NOTE 13: EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic Earnings Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders

We compute basic earnings per share (“Basic EPS”) by dividing net income attributable to TripAdvisor by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. We compute the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period using the total of common stock and Class B common stock outstanding as of the last day of the previous year end reporting period plus the weighted average of any additional shares issued and outstanding less the weighted average of any treasury shares repurchased during the reporting period.

Diluted Earnings Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders

We compute diluted earnings per share (“Diluted EPS”) by dividing net income attributable to TripAdvisor by the sum of the weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding during the period. We computed the weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding during the period using the sum of (i) the number of shares of common stock and Class B common stock used in the basic earnings per share calculation as indicated above, and (ii) if dilutive, the incremental weighted average common stock that we would issue upon the assumed exercise of outstanding common equivalent shares related to stock options and the vesting of restricted stock units using the treasury stock method, and (iii) if dilutive, performance based awards based on the number of shares that would be issuable as of the end of the reporting period assuming the end of the reporting period was also the end of the contingency period.

Under the treasury stock method, the assumed proceeds calculation includes the actual proceeds to be received from the employee upon exercise, the average unrecognized compensation cost during the period and any tax benefits credited upon exercise to additional paid-in-capital. The treasury stock method assumes that a company uses the proceeds from the exercise of an award to repurchase common stock at the average market price for the period. Windfall tax benefits created upon the exercise of an award would be added to assumed proceeds, while shortfalls charged to additional paid-in-capital would be deducted from assumed proceeds. Any shortfalls not covered by the windfall tax pool would be charged to the income statement and would be excluded from the calculation of assumed proceeds, if any.

Below is a reconciliation of the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding in calculating Diluted EPS (shares in thousands and dollars in millions, except per share amounts) for the periods presented:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2015		2014
Numerator:
Net income	$	63	$	68
Denominator:
Weighted average shares used to compute Basic EPS		143,145		142,399
Weighted average effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options		2,417		2,884
RSUs		310		382
Weighted average shares used to compute Diluted EPS		145,872		145,665
Basic EPS	$	0.44	$	0.48
Diluted EPS	$	0.43	$	0.47

The following potential common shares related to stock options and RSUs were excluded from the calculation of Diluted EPS because their effect would have been anti-dilutive for the periods presented (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2015(1)		2014(2)
Stock options		2,141		1,688
RSUs		840		439
Total		2,981		2,127

(1)

These totals do not include 66,666 performance based options representing the right to acquire 66,666 shares of common stock for which all targets required to trigger vesting have not been achieved; therefore, such awards were excluded from the calculation of weighted average shares used to compute Diluted EPS for those reporting periods.

(2)

These totals do not include 121,666 performance based options and 44,000 performance based RSUs representing the right to acquire 165,666 shares of common stock for which all targets required to trigger vesting have not been achieved; therefore, such awards were excluded from the calculation of weighted average shares used to compute Diluted EPS for those reporting periods.

The earnings per share amounts are the same for common stock and Class B common stock because the holders of each class are legally entitled to equal per share distributions whether through dividends or in liquidation.