CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	Total		Common Stock	Capital In Excess of Par Value	Retained Earnings	Treasury Stock	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Stockholders' Equity	Non-Controlling Interests
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	$ 1,833,100		$ 236,919	$ 1,300,998	$ 951,647	$ (69,370)	$ (612,997)	$ 1,807,197	$ 25,903
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2009			236,919,404
Net income	180,375	[1]			156,778			156,778	23,597
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	20,375	[1]					20,375	20,375
Exercise of stock options (in shares)			690,561
Exercise of stock options	2,021		691	1,980		(650)		2,021
Excess tax benefits on stock options	2,192			2,192				2,192
Contributions to thrift plan (in shares)			282,022
Contributions to thrift plan	6,923		282	6,641				6,923
Share vesting (in shares)			2,528,433
Share vesting			2,528	(2,528)
Purchase of treasury shares	(15,531)					(15,531)		(15,531)
Stock-based compensation charges, net of tax	43,783			43,783				43,783
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests	10,232			(1,786)				(1,786)	12,018
Spin-off of The Babcock & Wilcox Company	(610,428)			(1,441)	(1,052,940)		444,456	(609,925)	(503)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2010	1,473,042		240,420	1,349,839	55,485	(85,551)	(148,166)	1,412,027	61,015
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2010			240,420,420
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	1,512,267		240,791	1,357,316	100,373	(85,735)	(163,717)	1,449,028	63,239
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010			240,791,473
Net income	162,104				148,699			148,699	13,405
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	21,660						20,737	20,737	923
Exercise of stock options (in shares)			464,196
Exercise of stock options	2,458		464	1,994				2,458
Share vesting (in shares)			996,252
Share vesting			997	(997)
Purchase of treasury shares	(9,526)					(9,526)		(9,526)
Stock-based compensation charges, net of tax	14,655			14,655				14,655
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(2,523)								(2,523)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2011	$ 1,701,095		$ 242,252	$ 1,372,968	$ 249,072	$ (95,261)	$ (142,980)	$ 1,626,051	$ 75,044
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2011			242,251,921

[1] Amortization of benefit plan costs for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010 is shown net of tax of $2.4 million and $18.6 million, respectively. The tax impact on other amounts presented is not significant.