FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 28, 2024

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

(14) FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Unless otherwise specified, the carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, receivables, accounts payable, notes payable to banks, and accrued expenses approximate fair value due to the short maturity of these instruments. The fair values of the Company’s long-term debt instruments are based on future cash flows associated with each instrument, discounted using the Company’s current borrowing rate for similar debt instruments of comparable maturities. Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time, and the underlying assumptions may change based on market conditions. As of December 28, 2024, the carrying amount of the Company’s long-term debt was $730,633 with an estimated fair value of approximately $692,877. As of December 30, 2023, the carrying amount of the Company’s long-term debt was $1,108,604 with an estimated fair value of approximately $1,064,916.

ASC 820 establishes a three‑level hierarchy for fair value measurements, which is based on the transparency of inputs used to value an asset or liability as of the measurement date. Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk. Financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value will be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:

● Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity can access at the measurement date.

● Level 2: Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly

● Level 3: Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.

The categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The following are the valuation methodologies used for assets and liabilities measured at fair value:

Deferred Compensation Investments: The Company’s deferred compensation investments include mutual funds invested in debt and equity securities in the Valmont Deferred Compensation Plan. Quoted market prices are available for these securities in an active market. The investments are included in “Other non-current assets” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Derivative Financial Instruments: The fair values of foreign currency, commodity, and cross-currency swap derivative contracts are based on valuation models that use market-observable inputs, including forward and spot prices for commodities and currencies.

Mutual Funds: The Company has short-term investments in various mutual funds.

	Carrying Value		Fair Value Measurement Using:
	December 28, 2024		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Deferred compensation investments	$	27,379	$	27,379	$	—	$	—
Derivative financial instruments, net		1,320		—		1,320		—
Cash and cash equivalents—mutual funds		11,063		11,063		—		—

	Carrying Value		Fair Value Measurement Using:
	December 30, 2023		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Deferred compensation investments	$	26,803	$	26,803	$	—	$	—
Derivative financial instruments, net		2,860		—		2,860		—
Cash and cash equivalents—mutual funds		6,258		6,258		—		—

The fair value redemption amounts of certain redeemable noncontrolling interests are measured on a recurring basis utilizing Level 3 inputs, including estimates of future revenue, operating margins, growth rates, and discount rates.