v2.4.0.6

Computation of Earnings per Common Share | 12 Months Ended
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Jan. 28, 2012
Computation of Earnings Per Common Share Disclosure [Abstract] |
Computation of Earnings per Common Share | Computation of Earnings per Common Share The computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for 2011, 2010 and 2009 is as follows (in thousands, except per share data):
|  | 2011 |  | 2010 |  | 2009
Numerator: |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income attributed to Staples, Inc. |  | $ | 984,656 |  |  | $ | 881,948 |  |  | $ | 738,671 |
Denominator: |  |  |  |  |  |
Weighted-average common shares outstanding |  | 694,986 |  |  | 715,596 |  |  | 709,744 |
Effect of dilutive securities: |  |  |  |  |  |
Employee stock options, Restricted Shares and Performance Shares |  | 9,033 |  |  | 10,624 |  |  | 12,094 |
Weighted-average common shares outstanding assuming dilution |  | 704,019 |  |  | 726,220 |  |  | 721,838 |
Basic earnings per common share |  | $ | 1.42 |  |  | $ | 1.23 |  |  | $ | 1.04 |
Diluted earnings per common share |  | $ | 1.40 |  |  | $ | 1.21 |  |  | $ | 1.02 |
Options to purchase shares of common stock are excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share when their inclusion would have an anti-dilutive effect on the calculation. Options to purchase 41.3 million shares, 13.3 million shares and 12.7 million shares of Staples common stock were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for earnings per share. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 260 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6920599&loc=d3e1252-109256 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 260 -SubTopic 10 -Section 55 -Paragraph 52 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945512&loc=d3e4984-109258 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 128 -Paragraph 40 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 260 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6920599&loc=d3e1278-109256 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 260 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6371337&loc=d3e3550-109257 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.21) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688 + Details
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