In: Accounting
Assume you are the chief accountant making a presentation during the stockholders annual meeting for your corporation. Provide a brief explanation to stockholders on each of the following questions:
Shares
In what ways can shares be “preferred”? In which ways are they similar and different from common shares? Give real-world examples.
How does the book value of shares of stock differ from the market value of shares of stock? Use a real-world example in your answer.
Dividends
Discuss at least three key issues that a board of directors considers when making a dividend declaration decision.
How does a share dividend differ from a share split?
Retained Earnings
Explain why companies place restrictions on some of their retained earnings.
1. Company has mainly two ways to Raise the capital , in which common stock is more popular than the preferred stock.. Though Preferred stock has similar characteristics like common stock but they differ in few aspects.
Company issues preferred stock to maintain the debt equity ratio, as it helps to gain leverage which helps in future financials needs of the business. Its considered as preferred as its provide consistent dividend and also in case of wind up preferred stockholders receive assets before common stockholders. Preffered stockholders doesnt have voting rights like Common stockholders.
Similarity
Difference
2)Key issues -
share dividend differ from a share split
Share dividend are similar to the cash dividend so here instead of cash, stock is given, In case of share split is done because company may feel its share in the market is running at too high price.
In case of share dividend, the Outstanding share will increase and share price will decrease. Stock split is done to make stock more liquid and investors can purchase it easily.
3) companies place restrictions on some of their retained earnings.
As per the law, it requires the company to place restrictions on certain amount of retained earnings for the security of the creditors debt with the company.
Also when entering the loan agreements it may also fixes a amount not to used for the dividend purpose.