Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 569,734,496	$ 546,477,075
Short-term investments	152,538,054	177,021,197
Accounts receivable, net	231,121,788	211,591,745
Inventories, net	216,765,583	189,311,437
Prepaid expenses and other	14,403,902	30,587,575
Total current assets	1,184,563,823	1,154,989,029
PLANT AND EQUIPMENT:
Land, buildings and improvements	317,600,833	294,696,813
Machinery and equipment	790,833,278	721,713,250
Construction-in-process	35,828,403	30,643,709
Total Plant and Equipment	1,144,262,514	1,047,053,772
Less- Accumulated depreciation	(651,783,184)	(581,231,305)
Net Plant and Equipment	492,479,330	465,822,467
OTHER ASSETS:
Goodwill	307,365,845	307,365,845
Long-term investments	57,782,418	49,894,363
Intangible Assets, net	288,975,000	308,275,000
Patents and other assets, net	20,887,496	23,273,129
Total Other Assets	675,010,759	688,808,337
TOTAL ASSETS	2,352,053,912	2,309,619,833
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	89,898,467	79,963,630
Accrued liabilities:
Salaries, wages and vacation	18,502,209	12,378,007
Income Taxes	360,014	572,834
Royalties	14,660,864	11,932,416
Dividends payable	28,028,132	25,896,376
Current portion of long term debt	78,000,000	7,500,000
Other	14,197,321	11,614,716
Total current liabilities	243,647,007	149,857,979
LONG TERM DEBT	0	178,125,000
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES	58,888,644	71,212,620
TOTAL LIABILITIES	302,535,651	399,195,599
SHAREHOLDERS’ INVESTMENT:
Preferred stock, no par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding	0	0
Common stock, par value $.06 per share; 400,000,000 shares authorized; 280,281,321 and 287,737,516 shares issued and outstanding in 2017 and 2016 respectively.	16,816,879	17,264,251
Additional paid-in capital	723,510,672	683,446,463
Retained earnings	1,301,997,327	1,210,984,825
Accumulated other comprehensive income:
Unrealized gain on investments	6,626,379	2,788,975
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives	(78,026)	(1,197,281)
Cumulative translation adjustment	645,030	(2,862,999)
Total shareholders’ investment	2,049,518,261	1,910,424,234
TOTAL LIABILITES AND SHAREHOLDERS' INVESTMENT	$ 2,352,053,912	$ 2,309,619,833