Retirement Plans

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Retirement Plans

Retirement Plans

Note 11. Retirement Plans

        The company sponsors several 401(k) retirement savings and profit sharing plans (Plans) for eligible employees, which are considered "qualified plans" for federal income tax purposes. The company's total expense for the Plans was $39.4 million, $25.2 million, and $22.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively. In 2014 and 2013, the company's profit sharing component is 8% of consolidated pretax income excluding noncontrolling interests and other items. Prior to 2013, the company's profit sharing component consisted of 2% of consolidated pretax earnings plus a unique percentage of each of the company's operating segments' pretax earnings after allocation of certain corporate expenses. The resulting company profit sharing component was $36.3 million, $23.1 million, and $20.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively; of which $29.0 million, $18.5 million, and $14.3 million, respectively, was directed by the company's board of directors to be contributed to the Plans, with the remaining amounts each year paid directly in cash to the Plans' participants.