Dun & Bradstreet and Robert Morris Associates compile fi nancial information about many companies.

They provide, among other information, income statements and balance sheets for an average fi rm in an industry. Go to a library, look up fi nancial information on two industries of your choice, and compute the following data for each industry:

a. The percentages of assets in (1) current assets and (2) fi xed assets (plant and equipment)

b. The percentages of fi nancing from (1) spontaneous fi nancing and (2) internal equity

c. The cost of goods sold and the operating expenses as percentages of sales

d. The total assets as a percentage of sales Given your fi ndings, how would you summarize the differences between the two industries? LO.1