Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited) (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of quarterly financial information

	Quarter
(millions, except per-share data)	First		Second		Third		Fourth
2016
Net sales	$	747	$	769	$	767	$	734
Gross profit	181		193		181		150
Operating profit	116		122		97		59
Income from continuing operations	60		67		56		28
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	7		7		6		—
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax	—		—		—		279
Net income	67		74		62		307
Income per average common share:
Basic (a)	0.46		0.50		0.43		2.10
Diluted (a)	0.46		0.50		0.42		2.07
2015
Net sales	$	708	$	740	$	747	$	718
Gross profit	146		170		169		165
Operating profit	72		95		94		94
Income from continuing operations(b)	20		69		68		819
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	4		10		8		(7		)
Net income (b)	24		79		76		812
Income per average common share:
Basic (a)	0.16		0.54		0.52		5.58
Diluted (a)	0.16		0.54		0.52		5.51

(a) The sum of the four quarters is not necessarily the same as the total for the year.

(b) Income from continuing operations and net income attributable to USG for the fourth quarter of 2015 included a reversal of an income tax valuation allowance of $731 million.