STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY AND EARNINGS PER SHARE

6 Months Ended

Feb. 28, 2023

Stockholder's equity and earnings per share

NOTE 13. STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic earnings per share ("EPS") is computed based on the weighted average shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Restricted stock is included in the number of shares of common stock issued and outstanding but omitted from the basic EPS calculation until the shares vest. Diluted EPS is computed based on the weighted average shares of common stock plus the effect of dilutive securities outstanding during the period using the treasury stock method. The effect of dilutive securities includes the impact of outstanding stock-based incentive awards and shares purchased by employees through participation in the Company's employee stock purchase plan.

The calculations of basic and diluted EPS were as follows:


	Three Months Ended February 28,				Six Months Ended February 28,
(in thousands, except share and per share data)	2023		2022		2023		2022
Net earnings	$	179,849	$	383,314	$	441,623	$	616,203

Average basic shares outstanding	117,224,517		121,458,196		117,249,266		121,293,030
Effect of dilutive securities	1,498,742		1,394,214		1,735,832		1,454,951
Average diluted shares outstanding	118,723,259		122,852,410		118,985,098		122,747,981

Earnings per share:
Basic	$	1.53	$	3.16	$	3.77	$	5.08
Diluted	$	1.51	$	3.12	$	3.71	$	5.02

Anti-dilutive shares not included above were immaterial for all periods presented.

In October 2021, the Company's Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program under which the Company may repurchase up to $350.0 million of shares of CMC common stock. During the three and six months ended February 28, 2023, the Company repurchased 330,000 and 1,605,452 shares of CMC common stock, respectively, at an average purchase price of $52.04 and $41.31 per share, respectively. The Company had remaining authorization to repurchase $121.8 million of shares of CMC common stock at February 28, 2023.