Earnings per Share

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

8.	Earnings per Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net earnings per share (in millions, except per share data):


	Year Ended December 31,
	2017		2016		2015
Net earnings attributable to controlling interests	$	463.1	$	414.4	$	356.8

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding		180.1		177.6		172.2
Dilutive effect of stock options using the treasury stock method		2.0		0.8		1.0

Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding		182.1		178.4		173.2

Basic net earnings per share	$	2.57	$	2.33	$	2.07

Diluted net earnings per share	$	2.54	$	2.32	$	2.06

Options to purchase 1.3 million, 5.9 million and 3.5 million shares of our common stock were outstanding at December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, but were not included in the computation of the dilutive effect of stock options for the year then ended. These stock options were excluded from the computation because the options’ exercise prices were greater than the average market price of our common shares during the respective period and, therefore, would be anti-dilutive to earnings per share under the treasury stock method.