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 $ 33,808 $ 39,922 $ 42,426 97,987 68, 452 54,887 123,200 91,388 62,058 10,999 10,903 4,761 318, 725 293,403 260,168 $584,719 $504,068 $424,300 $149,963 $ 86,039 $ 56,568 111,026 119,414 94,708 162,500 162,500 162,500 161,230 136,115 110,524 $584,719 $504,068 $424,300 The company's income statements for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, follow. For Year Ended December 31 Sales Cost of goods sold Other operating expenses Interest expense Income taxes Total costs and expenses Net income Earnings per share 2017 $760,135 $ 463,682 235,642 12,922 9,882 722, 128 $ 38,007 $ 2.34 2016 $ 599,841 $ 389,897 151,760 13,796 8,998 564,451 $ 35,390 $ 2.18 Calculate the company's long-term risk and capital structure positions at the end of 2017 and 2016 by computing the following ratios. (1) Debt and equity ratios. Debt Ratio 1 Choose Denominator: Choose Numerator: - Debt Ratio Debt ratio 2017: 2016: Equity Ratio 1 Choose Denominator: Choose Numerator: = Equity Ratio Equity ratio 2017: 2016: (2) Debt-to-equity ratio. Debt-To-Equity Ratio 1 Choose Denominator: Choose Numerator: = Debt-To-Equity Ratio Debt-to-equity ratio 2017: 2016: (3) Times interest earned. Times Interest Earned 1 Choose Denominator: Choose Numerator: = Times Interest Earned Times interest earned 2017: times 2016: times