FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
 
Accounting standards establish a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure estimated fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under applicable accounting standards are described below:

Level 1    Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.  

Level 2    Inputs to the valuation methodology include:
quoted prices for similar assets in active markets;
quoted prices for identical or similar assets in inactive markets;
inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset; and
inputs that are derived principally or corroborated by observable data by correlation or other.

Level 3    Prices or valuations that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.

A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

The following table presents the carrying values and estimated fair values, including the level within the fair value hierarchy, of certain financial instruments:

December 28, 2025December 29, 2024
Carrying ValueFair Value (Level 1)Fair Value (Level 2)Carrying ValueFair Value (Level 1)Fair Value (Level 2)
(in thousands)
Assets:
Company-owned life insurance$23,048 $— $23,048 $22,911 $— $22,911 
Deferred compensation investments33,728 8,941 24,787 30,521 8,697 21,824 
 
Liabilities(1):
Borrowings under Syndicated Credit Facility(2)
$181,779 $— $181,779 $5,564 $— $5,564 
5.50% Senior Notes (3)
— — — 300,000 — 294,738 

(1) Carrying values are presented gross, excluding the impact of unamortized debt issuance costs and including amounts presented as current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.
(2) Unamortized debt issuance costs associated with term loan borrowings under the Syndicated Credit Facility were $0.2 million as of December 28, 2025, and recorded as a reduction of long-term debt in the consolidated balance sheets. Unamortized debt issuance costs associated with the Syndicated Credit Facility as of December 29, 2024, were not material.
(3) The Senior Notes were repaid on December 3, 2025, and the outstanding debt was extinguished. As of December 29, 2024, unamortized debt issuance costs associated with the Senior Notes were $2.8 million and were recorded as a reduction of long-term debt in the consolidated balance sheets.

Company-Owned Life Insurance

The fair value of Company-owned life insurance is measured on a readily determinable cash surrender value on a recurring basis. Company-owned life insurance is recorded at fair value within other assets in the consolidated balance sheets. Changes in the fair value of Company-owned life insurance are recognized in SG&A expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.
Deferred Compensation Investments

Assets associated with the Company’s nonqualified savings plans are held in a rabbi trust and consist of investments in mutual funds and insurance contracts. The fair value of the mutual funds is derived from quoted prices in active markets. The fair value of the insurance contracts is based on observable inputs related to the performance measurement funds that shadow the deferral investment allocations made by participants in the nonqualified savings plans. These investments are recorded at fair value within other assets in the consolidated balance sheets. Changes in the fair value of the investments associated with the nonqualified savings plans are recognized in SG&A expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. See Note 18 entitled “Employee Benefit Plans” for additional information on the Company’s nonqualified savings plans.

Syndicated Credit Facility and Senior Notes

The Company’s liabilities for borrowings under the Facility are not recorded at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets. The carrying value of borrowings under the Facility approximates fair value as the Facility bears variable interest rates that are similar to existing market rates. In the prior year, the Senior Notes obligation was not recorded at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets. The fair value of the Senior Notes was derived in prior year using quoted prices for similar instruments. See Note 9, entitled “Long-Term Debt” for additional information.

Other Assets and Liabilities

Due to the short maturity of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses, their carrying values approximate fair value. See Note 18 entitled “Employee Benefit Plans” for additional information on defined benefit plan assets.

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2025Feb 25, 2026Showing above
2024Feb 26, 2025
2023Feb 28, 2024
2022Mar 2, 2022
2021Mar 3, 2021
2019Feb 26, 2020
2018Feb 28, 2019
2017Mar 1, 2018
2016Mar 2, 2016

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.