CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 26, 2015	Dec. 27, 2014
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 312,851	$ 371,579
Receivables, net	501,403	536,918
Inventories	368,290	359,522
Prepaid expenses	52,208	56,912
Refundable and deferred income taxes	44,736	68,010
Total current assets	1,279,488	1,392,941
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	1,083,211	1,139,569
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	539,976	533,116
Net property, plant and equipment	543,235	606,453
Goodwill	362,683	385,111
Other intangible assets, net	175,157	202,004
Other assets	129,138	143,159
Total assets	2,489,701	2,729,668
Current liabilities:
Current installments of long-term debt	1,099	1,181
Notes payable to banks	1,496	13,952
Accounts payable	186,581	196,565
Accrued employee compensation and benefits	70,249	87,950
Accrued expenses	104,779	88,480
Dividends payable	8,649	9,086
Total current liabilities	372,853	397,214
Deferred income taxes	66,200	71,797
Long-term debt, excluding current installments	764,823	766,654
Defined benefit pension liability	129,600	150,124
Deferred compensation	48,637	47,932
Other noncurrent liabilities	41,811	45,542
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred stock of $1 par value - Authorized 500,000 shares; none issued	0	0
Common stock of $1 par value - Authorized 75,000,000 shares; issued 27,900,000 issued	27,900	27,900
Retained earnings	1,767,621	1,718,662
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(223,007)	(134,433)
Treasury stock	(552,780)	(410,296)
Total Valmont Industries, Inc. shareholders’ equity	1,019,734	1,201,833
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated subsidiaries	46,043	48,572
Total shareholders’ equity	1,065,777	1,250,405
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$ 2,489,701	$ 2,729,668