Earnings Per Share

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

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 2018, 2017 and 2016, we repurchased 14.070 million shares, 25.092 million shares and 36.325 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, 2018, 2017 and 2016 (dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts):


	2018		2017		2016
Net income attributable to HCA Healthcare, Inc.	$	3,787	$	2,216	$	2,890
Weighted average common shares outstanding		347.297		362.305		383.591
Effect of dilutive incremental shares		8.006		9.916		12.260

Shares used for diluted earnings per share		355.303		372.221		395.851

Earnings per share:
Basic earnings per share	$	10.90	$	6.12	$	7.53
Diluted earnings per share	$	10.66	$	5.95	$	7.30