Earnings Per Share

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

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 2020, 2019 and 2018, we repurchased 3.287 million shares, 7.949 million shares and 14.070 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, 2020, 2019 and 2018 (dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts):


	2020		2019		2018
Net income attributable to HCA Healthcare, Inc.	$	3,754	$	3,505	$	3,787

Weighted average common shares outstanding		338.274		341.210		347.297
Effect of dilutive incremental shares		5.331		7.016		8.006

Shares used for diluted earnings per share		343.605		348.226		355.303

Earnings per share:
Basic earnings per share	$	11.10	$	10.27	$	10.90
Diluted earnings per share	$	10.93	$	10.07	$	10.66