CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 25, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 25, 2011
Product sales	$ 688,693	$ 589,208	$ 1,330,680	$ 1,090,376
Services sales	78,622	79,401	153,985	146,182
Net sales	767,315	668,609	1,484,665	1,236,558
Product cost of sales	519,438	447,167	1,002,146	832,167
Services cost of sales	48,482	53,460	96,810	99,916
Total cost of sales	567,920	500,627	1,098,956	932,083
Gross profit	199,395	167,982	385,709	304,475
Selling, general and administrative expenses	102,043	99,363	205,539	190,555
Operating income	97,352	68,619	180,170	113,920
Other income (expenses):
Interest expense	(7,421)	(10,783)	(15,228)	(19,044)
Interest income	1,910	2,001	3,988	3,778
Other	(1,977)	504	(400)	894
Total other income (expenses)	(7,488)	(8,278)	(11,640)	(14,372)
Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	89,864	60,341	168,530	99,548
Income tax expense (benefit):
Current	35,985	24,533	63,014	37,037
Deferred	(5,193)	(10,982)	(4,456)	(10,198)
Total income tax expense (benefit)	30,792	13,551	58,558	26,839
Earnings before equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	59,072	46,790	109,972	72,709
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	2,087	1,201	3,775	2,155
Net earnings	61,159	47,991	113,747	74,864
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,179)	(2,164)	(1,442)	(3,428)
Net earnings attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc.	$ 59,980	$ 45,827	$ 112,305	$ 71,436
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 2.27	$ 1.74	$ 4.25	$ 2.72
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 2.24	$ 1.72	$ 4.20	$ 2.69
Cash dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.225	$ 0.180	$ 0.405	$ 0.345
Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding - Basic (000 omitted) (in shares)	26,467	26,333	26,432	26,302
Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding - Diluted (000 omitted) (in shares)	26,758	26,585	26,718	26,561