Weighted Average Shares Outstanding

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding [Text Block]

NOTE J – WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING


	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in millions)	2021	2020
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	1,418.7	1,397.4
Net effect of common stock equivalents	12.1	16.1
Weighted average shares outstanding - assuming dilution	1,430.8	1,413.5

The following securities were excluded from the calculation of weighted average shares outstanding - assuming dilution because their effect in the periods presented below would have been anti-dilutive:


	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in millions)	2021	2020

Stock options outstanding(1)	6	6
MCPS(2)	24	n/a

(1) Represents stock options outstanding pursuant to our employee stock-based compensation plans with exercise prices that were greater than the average fair market value of our common stock for the related periods.

(2) Represents common stock issuable upon the conversion of MCPS. Refer to Note I – Stockholders' Equity for additional information.

We base Net income (loss) per common share - assuming dilution upon the weighted-average number of common shares and common stock equivalents outstanding during each year. Potential common stock equivalents are determined using the treasury stock method. We exclude stock options, stock awards and MCPS from the calculation if the effect would be anti-dilutive. The dilutive effect of MCPS is calculated using the if-converted method. The if-converted method assumes that these securities were converted to shares of common stock at the beginning of the reporting period to the extent that the effect is dilutive.

For the first quarter 2021, the effect of assuming the conversion of MCPS into shares of common stock was anti-dilutive, and therefore excluded from the calculation of earnings per share (EPS). Accordingly, Net income was reduced by cumulative Preferred stock dividends, as presented in our accompanying unaudited consolidated statements of operations, for purposes of calculating Net income available to common stockholders.

We issued approximately four million shares of our common stock in the first quarter of 2021 and four million shares in the first quarter of 2020, following the exercise of stock options, vesting of deferred stock units or purchases under our employee stock purchase plan. We did not repurchase any shares of our common stock in the first quarter of 2021 or 2020. On December 14, 2020, our Board of Directors approved a new stock repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to $1.000 billion of our common stock. As of March 31, 2021, we had the full amount remaining available under the authorization.