The following data were taken from recent annual reports of Apple Computer, Inc., a manufacturer of personal computers and related products, and American Greetings Corporation, a manufacturer and distributor of greeting cards and related products:

 

Apple

American Greetings

Cost of goods sold

$9,888,000,000

$905,201,000

Inventory, end of year

165,000,000

222,874,000

Inventory, beginning of the year

101,000,000

246,171,000

       

a. Determine the inventory turnover for Apple and American Greetings. Round to one decimal place.

b. Would you expect American Greetings’ inventory turnover to be higher or lower than Apple’s? Why?