Huang Construction has $15,000$ shares of stock outstanding with a par value of $$1$ per share and a market value of $$45$ per share. The balance sheet shows $$15,000$ in the common stock account, $$158,000$ in the capital in excess of par account, and $$132,500$ in the retained earnings account. The firm just announced a stock dividend of $50$ cents. What is the value of the retained earnings account after the dividend?

Huang Construction has $15,000$ shares of stock outstanding with a par value of $$1$ per share and a market value of $$45$ per share. The balance sheet shows $$15,000$ in the common stock account, $$158,000$ in the capital in excess of par account, and $$132,500$ in the retained earnings account. The firm just announced a stock dividend of $50$ cents. What is the value of the retained earnings account after the dividend?

$$147,500$

$$140,000$

$$132,500$

$$125,000$

$$117,500$