Assume that Carla Harris of Morgan Stanley (MorganStanley.com) has impressed you with the company's success and its commitment to ethical behavior. You learn of a staff opening at Morgan Stanley and decide to apply for it. Your resume is successfully screened from the thousands received and you advance to the interview process. You learn that the interview consists of analyzing the following financial facts and answering analysis questions below. (The data are taken from a small merchandiser in outdoor recreational equipment.)

Required
Use these data to answer each of the following questions with explanations.
1. Is it becoming easier for the company to meet its current liabilities on time and to take advantage of any available cash discounts? Explain.
2. Is the company collecting its accounts receivable more rapidly? Explain.
3. Is the company's investment in accounts receivable decreasing? Explain.
4. Is the company's investment in plant assets increasing? Explain.
5. Is the owner's investment becoming more profitable? Explain.
6. Did the dollar amount of selling expenses decrease during the three-year period? Explain.

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2017 2016 2015 Sales trend percents Selling expenses to sales. Sales to plant assets ratio Current ratio Acid-test ratio Merchandise inventory turnover Accounts receivable turnover Total asset turnover Return on total assets. Return on equity Profit margin ratio. 137.0% 125.0% 100.0% 9.8% 3.5 to 1 2.6 to 1 13.7% 15.3% 3.3 to 1 2.4 to 1 1.1 to 1 8.7 times 7.4 times 2.6 times 9.4% 11.50% 3.5% 3.0 to 1 2.1 to 1 1.2 to 1 9.9 times 8.2 times 3.0 times . 0.8 to 1 7.5 times 6.7 times 2.6 times 8.8% 9.75% 3.3% 12.25% 3.7%