EARNINGS PER SHARE

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Abstract]

EARNINGS PER SHARE

EARNINGS PER SHARE

The computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share is as follows (in thousands, except per share data):

	2012			2011		2010
Amounts attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ stockholders:
Income from continuing operations	$	630,085		$	459,009	$	708,734
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(74,364		)	11,558		12,160
Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders	$	555,721		$	470,567	$	720,894
Income from continuing operations	$	630,085		$	459,009	$	708,734
Less: Earnings allocated to participating securities	2,506			2,907		3,292
Earnings available to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders – basic and diluted	$	627,579		$	456,102	$	705,442
Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic	158,572			158,672		175,684
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options and performance share units	1,493			1,500		1,636
Weighted average common shares outstanding – diluted	160,065			160,172		177,320
Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders – basic:
Income from continuing operations	$	3.96		$	2.88	$	4.01
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	(0.47		)	0.07		0.07
Net income	$	3.49		$	2.95	$	4.08
Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders – diluted:
Income from continuing operations	$	3.92		$	2.85	$	3.98
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	(0.46		)	0.07		0.07
Net income	$	3.46		$	2.92	$	4.05

The following securities were not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share due to their antidilutive effect (shares in thousands):

	2012	2011	2010
Stock options and performance share units	1,793	2,259	2,886