Identifying, Analyzing and Explaining the Effects of a Stock Split On September 1, Weiss Company has 300,000 shares of $9 par value ($148 market value) common stock that are issued and outstanding. Its balance sheet on that date shows the following account balances relating to its common stock.

Common stock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,700,000 Paid-in capital in excess of par value. . . . . . . . 1,680,000 On September 2, Weiss splits its stock 3-for-2 and reduces the par value to $6 per share.

a. How many shares of common stock are issued and outstanding immediately after the stock split?

b. What is the dollar balance of the common stock account immediately after the stock split?

c. What is the likely reason that Weiss Company split its stock?