Question

An annual report of Ford Motor Corporation states, "Net income a share is computed based upon the average number of shares of capital stock of all classes outstanding. Additional shares of common stock may be issued or delivered in the future on conversion of outstanding convertible debentures, exercise of outstanding employee stock options, and for payment of defined supplemental compensation. Had such additional shares been outstanding, net income a share would have been reduced by 10¢ in the current year and 3¢ in the previous year. As a result of capital stock transactions by the company during the current year (primarily the purchase of Class A Stock from Ford Foundation), net income a share was increased by 6¢."

What information is provided by this note?

Answer 1

The main information given by this statement is that the net income per share has increased by 6¢ a share.

All the other stuff about the decision of not issuing new stock because it would lower net income per share is just a probability but is not really that important.

Whether they have to issue new stock to pay for future debts or supplemental compensation to employees is not that important because it didn't happen. In the future the company will have to decide how to pay for those expenses, hopefully they will have the cash to do so or they can issue new stock or new bonds. They don't even know how much they will have to pay since compensations are usually tied to other factors like performance, etc.