Financial information for Forever $18$ includes the following selected data:

$($$ in millions$)20242023$

Net income $$120$ $$210$

Dividends on preferred stock $$30$ $$21$

Average shares outstanding $250500$

Stock price $$11\mathrm{.}47$ $$10\mathrm{.}421-$a$.$ Calculate earnings per share in $2023$ and $2024.$

$1-$b$.$ Did earnings per share increase in $2024?$ Calculate earnings per share in $2023$ and $2024.($Enter your answers in millions $($i$.$e$.5,500,000$ should be entered as $5\mathrm{.}5).)$