Earnings Per Share
The following table sets forth the calculation of basic and diluted net earnings per common share for the years ended December 31 ($ in millions, except per share data): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2014 | | 2013 | | 2012 | Earnings attributable to Centene Corporation: | | | | | | Earnings from continuing operations, net of tax | $ | 268 |
| | $ | 161 |
| | $ | 89 |
| Discontinued operations, net of tax | 3 |
| | 4 |
| | (87 | ) | Net earnings | $ | 271 |
| | $ | 165 |
| | $ | 2 |
| | | | | | | Shares used in computing per share amounts: | |
| | | | | Weighted average number of common shares outstanding | 116,345,764 |
| | 108,253,090 |
| | 103,018,732 |
| Common stock equivalents (as determined by applying the treasury stock method) | 4,014,448 |
| | 4,241,256 |
| | 4,410,018 |
| Weighted average number of common shares and potential dilutive common shares outstanding | 120,360,212 |
| | 112,494,346 |
| | 107,428,750 |
| | | | | | | Net earnings per common share attributable to Centene Corporation: | | | | | | Basic: | | | | | | Continuing operations | $ | 2.30 |
| | $ | 1.49 |
| | $ | 0.86 |
| Discontinued operations | 0.03 |
| | 0.03 |
| | (0.84 | ) | Basic earnings per common share | $ | 2.33 |
| | $ | 1.52 |
| | $ | 0.02 |
| | | | | | | Diluted: | | | | | | Continuing operations | $ | 2.23 |
| | $ | 1.43 |
| | $ | 0.83 |
| Discontinued operations | 0.02 |
| | 0.04 |
| | (0.81 | ) | Diluted earnings per common share | $ | 2.25 |
| | $ | 1.47 |
| | $ | 0.02 |
|
The calculation of diluted earnings per common share for 2014, 2013 and 2012 excludes the impact of 207,980 shares, 187,078 shares and 284,850 shares, respectively, related to anti-dilutive stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units. |