Question

Outstanding stock of the Whispering Winds Corp. included 39000 shares of $5 par common stock and 13000 shares of 5%, $10 par non-cumulative preferred stock. In 2019, Whispering declared and paid dividends of $3900. In 2020, Whispering declared and paid dividends of $11700. How much of the 2020 dividend was distributed to preferred shareholders

Answer 1

$6,500

Step-by-step explanation:

39,000 shares of $5 par common stock

13,000 shares of $10 par 5% non-cumulative preferred stock = $6,500 in preferred stocks dividends per year. Since the preferred stocks are non-cumulative, if they are not paid during one period, that dividend cannot be recovered in future periods.

In 2020, $11,700 were paid in dividends:

• $6,500 were paid to preferred stocks
• $5,200 were paid to common stocks