Comparing Stock and Cash Dividends Chicago Company reported the following information at the end of the current year:
Common stock (par $8; outstanding, 35,000 shares) $280,000
Preferred stock, 10% (par $15; outstanding, 8,000 shares) 120,000
Retained earnings 281,000
The board of directors is considering the distribution of a cash dividend to the two groups of stockholders. No dividends were declared during the previous two years. Assume the three cases below are independent of each other.
Case A: The preferred stock is noncumulative; the total amount of all dividends is $31,000.
Case B: The preferred stock is cumulative; the total amount of all dividends is $36,000.
Case C: The preferred stock is cumulative; the total amount of all dividends is $90,000.
Required:
Compute the amount of dividends, in total and per share, that would be payable to each class of stockholders for each case. Show computations.

Case A: We have:

Total preferred stock dividend = $12,000

Preferred stock dividend per share = $1.50 per share

Total common stock dividend = $19,000

Common stock dividend per share = $0.54 per share

Case B: We have:

Total preferred stock dividend = $36,000

Preferred stock dividend per share = $4.50 per share

Total common stock dividend = $0

Common stock dividend per share = $0 per share

Case C: We have:

Total preferred stock dividend = $36,000

Preferred stock dividend per share = $4.50 per share

Total common stock dividend = $54,000

Common stock dividend per share = $1.54 per share

Explanation:

Cumulative preferred stock is a type of preferred stock that gives the holder the opportunity to be paid any missed dividends whenever dividends are declared.

Noncumulative preferred stock is a type of preferred stock that does NOT give the holder the opportunity to be paid any missed dividends whenever dividends are declared.

Given the above explanation, we can now proceed as follows:

Case A: The preferred stock is noncumulative; the total amount of all dividends is $31,000.

Total preferred stock dividend = Preferred stock annual dividend = Dividend rate * Preferred stock value = 10% * $120,000 = $12,000

Preferred stock dividend per share = Total preferred stock dividend / Number of preferred stock outstanding = $12,000 / 8,000 = $1.50 per share

Total common stock dividend = Total amount of all dividends - Total preferred stock dividend = $31,000 - $12,000 = $19,000

Common stock dividend per share = Total common stock dividend / Number of common stock outstanding = $19,000 / 35,000 = $0.54 per share

Case B: The preferred stock is cumulative; the total amount of all dividends is $36,000.

Note: Since no dividends were declared during the previous two years, this implies cumulative preferred stock dividends have to be paid for the two previous and the current year making it three years.

Therefore, we have:

Preferred stock annual dividend = Dividend rate * Preferred stock value = 10% * $120,000 = $12,000

Total preferred stock dividend = Preferred stock annual dividend * 3 = $12,000 * 3 = $36,000

Preferred stock dividend per share = Total preferred stock dividend / Number of preferred stock outstanding = $36,000 / 8,000 = $4.50 per share

Total common stock dividend = Total amount of all dividends - Total preferred stock dividend = $36,000 - $36,000 = $0

Common stock dividend per share = Total common stock dividend / Number of common stock outstanding = $0 / 35,000 = $0 per share

Case C: The preferred stock is cumulative; the total amount of all dividends is $90,000.

Note: Since no dividends were declared during the previous two years, this implies cumulative preferred stock dividends have to be paid for the two previous and the current year making it three years.

Therefore, we have:

Preferred stock annual dividend = Dividend rate * Preferred stock value = 10% * $120,000 = $12,000

Total preferred stock dividend = Preferred stock annual dividend * 3 = $12,000 * 3 = $36,000

Preferred stock dividend per share = Total preferred stock dividend / Number of preferred stock outstanding = $36,000 / 8,000 = $4.50 per share

Total common stock dividend = Total amount of all dividends - Total preferred stock dividend = $90,000 - $36,000 = $54,000

Common stock dividend per share = Total common stock dividend / Number of common stock outstanding = $54,000 / 35,000 = $1.54 per share

1. avoid them

2. a talk with them

3. ask someone you trust

4. ignore

5. call police