Earnings Per Share:

Basic and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations are calculated as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):



	Year Ended December 31,
	2018			2017			2016
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations
Numerator:
Net income from continuing operations	$	739,139		$	99,468		$	478,638
Net income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	(45,577		)	(44,618		)	(37,094		)
Net income from continuing operations attributable to Albemarle Corporation	$	693,562		$	54,850		$	441,544
Denominator:
Weighted-average common shares for basic earnings per share	108,427			110,914			112,379
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations	$	6.40		$	0.49		$	3.93
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations
Numerator:
Net income from continuing operations	$	739,139		$	99,468		$	478,638
Net income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	(45,577		)	(44,618		)	(37,094		)
Net income from continuing operations attributable to Albemarle Corporation	$	693,562		$	54,850		$	441,544
Denominator:
Weighted-average common shares for basic earnings per share	108,427			110,914			112,379
Incremental shares under stock compensation plans	1,031			1,466			860
Weighted-average common shares for diluted earnings per share	109,458			112,380			113,239
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations	$	6.34		$	0.49		$	3.90

At December 31, 2018, there were 123,730 common stock equivalents not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because their effect would have been anti-dilutive.

Included in the calculation of basic earnings per share are unvested restricted stock awards that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends. At December 31, 2018, there were 8,400 unvested shares of restricted stock awards outstanding.

We have the authority to issue 15 million shares of preferred stock in one or more classes or series. As of December 31, 2018, no shares of preferred stock have been issued.

In November 2016, our Board of Directors authorized an increase in the number of shares the Company is permitted to repurchase under our share repurchase program, pursuant to which the Company is now permitted to repurchase up to a maximum of 15 million shares, including those previously authorized but not yet repurchased.

Under our existing Board authorized share repurchase program, during 2018, the Company entered into two separate accelerated share repurchase (“ASR”) agreements with financial institutions. Under each ASR agreement, the Company paid $250 million from available cash on hand. Under the terms of the first ASR agreement, which was completed on September 28, 2018, the Company received and retired a total of 2,680,704 shares, calculated based on the daily Rule 10b-18 volume-weighted average prices of the Company’s common stock over the term of the ASR agreement, less an agreed discount. Under the terms of the second ASR agreement, which was completed on December 7, 2018, the company received and retired a total of 2,581,950 shares, calculated based on the daily Rule 10b-18 weighted average prices of the Company’s common stock over the terms of the ASR agreement, less an agreed discount. The Company determined that each ASR agreement met the criteria to be accounted for as a forward contract indexed to its stock and was therefore treated as an equity instrument. In total, we received and retired 5,262,654 shares under these agreements, which reduced the Company’s weighted average shares outstanding for purposes of calculating basic and diluted earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Under our existing Board authorized share repurchase program, the Company entered into an ASR agreement with a financial institution on March 1, 2017. Under the ASR agreement, in March 2017, the Company paid $250 million from available cash on hand and received and retired an initial delivery of 1,948,178 shares of our common stock. Under the terms of the ASR agreement, on June 16, 2017, the transaction was completed and we received and retired a final settlement of 392,905 shares, calculated based on the daily Rule 10b-18 volume-weighted average prices of the Company’s common stock over the term of the ASR agreement, less an agreed discount. The Company determined that the ASR agreement met the criteria to be accounted for as a forward contract indexed to its stock and was therefore treated as an equity instrument. In total, we received and retired 2,341,083 shares under the ASR agreement, which reduced the Company’s weighted average shares outstanding for purposes of calculating basic and diluted earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2017.

There were no shares of the Company’s common stock repurchased during the year ended December 31, 2016. As of December 31, 2018, there were 7,396,263 remaining shares available for repurchase under the Company’s authorized share repurchase program.