As shrewd investor, Leslie James thoroughly analyzes a company before investing in its common shares. James is interested in the common shares of Devine Company. Data for the company are shown below:

*There were no changes in common shares outstanding over the three-year period.
James is seeking responses to several questions about trends over the past three years at Devine Company. Her questions are as follows:
a. Is the market price of the company's shares going up or down?
b. Is the earnings per share increasing or decreasing?
c. Is the price-earnings ratio going up or down?
d. Is the company employing financial leverage to the advantage of the common shareholders?
e. Is it becoming easier for the company to pay its bills as they come due?
f. Are customers paying their bills at least as fast now as they did in year 1?
g. Is the total of the accounts receivable increasing, decreasing, or remaining constant?
h. Is the level of inventory increasing, decreasing, or remaining constant?
Required:
Answer each of James's questions and explain how you arrived at your answer.

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Year 3 Year 2 Year 1 25 Current ratio.. Acid-test ratio Accounts receivable turnover. Inventory turnover.. Sales trend.... Dividends paid per share* Dividend yield ratio.. Dividend payout ratio. Return on total assets Return on common shareholders' equity. 23 10 100 7.0 26 09 95 67 95 $5.00 5% 50% 148% 13.5% 08 8.5 61 100.0 90 $5.00 6% 40% 13.4% 14.0% $500 4% 60% 15.0% 13.2%