EARNINGS PER SHARE
The following reconciliation details the denominator used in the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the years ended December 31:
(In thousands)202520242023
Weighted average shares outstanding for basic earnings per share24,803 25,447 25,305 
Common stock equivalents pertaining to stock-based awards52 60 131 
Weighted average shares outstanding for diluted earnings per share24,855 25,507 25,436 
Equity instruments excluded from diluted net earnings per share calculation as the effect would have been anti-dilutive254 242 165 
2030 Convertible Notes

For the Company's 3.000 percent convertible senior notes due 2030 (the "2030 Convertible Notes") issued in March 2025, the dilutive effect is calculated using the if-converted method. The Company is required, pursuant to the indenture governing the 2030 Convertible Notes, dated March 14, 2025, by and between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the "2030 Notes Indenture”), to settle the principal amount of the 2030 Convertible Notes in cash and may elect to settle the remaining conversion obligation (i.e., the stock price in excess of the conversion price) in cash,
shares of the Company’s common stock, or a combination thereof. Under the if-converted method, the Company includes the number of shares required to satisfy the conversion obligation, assuming all the 2030 Convertible Notes are converted. Because the average closing price of the Company’s common stock for the period from issuance through December 31, 2025, which is used as the basis for determining the dilutive effect on earnings per share, was less than the conversion price of $116.62, all associated shares were antidilutive.

In conjunction with the issuance of the 2030 Convertible Notes, the Company, in privately negotiated transactions with certain commercial banks (the “2030 Counterparties”), sold warrants to purchase 3.9 million shares of the Company’s common stock (the “2030 Warrants”). The 2030 Warrants have a strike price of $182.94 per share, subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments. For calculating the dilutive effect of the 2030 Warrants, the Company uses the treasury stock method, which assumes exercise of the 2030 Warrants at the beginning of the period, or at time of issuance if later, and issuance of shares of common stock upon exercise. Proceeds from the exercise of the 2030 Warrants are assumed to be used to repurchase shares of the Company’s common stock at the average market price during the period. The incremental shares, representing the number of shares assumed to be received upon the exercise of the 2030 Warrants less the number of shares repurchased, are included in diluted shares. For the period from issuance through December 31, 2025, the average share price was below the Warrant strike price of $182.94 per share, and therefore 3.9 million shares were considered antidilutive.

In connection with the issuance of the 2030 Convertible Notes, the Company entered into privately negotiated call option contracts on the Company’s common stock (the “2030 Convertible Note Hedge Transactions”) with the 2030 Counterparties. The aggregate cost to the Company of the 2030 Convertible Note Hedge Transactions was $67.6 million pursuant to the 2030 Convertible Note Hedge Transactions. The 2030 Convertible Note Hedge Transactions cover, subject to anti-dilution adjustments substantially similar to those in the 2030 Convertible Notes, approximately 3.9 million shares of the Company’s common stock, the same number of shares initially underlying the 2030 Convertible Notes, at a strike price of approximately $116.62, subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments. The 2030 Convertible Note Hedge Transactions will expire upon the maturity of the 2030 Convertible Notes, subject to earlier exercise or termination. Exercise of the 2030 Convertible Note Hedge Transactions would reduce the number of shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding, and therefore would be antidilutive.

2026 Convertible Notes

For the Company's 1.125 percent convertible senior notes due 2026 (the "2026 Convertible Notes") issued in May 2021, the dilutive effect is calculated using the if-converted method. The Company is required, pursuant to the indenture governing the 2026 Convertible Notes, dated May 13, 2021, by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the "2026 Notes Indenture"), to settle the principal amount of the 2026 Convertible Notes in cash and may elect to settle the remaining conversion obligation (i.e., the stock price in excess of the conversion price) in cash, shares of the Company's common stock, or a combination thereof. Under the if-converted method, the Company includes the number of shares required to satisfy the conversion obligation, assuming all the 2026 Convertible Notes are converted. Because the average closing price of the Company's common stock for the year ended December 31, 2025, which is used as the basis for determining the dilutive effect on earnings per share, was less than the conversion price of $165.65, all associated shares were antidilutive.

In conjunction with the issuance of the 2026 Convertible Notes, the Company, in privately negotiated transactions with certain commercial banks (the "2026 Counterparties"), sold warrants to purchase 2.8 million shares of the Company's common stock (the "2026 Warrants"). The 2026 Warrants have a strike price of $259.84 per share, subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments. For calculating the dilutive effect of the 2026 Warrants, the Company uses the treasury stock method, which assumes exercise of the 2026 Warrants at the beginning of the period, or at time of issuance if later, and issuance of shares of common stock upon exercise. Proceeds from the exercise of the 2026 Warrants are assumed to be used to repurchase shares of the Company's common stock at the average market price during the period. The incremental shares, representing the number of shares assumed to be received upon the exercise of the 2026 Warrants less the number of shares repurchased, are included in diluted shares. Concurrently with the 2026 Convertible Note Repurchases (as defined below), we entered into agreements to terminate a proportionate amount of the 2026 Warrants, which resulted in a reduction of the number of shares of common stock underlying the 2026 Warrants to an aggregate of 0.6 million shares of common stock. For the year ended December 31, 2025, the average share price was below the 2026 Warrant strike price of $259.84 per share, and therefore 2.8 million shares were considered antidilutive.

In connection with the issuance of the 2026 Convertible Notes, the Company entered into privately negotiated call option contracts on the Company's common stock (the "2026 Convertible Note Hedge Transactions") with the 2026 Counterparties. The Company paid an aggregate amount of $100.1 million to the 2026 Counterparties pursuant to the 2026
Convertible Note Hedge Transactions. The 2026 Convertible Note Hedge Transactions initially covered, subject to anti-dilution adjustments substantially similar to those in the 2026 Convertible Notes, approximately 2.8 million shares of the Company's common stock, the same number of shares initially underlying the 2026 Convertible Notes, at a strike price of approximately $165.65, subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments. The 2026 Convertible Note Hedge Transactions will expire upon the maturity of the 2026 Convertible Notes, subject to earlier exercise or termination. Concurrently with the 2026 Convertible Note Repurchases, we entered into agreements to terminate a proportionate amount of the 2026 Convertible Note Hedge Transactions, which resulted in a reduction of the number of shares of common stock underlying the 2026 Convertible Note Hedge Transactions to an aggregate of 0.6 million shares of common stock. Exercise of the 2026 Convertible Note Hedge Transactions would reduce the number of shares of the Company's common stock outstanding, and therefore would be antidilutive.

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2025Feb 26, 2026Showing above
2024Feb 21, 2025
2023Feb 23, 2024
2022Feb 24, 2023
2021Feb 25, 2022

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.