Earnings per Common Share

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Basic earnings per common share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding, including unvested participating restricted stock units. Diluted earnings per common share is computed using the weighted average number of common and dilutive potential common shares outstanding. For the Company, dilutive potential common shares consist of outstanding stock options and unvested non-participating restricted stock units and contingently issuable performance stock awards.

The computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share is presented in the following table.



($ in millions, except per share data)	Three months ended September 30,				Nine months ended September 30,
	2015		2014		2015		2014
Numerator:
Net income	$	650	$	781	$	1,682	$	2,026
Less: Preferred stock dividends	29		31		87		75
Net income available to common shareholders	$	621	$	750	$	1,595	$	1,951

Denominator:
Weighted average common shares outstanding	397.0		424.5		406.5		435.0
Effect of dilutive potential common shares:
Stock options	3.6		4.8		4.2		4.7
Restricted stock units (non-participating) and performance stock awards	1.5		1.9		1.7		1.9
Weighted average common and dilutive potential common shares outstanding	402.1		431.2		412.4		441.6

Earnings per common share - Basic	$	1.56	$	1.77	$	3.92	$	4.49
Earnings per common share - Diluted	$	1.54	$	1.74	$	3.87	$	4.42

The effect of dilutive potential common shares does not include the effect of options with an anti-dilutive effect on earnings per common share because their exercise prices exceed the average market price of Allstate common shares during the period or for which the unrecognized compensation cost would have an anti-dilutive effect. Options to purchase 2.2 million and 3.3 million Allstate common shares, with exercise prices ranging from $52.22 to $71.29 and $49.96 to $62.42, were outstanding for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per common share in those periods. Options to purchase 2.2 million and 4.5 million Allstate common shares, with exercise prices ranging from $57.98 to $71.29 and $45.61 to $62.42, were outstanding for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per common share in those periods.