The correct answer is: A. Shareholder wealth maximization.
Shareholder wealth maximization is the primary goal of a for-profit business. It is the process of maximizing the value of a company’s stock for its shareholders. This can be done by increasing the company’s profits, increasing the company’s assets, or decreasing the company’s liabilities.
Profit maximization is the goal of a business to make as much money as possible. This can be done by selling as many products or services as possible, or by charging as high a price as possible for those products or services. However, profit maximization is not always the best way to maximize shareholder wealth. For example, a company might make more money in the short term by cutting costs, but this could lead to lower quality products or services, which could hurt the company’s long-term profits.
Stakeholder welfare maximization is the goal of a business to maximize the well-being of all of its stakeholders, including its shareholders, employees, customers, suppliers, and the community. This can be a difficult goal to achieve, as the interests of different stakeholders can often conflict. For example, a company might want to pay its employees as little as possible, but this could hurt the well-being of its employees and their families.
EPS maximization is the goal of a business to maximize its earnings per share. This can be done by increasing the company’s profits, or by decreasing the number of shares outstanding. However, EPS maximization is not always the best way to maximize shareholder wealth. For example, a company might increase its EPS by issuing new shares, but this could dilute the ownership of existing shareholders.
In conclusion, shareholder wealth maximization is the primary goal of a for-profit business. It is the process of maximizing the value of a company’s stock for its shareholders. This can be done by increasing the company’s profits, increasing the company’s assets, or decreasing the company’s liabilities.