Required information

$[$The following information applies to the questions displayed below.$]$

Simon Company's year$-$end balance sheets follow.

The company's income statements for the current year and one year ago, follow.

$(3-$a$)$ Compute times interest earned for the current year and one year ago.

$(3-$b$)$ Based on times interest earned, is the company more or less risky for creditors in the Current Year versus $1$ Year Ago?