Earnings per Share
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands, except per share amounts): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Three Months Ended | | Nine Months Ended | | September 23,
2016 | | September 25,
2015 | | September 23,
2016 | | September 25,
2015 | Net earnings available to common shareholders | $ | 54,388 |
| | $ | 50,691 |
| | $ | 144,887 |
| | $ | 292,169 |
| Weighted average shares outstanding for basic earnings per share | 55,684 |
| | 57,325 |
| | 55,571 |
| | 58,180 |
| Dilutive effect of stock options computed using the treasury stock method and the average market price | 1,285 |
| | 1,339 |
| | 1,335 |
| | 1,410 |
| Weighted average shares outstanding for diluted earnings per share | 56,969 |
| | 58,664 |
| | 56,906 |
| | 59,590 |
| Basic earnings per share | $ | 0.98 |
| | $ | 0.88 |
| | $ | 2.61 |
| | $ | 5.02 |
| Diluted earnings per share | $ | 0.95 |
| | $ | 0.86 |
| | $ | 2.55 |
| | $ | 4.90 |
|
Stock options to purchase 1,034,000 and 1,391,000 shares were not included in the September 23, 2016 and September 25, 2015 computations of diluted earnings per share, respectively, because they would have been anti-dilutive. |