Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

INCOME TAXES

The Company’s effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was higher than the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21.0% primarily due to a $2.8 million non-cash tax impact from the re-measurement of our net deferred tax liabilities based on an increase in income attributable to states with higher tax rates compared to the prior year quarter, as well as state income taxes and certain expenses that are not deductible for income tax purposes. These increases were partially offset by tax benefits resulting from tax deductions from vesting of restricted stock units in excess of book deductions.

The Company's effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was lower than the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21.0% due a tax benefit resulting from tax deductions from vesting restricted stock units in excess of book deductions that were recognized. This benefit was partially offset by state income taxes and certain expenses that are not deductible for the purposes of income taxes.

We also recognized a $109.6 million deferred tax liability and a corresponding increase in our investment in unconsolidated affiliates related to an entity we acquired in conjunction with our acquisition of the Clairvest ownership. Refer to Note 12, Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Affiliates, for further information.