Earnings Per Share (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2012

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Earnings per share

	Three months ended				Six months ended
	April 30,				April 30,
(In millions, except per share data)	2012		2011		2012		2011
Numerator for basic and diluted EPS
Net income attributable to Greif, Inc.	$	36.8	$	50.9	$	60.7	$	92.3
Cash dividends		24.5		24.5		48.8		48.8
Undistributed net income attributable to Greif, Inc.	$	12.3	$	26.4	$	11.9	$	43.5
Denominator for basic EPS
Class A common stock		25.1		24.8		25.1		24.8
Class B common stock		22.1		22.4		22.1		22.4
Denominator for diluted EPS
Class A common stock		25.3		25.1		25.2		25.1
Class B common stock		22.1		22.4		22.1		22.4
EPS Basic
Class A common stock	$	0.63	$	0.87	$	1.05	$	1.58
Class B common stock	$	0.95	$	1.31	$	1.56	$	2.37
EPS Diluted
Class A common stock	$	0.63	$	0.87	$	1.04	$	1.58
Class B common stock	$	0.95	$	1.31	$	1.56	$	2.37
Dividends per share
Class A common stock	$	0.42	$	0.42	$	0.84	$	0.84
Class B common stock	$	0.63	$	0.63	$	1.25	$	1.25

Summarization of the Company's Class A and Class B common and treasury shares

	Authorized Shares		Issued Shares		Outstanding Shares		Treasury Shares
October 31, 2011:
Class A Common Stock		128,000,000		42,281,920		24,972,029		17,309,891
Class B Common Stock		69,120,000		34,560,000		22,120,966		12,439,034
April 30, 2012:
Class A Common Stock		128,000,000		42,281,920		25,170,768		17,111,152
Class B Common Stock		69,120,000		34,560,000		22,119,966		12,440,034

Reconciliation of the shares used to calculate basic and diluted earnings per share

	Three months ended				Six months ended
	April 30,				April 30,
	2012		2011		2012		2011
Class A Common Stock:
Basic shares		25,149,691		24,825,768		25,101,280		24,806,813
Assumed conversion of stock options		143,133		281,076		137,914		275,747
Diluted shares		25,292,824		25,106,844		25,239,194		25,082,560
Class B Common Stock:
Basic and diluted shares		22,120,666		22,385,922		22,120,816		22,399,094