Earnings per Common Share
Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS is similarly calculated except that the common shares outstanding for the period is increased using the treasury stock and as-if-converted methods to reflect the potential dilution that could occur if outstanding stock awards were vested or exercised at the end of the applicable period. Anti-dilutive shares represent potentially dilutive securities that are excluded from the computation of diluted income or loss per share as their impact would be anti-dilutive.
The following is a calculation of basic and diluted net earnings per common share under the two-class method:
 Year Ended December 31,
(In millions except per share amounts)202520242023
Income (Numerator)
Net income$1,717 $1,121 $1,625 
Less: dividends attributable to participating securities(1)(1)(5)
Net income available to common stockholders$1,716 $1,120 $1,620 
Shares (Denominator)
Weighted average shares - Basic761 742756
Dilution effect of stock awards at end of period34
Weighted average shares - Diluted764 745760
Earnings per share:
Basic$2.25 $1.51 $2.14 
Diluted$2.24 $1.50 $2.13 

The following is a calculation of weighted-average shares excluded from diluted EPS due to the anti-dilutive effect:
Year Ended December 31,
(In millions)202520242023
Weighted-average stock awards excluded from diluted EPS due to the anti-dilutive effect calculated using the treasury stock method

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.