A current dividend preference means that:

A) preferred stockholders are paid current dividends before common stockholders are paid dividends.

B) unpaid dividends to preferred stockholders accumulate and must be paid before common stockholders receive dividends.

C) preferred stockholders are paid their full fixed dividend rate each period as long as the company is in operation.

D) unpaid cash dividends to preferred stockholders must be replaced with stock dividends during the current period.