Before a Company Can Pay Dividends to the Common Stockholders

Before a company can pay dividends to the common stockholders, the owners of cumulative preferred stock must receive:

A) all dividends in arrears plus the current year's dividends.
B) all dividends in arrears, but not the current year's dividends.
C) neither the current year's dividends nor dividends in arrears.
D) the current year's dividends, but not dividends in arrears.