Why the Change?

USBANCOR presented the following with its 1998 annual report from the consolidated statement of income.

1998

1997

1996

Year ended December 31

(In thousands, except per share data)

Income before income taxes

$28,799

$32,800

$27,263

Provision for income taxes

7,655

9,303

7,244

Net income

$21,144

$23,497

$20,019

Per common share data:1

Basic:

Net income

Average number of shares outstanding

$1.51

$1.56

$1.28

Diluted:

14,011,893

15,043,128

15,586,092

Net income

$1.48

$1.54

$1.28

Average number of shares outstanding

14,257,557

15,274,272

15,694,761

Cash dividends declared

$.60

$.53

$.46

(1) All per share and share data have been adjusted to reflect a 3 for 1 split effected in the form of a 200% stock dividend that was distributed on July 31, 1998, to shareholders of record on July 16, 1998.

From consolidated balance sheet:

At December 31

1998

1997

(In thousands)

Stockholders’ equity1

Preferred stock, no par value; 2,000,000 shares

authorized: there were no shares issued and

outstanding on December 31, 1998, and 1997

Common stock, par value $2.50 per share; 24,000,000

shares authorized; 17,350,136 shares issued and

13,512,317 outstanding on December 31, 1998;

17,282,028 shares issued and 14,681,154 shares

outstanding on December 31, 1997

$ 43,375

$ 14,402

Treasury stock at cost, 3,837,819 shares on

December 31, 1998, and 2,600,874 shares on

December 1997

(61,521)

(31,175)

Surplus

65,495

93,934

Retained earnings

91,737

78,866

Accumulated other comprehensive income

2,584

2,153

Total stockholders’ equity

141,670

158,180

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$2,377,081

$2,239,110

(1) All share data has been adjusted to reflect a 3 for 1 stock split effected in the form of

a 200% stock dividend that was distributed on July 31, 1998, to shareholders of record on July 16, 1998.

Per the 1998 annual report the market price for the common stock was $19.88 for 1998 and $24.33 for 1997.

Required: a. 1. How many shares of common stock were outstanding at December 31, 1998?

2. What was the weighted average common shares for the year ended December 31, 1998?

3. Which share number is used to compute earnings per share?

4. Why did the outstanding shares decrease between 1997 and 1998?

b. When computing the price/earnings ratio, should the basic or diluted earnings per share be used? Why?

c. 1. For the 1997 annual report, would the net income have been $23,497,000? Explain.

2. For the 1997 annual report, would the diluted earnings per share have been $1.54 for 1997? Explain.

d. 1. Compute the book value for 1998 and 1997.

2. Considering the earnings per share and the cash dividends per share for 1998, why did the book value decrease?

e. Compute the dividend payout for 1998, 1997, and 1996.