Fair value measurements (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Available-for-sale securities

Details of available-for-sale securities were as follows:

September 30, 2017	Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses			Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Mortgage-backed securities	$	9,488	$	11	$	(72	)	$	9,427
U.S. Treasury securities	613		—		(1		)	612
Total	$	10,101	$	11	$	(73	)	$	10,039

September 30, 2016	Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses			Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Mortgage-backed securities	$	9,882	$	43	$	(17	)	$	9,908
Total	$	9,882	$	43	$	(17	)	$	9,908

December 31, 2016	Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses			Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Mortgage-backed securities	$	10,546	$	8	$	(105	)	$	10,449
Total	$	10,546	$	8	$	(105	)	$	10,449

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis

The Company's assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows:

	Fair Value Measurements at September 30, 2017, Using
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Balance at September 30, 2017
	(In thousands)
Assets:
Money market funds	$	—	$	6,204	$	—	$	6,204
Insurance contract*	—		74,991		—		74,991
Available-for-sale securities:
Mortgage-backed securities	—		9,427		—		9,427
U.S. Treasury securities	—		612		—		612
Total assets measured at fair value	$	—	$	91,234	$	—	$	91,234

* The insurance contract invests approximately 50 percent in fixed-income investments, 23 percent in common stock of large-cap companies, 13 percent in common stock of mid-cap companies, 11 percent in common stock of small-cap companies, 2 percent in target date investments and 1 percent in cash equivalents.

	Fair Value Measurements at September 30, 2016, Using
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Balance at September 30, 2016
	(In thousands)
Assets:
Money market funds	$	—	$	2,284	$	—	$	2,284
Insurance contract*	—		72,818		—		72,818
Available-for-sale securities:
Mortgage-backed securities	—		9,908		—		9,908
Total assets measured at fair value	$	—	$	85,010	$	—	$	85,010

* The insurance contract invests approximately 65 percent in fixed-income investments, 18 percent in common stock of large-cap companies, 9 percent in common stock of mid-cap companies, 6 percent in common stock of small-cap companies, 1 percent in target date investments and 1 percent in cash equivalents.

	Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2016, Using
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets  (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs  (Level 3)		Balance at December 31, 2016
	(In thousands)
Assets:
Money market funds	$	—	$	1,602	$	—	$	1,602
Insurance contract*	—		70,921		—		70,921
Available-for-sale securities:
Mortgage-backed securities	—		10,449		—		10,449
Total assets measured at fair value	$	—	$	82,972	$	—	$	82,972

* The insurance contract invests approximately 52 percent in fixed-income investments, 22 percent in common stock of large-cap companies, 13 percent in common stock of mid-cap companies, 10 percent in common stock of small-cap companies, 1 percent in target date investments and 2 percent in cash equivalents.

Fair value of long term debt outstanding

The estimated fair value of the Company's Level 2 long-term debt was as follows:

	Carrying Amount		Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Long-term debt at September 30, 2017	$	1,740,552	$	1,846,811
Long-term debt at September 30, 2016	$	1,901,948	$	2,047,339
Long-term debt at December 31, 2016	$	1,790,159	$	1,841,885