CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 28, 2015	Mar. 29, 2014
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
Product sales	$ 603,894	$ 681,043
Services sales	66,504	70,697
Net sales	670,398	751,740
Product cost of sales	459,541	497,843
Services cost of sales	45,403	46,915
Total cost of sales	504,944	544,758
Gross profit	165,454	206,982
Selling, general and administrative expenses	107,771	108,134
Operating income	57,683	98,848
Other income (expenses):
Interest expense	(11,128)	(8,197)
Interest income	874	1,739
Other	1,016	(5,812)
Total other income (expenses)	(9,238)	(12,270)
Earnings before income taxes	48,445	86,578
Income tax expense (benefit):
Current	11,774	32,938
Deferred	5,164	(2,923)
Total income tax expense (benefit)	16,938	30,015
Net earnings	31,507	56,563
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(768)	(583)
Net earnings attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc.	$ 30,739	$ 55,980
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.29	$ 2.10
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.28	$ 2.08
Cash dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.375	$ 0.250
Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding - Basic (000 omitted) (in shares)	23,868	26,715
Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding - Diluted (000 omitted) (in shares)	23,982	26,950