Earnings per share (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2016

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Computation of basic and diluted earnings per share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and earnings per diluted share for the three and six months endedJune 30, 2016 and 2015:

	Three Months Ended June 30,					Six Months Ended June 30,
	2016		2015			2016		2015
Basic earnings per share
Net income available to Validus common shareholders	94,963		65,790			261,773		239,201
Less: Dividends on outstanding warrants	—		(1,081		)	—		(2,486		)
Net income allocated to Validus common shareholders	$	94,963	$	64,709		$	261,773	$	236,715
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding	81,950,833		84,003,549			82,386,047		83,627,396
Basic earnings per share available to Validus common shareholders	$	1.16	$	0.77		$	3.18	$	2.83
Earnings per diluted share
Net income available to Validus common shareholders	94,963		65,790			261,773		239,201
Less: Dividends on outstanding warrants	—		—			—		—
Net income allocated to Validus common shareholders	$	94,963	$	65,790		$	261,773	$	239,201
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding	81,950,833		84,003,549			82,386,047		83,627,396
Share equivalents:
Warrants	—		2,073,231			—		2,409,149
Stock options	33,796		50,160			34,837		261,792
Unvested restricted shares	1,388,374		1,186,214			1,364,775		1,149,805
Weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding	83,373,003		87,313,154			83,785,659		87,448,142
Earnings per diluted share available to Validus common shareholders	$	1.14	$	0.75		$	3.12	$	2.74