Earnings Per Share
The following table presents the calculations of basic and diluted earnings per share ($ in thousands, except per share amounts):

Year Ended December 31,
202520242023
Net income attributable to common stockholders - basic and diluted$141,976 $137,867 $135,597 
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic46,874,691 43,844,771 43,388,794 
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options 132,982 184,416 672 
Forward equity sales agreements44,090 73,449 — 
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted47,051,763 44,102,636 43,389,466 
Earnings per share:
Basic$3.03 $3.14 $3.13 
Diluted$3.02 $3.13 $3.13 
Anti-dilutive stock options excluded from above41,377235,344802,506
Dividends declared per share$3.64 $3.60 $3.60 

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.