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

At December $31$ Current Year $1$ Year Ago $2$ Years Ago

Assets

Cash $ $26,864$ $ $31,402$ $ $33,385$

Accounts receivable, net $81,03854,95345,875$

Merchandise inventory $102,88974,83948,862$

Prepaid expenses $8,6518,4113,672$

Plant assets, net $245,175230,927212,306$

Total assets $ $464,617$ $ $400,532$ $ $344,100$

Liabilities and Equity

Accounts payable $ $114,533$ $ $67,690$ $ $44,059$

Long$-$term notes payable $89,96893,04474,525$

Common stock, $$10$ par value $162,500162,500163,500$

Retained earnings $97,61677,29862,016$

Total liabilities and equity $ $464,617$ $ $400,532$ $ $344,100$

For both the current year and one year ago, compute the following ratios:

The company$$s income statements for the current year and $1$ year ago, follow.

For Year Ended December $31$ Current Year $1$ Year Ago

Sales $ $604,002$ $ $476,633$

Cost of goods sold $ $368,441$ $ $309,811$

Other operating expenses $187,241120,588$

Interest expense $10,26810,963$

Income tax expense $7,8527,149$

Total costs and expenses $573,802448,511$

Net income $ $30,200$ $ $28,122$

Earnings per share $ $1\mathrm{.}86$ $ $1\mathrm{.}73$

For both the Current Year and $1$ Year Ago, compute the following ratios:

$(1-$a$)$ Profit margin ratio.

$(1-$b$)$ Did profit margin improve or worsen in the Current Year versus $1$ Year Ago?

$(2)$ Total asset turnover.

$(3-$a$)$ Return on total assets.

$(3-$b$)$ Based on return on total assets, did Simon's operating efficiency improve or worsen in the Current Year versus $1$ Year Ago?