Response to the following problem:
Three major segments of the transportation industry are motor carriers, such as YRC Worldwide; railroads, such as Union Pacific; and transportation arrangement services, such as C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. Recent financial statement information for these three companies is shown as follows (in thousands of dollars):
YRC Worldwide Union Pacific CH. Robinson Worldwide Inc.
Net sales $4,334,640 $16,965,000 $9,274.305
Average total assets 2,812,504 42,636,000 1,914,974
a. Determine the ratio of net sales to assets for all three companies. Round to one decimal place.
b. Assume that the ratio of net sales to assets for each company represents that company's respective industry segment. Interpret the differences in the ratio of net sales to assets in terms of the operating characteristics of each of the respective segments.