19.
EARNINGS PER SHARE

The factors used in the earnings per share computation follow (dollars in thousands, except per share data):


 
December 31,
 
   
2024
    2023
   
2022
 
Net income
 
$
49,717
   
$
62,745
   
$
58,240
 
                         
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic
   
16,410,336
     
16,843,753
     
17,373,138
 
Effect of dilutive securities:
                       
Stock based compensation awards
    621,002       489,459       646,690  
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted
   
17,031,338
     
17,333,212
     
18,019,828
 
                         
Basic earnings per share
 
$
3.03
   
$
3.73
   
$
3.35
 
Diluted earnings per share
 
$
2.92
   
$
3.62
   
$
3.23
 

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.