The correct answer is: D. the market price per share of the firms common stock.
Shareholder wealth is the total value of all the shares of a company that are held by its shareholders. It is calculated by multiplying the number of shares outstanding by the market price per share. The market price per share is the price at which a share of stock is currently trading on the stock market. It is determined by supply and demand, and it can fluctuate based on a variety of factors, such as the company’s financial performance, the overall economy, and investor sentiment.
The other options are incorrect because they do not measure shareholder wealth. The number of people employed in a firm does not necessarily correlate with the firm’s financial performance. The book value of a firm’s assets less the book value of its liabilities is the firm’s net worth, which is not the same as shareholder wealth. The amount of salary paid to a firm’s employees is a cost to the firm, not an asset.