Net Income per Common Share
Reconciliations of the numerator and denominator of the basic and diluted per share computations for the Company’s Class A and Class B common stock are summarized as follows:
Years ended July 31,
 202520242023
Numerator (in thousands):
Net Income (Numerator for basic and diluted income per Class A Nonvoting Common Share)$189,256 $197,215 $174,857 
Less:
Preferential dividends(736)(748)(769)
Preferential dividends on dilutive stock options(8)(5)(3)
Numerator for basic and diluted income per Class B Voting Common Share$188,512 $196,462 $174,085 
Denominator (in thousands):
Denominator for basic income per share for both Class A and Class B47,641 48,119 49,591 
Plus: Effect of dilutive equity awards451 377 278 
Denominator for diluted income per share for both Class A and Class B48,092 48,496 49,869 
Net income per Class A Nonvoting Common Share:
Basic$3.97 $4.10 $3.53 
Diluted$3.94 $4.07 $3.51 
Net income per Class B Voting Common Share:
Basic$3.96 $4.08 $3.51 
Diluted$3.92 $4.05 $3.49 
Potentially dilutive securities attributable to outstanding stock options and restricted stock units were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share where the combined exercise price and average unamortized fair value were greater than the average market price of Brady's Class A Nonvoting Common Stock because the effect would have been anti-dilutive. The amount of anti-dilutive shares were 4,319, 113,641, and 549,031 for the years ended July 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively.

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.