pre_text: Item 6. Selected Financial Data Various factors affecting the comparability of the information included in the table above are discussed in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
table: Year Ended October 31,
table: 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
table: (In thousands, except per share data) 
table: Net sales  $3,440,258 $3,236,004 $3,342,226 $2,816,057 $2,803,480
table: Operating income  67,994 29,700 425,239 294,111 335,998
table: Net income  53,294 61,431 279,745 188,961 216,001
table: Basic earnings per share  2.41 2.70 12.30 8.37 9.52
table: Diluted earnings per share  2.41 2.70 12.30 8.37 9.52
table: Working capital  365,430 367,600 650,817 465,135 396,834
table: Total assets  1,774,134 1,659,440 1,733,243 1,422,700 1,246,752
table: Long-term debt, less current maturities  55,000 — — — —
table: Stockholders’ equity  1,417,675 1,387,893 1,432,862 1,190,262 1,029,861
table: Cash dividends declared per share  $1.28 $1.28 $2.04 $1.90 $1.38
question: Analyse this data from a financial earnings document. What is the average basic earnings per share for fiscal years 2017 to 2019?