Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 314,899	$ 242,879
Trade accounts receivable, net	2,421,563	1,938,562
Merchandise inventories, net	3,771,089	3,210,320
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	805,342	556,670
Total current assets	7,312,893	5,948,431
Goodwill	2,153,988	956,153
Other intangible assets, less accumulated amortization	1,400,392	618,510
Deferred tax assets	40,158	132,652
Other assets	568,248	475,530
Property, plant, and equipment:
Land	104,049	92,046
Buildings, less accumulated depreciation (2017- $317,777; 2016 - $292,049)	371,612	314,268
Machinery and equipment, less accumulated depreciation (2017-$726,576; 2016-$668,950)	461,041	321,810
Net property, plant, and equipment	936,702	728,124
Total assets	12,412,381	8,859,400
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	3,634,859	3,081,111
Current portion of debt	694,989	325,000
Accrued compensation	198,048	142,942
Other current liabilities	847,129	597,513
Dividends payable	99,000	97,584
Total current liabilities	5,474,025	4,244,150
Long-term debt	2,550,020	550,000
Pension and other post-retirement benefit liabilities	229,868	341,510
Deferred tax liabilities	193,308	48,326
Other long-term liabilities	501,004	468,058
Equity:
Preferred stock, par value $1 per share — authorized 10,000,000 shares; none issued	0	0
Common stock, par value $1 per share - authorized 450,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding - 2017 - 146,652,615 shares and 2016 - 148,410,422 shares	146,653	148,410
Additional paid-in capital	68,126	56,605
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(852,592)	(1,013,021)
Retained earnings	4,049,965	4,001,734
Total parent equity	3,412,152	3,193,728
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	52,004	13,628
Total equity	3,464,156	3,207,356
Total liabilities and equity	$ 12,412,381	$ 8,859,400