Earnings/(Loss) Per Share

Basic earnings/(loss) per common share is computed by dividing net income/(loss) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Shares issued and treasury shares repurchased during the year are weighted for the portion of the year that they were outstanding. Diluted earnings/(loss) per share is computed in a manner consistent with that of basic income/(loss) per share while giving effect to all potentially dilutive common shares that were outstanding during the period. The reconciliation of NRG's basic and diluted loss per share is shown in the following table:



	Three months ended September 30,					Nine months ended September 30,
In millions, except per share data	2018			2017		2018		2017
Basic income/(loss) per share attributable to NRG Energy, Inc. common stockholders
Net (loss)/income attributable to NRG Energy, Inc. common stockholders	$	(72	)	$	171	$	280	$	(619	)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic	299			317		309		317
(Loss)/earnings per weighted average common share — basic	$	(0.24	)	$	0.54	$	0.91	$	(1.95	)
Diluted income/(loss) per share attributable to NRG Energy, Inc. common stockholders
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - diluted	299			317		309		317
Incremental shares attributable to the issuance of equity compensation (treasury stock method)	—			5		4		—
Total dilutive shares	299			322		313		317
(Loss)/income per weighted average common share — diluted	$	(0.24	)	$	0.53	$	0.89	$	(1.95	)

The following table summarizes NRG’s outstanding equity instruments that are anti-dilutive and were not included in the computation of the Company’s diluted loss per share:



	Three months ended September 30,		Nine months ended September 30,
In millions of shares	2018	2017	2018	2017
Equity compensation plans	4	1	—	6
2048 Convertible Senior Notes	12	—	6	—
Total	16	1	6	6