Computation of Earnings Per Common Share
Basic earnings per common share represents income available to common shareholders divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share includes additional common shares that would have been outstanding if dilutive potential common shares had been issued. For further information related to potential common shares that may be issued relate solely to outstanding shares in the Directors Plan and grant awards under the RSP, see "Note 8 – Benefit Plans."
Earnings per common share have been computed based on the following for the years ended December 31:
202420232022
Average number of common shares outstanding for basic calculation7,465,343 7,511,591 7,549,878 
Average potential effect of common shares in the Directors Plan (1)
— 34,962 70,329 
Average potential effect of common shares in the RSP17,031 28,939 27,405 
Average number of common shares outstanding used to calculate diluted earnings per common share7,482,374 7,575,492 7,647,612 
Net income$13,889 $18,167 $22,238 
Earnings per common share
Basic$1.86 $2.42 $2.95 
Diluted$1.86 $2.40 $2.91 
(1) Exclusive of shares held in the Rabbi Trust

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.