Presented below are selected ratios for four firms. Tweeter is a distiller, Clinton is a jewelry retailer, Smith is an airline, and Orlando is a hotel chain.

Required:
1. Explain why the long-term debt to equity ratio is so much higher for the airline and hotel chain than it is for the distiller and jewelry retailer.
2. Explain why the turnover ratios vary so much among the four firms.
3. Explain why the return on equity for the airline and hotel chain is higher than for the distiller and jewelry retailer when their operating income and net income percentages are considerably smaller?

Smith Tweeter Clinton Orlando Short-term liquidity ratio Current ratio 1.5 3.5 0.9 1.4 Debt management ratio Long-term debt to equity Asset efficiency ratios Accounts receivable turnover 209.48 0.24 0.20 562.11 19.72 7.66 17.07 11.09 Inventory turnover Profitability ratios Operating income Net income 7.24 2.30 0.95 31.43 4.2% 17.7% 15.5% 9.6 9.2% 13.1 2.2 5.4 11.9 Return on assets 8.6 1.8 7.9 Return on equity 23.7 14.9 49.2 34.5