CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 27, 2021	Dec. 26, 2020
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 391,458	$ 400,726
Receivables, net	491,383	511,714
Inventories	512,924	448,941
Contract assets	117,539	123,495
Prepaid expenses and other assets	89,522	59,804
Refundable income taxes	4,810	9,945
Total current assets	1,607,636	1,554,625
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	1,354,433	1,341,380
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	749,079	743,653
Net property, plant and equipment	605,354	597,727
Goodwill	429,927	430,322
Other intangible assets, net	161,539	167,193
Other assets	203,620	203,293
Total assets	3,008,076	2,953,160
Current liabilities:
Current installments of long-term debt	5,147	2,748
Notes payable to banks	38,182	35,147
Accounts payable	289,110	268,099
Accrued employee compensation and benefits	85,932	137,939
Contract liabilities	150,068	130,018
Other accrued expenses	100,245	89,796
Dividends payable	10,625	9,556
Total current liabilities	679,309	673,303
Deferred income taxes	48,419	41,689
Long-term debt, excluding current installments	729,589	728,431
Defined benefit pension liability	115,869	118,523
Operating lease liabilities	78,004	80,202
Deferred compensation	45,513	44,519
Other noncurrent liabilities	61,271	58,657
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	0	335
Retained earnings	2,282,355	2,245,035
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(307,556)	(309,786)
Treasury stock	(777,885)	(781,422)
Total Valmont Industries, Inc. shareholders’ equity	1,224,814	1,182,062
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated subsidiaries	25,288	25,774
Total shareholders’ equity	1,250,102	1,207,836
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$ 3,008,076	$ 2,953,160