The following summary information is taken from the annual reports of McDonald’s Corporation and Wendy’s International. All amounts are in millions.

McDonald’s

Wendy’s

2001

2000

2001

2000

Sales revenue

$14,870

$14,243

$2,391

$2,237

Operating income

2,697

3,330

307

271

Net income

1,637

1,977

194

170

Total assets

22,535

21,684

2,076

1,958

Stockholders’ equity

9,488

9,204

1,030

1,126

a. Compute profit margin, asset turnover, return on assets, financial leverage, and return

on equity for both firms for both years.

b. Which company is more profitable? What similarities or differences do you observe in how these two companies earned their profits during the periods shown?