6. Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share ("EPS") excludes dilution and is computed by dividing income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common stock that then shared in the earnings of the entity (such as the Company's dilutive stock options and restricted stock units).

The following is a reconciliation of basic and diluted EPS for the periods presented in the unaudited interim consolidated statements of income:

	Three months ended March 31,
	2018		2017
(In thousands, except per share data)
Basic EPS:
Weighted average common shares outstanding		43,663		43,513
Net income available to common stockholders	$	25,986	$	20,279
Basic EPS	$	0.60	$	0.47

Diluted EPS:
Weighted average common shares outstanding		43,663		43,513
Dilutive effect of common stock options and restricted stock		312		370
Weighted average common shares and common share equivalents		43,975		43,883
Net income available to common stockholders	$	25,986	$	20,279
Diluted EPS	$	0.59	$	0.46

There were 1,500 and 783 stock options for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017, respectively, that were not considered in the calculation of diluted EPS since the stock options' exercise price was greater than the average market price during these periods.