Earnings Per Share

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

The weighted average common shares used in the computations of basic and diluted earnings per share (shares in thousands) were as follows:



	Three Months Ended March 31,		Six Months Ended March 31,
	2020	2019	2020	2019
Average common shares outstanding	272,014	269,882	271,555	269,454
Dilutive share equivalents from share-based plans	3,023	—	3,618	4,975
Average common and common equivalent shares outstanding – assuming dilution	275,037	269,882	275,173	274,429

Share equivalents excluded from the diluted shares outstanding calculation because the result would have been antidilutive:
Mandatory convertible preferred stock	11,685	11,685	11,685	11,685
Share-based plans	—	4,405	—	—

In accordance with the terms of the Company's mandatory convertible preferred stock, on the mandatory conversion date of May 1, 2020, the 2.475 million mandatory convertible preferred shares that were issued in May 2017 in connection with the Company's acquisition of C.R. Bard, Inc. ("Bard") were converted into 11.703 million shares of BD common stock.