Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are initially recorded at cost. Depreciation is recorded using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Improvements to leased premises are amortized using the straight-line method over the remaining term of the lease or the useful life of the improvement, whichever is less. The following table summarizes the Company's property and equipment balances and includes the estimated useful lives which are generally applied (in thousands, except estimated useful lives):
 Estimated Useful LivesDecember 27, 2025December 28,
2024
Land$119,378 $107,447 
Buildings and improvements
1 – 40 years
2,577,261 2,432,323 
Furniture, fixtures and equipment
7 – 10 years
1,694,348 1,544,697 
Computer software and hardware
2 – 7 years
1,155,345 1,017,856 
Construction in progress497,389 267,295 
Property and equipment, gross6,043,721 5,369,618 
Accumulated depreciation and amortization(3,017,177)(2,642,182)
Property and equipment, net$3,026,544 $2,727,436 

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2025Feb 19, 2026Showing above
2024Feb 20, 2025
2023Feb 23, 2024
2022Feb 23, 2023
2021Feb 17, 2022

About PP&E Disclosures

The PP&E disclosure details a company's physical asset base — land, buildings, machinery, and equipment — along with the depreciation methods and useful life assumptions that determine how these costs flow through the income statement. Capitalization policy thresholds reveal management's judgment on the boundary between expense and asset, directly affecting both reported earnings and asset values.

Key signals: changes in estimated useful lives or depreciation methods can materially shift reported earnings without any operational change. Compare capital expenditures against depreciation expense — when capex consistently trails depreciation, the asset base may be aging and underinvested. Watch for large asset impairments or write-downs that signal overvalued carrying amounts. Asset retirement obligations reveal future environmental or decommissioning costs that are often underappreciated. Compare PP&E intensity (PP&E-to-revenue) against industry peers to assess capital efficiency and competitive positioning.