Analysts and investors often use return on equity (ROE) to compare profitability of a company with other firms in the industry. ROE is considered a very important measure, and managers strive to make the company's ROE numbers look good. If a firm takes steps that increase its expected future ROE, its stock price will increase. Based on your understanding of the uses and limitations of ROE, a rational investor is likely to prefer an investment option that has: O High ROE and low risk High ROE and high risk Suppose you are trying to decide whether to invest in a company that generates a high expected ROE, and you want to conduct further analysis on the company's performance. If you wanted to conduct a comparative analysis for the current year, you would: O Compare the firm's financial ratios for the current year with its ratios in previous years Compare the firm's financial ratios with other firms in the industry for the current year You decide also to conduct a qualitative analysis based on the factors summarized by the American Association of Individual Investors (AAII). According to your understanding, a company with one key product is considered to be risky than companies with a wide range of products. The American Association of Individual Investors (AAII) has identified several qualitative factors that should also be considered when evaluating a company's likely future financial performance. Consider the scenario and indicate how you would expect the described event or situation to affect the How would you expect this situation to affect the assessment of Northern's financial condition and performance? Although nonquantitative factors may be relevant to a company's financial evaluation in general terms, the details of this specific situation are not relevant to the firm's financial condition or performance. Its low barriers to entry expose Northern to increased risk of competition, which could negatively affect the predictability of its expected future sales revenues. Its low barriers to entry expose Northern to decreased risk of competition, which could improve the predictability of its expected future sales revenues