8. Earnings Per Share

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

8. EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income attributable to Bio-Rad by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for that period. Diluted earnings per share takes into account the effect of dilutive instruments, such as stock options and restricted stock, and uses the average share price for the period in determining the number of potential common shares that are to be added to the weighted average number of shares outstanding. Potential common shares are excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation if the effect of including such securities would be anti-dilutive.

The weighted average number of common shares outstanding used to calculate basic and diluted earnings per share, and the anti-dilutive shares that are excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation are as follows (in thousands):



	Three Months Ended		Nine Months Ended
	September 30,		September 30,
	2017	2016	2017	2016
Basic weighted average shares outstanding	29,660	29,444	29,618	29,402
Effect of potentially dilutive stock options and restricted stock awards	392	227	376	190
Diluted weighted average common shares	30,052	29,671	29,994	29,592
Anti-dilutive shares	12	50	22	77