Question

Beagle Corporation has 26,000 shares of $10 par common stock outstanding and 16,000 shares of $100 par, 5.50% cumulative, nonparticipating preferred stock outstanding. Dividends have not been paid for the past two years. This year, a $420,000 dividend will be paid. What are the dividends per share payable to preferred and common, respectively

Answer 1

$16.5 per share; $6 per share

Step-by-step explanation:

Calculation to determine the dividends per share payable to preferred and common, respectively

DIVIDENDS PER SHARE PAYABLE TO PREFERRED

First step

Total dividend paid to Preferred Stockholders

= Outstanding preferred stock × Par value of preferred stock × 5.50% × Number of years

Total dividend paid to Preferred Stockholders= 16000 × 100 × 5.50% × 3

Total dividend paid to Preferred Stockholders= $264,000

Second step

Total dividend per share paid to Preferred Stockholders= Total dividend paid to preferred ÷ No. of outstanding shares

Total dividend per share paid to Preferred Stockholders= $264,000 ÷ 16,000 shares

Total dividend per share paid to Preferred Stockholders= $16.5 per share

DIVIDENDS PER SHARE PAYABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS

First step

Total dividend paid to Preferred Stockholders

= Outstanding preferred stock × Par value of preferred stock × 5.50% × Number of years

Total dividend paid to Preferred Stockholders= 16000 × 100 × 5.50% × 3

Total dividend paid to Preferred Stockholders= $264,000

Second step

Total dividend per share paid to common Stockholders= (Dividend paid in the current year - Total dividend paid to preferred) ÷ Common stock outstanding shares

Total dividend per share paid to common Stockholders= ($420,000 - $264,000) ÷ 26,000

Total dividend per share paid to common Stockholders= $156,000 ÷ 26,000 shares

Total dividend per share paid to common Stockholders= 6 per share

Therefore the dividends per share payable to preferred and common, respectively is:

$16.5 per share; $6 per share