The company must pay the accrued preferred stock dividends before any common stock dividends can be paid. (sapling.com)
Check the company's annual and quarterly reports to see if any cumulative preferred stock dividends have not been paid. (sapling.com)
Most preferred stock dividends are treated as «Qualified» dividends, meaning they are taxed at the more favorable rate applied to long - term capital gains. (investopedia.com)