Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Schedule of Capitalized Computer Software [Table Text Block]

The following table identifies the activity relating to total capitalized software:

In millions	2017			2016			2015
Beginning balance as of January 1	$	345		$	311		$	257
Capitalization	166			154			150
Amortization	(145		)	(118		)	(80		)
Impairment	—			(2		)	(16		)
Ending balance as of December 31	$	366		$	345		$	311

Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block]

The components of basic earnings (loss) per share are as follows:

In millions, except per share amounts	Twelve months ended December 31
	2017			2016			2015
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$	237		$	283		$	(154	)
Series A convertible preferred stock dividends	(47		)	(49		)	(4		)
Deemed dividend on modification of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock	(4		)	—			—
Deemed dividend on Series A Convertible Preferred Stock redemption	(58		)	—			—
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to NCR common stockholders	128			234			(158		)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(5		)	(13		)	(24		)
Net income (loss) attributable to NCR common stockholders	$	123		$	221		$	(182	)
Denominator
Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding	121.9			125.6			167.6
Basic earnings (loss) per share:
From continuing operations	$	1.05		$	1.86		$	(0.94	)
From discontinued operations	(0.04		)	(0.10		)	(0.15		)
Total basic earnings (loss) per share	$	1.01		$	1.76		$	(1.09	)

The components of diluted earnings (loss) per share are as follows:

In millions, except per share amounts	Twelve months ended December 31
	2017			2016			2015
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$	237		$	283		$	(154	)
Series A convertible preferred stock dividends	(47		)	—			(4		)
Deemed dividend on modification of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock	(4		)	—			—
Deemed dividend on Series A Convertible Preferred Stock redemption	(58		)	—			—
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to NCR common stockholders	128			283			(158		)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(5		)	(13		)	(24		)
Series A convertible preferred stock dividends	—			(49		)	—
Net income (loss) attributable to NCR common stockholders	$	123		$	221		$	(182	)
Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding	121.9			125.6			167.6
Dilutive effect of as-if Series A Convertible Preferred Stock	—			28.2			—
Dilutive effect of employee stock options and restricted stock units	5.1			3.6			—
Denominator - from continuing operations	127.0			157.4			167.6
Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding	121.9			125.6			167.6
Dilutive effect of employee stock options and restricted stock units	5.1			3.6			—
Denominator - total	127.0			129.2			167.6
Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
From continuing operations	$	1.01		$	1.80		$	(0.94	)
From discontinued operations	(0.04		)	(0.10		)	(0.15		)
Total diluted earnings (loss) per share	$	0.97		$	1.71		$	(1.09	)

For 2017, diluted earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations and total diluted earnings (loss) per share, it is more dilutive to assume the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock is not converted to common stock and therefore weighted average outstanding shares of common stock are not adjusted by the as-if converted Series A Convertible Preferred Stock shown above because the effect would be anti-dilutive. If the as-if converted Series A Convertible Preferred Stock had been dilutive, approximately 27.4 million additional shares, considering the existing and redeemed shares, would have been included in the diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding for the year ended December 31, 2017. For 2017, there were 0.8 million weighted anti-dilutive restricted stock units outstanding.

For 2016, diluted earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations, it is more dilutive to assume the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock is converted to common stock and therefore weighted average outstanding shares of common stock are adjusted by the as-if converted Series A Convertible Preferred Stock. For 2016, total diluted earnings (loss) per share, it is more dilutive to assume the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock is not converted to common stock and therefore weighted average outstanding shares of common stock are not adjusted by the as-if converted Series A Convertible Preferred Stock shown above because the effect would be anti-dilutive. Therefore, total diluted earnings (loss) per share less diluted earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations does not equal diluted earnings (loss) per share from discontinued operations. For 2016, there were 0.4 million weighted anti-dilutive restricted stock units outstanding.

For 2015, it is more dilutive to assume the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock is not converted to common stock and therefore weighted average outstanding shares of common stock are not adjusted by the as-if converted Series A Convertible Preferred Stock because the effect would be anti-dilutive. If the as-if converted Series A Convertible Preferred Stock had been dilutive, approximately 2.0 million additional shares would have been included in the diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding for the year ended December 31, 2015.

For 2015, due to the net loss attributable to NCR common stockholders, potential common shares that would cause dilution, such as the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, restricted stock units and stock options, have been excluded from the diluted share count because their effect would have been anti-dilutive. For the year ended December 31, 2015, the fully diluted shares would have been 172.2 million shares.