CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 24, 2016	Dec. 26, 2015
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 349,375	$ 349,074
Receivables, net	455,692	466,443
Inventories	379,625	340,672
Prepaid expenses, restricted cash, and other assets	69,231	46,137
Refundable income taxes	20,342	24,526
Total current assets	1,274,265	1,226,852
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	1,120,350	1,081,056
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	594,710	548,567
Net property, plant and equipment	525,640	532,489
Goodwill	327,863	336,916
Other intangible assets, net	152,469	170,197
Other assets	103,806	125,928
Total assets	2,384,043	2,392,382
Current liabilities:
Current installments of long-term debt	895	1,077
Notes payable to banks	853	976
Accounts payable	170,888	179,983
Accrued employee compensation and benefits	69,549	70,354
Accrued expenses	109,285	105,593
Dividends payable	8,455	8,571
Total current liabilities	359,925	366,554
Deferred income taxes	28,822	35,669
Long-term debt, excluding current installments	755,584	756,918
Defined benefit pension liability	156,524	179,323
Deferred compensation	47,783	48,417
Other noncurrent liabilities	33,104	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	1,811,947	1,729,679
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(265,969)	(267,218)
Treasury stock	(610,680)	(571,920)
Total Valmont Industries, Inc. shareholders’ equity	963,198	918,441
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated subsidiaries	39,103	46,770
Total shareholders’ equity	1,002,301	965,211
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$ 2,384,043	$ 2,392,382