Question

Since its organization in January of 2016, Mars Corp began with the issuance of 15,000 shares of $5 par, cumulative, 8% preferred stock and 15,000 shares of common stock shares, which are still outstanding. It declared its first dividend of $40,000 at the end of 2018. This means that:___________
A) all of the $40,000 dividends available are paid to the preferred shareholders.
B) all of the $40,000 dividends available are paid to the common shareholders.
C) an equal dollar amount is paid to each class of shareholder.
D) 3 years' worth of dividends will be paid to preferred shareholders prior to paying anything to common shareholders.

Answer 1

Answer:

D) 3 years' worth of dividends will be paid to preferred shareholders prior to paying anything to common shareholders.

Explanation:

Shareholders are the individuals or institutions that hold the stock of a company making the owners of the business. Shareholders can either be common shareholders or preferred shareholders. Common shareholders are more prevalent and have voting rights in matters concerning the company.

Preferred shareholders hold preferred stock. They are rare and have no voting rights in the way the organization is managed.  Preferred shareholders are entitled to a fixed amount of dividend every year.  Dividends to preferred shareholders have to be paid first before common shareholders are paid out. Usually, common stockholders will be last to paid last in the event of dividends payouts or in times of liquidation.