e. Probably not. A stock split should not change the
price-earnings ratio unless it is combined with a change in
18. Stock dividend and its effect (LO18-4) Ace Products sells marked playing cards to
blackjack dealers. It has not paid a dividend in many years, but is currently contemplating
some kind of dividend. The capital accounts for the firm are as follows:
Common stock (2,400,000 shares at $5 par)……. $12,000,000
Capital in excess of par*……………………………….. 5,000,000
Retained earnings………………………………………… 23,000,000
Net worth…………………………………………………. $40,000,000
*The increase in capital in excess of par as a result of a stock dividend
is equal to the new shares created times (Market price – Par value).
The company’s stock is selling for $20 per share. The company had total earnings
of $4,800,000 during the year. With 2,400,000 shares outstanding, earnings per share
were $2.00. The firm has a P/E ratio of 10.
a. What adjustments would have to be made to the capital accounts for a 10 percent stock
dividend? Show the new capital accounts.
b. What adjustments would be made to EPS and the stock price? (Assume the P/E ratio
remains constant.)
c. How many shares would an investor end up with if he or she originally had 70 shares?
d. What is the investor’s total investment worth before and after the stock dividend if the
P/E ratio remains constant? (There may be a $1 to $2 difference due to rounding.)