Q40CP

Question

P26-40 Using payback, ARR, NPV, and IRR to make capital investment decisions

This problem continues the Piedmont Computer Company situation from Chapter 25. Piedmont Computer Company is considering purchasing two different types of servers. Server A will generate net cash inflows of \(25,000 per year and have a zero residual value. Server A’s estimated useful life is three years, and it costs \)45,000. Server B will generate net cash inflows of \(25,000 in year 1, \)15,000 in year 2, and \(5,000 in year 3. Server B has a \)5,000 residual value and an estimated useful life of three years. Server B also costs $45,000. Piedmont Computer Company’s required rate of return is 14%. 

Requirements 

1. Calculate payback, accounting rate of return, net present value, and internal rate of return for both server investments. Use Microsoft Excel to calculate NPV and IRR. 

2. Assuming capital rationing applies, which server should Piedmont Computer Company invest in?

Step-by-Step Solution

Verified
Answer

1. Capital budgeting figures:

Methods

Server A

Server B

Payback period

1.8 years

3 years

ARR

44.45%

6.67%

IRR

31%

6%

NPV

$13,040.80

-$4778.45

 

2.Capital rationing:Based on capital rationing, the business entity must select server A.

 

1Step 1: Definition of Payback Period

A capital budgeting metric that determines the time period in which the investment will give back the cash invested or the investment/cash recovery period is known as the payback period. 

2Step 2: Capital budgeting on both investments

Calculation of payback period:

1)  Server A:

 Paybackperiod=InitialinvestmentExpectednetannualcashflow=$45,000$25,000=1.8years

2) Server B:

The total cost of initial investment is recovered in year 3. Therefore, the payback period of server B is 3 years.

Working note:

Year

Cash inflow

Cumulative

$25,000

$25,000

2

$15,000

$40,000

3

$5,000

$45,000

 

Calculation of accounting rate of return:

1) Server A:

 ARR=AverageannualoperatingincomeAverageamountinvested×100=$10,000$45,000+$02×100=44.45%

Working note:

Particular

Amount $

Total net cash flows during the life of the project 

$75,000

Less: Total depreciation during the life of the asset ($45,000-$0)  

$45,000

Total operating income during the operating life

$30,000

Asset operating life in years

3

Average annual operating income   ($30,0003)

$10,000

 

Server B:

ARR=AverageannualoperatingincomeAverageamountinvested×100=$1,667$45,000+$5,0002×100=6.67% 

Working note:

Particular

Amount $

Total net cash flows during the life of the project

$45,000

Less: Total depreciation during the life of the asset ($45,000-$5,000) 

$40,000

Total operating income during the operating life

$5,000

Asset operating life in years

3

Average annual operating income ($5,0003) 

$1,667

 

Calculation of NPV and IRR:

Project

Server A

 

Server B

 

Useful life

3

 

3

 

Discounting rate

0.14

 

0.14

 

Initial investment

-45,000

 

-45,000

 

Year

 

 

 

 

1

25,000

 

25,000

 

2

25,000

 

15,000

 

3

25,000

 

10,000

(5,000+5,000)

Total

75,000

 

50,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

Output

 

 

 

 

NPV

$13,040.80

 

($4,778.45)

 

IRR

31%

 

6%

 

 

Excel formula for NPV: =NPV(Discount rate, Cash flow from 1st year to 10th year)+Initial investment

Excel formula for IRR: =IRR(All cash flows from year 1st year to 10th year including initial investment)


3Step 3: Using capital rationing

Server

Total present value of cash flows

/

Initial investment

=

Profitability index

A

75,000

/

45,000

=

1.67

B

50,000

/

45,000

=

1.11