CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 25, 2010	Dec. 26, 2009
Product sales	$ 2,353,470	$ 1,737,940	$ 1,665,862
Services sales	308,010	237,565	120,739
Net sales	2,661,480	1,975,505	1,786,601
Product cost of sales	1,788,908	1,290,446	1,177,427
Services cost of sales	205,762	165,485	77,160
Total cost of sales	1,994,670	1,455,931	1,254,587
Gross profit	666,810	519,574	532,014
Selling, general and administrative expenses	403,500	341,161	294,020
Operating income	263,310	178,413	237,994
Other income (expenses):
Interest expense	(36,175)	(30,947)	(15,760)
Interest income	9,265	4,840	1,510
Other	(2,643)	676	2,340
Total other income (expenses)	(29,553)	(25,431)	(11,910)
Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	233,757	152,982	226,084
Income tax expense (benefit):
Current	89,552	49,991	65,519
Deferred	(84,962)	5,017	7,375
Total Income tax expense (benefit)	4,590	55,008	72,894
Earnings before equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	229,167	97,974	153,190
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	8,059	2,439	751
Net earnings	237,226	100,413	153,941
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(8,918)	(6,034)	(3,379)
Net earnings attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc.	$ 228,308	$ 94,379	$ 150,562
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 8.67	$ 3.62	$ 5.80
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 8.60	$ 3.57	$ 5.73
Cash dividends declared per share	$ 0.705	$ 0.645	$ 0.580