EARNINGS PER SHARE

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Basic earnings per share ("EPS") is computed by dividing net income attributable to Global Payments by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the period. Earnings available to common shareholders is the same as reported net income attributable to Global Payments for all periods presented.

Diluted EPS is computed by dividing net income attributable to Global Payments by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the period, including the effect of share-based awards that would have a dilutive effect on EPS. All stock options with an exercise price lower than the average market share price of our common stock for the period are assumed to have a dilutive effect on EPS.

The following table sets forth the computation of diluted weighted-average number of shares outstanding for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and June 30, 2017:



	Three Months Ended		Six Months Ended
	June 30, 2018	June 30, 2017	June 30, 2018	June 30, 2017

	(in thousands)

Basic weighted-average number of shares outstanding	159,003	152,525	159,161	152,415
Plus: Dilutive effect of stock options and other share-based awards	674	1,030	679	990
Diluted weighted-average number of shares outstanding	159,677	153,555	159,840	153,405