A portion of the combined statement of income and retained earnings of Crane Ltd$.$ for the current year ended December $31,2023,$ follows:

Income before discontinued operations

Loss from discontinued operations, net of applicable income tax $($Note $1)$

Net income

Retained earnings at beginning of year

Dividends declared:

On preferred shares, $$5\mathrm{.}00$ per share

On common shares, $$1\mathrm{.}2$ per share

Retained earnings at end of year

$$4,994,000$

$572,000$

$4,422,000$

$\frac{23,260,000}{27,682,000}$

$$275,000$

$\frac{1,980,000}{\text{\$}25,427,000}$

Note $1.$ During the year, Crane suffered a loss from discontinued operations of $$572,000$ after the applicable income tax reduction of $$143,000.$

At the end of $2023,$ Crane has outstanding $1\mathrm{.}65$ million common shares and $55,000$ preferred shares.

On April $1,2023,$ Crane issued $1\mathrm{.}40$ million common shares for $$6$ per share to help finance the loss.

$($a$)$

Determine the weighted average number of shares outstanding as at December $31,2023.$

Weighted average number of shares outstanding