EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic earnings per share of common stock is computed by dividing the net income from continuing operations attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. by the weighted average number of outstanding shares of common stock. The calculation of diluted earnings per share is similar to that of basic earnings per share except that the denominator includes dilutive common stock equivalents such as stock options and shares of restricted stock. Basic and diluted earnings per share were calculated for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 as follows (in thousands, except per share data):



	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2018		March 31, 2017
Net income	$	34,920	$	40,366
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	67		37
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	34,987		40,403
Basic earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:
Weighted average shares outstanding	121,768		113,599
Per share amount	$	0.29	$	0.36
Diluted earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:
Weighted average shares outstanding	121,768		113,599
Dilutive effect of equity incentive plans	536		879
Weighted average shares assuming dilution	122,304		114,478
Per share amount	$	0.29	$	0.35

Three Months

For the three months ended March 31, 2018, 759,382 weighted average shares of common stock underlying options were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share ("EPS") because the effect would be anti-dilutive. There were 757,401 common stock equivalents from restricted shares that were anti-dilutive.

For the three months ended March 31, 2017, 449,396 weighted average shares of common stock underlying options were excluded from the computation of diluted EPS because the effect would be anti-dilutive. There were 214,752 common stock equivalents from restricted shares that were anti-dilutive.