$[$The following information applies to the questions displayed below.$]$

Simon Company's year$-$end balance sheets follow.

At December $31$ Current Year $1$ Year Ago $2$ Years Ago

Assets

Cash $ $34,403$ $ $41,421$ $ $41,069$

Accounts receivable, net $101,70670,37552,611$

Merchandise inventory $126,62292,99658,329$

Prepaid expenses $10,85810,5564,429$

Plant assets, net $309,521287,333250,262$

Total assets $ $583,110$ $ $502,681$ $ $406,700$

Liabilities and Equity

Accounts payable $ $142,291$ $ $87,502$ $ $52,611$

Long$-$term notes payable $111,817112,14890,780$

Common stock, $$10$ par value $162,500162,500162,500$

Retained earnings $166,502140,531100,809$

Total liabilities and equity $ $583,110$ $ $502,681$ $ $406,700$

For both the current year and one year ago, compute the following ratios:

Exercise $17-10($Algo$)$ Analyzing efficiency and profitability LO P$3$

The company$$s income statements for the current year and $1$ year ago, follow.

For Year Ended December $31$ Current Year $1$ Year Ago

Sales $ $758,043$ $ $598,190$

Cost of goods sold $ $462,406$ $ $388,824$

Other operating expenses $234,993151,342$

Interest expense $12,88713,758$

Income tax expense $9,8558,973$

Total costs and expenses $720,141562,897$

Net income $ $37,902$ $ $35,293$

Earnings per share $ $2\mathrm{.}33$ $ $2\mathrm{.}17$

For both the Current Year and $1$ Year Ago, compute the following ratios:

$(1-$a$)$ Profit margin ratio.

$(1-$b$)$ Did profit margin improve or worsen in the Current Year versus $1$ Year Ago?

$(2)$ Total asset turnover.

$(3-$a$)$ Return on total assets.

$(3-$b$)$ Based on return on total assets, did Simon's operating efficiency improve or worsen in the Current Year versus $1$ Year Ago?