Chapter 11 – Reporting and Interpreting Owners’ Equity
11. The two basic requirements to support a cash dividend are: (1) cash on hand or the
ability to obtain cash sufficient to pay the dividend and (2) a sufficient balance in
12. Cumulative preferred stock has a dividend preference such that, should the
dividends on the preferred stock for any year, or series of years, not be paid,
13. A stock dividend involves the issuance to the stockholders of a dividend in the
corporation’s own stock (rather than cash). A stock dividend is significantly different
14. The primary purposes for issuing a stock dividend are: (1) to maintain dividend
consistency; that is, to pay dividends each year either in cash or in capital stock,
and (2) to capitalize retained earnings; that is, a stock dividend requires a transfer
from the Retained Earnings account to the permanent contributed capital accounts
15. When a dividend is declared and paid, the three important dates are:
Declaration date—the date on which the board of directors votes the dividend. In
the case of a cash dividend, a dividend liability comes into existence on this date
and must be recorded as a debit to Retained Earnings and as a credit to Dividends