On January $1,2024,$ the general ledger of Grand Finale Fireworks includes the following account balances:

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AccountsDebitCreditCash$$$$42,800$Accounts Receivable$44,700$Supplies$7,600$Equipment$65,000$Accumulated Depreciation$$$$9,100$Accounts Payable$14,700$Common Stock, $$1$ par value$11,000$Additional Paid$-$in Capital$81,000$Retained Earnings$44,300$Totals$$160,100$$$160,100$

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During January $2024,$ the following transactions occur:

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January $2$Issue an additional $2,000$ shares of $$1$ par value common stock for $$40,000.$January $9$Provide services to customers on account, $$14,000.$January $10$Purchase additional supplies on account, $$5,000.$January $12$Purchase $1,100$ shares of treasury stock for $$19$ per share.January $15$Pay cash on accounts payable, $$16,600.$January $21$Provide services to customers for cash, $$49,200.$January $22$Receive cash on accounts receivable, $$16,700.$January $29$Declare a cash dividend of $$0\mathrm{.}40$ per share to all shares outstanding on January $29.$ The dividend is payable on February $15.($Hint: Grand Finale Fireworks had $11,000$ shares outstanding on January $1,2024,$ and dividends are not paid on treasury stock.$)$January $30$Resell $800$ shares of treasury stock for $$21$ per share.January $31$Pay cash for salaries during January, $$42,100.$

$7.$ Analyze the following for Grand Finale Fireworks:

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a$-1.$ Calculate the return on equity for the month of January.

a$-2.$ If the average return on equity for the industry for January is $2\mathrm{.}4\%,$ is the company more or less profitable than other companies in the same industry?

b$.$ How many shares of common stock are outstanding as of January $31,2024?$

c$-1.$ Calculate earnings per share for the month of January. $($Hint: To calculate average shares of common stock outstanding take the beginning shares outstanding plus the ending shares outstanding and divide the total by $2.)$

c$-2.$ If earnings per share was $$2\mathrm{.}40$ last year $($i$.$e$.,$ an average of $$2\mathrm{.}40$ per month$),$ is earnings per share for January $2024$ better or worse than last year$$s average?