Presented below are condensed financial statements adapted from those of two actual companies competing as the primary players in a specialty area of the food manufacturing and distribution industry. ($ in millions, except per share amounts.) balance sheets metropolitan republic assets cash $ 282.3 $ 43.1 accounts receivable (net) 513.7 416.0 short-term investments — 8.3 inventory 562.4 719.2 prepaid expenses and other current assets 216.6 576.7 current assets $ 1,575.0 $ 1,763.3 property, plant, and equipment (net) 2,702.2 2,656.5 intangibles and other assets 297.3 597.9 total assets $ 4,574.5 $ 5,017.7 liabilities and shareholders’ equity accounts payable $ 572.9 $ 781.2 short-term notes 312.1 644.4 accruals and other current liabilities 685.2 620.5 current liabilities $ 1,570.2 $ 2,046.1 long-term debt 648.6 648.3 deferred tax liability 474.6 703.7 other long-term liabilities 215.0 193.1 total liabilities $ 2,908.4 $ 3,591.2 common stock (par and additional paid-in capital) 229.9 440.0 retained earnings 2,567.9 1,695.9 less: treasury stock (1,131.7 ) (709.4 ) total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 4,574.5 $ 5,017.7 income statements net sales $ 5,794.0 $ 7,856.2 cost of goods sold (2,818.0 ) (4,385.7 ) gross profit $ 2,976.0 $ 3,470.5 operating expenses (1,649.7 ) (2,933.2 ) interest expense (83.8 ) (43.6 ) income before taxes $ 1,242.5 $ 493.7 income tax expense (295.7 ) (68.1 ) net income $ 946.8 $ 425.6 net income per share $ 1.6 $ 7.7

which of the two firms had greater earnings relative to resources available?