Earnings Per Share

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

NOTE C—EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per common share is computed similarly to basic earnings per common share except that the weighted average number of common shares outstanding is increased to include the number of additional common shares that would have been outstanding if the potentially dilutive common shares had been issued.

The following table shows the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017:



In thousands, except per share amounts	Year ended December 31,
	2019			2018			2017
Numerator:
Net (loss) income attributable to U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc.	$	(329,082	)	$	(200,808	)	$	145,206

Denominator:
Weighted average shares outstanding	73,253			76,453			81,051
Diluted effect of stock awards	—			—			909
Weighted average shares outstanding assuming dilution	73,253			76,453			81,960

(Loss) earnings per share attributable to U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc.:
Basic (loss) earnings per share	$	(4.49	)	$	(2.63	)	$	1.79
Diluted (loss) earnings per share	$	(4.49	)	$	(2.63	)	$	1.77

Potentially dilutive shares (in thousands) of 68 and 443 for the year ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, were excluded from the calculation of diluted weighted average shares outstanding and diluted earnings per share because we were in a loss position. Certain stock options, restricted stock awards and performance share units were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because their effect would have been anti-dilutive. Such stock awards (in thousands) excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings (loss) per common share were as follows:



	Year ended December 31,
	2019	2018	2017
Stock options excluded	711	574	195
Restricted stock and performance share units awards excluded	1,298	155	305