The following data have been gathered from the financial statements of HiFly Corporation:(Click on the icon located on the top-right corner of the data table below in order to copy its contents into a spreadsheet.)

2015

2016

Operating profit	$486 comma 000 comma 000

$530 comma 000 comma 000

Interest expense	163 comma 000 comma 000

213 comma 000 comma 000

Taxes	116 comma 280 comma 000

114 comma 120 comma 000

Net profit	206 comma 720 comma 000

202 comma 880 comma 000

Calculate the times interest earned ratios for

2015

and

2016

.

Is the company more or less able to meet its interest payments in

2016

when measured this way?

.