Note 1 - Reconciliation of Earnings (Loss) and the Weighted Average Number of Shares (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Computation of Basic Earnings Per Share:
Income from continuing operations		$ 115,258	$ 280,759
Gain on sale of operating properties, net of tax		26,896	32,055
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(1,441)	(2,397)
Preferred stock dividends		(11,555)	(14,573)
Income from continuing operations available to the common shareholders		129,158	295,844
Earnings attributable to participating securities		(629)	(1,341)
Income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders		$ 128,529	294,503
Loss from discontinued operations attributable to the Company			(75)
Net income attributable to the Company’s common shareholders for basic earnings per share		$ 128,529	$ 294,428
Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic (in shares)		412,630	410,433
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)		$ 0.31	$ 0.72
Loss from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)
Net income (in dollars per share)		$ 0.31	$ 0.72
Computation of Diluted Earnings Per Share:
Income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders		$ 128,529	$ 294,503
Loss from discontinued operations attributable to the Company			(75)
Distributions on convertible units		$ 13	817
Net income attributable to the Company’s common shareholders for diluted earnings per share		$ 128,542	$ 295,245
Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic (in shares)		412,630	410,433
Effect of dilutive securities (a):
Equity awards (in shares)	[1]	1,453	3,393
Assumed conversion of convertible units (in shares)	[1]	62	1,570
Shares for diluted earnings per common share (in shares)		414,145	415,396
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)		$ 0.31	$ 0.71
Loss from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)
Net income attributable to the Company (in dollars per share)		$ 0.31	$ 0.71

[1] For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, the effect of certain convertible units would have an anti-dilutive effect upon the calculation of Income from continuing operations per share. Accordingly, the impact of such conversion has not been included in the determination of diluted earnings per share calculations. Additionally, there were 5,235,280 and 6,857,810 stock options that were not dilutive at March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.