Based on the ratios for operating cash flow before interest and taxes to operating income, Abay should conclude that:

A. Bickchip’s earnings are backed by cash flow.

B. Bickchip’s earnings are not backed by cash flow.

C. Abay can draw no conclusion due to the changes in the ratios over time.

Quentin Abay, CFA, is an analyst for a private equity firm interested in purchasing Bickchip Enterprises, a conglomerate. His first task is to determine the trends in ROE and the main drivers of the trends using DuPont analysis. To do so he gathers the data in Exhibit 1.

After conducting the DuPont analysis, Abay believes that his firm could increase the ROE without operational changes. Further, Abay thinks that ROE could improve if the company divested segments that were generating the lowest returns on capital employed (total assets less non-interest-bearing liabilities). Segment EBIT margins in 2009 were 11 percent for Automation Equipment, 5 percent for Power and Industrial, and 8 percent for Medical Equipment. Other relevant segment information is presented in Exhibit 2.

Abay is also concerned with earnings quality, so he intends to calculate Bickchip’s cash-flow-based accruals ratio and the ratio of operating cash flow before interest and taxes to operating income. To do so, he prepares the information in Exhibit 3.

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EXHIBIT 1 Selected Financial Data for Bickchip Enterprises ( Thousands) 2008 Revenue Earnings before interest and tax Earnings before tax Net income Asset turnover Assets/Equity 2009 72,448 6,270 5,101 4,038 0.79 3.09 66,487 4,710 4,114 3,345 0.76 3.38 2007 55,781 3,609 3,168 2,576 0.68 3.43