Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2018	May 31, 2017	May 31, 2016
Operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 200,850	$ 217,937	$ 157,628
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	103,359	86,793	84,699
Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets	61,208		25,962
Provision for (benefit from) deferred income taxes	(38,237)	18,443	7,354
Bad debt expense	11	269	346
Equity in net income of unconsolidated affiliates, net of distributions	(13,352)	(8,023)	(29,473)
Net (gain) loss on assets	(10,522)	7,951	(12,996)
Stock-based compensation	13,758	14,349	15,836
Gain on previously held equity interest in Worthington Specialty Processing			(6,877)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of impact of acquisitions:
Receivables	(53,066)	(39,927)	66,117
Inventories	(84,654)	(34,599)	66,351
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(12,402)	985	18,327
Other assets	(1,258)	1,905	(4,530)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	105,984	67,492	20,180
Other liabilities	9,666	2,097	4,460
Net cash provided by operating activities	281,345	335,672	413,384
Investing activities:
Investment in property, plant and equipment	(76,088)	(68,386)	(97,036)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(285,028)		(34,206)
Distributions from (investments in) unconsolidated affiliates	2,400		(5,595)
Proceeds from sale of assets and insurance	21,311	5,422	9,797
Net cash used by investing activities	(337,405)	(62,964)	(127,040)
Financing activities:
Net repayments of short-term borrowings, net of issuance costs	(948)	(2,528)	(85,843)
Proceeds from long-term debt, net of issuance costs	197,685		921
Principal payments on long-term debt	(31,130)	(874)	(862)
Proceeds from issuance of common shares, net of tax withholdings	(2,120)	(9,075)	8,707
Payments to noncontrolling interests	(7,915)	(15,622)	(9,106)
Repurchase of common shares	(204,267)	0	(99,847)
Dividends paid	(51,359)	(50,716)	(47,193)
Net cash used by financing activities	(100,054)	(78,815)	(233,223)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(156,114)	193,893	53,121
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	278,081	84,188	31,067
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$ 121,967	$ 278,081	$ 84,188