You have just been hired as a financial analyst for Lydex Company, a manufacturer of safety helmets. Your boss has asked you to perform a comprehensive analysis of the companys financial statements, including comparing Lydexs performance to its major competitors. The companys financial statements for the last two years are as follows:

Lydex Company Comparative Balance Sheet
	This Year		Last Year
Assets
Current assets:
Cash	$	960,000	$	1,260,000
Marketable securities		0		300,000
Accounts receivable, net		2,700,000		1,800,000
Inventory		3,900,000		2,400,000
Prepaid expenses		240,000		180,000
Total current assets		7,800,000		5,940,000
Plant and equipment, net		9,300,000		8,940,000
Total assets	$	17,100,000	$	14,880,000
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Liabilities:
Current liabilities	$	3,900,000	$	2,760,000
Note payable, 10%		3,600,000		3,000,000
Total liabilities		7,500,000		5,760,000
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, $78 par value		7,800,000		7,800,000
Retained earnings		1,800,000		1,320,000
Total stockholders' equity		9,600,000		9,120,000
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	17,100,000	$	14,880,000

Lydex Company Comparative Income Statement and Reconciliation
	This Year		Last Year
Sales (all on account)	$	15,750,000	$	12,480,000
Cost of goods sold		12,600,000		9,900,000
Gross margin		3,150,000		2,580,000
Selling and administrative expenses		1,590,000		1,560,000
Net operating income		1,560,000		1,020,000
Interest expense		360,000		300,000
Net income before taxes		1,200,000		720,000
Income taxes (30%)		360,000		216,000
Net income		840,000		504,000
Common dividends		360,000		252,000
Net income retained		480,000		252,000
Beginning retained earnings		1,320,000		1,068,000
Ending retained earnings	$	1,800,000	$	1,320,000

4) Prepare a brief memo that summarizes how Lydex is performing relative to its competitors