CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2019	Dec. 29, 2018	Dec. 30, 2017
Net sales	$ 2,766,976	$ 2,757,144	$ 2,745,967
Total cost of sales	2,074,480	2,098,864	2,064,199
Gross profit	692,496	658,280	681,768
Selling, general and administrative expenses	454,776	440,220	414,688
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets	0	15,780	0
Operating income	237,720	202,280	267,080
Other income (expenses):
Interest expense	(40,153)	(44,237)	(44,645)
Interest income	3,942	4,668	4,737
Gain (loss) on investments - unrealized	5,960	(839)	3,863
Costs associated with refinancing of debt	0	(14,820)	0
Loss from divestiture of grinding media business	0	(6,084)	0
Other	2,204	2,473	(2,571)
Total other income (expenses)	(28,047)	(58,839)	(38,616)
Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	209,673	143,441	228,464
Income tax expense (benefit):
Current	46,267	44,794	66,390
Deferred	3,940	(1,659)	39,755
Total income tax expense (benefit)	50,207	43,135	106,145
Net earnings	159,466	100,306	122,319
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(5,697)	(5,955)	(6,079)
Net earnings attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc.	$ 153,769	$ 94,351	$ 116,240
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 7.10	$ 4.23	$ 5.16
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 7.06	$ 4.20	$ 5.11
Product
Net sales	$ 2,434,190	$ 2,437,334	$ 2,447,219
Total cost of sales	1,853,965	1,887,959	1,860,087
Service
Net sales	332,786	319,810	298,748
Total cost of sales	$ 220,515	$ 210,905	$ 204,112