Valmont Industries (VMI) 10-Q 27 Apr 18 2017 Q1 Quarterly report Financial data

Document and Entity Information

Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Oct. 23, 2017
Document and Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	VALMONT INDUSTRIES INC
Entity Central Index Key	102,729
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2018
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-30
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		22,552,073
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2,017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMEN

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Apr. 01, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Product sales	$ 620,486	$ 572,952
Services sales	78,198	64,521
Net sales	698,684	637,473
Product cost of sales	476,264	426,847
Services cost of sales	53,180	46,021
Total cost of sales	529,444	472,868
Gross profit	169,240	164,605
Selling, general and administrative expenses	105,280	99,949
Operating income	63,960	64,656
Other income (expenses):
Interest expense	(11,074)	(11,304)
Interest income	1,267	927
Other	(1,141)	1,045
Total other income (expenses)	(10,948)	(9,332)
Earnings before income taxes	53,012	55,324
Income tax expense:
Current	7,713	1,298
Deferred	4,819	14,065
Total income tax expense (benefit)	12,532	15,363
Earnings before equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	40,480	39,961
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Net earnings	40,480	39,961
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,199)	(982)
Net earnings attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc.	$ 39,281	$ 38,979
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.74	$ 1.73
Diluted (in dollars per share)	1.72	1.72
Cash dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.375	$ 0.375
Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding - Basic (in shares)	22,609	22,472
Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding - Diluted (in shares)	22,796	22,660

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEME3

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	8 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 30, 2017
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Derivatives used in Net Investment Hedge, Increase (Decrease), Gross of Tax	$ 3	$ 5,123

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 30, 2017
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 479,663	$ 492,805
Receivables, net	467,010	503,677
Inventories	370,005	420,948
Prepaid expenses and other assets	127,251	43,643
Assets Held-for-sale, Not Part of Disposal Group, Current, Other	72,665	0
Refundable income taxes	6,749	11,492
Total current assets	1,523,343	1,472,565
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	1,137,152	1,165,687
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	633,440	646,759
Net property, plant and equipment	503,712	518,928
Goodwill	327,874	337,720
Other intangible assets, net	129,540	138,599
Other assets	133,595	134,438
Total assets	2,618,064	2,602,250
Current liabilities:
Current installments of long-term debt	951	966
Notes payable to banks	377	161
Accounts payable	190,902	227,906
Accrued employee compensation and benefits	67,928	84,426
Accrued expenses	92,651	81,029
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Liabilities, Current	12,960	0
Liabilities held for sale	8,493	8,510
Dividends Payable, Current	8,493	8,510
Total current liabilities	374,262	402,998
Deferred income taxes	39,669	34,906
Long-term debt, excluding current installments	753,647	753,888
Defined benefit pension liability	195,490	189,552
Deferred compensation	48,597	48,526
Other noncurrent liabilities	21,043	20,585
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	1,996,474	1,954,344
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(276,629)	(279,022)
Treasury stock	(602,504)	(590,386)
Total Valmont Industries, Inc. shareholders’ equity	1,145,241	1,112,836
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated subsidiaries	40,115	38,959
Total shareholders’ equity	1,185,356	1,151,795
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$ 2,618,064	$ 2,602,250

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE5

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 30, 2017
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 1	$ 1
Preferred stock, authorized shares (in shares)	500,000	500,000
Preferred stock, issued shares (in shares)	0	0
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 1	$ 1
Common stock, authorized shares (in shares)	75,000,000	75,000,000
Common stock, issued shares (in shares)	27,900,000	27,900,000

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEME6

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Apr. 01, 2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 40,480	$ 39,961
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash flows from operations:
Depreciation and amortization	21,178	20,827
Noncash loss on trading securities	71	70
Stock-based compensation	2,775	2,494
Defined benefit pension plan expense	(594)	154
Contribution to defined benefit pension plan	(731)	(25,379)
(Gain)/loss on sale of property, plant and equipment	(280)	(102)
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Deferred income taxes	4,819	14,065
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Receivables	29,794	(12,729)
Inventories	(1,201)	(34,817)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(32,025)	(9,798)
Accounts payable	(29,449)	14,124
Accrued expenses	(6,407)	14,020
Other noncurrent liabilities	440	612
Income taxes refundable	3,033	(87)
Net cash flows from operating activities	33,048	23,415
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property, plant and equipment	(16,248)	(14,168)
Proceeds from sale of assets	714	302
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	(4,800)	0
Loss from settlement of net investment hedge	(863)	0
Other, net	(1,782)	(1,715)
Net cash flows from investing activities	(22,979)	(15,581)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings under short-term agreements	219	198
Principal payments on long-term borrowings	(249)	(215)
Dividends paid	(8,510)	(8,445)
Dividends to noncontrolling interest	(1,281)	(422)
Purchase of noncontrolling interest	(5,510)	0
Purchase of treasury shares	(14,790)	0
Proceeds from exercises under stock plans	2,972	8,894
Purchase of common treasury shares—stock plan exercises	(1,504)	(2,870)
Net cash flows from financing activities	(28,653)	(2,860)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	5,442	7,726
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(13,142)	12,700
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash—beginning of year	492,805	412,516
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash—end of period	479,663	425,216
Restructuring Costs	$ 1,145	$ 0

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEME7

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common stock	Additional paid-in capital	Retained earnings	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	Treasury stock	Noncontrolling interest in consolidated subsidiaries
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 982,586	$ 27,900	$ 0	$ 1,874,722	$ (346,359)	$ (612,781)	$ 39,104
Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity
Net earnings	39,961			38,979			982
Other comprehensive income (loss)	18,883				20,106		(1,223)
Cash dividends declared	(8,468)			(8,468)			0
Dividends to noncontrolling interests	(422)						(422)
Stock plan exercises	(2,870)					(2,870)
Stock options exercised	8,894		(2,494)	928		10,460
Stock option expense	1,289		1,289
Stock awards	1,427		1,205			222
Ending balance at Apr. 01, 2017	1,041,280	27,900	0	1,906,161	(326,253)	(604,969)	38,441
Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity
Cumulative impact of ASC 606 adoption	9,771			9,771
Beginning balance at Dec. 30, 2017	1,151,795	27,900	0	1,954,344	(279,022)	(590,386)	38,959
Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity
Net earnings	40,480			39,281			1,199
Other comprehensive income (loss)	5,941				2,393		3,548
Cash dividends declared	(8,493)			(8,493)			0
Dividends to noncontrolling interests	(1,281)						(1,281)
Purchase of noncontrolling interests	5,510		0				5,510
Addition of noncontrolling interest	3,200						3,200
Purchase of treasury shares	(14,790)					(14,790)
Stock plan exercises	(1,504)					(1,504)
Stock options exercised	2,972		(2,545)	1,571		3,946
Stock option expense	1,090		1,090
Stock awards	1,685		1,455			230
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2018	$ 1,185,356	$ 27,900	$ 0	$ 1,996,474	$ (276,629)	$ (602,504)	$ 40,115

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEME8

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Parenthetical) - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Apr. 01, 2017
Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Purchase of treasury shares, shares acquired (in shares)	384,622	245,789
Stock plan exercises; shares acquired (in shares)	19,086	10,747
Stock options exercised; shares issued (in shares)	84,432	62,535
Stock awards; shares issued (in shares)	5,677	6,976

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTI

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2018 , the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Income for the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2018 and April 1, 2017 , and the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and Shareholders' Equity for the thirteen week periods then ended have been prepared by the Company, without audit. In the opinion of management, all necessary adjustments (which include normal recurring adjustments) have been made to present fairly the financial statements as of March 31, 2018 and for all periods presented. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted. These Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2017 . The accounting policies and methods of computation followed in these interim financial statements are the same as those followed in the financial statements for the year ended December 30, 2017 with the exception of the revenue recognition accounting policy which changed from adopting ASU 2014-09 and is discussed later within this footnote. The results of operations for the period ended March 31, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full year. Inventories Approximately 37% and 37% of inventory is valued at the lower of cost, determined on the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method, or market as of March 31, 2018 and December 30, 2017 . All other inventory is valued at the lower of cost, determined on the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method or market. Finished goods and manufactured goods inventories include the costs of acquired raw materials and related factory labor and overhead charges required to convert raw materials to manufactured and finished goods. The excess of replacement cost of inventories over the LIFO value is approximately $44,808 and $43,727 at March 31, 2018 and December 30, 2017 , respectively. Inventories consisted of the following: March 31, December 30, Raw materials and purchased parts $ 176,554 $ 183,029 Work-in-process 20,197 30,671 Finished goods and manufactured goods 218,062 250,975 Subtotal 414,813 464,675 Less: LIFO reserve 44,808 43,727 $ 370,005 $ 420,948 (1) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued) Income Taxes Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries for the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2018 and April 1, 2017 , were as follows: Thirteen Weeks Ended 2018 2017 United States $ 41,765 $ 35,424 Foreign 11,247 19,900 $ 53,012 $ 55,324 The Company estimated and recognized provisional amounts at December 30, 2017 for the following aspect of the 2017 Tax Act: • Deemed Repatriation transition tax : The Deemed Repatriation transition tax (“Transition Tax”) is a tax on unremitted foreign earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries, which subjected the Company's unremitted foreign earnings of approximately $400,000 to tax at certain specified rates less associated foreign tax credits. The Company recorded a provisional Transition Tax obligation of $9,890 . • Indefinite reinvestment assertion : The Company's position is that unremitted foreign earnings subject to the Transition Tax are not indefinitely reinvested. The Company recorded a provisional amount of the deferred income taxes for foreign withholding taxes and U.S. state income taxes of $10,373 and $1,300 , respectively. The Company also continues to gather additional information to determine its permanently reinvested position with respect to future foreign earnings. • No adjustments to these 2017 Tax Act amounts were recognized during the first quarter of 2018. However, the Company may adjust these provisional amounts in future quarters of 2018 after assessing additional implementation guidance as it becomes available. Pension Benefits The Company incurs expenses in connection with the Delta Pension Plan ("DPP"). The DPP was acquired as part of the Delta plc acquisition in fiscal 2010 and has no members that are active employees. In order to measure expense and the related benefit obligation, various assumptions are made including discount rates used to value the obligation, expected return on plan assets used to fund these expenses and estimated future inflation rates. These assumptions are based on historical experience as well as current facts and circumstances. An actuarial analysis is used to measure the expense and liability associated with pension benefits. The components of the net periodic pension (benefit) expense for the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2018 and April 1, 2017 were as follows: Thirteen Weeks Ended Net periodic (benefit) expense: 2018 2017 Interest cost $ 4,716 $ 4,321 Expected return on plan assets (6,114 ) (4,877 ) Amortization of actuarial loss 804 710 Net periodic expense (benefit) $ (594 ) $ 154 (1) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued) Stock Plans The Company maintains stock‑based compensation plans approved by the shareholders, which provide that the Human Resource Committee of the Board of Directors may grant incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, non-vested stock awards and bonuses of common stock. At March 31, 2018 , 550,606 shares of common stock remained available for issuance under the plans. Under the plans, the exercise price of each option equals the closing market price at the date of the grant. Options vest beginning on the first anniversary of the grant in equal amounts over three to six years or on the grant's fifth anniversary. Expiration of grants is from seven to ten years from the date of grant. The Company's compensation expense (included in selling, general and administrative expenses) and associated income tax benefits related to stock options for the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2018 and April 1, 2017 , respectively, were as follows: Thirteen Weeks Ended 2018 2017 Compensation expense $ 1,090 $ 1,289 Income tax benefits 273 496 Fair Value The Company applies the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification 820, Fair Value Measurements (“ASC 820”) which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. The provisions of ASC 820 apply to other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements. As defined in ASC 820, fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. ASC 820 establishes a three‑level hierarchy for fair value measurements based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date. Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk. Financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value will be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories: Level 1: Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2: Observable market based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data. Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data. The categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for assets and liabilities measured at fair value. Trading Securities: The assets and liabilities recorded for the investments held in the Valmont Deferred Compensation Plan of $39,118 ( $39,091 at December 30, 2017) represent mutual funds, invested in debt and equity securities, classified as trading securities in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 320, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities , considering the employee's ability to change investment allocation of their deferred compensation at any time. (1) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued) The Company's ownership of shares in Delta EMD Pty. Ltd. (JSE:DTA) is also classified as trading securities. The shares are valued at $1,954 and $1,951 as of March 31, 2018 and December 30, 2017, respectively, which is the estimated fair value. Quoted market prices are available for these securities in an active market and therefore categorized as a Level 1 input. Fair Value Measurement Using: Carrying Value Quoted Prices in Significant Other Significant Assets: Trading Securities $ 41,072 $ 41,072 $ — $ — Fair Value Measurement Using: Carrying Value Quoted Prices in Significant Other Significant Assets: Trading Securities $ 41,042 $ 41,042 $ — $ — Comprehensive Income Comprehensive income includes net earnings, currency translation adjustments, certain derivative-related activity and changes in net actuarial gains/losses from a pension plan. Results of operations for foreign subsidiaries are translated using the average exchange rates during the period. Assets and liabilities are translated at the exchange rates in effect on the balance sheet dates. Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) consisted of the following at March 31, 2018 and December 30, 2017: Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments Gain/(Loss) on Hedging Activities Defined Benefit Pension Plan Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Balance at December 30, 2017 $ (171,399 ) $ 6,357 $ (113,980 ) $ (279,022 ) Current-period comprehensive income (loss) 3,256 (863 ) — 2,393 Balance at March 31, 2018 $ (168,143 ) $ 5,494 $ (113,980 ) $ (276,629 ) Revenue Recognition On December 31, 2017, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) . The Company elected to use the modified retrospective approach for the adoption of the new revenue standard. The cumulative effect of initially applying the new revenue standard was recorded as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings, which impacted the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as follows: (1) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued) Balance Sheet December 30, ASC 606 Adjustments December 31, Assets Inventories $ 420,948 $ (36,243 ) $ 384,705 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 43,643 51,507 95,150 Liabilities and shareholders' equity Accrued expenses 81,029 2,043 83,072 Deferred income taxes 34,906 3,450 38,356 Retained earnings 1,954,344 9,771 1,964,115 The adoption of ASC 606 had the following impact on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2018: Balance Sheet As Reported Balance Excluding ASC 606 Effects Change Assets Inventories $ 370,005 $ 425,956 $ (55,951 ) Prepaid expenses and other current assets 127,251 48,767 78,484 Liabilities and shareholders' equity Accrued expenses 92,651 87,626 5,025 Deferred income taxes 39,669 35,539 4,130 Retained earnings 1,996,474 1,983,096 13,378 Statement of Earnings Net Sales $ 698,684 $ 670,874 $ 27,810 Operating Income 63,960 58,886 5,074 The Company determines the appropriate revenue recognition for our contracts by analyzing the type, terms and conditions of each contract or arrangement with a customer. Contracts with customers for all businesses are fixed-price with sales tax excluded from revenue, and do not include variable consideration. Discounts included in contracts with customers, typically early pay discounts, are recorded as a reduction of net sales in the period in which the sale is recognized. Contract revenues are classified as product when the performance obligation is related to the manufacturing of goods. Contract revenues are classified as service when the performance obligation is the performance of a service. Service revenue is primarily related to the Coatings segment. Customer acceptance provisions exist only in the design stage of our products and acceptance of the design by the customer is required before the project is manufactured and delivered to the customer. The Company is not entitled to any compensation solely based on design of the product and does not recognize revenue associated with the design stage. There is one performance obligation for revenue recognition. No general rights of return exist for customers once the product has been delivered and the Company establishes provisions for estimated warranties. The Company does not sell extended warranties for any of its products. Shipping and handling costs associated with sales are recorded as cost of goods sold. The Company elected to use the practical expedient of treating freight as a fulfillment obligation instead of a separate performance obligation and ratably recognize freight expense as the structure is being manufactured, when the revenue from the associated customer contract is being recognized over time. With the exception of the Utility segment and the wireless communication structures product (1) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued) line, the Company’s inventory is interchangeable for a variety of each segment’s customers. The Company elected the practical expedient to not disclose the partially satisfied performance obligation at the end of the period when the contract has an original expected duration of one year or less. In addition, the Company elected the practical expedient to not adjust the amount of consideration to be received in a contract for any significant financing component if payment is expected within twelve months of transfer of control of goods or services; the Company expects all consideration to be received in one year or less at contract inception. Segment and Product Line Revenue Recognition The global Utility segment revenues are derived from manufactured steel and concrete structures for the North America utility industry and offshore and other complex structures used in energy generation and distribution outside of the United States. Steel and concrete utility structures are engineered to customer specifications resulting in limited ability to sell the structure to a different customer if an order is canceled after production commences. The continuous transfer of control to the customer is evidenced either by contractual termination clauses or by our rights to payment for work performed to-date plus a reasonable profit as the products do not have an alternative use to the Company. Since control is transferring over time, revenue is recognized based on the extent of progress towards completion of the performance obligation. The selection of the method to measure progress towards completion requires judgment. For our steel and concrete utility and wireless communication structure product lines, we generally recognize revenue on an inputs basis, using total production hours incurred to-date for each order as a percentage of total hours estimated to produce the order. The completion percentage is applied to the order’s total revenue and total estimated costs to determine reported revenue, cost of goods sold and gross profit. Production of an order, once started, is typically completed within three months. Revenue from the offshore and other complex structures business is also recognized using an inputs method, based on the ratio of costs incurred to date to the total estimated costs at completion of the performance obligation. External sales agents are used in certain sales of steel and concrete structures; the Company has chosen to use the practical expedient to expense estimated commissions owed to third parties by recognizing them proportionately as the goods are manufactured. The global ESS segment revenues are derived from the manufacture and distribution of engineered metal, composite structures and components for lighting and traffic and roadway safety, engineered access systems, and wireless communication. For the lighting and traffic and roadway safety product lines, revenue is recognized upon shipment or delivery of goods to the customer depending on contract terms, which is the same point in time that the customer is billed. For Access Systems, revenue is generally recognized upon delivery of goods to the customer which is the same point in time that the customer is billed. The wireless communication product line has large regional customers who have unique product specifications for communication structures. When the customer contract includes a cancellation clause that would require them to pay for work completed plus a reasonable margin if an order was canceled, revenue is recognized over time based on hours worked as a percent of total estimated hours to complete production. For the remaining wireless communication product line customers which do not provide a contractual right to bill for work completed on a canceled order, revenue is recognized upon shipment or delivery of the goods to the customer which is the same point in time that the customer is billed. The global Coatings segment revenues are derived by providing coating services to customers’ products, which include galvanizing, anodizing, and powder coating. Revenue is recognized once the coating service has been performed and the goods are ready to be picked up or delivered to the customer which is the same time that the customer is billed. The global Irrigation segment revenues are derived from the manufacture of agricultural irrigation equipment and related parts and services for the agricultural industry and tubular products for industrial customers. Revenue recognition for the irrigation segment is generally upon shipment of the goods to the customer which is the same point in time that the customer is billed. The remote monitoring subscription services are primarily billed annually and revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis over the subsequent twelve months. Disaggregation of revenue by product line is disclosed in the Segment footnote. A breakdown by segment of revenue recognized over time and revenue recognized at a point in time for the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2018 is as follows: (1) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued) Point in Time Over Time March 31, 2018 March 31, 2018 Utility Support Structures $ — $ 209,859 Engineered Support Structures 207,194 8,722 Coatings 68,458 — Irrigation 183,234 2,818 Other 18,399 — Total $ 477,285 $ 221,399 The Company's contract asset as of March 31, 2018 is $95,209 . This amount is included within prepaid expenses and other assets line item within current assets. The contract assets attributable to the cumulative effect from the adoption of the new revenue recognition guidance was $51,507 ; the contract asset at December 30, 2017, attributable to the offshore and other complex structures product line, was $16,165 . Both steel and concrete utility customers are generally invoiced upon shipment or delivery of the goods to the customer's specified location and there are normally no up-front or progress payments. The offshore and complex steel structures business invoices customers a number of ways including advanced billings, progress billings, and billings upon shipment. At March 31, 2018 and December 30, 2017, the contract liability for revenue recognized over time was $6,301 and $7,368 . The contract liability is included in Accrued Expenses on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. During the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Company recognized $2,824 of revenue that was included in the liability as of December 30, 2017. The revenue recognized was due to applying advance payments received for projects completed during the quarter. Hedging Activities In the second quarter of 2016, the Company entered into a one-year foreign currency forward contract which qualified as a net investment hedge, in order to mitigate foreign currency risk on a portion of our investments denominated in British pounds. The forward contract had a notional amount to sell British pounds and receive $44,000 , and matured in May 2017. The realized gain of $5,123 ( $3,150 after tax) has been deferred in other comprehensive income where it will remain until the Company's net investments in its British subsidiaries are divested. No ineffectiveness resulted from the hedge prior to its maturity. In the third quarter of 2017, the Company entered into two six-month foreign currency forward contracts which qualified as net investment hedges, in order to mitigate foreign currency risk on our grinding media business that is denominated in both Australian dollars and British pounds. The Company announced its intention to divest of this business in August 2017 and regulatory approval in Australia was received at the end of March 2018. The forward contracts had a maturity date of January 2018 and a notional amount to sell British pounds and Australian dollars to receive $24,059 and $21,222 , respectively. The two forward contracts matured at the end of January 2018 with a combined loss of $2,671 . As regulatory approval was still pending at maturity of the contracts, the Company chose to extend the Australian dollar contract through April 2018 which is the planned date of divestiture. The gain recorded on the contract extended through April at March 31, 2018 is $792 . No ineffectiveness has resulted from the hedge and the balance is recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Other Comprehensive Income within gain/(loss) on hedging activities. The gain/(loss) will be deferred in Other Comprehensive Income where it will remain until the grinding media business is divested in the second quarter of 2018. In the first quarter of 2018, the Company entered into a steel hot rolled coil forward contract which qualified as a cash flow hedge of the variability in the cash flows attributable to future steel purchases. The forward contract has a notional amount of $7,142 for the hedge of 1,500 short tons for each month from July 2018 to December 2018. The unrealized loss at March 31, 2018 is $93 and is included in Accounts Payable on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The balance is recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Other Comprehensive Income within gain/(loss) on hedging activities. The gain/(loss) will be recognized in the income statement when the hedged inventory is used in customer orders. (1) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued) Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2014-9, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 605, Revenue Recognition . Effective December 31, 2017, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). The Company elected the modified retrospective approach for the adoption of the new revenue standard, resulting in a credit to retained earnings being recognized for $9,771 . The Company calculated the cumulative effect on revenue of approximately $51,507 with $13,121 of pre-tax operating income; these were customer orders for the steel utility, concrete utility, and wireless communication structures product lines at various stages of production at December 30, 2017. In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Presentation of Net Periodic Benefit Cost Related to Defined Benefit Plans, which amends the income statement presentation requirements for the components of net periodic benefit cost for an entity's defined benefit pension and post-retirement plans. The Company adopted this ASU in the first quarter of 2018, recognizing the DPP net periodic pension expense within Other income (expense). The Company also reclassified $154 of DPP net periodic pension expense for first quarter 2017 out of selling, general, and administrative expense and into Other (expense). In December 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash , which requires amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents to be included within cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown in the statement of cash flows. The Company adopted the ASU in the first quarter of 2018, recasting the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total cash and cash equivalent amounts on the statement of cash flows to include the £10,000 restricted cash account for the pension plan at December 31, 2016, thus reducing cash flows from operating activities by $12,568 for the first quarter of 2017. The Company did not have any restricted cash at March 31, 2018 or December 30, 2017.

ACQUISITIONS

ACQUISITIONS	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Business Combinations [Abstract]
ACQUISITIONS	ACQUISITIONS On January 26, 2018, the Company acquired 60% of the assets of Torrent Engineering and Equipment ("Torrent") for $4,800 in cash. Torrent operates in Indiana and is an integrator of prefabricated pump stations that involves designing high pressure water and compressed air process systems. Torrent has annual sales of approximately $9,000 . In the preliminary purchase price allocation, goodwill of $3,922 and $4,020 of customer relationships and other intangible assets were recorded. A portion of the goodwill is deductible for tax purposes. Torrent is included in the Irrigation segment and was acquired to expand the Company's water management capabilities. The Company expects to finalize the purchase price allocation in the second quarter of 2018. On July 31, 2017, the Company purchased Aircon Guardrails Private Limited ("Aircon") for $5,362 in cash, net of cash acquired, plus assumed liabilities. Aircon produces highway safety systems including guardrails, structural metal products, and solar structural products in India with annual sales of approximately $10,000 . In the purchase price allocation, goodwill of $3,327 and $2,109 of customer relationships and other intangible assets were recorded. Goodwill is not deductible for tax purposes. This business is included in the Engineered Support Structures segment and was acquired to expand the Company's geographic presence in the Asia-Pacific region. The purchase price allocation was finalized in the fourth quarter of 2017. Proforma disclosures were omitted as this business does not have a significant impact on the Company's financial results. Acquisitions of Noncontrolling Interests In March 2018, the Company acquired the remaining 10% of Valmont Industria e Commercio Ltda. that it did not own for $5,510 . As this transaction was for the acquisition of all of the remaining shares of consolidated subsidiaries with no change in control, they were recorded within shareholders' equity and as a financing cash flow in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

ASSETS AND LIABILITIES HELD FOR

ASSETS AND LIABILITIES HELD FOR SALE	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]
ASSETS AND LIABILITIES HELD FOR SALE	ASSETS AND LIABILITIES HELD FOR SALE During the first quarter of 2018, the Company received regulatory approval to sell Donhad, its grinding media business in Australia, which is reported in the Other segment. The grinding media business had pre-tax income/(loss) of ($579) and $2,086 for the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2018 and April 1, 2017, respectively. The business is being sold because it does not fit the long-term strategic plans for the Company. The Company expects the sale to close during the second quarter of 2018. The expected proceeds from the sale are greater than its carrying value as of March 31, 2018. The grinding media business historical annual sales, operating profit, and net assets did not meet the quantitative thresholds for discontinued operations presentation. The carrying value of the assets and liabilities are separately presented within the captions "Assets held for sale" and "Liabilities held for sale" in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. The assets and liabilities of the grinding media business as of March 31, 2018 are as follows: Receivables, net $ 9,978 Inventories 16,155 Net property, plant, and equipment 14,013 Goodwill and intangible assets 27,607 Other assets 4,912 Total assets $ 72,665 Accounts payable $ 9,201 Accrued expenses 1,536 Deferred income taxes 2,223 Total liabilities $ 12,960 Net assets 59,705

RESTRUCTURING ACTIVITIES

RESTRUCTURING ACTIVITIES	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]
RESTRUCTURING ACTIVITIES	RESTRUCTURING ACTIVITIES In February 2018, the Company decided upon certain regional restructuring activities (the "2018 Plan") of approximately $10,000 , primarily in the ESS segment. The Company expects to incur $7,500 of pre-tax restructuring expenses in cost of sales and $2,500 of pre-tax restructuring expense in SG&A in 2018. Within the $10,000 are expected pre-tax asset impairments of approximately $2,000 . The following pre-tax expense were recognized during the first quarter of 2018: ESS Utility Total Severance $ 423 $ — $ 423 Other cash restructuring expenses — 772 772 Asset impairments/net loss on disposals 1,145 — 1,145 Total cost of sales 1,568 772 2,340 Severance 1,978 — 1,978 Other cash restructuring expenses 82 — 82 Total selling, general and administrative expenses 2,060 — 2,060 Consolidated total $ 3,628 $ 772 $ 4,400 Liabilities recorded for the restructuring plans and changes therein for the first quarter of fiscal 2018 were as follows: Balance at December 30, 2017 Recognized Restructuring Expense Costs Paid or Otherwise Settled Balance at March 31, 2018 Severance $ — $ 2,401 $ (2,251 ) $ 150 Other cash restructuring expenses 1,216 772 (1,988 ) — Total $ 1,216 $ 3,173 $ (4,239 ) $ 150

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS	GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS Amortized Intangible Assets The components of amortized intangible assets at March 31, 2018 and December 30, 2017 were as follows: March 31, 2018 Gross Accumulated Weighted Customer Relationships $ 191,117 $ 126,168 13 years Proprietary Software & Database 3,659 3,115 8 years Patents & Proprietary Technology 6,748 4,115 11 years Other 5,035 4,248 3 years $ 206,559 $ 137,646 December 30, 2017 Gross Accumulated Weighted Customer Relationships $ 200,810 $ 131,062 13 years Proprietary Software & Database 3,671 3,107 8 years Patents & Proprietary Technology 6,693 3,999 11 years Other 4,861 4,121 3 years $ 216,035 $ 142,289 Amortization expense for intangible assets for the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2018 and April 1, 2017 , respectively was as follows: Thirteen Weeks Ended 2018 2017 3,883 3,863 Estimated annual amortization expense related to finite‑lived intangible assets is as follows: Estimated 2018 $ 14,167 2019 12,986 2020 11,879 2021 9,796 2022 7,494 The useful lives assigned to finite‑lived intangible assets included consideration of factors such as the Company’s past and expected experience related to customer retention rates, the remaining legal or contractual life of the underlying arrangement that resulted in the recognition of the intangible asset and the Company’s expected use of the intangible asset. (5) GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Continued) Non-amortized intangible assets Intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized. The carrying values of trade names at March 31, 2018 and December 30, 2017 were as follows: March 31, December 30, Year Acquired Webforge $ 9,793 $ 9,432 2010 Valmont SM 10,243 9,973 2014 Newmark 11,111 11,111 2004 Ingal EPS/Ingal Civil Products 7,985 7,690 2010 Shakespeare 4,000 4,000 2014 Other 17,495 22,647 $ 60,627 $ 64,853 In its determination of these intangible assets as indefinite‑lived, the Company considered such factors as its expected future use of the intangible asset, legal, regulatory, technological and competitive factors that may impact the useful life or value of the intangible asset and the expected costs to maintain the value of the intangible asset. The Company expects that these intangible assets will maintain their value indefinitely. Accordingly, these assets are not amortized. The Company’s trade names were tested for impairment in the third quarter of 2017. The values of each trade name was determined using the relief-from-royalty method. Based on this evaluation, no trade names were determined to be impaired. Goodwill The carrying amount of goodwill by segment as of March 31, 2018 and December 30, 2017 was as follows: Engineered Utility Coatings Irrigation Other Total Gross Balance at December 30, 2017 $ 170,076 $ 90,248 $ 76,696 $ 19,778 $ 15,814 $ 372,612 Accumulated impairment losses (18,670 ) $ — (16,222 ) $ — $ — $ (34,892 ) Balance at December 30, 2017 $ 151,406 $ 90,248 $ 60,474 $ 19,778 $ 15,814 $ 337,720 Acquisitions — — — 3,922 — 3,922 Assets held for sale — — — — (16,420 ) (16,420 ) Foreign currency translation 1,984 402 (200 ) (140 ) 606 2,652 Balance at March 31, 2018 $ 153,390 $ 90,650 $ 60,274 $ 23,560 $ — $ 327,874 The Company’s annual impairment test of goodwill was performed during the third quarter of 2017. As a result of that testing, the Company determined that its goodwill was not impaired, as the valuation of the reporting units exceeded their respective carrying values. The Company's offshore and other complex steel structures reporting unit with $15,245 of goodwill, is the reporting unit that did not have a substantial excess of estimated fair value over its carrying value. The Company monitors the outlook for wind energy in Europe which would affect the sales demand assumptions in the five year (5) GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Continued) impairment model for this reporting unit. If demand for off and onshore structures for wind energy declines significantly and recent increases to oil prices do not drive demand for new exploration structures, the Company may be required to perform an interim goodwill impairment test. The Company continues to monitor changes in global market conditions, including commodity prices, which could impact future results of any of its reporting units.

CASH FLOW SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMA

CASH FLOW SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]
CASH FLOW SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION	CASH FLOW SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The Company considers all highly liquid temporary cash investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents. Cash payments for interest and income taxes (net of refunds) for the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2018 and April 1, 2017 were as follows: 2018 2017 Interest $ 439 $ 925 Income taxes 2,912 1,898

EARNINGS PER SHARE

EARNINGS PER SHARE	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
EARNINGS PER SHARE	EARNINGS PER SHARE The following table provides a reconciliation between Basic and Diluted earnings per share (EPS): Basic EPS Dilutive Diluted EPS Thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2018: Net earnings attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc. $ 39,281 $ — $ 39,281 Shares outstanding (000 omitted) 22,609 187 22,796 Per share amount $ 1.74 $ (0.02 ) $ 1.72 Thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2017: Net earnings attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc. $ 38,979 $ — $ 38,979 Shares outstanding (000 omitted) 22,472 188 22,660 Per share amount $ 1.73 $ (0.01 ) $ 1.72 At March 31, 2018, there were 147,554 outstanding stock options with exercise prices exceeding the market price of common stock that were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share.

BUSINESS SEGMENTS

BUSINESS SEGMENTS	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
BUSINESS SEGMENTS	BUSINESS SEGMENTS In the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company's management structure and reporting was changed to reflect management's expectations of the future growth of certain product lines and to take into consideration the expected divestiture of the grinding media business which historically was reported in the Energy and Mining segment. Grinding media will be reported in "Other" pending the completion of its divestiture. The access systems applications product line is now part of the Engineered Support Structures ("ESS") segment and the offshore and other complex structures product line is now part of the Utility segment. The segment financial information have been accordingly reclassified in this report to reflect these changes, for all periods presented. The Company has four reportable segments based on its management structure. Each segment is global in nature with a manager responsible for segment operational performance and the allocation of capital within the segment. Net corporate expense is net of certain service‑related expenses that are allocated to business units generally on the basis of employee headcounts. Reportable segments are as follows: ENGINEERED SUPPORT STRUCTURES: This segment consists of the manufacture and distribution of engineered metal and composite structures and components for lighting, traffic, and wireless communication markets, engineered access systems, and highway safety products; UTILITY SUPPORT STRUCTURES: This segment consists of the manufacture of engineered steel and concrete structures for the global utility transmission, distribution, and generation applications and on and offshore and other complex steel structures used in energy generation and distribution outside the United States, and inspection services; COATINGS: This segment consists of galvanizing, anodizing and powder coating services; and IRRIGATION: This segment consists of the manufacture of agricultural irrigation equipment, parts, services and tubular products and technology for precision agriculture. In addition to these four reportable segments, the Company had other businesses and activities that individually are not more than 10% of consolidated sales, operating income or assets. This includes the manufacture of forged steel grinding media for the mining industry and is reported in the "Other" category. The Company evaluates the performance of its business segments based upon operating income and invested capital. The Company does not allocate LIFO expense, interest expense, non-operating income and deductions, or income taxes to its business segments. (8) BUSINESS SEGMENTS (Continued) Summary by Business Thirteen Weeks Ended March 31, April 1, SALES: Engineered Support Structures segment: Lighting, Traffic, and Highway Safety Products $ 160,444 $ 140,802 Communication Products 34,113 31,476 Access Systems 30,397 32,671 Engineered Support Structures segment 224,954 204,949 Utility Support Structures segment: Steel 163,983 148,354 Concrete 23,662 26,204 Offshore and Other Complex Steel Structures 22,217 25,707 Utility Support Structures segment 209,862 200,265 Coatings segment 84,947 73,468 Irrigation segment 187,953 167,224 Other 18,399 19,594 Total 726,115 665,500 INTERSEGMENT SALES: Engineered Support Structures segment 9,038 11,873 Utility Support Structures segment 3 235 Coatings segment 16,489 14,136 Irrigation segment 1,901 1,783 Other — — Total 27,431 28,027 NET SALES: Engineered Support Structures segment 215,916 193,076 Utility Support Structures segment 209,859 200,030 Coatings segment 68,458 59,332 Irrigation segment 186,052 165,441 Other 18,399 19,594 Total $ 698,684 $ 637,473 OPERATING INCOME: Engineered Support Structures segment $ 6,947 $ 9,464 Utility Support Structures segment 23,367 24,207 Coatings segment 11,867 9,406 Irrigation segment 33,887 30,291 Other (579 ) 2,086 Adjustment to LIFO inventory valuation method (1,081 ) (779 ) Corporate (10,448 ) (10,019 ) Total $ 63,960 $ 64,656

GUARANTOR_NON-GUARANTOR FINANCI

GUARANTOR/NON-GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
GUARANTOR/NON-GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION
GUARANTOR/NON-GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION	GUARANTOR/NON-GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION The Company has three tranches of senior unsecured notes. All of the senior notes are guaranteed, jointly, severally, fully and unconditionally (subject to certain customary release provisions, including sale of the subsidiary guarantor, or sale of all or substantially all of its assets) by certain of the Company’s current and future direct and indirect domestic and foreign subsidiaries (collectively the “Guarantors”), excluding its other current domestic and foreign subsidiaries which do not guarantee the debt (collectively referred to as the “Non-Guarantors”). All Guarantors are 100% owned by the parent company. Consolidated financial information for the Company ("Parent"), the Guarantor subsidiaries and the Non-Guarantor subsidiaries is as follows: CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS For the Thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2018 Parent Guarantors Non- Eliminations Total Net sales $ 315,992 $ 121,171 $ 332,136 $ (70,615 ) $ 698,684 Cost of sales 235,596 94,459 271,716 (72,327 ) 529,444 Gross profit 80,396 26,712 60,420 1,712 169,240 Selling, general and administrative expenses 46,531 11,917 46,832 — 105,280 Operating income 33,865 14,795 13,588 1,712 63,960 Other income (expense): Interest expense (10,881 ) (3,880 ) (193 ) 3,880 (11,074 ) Interest income 176 10 4,961 (3,880 ) 1,267 Other (106 ) 12 (1,047 ) — (1,141 ) (10,811 ) (3,858 ) 3,721 — (10,948 ) Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries 23,054 10,937 17,309 1,712 53,012 Income tax expense (benefit): Current 2,769 886 3,921 137 7,713 Deferred 5,591 1,791 (2,563 ) — 4,819 8,360 2,677 1,358 137 12,532 Earnings before equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries 14,694 8,260 15,951 1,575 40,480 Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries 24,587 2,729 — (27,316 ) — Net earnings 39,281 10,989 15,951 (25,741 ) 40,480 Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests — — (1,199 ) — (1,199 ) Net earnings attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc $ 39,281 $ 10,989 $ 14,752 $ (25,741 ) $ 39,281 (9) GUARANTOR/NON-GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued) CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS For the Thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2017 Parent Guarantors Non- Eliminations Total Net sales $ 293,265 $ 117,225 $ 295,296 $ (68,313 ) $ 637,473 Cost of sales 216,486 91,489 232,490 (67,597 ) 472,868 Gross profit 76,779 25,736 62,806 (716 ) 164,605 Selling, general and administrative expenses 50,217 11,660 38,072 — 99,949 Operating income 26,562 14,076 24,734 (716 ) 64,656 Other income (expense): Interest expense (11,142 ) (2,266 ) (162 ) 2,266 (11,304 ) Interest income 151 14 3,028 (2,266 ) 927 Other 1,354 16 (325 ) — 1,045 (9,637 ) (2,236 ) 2,541 — (9,332 ) Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries 16,925 11,840 27,275 (716 ) 55,324 Income tax expense (benefit): Current (4,887 ) 5,320 1,109 (244 ) 1,298 Deferred 11,327 — 2,738 — 14,065 6,440 5,320 3,847 (244 ) 15,363 Earnings before equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries 10,485 6,520 23,428 (472 ) 39,961 Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries 28,494 (980 ) — (27,514 ) — Net earnings 38,979 5,540 23,428 (27,986 ) 39,961 Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests — — (982 ) — (982 ) Net earnings attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc $ 38,979 $ 5,540 $ 22,446 $ (27,986 ) $ 38,979 (9) GUARANTOR/NON-GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued) CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME For the Thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2018 Parent Guarantors Non- Eliminations Total Net earnings $ 39,281 $ 10,989 $ 15,951 $ (25,741 ) $ 40,480 Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: Foreign currency translation adjustments: Unrealized translation gain (loss) — (8,680 ) 15,484 — 6,804 Unrealized gain/(loss) on hedging activities: Net investment hedge (789 ) — — — (789 ) Amortization cost included in interest expense 19 — — — 19 Cash flow hedges (93 ) — — — (93 ) Equity in other comprehensive income 3,256 — — (3,256 ) — Other comprehensive income (loss) 2,393 (8,680 ) 15,484 (3,256 ) 5,941 Comprehensive income (loss) 41,674 2,309 31,435 (28,997 ) 46,421 Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests — — (4,747 ) — (4,747 ) Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc. $ 41,674 $ 2,309 $ 26,688 $ (28,997 ) $ 41,674 (9) GUARANTOR/NON-GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued) CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME For the Thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2017 Parent Guarantors Non- Eliminations Total Net earnings $ 38,979 $ 5,540 $ 23,428 $ (27,986 ) $ 39,961 Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: Foreign currency translation adjustments: Unrealized translation gain (loss) — 69,383 (49,993 ) — 19,390 Unrealized gain/(loss) on hedging activities: Net investment hedge (526 ) — — — (526 ) Amortization cost included in interest expense 19 — — — 19 Equity in other comprehensive income 20,613 — — (20,613 ) — Other comprehensive income (loss) 20,106 69,383 (49,993 ) (20,613 ) 18,883 Comprehensive income (loss) 59,085 74,923 (26,565 ) (48,599 ) 58,844 Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests — — 241 — 241 Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc. $ 59,085 $ 74,923 $ (26,324 ) $ (48,599 ) $ 59,085 (9) GUARANTOR/NON-GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued) CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS March 31, 2018 Parent Guarantors Non- Eliminations Total ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 71,423 $ 3,409 $ 404,831 $ — $ 479,663 Receivables, net 139,677 67,545 259,788 — 467,010 Inventories 135,973 38,734 197,998 (2,700 ) 370,005 Prepaid expenses and other assets 42,926 37,527 46,798 — 127,251 Assets held for sale — — 72,665 — 72,665 Refundable income taxes 6,749 — — — 6,749 Total current assets 396,748 147,215 982,080 (2,700 ) 1,523,343 Property, plant and equipment, at cost 560,719 165,996 410,437 — 1,137,152 Less accumulated depreciation and amortization 374,716 87,080 171,644 — 633,440 Net property, plant and equipment 186,003 78,916 238,793 — 503,712 Goodwill 20,108 110,562 197,204 — 327,874 Other intangible assets 117 30,057 99,366 — 129,540 Investment in subsidiaries and intercompany accounts 1,430,127 1,178,134 947,570 (3,555,831 ) — Other assets 50,467 — 83,128 — 133,595 Total assets $ 2,083,570 $ 1,544,884 $ 2,548,141 $ (3,558,531 ) $ 2,618,064 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY Current liabilities: Current installments of long-term debt $ — $ — $ 951 $ — $ 951 Notes payable to banks — — 377 — 377 Accounts payable 51,996 14,047 124,859 — 190,902 Accrued employee compensation and benefits 33,685 5,623 28,620 — 67,928 Accrued expenses 37,633 6,571 48,447 — 92,651 Liabilities held for sale — — 12,960 — 12,960 Dividends payable 8,493 — — — 8,493 Total current liabilities 131,807 26,241 216,214 — 374,262 Deferred income taxes 925 16,883 21,861 — 39,669 Long-term debt, excluding current installments 750,705 182,065 9,601 (188,724 ) 753,647 Defined benefit pension liability — — 195,490 — 195,490 Deferred compensation 42,988 — 5,609 — 48,597 Other noncurrent liabilities 11,904 5 9,134 — 21,043 Shareholders’ equity: Common stock of $1 par value 27,900 457,950 648,682 (1,106,632 ) 27,900 Additional paid-in capital — 162,906 1,107,536 (1,270,442 ) — Retained earnings 1,996,474 633,032 630,982 (1,264,014 ) 1,996,474 Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (276,629 ) 65,802 (337,083 ) 271,281 (276,629 ) Treasury stock (602,504 ) — — — (602,504 ) Total Valmont Industries, Inc. shareholders’ equity 1,145,241 1,319,690 2,050,117 (3,369,807 ) 1,145,241 Noncontrolling interest in consolidated subsidiaries — — 40,115 — 40,115 Total shareholders’ equity 1,145,241 1,319,690 2,090,232 (3,369,807 ) 1,185,356 Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 2,083,570 $ 1,544,884 $ 2,548,141 $ (3,558,531 ) $ 2,618,064 (9) GUARANTOR/NON-GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued) CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS December 30, 2017 Parent Guarantors Non- Eliminations Total ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 83,329 $ 5,304 $ 404,172 $ — $ 492,805 Receivables, net 149,221 82,995 271,461 — 503,677 Inventories 160,444 46,801 217,551 (3,848 ) 420,948 Prepaid expenses and other assets 8,607 970 34,066 — 43,643 Refundable income taxes 11,492 — — — 11,492 Total current assets 413,093 136,070 927,250 (3,848 ) 1,472,565 Property, plant and equipment, at cost 557,371 160,767 447,549 — 1,165,687 Less accumulated depreciation and amortization 368,668 84,508 193,583 — 646,759 Net property, plant and equipment 188,703 76,259 253,966 — 518,928 Goodwill 20,108 110,562 207,050 — 337,720 Other intangible assets 130 30,955 107,514 — 138,599 Investment in subsidiaries and intercompany accounts 1,416,446 1,181,537 927,179 (3,525,162 ) — Other assets 50,773 — 83,665 — 134,438 Total assets $ 2,089,253 $ 1,535,383 $ 2,506,624 $ (3,529,010 ) $ 2,602,250 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY Current liabilities: Current installments of long-term debt $ — $ — $ 966 $ — $ 966 Notes payable to banks — — 161 — 161 Accounts payable 69,915 18,039 139,952 — 227,906 Accrued employee compensation and benefits 44,086 8,749 31,591 — 84,426 Accrued expenses 28,198 9,621 43,210 — 81,029 Dividends payable 8,510 — — — 8,510 Total current liabilities 150,709 36,409 215,880 — 402,998 Deferred income taxes 20,885 — 14,021 — 34,906 Long-term debt, excluding current installments 750,821 185,078 9,836 (191,847 ) 753,888 Defined benefit pension liability — — 189,552 — 189,552 Deferred compensation 42,928 — 5,598 — 48,526 Other noncurrent liabilities 11,074 6 9,505 — 20,585 Shareholders’ equity: Common stock of $1 par value 27,900 457,950 648,682 (1,106,632 ) 27,900 Additional paid-in capital — 159,414 1,107,536 (1,266,950 ) — Retained earnings 1,954,344 622,044 619,622 (1,241,666 ) 1,954,344 Accumulated other comprehensive income (279,022 ) 74,482 (352,567 ) 278,085 (279,022 ) Treasury stock (590,386 ) — — — (590,386 ) Total Valmont Industries, Inc. shareholders’ equity 1,112,836 1,313,890 2,023,273 (3,337,163 ) 1,112,836 Noncontrolling interest in consolidated subsidiaries — — 38,959 — 38,959 Total shareholders’ equity 1,112,836 1,313,890 2,062,232 (3,337,163 ) 1,151,795 Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 2,089,253 $ 1,535,383 $ 2,506,624 $ (3,529,010 ) $ 2,602,250 (9) GUARANTOR/NON-GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued) CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS For the Thirteen Weeks Ended March 31, 2018 Parent Guarantors Non- Eliminations Total Cash flows from operating activities: Net earnings $ 39,281 $ 10,989 $ 15,951 $ (25,741 ) $ 40,480 Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash flows from operations: Depreciation and amortization 6,444 3,478 11,256 — 21,178 Noncash loss on trading securities — — 71 — 71 Impairment of property, plant and equipment — — 1,145 — 1,145 Stock-based compensation 2,775 — — — 2,775 Defined benefit pension plan expense — — (594 ) — (594 ) Contribution to defined benefit pension plan — — (731 ) — (731 ) Loss (gain) on sale of property, plant and equipment — 4 (284 ) — (280 ) Equity in earnings in nonconsolidated subsidiaries (24,587 ) (2,729 ) — 27,316 — Deferred income taxes 5,591 1,791 (2,563 ) — 4,819 Changes in assets and liabilities: Receivables 10,407 15,450 3,937 — 29,794 Inventories (934 ) 4,089 (3,208 ) (1,148 ) (1,201 ) Prepaid expenses and other assets 2,202 (31,130 ) (3,097 ) — (32,025 ) Accounts payable (17,919 ) (3,992 ) (7,538 ) — (29,449 ) Accrued expenses (2,606 ) (6,178 ) 2,377 — (6,407 ) Other noncurrent liabilities 861 — (421 ) — 440 Income taxes payable (refundable) (7,862 ) (514 ) 11,409 — 3,033 Net cash flows from operating activities 13,653 (8,742 ) 27,710 427 33,048 Cash flows from investing activities: Purchase of property, plant and equipment (3,928 ) (5,241 ) (7,079 ) — (16,248 ) Proceeds from sale of assets 5 — 709 — 714 Acquisitions, net of cash acquired — — (4,800 ) — (4,800 ) Loss from settlement of net investment hedge (863 ) — — — (863 ) Other, net 4,551 8,633 (14,539 ) (427 ) (1,782 ) Net cash flows from investing activities (235 ) 3,392 (25,709 ) (427 ) (22,979 ) Cash flows from financing activities: Net borrowings under short-term agreements — — 219 — 219 Principal payments on long-term borrowings — (249 ) — (249 ) Dividends paid (8,510 ) — — — (8,510 ) Dividends to noncontrolling interest — — (1,281 ) — (1,281 ) Purchase of noncontrolling interest — — (5,510 ) — (5,510 ) Intercompany capital contribution (3,492 ) 3,492 — — — Proceeds from exercises under stock plans 2,972 — — — 2,972 Purchase of treasury shares (14,790 ) — — — (14,790 ) Purchase of common treasury shares - stock plan exercises (1,504 ) — — — (1,504 ) Net cash flows from financing activities (25,324 ) 3,492 (6,821 ) — (28,653 ) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents — (37 ) 5,479 — 5,442 Net change in cash and cash equivalents (11,906 ) (1,895 ) 659 — (13,142 ) Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of year 83,329 5,304 404,172 — 492,805 Cash and cash equivalents—end of period $ 71,423 $ 3,409 $ 404,831 $ — $ 479,663 (9) GUARANTOR/NON-GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued) CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS For the Thirteen Weeks Ended April 1, 2017 Parent Guarantors Non- Eliminations Total Cash flows from operating activities: Net earnings $ 38,979 $ 5,540 $ 23,428 $ (27,986 ) $ 39,961 Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash flows from operations: Depreciation and amortization 6,536 3,557 10,734 — 20,827 Noncash loss on trading securities — — 70 — 70 Stock-based compensation 2,494 — — — 2,494 Defined benefit pension plan expense — — 154 — 154 Contribution to defined benefit pension plan — — (25,379 ) — (25,379 ) Loss (gain) on sale of property, plant and equipment (5 ) (2 ) (95 ) — (102 ) Equity in earnings in nonconsolidated subsidiaries (28,494 ) 980 — 27,514 — Deferred income taxes 11,327 — 2,738 — 14,065 Changes in assets and liabilities: Receivables 1,116 (13,699 ) (146 ) — (12,729 ) Inventories (17,105 ) (3,865 ) (14,563 ) 716 (34,817 ) Prepaid expenses and other assets 3,688 27 (13,513 ) — (9,798 ) Accounts payable 2,278 1,826 10,020 — 14,124 Accrued expenses 12,588 (3,697 ) 5,129 — 14,020 Other noncurrent liabilities 848 — (236 ) — 612 Income taxes payable (refundable) (9,839 ) 22 9,730 — (87 ) Net cash flows from operating activities 24,411 (9,311 ) 8,071 244 23,415 Cash flows from investing activities: Purchase of property, plant and equipment (4,547 ) (1,797 ) (7,824 ) — (14,168 ) Proceeds from sale of assets 7 6 289 — 302 Other, net 8,474 12,586 (22,531 ) (244 ) (1,715 ) Net cash flows from investing activities 3,934 10,795 (30,066 ) (244 ) (15,581 ) Cash flows from financing activities: Net borrowings under short-term agreements — — 198 — 198 Principal payments on long-term borrowings — — (215 ) — (215 ) Dividends paid (8,445 ) — — — (8,445 ) Intercompany interest on long-term note — (2,263 ) 2,263 — — Dividends to noncontrolling interest — — (422 ) — (422 ) Proceeds from exercises under stock plans 8,894 — — — 8,894 Purchase of common treasury shares - stock plan exercises (2,870 ) — — — (2,870 ) Net cash flows from financing activities (2,421 ) (2,263 ) 1,824 — (2,860 ) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents — 187 7,539 — 7,726 Net change in cash and cash equivalents 25,924 (592 ) (12,632 ) — 12,700 Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of year 67,225 6,071 339,220 — 412,516 Cash and cash equivalents—end of period $ 93,149 $ 5,479 $ 326,588 $ — $ 425,216

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUN18

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements	Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2018 , the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Income for the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2018 and April 1, 2017 , and the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and Shareholders' Equity for the thirteen week periods then ended have been prepared by the Company, without audit. In the opinion of management, all necessary adjustments (which include normal recurring adjustments) have been made to present fairly the financial statements as of March 31, 2018 and for all periods presented. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted. These Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2017 . The accounting policies and methods of computation followed in these interim financial statements are the same as those followed in the financial statements for the year ended December 30, 2017 with the exception of the revenue recognition accounting policy which changed from adopting ASU 2014-09 and is discussed later within this footnote. The results of operations for the period ended March 31, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full year.
Inventories	Inventories Approximately 37% and 37% of inventory is valued at the lower of cost, determined on the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method, or market as of March 31, 2018 and December 30, 2017 . All other inventory is valued at the lower of cost, determined on the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method or market. Finished goods and manufactured goods inventories include the costs of acquired raw materials and related factory labor and overhead charges required to convert raw materials to manufactured and finished goods.
Income Taxes	Income Taxes Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries for the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2018 and April 1, 2017 , were as follows: Thirteen Weeks Ended 2018 2017 United States $ 41,765 $ 35,424 Foreign 11,247 19,900 $ 53,012 $ 55,324
Pension Benefits	Pension Benefits The Company incurs expenses in connection with the Delta Pension Plan ("DPP"). The DPP was acquired as part of the Delta plc acquisition in fiscal 2010 and has no members that are active employees. In order to measure expense and the related benefit obligation, various assumptions are made including discount rates used to value the obligation, expected return on plan assets used to fund these expenses and estimated future inflation rates. These assumptions are based on historical experience as well as current facts and circumstances. An actuarial analysis is used to measure the expense and liability associated with pension benefits.
Stock Plans	Stock Plans The Company maintains stock‑based compensation plans approved by the shareholders, which provide that the Human Resource Committee of the Board of Directors may grant incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, non-vested stock awards and bonuses of common stock. At March 31, 2018 , 550,606 shares of common stock remained available for issuance under the plans. Under the plans, the exercise price of each option equals the closing market price at the date of the grant. Options vest beginning on the first anniversary of the grant in equal amounts over three to six years or on the grant's fifth anniversary. Expiration of grants is from seven to ten years from the date of grant.
Fair Value	Fair Value The Company applies the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification 820, Fair Value Measurements (“ASC 820”) which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. The provisions of ASC 820 apply to other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements. As defined in ASC 820, fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. ASC 820 establishes a three‑level hierarchy for fair value measurements based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date. Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk. Financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value will be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories: Level 1: Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2: Observable market based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data. Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data. The categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
Comprehensive Income	Comprehensive Income Comprehensive income includes net earnings, currency translation adjustments, certain derivative-related activity and changes in net actuarial gains/losses from a pension plan. Results of operations for foreign subsidiaries are translated using the average exchange rates during the period. Assets and liabilities are translated at the exchange rates in effect on the balance sheet dates.
Subsequent Events
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements	Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2014-9, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 605, Revenue Recognition . Effective December 31, 2017, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). The Company elected the modified retrospective approach for the adoption of the new revenue standard, resulting in a credit to retained earnings being recognized for $9,771 . The Company calculated the cumulative effect on revenue of approximately $51,507 with $13,121 of pre-tax operating income; these were customer orders for the steel utility, concrete utility, and wireless communication structures product lines at various stages of production at December 30, 2017. In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Presentation of Net Periodic Benefit Cost Related to Defined Benefit Plans, which amends the income statement presentation requirements for the components of net periodic benefit cost for an entity's defined benefit pension and post-retirement plans. The Company adopted this ASU in the first quarter of 2018, recognizing the DPP net periodic pension expense within Other income (expense). The Company also reclassified $154 of DPP net periodic pension expense for first quarter 2017 out of selling, general, and administrative expense and into Other (expense). In December 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash , which requires amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents to be included within cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown in the statement of cash flows. The Company adopted the ASU in the first quarter of 2018, recasting the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total cash and cash equivalent amounts on the statement of cash flows to include the £10,000 restricted cash account for the pension plan at December 31, 2016, thus reducing cash flows from operating activities by $12,568 for the first quarter of 2017. The Company did not have any restricted cash at March 31, 2018 or December 30, 2017.

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUN19

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Components of inventories	Inventories consisted of the following: March 31, December 30, Raw materials and purchased parts $ 176,554 $ 183,029 Work-in-process 20,197 30,671 Finished goods and manufactured goods 218,062 250,975 Subtotal 414,813 464,675 Less: LIFO reserve 44,808 43,727 $ 370,005 $ 420,948
Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries for the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2018 and April 1, 2017 , were as follows: Thirteen Weeks Ended 2018 2017 United States $ 41,765 $ 35,424 Foreign 11,247 19,900 $ 53,012 $ 55,324
Schedule of components of the net periodic pension (benefit) expense	The components of the net periodic pension (benefit) expense for the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2018 and April 1, 2017 were as follows: Thirteen Weeks Ended Net periodic (benefit) expense: 2018 2017 Interest cost $ 4,716 $ 4,321 Expected return on plan assets (6,114 ) (4,877 ) Amortization of actuarial loss 804 710 Net periodic expense (benefit) $ (594 ) $ 154
Compensation expense (included in selling, general and administrative expenses) and associated income tax benefits related to stock options	The Company's compensation expense (included in selling, general and administrative expenses) and associated income tax benefits related to stock options for the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2018 and April 1, 2017 , respectively, were as follows: Thirteen Weeks Ended 2018 2017 Compensation expense $ 1,090 $ 1,289 Income tax benefits 273 496
Valuation methodologies used for assets and liabilities measured at fair value	Fair Value Measurement Using: Carrying Value Quoted Prices in Significant Other Significant Assets: Trading Securities $ 41,072 $ 41,072 $ — $ — Fair Value Measurement Using: Carrying Value Quoted Prices in Significant Other Significant Assets: Trading Securities $ 41,042 $ 41,042 $ — $ —
Components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) consisted of the following at March 31, 2018 and December 30, 2017: Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments Gain/(Loss) on Hedging Activities Defined Benefit Pension Plan Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Balance at December 30, 2017 $ (171,399 ) $ 6,357 $ (113,980 ) $ (279,022 ) Current-period comprehensive income (loss) 3,256 (863 ) — 2,393 Balance at March 31, 2018 $ (168,143 ) $ 5,494 $ (113,980 ) $ (276,629 )
Schedule of New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Table Text Block]	The adoption of ASC 606 had the following impact on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2018: Balance Sheet As Reported Balance Excluding ASC 606 Effects Change Assets Inventories $ 370,005 $ 425,956 $ (55,951 ) Prepaid expenses and other current assets 127,251 48,767 78,484 Liabilities and shareholders' equity Accrued expenses 92,651 87,626 5,025 Deferred income taxes 39,669 35,539 4,130 Retained earnings 1,996,474 1,983,096 13,378 Statement of Earnings Net Sales $ 698,684 $ 670,874 $ 27,810 Operating Income 63,960 58,886 5,074 The cumulative effect of initially applying the new revenue standard was recorded as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings, which impacted the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as follows: (1) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued) Balance Sheet December 30, ASC 606 Adjustments December 31, Assets Inventories $ 420,948 $ (36,243 ) $ 384,705 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 43,643 51,507 95,150 Liabilities and shareholders' equity Accrued expenses 81,029 2,043 83,072 Deferred income taxes 34,906 3,450 38,356 Retained earnings 1,954,344 9,771 1,964,115
Disaggregation of Revenue	evenue by product line is disclosed in the Segment footnote. A breakdown by segment of revenue recognized over time and revenue recognized at a point in time for the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2018 is as follows: (1) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued) Point in Time Over Time March 31, 2018 March 31, 2018 Utility Support Structures $ — $ 209,859 Engineered Support Structures 207,194 8,722 Coatings 68,458 — Irrigation 183,234 2,818 Other 18,399 — Total $ 477,285 $ 221,399

ASSETS AND LIABILITIES HELD F20

ASSETS AND LIABILITIES HELD FOR SALE (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]
Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations	The assets and liabilities of the grinding media business as of March 31, 2018 are as follows: Receivables, net $ 9,978 Inventories 16,155 Net property, plant, and equipment 14,013 Goodwill and intangible assets 27,607 Other assets 4,912 Total assets $ 72,665 Accounts payable $ 9,201 Accrued expenses 1,536 Deferred income taxes 2,223 Total liabilities $ 12,960 Net assets 59,705

RESTRUCTURING ACTIVITIES (Table

RESTRUCTURING ACTIVITIES (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and Related Costs	The following pre-tax expense were recognized during the first quarter of 2018: ESS Utility Total Severance $ 423 $ — $ 423 Other cash restructuring expenses — 772 772 Asset impairments/net loss on disposals 1,145 — 1,145 Total cost of sales 1,568 772 2,340 Severance 1,978 — 1,978 Other cash restructuring expenses 82 — 82 Total selling, general and administrative expenses 2,060 — 2,060 Consolidated total $ 3,628 $ 772 $ 4,400
Schedule of liabilities recorded for the restructuring plan and changes	Liabilities recorded for the restructuring plans and changes therein for the first quarter of fiscal 2018 were as follows: Balance at December 30, 2017 Recognized Restructuring Expense Costs Paid or Otherwise Settled Balance at March 31, 2018 Severance $ — $ 2,401 $ (2,251 ) $ 150 Other cash restructuring expenses 1,216 772 (1,988 ) — Total $ 1,216 $ 3,173 $ (4,239 ) $ 150

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of components of amortized intangible assets	he components of amortized intangible assets at March 31, 2018 and December 30, 2017 were as follows: March 31, 2018 Gross Accumulated Weighted Customer Relationships $ 191,117 $ 126,168 13 years Proprietary Software & Database 3,659 3,115 8 years Patents & Proprietary Technology 6,748 4,115 11 years Other 5,035 4,248 3 years $ 206,559 $ 137,646 December 30, 2017 Gross Accumulated Weighted Customer Relationships $ 200,810 $ 131,062 13 years Proprietary Software & Database 3,671 3,107 8 years Patents & Proprietary Technology 6,693 3,999 11 years Other 4,861 4,121 3 years $ 216,035 $ 142,289
Schedule of amortization expense for intangible assets	Amortization expense for intangible assets for the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2018 and April 1, 2017 , respectively was as follows: Thirteen Weeks Ended 2018 2017 3,883 3,863
Schedule of future estimated amortization expense	Estimated annual amortization expense related to finite‑lived intangible assets is as follows: Estimated 2018 $ 14,167 2019 12,986 2020 11,879 2021 9,796 2022 7,494
Schedule of non-amortized intangible assets	The carrying values of trade names at March 31, 2018 and December 30, 2017 were as follows: March 31, December 30, Year Acquired Webforge $ 9,793 $ 9,432 2010 Valmont SM 10,243 9,973 2014 Newmark 11,111 11,111 2004 Ingal EPS/Ingal Civil Products 7,985 7,690 2010 Shakespeare 4,000 4,000 2014 Other 17,495 22,647 $ 60,627 $ 64,853
Schedule of carrying amount of goodwill	The carrying amount of goodwill by segment as of March 31, 2018 and December 30, 2017 was as follows: Engineered Utility Coatings Irrigation Other Total Gross Balance at December 30, 2017 $ 170,076 $ 90,248 $ 76,696 $ 19,778 $ 15,814 $ 372,612 Accumulated impairment losses (18,670 ) $ — (16,222 ) $ — $ — $ (34,892 ) Balance at December 30, 2017 $ 151,406 $ 90,248 $ 60,474 $ 19,778 $ 15,814 $ 337,720 Acquisitions — — — 3,922 — 3,922 Assets held for sale — — — — (16,420 ) (16,420 ) Foreign currency translation 1,984 402 (200 ) (140 ) 606 2,652 Balance at March 31, 2018 $ 153,390 $ 90,650 $ 60,274 $ 23,560 $ — $ 327,874

CASH FLOW SUPPLEMENTARY INFOR23

CASH FLOW SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]
Cash payments for interest and income taxes (net of refunds)	Cash payments for interest and income taxes (net of refunds) for the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2018 and April 1, 2017 were as follows: 2018 2017 Interest $ 439 $ 925 Income taxes 2,912 1,898

EARNINGS PER SHARE (Tables)

EARNINGS PER SHARE (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Reconciliation of basic and diluted earnings per share (EPS)	The following table provides a reconciliation between Basic and Diluted earnings per share (EPS): Basic EPS Dilutive Diluted EPS Thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2018: Net earnings attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc. $ 39,281 $ — $ 39,281 Shares outstanding (000 omitted) 22,609 187 22,796 Per share amount $ 1.74 $ (0.02 ) $ 1.72 Thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2017: Net earnings attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc. $ 38,979 $ — $ 38,979 Shares outstanding (000 omitted) 22,472 188 22,660 Per share amount $ 1.73 $ (0.01 ) $ 1.72

BUSINESS SEGMENTS (Tables)

BUSINESS SEGMENTS (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Segment reporting information of sales and operating income	(8) BUSINESS SEGMENTS (Continued) Summary by Business Thirteen Weeks Ended March 31, April 1, SALES: Engineered Support Structures segment: Lighting, Traffic, and Highway Safety Products $ 160,444 $ 140,802 Communication Products 34,113 31,476 Access Systems 30,397 32,671 Engineered Support Structures segment 224,954 204,949 Utility Support Structures segment: Steel 163,983 148,354 Concrete 23,662 26,204 Offshore and Other Complex Steel Structures 22,217 25,707 Utility Support Structures segment 209,862 200,265 Coatings segment 84,947 73,468 Irrigation segment 187,953 167,224 Other 18,399 19,594 Total 726,115 665,500 INTERSEGMENT SALES: Engineered Support Structures segment 9,038 11,873 Utility Support Structures segment 3 235 Coatings segment 16,489 14,136 Irrigation segment 1,901 1,783 Other — — Total 27,431 28,027 NET SALES: Engineered Support Structures segment 215,916 193,076 Utility Support Structures segment 209,859 200,030 Coatings segment 68,458 59,332 Irrigation segment 186,052 165,441 Other 18,399 19,594 Total $ 698,684 $ 637,473 OPERATING INCOME: Engineered Support Structures segment $ 6,947 $ 9,464 Utility Support Structures segment 23,367 24,207 Coatings segment 11,867 9,406 Irrigation segment 33,887 30,291 Other (579 ) 2,086 Adjustment to LIFO inventory valuation method (1,081 ) (779 ) Corporate (10,448 ) (10,019 ) Total $ 63,960 $ 64,656

GUARANTOR_NON-GUARANTOR FINAN26

GUARANTOR/NON-GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
GUARANTOR/NON-GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS For the Thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2018 Parent Guarantors Non- Eliminations Total Net sales $ 315,992 $ 121,171 $ 332,136 $ (70,615 ) $ 698,684 Cost of sales 235,596 94,459 271,716 (72,327 ) 529,444 Gross profit 80,396 26,712 60,420 1,712 169,240 Selling, general and administrative expenses 46,531 11,917 46,832 — 105,280 Operating income 33,865 14,795 13,588 1,712 63,960 Other income (expense): Interest expense (10,881 ) (3,880 ) (193 ) 3,880 (11,074 ) Interest income 176 10 4,961 (3,880 ) 1,267 Other (106 ) 12 (1,047 ) — (1,141 ) (10,811 ) (3,858 ) 3,721 — (10,948 ) Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries 23,054 10,937 17,309 1,712 53,012 Income tax expense (benefit): Current 2,769 886 3,921 137 7,713 Deferred 5,591 1,791 (2,563 ) — 4,819 8,360 2,677 1,358 137 12,532 Earnings before equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries 14,694 8,260 15,951 1,575 40,480 Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries 24,587 2,729 — (27,316 ) — Net earnings 39,281 10,989 15,951 (25,741 ) 40,480 Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests — — (1,199 ) — (1,199 ) Net earnings attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc $ 39,281 $ 10,989 $ 14,752 $ (25,741 ) $ 39,281
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME For the Thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2018 Parent Guarantors Non- Eliminations Total Net earnings $ 39,281 $ 10,989 $ 15,951 $ (25,741 ) $ 40,480 Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: Foreign currency translation adjustments: Unrealized translation gain (loss) — (8,680 ) 15,484 — 6,804 Unrealized gain/(loss) on hedging activities: Net investment hedge (789 ) — — — (789 ) Amortization cost included in interest expense 19 — — — 19 Cash flow hedges (93 ) — — — (93 ) Equity in other comprehensive income 3,256 — — (3,256 ) — Other comprehensive income (loss) 2,393 (8,680 ) 15,484 (3,256 ) 5,941 Comprehensive income (loss) 41,674 2,309 31,435 (28,997 ) 46,421 Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests — — (4,747 ) — (4,747 ) Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc. $ 41,674 $ 2,309 $ 26,688 $ (28,997 ) $ 41,674 (9) GUARANTOR/NON-GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued) CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME For the Thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2017 Parent Guarantors Non- Eliminations Total Net earnings $ 38,979 $ 5,540 $ 23,428 $ (27,986 ) $ 39,961 Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: Foreign currency translation adjustments: Unrealized translation gain (loss) — 69,383 (49,993 ) — 19,390 Unrealized gain/(loss) on hedging activities: Net investment hedge (526 ) — — — (526 ) Amortization cost included in interest expense 19 — — — 19 Equity in other comprehensive income 20,613 — — (20,613 ) — Other comprehensive income (loss) 20,106 69,383 (49,993 ) (20,613 ) 18,883 Comprehensive income (loss) 59,085 74,923 (26,565 ) (48,599 ) 58,844 Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests — — 241 — 241 Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc. $ 59,085 $ 74,923 $ (26,324 ) $ (48,599 ) $ 59,085
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS March 31, 2018 Parent Guarantors Non- Eliminations Total ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 71,423 $ 3,409 $ 404,831 $ — $ 479,663 Receivables, net 139,677 67,545 259,788 — 467,010 Inventories 135,973 38,734 197,998 (2,700 ) 370,005 Prepaid expenses and other assets 42,926 37,527 46,798 — 127,251 Assets held for sale — — 72,665 — 72,665 Refundable income taxes 6,749 — — — 6,749 Total current assets 396,748 147,215 982,080 (2,700 ) 1,523,343 Property, plant and equipment, at cost 560,719 165,996 410,437 — 1,137,152 Less accumulated depreciation and amortization 374,716 87,080 171,644 — 633,440 Net property, plant and equipment 186,003 78,916 238,793 — 503,712 Goodwill 20,108 110,562 197,204 — 327,874 Other intangible assets 117 30,057 99,366 — 129,540 Investment in subsidiaries and intercompany accounts 1,430,127 1,178,134 947,570 (3,555,831 ) — Other assets 50,467 — 83,128 — 133,595 Total assets $ 2,083,570 $ 1,544,884 $ 2,548,141 $ (3,558,531 ) $ 2,618,064 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY Current liabilities: Current installments of long-term debt $ — $ — $ 951 $ — $ 951 Notes payable to banks — — 377 — 377 Accounts payable 51,996 14,047 124,859 — 190,902 Accrued employee compensation and benefits 33,685 5,623 28,620 — 67,928 Accrued expenses 37,633 6,571 48,447 — 92,651 Liabilities held for sale — — 12,960 — 12,960 Dividends payable 8,493 — — — 8,493 Total current liabilities 131,807 26,241 216,214 — 374,262 Deferred income taxes 925 16,883 21,861 — 39,669 Long-term debt, excluding current installments 750,705 182,065 9,601 (188,724 ) 753,647 Defined benefit pension liability — — 195,490 — 195,490 Deferred compensation 42,988 — 5,609 — 48,597 Other noncurrent liabilities 11,904 5 9,134 — 21,043 Shareholders’ equity: Common stock of $1 par value 27,900 457,950 648,682 (1,106,632 ) 27,900 Additional paid-in capital — 162,906 1,107,536 (1,270,442 ) — Retained earnings 1,996,474 633,032 630,982 (1,264,014 ) 1,996,474 Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (276,629 ) 65,802 (337,083 ) 271,281 (276,629 ) Treasury stock (602,504 ) — — — (602,504 ) Total Valmont Industries, Inc. shareholders’ equity 1,145,241 1,319,690 2,050,117 (3,369,807 ) 1,145,241 Noncontrolling interest in consolidated subsidiaries — — 40,115 — 40,115 Total shareholders’ equity 1,145,241 1,319,690 2,090,232 (3,369,807 ) 1,185,356 Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 2,083,570 $ 1,544,884 $ 2,548,141 $ (3,558,531 ) $ 2,618,064 (9) GUARANTOR/NON-GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued) CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS December 30, 2017 Parent Guarantors Non- Eliminations Total ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 83,329 $ 5,304 $ 404,172 $ — $ 492,805 Receivables, net 149,221 82,995 271,461 — 503,677 Inventories 160,444 46,801 217,551 (3,848 ) 420,948 Prepaid expenses and other assets 8,607 970 34,066 — 43,643 Refundable income taxes 11,492 — — — 11,492 Total current assets 413,093 136,070 927,250 (3,848 ) 1,472,565 Property, plant and equipment, at cost 557,371 160,767 447,549 — 1,165,687 Less accumulated depreciation and amortization 368,668 84,508 193,583 — 646,759 Net property, plant and equipment 188,703 76,259 253,966 — 518,928 Goodwill 20,108 110,562 207,050 — 337,720 Other intangible assets 130 30,955 107,514 — 138,599 Investment in subsidiaries and intercompany accounts 1,416,446 1,181,537 927,179 (3,525,162 ) — Other assets 50,773 — 83,665 — 134,438 Total assets $ 2,089,253 $ 1,535,383 $ 2,506,624 $ (3,529,010 ) $ 2,602,250 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY Current liabilities: Current installments of long-term debt $ — $ — $ 966 $ — $ 966 Notes payable to banks — — 161 — 161 Accounts payable 69,915 18,039 139,952 — 227,906 Accrued employee compensation and benefits 44,086 8,749 31,591 — 84,426 Accrued expenses 28,198 9,621 43,210 — 81,029 Dividends payable 8,510 — — — 8,510 Total current liabilities 150,709 36,409 215,880 — 402,998 Deferred income taxes 20,885 — 14,021 — 34,906 Long-term debt, excluding current installments 750,821 185,078 9,836 (191,847 ) 753,888 Defined benefit pension liability — — 189,552 — 189,552 Deferred compensation 42,928 — 5,598 — 48,526 Other noncurrent liabilities 11,074 6 9,505 — 20,585 Shareholders’ equity: Common stock of $1 par value 27,900 457,950 648,682 (1,106,632 ) 27,900 Additional paid-in capital — 159,414 1,107,536 (1,266,950 ) — Retained earnings 1,954,344 622,044 619,622 (1,241,666 ) 1,954,344 Accumulated other comprehensive income (279,022 ) 74,482 (352,567 ) 278,085 (279,022 ) Treasury stock (590,386 ) — — — (590,386 ) Total Valmont Industries, Inc. shareholders’ equity 1,112,836 1,313,890 2,023,273 (3,337,163 ) 1,112,836 Noncontrolling interest in consolidated subsidiaries — — 38,959 — 38,959 Total shareholders’ equity 1,112,836 1,313,890 2,062,232 (3,337,163 ) 1,151,795 Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 2,089,253 $ 1,535,383 $ 2,506,624 $ (3,529,010 ) $ 2,602,250
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS For the Thirteen Weeks Ended March 31, 2018 Parent Guarantors Non- Eliminations Total Cash flows from operating activities: Net earnings $ 39,281 $ 10,989 $ 15,951 $ (25,741 ) $ 40,480 Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash flows from operations: Depreciation and amortization 6,444 3,478 11,256 — 21,178 Noncash loss on trading securities — — 71 — 71 Impairment of property, plant and equipment — — 1,145 — 1,145 Stock-based compensation 2,775 — — — 2,775 Defined benefit pension plan expense — — (594 ) — (594 ) Contribution to defined benefit pension plan — — (731 ) — (731 ) Loss (gain) on sale of property, plant and equipment — 4 (284 ) — (280 ) Equity in earnings in nonconsolidated subsidiaries (24,587 ) (2,729 ) — 27,316 — Deferred income taxes 5,591 1,791 (2,563 ) — 4,819 Changes in assets and liabilities: Receivables 10,407 15,450 3,937 — 29,794 Inventories (934 ) 4,089 (3,208 ) (1,148 ) (1,201 ) Prepaid expenses and other assets 2,202 (31,130 ) (3,097 ) — (32,025 ) Accounts payable (17,919 ) (3,992 ) (7,538 ) — (29,449 ) Accrued expenses (2,606 ) (6,178 ) 2,377 — (6,407 ) Other noncurrent liabilities 861 — (421 ) — 440 Income taxes payable (refundable) (7,862 ) (514 ) 11,409 — 3,033 Net cash flows from operating activities 13,653 (8,742 ) 27,710 427 33,048 Cash flows from investing activities: Purchase of property, plant and equipment (3,928 ) (5,241 ) (7,079 ) — (16,248 ) Proceeds from sale of assets 5 — 709 — 714 Acquisitions, net of cash acquired — — (4,800 ) — (4,800 ) Loss from settlement of net investment hedge (863 ) — — — (863 ) Other, net 4,551 8,633 (14,539 ) (427 ) (1,782 ) Net cash flows from investing activities (235 ) 3,392 (25,709 ) (427 ) (22,979 ) Cash flows from financing activities: Net borrowings under short-term agreements — — 219 — 219 Principal payments on long-term borrowings — (249 ) — (249 ) Dividends paid (8,510 ) — — — (8,510 ) Dividends to noncontrolling interest — — (1,281 ) — (1,281 ) Purchase of noncontrolling interest — — (5,510 ) — (5,510 ) Intercompany capital contribution (3,492 ) 3,492 — — — Proceeds from exercises under stock plans 2,972 — — — 2,972 Purchase of treasury shares (14,790 ) — — — (14,790 ) Purchase of common treasury shares - stock plan exercises (1,504 ) — — — (1,504 ) Net cash flows from financing activities (25,324 ) 3,492 (6,821 ) — (28,653 ) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents — (37 ) 5,479 — 5,442 Net change in cash and cash equivalents (11,906 ) (1,895 ) 659 — (13,142 ) Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of year 83,329 5,304 404,172 — 492,805 Cash and cash equivalents—end of period $ 71,423 $ 3,409 $ 404,831 $ — $ 479,663 (9) GUARANTOR/NON-GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued) CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS For the Thirteen Weeks Ended April 1, 2017 Parent Guarantors Non- Eliminations Total Cash flows from operating activities: Net earnings $ 38,979 $ 5,540 $ 23,428 $ (27,986 ) $ 39,961 Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash flows from operations: Depreciation and amortization 6,536 3,557 10,734 — 20,827 Noncash loss on trading securities — — 70 — 70 Stock-based compensation 2,494 — — — 2,494 Defined benefit pension plan expense — — 154 — 154 Contribution to defined benefit pension plan — — (25,379 ) — (25,379 ) Loss (gain) on sale of property, plant and equipment (5 ) (2 ) (95 ) — (102 ) Equity in earnings in nonconsolidated subsidiaries (28,494 ) 980 — 27,514 — Deferred income taxes 11,327 — 2,738 — 14,065 Changes in assets and liabilities: Receivables 1,116 (13,699 ) (146 ) — (12,729 ) Inventories (17,105 ) (3,865 ) (14,563 ) 716 (34,817 ) Prepaid expenses and other assets 3,688 27 (13,513 ) — (9,798 ) Accounts payable 2,278 1,826 10,020 — 14,124 Accrued expenses 12,588 (3,697 ) 5,129 — 14,020 Other noncurrent liabilities 848 — (236 ) — 612 Income taxes payable (refundable) (9,839 ) 22 9,730 — (87 ) Net cash flows from operating activities 24,411 (9,311 ) 8,071 244 23,415 Cash flows from investing activities: Purchase of property, plant and equipment (4,547 ) (1,797 ) (7,824 ) — (14,168 ) Proceeds from sale of assets 7 6 289 — 302 Other, net 8,474 12,586 (22,531 ) (244 ) (1,715 ) Net cash flows from investing activities 3,934 10,795 (30,066 ) (244 ) (15,581 ) Cash flows from financing activities: Net borrowings under short-term agreements — — 198 — 198 Principal payments on long-term borrowings — — (215 ) — (215 ) Dividends paid (8,445 ) — — — (8,445 ) Intercompany interest on long-term note — (2,263 ) 2,263 — — Dividends to noncontrolling interest — — (422 ) — (422 ) Proceeds from exercises under stock plans 8,894 — — — 8,894 Purchase of common treasury shares - stock plan exercises (2,870 ) — — — (2,870 ) Net cash flows from financing activities (2,421 ) (2,263 ) 1,824 — (2,860 ) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents — 187 7,539 — 7,726 Net change in cash and cash equivalents 25,924 (592 ) (12,632 ) — 12,700 Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of year 67,225 6,071 339,220 — 412,516 Cash and cash equivalents—end of period $ 93,149 $ 5,479 $ 326,588 $ — $ 425,216

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUN27

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Revenues (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 30, 2017
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Contract asset, current	$ 95,209,000	$ 51,507,000
Contract with customer, liability, current	6,301		$ 7,368
Revenue recognized from contract liability	3,000
Transferred at Point in Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	477,285,000
Transferred over Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	221,399,000
Offshore and Other Complex Steel Structures
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Contract asset, current			$ 16,165,000
Utility Support Structures Segment | Transferred at Point in Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	0
Utility Support Structures Segment | Transferred over Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	209,859,000
Engineered Support Structures Segment | Transferred at Point in Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	207,194,000
Engineered Support Structures Segment | Transferred over Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	8,722,000
Coatings Segment | Transferred at Point in Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	68,458,000
Coatings Segment | Transferred over Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	0
Irrigation Segment | Transferred at Point in Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	183,234,000
Irrigation Segment | Transferred over Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	2,818,000
Other Segments | Transferred at Point in Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	18,399,000
Other Segments | Transferred over Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	$ 0

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUN28

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Inventories (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 30, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Inventory valued at the lower of cost, determined on the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method, or market (as a percent)	37.00%		37.00%
Excess of replacement cost of inventories over the LIFO value	$ 44,808		$ 43,727
Inventory, Net [Abstract]
Raw materials and purchased parts	176,554		183,029
Work-in-process	20,197		30,671
Finished goods and manufactured goods	218,062		250,975
Subtotal	414,813		464,675
Less: LIFO reserve	44,808		43,727
Net inventory	$ 370,005	$ 384,705	$ 420,948

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUN29

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2018	Apr. 01, 2017
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
United States		$ 41,765	$ 35,424
Foreign		11,247	19,900
Earnings before income taxes		$ 53,012	$ 55,324
Unremitted foreign earnings	$ 400,000
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Incomplete Accounting, Transition Tax for Accumulated Foreign Earnings, Provisional Liability	9,890
Federal
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, Incomplete Accounting, Transition Tax for Accumulated Foreign Earnings, Provisional Income Tax Expense	10,373
State
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, Incomplete Accounting, Transition Tax for Accumulated Foreign Earnings, Provisional Income Tax Expense	$ 1,300

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUN30

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Pension Benefits (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Apr. 01, 2017
Net periodic (benefit) expense:
Interest cost	$ 4,716	$ 4,321
Expected return on plan assets	(6,114)	(4,877)
Amortization of actuarial loss	804	710
Net periodic expense (benefit)	$ (594)	$ 154

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUN31

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Stock Plans (Details) - Stock Option Plans - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Apr. 01, 2017
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Shares of common stock available for issuance (in shares)	550,606
Compensation expense	$ 1,090	$ 1,289
Income tax benefits	$ 273	$ 496
Minimum
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Vesting period of options	3 years
Expiration period of grant	6 years
Maximum
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Vesting period of options	7 years
Expiration period of grant	10 years

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUN32

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Fair Value (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 30, 2017
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trading Securities	$ 41,072	$ 41,042
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trading Securities	0	0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trading Securities	0	0
Carrying Value
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trading Securities	41,072	41,042
Delta E M D Pty Ltd
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value of remaining ownership	1,954	1,951
Valmont Deferred Compensation Plan
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets recorded for the investments held	$ 39,118	$ 39,091

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUN33

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Comprehensive Income (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018USD ($)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the period	$ (279,022)
Balance at the end of the period	(276,629)
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the period	(171,399)
Current-period comprehensive income (loss)	3,256
Balance at the end of the period	(168,143)
Gain/(Loss) on Hedging Activities
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the period	6,357
Current-period comprehensive income (loss)	(863)
Balance at the end of the period	5,494
Defined Benefit Pension Plan
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the period	(113,980)
Current-period comprehensive income (loss)	0
Balance at the end of the period	(113,980)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the period	(279,022)
Current-period comprehensive income (loss)	2,393
Balance at the end of the period	$ (276,629)

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUN34

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Net Investment Hedge (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Apr. 01, 2017	Dec. 30, 2017
Derivative [Line Items]
Realized gain on net investment hedge, net of tax				$ 3,150
Derivatives used in Net Investment Hedge, Net of Tax, Period Increase (Decrease)	$ (792)	$ (789)	$ (526)
Foreign Currency Forward Contract
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative, notional amount		7,142	$ 44,000
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments		93
Australia, Dollars | Foreign Currency Forward Contract
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative, notional amount		24,059
United Kingdom, Pounds | Foreign Currency Forward Contract
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative, notional amount		$ 21,222

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUN35

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Schedule of Effects of Topic 606 (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 30, 2017	Apr. 01, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Revenue, Initial Application Period, Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Inventories	$ 370,005	$ 420,948		$ 384,705
Prepaid expenses and other assets	127,251	43,643		95,150
Accrued expenses	92,651	81,029		83,072
Deferred income taxes	39,669	34,906		38,356
Retained earnings	1,996,474	1,954,344		1,964,115
Net sales	698,684		$ 637,473
Operating income	63,960		$ 64,656
Calculated Under Revenue Guidance In Effect Before Topic 606
Revenue, Initial Application Period, Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Inventories	425,956	420,948
Prepaid expenses and other assets	48,767	43,643
Accrued expenses	87,626	81,029
Deferred income taxes	35,539	34,906
Retained earnings	1,983,096	1,954,344
Net sales	670,874
Operating income	58,886
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606
Revenue, Initial Application Period, Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Inventories	(55,951)			(36,243)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	78,484			51,507
Accrued expenses	5,025			2,043
Deferred income taxes	4,130			3,450
Retained earnings	13,378	9,771		$ 9,771
Net sales	27,810	51,507
Operating income	$ 5,074	$ 13,121

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUN36

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Recently Adopted Accounting Changes (Details) £ in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018USD ($)	Dec. 30, 2017USD ($)	Apr. 01, 2017USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016GBP (£)	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Retained earnings	$ 1,996,474	$ 1,954,344		$ 1,964,115
Net sales	698,684		$ 637,473
Adjustments to operating income (loss)	63,960		64,656
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	(1,141)		1,045
Adjustments to selling, general, and administrative expense	(105,280)		(99,949)
Adjustments to beginning and ending cash balance	479,663	492,805	425,216			$ 412,516
Adjustments to cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(33,048)		(23,415)
Accounting Standards Update 2017-07
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	154
Adjustments to selling, general, and administrative expense	154
Accounting Standards Update 2016-18
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Adjustments to beginning and ending cash balance | £					£ 10,000
Adjustments to cash provided by (used in) operating activities			$ 12,568
Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Retained earnings	13,378	9,771		$ 9,771
Net sales	27,810	51,507
Adjustments to operating income (loss)	$ 5,074	$ 13,121

ACQUISITIONS - Narrative (Detai

ACQUISITIONS - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jan. 26, 2018	Jul. 31, 2017	Apr. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 30, 2017
Acquisitions
Goodwill				$ 327,874	$ 337,720
Torrent Engineering and Equipment
Acquisitions
Percentage acquired	60.00%
Consideration transfered	$ 4,800
Annual revenue of acquiree	9,000
Goodwill	3,922
Customer relationships and other intangible assets	$ 4,020
IGC Galvanizing Industries (M) Sdn Bhd
Acquisitions
Percentage acquired			10.00%
Consideration transfered			$ 5,510
Aircon
Acquisitions
Consideration transfered		$ 5,362
Annual revenue of acquiree		10,000
Goodwill		$ 3,327
Customer relationships and other intangible assets				$ 2,109

ASSETS AND LIABILITIES HELD F38

ASSETS AND LIABILITIES HELD FOR SALE (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Apr. 01, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 30, 2017
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Receivables, net	$ 467,010,000			$ 503,677,000
Inventories	370,005,000		$ 384,705,000	420,948,000
Net property, plant, and equipment	503,712,000			518,928,000
Goodwill	327,874,000			337,720,000
Other assets	133,595,000			134,438,000
Total assets	2,618,064,000			2,602,250,000
Accounts payable	190,902,000			227,906,000
Accrued expenses	92,651,000		83,072,000	81,029,000
Deferred income taxes	39,669,000		$ 38,356,000	$ 34,906,000
Donhad
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Pre-tax income/(loss)	(579,000)	$ 2,086
Receivables, net	9,978,000
Inventories	16,155,000
Net property, plant, and equipment	14,013,000
Goodwill	27,607,000
Other assets	4,912,000
Total assets	72,665,000
Accounts payable	9,201,000
Accrued expenses	1,536,000
Deferred income taxes	2,223,000
Total liabilities	12,960,000
Net assets	$ 59,705,000

RESTRUCTURING ACTIVITIES - Narr

RESTRUCTURING ACTIVITIES - Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands	Feb. 28, 2018USD ($)
Cost of Sales
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring costs	$ 7,500
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring costs	2,500
ESS
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring costs	10,000
ESS | Asset impairments/net loss on disposals
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring costs	$ 2,000

RESTRUCTURING ACTIVITIES - Rest

RESTRUCTURING ACTIVITIES - Restructuring Activities - Restruciting Expenses and Related Costs (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018USD ($)
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	$ 4,400
ESS
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	3,628
Utility
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	772
Cost of Sales
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	2,340
Cost of Sales | ESS
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	1,568
Cost of Sales | Utility
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	772
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	2,060
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses | ESS
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	2,060
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses | Utility
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	0
Severance | Cost of Sales
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	423
Severance | Cost of Sales | ESS
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	423
Severance | Cost of Sales | Utility
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	0
Severance | Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	1,978
Severance | Selling, General and Administrative Expenses | ESS
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	1,978
Severance | Selling, General and Administrative Expenses | Utility
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	0
Other cash restructuring expenses | Cost of Sales
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	772
Other cash restructuring expenses | Cost of Sales | ESS
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	0
Other cash restructuring expenses | Cost of Sales | Utility
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	772
Other cash restructuring expenses | Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	82
Other cash restructuring expenses | Selling, General and Administrative Expenses | ESS
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	82
Other cash restructuring expenses | Selling, General and Administrative Expenses | Utility
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	0
Asset impairments/net loss on disposals | Cost of Sales
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	1,145
Asset impairments/net loss on disposals | Cost of Sales | ESS
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	1,145
Asset impairments/net loss on disposals | Cost of Sales | Utility
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	$ 0

RESTRUCTURING ACTIVITIES - Liab

RESTRUCTURING ACTIVITIES - Liabilities Recorded For The Restructuring Plan (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018USD ($)
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 1,216
Recognized Restructuring Expense	3,173
Costs Paid or Otherwise Settled	(4,239)
Ending balance	150
Severance
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	0
Recognized Restructuring Expense	2,401
Costs Paid or Otherwise Settled	(2,251)
Ending balance	150
Other cash restructuring expenses
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	1,216
Recognized Restructuring Expense	772
Costs Paid or Otherwise Settled	(1,988)
Ending balance	$ 0

RESTRUCTURING ACTIVITIES - Pre-

RESTRUCTURING ACTIVITIES - Pre-tax Restructuring Expenses Recognized (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018USD ($)
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	$ 4,400
Cost of Sales
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	2,340
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	2,060
Severance | Cost of Sales
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	423
Severance | Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	1,978
Other cash restructuring expenses | Cost of Sales
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	772
Other cash restructuring expenses | Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	$ 82

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSET43

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS - Amortized Intangible Assets - (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Apr. 01, 2017	Dec. 30, 2017
Components of amortized intangible assets
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 206,559		$ 216,035
Accumulated Amortization	137,646		142,289
Amortization expense for intangible assets	3,883	$ 3,863
Estimated amortization expense
2,015	14,167
2,016	12,986
2,017	11,879
2,018	9,796
2,019	7,494
Customer Relationships
Components of amortized intangible assets
Gross Carrying Amount	191,117		200,810
Accumulated Amortization	$ 126,168		$ 131,062
Weighted Average Life	13 years		13 years
Proprietary Software & Database
Components of amortized intangible assets
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 3,659		$ 3,671
Accumulated Amortization	$ 3,115		$ 3,107
Weighted Average Life	8 years		8 years
Patents & Proprietary Technology
Components of amortized intangible assets
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 6,748		$ 6,693
Accumulated Amortization	$ 4,115		$ 3,999
Weighted Average Life	11 years		11 years
Other
Components of amortized intangible assets
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 5,035		$ 4,861
Accumulated Amortization	$ 4,248		$ 4,121
Weighted Average Life	3 years		3 years

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSET44

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS - Carrying Values of Trade Names - (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 30, 2017
Webforge
Non-amortized intangible assets
Carrying value of trade names	$ 9,793	$ 9,432
Valmont SM
Non-amortized intangible assets
Carrying value of trade names	10,243	9,973
Newmark
Non-amortized intangible assets
Carrying value of trade names	11,111	11,111
Ingal EPS/Ingal Civil Products
Non-amortized intangible assets
Carrying value of trade names	7,985	7,690
Shakespeare
Non-amortized intangible assets
Carrying value of trade names	4,000	4,000
Other
Non-amortized intangible assets
Carrying value of trade names	17,495	22,647
Trade Names
Non-amortized intangible assets
Carrying value of trade names	$ 60,627	$ 64,853

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSET45

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS - Impairment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 30, 2017
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 327,874	$ 337,720
ESS
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Goodwill	153,390	151,406
Coatings Segment
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 60,274	$ 60,474

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSET46

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS - Carrying Amount of Goodwill by Segment (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 30, 2017
Goodwill
Goodwill, Gross		$ 372,612,000
Accumulated impairment losses		(34,892,000)
Carrying amount of goodwill
Balance at the beginning of the period	$ 337,720,000
Acquisitions	(3,922,000)
Assets held for sale	(16,420,000)
Foreign currency translation	2,652,000
Balance at the end of the period	327,874,000
Engineered Support Structures Segment
Goodwill
Goodwill, Gross		170,076,000
Accumulated impairment losses		(18,670,000)
Carrying amount of goodwill
Balance at the beginning of the period	151,406,000
Acquisitions	0
Assets held for sale	0
Foreign currency translation	1,984,000
Balance at the end of the period	153,390,000
Utility Support Structures Segment
Goodwill
Goodwill, Gross		90,248,000
Accumulated impairment losses		0
Carrying amount of goodwill
Balance at the beginning of the period	90,248,000
Acquisitions	0
Assets held for sale	0
Foreign currency translation	402,000
Balance at the end of the period	90,650,000
Coatings Segment
Goodwill
Goodwill, Gross		76,696,000
Accumulated impairment losses		(16,222,000)
Carrying amount of goodwill
Balance at the beginning of the period	60,474,000
Acquisitions	0
Assets held for sale	0
Foreign currency translation	(200,000)
Balance at the end of the period	60,274,000
Irrigation Segment
Goodwill
Goodwill, Gross		19,778,000
Accumulated impairment losses		0
Carrying amount of goodwill
Balance at the beginning of the period	19,778,000
Acquisitions	(3,922,000)
Assets held for sale	0
Foreign currency translation	(140,000)
Balance at the end of the period	23,560,000
Other Segments
Goodwill
Goodwill, Gross		15,814,000
Accumulated impairment losses		$ 0
Carrying amount of goodwill
Balance at the beginning of the period	15,814,000
Acquisitions	0
Assets held for sale	(16,420,000)
Foreign currency translation	606,000
Balance at the end of the period	0
Valmont SM
Carrying amount of goodwill
Balance at the end of the period	$ 15,245

CASH FLOW SUPPLEMENTARY INFOR47

CASH FLOW SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Apr. 01, 2017
Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]
Value of shares acquired under share repurchase program	$ 14,790	$ 0
Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Interest	439	925
Income taxes	$ 2,912	$ 1,898

EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details)

EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Apr. 01, 2017
Basic EPS
Net earnings attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc.	$ 39,281,000	$ 38,979,000
Shares outstanding basic (in shares)	22,609,000	22,472,000
Per share amount basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.74	$ 1.73
Dilutive Effect of Stock Options
Dilutive Effect of Stock Options	$ 0	$ 0
Dilutive effect of stock options number of shares (in shares)	187,000	188,000
Dilutive effect of stock options (in dollars per share)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.01)
Diluted EPS
Diluted EPS	$ 39,281,000	$ 38,979,000
Shares outstanding dilutive (in shares)	22,796,000	22,660,000
Per share amount diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.72	$ 1.72
Antidilutive Securities
Outstanding stock options with exercise prices exceeding the market price of common stock, excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share (in shares)		147,554

BUSINESS SEGMENTS (Details)

BUSINESS SEGMENTS (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018USD ($)	Apr. 01, 2017USD ($)	Dec. 30, 2017segment
Business Segments
Number of Reportable Segments | segment			4
Percentage of Sales to Total Consolidated Sales of Other Business Activities, Aggregated as Other, Maximum			10.00%
Net sales	$ 698,684	$ 637,473
Operating income	63,960	64,656
Inventory Valuation [Member]
Business Segments
Operating income	(1,081)	(779)
Engineered Support Structures Segment
Business Segments
Net sales	215,916	193,076
Operating income	6,947	9,464
Utility Support Structures Segment
Business Segments
Net sales	209,859	200,030
Operating income	23,367	24,207
Coatings Segment
Business Segments
Net sales	68,458	59,332
Operating income	11,867	9,406
Irrigation Segment
Business Segments
Net sales	186,052	165,441
Operating income	33,887	30,291
Other Segments
Business Segments
Operating income	(579)	2,086
Corporate
Business Segments
Operating income	(10,448)	(10,019)
Operating Segment
Business Segments
Sales	726,115	665,500
Operating Segment | Engineered Support Structures Segment
Business Segments
Sales	224,954	204,949
Operating Segment | Engineered Support Structures Segment | Lighting, Traffic, and Highway Safety Products
Business Segments
Sales	160,444	140,802
Operating Segment | Engineered Support Structures Segment | Communication Products
Business Segments
Sales	34,113	31,476
Operating Segment | Engineered Support Structures Segment | Access Systems
Business Segments
Sales	30,397	32,671
Operating Segment | Utility Support Structures Segment
Business Segments
Sales	209,862	200,265
Operating Segment | Utility Support Structures Segment | Steel
Business Segments
Sales	163,983	148,354
Operating Segment | Utility Support Structures Segment | Concrete
Business Segments
Sales	23,662	26,204
Operating Segment | Utility Support Structures Segment | Offshore and Other Complex Steel Structures
Business Segments
Sales	22,217	25,707
Operating Segment | Coatings Segment
Business Segments
Sales	84,947	73,468
Operating Segment | Irrigation Segment
Business Segments
Sales	187,953	167,224
Corporate
Business Segments
Sales	18,399	19,594
Net sales	18,399	19,594
Intersegment
Business Segments
Sales	27,431	28,027
Intersegment | Engineered Support Structures Segment
Business Segments
Sales	9,038	11,873
Intersegment | Utility Support Structures Segment
Business Segments
Sales	3	235
Intersegment | Coatings Segment
Business Segments
Sales	16,489	14,136
Intersegment | Irrigation Segment
Business Segments
Sales	1,901	1,783
Intersegment | Other Segments
Business Segments
Sales	$ 0	$ 0

GUARANTOR_NON-GUARANTOR FINAN50

GUARANTOR/NON-GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Apr. 01, 2017
GUARANTOR/NON-GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Parent company's percentage ownership of Guarantors	100.00%
Condensed consolidated financial information for the Company (Parent), the guarantor subsidiaries and the non-guarantor subsidiaries
Net sales	$ 698,684	$ 637,473
Cost of sales	529,444	472,868
Gross profit	169,240	164,605
Selling, general and administrative expenses	105,280	99,949
Operating income	63,960	64,656
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(11,074)	(11,304)
Interest income	1,267	927
Other	(1,141)	1,045
Total other income (expenses)	(10,948)	(9,332)
Earnings before income taxes	53,012	55,324
Income tax expense:
Current	7,713	1,298
Deferred income taxes	4,819	14,065
Total income tax expense (benefit)	12,532	15,363
Earnings before equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	40,480	39,961
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Net earnings	40,480	39,961
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,199)	(982)
Net earnings attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc.	39,281	38,979
Eliminations
Condensed consolidated financial information for the Company (Parent), the guarantor subsidiaries and the non-guarantor subsidiaries
Net sales	(70,615)	(68,313)
Cost of sales	(72,327)	(67,597)
Gross profit	1,712	(716)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	0	0
Operating income	1,712	(716)
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	3,880	2,266
Interest income	(3,880)	(2,266)
Other	0	0
Total other income (expenses)	0	0
Earnings before income taxes	1,712	(716)
Income tax expense:
Current	137	(244)
Deferred income taxes	0	0
Total income tax expense (benefit)	137	(244)
Earnings before equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	1,575	(472)
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	(27,316)	(27,514)
Net earnings	(25,741)	(27,986)
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net earnings attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc.	(25,741)	(27,986)
Parent
Condensed consolidated financial information for the Company (Parent), the guarantor subsidiaries and the non-guarantor subsidiaries
Net sales	315,992	293,265
Cost of sales	235,596	216,486
Gross profit	80,396	76,779
Selling, general and administrative expenses	46,531	50,217
Operating income	33,865	26,562
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(10,881)	(11,142)
Interest income	176	151
Other	(106)	1,354
Total other income (expenses)	(10,811)	(9,637)
Earnings before income taxes	23,054	16,925
Income tax expense:
Current	2,769	(4,887)
Deferred income taxes	5,591	11,327
Total income tax expense (benefit)	8,360	6,440
Earnings before equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	14,694	10,485
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	24,587	28,494
Net earnings	39,281	38,979
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net earnings attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc.	39,281	38,979
Guarantors
Condensed consolidated financial information for the Company (Parent), the guarantor subsidiaries and the non-guarantor subsidiaries
Net sales	121,171	117,225
Cost of sales	94,459	91,489
Gross profit	26,712	25,736
Selling, general and administrative expenses	11,917	11,660
Operating income	14,795	14,076
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(3,880)	(2,266)
Interest income	10	14
Other	12	16
Total other income (expenses)	(3,858)	(2,236)
Earnings before income taxes	10,937	11,840
Income tax expense:
Current	886	5,320
Deferred income taxes	1,791	0
Total income tax expense (benefit)	2,677	5,320
Earnings before equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	8,260	6,520
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	2,729	(980)
Net earnings	10,989	5,540
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net earnings attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc.	10,989	5,540
Non- Guarantors
Condensed consolidated financial information for the Company (Parent), the guarantor subsidiaries and the non-guarantor subsidiaries
Net sales	332,136	295,296
Cost of sales	271,716	232,490
Gross profit	60,420	62,806
Selling, general and administrative expenses	46,832	38,072
Operating income	13,588	24,734
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(193)	(162)
Interest income	4,961	3,028
Other	(1,047)	(325)
Total other income (expenses)	3,721	2,541
Earnings before income taxes	17,309	27,275
Income tax expense:
Current	3,921	1,109
Deferred income taxes	(2,563)	2,738
Total income tax expense (benefit)	1,358	3,847
Earnings before equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	15,951	23,428
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Net earnings	15,951	23,428
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,199)	(982)
Net earnings attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc.	$ 14,752	$ 22,446

GUARANTOR_NON-GUARANTOR FINAN51

GUARANTOR/NON-GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Apr. 01, 2017
Condensed consolidated financial information for the Company (Parent), the guarantor subsidiaries and the non-guarantor subsidiaries
Net earnings		$ 40,480	$ 39,961
Foreign currency translation adjustments:
Unrealized translation gain		6,804	19,390
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, Net of Tax			(526)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax		(93)	0
Derivatives used in Net Investment Hedge, Net of Tax, Period Increase (Decrease)	$ (792)	(789)	(526)
Gain/(loss) on hedging activities:
Amortization cost included in interest expense		19	19
Equity in other comprehensive income		0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)		5,941	18,883
Comprehensive income		46,421	58,844
Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests		(4,747)	241
Comprehensive income attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc.		41,674	59,085
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Condensed consolidated financial information for the Company (Parent), the guarantor subsidiaries and the non-guarantor subsidiaries
Net earnings		(25,741)	(27,986)
Foreign currency translation adjustments:
Unrealized translation gain		0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, Net of Tax			0
Derivatives used in Net Investment Hedge, Net of Tax, Period Increase (Decrease)		0
Gain/(loss) on hedging activities:
Amortization cost included in interest expense		0	0
Equity in other comprehensive income		(3,256)	(20,613)
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(3,256)	(20,613)
Comprehensive income		(28,997)	(48,599)
Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests		0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc.		(28,997)	(48,599)
Parent
Condensed consolidated financial information for the Company (Parent), the guarantor subsidiaries and the non-guarantor subsidiaries
Net earnings		39,281	38,979
Foreign currency translation adjustments:
Unrealized translation gain		0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, Net of Tax			(526)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax		(93)
Derivatives used in Net Investment Hedge, Net of Tax, Period Increase (Decrease)		(789)
Gain/(loss) on hedging activities:
Amortization cost included in interest expense		19	19
Equity in other comprehensive income		3,256	20,613
Other comprehensive income (loss)		2,393	20,106
Comprehensive income		41,674	59,085
Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests		0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc.		41,674	59,085
Guarantors
Condensed consolidated financial information for the Company (Parent), the guarantor subsidiaries and the non-guarantor subsidiaries
Net earnings		10,989	5,540
Foreign currency translation adjustments:
Unrealized translation gain		(8,680)	69,383
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, Net of Tax			0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax		0
Derivatives used in Net Investment Hedge, Net of Tax, Period Increase (Decrease)		0
Gain/(loss) on hedging activities:
Amortization cost included in interest expense		0	0
Equity in other comprehensive income		0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(8,680)	69,383
Comprehensive income		2,309	74,923
Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests		0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc.		2,309	74,923
Non- Guarantors
Condensed consolidated financial information for the Company (Parent), the guarantor subsidiaries and the non-guarantor subsidiaries
Net earnings		15,951	23,428
Foreign currency translation adjustments:
Unrealized translation gain		15,484	(49,993)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, Net of Tax			0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax		0
Derivatives used in Net Investment Hedge, Net of Tax, Period Increase (Decrease)		0
Gain/(loss) on hedging activities:
Amortization cost included in interest expense		0	0
Equity in other comprehensive income		0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)		15,484	(49,993)
Comprehensive income		31,435	(26,565)
Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests		(4,747)	241
Comprehensive income attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc.		26,688	$ (26,324)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Foreign currency translation adjustments:
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax		$ 0

GUARANTOR_NON-GUARANTOR FINAN52

GUARANTOR/NON-GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION - Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Apr. 01, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 479,663	$ 425,216		$ 492,805	$ 412,516
Receivables, net	467,010			503,677
Inventories	370,005		$ 384,705	420,948
Prepaid expenses and other assets	127,251		95,150	43,643
Assets Held-for-sale, Not Part of Disposal Group, Current	72,665
Refundable income taxes	6,749			11,492
Assets held for sale				11,492
Total current assets	1,523,343			1,472,565
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	1,137,152			1,165,687
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	633,440			646,759
Net property, plant and equipment	503,712			518,928
Goodwill	327,874			337,720
Other intangible assets	129,540			138,599
Investment in subsidiaries and intercompany accounts	0			0
Other assets	133,595			134,438
Total assets	2,618,064			2,602,250
Current liabilities:
Current installments of long-term debt	951			966
Notes payable to banks	377			161
Accounts payable	190,902			227,906
Accrued employee compensation and benefits	67,928			84,426
Accrued expenses	92,651		83,072	81,029
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operations, Liabilities	12,960
Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Common Stock	8,510	8,445
Liabilities held for sale	8,493			8,510
Total current liabilities	(374,262)			(402,998)
Deferred income taxes	39,669		38,356	34,906
Long-term debt, excluding current installments	753,647			753,888
Defined benefit pension liability	195,490			189,552
Deferred compensation	48,597			48,526
Other noncurrent liabilities	21,043			20,585
Shareholders’ equity:
Common stock of $1 par value	27,900			27,900
Additional paid-in capital	0			0
Retained earnings	1,996,474		$ 1,964,115	1,954,344
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(276,629)			(279,022)
Treasury stock	(602,504)			(590,386)
Total Valmont Industries, Inc. shareholders’ equity	1,145,241			1,112,836
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated subsidiaries	40,115			38,959
Total shareholders’ equity	1,185,356	1,041,280		1,151,795	982,586
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	2,618,064			2,602,250
Eliminations
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0		0	0
Receivables, net	0			0
Inventories	(2,700)			(3,848)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	0			0
Assets Held-for-sale, Not Part of Disposal Group, Current	0
Refundable income taxes	0
Assets held for sale				0
Total current assets	(2,700)			(3,848)
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	0			0
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	0			0
Net property, plant and equipment	0			0
Goodwill	0			0
Other intangible assets	0			0
Investment in subsidiaries and intercompany accounts	(3,555,831)			(3,525,162)
Other assets	0			0
Total assets	(3,558,531)			(3,529,010)
Current liabilities:
Current installments of long-term debt	0			0
Notes payable to banks	0			0
Accounts payable	0			0
Accrued employee compensation and benefits	0			0
Accrued expenses	0			0
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operations, Liabilities	0
Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Common Stock	0	0
Liabilities held for sale	0			0
Total current liabilities	0			0
Deferred income taxes	0			0
Long-term debt, excluding current installments	(188,724)			(191,847)
Defined benefit pension liability	0			0
Deferred compensation	0			0
Other noncurrent liabilities	0			0
Shareholders’ equity:
Common stock of $1 par value	(1,106,632)			(1,106,632)
Additional paid-in capital	(1,270,442)			(1,266,950)
Retained earnings	(1,264,014)			(1,241,666)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	271,281			278,085
Treasury stock	0			0
Total Valmont Industries, Inc. shareholders’ equity	(3,369,807)			(3,337,163)
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated subsidiaries	0			0
Total shareholders’ equity	(3,369,807)			(3,337,163)
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	(3,558,531)			(3,529,010)
Parent
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	71,423	93,149		83,329	67,225
Receivables, net	139,677			149,221
Inventories	135,973			160,444
Prepaid expenses and other assets	42,926			8,607
Assets Held-for-sale, Not Part of Disposal Group, Current	0
Refundable income taxes	6,749
Assets held for sale				11,492
Total current assets	396,748			413,093
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	560,719			557,371
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	374,716			368,668
Net property, plant and equipment	186,003			188,703
Goodwill	20,108			20,108
Other intangible assets	117			130
Investment in subsidiaries and intercompany accounts	1,430,127			1,416,446
Other assets	50,467			50,773
Total assets	2,083,570			2,089,253
Current liabilities:
Current installments of long-term debt	0			0
Notes payable to banks	0			0
Accounts payable	51,996			69,915
Accrued employee compensation and benefits	33,685			44,086
Accrued expenses	37,633			28,198
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operations, Liabilities	0
Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Common Stock	8,510	8,445
Liabilities held for sale	8,493			8,510
Total current liabilities	(131,807)			(150,709)
Deferred income taxes	925			20,885
Long-term debt, excluding current installments	750,705			750,821
Defined benefit pension liability	0			0
Deferred compensation	42,988			42,928
Other noncurrent liabilities	11,904			11,074
Shareholders’ equity:
Common stock of $1 par value	27,900			27,900
Additional paid-in capital	0			0
Retained earnings	1,996,474			1,954,344
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(276,629)			(279,022)
Treasury stock	(602,504)			(590,386)
Total Valmont Industries, Inc. shareholders’ equity	1,145,241			1,112,836
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated subsidiaries	0			0
Total shareholders’ equity	1,145,241			1,112,836
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	2,083,570			2,089,253
Guarantors
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	3,409	5,479		5,304	6,071
Receivables, net	67,545			82,995
Inventories	38,734			46,801
Prepaid expenses and other assets	37,527			970
Assets Held-for-sale, Not Part of Disposal Group, Current	0
Refundable income taxes	0
Assets held for sale				0
Total current assets	147,215			136,070
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	165,996			160,767
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	87,080			84,508
Net property, plant and equipment	78,916			76,259
Goodwill	110,562			110,562
Other intangible assets	30,057			30,955
Investment in subsidiaries and intercompany accounts	1,178,134			1,181,537
Other assets	0			0
Total assets	1,544,884			1,535,383
Current liabilities:
Current installments of long-term debt	0			0
Notes payable to banks	0			0
Accounts payable	14,047			18,039
Accrued employee compensation and benefits	5,623			8,749
Accrued expenses	6,571			9,621
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operations, Liabilities	0
Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Common Stock	0	0
Liabilities held for sale	0			0
Total current liabilities	(26,241)			(36,409)
Deferred income taxes	16,883			0
Long-term debt, excluding current installments	182,065			185,078
Defined benefit pension liability	0			0
Deferred compensation	0			0
Other noncurrent liabilities	5			6
Shareholders’ equity:
Common stock of $1 par value	457,950			457,950
Additional paid-in capital	162,906			159,414
Retained earnings	633,032			622,044
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	65,802			74,482
Treasury stock	0			0
Total Valmont Industries, Inc. shareholders’ equity	1,319,690			1,313,890
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated subsidiaries	0			0
Total shareholders’ equity	1,319,690			1,313,890
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	1,544,884			1,535,383
Non- Guarantors
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	404,831	326,588		404,172	$ 339,220
Receivables, net	259,788			271,461
Inventories	197,998			217,551
Prepaid expenses and other assets	46,798			34,066
Assets Held-for-sale, Not Part of Disposal Group, Current	72,665
Refundable income taxes	0
Assets held for sale				0
Total current assets	982,080			927,250
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	410,437			447,549
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	171,644			193,583
Net property, plant and equipment	238,793			253,966
Goodwill	197,204			207,050
Other intangible assets	99,366			107,514
Investment in subsidiaries and intercompany accounts	947,570			927,179
Other assets	83,128			83,665
Total assets	2,548,141			2,506,624
Current liabilities:
Current installments of long-term debt	951			966
Notes payable to banks	377			161
Accounts payable	124,859			139,952
Accrued employee compensation and benefits	28,620			31,591
Accrued expenses	48,447			43,210
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operations, Liabilities	12,960
Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Common Stock	0	$ 0
Liabilities held for sale	0			0
Total current liabilities	(216,214)			(215,880)
Deferred income taxes	21,861			14,021
Long-term debt, excluding current installments	9,601			9,836
Defined benefit pension liability	195,490			189,552
Deferred compensation	5,609			5,598
Other noncurrent liabilities	9,134			9,505
Shareholders’ equity:
Common stock of $1 par value	648,682			648,682
Additional paid-in capital	1,107,536			1,107,536
Retained earnings	630,982			619,622
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(337,083)			(352,567)
Treasury stock	0			0
Total Valmont Industries, Inc. shareholders’ equity	2,050,117			2,023,273
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated subsidiaries	40,115			38,959
Total shareholders’ equity	2,090,232			2,062,232
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$ 2,548,141			$ 2,506,624

GUARANTOR_NON-GUARANTOR FINAN53

GUARANTOR/NON-GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION - Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - Additional Information (Details) - $ / shares	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 30, 2017
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 1	$ 1

GUARANTOR_NON-GUARANTOR FINAN54

GUARANTOR/NON-GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Apr. 01, 2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 40,480	$ 39,961
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash flows from operations:
Depreciation and amortization	21,178	20,827
Noncash loss on trading securities	71	70
Stock-based compensation	2,775	2,494
Defined benefit pension plan expense	(594)	154
Contribution to defined benefit pension plan	(731)	(25,379)
(Gain)/loss on sale of property, plant and equipment	(280)	(102)
Equity in earnings in nonconsolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Deferred income taxes	4,819	14,065
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Receivables	29,794	(12,729)
Inventories	(1,201)	(34,817)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(32,025)	(9,798)
Accounts payable	(29,449)	14,124
Accrued expenses	(6,407)	14,020
Other noncurrent liabilities	440	612
Income taxes payable (refundable)	3,033	(87)
Net cash flows from operating activities	33,048	23,415
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property, plant and equipment	(16,248)	(14,168)
Proceeds from sale of assets	714	302
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	(4,800)	0
Proceeds from settlement of net investment hedge	(863)	0
Other, net	(1,782)	(1,715)
Net cash flows from investing activities	(22,979)	(15,581)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings under short-term agreements	219	198
Principal payments on long-term borrowings	(249)	(215)
Dividends paid	(8,510)	(8,445)
Intercompany Interest On Long-term Note		0
Intercompany capital contribution	0
Dividends to noncontrolling interest	(1,281)	(422)
Purchase of noncontrolling interest	(5,510)	0
Payments to Acquire Additional Interest in Subsidiaries	(5,510)
Proceeds from exercises under stock plans	2,972	8,894
Purchase of treasury shares	(14,790)	0
Purchase of common treasury shares - stock plan exercises	(1,504)	(2,870)
Net cash flows from financing activities	(28,653)	(2,860)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	5,442	7,726
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(13,142)	12,700
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash—beginning of year	492,805	412,516
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash—end of period	479,663	425,216
Restructuring Costs	1,145	0
Eliminations
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	(25,741)	(27,986)
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash flows from operations:
Depreciation and amortization	0	0
Noncash loss on trading securities	0	0
Stock-based compensation	0	0
Defined benefit pension plan expense	0	0
Contribution to defined benefit pension plan	0	0
(Gain)/loss on sale of property, plant and equipment	0	0
Equity in earnings in nonconsolidated subsidiaries	27,316	27,514
Deferred income taxes	0	0
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Receivables	0	0
Inventories	(1,148)	716
Prepaid expenses and other assets	0	0
Accounts payable	0	0
Accrued expenses	0	0
Other noncurrent liabilities	0	0
Income taxes payable (refundable)	0	0
Net cash flows from operating activities	427	244
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property, plant and equipment	0	0
Proceeds from sale of assets	0	0
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	0
Proceeds from settlement of net investment hedge	0
Other, net	(427)	(244)
Net cash flows from investing activities	(427)	(244)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings under short-term agreements	0	0
Principal payments on long-term borrowings	0	0
Dividends paid	0	0
Intercompany Interest On Long-term Note		0
Intercompany capital contribution	0
Dividends to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Payments to Acquire Additional Interest in Subsidiaries	0
Proceeds from exercises under stock plans	0	0
Purchase of common treasury shares - stock plan exercises	0	0
Net cash flows from financing activities	0	0
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash—beginning of year	0	0
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash—end of period	0	0
Parent
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	39,281	38,979
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash flows from operations:
Depreciation and amortization	6,444	6,536
Noncash loss on trading securities	0	0
Stock-based compensation	2,775	2,494
Defined benefit pension plan expense	0	0
Contribution to defined benefit pension plan	0	0
(Gain)/loss on sale of property, plant and equipment	0	(5)
Equity in earnings in nonconsolidated subsidiaries	(24,587)	(28,494)
Deferred income taxes	5,591	11,327
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Receivables	10,407	1,116
Inventories	(934)	(17,105)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	2,202	3,688
Accounts payable	(17,919)	2,278
Accrued expenses	(2,606)	12,588
Other noncurrent liabilities	861	848
Income taxes payable (refundable)	(7,862)	(9,839)
Net cash flows from operating activities	13,653	24,411
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property, plant and equipment	(3,928)	(4,547)
Proceeds from sale of assets	5	7
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	0
Proceeds from settlement of net investment hedge	(863)
Other, net	4,551	8,474
Net cash flows from investing activities	(235)	3,934
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings under short-term agreements	0	0
Principal payments on long-term borrowings		0
Dividends paid	(8,510)	(8,445)
Intercompany Interest On Long-term Note		0
Intercompany capital contribution	(3,492)
Dividends to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Payments to Acquire Additional Interest in Subsidiaries	0
Proceeds from exercises under stock plans	2,972	8,894
Purchase of treasury shares	(14,790)
Purchase of common treasury shares - stock plan exercises	(1,504)	(2,870)
Net cash flows from financing activities	(25,324)	(2,421)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(11,906)	25,924
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash—beginning of year	83,329	67,225
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash—end of period	71,423	93,149
Restructuring Costs	0
Guarantors
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	10,989	5,540
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash flows from operations:
Depreciation and amortization	3,478	3,557
Noncash loss on trading securities	0	0
Stock-based compensation	0	0
Defined benefit pension plan expense	0	0
Contribution to defined benefit pension plan	0	0
(Gain)/loss on sale of property, plant and equipment	4	(2)
Equity in earnings in nonconsolidated subsidiaries	(2,729)	980
Deferred income taxes	1,791	0
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Receivables	15,450	(13,699)
Inventories	4,089	(3,865)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(31,130)	27
Accounts payable	(3,992)	1,826
Accrued expenses	(6,178)	(3,697)
Other noncurrent liabilities	0	0
Income taxes payable (refundable)	(514)	22
Net cash flows from operating activities	(8,742)	(9,311)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property, plant and equipment	(5,241)	(1,797)
Proceeds from sale of assets	0	6
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	0
Proceeds from settlement of net investment hedge	0
Other, net	8,633	12,586
Net cash flows from investing activities	3,392	10,795
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings under short-term agreements	0	0
Principal payments on long-term borrowings	0	0
Dividends paid	0	0
Intercompany Interest On Long-term Note		(2,263)
Intercompany capital contribution	3,492
Dividends to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Payments to Acquire Additional Interest in Subsidiaries	0
Proceeds from exercises under stock plans	0	0
Purchase of treasury shares	0
Purchase of common treasury shares - stock plan exercises	0	0
Net cash flows from financing activities	3,492	(2,263)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(37)	187
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(1,895)	(592)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash—beginning of year	5,304	6,071
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash—end of period	3,409	5,479
Restructuring Costs	0
Non- Guarantors
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	15,951	23,428
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash flows from operations:
Depreciation and amortization	11,256	10,734
Noncash loss on trading securities	71	70
Stock-based compensation	0	0
Defined benefit pension plan expense	(594)	154
Contribution to defined benefit pension plan	(731)	(25,379)
(Gain)/loss on sale of property, plant and equipment	(284)	(95)
Equity in earnings in nonconsolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Deferred income taxes	(2,563)	2,738
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Receivables	3,937	(146)
Inventories	(3,208)	(14,563)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(3,097)	(13,513)
Accounts payable	(7,538)	10,020
Accrued expenses	2,377	5,129
Other noncurrent liabilities	(421)	(236)
Income taxes payable (refundable)	11,409	9,730
Net cash flows from operating activities	27,710	8,071
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property, plant and equipment	(7,079)	(7,824)
Proceeds from sale of assets	709	289
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	(4,800)
Proceeds from settlement of net investment hedge	0
Other, net	(14,539)	(22,531)
Net cash flows from investing activities	(25,709)	(30,066)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings under short-term agreements	219	198
Principal payments on long-term borrowings	(249)	(215)
Dividends paid	0	0
Intercompany Interest On Long-term Note		2,263
Intercompany capital contribution	0
Dividends to noncontrolling interest	(1,281)	(422)
Payments to Acquire Additional Interest in Subsidiaries	(5,510)
Proceeds from exercises under stock plans	0	0
Purchase of treasury shares	0
Purchase of common treasury shares - stock plan exercises	0	0
Net cash flows from financing activities	(6,821)	1,824
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	5,479	7,539
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	659	(12,632)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash—beginning of year	404,172	339,220
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash—end of period	404,831	$ 326,588
Restructuring Costs	1,145
Eliminations
Cash flows from financing activities:
Purchase of treasury shares	0
Restructuring Costs	$ 0