Simon Company's year-end balance sheets follow. Current Yri 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 secured by mortgages on plant assets Common stock, $10 par value Retained earnings Total liabilities and equity $ 35,029 101,524 127, 647 11,856 329, 768 $605, 824 $ 42,199 $ 44,845 72, 38657, 449 97,585 64,954 10,638 4,885 299, 454 271, 967 $ 522, 262 $ 444,100 $150,850 $86, 497 $ 58,035 115,034 162,500 177,440 $605, 824 122,523 100, 109 162,500 162,500 150, 742 123, 456 $ 522,262 $ 444,100 The company's income statements for the Current Year and 1 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 Yr $787,571 $480, 418 244, 147 13, 389 10, 238 748 192 $ 39, 379 1 Yr Ago $621, 492 $403,970 157,237 14,294 9, 322 584, 823 $ 36, 669 $ 2.26 For both the Current Year and 1 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