CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 26, 2011
Product sales	$ 641,987	$ 501,168
Services sales	75,363	66,781
Net sales	717,350	567,949
Product cost of sales	482,708	385,000
Services cost of sales	48,328	46,456
Total cost of sales	531,036	431,456
Gross profit	186,314	136,493
Selling, general and administrative expenses	103,496	91,192
Operating income	82,818	45,301
Other income (expenses):
Interest expense	(7,807)	(8,271)
Interest income	2,078	1,787
Other	1,577	390
Total other income (expenses)	(4,152)	(6,094)
Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	78,666	39,207
Income tax expense:
Current	27,029	12,504
Deferred	737	784
Total income tax expense (benefit)	27,766	13,288
Earnings before equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	50,900	25,919
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	1,688	954
Net earnings	52,588	26,873
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(263)	(1,264)
Net earnings attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc.	$ 52,325	$ 25,609
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.98	$ 0.98
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.96	$ 0.97
Cash dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.180	$ 0.165
Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding - Basic (000 omitted) (in shares)	26,396	26,271
Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding - Diluted (000 omitted) (in shares)	26,678	26,537