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Income Taxes
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2025
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes Income Taxes
The current income tax provision represents the estimated amount of income taxes paid or payable for the year, as well as changes in estimates from prior years. The deferred income tax provision (benefit) represents the change in deferred tax liabilities and assets. The following table presents the significant components of the provision for income taxes:

 Fiscal Year
(in thousands)202520242023
Current:
Federal$149,255 $179,019 $158,475 
State39,377 41,981 39,652 
Total current provision$188,632 $221,000 $198,127 
Deferred:   
Federal$12,430 $958 $(40,658)
State1,274 1,571 (8,363)
Total deferred provision (benefit)$13,704 $2,529 $(49,021)
Income tax expense$202,336 $223,529 $149,106 

The Company’s effective income tax rate was 26.2% for 2025, 26.1% for 2024 and 26.7% for 2023. The following table provides a reconciliation of income tax expense at the statutory federal rate to actual income tax expense:

 Fiscal Year
 202520242023
(in thousands)Income
tax expense		% pre-tax
income		Income
tax expense		% pre-tax
income		Income
tax expense		% pre-tax
income
U.S. federal statutory expense$162,312 21.0 %$179,898 21.0 %$117,071 21.0 %
State income taxes, net of federal benefit(1)
30,188 4.0 32,638 3.8 21,494 3.9 
Nontaxable/nondeductible items10,047 1.3 10,494 1.2 11,290 2.0 
Changes in valuation allowance168 — 1,414 0.2 701 0.1 
Adjustment for uncertain tax positions70 — 55 — 52 — 
Other, net126 — 215 — (257)(0.1)
Tax credits(575)(0.1)(1,185)(0.1)(1,245)(0.2)
Income tax expense$202,336 26.2 %$223,529 26.1 %$149,106 26.7 %

(1)The states that contribute to the majority (greater than 50%) of the tax effect in this category include Indiana, Maryland, Virginia and Tennessee for fiscal years 2025, 2024 and 2023.

Total cash income taxes paid in 2025 was $196.6 million, of which $155.0 million related to federal tax and $41.6 million related to state and local tax jurisdictions. Total cash income taxes paid in 2024 was $224.0 million, of which $180.0 million related to federal tax and $44.0 related to state and local tax jurisdictions. Total cash income taxes paid in 2023 was $200.8 million, of which $162.0 million related to federal tax and $38.8 million related to state and local tax jurisdictions. For 2025, 2024 and 2023, no cash taxes paid to any individual state or local jurisdiction met or exceeded 5% of total cash income taxes paid.

The Company records liabilities for uncertain tax positions related to income tax positions. These liabilities reflect the Company’s best estimate of the ultimate income tax liability based on known facts and information. Material changes in facts or information, as well as
the expiration of statutes of limitations and/or settlements with individual tax jurisdictions, may result in material adjustments to these estimates in the future.

The Company recognizes potential interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. During 2025, 2024 and 2023, the interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions recognized in income tax expense were not material. In addition, the amount of interest and penalties accrued at December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 were not material.

The Company had uncertain tax positions, including accrued interest, of $0.5 million on December 31, 2025 and $0.4 million on December 31, 2024, all of which would affect the Company’s effective income tax rate if recognized.

A reconciliation of uncertain tax positions, excluding accrued interest, is as follows:

 Fiscal Year
(in thousands)202520242023
Beginning balance - gross uncertain tax positions$374 $330 $285 
Increase as a result of tax positions taken in the current year120 105 105 
Reduction as a result of the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations(61)(61)(60)
Ending balance - gross uncertain tax positions$433 $374 $330 

Deferred income taxes are recorded based upon temporary differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities and available net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Temporary differences and carryforwards that comprised deferred income tax assets and liabilities were as follows:

(in thousands)December 31, 2025December 31, 2024
Acquisition related contingent consideration$176,850 $160,120 
Deferred compensation39,364 34,308 
Accrued liabilities35,285 35,912 
Operating lease liabilities29,435 28,299 
Deferred revenue25,195 25,474 
Postretirement benefits16,114 13,179 
Transactional costs2,253 2,670 
Net operating loss carryforwards564 754 
Financing lease agreements— 287 
Other— 956 
Deferred income tax assets$325,060 $301,959 
Less: Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets5,715 5,535 
Net deferred income tax asset$319,345 $296,424 
Depreciation$(245,739)$(212,926)
Intangible assets(165,413)(167,428)
Right-of-use assets - operating leases(28,726)(27,499)
Prepaid expenses(10,399)(9,784)
Inventory(7,169)(8,547)
Patronage dividend(2,728)(3,181)
Other(2,909)— 
Deferred income tax liabilities$(463,083)$(429,365)
Net deferred income tax liability$(143,738)$(132,941)

The Company’s deferred income tax assets and liabilities are subject to adjustment in future periods based on the Company’s ongoing evaluations of such deferred assets and liabilities and new information available to the Company.

Valuation allowances are recognized on deferred tax assets if the Company believes it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company believes the majority of the deferred tax assets will be realized due to the reversal of certain significant temporary differences and anticipated future taxable income from operations.
The valuation allowance of $5.7 million on December 31, 2025 and $5.5 million on December 31, 2024 was established primarily for certain loss carryforwards and deferred compensation.

As of December 31, 2025, the Company had no federal net operating losses and $11.3 million of state net operating losses available to reduce future income taxes, which expire in varying amounts through 2045.

Prior tax years beginning in year 2022 remain open to examination by the Internal Revenue Service, and various tax years beginning in year 2002 remain open to examination by certain state tax jurisdictions due to loss carryforwards.

On July 4, 2025, H.R. 1, commonly known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (the “OBBBA”), was enacted into law. The OBBBA is a reconciliation bill impacting businesses as it includes a broad range of tax reform provisions. The Company does not expect any material net impact to its consolidated financial statements as a result of the OBBBA.