FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, in particular “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). When used in this report, the words or phrases “will likely result,” “expect,” “intend,” “will continue,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” “believe” and similar expressions are intended to identify “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Exchange Act. These statements represent our expectations or beliefs concerning, among other things, future revenue, earnings, growth strategies, new products and initiatives, future operations and operating results, and future business and market opportunities.

Forward-looking statements in this report speak only as of the date hereof, and forward-looking statements in documents incorporated by reference speak only as of the date of those documents. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. We caution and advise readers that these statements are based on certain assumptions that may not be realized and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations and beliefs contained herein.

For a summary of certain risks related to our business, see “Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which includes the following:

Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements are set forth in this report, including under the headings “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and in our financial statements and the related notes.

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NATURAL HEALTH TRENDS CORP.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In Thousands, Except Share Data) 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

NATURAL HEALTH TRENDS CORP. 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

NATURAL HEALTH TRENDS CORP.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (UNAUDITED)

(In Thousands)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

NATURAL HEALTH TRENDS CORP.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (UNAUDITED)

(In Thousands, Except Share Data)

Three months ended March 31, 2021

Three months ended March 31, 2020

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

NATURAL HEALTH TRENDS CORP.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

(In Thousands)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

NATURAL HEALTH TRENDS CORP.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

Item 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Business Overview

We are an international direct-selling and e-commerce company. Subsidiaries controlled by us sell personal care, wellness, and “quality of life” products under the “NHT Global” brand. Our wholly-owned subsidiaries have an active physical presence in the following markets: the Americas, which consists of the United States, Canada, Cayman Islands, Mexico and Peru; Greater China, which consists of Hong Kong, Taiwan and China; Southeast Asia, which consists of Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam; South Korea; Japan; India; and Europe. We also operate in Russia and Kazakhstan through our engagement with a local service provider.

As of March 31, 2021, we were conducting business through 49,420 active members, compared to 52,230 three months ago and 56,490 a year ago. We consider a member “active” if they have placed at least one product order with us during the preceding year. Our priority is to focus our resources in our most promising markets, which we consider to be Greater China and countries where our existing members have the connections to recruit prospects and sell our products, such as Southeast Asia, India, South America and Europe.

We generate approximately 93% of our net sales from subsidiaries located outside the Americas, with sales of our Hong Kong subsidiary representing 77% of net sales in the latest fiscal quarter. Because of the size of our foreign operations, operating results can be impacted negatively or positively by factors such as foreign currency fluctuations, and economic, political and business conditions around the world. In addition, our business is subject to various laws and regulations, in particular, regulations related to direct selling activities that create uncertain risks for our business, including improper claims or activities by our members and our potential inability to obtain necessary product registrations. We continually evaluate our operations for compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and this process can and has resulted in the identification of certain matters of potential noncompliance, which we work to satisfactorily address. For further information regarding some of the risks associated with the conduct of our business in China and Hong Kong, see generally in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, and more specifically under the captions “Because our Hong Kong operations account for a substantial portion of our overall business...”, “Our Hong Kong operations are being adversely affected by recent political and social developments in Hong Kong...”, and “Our business in China is subject to compliance with a myriad of applicable laws and regulations...”.

China has been and continues to be our most important business development project. We operate an e-commerce direct selling platform in Hong Kong that generates revenue derived from the sale of products to members in Hong Kong and elsewhere, including China. Substantially all of our Hong Kong revenues are derived from the sale of products that are delivered to members in China. Through a separate Chinese entity, we operate an e-commerce retail platform in China. We believe that neither of these activities require a direct selling license in China, which we do not currently hold. We previously submitted a preliminary application for a direct selling license in China in August 2015, but in 2019 a Chinese governmental authority recommended that we withdraw our application. We understand that the governmental authorities recommended that other companies with pending direct selling license applications also withdraw their applications. We applied to withdraw our application in November 2019, and the governmental authorities approved the withdrawal of our application shortly thereafter. In connection with the withdrawal of our application, we received a refund in March 2020 of a consumer protection fund deposit of CNY 20 million ($2.9 million) that we made upon the submission of our application. We expect to reapply for a direct selling license in China when we believe that circumstances are again ripe for doing so. If we are ultimately able to obtain a direct selling license in China, we believe that the incentives inherent in the direct selling model in China would incrementally benefit our existing business. We do not expect that any increased sales in China derived from obtaining a direct selling license would initially be material and, in any event may be partially offset by the higher fixed costs associated with the establishment and maintenance of required service centers, branch offices, manufacturing facilities, certification programs and other legal requirements. We are unable to predict whether and when we will be successful in obtaining a direct selling license to operate in China, and if we are successful, when we will be permitted to conduct direct selling operations and whether such operations would be profitable.

In January 2019, the Chinese government announced a 100-day campaign focused on companies involved in the sale of food, equipment, daily necessities, small home electrical appliances and services that are claimed to promote health. The Chinese government ministries in charge of this campaign indicated that they are targeting illegal practices in the industry, particularly the manufacture and sale of counterfeit and substandard products, and false advertising and misleading claims as to the health benefits of products and services. It is understood that the campaign is specifically focused on the business practices of direct selling companies. During the campaign, we understand that the government is not issuing any additional direct selling licenses, is not issuing certifications of quality or other approvals of various healthcare products, and is reviewing its regulatory oversight of the industry. Since it was implemented, the campaign and associated negative media coverage have had a significant adverse impact on our business, as consumers have widely curtailed their purchases within the affected industries. We, like some of our peers, voluntarily decided in January 2019 to temporarily suspend our member activities, such as product roadshows, product trainings and larger company-sponsored events, in China. We did this because we learned that the 100-day campaign was announced in broad outlines by the central government, and the interpretation and enforcement of the campaign was delegated to the provincial and local governments. We consider it a top priority for our business to develop an understanding of and cooperate with all levels and jurisdictions of the government agencies, and did not want to run the risk of being inadvertently entangled in government enforcement actions as the provincial and local governments formulate and implement their interpretive guidance and rule-making. Although we have recently been able to relax some restrictions on member activities in certain markets, it may again in the future be necessary or advisable to suspend member activities or take similar actions from time to time, and such periods of reduced activity may have a material adverse effect on our business.

Although the 100-day campaign was due to expire on or about April 18, 2019, we are not aware of any information indicating that the campaign has formally concluded. However, on August 27, 2019, the Chinese government announced that it would conduct a “look-back review” to evaluate the 100-day campaign. As part of this review, we understand that various Chinese governmental agencies formed a working group to assess the 100-day campaign, particularly focusing on the health market and its supervision in certain provinces. We understand that during September 2019 the working group evaluated the performance and results of a number of organizations and governmental departments in these provinces and made recommendations for various improvements. It was noted that each province had opened a number of investigative cases, had successfully closed numerous cases, and had imposed various fines and penalties. We understand that the look-back review continued after September 2019, and we are not aware that this review has been completed. As a result, the business environment in China for health product companies continues to be challenging, which has recently been exacerbated by negative social media sentiment expressed for these types of companies. We believe that the campaign, as well as its extension and aftermath (including the look-back review), will continue to negatively impact our business in China in the near-term, but will ultimately benefit us and Chinese consumers in the long-term as purveyors of substandard products are driven from the market.

In late 2019 or early 2020 an outbreak of COVID-19 was first identified in China and subsequently spread around the world. On March 11, 2020 the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic. The outbreak caused the Chinese government to implement powerful measures to control the virus, such as requiring businesses to close throughout various areas of China and restricting public gatherings and certain travel within the country. We have significant business in China and in 2020 generated approximately 79% of our revenue in Hong Kong, substantially all of which was derived from the sale of products to members in China. The Chinese government has taken steps to reduce some of the restrictive measures that it imposed to control COVID-19, while the governments of other countries in which we operate are working at various stages in their efforts to control the virus. The scope and impact of the pandemic and related control measures are uncertain, but we have taken steps to adapt some of our marketing programs, such as relying on certain product promotions and webcast training, to overcome the physical restrictions imposed in response to the pandemic. We also canceled both of our major member events planned for 2020, although some relatively small member events were held in the second half of the year. The severity of the impact on us of the COVID-19 pandemic will depend on future developments, including the duration and spread of the virus, and related control measures, which we are unable to accurately predict. Regardless, these disruptions have materially negatively impacted our financial results throughout 2020, and we expect that our financial results for the near-term may be adversely affected. For example, in February 2021 several coronavirus outbreaks caused the Chinese government to abruptly reintroduce restrictions on personal mobility and strongly discourage gathering and travel ahead of the Chinese New Year. These measures effectively lengthened the traditional holiday and reduced the number of working days in the first quarter of 2021, which had a significant short-term effect on the level of our sales. The disruptions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic have also adversely affected the operations of some of our third-party logistics providers, and we expect that the future operations of these logistics providers and other third parties with whom we work may be adversely affected by these disruptions. We will continue to assess the operational and financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors - Epidemics, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, or natural disasters, terrorists attacks or acts of war…” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Recent political and social developments in Hong Kong, along with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and related government control measures, are also adversely affecting our Hong Kong operations and recently led us to cease conducting member meetings and events in Hong Kong. Inasmuch as member meetings and events located in Hong Kong have in the past served as an important component of our product marketing and distribution efforts, we believe that this action has negatively affected our operations and financial performance. If current conditions continue or further deteriorate, we anticipate that our business, financial condition and results of operations will be adversely affected. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors - Our Hong Kong operations are being adversely affected by recent political and social developments in Hong Kong...” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Although the recently enacted tariffs and the trade disputes between the United States and China have not materially impacted our business to date, they may have negatively impacted the value of the Chinese yuan. For example, the value of the Chinese yuan relative to that of the U.S. dollar decreased during much of 2018 and 2019, which we believe negatively affected our Hong Kong revenues because the prices at which our Chinese members could purchase our products was effectively increased. In the event that political and trade tensions involving the United States, China and Hong Kong continue or intensify, our business could be negatively impacted in the future. For more information, see “Item 1A. Risk Factors,” and more specifically under the caption “Risk Factors - Changes in government trade and economic policies...” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Our Hong Kong net sales (substantially all of which were derived from products shipped to members residing in China) for the first three months of 2021 were lower than the comparable period in 2020. The decline in net sales during the first three months of 2021 resulted in modest income from operations for the period, as well as modest positive cash flows from operations. We anticipate that our financial performance for the near-term may continue to be adversely impacted.

Statement of Operations Presentation

We mainly derive revenue from sales of products. Substantially all of our product sales are to independent members at published wholesale prices. Product sales are recognized when the products are shipped and title passes to independent members, which generally is upon our delivery to the carrier that completes delivery to the members. We estimate and accrue a reserve for product returns based on our return policies and historical experience. We bill members for shipping charges and recognize the freight revenue in net sales. We have elected to account for shipping and handling activities performed after title has passed to members as a fulfillment cost, and accrue for the costs of shipping and handling if revenue is recognized before the contractually obligated shipping and handling activities occurs. Event and training revenue is deferred and recognized as the event or training occurs.

Cost of sales consists primarily of products purchased from third-party manufacturers, freight cost for transporting products to our foreign subsidiaries and shipping products to members, import duties, packing materials, product royalties, costs of promotional materials sold to our members at or near cost, and provisions for slow moving or obsolete inventories. Cost of sales also includes purchasing costs, receiving costs, inspection costs and warehousing costs.

Member commissions are our most significant expense and are classified as an operating expense. Under our compensation plan, members are paid weekly commissions by our subsidiary in which they are enrolled, generally in their home country currency, for product purchases by their down-line member network across all geographic markets. Our China subsidiary maintains an e-commerce retail platform and does not pay commissions, although our Chinese members may participate in our compensation plan through our other subsidiaries. This “seamless” compensation plan enables a member located in one country to enroll other members located in other countries where we are authorized to conduct our business. Currently, there are basically two ways in which our members can earn income:

Each of our products is designated a specified number of bonus volume points. Commissions are based on total personal and group bonus volume points per weekly sales period. Bonus volume points are essentially a percentage of a product’s wholesale price. As the member’s business expands from successfully enrolling other members who in turn expand their own businesses by selling product to other members, the member receives higher commissions from purchases made by an expanding down-line network. In some of our markets, to be eligible to receive commissions, a member may be required to make nominal monthly or other periodic purchases of our products. Certain of our subsidiaries do not require these nominal purchases for a member to be eligible to receive commissions. In determining commissions, the number of levels of down-line members included within the member’s commissionable group increases as the number of memberships directly below the member increases.

Under our current compensation plan, certain of our commission payouts may be limited to a hard cap dollar amount per week or a specific percentage of total product sales. In some markets, commissions may be further limited. In some markets, we also pay certain bonuses on purchases by up to three generations of personally sponsored members, as well as bonuses on commissions earned by up to seven generations of personally sponsored members. Members can also earn additional income, trips and other prizes in specific time-limited promotions and contests we hold from time to time. Member commissions are dependent on the sales mix and, for the first three months of 2021 and 2020, represented 41% and 44% of net sales, respectively. Occasionally, we make modifications and enhancements to our compensation plan to help motivate members, which can have an impact on member commissions. We may also enter into performance-based agreements for business or market development, which can result in additional compensation to specific members.

Selling, general and administrative expenses consist of administrative compensation and benefits, travel, credit card fees and assessments, professional fees, certain occupancy costs, and other corporate administrative expenses (including stock-based compensation). In addition, this category includes selling, marketing, and promotion expenses (including the costs of member training events and conventions that are designed to increase both product awareness and member recruitment). Because our various member conventions are not always held at the same time each year, interim period comparisons will be impacted accordingly.

The functional currency of our international subsidiaries is generally their local currency. Local currency assets and liabilities are translated at the rates of exchange on the balance sheet date, and local currency revenues and expenses are translated at average rates of exchange during the period. Equity accounts are translated at historical rates. The resulting translation adjustments are recorded directly into stockholders’ equity.

Sales by our foreign subsidiaries are generally transacted in the respective local currencies and are translated into U.S. dollars using average rates of exchange for each monthly accounting period to which they relate. Most of our product purchases from third-party manufacturers are transacted in U.S. dollars. Consequently, our sales and net earnings are affected by changes in currency exchange rates, with sales and earnings generally increasing with a weakening U.S. dollar and decreasing with a strengthening U.S. dollar.

Results of Operations 

The following table sets forth our operating results as a percentage of net sales for the periods indicated.

Net Sales

The following table sets forth revenue by market for the periods indicated (in thousands):

¹ United States, Canada, Mexico and Peru

² Substantially all of our Hong Kong revenues are derived from the sale of products that are delivered to members in China. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in this report and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Net sales were $13.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared with $14.9 million for the comparable period a year ago, a decrease of $1.5 million, or 10%. Hong Kong net sales, substantially all of which were derived from the sale of products shipped to members residing in China, decreased $1.1 million, or 10%, over the comparable period a year ago. This decrease in Hong Kong net sales was mitigated by increased administrative fees of $522,000 resulting from the modification of our fee structure associated with certain electronic (eWallet) accounts held by our Hong Kong members in June 2020.  The overall decrease in our Hong Kong net sales primarily resulted from the impact of the coronavirus outbreak in China, and the related powerful measures implemented by the Chinese government to control the virus, including the required closure of some businesses and restrictions on public gatherings and travel. We believe that the depressed net sales in both quarters as compared to our historical performance can also be attributed to the continuing impact of China’s 100-day campaign and the related look-back review. Due to both of these factors, the operating environment for our business in China remains restrictive. Outside of our Hong Kong business, net sales decreased $388,000, or 11%, over the comparable three-month period a year ago due primarily to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic and efforts to control it in a number of countries around the world.

As of March 31, 2021, deferred revenue was $4.2 million, which primarily consisted of $2.1 million pertaining to unshipped product orders and unredeemed product vouchers, as well as $1.9 million in auto ship advances.

Gross Profit

Gross profit was 75.8% of net sales for the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared with 69.8% of net sales for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The gross profit margin percentage increase was primarily due to lower logistics costs incurred, less product promotions, as well as the additional administrative fees recognized as revenue during the first three months of 2021.

Commissions Expense

Commissions were 40.9% of net sales for the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared with 44.2% of net sales for the three month period ended March 31, 2020. Excluding the additional administrative fee revenue recognized during the most recent quarter referred to above, commissions as a percentage of net sales decreased slightly as compared with the same quarter in the prior year.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $4.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared with $5.3 million in the same period a year ago. The decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses as compared to the comparable period in the prior year is primarily due to a lower event-related costs, professional fees and lease costs.

Income Taxes

An income tax provision of $87,000 and an income tax benefit of $782,000 was recognized during the three month periods ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The tax benefit during the first three months of 2020 results primarily from a $512,000 deferred tax asset adjustment necessary to reflect the net operating losses arising from the 2019 tax year, which is due to the U.S. Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security ("CARES") Act enacted in March 2020 and which were carried back in August 2020 to offset taxable income in tax year 2016.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

At March 31, 2021, our cash and cash equivalents totaled $90.2 million. Total cash and cash equivalents decreased by $2.2 million from December 31, 2020 to March 31, 2021, due to the dividends paid during the first three months of 2021. We consider all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, when purchased, to be cash equivalents. As of March 31, 2021, we had $66.2 million in available-for-sale investments classified as cash equivalents. In addition, cash and cash equivalents included $12.4 million held in banks located within China subject to foreign currency controls. In April 2021, the Company adjusted the registered capital of its primary Chinese subsidiary and repatriated $9.0 million from China.

As of March 31, 2021, the ratio of current assets to current liabilities was 4.5 to 1.00 and we had $75.8 million of working capital. Working capital as of March 31, 2021 decreased $2.4 million compared to our working capital as of December 31, 2020.

Cash provided by operations was $414,000 for the first three months of 2021, compared with cash used in operations of $990,000 in the comparable period of 2020. The improvement in operating cash flows resulted primarily from improved profitability during 2021.

Cash flows used in investing activities totaled $63,000 and $12,000 during the first three months of 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Cash flows used in financing activities during the first three months of 2021 and 2020 consisted solely of dividend payments of $0.20 per common share, totaling $2.3 million each quarter. Subsequent to March 31, 2021, on May 3, 2021, the Board of Directors declared another quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 on each share of common stock outstanding. The dividend will be payable on May 28, 2021 to stockholders of record on May 18, 2021. For the remainder of 2021, we expect to continue paying a quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 on each share of common stock outstanding. However, any future cash dividends will be at the sole discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors, and will depend on our results of operations, financial condition, capital requirements and other factors considered relevant by the Board of Directors.

On January 12, 2016, the Board of Directors authorized an increase to the Company’s stock repurchase program first approved on July 28, 2015 from $15.0 million to $70.0 million. Repurchases are expected to be executed to the extent that the Company’s earnings and cash-on-hand allow, and are made in accordance with all applicable securities laws and regulations, including Rule 10b-18 of the Exchange Act. For all or a portion of the authorized repurchase amount, the Company may enter into one or more plans that are compliant with Rule 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act that are designed to facilitate these purchases. The stock repurchase program does not require the Company to acquire a specific number of shares, and may be suspended from time to time or discontinued. As of March 31, 2021, $21.9 million of the $70.0 million stock repurchase program remained available for future purchases, inclusive of related estimated income tax.

We believe that our existing internal liquidity, supported by cash on hand and cash flows from operations should be adequate to fund normal business operations and address our financial commitments for the foreseeable future.

We do not have any significant unused sources of liquid assets. If necessary, we may attempt to generate more funding from the capital markets, but currently we do not believe that will be necessary.

Our priority is to focus our resources on investing in our most important markets, which we consider to be Greater China and countries where our existing members may have the connections to recruit prospects and sell our products, such as Southeast Asia, India, South America and Europe. We will continue to invest in our Mainland China entity for such purposes as establishing China-based manufacturing capabilities, increasing public awareness of our brand and our products, sourcing more Chinese-made products, building a chain of service stations, opening additional Healthy Lifestyle Centers or branch offices, adding local staffing and other requirements for a prospective China direct selling license application.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates 

A summary of our significant accounting policies is provided in Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 26, 2021. The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported period. The process of determining significant estimates is fact specific and takes into account historical experience and current and expected economic conditions. To the extent that there are material differences between the estimates and actual results, future results of operations will be affected.

Critical accounting policies and estimates are defined as both those that are material to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations and as those that require management’s most subjective judgments.  Management believes our critical accounting policies and estimates are those related to revenue recognition, as well as those used in the determination of liabilities related to member commissions and income taxes.

Revenue Recognition. All revenue is recognized when the performance obligations under a contract, including product vouchers sold on a stand-alone basis in Hong Kong, are satisfied. Product sales are recorded when the products are shipped and title passes to independent members. Product sales to members are made pursuant to a member agreement that provides for transfer of both title and risk of loss upon our delivery to the carrier that completes delivery to the members, which is commonly referred to as “F.O.B. Shipping Point.” We primarily receive payment by credit card at the time members place orders. Our sales arrangements do not contain right of inspection or customer acceptance provisions other than general rights of return. Amounts received for unshipped product orders and unredeemed product vouchers are recorded as deferred revenue. Such amounts totaled $2.1 million and $1.0 million at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. Shipping charges billed to members are included in net sales. Costs associated with shipments are included in cost of sales. Event and training revenue is deferred and recognized as the event or training occurs.

Additionally, deferred revenue includes advances for auto ship orders. In certain markets, when a member’s cumulative commission income reaches a certain threshold, a percentage of the member’s weekly commission is held back as an advance and applied to an auto ship order once the accumulated amount of the advances is sufficient to pay for the pre-selected auto ship package of the member.  Such advances were $1.9 million and $2.0 million at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.

Commissions Expense. Independent members earn commissions based on total personal and group bonus volume points per weekly sales period.  Each of our products are designated a specified number of bonus volume points, which is essentially a percentage of the product’s wholesale price.  We accrue commissions when earned and as the related revenue is recognized and pay commissions on product sales generally two weeks following the end of the weekly sales period.

Independent members may also earn incentives based on meeting certain qualifications during a designated incentive period, which may range from several weeks to up to a year.  For each individual incentive, we estimate the total number of qualifiers as well as the expected per qualifier cost and accrue all costs associated with incentives throughout the qualification period. We regularly review and update, if necessary, the estimates of both qualifiers and cost as more information is obtained during the qualification period. Any resulting change in total cost is recognized over the remaining qualification period. Long-term promotions and incentives (lasting up to one year) can, in particular, result in uncertain ultimate cost. Accrued commissions, including the estimated cost of our international recognition incentive program and other supplemental programs, totaled $3.1 million and $3.5 million at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.

Income Taxes. Deferred income taxes are recognized for differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities at enacted statutory rates for the years in which the temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. We evaluate the probability of realizing the future benefits of any of our deferred tax assets and record a valuation allowance when we believe a portion or all of our deferred tax assets may not be realized. Deferred tax expense or benefit is a result of changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities. Based on the technical merits of our tax position, tax benefits may be recognized if we determine it is more likely than not that our position will be sustained on examination by tax authorities. The complex nature of these estimates requires us to anticipate the likely application of tax law and make judgments on the largest benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized prior to the completion and filing of tax returns for such periods. As of March 31, 2021, we do not have a valuation allowance against our U.S. deferred tax assets. We maintain a valuation allowance in certain foreign jurisdictions with an overall tax loss. The valuation allowance will be reduced at such time as management believes it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realized. Any reductions in the valuation allowance will reduce future income tax provision.

Provision for income taxes depends on the statutory tax rates in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate. As a result of capital return activities, we determined that a portion of our current undistributed foreign earnings are no longer deemed reinvested indefinitely by our non-U.S. subsidiaries. The Tax Act, enacted on December 22, 2017 by the U.S. government, required a one-time repatriation tax on certain un-repatriated earnings of foreign subsidiaries at a rate of 15.5% tax on post-1986 foreign earnings held in cash and an 8% rate on all other post-1986 earnings. Due to the adoption of a territorial tax regime, any foreign source portion of a qualified dividend received by a 10% U.S. corporate shareholder is exempt from U.S. federal tax, therefore resulting in any future repatriation having a minimal effect on our effective tax rate. For state income tax purposes, we will continue to periodically reassess the needs of our foreign subsidiaries and update our indefinite reinvestment assertion as necessary. To the extent that additional foreign earnings are not deemed permanently reinvested, we expect to recognize additional income tax provision at the applicable U.S. state corporate tax rate(s). As of March 31, 2021, we have not recorded a state deferred tax liability for earnings to be repatriated in the future because all earnings as of March 31, 2021 have already been repatriated. All undistributed earnings in excess of 50% of current earnings on an annual basis are intended to be reinvested indefinitely as of March 31, 2021.

The U.S. Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act was enacted on March 27, 2020. The CARES Act was enacted to provide tax relief to companies impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to other broad changes, the CARES Act allowed for a 5-year carryback period for net operating losses arising in tax years beginning after 2017 and before 2021, effectively taking advantage of differences in tax rate as a result of enactment of the Tax Act. We booked a tax benefit of $512,000 during 2020 due to the net operating loss generated in the taxable year ended December 31, 2019.

We estimate what our effective tax rate will be for the full fiscal year at each interim reporting period and record a quarterly tax provision based on that estimated effective tax rate. Throughout the year that estimated rate may change based on variations in our business, changes in our corporate structure, changes in the geographic mix and amount of income, applicable tax laws and regulations, communications with tax authorities, as well as our estimated and actual level of annual pre-tax income. We adjust our income tax provision in the reporting period in which the change in our estimated rate occurs so that the year-to-date provision is consistent with the anticipated annual tax rate. The Company’s effective tax rate projected for the year ending December 31, 2021 differs from the year ended December 31, 2020 primarily as a result of the CARES Act.

Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Not applicable under smaller reporting company disclosure rules.

Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Management, with the participation of the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of March 31, 2021. The Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on this evaluation, the principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2021.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2021 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, internal control over financial reporting.

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

None.

Item 1A. RISK FACTORS

Our operations and financial results are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including those described in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, and the trading price of our common stock. There have been no material changes to our risk factors since our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.

Item 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

None.

Item 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

Item 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

Item 5. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

Item 6. EXHIBITS

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements 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.

EXHIBIT INDEX