Answer:
a. $8.33
$1.95
b.$136,500
Explanation:
The computation of earnings per share and the common dividends per share is shown below:-
a. Earning per share = Earnings Available to Common Stockholders ÷ Number of Shares of Common Stock Outstanding
= $178,300 ÷ 21,400
= $8.33
Dividends per Share = $41,800 ÷ 21,400
= $1.95
b. Increase in retained earnings = Operating Profit (EBIT) - Interest expense - Taxes - Preferred dividends - Common dividends
= $307,000 - $32,000 - $65,100 + $31,600 + $41,800
= $136,500
We simply applied the above formulas