Pharoah Company has had 4 years of record earnings. Due to this success, the market price of its 500,000 shares of $4 par value common stock has increased from $15 per share to $55. During this period, paid-in capital remained the same at $6,000,000. Retained earnings increased from $4,500,000 to $30,000,000. CEO Don Ames is considering either (1) a 15% stock dividend or (2) a 2-for-1 stock split. He asks you to show the before-and-after effects of each option on (a) retained earnings, (b) total stockholders’ equity, and (c) par value per share.

Answer and Explanation:

According to the scenario, computation of the given data are as follow:-

1) 15% Stock Dividend-

Retained Earnings = Increase Value of Retained Earnings - (Total Shares × 15% Stock Dividend × Increase Value of Per Share)

= $30,000,000 - (500,000 × 15% × $55)

= $30,000,000 - $4,125,000

= $25,875,000

2)  2-for-1 stock split-

Retained earnings = $30,000,000

The 2-for-1 stock split will not impact retained earnings.

a and b) The before, after effects of each option are shown in the attachment below

c) Par value per share  

Par value per share of stock dividend = $4

Par value per share of 2-for-1 stock split = $4  ÷ 2 = $2

According to the analysis, stock dividend will not make any impact.

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