Earnings Per Share

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 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 and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 (dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts):


	Quarter				Nine Months
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Net income attributable to HCA Healthcare, Inc.	$	668	$	612	$	2,328	$	2,434

Weighted average common shares outstanding		338.168		340.789		338.057		341.932
Effect of dilutive incremental shares		5.178		6.698		4.957		6.780

Shares used for diluted earnings per share		343.346		347.487		343.014		348.712

Earnings per share:
Basic earnings	$	1.97	$	1.80	$	6.89	$	7.12
Diluted earnings	$	1.95	$	1.76	$	6.79	$	6.98