Question: Industry-Specific Ratios. There are many ways of using standardized financial information beyond those discussed in this chapter. The usual goal is to put firms on an equal footing for comparison purposes. For example, for auto manufacturers, it is common to express sales, costs, and profits on a per-car basis. For each of the following industries, give an example of an actual company and discuss one or more potentially useful means of standardizing financial information:
a. Public utilities
b. Large retailers
c. Airlines
d. Online services
e. Hospitals
f. College textbook publishers