3. What makes earnings per share so useful as a business statistic?

Earnings per share is useful because it relates a company's income to ____ (one share, a majority of the shares, all of the shares) of the company's stock. Stock prices are quoted at____ (an amount per share, the total company worth). Earnings per share is used to help determine the____ (number of shares already sold, number of shares available for sale, value of one share of stock, value of total assets). In addition, earnings per share is adjusted for____ (company size, differences in accounting method, geographical locations, industry differences) so the____ (expenses, gains and losses, profitability, revenues, segments) of two companies can be compared.