Maria Martinez organized Manhattan Transport Company in January 2012. The corporation immediately issued at $8 per share one-half of its 200,000 authorized shares of $2 par value common stock. On January 2, 2013, the corporation sold at par value the entire 5,000 authorized shares of 8 percent, $100 par value cumulative preferred stock. On January 2, 2014, the company again needed capital and issued 5,000 shares of an authorized 10,000 shares of no-par cumulative preferred stock for a total of $512,000. The no-par shares have a stated dividend of $9 per share.

The company declared no dividends in 2012 and 2013. At the end of 2013, its retained earnings were $170,000. During 2014 and 2015 combined, the company earned a total of $890,000. Dividends of 50 cents per share in 2014 and $1.60 per share in 2015 were paid on the common stock.

Instructions
a. Prepare the stockholders’ equity section of the balance sheet at December 31, 2015. Include a supporting schedule showing your computation of retained earnings at the balance sheet date.
b. Assume that on January 2, 2013, the corporation could have borrowed $500,000 at 8 percent interest on a long-term basis instead of issuing the 5,000 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.