Basic EPS is historical. It measures the performance that actually occurred during the accounting period from the perspective of a single share of common stock. However, reporting basic EPS is considered in sufficient to meet investor needs because of the potential impact on EPS of a wide variety of securities issued by corporations. For example, many companies have issued stock options, stock warrants, and convertible securities that can be converted into common stock at the option of the holders of the securities. In the event these types of securities are exchanged for common stock, they have the effect of reducing (diluting) the earnings accruing to preexisting stock holders. The exercise of an option or warrant or the conversion of convertible securities to common stock would increase the number of shares of common stock outstanding, thereby having a potentially dilutive effect on EPS. However, the effect on EPS is complicated when a company has convertible securities outstanding because, in addition to issuing new shares of common stock, the amount of the company's reported earnings would also increase. Consequently, the effect of conversion could be either an increase or decrease in reported EPS because the increase in common shares outstanding might be proportionately less than or greater than the accompanying increase in net income