Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding. Diluted EPS includes the components of basic EPS and also gives effect to dilutive common stock equivalents. We calculate diluted EPS using the treasury stock method and if-converted method. Under the if-converted method, diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if our convertible debt instruments result in the issuance of common stock. The determination of potentially issuable shares does not consider the satisfaction of the conversion requirements and the shares are included in the determination of diluted EPS as of the beginning of the period, if dilutive. During the quarter ended June 30, 2017, we had several debt issuances that could result in contingently issuable shares and consider each potential issuance of shares separately to reflect the maximum potential dilution. Nonetheless, our dilutive common stock equivalents may not reflect all of the contingently issuable shares that could be required to be issued upon any debt conversion. For purposes of calculating basic and diluted EPS, vested restricted stock and restricted stock units ("RSUs") are considered outstanding.

The following table reconciles the numerators and denominators used to calculate basic and diluted EPS.



	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
(In thousands, except per share data)	2017		2016		2017		2016
Basic earnings per share:
Net income	$	118,622	$	109,221	$	208,420	$	178,412
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic	366,918		340,678		354,035		340,411
Basic earnings per share	$	0.32	$	0.32	$	0.59	$	0.52

Diluted earnings per share:
Net income	$	118,622	$	109,221	$	208,420	$	178,412
Interest expense, net of tax ⁽¹⁾:
2% Notes	84		1,982		907		3,964
5% Notes	427		1,728		1,709		4,406
9% Debentures	3,757		3,757		7,514		8,379
Diluted income available to common shareholders	$	122,890	$	116,688	$	218,550	$	195,161

Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic	366,918		340,678		354,035		340,411
Effect of dilutive securities:
Unvested RSUs	1,140		1,209		1,314		1,444
2% Notes	3,827		71,917		16,771		71,917
5% Notes	3,557		13,307		7,154		15,449
9% Debentures	19,028		19,028		19,028		21,133
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted	394,470		446,139		398,302		450,354
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.31	$	0.26	$	0.55	$	0.43


⁽¹⁾	Tax effected at a rate of 35%.