does issuing common stock increase retained earnings
Cash dividends are profits paid to shareholders. Dividends on common stock are optional, but they are required for preferred stock. If a company issues additional dividend-paying common stock, it must either cut the dividend per share or increase the draw from retained earnings.Companies generally canât cut preferred stock dividends, so issuing new preferred stock will cause retained earnings to fall.Even though retained earnings decrease because of additional dividends, stockholdersâ equity might increase because the company raises cash when it issues new shares.t includes accounts for equity -- common and preferred stock -- and retained earnings, the accumulated profits of the corporation. The accounting equation requires that stockholders' equity be equal to assets minus liabilities.