8. Earnings Per Share

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Earnings Per Share

8.    EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE

Basic earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) attributable to Bio-Rad by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for that period.  Diluted earnings (loss) per share takes into account the effect of dilutive instruments, such as stock options and restricted stock, and uses the average share price for the period in determining the number of potential common shares that are to be added to the weighted average number of shares outstanding.  Potential common shares are excluded from the diluted earnings (loss) per share calculation if the effect of including such securities would be anti-dilutive. For the three months ended September 30, 2013, net loss per basic share was the same as net loss per diluted share because all potentially dilutive shares were anti-dilutive due to the net loss for the period.

The weighted average number of common shares outstanding used to calculate basic and diluted earnings per share, and the anti-dilutive shares that are excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation are as follows (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended		Nine Months Ended
	September 30,		September 30,
	2014	2013	2014	2013
Basic weighted average shares outstanding	28,884	28,603	28,834	28,545
Effect of potentially dilutive stock options and restricted stock awards	257	—	263	325
Diluted weighted average common shares	29,141	28,603	29,097	28,870
Anti-dilutive shares	117	416	111	95