Required information (The following information applies to the questions displayed below.) Simon Company's year-end balance sheets follow. 2017 2016 2015 At December 31 Assets Cash Accounts receivable, net Merchandise inventory Prepaid expenses Plant assets, net Total assets Liabilities and Equity Accounts payable Long-term notes payable secured by mortgages on plant assets Common stock, $10 par value Retained earnings Total liabilities and equity $ 28,285 $ 34,075 $ 36,585 85, 325 59,631 49, 258 104, 125 80, 358 52,476 9,388 8,767 3,945 262,069 238,886 220,036 $489, 192 $421,717 $362,300 $123, 027 $ 72,696 $ 48,302 91,968 95,055 82, 470 162,500 162,500 162,500 111,697 91,466 69,028 $489, 192 $421,717 $362, 300 The company's income statements for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, follow. For Year Ended December 31 Sales Cost of god sold Other operating expenses Interest expense Income taxes Total costs and expenses Net income Earnings per share 2017 $635,950 $387,930 197, 145 10, 811 8,267 604,153 $ 31,797 $ 1.96 2016 $501, 843 $326,198 126,966 11,542 7,528 472, 234 $ 29,609 $ 1.82 Calculate the company's long-term risk and capital structure positions at the end of 2017 and 2016 by computing the following ratios. (2) Debt-to-equity ratio. Debt-To-Equity Ratio | Choose Denominator: Choose Numerator: Debt-To-Equity Ratio Debt-to-equity ratio = 2017: 1 to 1 2016: to 1