EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Earnings per Common Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:


(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)	2023		2022		2021
Numerator
Net income	$	255,863	$	217,612	$	205,160

Denominator
Basic earnings per common share - weighted average shares	93,938,772		93,528,712		95,034,690
Effect of dilutive securities
Employee stock awards	1,157,295		1,058,139		862,695

Diluted earnings per common share - adjusted weighted average shares	95,096,067		94,586,851		95,897,385

Earnings per share available to common shareholders
Basic	$	2.72	$	2.33	$	2.16
Diluted	$	2.69	$	2.30	$	2.14

Stock options and warrants with exercise prices greater than the average market price of the common shares are excluded from the computation of net income per diluted share, as they would be antidilutive. Using the end of period price of the Company's common shares, there were no antidilutive options at December 31, 2023, 2022, or 2021.

As of December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, First Financial was authorized to issue 10,000,000 preferred shares; however, no preferred shares were issued or outstanding.