Earnings Per Share

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

EARNINGS PER SHARE

The following reconciliation details the denominator used in the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the periods indicated:


	Three Months Ended September 30,		Nine Months Ended September 30,
(In thousands)	2023	2022	2023	2022
Weighted average shares outstanding for basic earnings per share	25,340	25,447	25,293	25,398
Common stock equivalents pertaining to stock-based awards	164	153	112	122
Weighted average shares outstanding for diluted earnings per share	25,504	25,600	25,405	25,520

Equity instruments excluded from diluted net earnings per share calculation as the effect would have been antidilutive	167	113	164	112

For the Company's 1.125 percent convertible senior notes due 2026 (the "Convertible Notes") issued in May 2021, the dilutive effect is calculated using the if-converted method. The Company is required, pursuant to the indenture governing the Convertible Notes, dated May 13, 2021, by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the "Indenture"), to settle the principal amount of the Convertible Notes in cash and may elect to settle the remaining conversion obligation (i.e., the stock price in excess of the conversion price) in cash, shares of the Company's common stock, or a combination thereof. Under the if-converted method, the Company includes the number of shares required to satisfy the conversion obligation, assuming all the Convertible Notes are converted. Because the average closing price of the Company's common stock for each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, which is used as the basis for determining the dilutive effect on earnings per share, was less than the conversion price of $165.65, all associated shares were antidilutive.

In conjunction with the issuance of the Convertible Notes, the Company, in privately negotiated transactions with certain commercial banks (the "Counterparties"), sold warrants to purchase 2.8 million shares of the Company's common stock (the "Warrants"). The Warrants have a strike price of $259.84 per share, subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments. For calculating the dilutive effect of the Warrants, the Company uses the treasury stock method. With this method, the Company assumes exercise of the Warrants at the beginning of the period, or at time of issuance if later, and issuance of shares of common stock upon exercise. Proceeds from the exercise of the Warrants are assumed to be used to repurchase shares of the Company's common stock at the average market price during the period. The incremental shares, representing the number of shares assumed to be received upon the exercise of the Warrants less the number of shares repurchased, are included in diluted shares. For each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the average share price was below the Warrant strike price of $259.84 per share, and therefore 2.8 million shares were considered antidilutive.

In connection with the issuance of the Convertible Notes, the Company entered into privately negotiated call option contracts on the Company's common stock (the "Convertible Note Hedge Transactions") with the Counterparties. The Company paid an aggregate amount of $100.1 million to the Counterparties pursuant to the Convertible Note Hedge Transactions. The Convertible Note Hedge Transactions cover, subject to anti-dilution adjustments substantially similar to those in the Convertible Notes, approximately 2.8 million shares of the Company's common stock, the same number of shares initially underlying the Convertible Notes, at a strike price of approximately $165.65, subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments. The Convertible Note Hedge Transactions will expire upon the maturity of the Convertible Notes, subject to earlier exercise or termination. Exercise of the Convertible Note Hedge Transactions would reduce the number of shares of the Company's common stock outstanding, and therefore would be antidilutive.