nalyzing and Computing Issue Price, Treasury Stock Cost, and Shares Outstanding Following is the stockholders’ equity section of the December 31, 2018, Caterpillar Inc. balance sheet. Stockholders’ Equity ($ millions) 2018 Common stock of $1.00 par; Authorized shares: 2,000,000,000; Issued 814,894,624 shares at paid-in amount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 5,827 Treasury stock 239,351,886 shares, at cost. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (20,531) Profit employed in the business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30,427 Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1,684) Noncontrolling interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Total stockholders’ equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $14,080 a. How many shares of Caterpillar common stock are outstanding at year‑end 2018? b. What does the phrase “at paid‑in amount” in the common stock account mean? c. At what average cost has Caterpillar repurchased its stock as of year‑end 2018? d. Why would a company such as Caterpillar want to repurchase its common stock? e. What is meant by “Profit employed in the business”? The account balance was $26,301 million at the start of the year and the company reported net income of $6,147 million for the year. What amount did the company record as dividends in 2018?