Question

Mustang Corporation had 100,000 shares of $2 par value common stock outstanding. On December 31, 2018, the company's board of directors declares a 20 percent stock dividend. This stock dividend will be distributed on January 20, 2019 to the stockholders of record on January 15, 2019. The market price of the company's stock is $10 per share on December 31, 2018.

Required:
Write down the necessary journal entry to record the declaration of the stock dividend.

Answer 1

December 31, 2018

Debit : Dividend $40,000

Credit : Shareholders for dividends $40,000

Step-by-step explanation:

When dividends are declared, we Debit an Equity Element - Dividend and Credit the Liability - Shareholders for dividends.

Calculation of this dividend is made on the stockholders in existence at the on a stated date (January 15 in this case) and at par value ($2) as follows :

Dividend = 100,000 x $2.00 x $0.20 = $40,000