[The following information applies to the questions displayed below.] Simon Company's year-end balance sheets follow. At December 31 Assets Cash Accounts receivable, net Merchandise inventory Prepaid expenses Plant assets, net Total assets Liabilities and Equity Accounts payable Current Year 1 Year Ago 2 Years Ago $ 35,235 62,900 $ 30,144 89,700 114,500 9,707 261,799 $ 505,850 $ 127,216 Long-term notes payable Common stock, $10 par value Retained earnings Total liabilities and equity 96,051 162,500 120,083 83,500 9,249 245,194 $ 436,078 $ 74,434 101,301 162,500 97,843 $ 505,850 $ 436,078 $ 35,976 50,300 55,000 3,997 214,527 $ 359,800 $ 47,969 80,311 162,500 69,020 $ 359,800 The company's income statements for the current year and one year ago follow. Assume that all sales are on credit: 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 Year $ 657,605 $ 401,139 203,858 11,179 8,549 624,725 $ 32,880 $ 2.02 1 Year Ago $ 518,933 $ 337,306 131,290 11,935 7,784 $ 30,618 $ 1.88 488,315