MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES EXHIBIT 11 - COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS PER SHARE FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND 1996 ---------- 1997 1996 ---- ---- 1. Net income $ 4,898,264 $ 4,304,408 2. Weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period 8,316,801 8,748,654 3. Dilutive securities, primarily shares issuable upon exercise of stock options outstanding during period, based on higher of average or period-end values 258,710 194,481 4. Weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, assuming dilution (2 + 3) 8,575,511 8,943,135 5. Basic earnings per share (1 divided by 2) $ .59 $ .49 6. Diluted earnings per share (1 divided by 4) $ .57 $ .48