5. Profitability ratios Profitability ratios help in the analysis of the combined impact of liquidity ratios, asset management ratios, and debt management ratios on the operating performance of a firm. Your boss has asked you to calculate the profitability ratios of Blur Corp. and make comments on its second-year performance as compared to its first-year performance. The following shows Blur Corp.'s income statement for the last two years. The company had assets of $9,400 million in the first year and $15,037 million in the second year. Common equity was equal to $5,000 million in the first year, and the company distributed 100% of its earnings out as dividends during the first and the second years. In addition, the firm did not issue new stock during either year. Blur Corp Income Statement For the Year Ending on December 31 (Millions of dollars) Year 2 Year 1 4,000 5,080 1,855 1,723 254 160 2,109 1,883 Net Sales Operating costs except depreciation and amortization Depreciation and amortization Total Operating Costs Operating Income (or EBIT) Less: Interest Earnings before taxes (EBT) Less: Taxes (40%) Net Income 2,971 2,117 401 169 V 1,948 2,570 1,028 1,542 779 1,169 Calculate the profitability ratios of Blur Corp. in the following table. Convert all calculations to a percentage rounded to two decimal places. Ratio Value Year 2 Year 1 52.93% 30.35% Operating margin Profit margin Return on total assets Return on common equity Basic earning power 12.44% 23.38% 19.76% Decision makers and analysts look deeply into profitability ratios to identify trends in a company's profitability. Profitability ratios give insights into both the survivability of a company and the benefits that shareholders receive. Identify which of the following statements are true about profitability ratios. Check all that apply. A higher operating margin than the industry average indicates either lower operating costs, higher product pricing, or both. An increase in the return on assets ratio implies an increase in the assets a firm owns. If a company's operating margin increases but its profit margin decreases, it could mean that the company paid more in interest or taxes. If a company issues new common shares but its net income does not increase, return on common equity will increase