GREIF, INCGEF
GREIF, INC Earnings Per Share Disclosure
EARNINGS PER SHARE
The Company has two classes of common stock and, as such, applies the “two-class method” of computing earnings per share (“EPS”) as prescribed in ASC 260, “Earnings Per Share.” In accordance with this guidance, earnings are allocated in the same fashion as dividends would be distributed. Under the Company’s certificate of incorporation, any distribution of dividends in any year must be made in proportion of one cent a share for Class A Common Stock to one and one-half cents a share for Class B Common Stock, which results in a 40% to 60% split to Class A and B shareholders, respectively. In accordance with this, earnings are allocated first to Class A and Class B Common Stock to the extent that dividends are actually paid, and the remainder is allocated assuming all of the earnings for the period have been distributed in the form of dividends.
The Company calculates EPS as follows:
| Basic Class A EPS | = | 40% * Average Class A Shares Outstanding | * | Undistributed Net Income | + | Class A Dividends Per Share | ||||||||||||||
| 40% * Average Class A Shares Outstanding + 60% * Average Class B Shares Outstanding | Average Class A Shares Outstanding | |||||||||||||||||||
| Diluted Class A EPS | = | 40% * Average Class A Shares Outstanding | * | Undistributed Net Income | + | Class A Dividends Per Share | ||||||||||||||
| 40% * Average Class A Shares Outstanding + 60% * Average Class B Shares Outstanding | Average Diluted Class A Shares Outstanding | |||||||||||||||||||
| Basic Class B EPS | = | 60% * Average Class B Shares Outstanding | * | Undistributed Net Income | + | Class B Dividends Per Share | ||||||||||||||
| 40% * Average Class A Shares Outstanding + 60% * Average Class B Shares Outstanding | Average Class B Shares Outstanding | |||||||||||||||||||
| * Diluted Class B EPS calculation is identical to Basic Class B calculation | ||||||||||||||||||||
The following table provides EPS information for each period, respectively:
| Year Ended October 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| (in millions, except per share data) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||
| Numerator | |||||||||||||||||
| Numerator for basic and diluted EPS | |||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to Greif, Inc. | $ | 268.8 | $ | 359.2 | $ | 376.7 | |||||||||||
| Cash dividends | (121.0) | (116.5) | (111.3) | ||||||||||||||
| Undistributed net income attributable to Greif, Inc. | $ | 147.8 | $ | 242.7 | $ | 265.4 | |||||||||||
| Denominator | |||||||||||||||||
| Denominator for basic EPS – | |||||||||||||||||
| Class A common stock | 25.8 | 25.6 | 26.3 | ||||||||||||||
| Class B common stock | 21.3 | 21.5 | 22.0 | ||||||||||||||
| Denominator for diluted EPS – | |||||||||||||||||
| Class A common stock | 26.0 | 26.0 | 26.6 | ||||||||||||||
| Class B common stock | 21.3 | 21.5 | 22.0 | ||||||||||||||
| EPS Basic | |||||||||||||||||
| Class A common stock | $ | 4.66 | $ | 6.22 | $ | 6.36 | |||||||||||
| Class B common stock | $ | 6.98 | $ | 9.32 | $ | 9.53 | |||||||||||
| EPS Diluted | |||||||||||||||||
| Class A common stock | $ | 4.64 | $ | 6.15 | $ | 6.30 | |||||||||||
| Class B common stock | $ | 6.98 | $ | 9.32 | $ | 9.53 | |||||||||||
The Class A Common Stock has no voting rights unless four quarterly cumulative dividends upon the Class A Common Stock are in arrears. The Class B Common Stock has full voting rights. There is no cumulative voting for the election of directors.
Common Stock Repurchases
The Board of Directors has authorized the Company to repurchase shares of the Company's Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock or any combination of the foregoing. As of October 31, 2024, the remaining number of shares that may be repurchased under this authorization were 2,504,836. There were no shares repurchased during 2024.
The following table summarizes the Company’s Class A and Class B common and treasury shares at the specified dates:
| Authorized Shares | Issued Shares | Outstanding Shares | Treasury Shares | ||||||||||||||||||||
| October 31, 2024: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Class A common stock | 128,000,000 | 42,281,920 | 25,850,270 | 16,431,650 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Class B common stock | 69,120,000 | 34,560,000 | 21,331,127 | 13,228,873 | |||||||||||||||||||
| October 31, 2023: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Class A common stock | 128,000,000 | 42,281,920 | 25,474,254 | 16,807,666 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Class B common stock | 69,120,000 | 34,560,000 | 21,331,127 | 13,228,873 | |||||||||||||||||||
The following is a reconciliation of the shares used to calculate basic and diluted earnings per share:
| Year Ended October 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| Class A Common Stock: | |||||||||||||||||
| Basic shares | 25,751,386 | 25,592,928 | 26,251,536 | ||||||||||||||
| Assumed conversion of stock options and unvested shares | 226,015 | 406,303 | 359,176 | ||||||||||||||
| Diluted shares | 25,977,401 | 25,999,231 | 26,610,712 | ||||||||||||||
| Class B Common Stock: | |||||||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted shares | 21,331,127 | 21,472,531 | 21,995,865 | ||||||||||||||
Historical Timeline
| Fiscal Year | Filed | |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Dec 23, 2024 | Showing above |
| 2023 | Dec 18, 2023 | |
| 2022 | Dec 16, 2022 | |
| 2021 | Dec 16, 2021 | |
| 2020 | Dec 17, 2020 | |
| 2019 | Dec 18, 2019 | |
| 2018 | Dec 20, 2018 | |
| 2017 | Dec 20, 2017 | |
| 2016 | Dec 21, 2016 | |
| 2015 | Dec 21, 2015 | |
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.