S10-2 refers to the financial statement of the home depot in appendix a and lowes in appendix b at the end of this book (note: fiscal 2016 for the home depot runs from February 1, 2016, to January 29, 2017. Fiscal for 2016 for Lowe's runs from January 30, 2016, to February 3, 2017.)

1. Calculate and express as a percentage of the companies debt-to-asset ratios using amounts reported in the financial statement for fiscal 2016, which ends in early 2017. What do the differences in this ratio suggest about the companies reliance on creditors? Does it appear that Lowes or the Home Depots has a riskier financing strategy?

2. Calculate, to two decimal places, the companies times interest earned ratios for fiscal 2016, which ends in early 2017. (For the interest expense part of the ratio, use interest expense after subtracting interest income earned by the Home Depot and use the net interest expense of Lowes.) Does it appear that Lowes or the Home Depot will be better able to meet future interest obligations as they become payable?