A cumulative dividend preference means that: A. preferred stockholders are paid dividends before common stockholders are paid dividends for the current year only. B. unpaid cash dividends to preferred stockholders must be replaced with stock dividends during the current period. C. preferred stockholders are paid their full fixed dividend rate each period as long as the company is in operation. D. unpaid dividends to preferred stockholders accumulate and must be paid before common stockholders receive dividends.