CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 26, 2020	Dec. 28, 2019	Dec. 29, 2018
Net sales	$ 2,895,355	$ 2,766,976	$ 2,757,144
Total cost of sales	2,129,841	2,084,295	2,088,972
Gross profit	765,514	682,681	668,172
Selling, general and administrative expenses	522,923	454,776	440,220
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets	16,638	0	15,780
Operating income	225,953	227,905	212,172
Other income (expenses):
Interest expense	(41,075)	(40,153)	(44,237)
Interest income	2,374	3,942	4,668
Gain (loss) on investments - unrealized	2,443	5,960	(839)
Costs associated with refinancing of debt	0	0	(14,820)
Loss from divestiture of grinding media business	0	0	(6,084)
Other	3,073	2,204	2,473
Total other income (expenses)	(33,185)	(28,047)	(58,839)
Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	192,768	199,858	153,333
Income tax expense (benefit):
Current	51,012	46,267	44,794
Deferred	(1,397)	1,486	814
Total income tax expense (benefit)	49,615	47,753	45,608
Earnings before equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	143,153	152,105	107,725
Equity in earnings (loss) of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	(1,004)	0	0
Net earnings	142,149	152,105	107,725
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,456)	(5,697)	(5,955)
Net earnings attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc.	$ 140,693	$ 146,408	$ 101,770
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 6.60	$ 6.76	$ 4.56
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 6.57	$ 6.73	$ 4.53
Product
Net sales	$ 2,594,855	$ 2,434,190	$ 2,437,334
Total cost of sales	1,936,024	1,863,780	1,878,067
Service
Net sales	300,500	332,786	319,810
Total cost of sales	$ 193,817	$ 220,515	$ 210,905