Please download the Excel spreadsheet GPS_Tru_Financials.xls from the Data Analytics Module on Canvas. Part 1: For each of the two companies in the most recent five-year period 2017-2021 calculate and display (using the chart option) the trends for the: (a) Debt to equity ratio (Total Debt / Total Equity) (b) Rate of return on assets (Net Income / Total Assets) (c) Rate of return on shareholders equity (Net Income / Shareholders Equity) Please make sure to label the charts correctly (including chart title, x-axis, and the y-axis). These charts will be used to answer the next part and will be submitted as supporting material. Part 2: Based on what you find, answer the following questions: 1. Which of the two companies finances a higher percentage of its assets by borrowed funds relative to funds invested by shareholders as measure by the debt to equity ratio in 2021? 2. Which of the two companies indicates a higher profitability during the period 2017-2021 without regard to the sources of financing as measured by the return on assets ratio? 3. Which of the two companies indicates a higher effectiveness of employing resources provided by owners during the period 2017-2021 as measured by the return on shareholders equity ratio? 4. Management is using its borrowed funds to enhance the earnings for shareholders of (a) GPS Corporation, (b) Tru, Inc., (c) both firms, or (d) neither firm during the period 2017-2021? Background Information What does the debt to equity (D/E) ratio tell us? The firms capital structure refers to the amount of debt and equity the company uses to finance its operations. D/E ratio is oftentimes used as a measure of risk. All else equal, the higher the D/E ratio, the higher the risk. The risk referred to here is default risk because it indicates the likelihood the company will default on its obligations (if it borrows excessively). However, debt can also create favorable financial leverage. If the company can earn a return on the borrowed funds in excess of the cost of borrowing the funds, then shareholders are provided with a total return greater than what could have been earned with equity funding alone. Examining additional ratios will help determine whether the company has a favorable financial leverage.

What does return on assets (ROA) ratio tell us? ROA (net income / assets) is a measure of the companys profitability. It measures profitability without regard to the source of the companys financing (i.e., whether the financing is debt or equity). Remember, Assets = Liabilities + Equity, so when we divide by assets we are dividing by debt and equity. You can also think of ROA in terms of how well the company employs its assets. The ratio helps us answer the following question: for every $1 of asset the company employs, how much net income does the company generate? What does return on shareholders equity (ROE) ratio tell us? ROE (net income / shareholders equity) is also a measure of the companys profitability. However, it does measure profitability with regard to the source of financing it looks specifically at the shareholders equity (rather than debt and equity combined). Doing so, the ROE measures how effective the company is at employing resources provided by the owners of the company. The ratio helps us answer the following question: for every $1 of financing provided by shareholders, how much net income does the company generate? Does the company have favorable financial leverage? For our purposes, we will consider a company to have favorable financial leverage if its ROE is greater than its ROA. Assignment Submission: To receive full credit, please upload by December 2nd to the Data Analytics Assignment on Canvas, a report in a Word or PDF with: A. Your answers to the above four questions. B. Supporting data and labeled charts associated with the three ratios (debt to equity, return on equity, and return on assets). You will need to copy your chart from Excel (Microsoft snip and sketch is an easy tool you can use to avoid any formatting issues). **Please name your file submission as follows: LastName_FirstName_DataAnalytics (e.g., Cohen_Shira_DataAnalytics).** Finally, you may consult with your classmates as you do this assignment, but the work you submit must be your own. For those not familiar with Excel, I have created a short explanation video that walks you through the first part of the assignment posted to Canvas in the Data Analytics module.