L016-6 You have just been hired as a financial analyst for Lydex Company, a manufacturer of safety helmets. Your boss has asked you to perform a comprehensive analysis of the company's financial statements, including comparing Lydex's performance to its major competitors. The company's financial statements for the last two years are as follows: Lydex Company Comparative Balance Sheet This Year Last Year Assets Current assets: To begin your assignment you gather the following financial data and ratios that are typical of companies in Lydex Company's industry: 1. You decide first to assess the company's performance in terms of debt management and profitability. Compute the following for both this year and last year: a. The times interest earned ratio. b. The debt-to-equity ratio. c. The gross margin percentage. d. The return on total assets. (Total assets at the beginning of last year were $12,960,000.) e. The return on equity. (Stockholders' equity at the beginning of last year totaled $9,048,000. There has been no change in common stock over the last two years.) f. Is the company's financial leverage positive or negative? Explain