Presented below are condensed financial statements adapted from those of two actual companies competing as the primary players in a specialty area of the food manufacturing and distribution industry. ($ in millions, except per share amounts.) Assets Cash Accounts receivable (net) Short-term investments Balance Sheets Metropolitan Republic $ 274.3 507.7 $ 43.0 407.0 - 8.2 Inventory Prepaid expenses and other current assets. Current assets Property, plant, and equipment (net) Intangibles and other assets Total assets Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Accounts payable Short-term notes Accruals and other current liabilities Current liabilities Long-term debt Deferred tax liability Other long-term liabilities Total liabilities Common stock (par and additional paid-in capital) Retained earnings Less: Treasury stock Total liabilities and shareholders' equity Net sales Cost of goods sold Gross profit Operating expenses Interest expense Income before taxes Income tax expense Net income Net income per share 555.4 207.6 $ 1,545.0 2,698.2 288.3 711.2 571.7 $ 1,741.1 2,612.6 588.0 $ 4,531.5 $ 4,941.8 $ 564.9 304.1 $ 778.2 635.4 678.2 616.5 $ 1,547.2 $ 2,030.1 639.6 640.3 466.6 698.7 187.1 $ 2,860.4 207.0 223.9 2,560.9 (1,113.7) $ 3,556.2 433.0 1,692.9 (740.3) $ 4,941.8 $ 7,850.2 (4,395.7) $ 3,454.5 (2,738.2) $ 4,531.5 Income Statements $ 5,787.0 (2,825.0) $ 2,962.0 (1,653.7) (81.8) $ 1,226.5 (48.6) $ 667.7 $ (299.7) 926.8 (99.1) $ 568.6 $ 1.5 $ 7.6 Evaluate and compare the two companies by responding to the following questions. Note: Because comparative statements are not provided you should use year-end balances in place of average balances as appropriate. Required