Calculation of Earnings per Share

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Calculation of Earnings per Share [Abstract]

Calculation of Earnings per Share

9. Calculation of Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income attributable to VCA Antech, Inc. by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding, after giving effect to all dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period. Basic and diluted earnings per share were calculated as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):

	Three Months  Ended September 30,				Nine Months  Ended September 30,
	2011		2010		2011		2010
Net income attributable to VCA Antech, Inc	$	30,169	$	27,431	$	98,620	$	88,770
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic		86,697		86,086		86,531		85,985
Effect of dilutive potential common shares:
Stock options		445		632		593		812
Nonvested shares		111		246		169		201
Diluted		87,253		86,964		87,293		86,998
Basic earnings per share	$	0.35	$	0.32	$	1.14	$	1.03
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.35	$	0.32	$	1.13	$	1.02

For the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, potential common shares of 2,104,547 and 1,162,389, respectively, were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because their inclusion would have had an antidilutive effect. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, potential common shares of 1,139,567 and 13,919, respectively, were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because their inclusion would have had an antidilutive effect.