful accounts | $ | 6,754 | $ | 5,259 | $ | — | $ | (927 | ) | $ | 11,086 | |||||||||
| Valuation allowance - Deferred Tax Asset | 4,562 | 6,912 | — | (621 | ) | 10,853 | ||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 11,316 | $ | 12,171 | $ | — | $ | (1,548 | ) | $ | 21,939 | |||||||||
| Year ended December 28, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Deducted from asset accounts | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Allowance for doubtful accounts | $ | 5,487 | $ | 2,029 | $ | — | $ | (762 | ) | $ | 6,754 | |||||||||
| Valuation allowance - Deferred Tax Asset | 4,568 | 1,556 | — | (1,562 | ) | 4,562 | ||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 10,055 | $ | 3,585 | $ | — | $ | (2,324 | ) | $ | 11,316 | |||||||||
| Year ended December 29, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Deducted from asset accounts | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Allowance for doubtful accounts | $ | 4,168 | $ | 2,123 | $ | — | $ | (804 | ) | $ | 5,487 | |||||||||
| Valuation allowance - Deferred Tax Asset | 7,267 | 1,186 | — | (3,885 | ) | 4,568 | ||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 11,435 | $ | 3,309 | $ | — | $ | (4,689 | ) | $ | 10,055 |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| GARMIN LTD. | ||
| By | /s/ Clifton A. Pemble | |
| Clifton A. Pemble | ||
| President and Chief Executive Officer |
Dated: February 17, 2021
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Know all persons by these presents, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Clifton A. Pemble and Douglas G. Boessen and Andrew R. Etkind, and each of them, as his attorney-in-fact, with the power of substitution, for him in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact, or his substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report on Form 10-K has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated on February 17, 2021.
| /s/ Clifton A. Pemble | ||
| Clifton A. Pemble | ||
| Director, President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
| (Principal Executive Officer) | ||
| /s/ Douglas G. Boessen | ||
| Douglas G. Boessen | ||
| Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | ||
| (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) | ||
| /s/ Min H. Kao | /s/ Jonathan C. Burrell | |
| Min H. Kao | Jonathan C. Burrell | |
| Executive Chairman | Director | |
| /s/ Joseph J. Hartnett | /s/ Catherine A. Lewis | |
| Joseph J. Hartnett | Catherine A. Lewis | |
| Director | Director | |
| /s/ Charles W. Peffer | ||
| Charles W. Peffer | ||
| Director |
Garmin Ltd.
2020 Form 10-K Annual Report
Exhibit Index
The following exhibits are attached hereto. See Part IV of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a complete list of exhibits.
| Exhibit Number | Document | |
| 4.1 | Description of the Registrant's Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 | |
| 21.1 | List of subsidiaries | |
| 23.1 | Consent of Ernst & Young LLP | |
| 31.1 | Chief Executive Officer’s Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | |
| 31.2 | Chief Financial Officer’s Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | |
| 32.1 | Chief Executive Officer’s Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | |
| 32.2 | Chief Financial Officer’s Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | |
| Exhibit 101.INS | XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document. | |
| Exhibit 101.SCH | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema | |
| Exhibit 101.CAL | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase | |
| Exhibit 101.LAB | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase | |
| Exhibit 101.PRE | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase | |
| Exhibit 101.DEF | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase | |
| Exhibit 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101) |