The income statement for Woodford Corporation for the year ended December $31,2023$ appears below:

$......$ Sales........................................................... $$610,000$

$......$ Cost of goods sold...................................... $380,000$

$......$ Gross profit................................................ $230,000$

$......$ Expenses.................................................... $180,000*$

$......$ Profit.......................................................... $ $50,000$

$*$Includes $$30,000$ of interest expense and $$16,000$ of income tax expense.

Additional information:

$1.$ The weighted average number of common shares issued on December $31,2023$ was $50,000$ shares.

$2.$ The market price of the company's shares was $$18$ at the end of $2023.$

$3.$ Cash dividends of $$10,000$ were paid, $$6,000$ of which were paid to preferred shareholders.

Required:

a$.$ Calculate the following ratios for $2023$:

i$.$ earnings per share

ii$.$ price$-$earnings

iii. interest coverage

iv$.$ total dividend payout

b$.$ Comment on the above ratios, assuming the averages for the industry in which the company operates are as follows:

i$.$ earnings per share $$1\mathrm{.}20$

ii$.$ price$-$earnings $10$ times

iii. interest coverage $2\mathrm{.}2$ times

iv$.$ dividend payout ratio $15\%$