92,141 10,779 290,955 4,659 263,854 Simon Company's year-end balance sheets follow. At December 31 Assets Cash Accounts receivable, net Merchandise inventory Prepaid expenses Plant assets, net Total assets Current Year 1 Year Ago 2 Years Ago $ 33,739 101,820 128,019 10,977 314,987 $ 589,542 $ 41,065 73,286 Accounts payable $ 149,732 Long-term notes payable Common stock, $10 par value Retained earnings 109,726 162,500 167,584 $ 86,749 115,723 162,500 143,254 Total liabilities and equity $ 589,542 $ 508,226 Liabilities and Equity $ 43,199 55,340 60,748 $ 508,226 $ 427,800 $ 54,776 96,435 162,500 114,089 $ 427,800 The company's income statements for the current year and one year ago, follow. For Year Ended December 31 Sales Cost of goods sold Interest expense Other operating expenses Total costs and expenses Income tax expense Net income Earnings per share $ 604,789 Current Year 1 Year Ago $ 766,405 $ 467,507 237,586 $ 393,113 153,012 13,910 9,072 13,029 9,963 728,085 $ 38,320 $ 2.36 569,107 $ 35,682 $ 2.20 (3-a) Compute times interest earned for the current year and one year ago. (3-b) Based on times interest earned, is the company more or less risky for creditors in the Current Year versus 1 Year Ago?