$36.$

Sandhill Company purchased $200$ of the $1000$ outstanding shares of Whispering Company's common stock for $$640000$ on January $2,2025.$ In $2025,$ Whispering declared dividends of $$95000$ and reported earnings of $$500000.$ If Sandhill uses the equity method of accounting for its investment in Whispering Company, the balance in Equity Investments $($Whispering$)$ at December $31,2025$ will be

$$740000$

$$640000$

$$721000$

$$621000$