Earnings Per Share (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2017

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Computation of Class Based Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share

The Company calculates EPS as follows:

Basic	=	40% * Average Class A Shares Outstanding	*	Undistributed Net Income	+	Class A Dividends Per Share
Class A EPS		40% * Average Class A Shares Outstanding + 60% * Average Class B Shares Outstanding		Average Class A Shares Outstanding
Diluted	=	40% * Average Class A Shares Outstanding	*	Undistributed Net Income	+	Class A Dividends Per Share
Class A EPS		40% * Average Class A Shares Outstanding + 60% * Average Class B Shares Outstanding		Average Diluted Class A Shares Outstanding
Basic	=	60% * Average Class B Shares Outstanding	*	Undistributed Net Income	+	Class B Dividends Per Share
Class B EPS		40% * Average Class A Shares Outstanding + 60% * Average Class B Shares Outstanding		Average Class B Shares Outstanding
		*  Diluted Class B EPS calculation is identical to Basic Class B calculation

Computation of Earnings Per Share Basic and Diluted

The following table provides EPS information for each period, respectively:

	Year Ended October 31,
(in millions, except per share data)	2017		2016			2015
Numerator
Numerator for basic and diluted EPS –
Net income attributable to Greif	$	118.6	$	74.9		$	71.9
Cash dividends	98.6		98.7			98.7
Undistributed net loss attributable to Greif, Inc.	$	20.0	$	(23.8	)	$	(26.8	)
Denominator
Denominator for basic EPS –
Class A common stock	25.8		25.8			25.7
Class B common stock	22.0		22.1			22.1
Denominator for diluted EPS –
Class A common stock	25.8		25.8			25.7
Class B common stock	22.0		22.1			22.1
EPS Basic
Class A common stock	$	2.02	$	1.28		$	1.23
Class B common stock	$	3.02	$	1.90		$	1.83
EPS Diluted
Class A common stock	$	2.02	$	1.28		$	1.23
Class B common stock	$	3.02	$	1.90		$	1.83

Summarization of Company's Class A and Class B Common and Treasury Shares

The following table summarizes the Company’s Class A and Class B common and treasury shares at the specified dates:

	Authorized Shares	Issued Shares	Outstanding Shares	Treasury Shares
October 31, 2017:
Class A Common Stock	128,000,000	42,281,920	25,835,281	16,446,639
Class B Common Stock	69,120,000	34,560,000	22,007,725	12,552,275
October 31, 2016:
Class A Common Stock	128,000,000	42,281,920	25,781,791	16,500,129
Class B Common Stock	69,120,000	34,560,000	22,009,725	12,550,275

Reconciliation of Shares Used to Calculate Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share

The following is a reconciliation of the shares used to calculate basic and diluted earnings per share:

	Year Ended October 31,
	2017	2016	2015
Class A Common Stock:
Basic shares	25,820,470	25,755,545	25,668,204
Assumed conversion of stock options and unvested shares	2,470	1,348	5,901
Diluted shares	25,822,940	25,756,893	25,674,105
Class B Common Stock:
Basic and diluted shares	22,009,193	22,062,089	22,119,966