Earnings Per Share

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

NOTE 5 — EARNINGS PER SHARE

We compute basic earnings per share using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. We compute diluted earnings per share using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus the dilutive effect of outstanding stock options, SARs, RSUs and PSUs, computed using the treasury stock method. During 2017, 2016 and 2015, we repurchased 25.092 million shares, 36.325 million shares and 31.991 million shares, respectively, of our common stock. The following table sets forth the computations of basic and diluted earnings per share for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 (dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts):


	2017		2016		2015
Net income attributable to HCA Healthcare, Inc.	$	2,216	$	2,890	$	2,129
Weighted average common shares outstanding		362.305		383.591		414.193
Effect of dilutive incremental shares		9.916		12.260		12.528

Shares used for diluted earnings per share		372.221		395.851		426.721

Earnings per share:
Basic earnings per share	$	6.12	$	7.53	$	5.14
Diluted earnings per share	$	5.95	$	7.30	$	4.99