Net Earnings Per Share

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

The following table sets forth the reconciliation of the numerator and denominator utilized in the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands):



	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2016		2015		2016		2015
Numerator for earnings per share:
Net earnings for basic and diluted earnings per share	$	58,633	$	73,072	$	105,126	$	171,482

Denominator for earnings per share:
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding	136,963		139,596		137,438		139,808
Assumed exercises of stock options and vesting of restricted stock awards, net of shares assumed reacquired under the treasury stock method	975		929		1,156		1,454
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding	137,938		140,525		138,594		141,262

The effect of outstanding stock-based compensation awards for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, which in the aggregate consisted of 322,000 and 317,000 shares, respectively; and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, which in the aggregate consisted of 457,000 and 316,000 shares, respectively, have been excluded for purposes of calculating diluted earnings per share since their inclusion would have an anti-dilutive effect.