EXHIBIT 11 ROBERTSON-CECO CORPORATION COMPUTATION OF BASIC EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE (Unaudited) Year Ended December 31 1995 1996 1997 (Thousands) BASIC: Basic income from continuing operations . . . . . . . . . . 12,347 52,608 18,786 Loss from discontinued operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . (15,888) - - Extraordinary Item . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - (1,315) 4,568 Total basic earnings (loss) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ (3,541) $ 51,293 $ 23,354 Average number common shares outstanding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,932 16,017 16,056 BASIC EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE: Continuing operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ .77 $ 3.28 $ 1.17 Discontinued operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (.99) - - Extraordinary item . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - (.08) .28 Basic earnings (loss) per common share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ (.22) $ 3.20 $ 1.45 DILUTED: Diluted income from continuing operations . . . . . . . . . 12,347 52,608 18,786 Loss from discontinued operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . (15,888) - - Extraordinary Item . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - (1,315) 4,568 Total diluted earnings (loss) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ (3,541) $ 51,293 $ 23,354 Average number common shares outstanding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,932 16,017 16,056 Incremental shares to reflect dilutive effect of deferred compensation plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 11 35 Total number common shares, assuming dilution . . . . . . . 16,007 16,028 16,091 DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE: Continuing operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ .77 $ 3.28 $ 1.17 Discontinued operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (.99) - - Extraordinary item . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - (.08) .28 Diluted earnings (loss) per common share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ (.22) $ 3.20 $ 1.45