Earnings Per Share and Common Stock

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2023

Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) amounts are computed by dividing earnings, after the deduction of preferred stock dividends declared, by the average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted EPS amounts assume the issuance of common stock for all potentially dilutive share equivalents outstanding.

The information used to compute basic and diluted EPS attributable to Howmet common shareholders was as follows (shares in millions in table below):


	First quarter ended
	March 31,
	2023		2022


Net income attributable to common shareholders	$	148	$	131
Less: preferred stock dividends declared	1		1
Net income available to Howmet Aerospace common shareholders - basic and diluted	$	147	$	130



Average shares outstanding - basic	412		419
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock and performance awards	6		6


Average shares outstanding - diluted	418		425

Common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2023 and 2022 was approximately 412 million and 418 million, respectively.

On August 18, 2021, the Company announced that its Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program of up to $1,500 of the Company's outstanding common stock. After giving effect to the share repurchases made through March 31, 2023, approximately $922 Board authorization remains available. In the quarter ended March 31, 2023, the Company repurchased approximately 0.6 million shares of its common stock at an average price of $43.36 per share (excluding commissions cost) for approximately $25 in cash. In the quarter ended March 31, 2022, the Company repurchased approximately 5 million shares of its common stock at an average price of $34.00 per share (excluding commissions costs) for approximately $175 in cash. All of the shares repurchased have been retired.

Under the Company’s share repurchase program (the “Share Repurchase Program”), the Company may repurchase shares by means of trading plans established from time to time in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, block trades, private transactions, open market repurchases and/or accelerated share repurchase agreements, or other derivative transactions. There is no stated expiration for the Share Repurchase Program. Under its Share Repurchase Program, the Company may repurchase shares from time to time, in amounts, at prices, and at such times as the Company deems appropriate, subject to market conditions, legal requirements and other considerations. The Company is not obligated to repurchase any specific number of shares or to do so at any particular time, and the Share Repurchase Program may be suspended, modified or terminated at any time without prior notice.

The approximately 7 million decrease in average shares outstanding (basic) for the first quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter of 2022 was primarily due to the approximately 7 million shares repurchased between April 1, 2022 and March 31, 2023. As average shares outstanding are used in the calculation for both basic and diluted EPS, the full impact of share repurchases may not be fully realized in EPS in the period of repurchase since share repurchases may occur at varying points during a period.

There were no shares relating to outstanding stock options excluded from the calculation of average shares outstanding – diluted for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023 and 2022.