P14-7 (similar to) Alternative dividend policies Over the last 10 years, a firm has had the earnings per share shown in the following table: a. If the firm's dividend policy were based on a constant payout ratio of 40% for all years with positive earnings and 0% otherwise, what would be the annual dividend for 2014? b. If the firm had a dividend payout of $1.00 per share, increasing by $0.10 per share whenever the dividend payout fell below 50% for two consecutive years, what annual dividend would the firm pay in 2014? c. If the firm's policy were to pay $0.50 per share each period except when earnings per share exceed $3.00, when an extra dividend equal to 80% of earnings beyond $3.00 would be paid, what annual dividend would the firm pay in 2014? d. Discuss the pros and cons of each dividend policy described in parts a through c. a. If the firm's dividend policy were based on a constant payout ratio of 40% for all years with positive earnings and 0% otherwise, the annual dividend for 2014 is $. (Round to the nearest cent.) Data Table (Click on the icon here in order to copy the contents of the data table below into a spreadsheet.) Earnings per share $3.08 Year 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 Earnings per share $4.04 $4.49 $4.43 $2.87 $3,35 Year 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 $1.51 $1.63 $0.36 Print Done