True or False: cash dividends decrease both assets and the retained earnings of a corporation?

im really confused maybe its because of the terms. is the stock holder equity the same as retained earnings on a journal entry?

i found this %26quot;Once declared and paid, a cash dividend decreases total stockholders%26#039; equity and decreases total assets. Dividends are not reported on the income statement. They would be found in a statement of retained earnings or statement of stockholders%26#039; equity once declared and in a statement of cash flows when paid.%26quot;

http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/Clif...

True or False: cash dividends decrease both assets and the retained earnings of a corporation?construction loans

This is true. Cash dividends are assets that the company is retaining as earnings, but, when dispersed these reduce both retained earnings and assets (usually cash). Retained earning is Owner%26#039;s Equity, therefore when these earnings are disbursed the Equity goes down, as does the asset account that the disbursement was removed from.