Earnings per Share

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

The weighted average common shares used in the computations of basic and diluted earnings per share (shares in thousands) for the years ended September 30 were as follows:



	2019	2018	2017
Average common shares outstanding	269,943	258,354	218,943
Dilutive share equivalents from share-based plans (a)	4,832	6,267	4,645
Average common and common equivalent shares outstanding — assuming dilution	274,775	264,621	223,588

(a)

For the years ended September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017, dilutive share equivalents associated with mandatory convertible preferred stock of 12 million, 12 million and 5 million, respectively, were excluded from the diluted shares outstanding calculation because the result would have been antidilutive. The issuance of the convertible preferred stock is further discussed in Note 3. For the years ended September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017, there were no options to purchase shares of common stock which were excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation.