Simon Company’s year-end balance sheets follow.

At December 31 2017 2016 2015
Assets
Cash $ 33,443 $ 39,092 $ 41,136
Accounts receivable, net 89,200 62,600 55,400
Merchandise inventory 115,000 85,000 56,000
Prepaid expenses 10,770 10,262 4,571
Plant assets, net
329,991

301,670 266,893
Total assets $ 578,404 $ 498,624 $ 424,000
Liabilities and Equity
Accounts payable $ 141,142 $ 82,582 $ 54,849
Long-term notes payable secured by
mortgages on plant assets 106,565 112,390 91,830
Common stock, $10 par value 162,500 162,500 162,500
Retained earnings 168,197 141,152 114,821
Total liabilities and equity $ 578,404 $ 498,624 $ 424,000

The company’s income statements for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, follow. Assume that all sales are on credit:

For Year Ended December 31 2017 2016
Sales $ 751,925 $ 593,363
Cost of goods sold $ 458,674 $ 385,686
Other operating expenses 233,097 150,121
Interest expense 12,783 13,647
Income taxes 9,775 8,900
Total costs and expenses 714,329 558,354
Net income $ 37,596 $ 35,009
Earnings per share $ 2.31 $ 2.15
(4) Compute days' sales in inventory.