CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Sep. 26, 2020	Dec. 28, 2019
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 443,055	$ 353,542
Receivables, net		502,004	480,000
Inventories		448,088	418,370
Contract assets		113,254	141,322
Prepaid expenses and other assets		51,745	32,043
Refundable income taxes		0	6,947
Total current assets		1,558,146	1,432,224
Property, plant and equipment, at cost		1,295,639	1,245,261
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization		722,286	687,132
Net property, plant and equipment		573,353	558,129
Goodwill		421,947	428,864
Other intangible assets, net		167,681	175,742
Other assets		202,783	212,257
Total assets		2,923,910	2,807,216
Current liabilities:
Current installments of long-term debt		1,922	760
Notes payable to banks		14,227	21,774
Accounts payable		269,113	197,957
Accrued employee compensation and benefits		114,310	83,528
Contract liabilities		116,470	117,945
Other accrued expenses		97,539	83,736
Income taxes payable		724	0
Dividends payable		9,614	8,079
Total current liabilities		623,919	513,779
Deferred income taxes		51,280	58,906
Long-term debt, excluding current installments		779,788	764,944
Defined benefit pension liability		113,380	140,007
Operating lease liabilities		77,705	85,817
Deferred compensation		42,587	45,114
Other noncurrent liabilities		45,587	8,904
Shareholders’ equity:
Common stock of $1 par value - Authorized 75,000,000 shares; 27,900,000 issued		27,900	27,900
Additional paid-in capital		8,493	0
Retained earnings		2,219,182	2,173,802
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(322,334)	(313,422)
Treasury stock		(770,802)	(743,942)
Total Valmont Industries, Inc. shareholders’ equity		1,162,439	1,144,338
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated subsidiaries		27,225	45,407
Total shareholders’ equity	[1]	1,189,664	1,189,745
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity		$ 2,923,910	$ 2,807,216

[1] The retained earnings balance has been revised from the amounts previously reported as a result of the change in inventory valuation method from              LIFO to FIFO. Refer to Note 1 for additional information.