Earnings per Common Share

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Basic and diluted earnings per common share are calculated by dividing the net income or loss attributable to common shareholders by the basic and diluted weighted-average number of common shares outstanding in the period, respectively, using the allocation method prescribed by the two-class method. The Company applies this method to compute earnings per share because it distributes non-forfeitable dividend equivalents on restricted stock units and OP units granted to certain associates and non-employee trustees who have the right to participate in the distribution of common dividends while the restricted stock units and OP units are unvested.

The shares issuable upon settlement of forward sale agreements are reflected in the diluted earnings per share calculations using the treasury stock method. Under this method, the number of the Company’s common shares used in calculating diluted earnings per share is deemed to be increased by the excess, if any, of the number of common shares that would be issued upon full physical settlement of the forward sale agreements over the number of common shares that could be purchased by the Company in the market (based on the average market price during the period) using the proceeds receivable upon full physical settlement (based on the adjusted forward sale price at the end of the reporting period). If and when the Company physically or net share settles the forward sale agreements, the delivery of common shares would result in an increase in the number of shares outstanding and dilution to earnings per share.

A reconciliation of the basic and diluted weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 is as follows:


	Year ended December 31,
	2020	2019	2018
	(In thousands)
Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic	203,255	179,598	141,415
Dilutive effect of share-based awards	1,532	1,660	2,662
Equity forward contracts	2,153	2,692	261
Weighted average common shares outstanding – diluted	206,940	183,950	144,338

The table below presents the weighted-average number of antidilutive potential common shares that are not considered in the calculation of diluted income (loss) per share:


	Year ended December 31,
	2020	2019	2018
	(In thousands)
Employee stock options	—	—	—
Restricted stock units	170	250	—
OP units	—	—	—
Equity forward contracts	2,231	—	—
	2,401	250	—