Earnings Per Share

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

NOTE 4 — EARNINGS PER SHARE

We compute basic earnings per share using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. We compute diluted earnings per share using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding, plus the dilutive effect of outstanding equity awards and potential shares, computed using the treasury stock method.

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the quarters and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 (dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts):


	Quarter				Nine months
	2017		2016		2017		2016
Net income attributable to HCA Healthcare, Inc.	$	426	$	618	$	1,742	$	1,970

Weighted average common shares outstanding		360.170		378.199		365.398		386.968
Effect of dilutive incremental shares		9.664		11.393		9.615		12.609

Shares used for diluted earnings per share		369.834		389.592		375.013		399.577

Earnings per share:
Basic earnings per share	$	1.18	$	1.63	$	4.77	$	5.09
Diluted earnings per share	$	1.15	$	1.59	$	4.64	$	4.93