Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and Target Corporation reported the following in their financial reports:

($ billions)
Fiscal Year	Wal-Mart				Target
	Sales	COGS	Inventory		Sales	COGS	Inventory
2014	$476	$358	$44.9		$72.6	$51.3	$8.79
2013	469	352	43.8		71.3	50.0	8.28
2012	447	335	40.7		72.0	50.6	7.90

a. Compute the 2014 and 2013 inventory turnovers for each of these two retailers.

b. Discuss any changes that are evident in inventory turnover across years and companies from part a.

c. Describe ways in which a retailer can improve its inventory turnover. Are there ways to increase inventory turnover that are not beneficial to the company's long-term interests?