CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
Product sales	$ 686,508	$ 693,480	$ 2,134,395	$ 2,228,268
Services sales	79,160	84,552	225,612	248,053
Net sales	765,668	778,032	2,360,007	2,476,321
Product cost of sales	515,217	499,190	1,586,127	1,591,657
Services cost of sales	50,951	53,278	146,921	162,260
Total cost of sales	566,168	552,468	1,733,048	1,753,917
Gross profit	199,500	225,564	626,959	722,404
Selling, general and administrative expenses	111,697	115,663	335,532	350,048
Operating income	87,803	109,901	291,427	372,356
Other income (expenses):
Interest expense	(8,716)	(8,149)	(25,217)	(24,364)
Interest income	1,477	1,560	4,793	4,765
Costs associated with refinancing of debt	(38,705)		(38,705)
Other	(2,344)	(584)	(6,253)	1,095
Total other income (expenses)	(48,288)	(7,173)	(65,382)	(18,504)
Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	39,515	102,728	226,045	353,852
Income tax expense (benefit):
Current	23,290	40,458	82,345	127,328
Deferred	(9,064)	3,454	(4,034)	(1,275)
Total income tax expense (benefit)	14,226	43,912	78,311	126,053
Earnings before equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	25,289	58,816	147,734	227,799
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	(4)	75	(34)	548
Net earnings	25,285	58,891	147,700	228,347
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,726)	(2,402)	(4,185)	(4,726)
Net earnings attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc.	$ 23,559	$ 56,489	$ 143,515	$ 223,621
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.93	$ 2.12	$ 5.48	$ 8.40
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.92	$ 2.10	$ 5.43	$ 8.31
Cash dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.375	$ 0.250	$ 1.000	$ 0.725
Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding - Basic (000 omitted) (in shares)	25,287	26,665	26,208	26,632
Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding - Diluted (000 omitted) (in shares)	25,513	26,919	26,439	26,896