EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
The following table presents a comparison of earnings (loss) per common share and earnings (loss) per diluted common share:
At and year ended December 31,202520242023
Earnings per common share
Net income$1,008,898 $1,081,786 $376,292 
Less: Preferred share dividends30,250 30,250 30,250 
Net income available to common shareholders$978,648 $1,051,536 $346,042 
Weighted average common shares outstanding78,192 84,165 85,142 
Earnings per common share$12.52 $12.49 $4.06 
Earnings per diluted common share
Net income available to common shareholders$978,648 $1,051,536 $346,042 
Weighted average common shares outstanding78,192 84,165 85,142 
Share-based compensation plans1,074 1,011 870 
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding79,266 85,176 86,012 
Earnings per diluted common share$12.35 $12.35 $4.02 
Weighted average anti-dilutive shares excluded from the dilutive computation14 192 405 

About Earnings Per Share Disclosures

The earnings per share disclosure breaks down the calculation from net income to both basic and diluted EPS, revealing the full impact of a company's capital structure on per-share economics. The reconciliation between basic and diluted share counts exposes how many stock options, RSUs, convertible securities, and warrants are potentially dilutive to existing shareholders.

Key signals: a widening gap between basic and diluted shares indicates growing dilution from equity compensation or convertible instruments. Anti-dilutive securities excluded from the diluted calculation deserve attention — they represent latent dilution that will materialize if the stock price rises. Watch for the effect of share buybacks on per-share metrics: EPS growth driven primarily by repurchases rather than income growth signals weakening fundamentals. Compare year-over-year changes in the diluted share count against equity compensation expense to assess whether management is effectively managing dilution.