Feldmann Corporation permits any of its employees to buy shares directly from the company through payroll deduction. There are no brokerage fees and shares can be purchased at a 10% discount. During 2024, employees purchased 17 million shares; during this same period, the shares had a market price of $20 per share at the end of the year. Feldmann's 2024 pretax earnings will be reduced by:

(A) $34 million.

(B) $306 million.

(C) $340 million.

(D) $0.