CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 26, 2016	Dec. 26, 2015
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 387,714	$ 349,074
Receivables, net	449,379	466,443
Inventories	350,768	340,672
Prepaid expenses	46,080	46,137
Refundable income taxes	18,897	24,526
Total current assets	1,252,838	1,226,852
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	1,100,804	1,081,056
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	568,297	548,567
Net property, plant and equipment	532,507	532,489
Goodwill	334,269	336,916
Other intangible assets, net	164,537	170,197
Other assets	115,711	125,928
Total assets	2,399,862	2,392,382
Current liabilities:
Current installments of long-term debt	1,110	1,077
Notes payable to banks	2,402	976
Accounts payable	183,059	179,983
Accrued employee compensation and benefits	58,002	70,354
Accrued expenses	111,477	105,593
Dividends payable	8,527	8,571
Total current liabilities	364,577	366,554
Deferred income taxes	39,644	35,669
Long-term debt, excluding current installments	756,878	756,918
Defined benefit pension liability	170,203	179,323
Deferred compensation	48,456	48,417
Other noncurrent liabilities	39,953	40,290
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred stock of $1 par value - Authorized 500,000 shares; none issued	0	0
Common stock of $1 par value - Authorized 75,000,000 shares; issued 27,900,000 issued	27,900	27,900
Retained earnings	1,756,082	1,729,679
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(265,811)	(267,218)
Treasury stock	(587,117)	(571,920)
Total Valmont Industries, Inc. shareholders’ equity	931,054	918,441
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated subsidiaries	49,097	46,770
Total shareholders’ equity	980,151	965,211
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$ 2,399,862	$ 2,392,382