Usually, basic earnings per share (EPS) and diluted EPS are measures of a company’s profitability. When calculating basic EPS, outstanding equity shares of the corporation are considered. On the other hand, the calculation of diluted EPS includes convertible shares such as employee stock options, warrants, and debt. As a result, basic earnings per share and diluted earnings per share becomes a significant issue for an investor, as both are necessary for the fundamental examination of a firm.
List of Contents
- Understanding the Earnings Per Share (EPS)
- What Exactly Is Diluted Earnings Per Share (Diluted EPS)?
- The Formula of Calculating Diluted Earnings Per Share
- What Diluted Earnings Per Share (Diluted EPS) Informs You
- Example of Diluted Earnings Per Share
- The Differences between EPS and Diluted EPS
- Conclusion
- FAQs
Understanding the Earnings Per Share (EPS)
Earnings per share, or the value of earnings per share of outstanding common stock, is a critical metric for evaluating a company’s financial health. Revenue and earnings per share (EPS) are the two most widely examined indicators for presenting financial results.
In addition, only publicly traded corporations are required to publish EPS on their income statements. Companies disclose both basic and diluted EPS in their earnings reports, although the emphasis is often on the more conservative diluted EPS figure. Dilutive EPS is considered a conservative indicator since it represents the worst-case situation for EPS.
A substantial gap between a company’s basic EPS and diluted EPS might suggest considerable potential dilution for the company’s shares, which most analysts and investors find undesirable. For instance, company x has $5 billion in outstanding shares. There is a $0.10 difference between its basic and diluted earnings per share. While $0.10 may appear tiny, it corresponds to $500 million in value that investors cannot access.
What Exactly Is Diluted Earnings Per Share (Diluted EPS)?
The metric used to evaluate the quality of a company’s earning per share (EPS) if all convertible instruments were exercised is the diluted EPS. All outstanding convertible preferred shares, debentures, stock options, and warrants are convertible instruments. In most cases, the diluted EPS will be lower than the basic or simple EPS. However, it may be greater in the unusual instance of anti-dilutive securities. The financial statements only provide the basic EPS in this instance.
The Formula of Calculating Diluted Earnings Per Share
Genuinely, the formula for calculating the diluted EPS of a corporation is fairly similar to the formula for calculating the basic EPS, which is net income adjusted for the payment of preferred dividends divided by the total number of outstanding common shares.
If the corporation has issued preferred dividends during the current period, their value must be subtracted from net income. Effectively, we are separating the earnings attributable to common stockholders, which should NOT include preferred stockholders.
What Diluted Earnings Per Share (Diluted EPS) Informs You
The diluted earnings per share reflect what would occur if dilutive securities were exercised. Dilutive securities are those that are not common stock. However, it can be converted into common stock if the option is exercised. If converted, dilutive securities increase the weighted number of outstanding shares. As a result, it lowered EPS.
Example of Diluted Earnings Per Share
It is usual to find dilutive securities in convertible preferred stock, stock options, and convertible bonds. Convertible preferred stock is a preferred share that may be converted into a common share at any moment. Common employee benefits and stock options provide the buyer the right to purchase common stock at a certain price and time.
Similar to convertible preferred stock, convertible bonds are converted into common shares at the prices and periods stipulated in their contracts. Each of these instruments would increase the number of outstanding shares and decrease EPS if exercised.
The Differences between EPS and Diluted EPS
The key differences between basic EPS and diluted EPS are in this table.
Conclusion
In short, it is possible to get a more realistic picture of the company’s financial health by determining its basic EPS and diluted EPS. If the firm’s capital structure is particularly complicated, it is strongly recommended that you compute both.
FAQs
Diluted Earnings Per Share (EPS) is a financial statistic that determines the amount of earnings that would accrue to each existing share of common stock if all outstanding securities were exercised, converted, or diluted. By raising the number of outstanding shares, dilutive securities such as convertible preferred stocks, employee stock options, and warrants can damage a company’s earnings per share.
Basic Earnings Per Share (EPS) is found by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares that are still in circulation. On the other hand, Diluted Earnings Per Share (EPS) takes into account any instruments that might dilute earnings, such as convertible bonds, stock options, warrants, and preferred stock that can be turned into common stock.
EPS is a valuable indicator for assessing the financial success of a firm, but it has several drawbacks. One of its primary weaknesses is that it assumes that all dilutive securities are equally dilutive.
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Source: Investopedia