Required information

$(1-$a$)$ Profit margin ratio.

$(1-$b$)$ Did profit margin improve or worsen in the Current Year versus $1$ Year Ago?

$(2)$ Total asset turnover.

$(3-$a$)$ Return on total assets.

$(3-$b$)$ Based on return on total assets, did Simon's operating efficiency improve or worsen in the Current Year versus $1$ Year Ago?

Complete this question by entering your answers in the tabs below.

Required $1A$

Compute profit margin ratio for the current year and one year ago. $(3-$a$)$ Return on total assets.

$(3-$b$)$ Based on return on total assets, did Simon's operating efficiency improve or worsen in the Current Year versus $1$ Year Ago?

Complete this question by entering your answers in the tabs below.

Compute total asset turnover for the current year and one year ago.Simon Company's year$-$end balance sheets follow.

$\backslash$table$[[$At December $31,$Current Year,$1$ Year Ago,$2$ Years Ago$],[$Assets$,,,],[$Cash$,$$$29,706,$$$33,021,$$$34,064],[$Accounts receivable, net,$82,721,58,979,46,809],[$Merchandise inventory,$104,005,77,936,50,853],[$Prepaid expenses,$9,191,8,847,3,939],[$Plant assets, net,$267,995,246,750,215,435],[$Total assets,$$493,618,$$$425,533,$$$351,100],[$Liabilities and Equity,,,$],[$Accounts payable,$$126,598,$$$70,477,$$$45,882],[$Long$-$term notes payable,$92,800,100,809,78,369],[$Common stock, $$10$ par value,$163,500,162,500,163,500],[$Retained earnings,$110,720,91,747,63,349],[$Total liabilities and equity,$$493,618,$$$425,533,$$$351,100]]$

For both the current yeaj and one year ago, compute the following ratios:

The company's income statements for the current year and $1$ year ago, follow.