11.EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE

Net earnings attributable to The Kroger Co. per basic common share equals net earnings attributable to The Kroger Co. less income allocated to participating securities divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Net earnings attributable to The Kroger Co. per diluted common share equals net earnings attributable to The Kroger Co. less income allocated to participating securities divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding, after giving effect to dilutive stock options. The following table provides a reconciliation of net earnings attributable to The Kroger Co. and shares used in calculating net earnings attributable to The Kroger Co. per basic common share to those used in calculating net earnings attributable to The Kroger Co. per diluted common share:


	For the year ended					For the year ended					For the year ended
	February 3, 2018					January 28, 2017					January 30, 2016
				Per					Per					Per
	Earnings		Shares	Share		Earnings		Shares	Share		Earnings		Shares	Share
(in millions, except per share amounts)	(Numerator)		(Denominator)	Amount		(Numerator)		(Denominator)	Amount		(Numerator)		(Denominator)	Amount
Net earnings attributable to The Kroger Co. per basic common share	$	1,890	895	$	2.11	$	1,959	942	$	2.08	$	2,021	966	$	2.09
Dilutive effect of stock options			9					16					14

Net earnings attributable to The Kroger Co. per diluted common share	$	1,890	904	$	2.09	$	1,959	958	$	2.05	$	2,021	980	$	2.06

The Company had combined undistributed and distributed earnings to participating securities totaling $17, $16 and $18 in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

The Company had options outstanding for approximately 15.6 million, 7.1 million and 1.9 million shares, respectively, for the years ended February 3, 2018, January 28, 2017 and January 30, 2016, which were excluded from the computations of net earnings per diluted common share because their inclusion would have had an anti-dilutive effect on net earnings per diluted share.