Required information [The following information applies to the questions displayed below.] Simon Companys year-end balance sheets follow. At December 31 Current Yr 1 Yr Ago 2 Yrs Ago Assets Cash $ 25,712 $ 30,358 $ 30,377 Accounts receivable, net 76,778 52,064 42,156 Merchandise inventory 93,695 69,501 44,905 Prepaid expenses 8,364 8,208 3,513 Plant assets, net 235,644 219,346 192,149 Total assets $ 440,193 $ 379,477 $ 313,100 Liabilities and Equity Accounts payable $ 107,416 $ 64,773 $ 42,156 Long-term notes payable secured by mortgages on plant assets 81,101 89,025 70,579 Common stock, $10 par value 162,500 162,500 162,500 Retained earnings 89,176 63,179 37,865 Total liabilities and equity $ 440,193 $ 379,477 $ 313,100 The companys income statements for the Current Year and 1 Year Ago, follow. For Year Ended December 31 Current Yr 1 Yr Ago Sales $ 572,251 $ 451,578 Cost of goods sold $ 349,073 $ 293,526 Other operating expenses 177,398 114,249 Interest expense 9,728 10,386 Income tax expense 7,439 6,774 Total costs and expenses 543,638 424,935 Net income $ 28,613 $ 26,643 Earnings per share $ 1.76 $ 1.64 For both the Current Year and 1 Year Ago, compute the following ratios: (3-a) Times interest earned.

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