EARNINGS PER SHARE

9 Months Ended

Sep. 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 nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017:



	Three Months Ended		Nine Months Ended
	September 30, 2018	September 30, 2017	September 30, 2018	September 30, 2017

	(in thousands)

Basic weighted-average number of shares outstanding	158,168	154,560	158,827	153,138
Plus: Dilutive effect of stock options and other share-based awards	538	842	632	941
Diluted weighted-average number of shares outstanding	158,706	155,402	159,459	154,079