Texas Instruments (TI) designs and manufactures semiconductor products for use in computers, telecommunications equipment, automobiles, and other electronics-based products. The manufacturing of semiconductors is highly capital-intensive. Hewlett-Packard Corporation (HP) manufactures computer hardware and various imaging products, such as printers and fax machines. Exhibit 4.25 presents selected data for TI and HP for three recent years.

a. Compute the fixed assets turnover for each firm for Years 1, 2, and 3.

b. Suggest reasons for the differences in the fixed assets turnovers of TI and HP.

c. Suggest reasons for the changes in the fixed assets turnovers of TI and HP during the three-year period.