PUNTS I QUESTION A clothing retailer has applied for a loan at a local commercial bank. What would be the BEST ratio that the bank could use to determine whether the clothing store could meet its annual interest payments? Profit Margin b. Basic Earning Power Return on Equity Inventory Turnover Times Interest Earned A firm's inventory turnover has steadily decreased over the past 5 years, from 35 times at the end of December 2014 to 20 times at the end of 2019. What would a financial analyst be MOST justified in concluding? The firm's inventory has decreased significantly. b. The firm's total assets have decreased. c. The firm has reduced its level of profitability. The firm is using its inventory less efficiently. e. The firm's sales are increasing rapidly. a. Due to increasing competition, Fastback Inc. has recently experienced a drop in its profit margin. If Fastback wants to keep its return on equity constant, it must: increase its current ratio. b. increase its total asset turnover. decrease its inventory turnover. decrease its debt to total assets. e. reduce its average collection period. What can be concluded from the following Fixed Asset Turnover (FATO) and Total Asset Turnover (TATO) ratios for the Franco Company and its industry? FATO TATO 2015 5.6x 3.0x 2016 5.8x 3.1x 2017 Industry 6.0x 5.0x 3.3x 2.6x The firm uses its assets less effectively than does the industry on average and it is improving. The firm uses its assets more effectively than does the industry on average and it is improving The firm uses its assets less effectively than does the industry on average and it is getting worse. The firm uses its assets more effectively than does the industry on average but it is approaching the industry average