capital stock
total amount of a corporation's common stock and preferred stock that the corporation is authorized to issue
cash dividend
distribution of a corporation's earnings in the form of cash
common stock
class of stock wherein each share carries equal rights
cumulative preferred stock
stock that gives the stockholder the right to receive dividends that were not declared or paid in prior years
deficit
when there is a net debit balance in the retained earnings account
discount
when stock has been sold for a price that is less than its par value
dividend
distribution of a corporation's earnings in the form of cash, stock, or property to the stockholders as voted on by the board of directors
in arrears
cumulative preferred stock that has not been paid in at least one prior period
outstanding stock
total authorized stock that is issued and currently held by stockholders
paid-in capital
capital contributed to the corporation by its stockholders
par value
nominal value in dollars that is assigned to each share of stock on the stock certificate
preferred stock
class of stock that carries various rights, such as dividend preference
premium
when stock has been sold for a price that is more than its par value
prior period adjustment
correction of an error made in a prior period that is reflected directly in retained earnings, not on the income statement
restriction
limitation on the use of retained earnings as payment of dividends, used by a corporation's board of directors
retained earnings
net income that is retained in a corporation
statement of stockholders' equity
statement prepared when there have been changes to the stock and paid-in capital accounts of a corporation
stock
share of ownership of a corporation
stock dividend
distribution of a corporation's earnings in the form of additional stock to the stockholders
stock split
issuance of a proportional number of additional shares by a corporation that reduces the par value of its common stock
stockholders
owners of a corporation's stock and, therefore, owners of the corporation
stockholders' equity
owners' equity in a corporation
treasury stock
stock that has been issued and then reacquired by the same corporation