Earnings Per Share

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

NOTE 4 — 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 equity awards and potential shares, computed using the treasury stock method.

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the quarters ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 (dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts):


	2020		2019
Net income attributable to HCA Healthcare, Inc.	$	581	$	1,039
Weighted average common shares outstanding		338.242		342.876
Effect of dilutive incremental shares		5.854		7.440

Shares used for diluted earnings per share		344.096		350.316

Earnings per share:
Basic earnings	$	1.72	$	3.03
Diluted earnings	$	1.69	$	2.97