CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 29, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 29, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 126,976	$ 150,948	$ 423,116	$ 450,783
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)	(10,582)	58,916	(106,154)	173,166
Unrealized gain (loss) from foreign currency hedging activities	(379)	(34)	674	(1,274)
Unrealized investment gain (loss)	(1)	(2)	(2)	(2)
Pension adjustment gain (loss)	116	(353)	1,056	(1,063)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(10,846)	58,527	(104,426)	170,827
Comprehensive income	116,130	209,475	318,690	621,610
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Net income	(5,498)	(12,917)	(20,208)	(35,949)
Foreign currency translation (gain) loss	2,589	(3,473)	14,844	(8,258)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,909)	(16,390)	(5,364)	(44,207)
Comprehensive income attributable to Henry Schein, Inc.	$ 113,221	$ 193,085	$ 313,326	$ 577,403

Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income and other comprehensive income, attributable to parent entity. Excludes changes in equity resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners.

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