Item 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

Years ended September 30

(dollars in millions, except per share amounts)



	2013 (a)		2014	2015 (b)	2016	2017
Net sales	$	17,935	17,733	16,249	14,522	15,264
Earnings from continuing operations – common stockholders	$	1,506	2,201	2,517	1,590	1,643
Basic earnings per common share from continuing operations	$	2.09	3.13	3.72	2.46	2.54
Diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations	$	2.08	3.11	3.71	2.45	2.54
Cash dividends per common share	$	1.64	1.72	1.88	1.90	1.92
Long-term debt	$	4,055	3,559	4,289	4,051	3,794
Total assets	$	24,711	24,177	22,088	21,732	19,589

(a) Includes goodwill impairment and income tax charges of $566 million and $0.78 per share.

(b) Includes gains from divestitures of businesses of $611 million and $0.90 per share.

See Notes 3 and 4 for information regarding the Company's acquisition and divestiture activities for the last three years.