A summary of selected historical results is presented below for three Canadian companies: Barrick Gold, WestJet Airlines, and Le Groupe Jean Coutu. Each of these companies has grown in size over time by acquiring assets and investing in other companies. (Amounts are in millions of dollars.)

Required
1. Complete the following table by computing the total asset turnover ratio and the return on assets for each company for each of the years 2011 and 2012.

2. Based on the computed ratios, rank these companies from most successful to least successful in implementing their growth strategies and effectively utilizing their assets.
3. Which of these three companies appears to be in the best position at the end of 2012 to pay off its short- term liabilities? What additional information would help you provide a more definite answer to this requirement? Explain.

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$47.282 $48,884 $34,367 $26,924 $24,16 $21,951 3 (677 4,537 3,630 (4,274) t expense, net of tax WestJet Airlines 2 Interest expense, net of tax Le Groupe Jean Coutu 1.393 1,060 2 2 Interest expense, net of tax 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 Barrick Gold Total asset turnover ratio Return on assets (F WestJet Airlines Total asset turnover ratio Return on assets (ROA) Le Groupe Jean Coutu Total asset turnover ratio Return on assets (ROA) 0.36 12.8% 0.32 -16.4% 0.34 3.47% 0.77 3.98% 0.69 0.81 738% 4.28% 2.54 18.0% 1.73 7.81% 0.78 -11.53%