COMMON STOCK AND EARNINGS PER SHARE (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

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Summary of Share Transactions

The following table summarizes the share transactions for the three years ended December 31, 2017 (in thousands, except for share data):

	Shares Issued		Shares in Treasury
Balance December 31, 2014		55,056,730		(9,524,542	)
Common stock issuance for acquisition		—		3,470,478
Purchase of Treasury Stock		—		(225,894	)
Sale of Treasury Stock		—		19,695
Issued for stock options & restricted stock		—		599,899
Balance December 31, 2015		55,056,730		(5,660,364	)
Purchase of Treasury Stock		—		(399,677	)
Sale of Treasury Stock		—		21,036
Issued for stock options & restricted stock		—		655,331
Balance December 31, 2016		55,056,730		(5,383,674	)
Purchase of Treasury Stock		—		(245,982	)
Sale of Treasury Stock		—		14,908
Issued for stock options & restricted stock		—		453,008
Balance December 31, 2017		55,056,730		(5,161,740	)

Shares Used in Calculation of Basic and Diluted Earnings

The shares used in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share, are shown below:

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2017		2016		2015
Weighted average basic common shares outstanding		49,223,661		48,828,313		47,126,252
Dilutive effect of stock options and restricted stock		615,629		448,742		453,082
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding		49,839,290		49,277,055		47,579,334