COUNTRYWIDE CREDIT INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES EXHIBIT 12.1 - COMPUTATION OF THE RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES (Dollar amounts in thousands) The following table sets forth the ratio of earnings to fixed charges of the Company for the five fiscal years ended February 29, 2000 computed by dividing net fixed charges (interest expense on all debt plus the interest element (one-third) of operating leases) into earnings (income before income taxes and fixed charges). For Fiscal Years Ended February 29(28), ------------- - -------------- -- -------------- - ------------- -- ------------- 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 ------------- -------------- -------------- ------------- ------------- Net earnings $410,243 $385,401 $344,983 $257,358 $195,720 Income tax expense 220,955 246,404 220,563 164,540 130,480 Interest charges 930,294 983,829 568,359 423,447 337,655 Interest portion of rental expense 19,080 14,898 10,055 7,420 6,803 ------------- -------------- -------------- ------------- ------------- Earnings available to cover fixed charges $1,580,572 $1,630,532 $1,143,960 $852,765 $670,658 ============= ============== ============== ============= ============= Fixed charges Interest charges 930,294 983,829 568,359 423,447 337,655 Interest portion of rental expense 19,080 14,898 10,055 7,420 6,803 ------------- -------------- -------------- ------------- ------------- Total fixed charges $949,374 $998,727 $578,414 $430,867 $344,458 ============= ============== ============== ============= ============= Ratio of earnings to fixed charges 1.66 1.63 1.98 1.98 1.95 ============= ============== ============== ============= =============