Question

Elite Trailer Parks has an operating profit of $200,000. Interest expense for the year was $10,000; preferred dividends paid were $18,750; and common dividends paid were $30,000. The tax was $61,250. The firm has 20,000 shares of common stock outstanding.

Required:
a. Calculate the earnings per share and the common dividends per share for Elite Trailer Parks.
b. What was the increase in retained earnings for the year?

Answer 1

a. Earnings per share = (Operating profit - Interest expense - Tax - Preferred dividends) / Common stock outstanding

Earnings per share = ($200,000 - $10,000 - $61,250 - $18,750) / $20,000

Earnings per share = $110,000 / 20,000 Shares

Earnings per share = $5.5 per share

Common dividends per share = Dividend paid / Common stock outstanding

Common dividends per share = $30,000 / 20,000 Shares

Common dividends per share = $1.50 per share

b. What was the increase in retained earnings for the year?

Increase in retained earnings = $110,000 - Common dividend paid

Increase in retained earnings = $110,000 - $30,000

Increase in retained earnings = $80,000

So, the increase in retained earnings for the year is $80,000.