CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2012	Sep. 24, 2011	Sep. 29, 2012	Sep. 24, 2011
Product sales	$ 652,822	$ 595,064	$ 1,983,502	$ 1,685,440
Services sales	77,017	77,128	231,002	223,310
Net sales	729,839	672,192	2,214,504	1,908,750
Product cost of sales	488,739	453,462	1,490,885	1,285,629
Services cost of sales	48,698	51,340	145,508	151,256
Total cost of sales	537,437	504,802	1,636,393	1,436,885
Gross profit	192,402	167,390	578,111	471,865
Selling, general and administrative expenses	102,020	95,357	307,559	285,912
Operating income	90,382	72,033	270,552	185,953
Other income (expenses):
Interest expense	(8,429)	(7,671)	(23,657)	(26,715)
Interest income	2,093	3,141	6,081	6,919
Other	1,307	(1,670)	907	(776)
Total other income (expenses)	(5,029)	(6,200)	(16,669)	(20,572)
Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	85,353	65,833	253,883	165,381
Income tax expense (benefit):
Current	27,928	25,119	90,942	62,156
Deferred	519	(1,346)	(3,937)	(11,544)
Total income tax expense (benefit)	28,447	23,773	87,005	50,612
Earnings before equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	56,906	42,060	166,878	114,769
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	1,536	2,354	5,311	4,509
Net earnings	58,442	44,414	172,189	119,278
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,711)	(2,273)	(3,153)	(5,701)
Net earnings attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc.	$ 56,731	$ 42,141	$ 169,036	$ 113,577
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 2.14	$ 1.60	$ 6.39	$ 4.32
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 2.12	$ 1.59	$ 6.32	$ 4.28
Cash dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.225	$ 0.180	$ 0.630	$ 0.525
Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding - Basic (000 omitted) (in shares)	26,502	26,351	26,455	26,318
Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding - Diluted (000 omitted) (in shares)	26,806	26,579	26,748	26,567