Earnings per Share

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

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:


	2020	2019	2018
Average common shares outstanding	278,971	269,943	258,354
Dilutive share equivalents from share-based plans (a)	3,431	4,832	6,267
Average common and common equivalent shares outstanding — assuming dilution	282,402	274,775	264,621

(a)For the years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018, dilutive share equivalents associated with mandatory convertible preferred stock of 9 million, 12 million and 12 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, 2020, 2019 and 2018, there were no options to purchase shares of common stock which were excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation.