The FASB decided to replace primary EPS with basic EPS, citing the following reasons:
1. Basic EPS and diluted EPS data would give users the most factually support able range of EPS possibilities.
2. Use of a common international EPS statistic is important because of database-oriented financial analysis and the internationalization of business and capital markets.
3. The notion of common stock equivalents does not operate effectively in practice.
4. The computation of primary EPS is complex and may not be well understood or consistently applied.
5. Presenting basic EPS would eliminate the criticisms about the arbitrary determination of whether a security is a common stock equivalent.