Joy Sun organized Ray Beam, Inc., in January 2021. The corporation immediately issued at $15 per share one-half of its 260,000 authorized shares of $1 par value common stock. On January 2, 2022, the corporation sold at par value the entire 10,000 authorized shares of 10 percent, $100 par value cumulative preferred stock. On January 2, 2023, the company again needed capital and issued 5,000 shares of an authorized 8,000 shares of no-par cumulative preferred stock for a total of $320,000. The no-par shares have a stated dividend of $6 per share.

The company declared no dividends in 2021 and 2022. At the end of 2022, its retained earnings were $530,000. During 2023 and 2024 combined, the company earned a total net income of $1,400,000. Dividends of 90 cents per share in 2023 and $2 per share in 2024 were paid on the common stock.

Instructions

a. Prepare the stockholders’ equity section of the balance sheet at December 31, 2024. Include a supporting schedule showing your computation of retained earnings at the balance sheet date.

b. Assume that on January 2, 2022, the corporation could have borrowed $1,000,000 at 10 percent interest on a long-term basis instead of issuing the 10,000 shares of the $100 par value cumulative preferred stock. Identify two reasons a corporation may choose to issue cumulative preferred stock rather than finance operations with long-term debt.