Fair Value Measurements The accounting framework for determining fair value includes a hierarchy for ranking the quality and reliability of the information used to measure fair value, which enables the reader of the financial statements to assess the inputs used to develop those measurements. The fair value hierarchy consists of three tiers as follows: Level 1, defined as quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities; Level 2, defined as inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active, model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities; and Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data. For our Level 2 short-term investments, we consider factors such as actual trade data, benchmark yields, broker/dealer quotes, and other similar data obtained from quoted market prices and independent pricing vendors to determine the fair value of these assets and liabilities.
The fair values of cash, accounts receivable, trade accounts payable, capital expenditures payable and certain other current assets and accrued expenses approximate carrying values because of their short-term nature. The carrying value of certain other non-current assets and liabilities approximates fair value. Our assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on a recurring basis include restricted cash money market funds and short-term investments, including investments classified as cash equivalents. Cash equivalent money market funds and restricted cash money market funds are invested in U.S. money market funds and various U.S. and foreign bank operating and time deposit accounts, which are due on demand or carry a maturity date of less than three months when purchased. No restrictions have been imposed on us regarding withdrawal of balances with respect to our cash equivalents as a result of liquidity or other credit market issues affecting the money market funds we invest in or the counterparty financial institutions holding our deposits.
Our derivative financial instruments are valued using quoted market prices for similar assets. Counterparties to these derivative contracts are highly rated financial institutions.
We also measure certain assets and liabilities, including property, plant and equipment and goodwill, at fair value on a nonrecurring basis.
We measure the fair value of our debt for disclosure purposes. The following table presents the fair value of our debt:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| December 31, 2025 | | December 31, 2024 |
| Fair
Value | | Carrying
Value | | Fair
Value | | Carrying
Value |
| (In thousands) |
| Senior notes (Level 1) | $ | 511,405 | | | $ | 493,457 | | | $ | 525,562 | | | $ | 522,615 | |
| Revolving credit facilities and term loans (Level 2) | 948,501 | | | 951,789 | | | 625,818 | | | 636,845 | |
| Total debt | $ | 1,459,906 | | | $ | 1,445,246 | | | $ | 1,151,380 | | | $ | 1,159,460 | |
The estimated fair value of our senior notes is based primarily on quoted market prices reported on or near the respective balance sheet dates. The estimated fair value of our revolving credit facilities and term loans is calculated using a discounted cash flow analysis, which utilizes market-based assumptions, including forward interest rates adjusted for credit risk.