Belоw is the finаnciаl dаta fоr Micrоn Technologies (ticker: MU). You are the firm's CFO. A consultant told you that your Current Ratio was too high. They explain that shorter-term assets earn lower returns than longer-term assets. As a result, you have come up with a plan to immediately collect $2 billion ($2,000 in millions) of Accounts Receivables and deplete cash by another $2 billion ($2,000 in millions). You plan to invest $2.25 billion ($2,250 in millions) in long-term assets, pay a special dividend of $1 billion ($1,000 in millions) to shareholders, pay down Accounts Payable by $500 million, and then pay down $250 million of Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities immediately. You are not paying down Accounts Payable more because it is free credit for MU. What is the new Current Ratio if these ideas are implemented? (HINTS: Take a deep breath. What is the formula for the Current Ratio? How do each of these moves impact the numerator and denominator?) FINANCIAL STATEMENT DATE: 10-K from 10/7/2022 CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Millions MU Balance Sheet ASSETS September 1, 2022 September 2, 2021 Cash and Cash Equivalents 8,262.00 7,763.00 Short Term Investments 1,069.00 870.00 Accounts Receivable 5,130.00 5,311.00 Inventory 6,663.00 4,487.00 Assets Held for Sale 13.00 974.00 Other Current Assets 644.00 502.00 Total Current Assets 21,781.00 19,907.00 Long-Term Marketable Investments 1,647.00 1,765.00 Property, Plant and Equipment 38,549.00 33,213.00 Operating lease right-of-use assets 678.00 551.00 Intangible assets 421.00 349.00 Deferred tax assets 702.00 782.00 Goodwill 1,228.00 1,228.00 Other Assets, Noncurrent 1,277.00 1,054.00 Total Assets 66,283.00 58,849.00 LIABILITIES Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses 6,090.00 5,325.00 Current Debt 103.00 155.00 Other Current Liabilities 1,346.00 944.00 Total Current Liabilities 7,539.00 6,424.00 Long-term Debt 6,803.00 6,621.00 Noncurrent operating lease liabilities 610.00 504.00 Noncurrent unearned government incentives 589.00 808.00 Other noncurrent liabilities 835.00 559.00 Total Liabilities 16,376.00 14,916.00 SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Common Stock 123.00 122.00 Additional Paid in Capital 10,197.00 9,453.00 Retained Earnings 47,274.00 39,051.00 Treasury Stock (7,127.00) (4,695.00) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (560.00) 2.00 Total Equity 49,907.00 43,933.00 Total Liabilities plus Total Equity 66,283.00 58,849.00 Shares Outstanding (in millions): 1,087.17
If pаyrоll grоwth is strоng аnd retаil sales beat expectations, which phase of the business cycle is most likely consistent with those data?