Answer:
A.) Firm B must have a higher ROE than first A.
Step-by-step explanation:
Debt ratio is defined as percentage of a company's assets that is made up of debt and so it is calculated as a ratio of debt to assets of a company.
Interest expense is the amount that is paid to service a loan.
This implies that company B has higher loan portfolio than Company A.
Considering the accounting formula
Equity= Asset- Debt
So an increase in debt will result in a decrease in equity.
Return on equity= Net income/Equity
It follows that as debt increases and equity reduces, the ROE will increase since a shrink in the ROE denominator (Equity) will lead to an increase in the ratio.