19. Earnings per Share

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of the information used in computing basic and diluted earnings per share:



	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2018		2017		2018			2017
Earnings from continuing operations	$	157,305	$	159,455	$	433,170		$	457,018
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net	—		19,457		(4,472		)	58,199
Net earnings	$	157,305	$	178,912	$	428,698		$	515,217
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
Earnings from continuing operations	$	1.07	$	1.02	$	2.87		$	2.94
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net	$	—	$	0.12	$	(0.03	)	$	0.37
Net earnings	$	1.07	$	1.15	$	2.84		$	3.31

Weighted average shares outstanding	147,344,000		155,757,000		151,177,000			155,668,000
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
Earnings from continuing operations	$	1.05	$	1.01	$	2.82		$	2.90
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net	$	—	$	0.12	$	(0.03	)	$	0.37
Net earnings	$	1.05	$	1.14	$	2.79		$	3.27

Weighted average shares outstanding	149,457,000		157,555,000		153,429,000			157,565,000

The following table is a reconciliation of the share amounts used in computing earnings per share:



	Three Months Ended September 30,		Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2018	2017	2018	2017
Weighted average shares outstanding - Basic	147,344,000	155,757,000	151,177,000	155,668,000
Dilutive effect of assumed exercise of SARs and vesting of performance shares and RSUs	2,113,000	1,798,000	2,252,000	1,897,000
Weighted average shares outstanding - Diluted	149,457,000	157,555,000	153,429,000	157,565,000

Diluted earnings per share amounts are computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and, if dilutive, potential common shares outstanding during the period. Potential common shares consist of the incremental common shares issuable upon the exercise of SARs and vesting of performance shares and RSUs, as determined using the treasury stock method.

The weighted average number of anti-dilutive potential common shares excluded from the calculation above were approximately 10,000 and 87,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and 1,000 and 37,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.