Assume the following financial data for the Noble Corporation and Barnes Enterprises:

Noble

Corporation Barnes

Enterprises

Total earnings $ $1,638,000$ $ $5,220,000$

Number of shares of stock outstanding $630,0002,610,000$

Earnings per share $ $2\mathrm{.}60$ $ $2\mathrm{.}00$

Price$-$earnings ratio $($P$/$E$)2026$

Market price per share $ $52$ $ $52$

If all the shares of the Noble Corporation are exchanged for those of Barnes Enterprises on a share$-$for$-$share basis, what will postmerger earnings per share be for Barnes Enterprises?