On January $1,2026,$ Ivanhoe Corp. had $2,502,000$ shares of common stock issued and outstanding. During $2026,$ it had the following

transactions that related to common stock.

Mar. $1$ Issued $252,000$ shares in exchange for land

Apr. $1$ Acquired $204,000$ shares of treasury stock

July $1$ Issued a $20\%$ stock dividend

Sept. $1$ Reissued $244,800$ shares of treasury stock

$($adjusted for $20\%$ stock dividend$)$

Oct. $1$ Issued a $2-$for$-1$ stock split

$($a$)$

Determine the weighted$-$average number of shares outstanding as of December $31,2026.$

The weighted$-$average number of shares outstanding