Earnings Per Share and Dividends

6 Months Ended

Feb. 29, 2020

Earnings Per Share

The Company calculates its basic earnings per share by dividing net income attributable to the Company by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. The Company’s diluted earnings per share is calculated in a similar manner, but includes the effect of dilutive securities. The difference between the weighted average number of basic shares outstanding and the weighted average number of diluted shares outstanding is primarily due to dilutive unvested restricted stock units and dilutive stock appreciation rights.

Potential shares of common stock are excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share when their effect would be antidilutive. Performance-based restricted stock units are considered dilutive when the related performance criteria have been met assuming the end of the reporting period represents the end of the performance period. All potential shares of common stock are antidilutive in periods of net loss. Potential shares of common stock not included in the computation of earnings per share because their effect would have been antidilutive or because the performance criterion was not met were as follows (in thousands):



	Three months ended		Six months ended
	February 29, 2020	February 28, 2019	February 29, 2020	February 28, 2019
Restricted stock units	4,499	1,348	1,035	1,348
Employee stock purchase plan	164	—	—	—
Stock appreciation rights	28	—	—	—

Dividends

The following table sets forth cash dividends declared by the Company to common stockholders during the six months ended February 29, 2020 and February 28, 2019 (in thousands, except for per share data):



	Dividend Declaration Date	Dividend per Share		Total of Cash Dividends Declared		Date of Record for Dividend Payment	Dividend Cash Payment Date
Fiscal Year 2020:	October 17, 2019	$	0.08	$	12,647	November 15, 2019	December 2, 2019
	January 23, 2020	$	0.08	$	12,517	February 14, 2020	March 4, 2020
Fiscal Year 2019:	October 18, 2018	$	0.08	$	13,226	November 15, 2018	December 3, 2018
	January 24, 2019	$	0.08	$	12,706	February 15, 2019	March 1, 2019