FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. A fair value hierarchy has been established based on three levels of inputs, of which the first two are considered observable and the last unobservable.

Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. These are typically obtained from real-time quotes for transactions in active exchange markets involving identical assets.

Level 2 - Inputs, other than quoted prices included within Level 1, which are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These are typically obtained from readily-available pricing sources for comparable instruments.

Level 3 - Unobservable inputs, where there is little or no market activity for the asset or liability. These inputs reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions of the data that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, based on the best information available in the circumstances.

The carrying value of accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate fair value because of the short-term maturity of those instruments.

The following table summarizes the Company’s financial assets measured at fair value as of October 3, 2025:
 
    Level 1Level 2Level 3Total
Assets:   
Rabbi trust assets$30,680 $— $— $30,680 
Marketable securities— — — — 
Total$30,680 $— $— $30,680 
 
The following table summarizes the Company’s financial assets measured at fair value as of September 27, 2024:
 
    Level 1Level 2Level 3Total
Assets:    
Rabbi trust assets$29,059 $— $— $29,059 
Marketable securities— 16,541 — 16,541 
Total$29,059 $16,541 $— $45,600 
 
Rabbi trust assets are classified as trading securities and are comprised of marketable debt and equity securities that are marked to fair value based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets.  The rabbi trust assets are owed by the Company to certain officers and other employees under the Company’s non-qualified deferred compensation plan.  These assets are included in "Other assets" in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets, and the mark-to-market adjustments on the assets are recorded in “Other income, net” in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations. The offsetting deferred compensation liability is also reported at fair value and is included in “Deferred compensation liability” in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. Changes in the liability are recorded in "Administrative management, finance and information systems" expense in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Marketable securities are classified as available-for-sale, with fair values determined using significant other observable inputs, which include quoted prices in markets that are not active, quoted prices of similar securities, recently executed transactions, broker quotations, and other inputs that are observable.
 
The effect of changes in the fair value of financial instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended October 3, 2025, September 27, 2024 and September 29, 2023 was:
   Location of income recognized in Statement of
Operations    
202520242023
Rabbi trust assetsOther (income) expense, net$(1,448)$(6,669)$(2,862)
 
Certain assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis in periods subsequent to their initial recognition. No assets or liabilities were measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis in 2025, 2024, or 2023.

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2025Dec 12, 2025Showing above
2024Dec 11, 2024
2023Dec 8, 2023
2022Dec 9, 2022
2021Dec 10, 2021
2020Dec 11, 2020
2019Dec 6, 2019
2018Dec 7, 2018
2017Dec 8, 2017
2016Dec 13, 2016
2015Dec 8, 2015

About Fair Value Disclosures

Fair value disclosures classify all assets and liabilities measured at fair value into a three-level hierarchy: Level 1 (quoted market prices), Level 2 (observable inputs like yield curves), and Level 3 (unobservable inputs requiring management estimates). The proportion of Level 3 assets directly reflects how much of the balance sheet depends on internal models rather than market evidence.

Key signals: a growing Level 3 balance relative to total fair-value assets increases valuation uncertainty and earnings volatility risk. Watch for transfers between levels — assets moving from Level 2 to Level 3 often signal deteriorating market liquidity. Unrealized gains and losses on Level 3 positions flow through earnings or other comprehensive income, so large swings deserve scrutiny. For financial institutions, examine the sensitivity disclosures that show how Level 3 valuations change under alternative assumptions. Compare the fair value of debt against its carrying amount to gauge hidden leverage.