Simon Company's year-end balance sheets follow. Current Yr 1 Yr Ago 2 Yrs 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 $ 32,695 94,761 119, 143 10,845 296,711 $554, 155 $ 38,218 $ 39,018 66,212 51,498 88,378 55,965 10,233 4,335 274,679 247,284 $ 477, 720 $ 398, 100 $139,364 101,056 162,500 151,235 $554, 155 $ 78,313 $ 52,024 108,777 88, 860 162,500 162,500 128, 130 94,716 $ 477,720 398, 100 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 Current Yr $720,402 $439,445 223, 325 12,247 9, 365 684,382 $ 36,020 $ 2.22 1 Yr Ago $ 568,487 $369,517 143,827 13,075 8,527 534,946 $ 33,541 $ 2.06 Earnings per share For both the current year and one year ago, compute the following ratios: (3-a) Times interest earned. (3-b) Based on times interest earned, is the company more or less risky for creditors in the Current Year versus 1 Year Ago