Question

Seacrest Company has 15,000 shares of cumulative preferred 2% stock, $50 par and 50,000 shares of $5 par common stock. The following amounts were distributed as dividends:

Year 1 $30,000
Year 2 12,000
Year 3 45,000

Required:
Determine the dividends per share for preferred and common stock for each year.

Answer 1

Answer:

Cumulative Preferred Stock must always pay out Dividends and when they cannot, the amount unpaid will be accrued for payment to another year when it can be paid.

When Dividends are declared, Preference Shareholders are paid first and then common shareholders follow.

Year 1

Preference Shares = Number of shares * Par value * %

= 15,000 * 50 * 2%

= $15,000

Common Shareholders will get the rest;

= 30,000 - 15,000

= $15,000

Year 2.

Preference Shareholders are still due $15,000 however only $12,000 is available. They will take all of it and be owed $3,000.

Preference Shares, Year 2 = $12,000

Common Shareholders get nothing.

Year 3.

Preference Shareholders are owed $15,000 for the year. They are also owed $3,000 from the previous year.

Preference Shares = 15,000 + 3,000

= $18,000

Common Shareholders will get the remainder;

= 45,000 - 18,000

= $27,000