Earnings Per Share

12 Months Ended

Sep. 26, 2014

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Earnings Per Share

13. EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic net earnings per share is computed by dividing net earnings by the weighted average number of shares of VMS common stock outstanding for the period. Diluted net earnings per share is computed by dividing net earnings by the sum of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and dilutive common shares under the treasury stock method.

The following table sets forth the computation of net basic and diluted earnings per share:

	Fiscal Years
(In thousands, except per share amounts)	2014		2013		2012
Net earnings	$	403,703	$	438,248	$	427,049
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic		103,964		108,352		111,376
Dilutive effect of potential common shares		1,307		1,701		2,097
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted		105,271		110,053		113,473
Net earnings per share - basic	$	3.88	$	4.04	$	3.83
Net earnings per share - diluted	$	3.83	$	3.98	$	3.76
Anti-dilutive employee shared based awards, excluded		632		707		249

The Company excludes potentially dilutive common shares (consisting of shares underlying stock options, restricted stock units, performance units and the Employee Stock Purchase Plan) from the computation of diluted weighted average shares outstanding if the per share value, either the exercise price of the awards or the sum of (a) the exercise price of the awards and (b) the amount of the compensation cost attributed to future services and not yet recognized and (c) the amount of tax benefit or shortfall that would be recorded in additional paid-in capital when the award becomes deductible, is greater than the average market price of the shares, because the inclusion of the shares underlying these stock awards would be antidilutive to earnings per share.