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 fiscal years ended September 30 are calculated as follows:



	2018		2017		2016
	(In thousands, except per share data)
Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share from continuing operations
Income from continuing operations	$	603,064	$	382,711	$	345,542
Less: Income from continuing operations allocated to participating securities	580		475		538
Income from continuing operations available to common shareholders	$	602,484	$	382,236	$	345,004
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding	111,012		106,100		103,524
Income from continuing operations per share — Basic and Diluted	$	5.43	$	3.60	$	3.33

Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share from discontinued operations
Income from discontinued operations	$	—	$	13,710	$	4,562
Less: Income from discontinued operations allocated to participating securities	—		12		8
Income from discontinued operations available to common shareholders	$	—	$	13,698	$	4,554
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding	111,012		106,100		103,524
Income from discontinued operations per share - Basic and Diluted	$	—	$	0.13	$	0.05
Net Income per share — Basic and Diluted	$	5.43	$	3.73	$	3.38