Earnings Per Share

We use the two-class method of computing earnings per share because we have participating securities in the form of non-vested restricted stock units with a nonforfeitable right to dividend equivalents, for which vesting is predicated solely on the passage of time. The calculation of earnings per share using the two-class method excludes income attributable to these participating securities from the numerator and excludes the dilutive impact of those shares from the denominator. Basic and diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 are calculated as follows:



	Three Months Ended June 30				Nine Months Ended June 30
	2018		2017		2018		2017
	(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share from continuing operations
Income from continuing operations	$	71,193	$	70,808	$	564,317	$	346,858
Less: Income from continuing operations allocated to participating securities	59		75		545		424
Income from continuing operations available to common shareholders	$	71,134	$	70,733	$	563,772	$	346,434
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding	111,851		106,364		110,707		105,862
Income from continuing operations per share — Basic and Diluted	$	0.64	$	0.67	$	5.09	$	3.27

Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share from discontinued operations
Income from discontinued operations	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	13,710
Less: Income from discontinued operations allocated to participating securities	—		—		—		15
Income from discontinued operations available to common shareholders	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	13,695
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding	111,851		106,364		110,707		105,862
Income from discontinued operations per share — Basic and Diluted	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	0.13
Net income per share — Basic and Diluted	$	0.64	$	0.67	$	5.09	$	3.40