EARNINGS PER SHARE

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

The following table represents the Company's basic and dilutive weighted average shares:



	Year ended December 31,
	2015	2014	2013
	(in thousands)
Basic weighted average shares	83,927	90,493	96,481
Effect of dilutive employee stock-based compensation awards	259	425	902
Diluted weighted averages shares	84,186	90,918	97,383

For the year ended December 31, 2015 and each of the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company had 0.2 million and 0.3 million shares, respectively, that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the impact of applying the treasury stock method to these options was anti-dilutive.

The Company has the intent and ability to settle the principal portion of its Notes in cash, and as such, has applied the treasury stock method, which has resulted in all underlying convertible shares being anti-dilutive in the current year as the Company's average stock price from the issuance of the Notes through December 31, 2015 is less than the conversion price. Refer to Note 7, "Long-Term Debt / Interest Expense" for more information on the Notes.