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Segment Reporting
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020
Segment Reporting [Abstract]  
Segment Reporting Disclosure
14. BUSINESS SEGMENTS
Prior to the completion of its merger with Anixter on June 22, 2020, as described in Note 4, WESCO had four operating segments that had been aggregated as one reportable segment. Effective on the date of acquisition, the Company added Anixter as a separate reportable segment for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2020. In the third quarter, the Company identified new operating segments organized around three strategic business units consisting of EES, CSS and UBS. These operating segments are equivalent to the Company's reportable segments. The operating segments in the respective periods were determined in accordance with the manner in which WESCO's chief operating decision maker ("CODM") reviewed financial information during those periods.
The following is a description of each of the Company's reportable segments and their business activities.
Electrical & Electronic Solutions
The EES segment supplies a broad range of products and supply chain solutions primarily to the Construction, Industrial and Original Equipment Manufacturer ("OEM") markets. Product categories include a broad range of electrical equipment and supplies as well as lubricants, pipe, valves, fittings, fasteners, cutting tools, power transmission, and safety products. In addition, OEM customers require a reliable supply of assemblies and components to incorporate into their own products as well as value-added services such as supplier consolidation, design and technical support, just-in-time supply and electronic commerce, and supply chain management. EES includes the “Electrical and Electronic Solutions” business acquired from Anixter and the majority of the legacy WESCO industrial and construction businesses.
Communications & Security Solutions
The CSS segment supplies products and customized supply chain solutions to customers in a diverse range of industries including technology, finance, telecommunications service providers, transportation, education, government, healthcare and retail. CSS sells these products directly to end users or through various channels including data communications contractors, security, network, professional audio/visual and systems integrators. CSS has a broad product portfolio that includes copper and fiber optic cable and connectivity, access control, video surveillance, intrusion and fire/life safety, cabinets, power, cable management, wireless, professional audio/video, voice and networking switches and other ancillary products. CSS includes the “Network and Security Solutions” business acquired from Anixter and the legacy data communications and safety businesses from WESCO.
Utility & Broadband Solutions
The UBS segment supplies electrical transmission and distribution products, power plant maintenance, repair and operations supplies and smart-grid products, and arranges materials management and procurement outsourcing for the power generation, power transmission and electricity distribution industries. The UBS segment combines the “Utility Power Solutions” business acquired from Anixter, the WESCO utility business, a portion of the legacy WESCO broadband business as well as the legacy WESCO integrated supply business.
Corporate expenses are incurred to obtain and coordinate financing, tax, information technology, legal and other related services. The Company also has various corporate assets which are reported in corporate. Segment assets may not include jointly used assets, but segment results include depreciation expense or other allocations related to those assets. Interest expense and other non-operating items are not allocated to the segments or reviewed on a segment basis. Corporate expenses and assets are shown in the tables below to reconcile the reportable segments to the consolidated financial statements.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019, the Company's CODM evaluated the performance of its operating segments based primarily on net sales, income from operations, and total assets.

The following table sets forth net sales and income from operations by reportable segment for the periods presented:
(In thousands)Three Months Ended September 30, 2020
EESCSSUBSCorporateTotal
Net sales$1,653,726 $1,388,791 $1,099,284 $— $4,141,801 
Income from operations105,508 89,634 74,092 (91,139)178,095 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2019
(In thousands)EESCSSUBSCorporateTotal
Net sales$1,250,080 $235,920 $662,110 $— $2,148,110 
Income from operations72,007 10,555 43,811 (32,640)93,733 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020
(In thousands)EESCSSUBSCorporateTotal
Net sales$3,811,498 $1,953,967 $2,431,689 $— $8,197,154 
Income from operations194,643 127,502 167,651 (235,518)254,278 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019
(In thousands)EESCSSUBSCorporateTotal
Net sales$3,626,423 $681,087 $1,951,955 $— $6,259,465 
Income from operations198,774 32,501 134,431 (103,297)262,409 

The following table sets forth total assets by reportable segment for the periods presented:
As of
September 30, 2020
(In thousands)EESCSSUBS
Corporate(1)
Total
Total assets$3,838,242 $4,592,463 $2,990,621 $447,013 $11,868,339 
As of
December 31, 2019
(In thousands)EESCSSUBS
Corporate(1)
Total
Total assets$2,523,481 $610,046 $1,747,809 $136,299 $5,017,635 

(1)Total assets for Corporate primarily consist of cash and cash equivalents, deferred income taxes, fixed assets and leases.