Net Income per Unit (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Earnings Per Unit [Abstract]

Schedule of Earnings Per Unit, Basic and Diluted

Basic net income per unit is derived by reducing net income for the 1% general partnership interest and dividing the remaining 99% by the basic weighted average number of units outstanding for each period. Diluted net income per unit is derived by reducing net income for the 1% general partnership interest and dividing the remaining 99% by the total of the diluted weighted average number of units outstanding for each period.

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2015		2014		2015		2014
	(in thousands, except per unit amounts)
Net income attributable to AB Unitholders	$	134,976	$	139,798	$	425,539	$	392,958
Weighted average units outstanding – basic	271,911		269,372		272,530		268,874
Dilutive effect of compensatory options to buy AB Holding Units	970		1,249		1,113		1,174
Weighted average units outstanding – diluted	272,881		270,621		273,643		270,048
Basic net income per AB Unit	$	0.49	$	0.51	$	1.55	$	1.45
Diluted net income per AB Unit	$	0.49	$	0.51	$	1.54	$	1.44