Ralph Lauren Corp. sells men's apparel through company-owned retail stores. Recent financial information for Ralph Lauren follows (all numbers in thousands): Fiscal Year 3 Fiscal Year 2 Net income $567,600 $479,500 Interest expense 18,300 22,200 Fiscal Year 3 Fiscal Year 2 Fiscal Year 1 Total assets (at end of fiscal year) $4,981,100 $4,648,900 $4,356,500 Total stockholders' equity (at end of fiscal year) 3,304,700 3,116,600 2,735,100 Assume the apparel industry average rate earned on total assets is 8.0%, and the average rate earned on stockholders' equity is 10.0% for the year ended April 2, Year 3.

1. Evaluate the two-year trend for the profitability ratios determined in (a) and (b).
2. Evaluate Ralph Lauren's profit performance relative to the industry.