CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 24, 2016	Dec. 26, 2015
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 304,561	$ 352,176
Short-term investments	1,588,737	1,376,698
Trade receivables	633,777	723,685
Merchandise inventories	1,662,684	1,740,513
Deferred tax assets	57,235	51,216
Prepaid expenses	36,161	70,145
Total current assets	4,283,155	4,314,433
Long-term investments	5,461,844	5,226,236
Other noncurrent assets	466,088	431,311
Property, plant and equipment	11,769,077	10,712,312
Accumulated depreciation	(4,647,345)	(4,325,014)
Net property, plant and equipment	7,121,732	6,387,298
Total assets	17,332,819	16,359,278
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	1,510,815	1,675,858
Accrued expenses:
Contributions to retirement plans	438,213	513,072
Self-insurance reserves	135,974	135,865
Salaries and wages	259,410	131,253
Other	512,873	380,314
Current portion of long-term debt	94,212	56,693
Federal and state income taxes	20,821	9,634
Total current liabilities	2,972,318	2,902,689
Deferred tax liabilities	449,272	425,132
Self-insurance reserves	215,295	214,474
Accrued postretirement benefit cost	101,445	101,725
Long-term debt	165,374	179,753
Other noncurrent liabilities	96,928	104,243
Total liabilities	4,000,632	3,928,016
Common stock related to Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)	3,149,480	2,953,878
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock of $1 par value. Authorized 1,000,000 shares; issued 776,443 shares in 2016 and 770,175 shares in 2015	776,443	770,175
Additional paid-in capital	2,840,901	2,556,391
Retained earnings	10,025,390	9,041,497
Treasury stock at cost, 9,297 shares in 2016	(406,402)	0
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings	72,336	26,268
Common stock related to ESOP	(3,149,480)	(2,953,878)
Total stockholders’ equity	10,159,188	9,440,453
Noncontrolling interests	23,519	36,931
Total equity	13,332,187	12,431,262
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 17,332,819	$ 16,359,278