EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic earnings per share of common stock is computed by dividing the net income 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, 2019 and 2018 as follows (in thousands, except per share data):



	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2019		March 31, 2018
Net income	$	40,649	$	34,920
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	56		67
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	40,705		34,987
Basic earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:
Weighted average shares outstanding	118,774		121,768
Per share amount	$	0.34	$	0.29
Diluted earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:
Weighted average shares outstanding	118,774		121,768
Dilutive effect of equity incentive plans	721		536
Weighted average shares assuming dilution	119,496		122,304
Per share amount	$	0.34	$	0.29

Three Months

For the three months ended March 31, 2019, 1,191,206 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 874,714 common stock equivalents from restricted shares that were anti-dilutive.

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 EPS because the effect would be anti-dilutive. There were 757,401 common stock equivalents from restricted shares that were anti-dilutive.