Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 359,105	$ 314,899
Trade accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts (2018 – $23,584; 2017 – $17,612)	2,655,888	2,421,563
Merchandise inventories, net	3,536,503	3,771,089
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	998,999	805,342
Total current assets	7,550,495	7,312,893
Goodwill	2,097,990	2,153,988
Other intangible assets, less accumulated amortization	1,420,480	1,400,392
Deferred tax assets	22,898	40,158
Property, plant and equipment, less accumulated depreciation (2018 – $1,177,952; 2017 – $1,044,353)	937,740	936,702
Other assets	627,516	568,248
Total assets	12,657,119	12,412,381
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	4,036,006	3,634,859
Current portion of debt	450,493	694,989
Dividends payable	105,673	99,000
Income taxes payable	23,964	10,736
Other current liabilities	1,045,053	1,034,441
Total current liabilities	5,661,189	5,474,025
Long-term debt	2,463,452	2,550,020
Pension and other post–retirement benefit liabilities	200,558	229,868
Deferred tax liabilities	188,467	193,308
Other long-term liabilities	480,374	501,004
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 – 2018 – 146,759,273 shares; 2017 – 146,652,615 shares	146,759	146,653
Additional paid-in capital	77,558	68,126
Retained earnings	4,349,014	4,049,965
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(962,277)	(852,592)
Total parent equity	3,611,054	3,412,152
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	52,025	52,004
Total equity	3,663,079	3,464,156
Total liabilities and equity	$ 12,657,119	$ 12,412,381