12.  INCOME TAXES

(In thousands)

2025

2024

2023

Income before income taxes:

U.S.

$

665,869

$

810,616

$

808,217

Foreign

37,714

30,172

17,266

Total

$

703,583

$

840,788

$

825,483

Income tax expense (benefit):

Current:

U.S. Federal

$

144,330

$

163,889

$

166,175

State and local

40,240

45,674

46,631

Foreign

11,093

10,415

7,193

Deferred:

U.S. Federal

(9,410)

22

(5,307)

State and local

(3,592)

166

(1,253)

Foreign

(805)

(1,980)

(2,210)

$

181,856

$

218,186

$

211,229

Deferred tax assets at December 31:

Receivables, net

$

7,837

$

4,786

Inventories

11,086

8,036

Other assets, principally share-based compensation

2,748

1,659

Accrued liabilities

18,931

17,038

Lease liability

22,997

17,488

Long-term liabilities

11,509

11,394

Long-term lease liability

52,515

32,873

Net operating loss carryforward

921

999

128,544

94,273

Deferred tax liabilities at December 31:

Right of use assets

71,598

48,057

Property and equipment, net

46,880

43,842

Intangibles, net

395,703

240,280

Other

1,957

2,437

516,138

334,616

Net deferred tax liability at December 31

$

387,594

$

240,343

A valuation allowance must be established for deferred tax assets when it is more-likely-than-not that they will not be realized.  After review of all available positive and negative evidence, the Company has determined that no valuation allowance was required for the deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2025 or December 31, 2024.

At December 31, 2025, the net deferred tax liability is $387.6 million, all of which is reported as long-term deferred tax liabilities.  At December 31, 2024, the net deferred tax liability is $240.3 million, all of which is reported as long-term deferred tax liabilities.  The deferred assets and deferred liabilities also include the state deferreds net of federal benefit.

Of the $0.9 million deferred tax asset related to the net operating loss carryforward at December 31, 2025, with few exceptions, $0.8 million will expire between 2026 and 2045.  Of the $1.0 million deferred tax asset related to the net operating loss carryforward at December 31, 2024, $1.0 million will expire between 2026 and 2044.

A reconciliation of the U.S. Federal statutory tax rate to the income tax expense (benefit) on income was as follows:

Year Ended December 31,

2025

2024

2023

U.S. Federal statutory tax rate

$

147,753

21.0

%

$

176,566

21.0

%

$

173,351

21.0

%

State and local taxes, net of U.S. Federal tax benefit

28,952

4.1

36,214

4.3

35,848

4.3

Foreign tax effects

1,544

0.2

2,098

0.2

1,357

0.2

Tax credits

(217)

(331)

(311)

Non-deductible/non-taxable items

3,538

0.5

3,109

0.4

1,330

0.2

Changes in unrecognized tax benefits

(39)

Other reconciling items

286

530

0.1

(307)

(0.1)

Income tax expense ($) and effective tax rate (%)

$

181,856

25.8

%

$

218,186

26.0

%

$

211,229

25.6

%

In 2025, state and local income taxes in Arizona, California, Florida, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, and Virginia comprise the majority of the domestic state and local income taxes, net of U.S. Federal tax benefit. In 2024, state and local income taxes in Arizona, California, Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Virginia comprise the majority of the domestic state and local income taxes, net of U.S. Federal tax benefit. In 2023, state and local income taxes in Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Virginia comprised the majority of the domestic state and local income taxes, net of U.S. Federal tax benefit.

A tax expense of $0.1 million and a tax benefit of $1.9 million and $1.4 million related to share-based compensation was recognized in income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

We file income tax returns in the U.S. Federal jurisdiction, various U.S. state and local jurisdictions, and foreign jurisdictions. With few exceptions, we are no longer subject to income tax examinations on filed returns for years before 2021.

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2025Feb 26, 2026Showing above
2024Feb 25, 2025
2023Feb 28, 2024
2022Feb 23, 2023
2021Feb 22, 2022
2020Feb 23, 2021
2019Feb 25, 2020
2018Feb 26, 2019
2017Feb 27, 2018
2016Feb 28, 2017
2015Mar 3, 2016

About Income Taxes Disclosures

The income tax disclosure reveals how much a company actually pays in taxes versus what the statutory rate would predict. Analysts focus on the effective tax rate (ETR) reconciliation, which breaks down every item driving the gap between the 21% federal rate and the company's reported ETR — including R&D credits, foreign rate differentials, and state taxes. Deferred tax assets (DTAs) and their valuation allowances signal management's confidence in future profitability: a rising allowance suggests the company doubts it can use accumulated tax benefits. Uncertain tax benefit (UTB) reserves quantify exposure to IRS challenges on aggressive positions.

Key signals to watch: sudden ETR drops without clear operational reasons, large increases in valuation allowances, growing UTB balances, and significant unremitted foreign earnings. Post-TCJA, pay attention to GILTI and BEAT provisions that affect multinational tax structures. Compare the cash taxes paid (from the cash flow statement) against the income tax provision to gauge earnings quality.