EARNINGS PER SHARE

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net earnings attributable to Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net earnings including the impact of dilutive adjustments by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus potentially dilutive shares, as if they had been issued at the earlier of the date of issuance or the beginning of the period presented. Potentially dilutive common shares result primarily from the Company’s outstanding stock options, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units, performance share awards, and shares issuable upon conversion of zero-coupon subordinated notes.

The following represents a reconciliation of basic earnings per share to diluted earnings per share:



	Three Months Ended September 30,										Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2019					2018					2019					2018
	Earnings		Shares	Per Share Amount		Earnings		Shares	Per Share Amount		Earnings		Shares	Per Share Amount		Earnings		Shares	Per Share Amount
Basic earnings per share:
Net earnings	$	220.7	97.6	$	2.26	$	318.8	101.6	$	3.14	$	596.7	98.1	$	6.08	$	725.8	101.8	$	7.13
Dilutive effect of employee stock options and awards	—		0.7			—		1.0			—		0.7			—		1.2
Net earnings including impact of dilutive adjustments	$	220.7	98.3	$	2.25	$	318.8	102.7	$	3.10	$	596.7	98.8	$	6.04	$	725.8	103.1	$	7.04

The following table summarizes the potential common shares not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because their impact would have been antidilutive:



	Three Months Ended September 30,		Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2019	2018	2019	2018
Stock options	0.2	0.1	0.2	0.1