Simon Company's year-end balance sheets follow. Current Year 1 Year Ago 2 Years Ago 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 Common stock, $10 par value Retained earnings Total liabilities and equity $ 36,825 107,799 132,853 12,215 334,469 $ 624,161 5 $ 43,907 76,836 99,543 11,525 306,259 $ 538,070 $ 43, 956 58,027 62,423 4,691 270,503 $ 439,600 $ 152,308 116, 169 163,500 192, 184 $ 624,161 $ 88,206 120,043 163,500 166,321 $ 538,070 $ 59,768 100,066 163,500 116,266 $ 439,600 For both the current year and one year ago, compute the following ratios: The company's income statements for the current year and one year ago, follow. For Year Ended December 31 Sales Cost of goods sold Other operating expenses Interest expense Income tax expense Total costs and expenses Net income Earnings per share Current Year $ 811, 409 $ 494,959 251,537 13,794 10,548 770,838 $ 40,571 $ 2.50 1 Year Ago $ 640,303 $ 416,197 161,997 14,727 9,605 602,526 $ 37,777 $ 2.32 (1) Debt and equity ratios. (2-a) Compute debt-to-equity ratio for the current year and one year ago. (2-b) Based on debt-to-equity ratio, does the company have more or less debt in the current year versus one year ago? (3-a) Times interest earned