Diluted Earnings per Share (EPS): Definition, Formula & Calculation

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Diluted EPS is a financial ratio that shows how much profit a company generates for each share of its stock.
• It is calculated by dividing a company’s net income by the number of shares outstanding, including dilutive securities.
• Dilutive securities are financial instruments that give the holder the right to acquire shares of a company’s stock at a set price.
• Diluted EPS can be used to compare the profitability of different companies or to assess the financial performance of a company over time.

What Is a Diluted Earnings per Share (Diluted EPS)?

Diluted earnings per share (diluted EPS) measures a company’s profitability. You calculate it by dividing the company’s net income by the number of shares outstanding. This includes both common and preferred shares.

Diluted EPS gives investors a more accurate picture of a company’s earnings per share. It takes into account all of the potential dilutive securities issued in future. 

Suppose a company has options or warrants outstanding that it could exercise to create new shares. Those shares would be part of diluted EPS calculation.

Formula Of Diluted EPS

Diluted share measures a company’s basic earnings per share (EPS). This takes into account dilutive effect convertible securities. Convertible securities are those that can convert into common stock at the holder’s option.

Diluted share formula calculates a company’s EPS when there are dilutive securities outstanding. These securities can include convertible preferred shares, convertible debt, and stock options.

Diluted share formula adjusts for dilutive effect of these securities. It does this by including them in the denominator of EPS calculation.

As such, EPS dilution is generally lower than basic EPS. This is because the inclusion of these securities in the denominator has an effect of diluting earnings per share.

Diluted share formula more accurately measures a company’s basic earnings per share than basic EPS. This is because it takes into account the dilutive effect of all outstanding securities.

Business owners should be aware of this when they are looking at their company’s financial statements. They should also be aware of the potential dilutive effect of any new securities that they issue.

As a business owner, it’s important to inspect your income statement and current share price. As you assess your financial condition, always consider future cash flows. You also want to take into account cash equivalents and equity in earnings.

How to calculate Diluted EPS

You can calculate diluted EPS formula using the following steps:

1. Subtract dividends on preferred stock from net income.

2. Divide the result by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding.

3. Add convertible preferred shares and convertible debt to the denominator.

Let’s look at an example to get a better understanding of this metric in action.

Diluted Earnings per Share Example

Suppose ABC Company reports its net income at $100,000. It also has 100,000 shares of common stock outstanding. The company also has 10,000 shares of convertible preferred stock and $200,000 of convertible debt outstanding.

Diluted EPS is calculated as follows:

Diluted EPS = ($100k – $0) / (100k + 10k + $200k)

Diluted EPS = $1.00

As you can see, diluted EPS equals $1.00. This means that for every share of common outstanding stock, the company earned $1.00 in net income.

Diluted EPS takes into account dilutive effect in the convertible preferred shares. This includes the convertible debt. If these securities were not included in the calculation, the EPS would be $2.00.

Diluted EPS offers a more accurate measure of a company’s earnings per share. It shows the potential dilution of earnings that could occur if the convertible securities convert into common stock.

Importance Of Diluted Earnings Per Share

EPS dilution is important for a few reasons. It shows the potential dilution of earnings that could occur if the convertible securities convert into common stock.

Investors use this metric to assess a company’s earnings power. It is also used by analysts to compare a company’s EPS to its competitors.

Diluted EPS delivers a good indicator of a company’s financial health. A high diluted EPS means that the company is generating a lot of earnings per share. This is a positive sign for the company’s financial health.

One limitation of EPS dilution is that it does not take into account dilutive effect stock options. Stock options are often included in a company’s diluted EPS calculation, but they are not always included.

Another limitation of this metric is that it does not reflect the impact of dilutive securities on a company’s cash flow. Dilutive securities can have a significant impact on a company’s cash flow, but this is not reflected in diluted EPS calculation.

EPS dilution is a good metric to use when assessing a company’s earnings power. However, it is important to keep in mind its limitations when analyzing a company’s financial health.
Investors typically use diluted EPS in conjunction with other financial ratios and metrics. This helps give a more accurate picture of the company’s financial health. As such, diluted EPS should not be the only metric used when assessing a company.

Summary

Now that you know how to calculate diluted EPS, it’s time to put that knowledge to use. Remember, this metric is a great way to compare the profitability of different companies. It can also give you an idea of how much profit you’re actually getting for each share of stock you own.

Just keep in mind that diluted EPS only takes into account common shares outstanding. This means that it doesn’t include any dilutive securities, such as convertible debt or stock options. If a company has dilutive securities, then its diluted EPS will be lower than its basic EPS.