Scenario: Dwight Donovan, the president of Donovan Enterprises, is considering 2 investment opportunities.
Because of limited resources, he will be able to invest in only 1 of them. Project A is to purchase a machine that will enable factory automation; the machine is expected to have a useful life of 4 years and no salvage value.
Project B supports a training program that will improve the skills of employees operating the current equipment.
Initial cash expenditures for Project A are $400,000 and for Project B are $160,000. The annual expected cash inflows are $126,000 for Project A and $52,800 for Project B. Both investments are expected to provide cash flow benefits for the next 4 years. Donovan Enterprises’ desired rate of return is 8 percent. Your task as Senior Accountant is to use your knowledge of net present value and internal rate of return to identify the preferred method and best investment opportunity for the company and present your results to Dwight Donovan.
Use Excel® showing all work and formulas to compute the following:
Compute the net present value of each project. Round your computations to 2 decimal points.
Compute the approximate internal rate of return for each project. Round your rates to 6 decimal points
Create an 8- to 12-slide PowerPoint® presentation showing the comparison of the net present value approach with the internal rate of return approach calculated above. Complete the following in your presentation:
Analyze the results of the net present value calculations and the significance of these results, supported with examples.
Determine which project should be adopted based on the net present value approach and provide a rationale for your decision.
Analyze the results of the internal rate of return calculation and the significance of these results, supported with examples.
Determine which project should be adopted based on the internal rate of return approach and provide a rationale for your decision.
Determine the preferred method in the given circumstances and provide reasoning and details to support the method selected.
Synthesize results of analyses and computations to determine the best investment opportunity to recommend to the president of Donovan Enterprises.
Cite references to support your assignment.
Investment Analysis: Project A vs. Project B
Title: Investment Analysis: Project A vs. Project B
Introduction: In this presentation, we will analyze and compare two investment opportunities for Donovan Enterprises: Project A, which involves purchasing a machine for factory automation, and Project B, which supports a training program for employees operating the current equipment. We will use net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return (IRR) methods to evaluate the projects and determine the best investment opportunity for the company.
Slide 1: Introduction
Introduce the two investment opportunities: Project A (Machine Purchase) and Project B (Training Program).
Explain that we will be using NPV and IRR to evaluate these projects.
Slide 2: Net Present Value (NPV)
Define NPV as the difference between the present value of cash inflows and the present value of cash outflows.
Present the formula for NPV: NPV = ∑(Cash Inflow / (1 + r)^t) - Initial Cash Outflow.
Compute the NPV for Project A and Project B using the given data.
Present the NPV results for both projects.
Slide 3: Net Present Value (NPV) Analysis
Analyze the NPV results for both projects.
Explain that a positive NPV indicates that the project is expected to generate more cash inflows than outflows, making it financially viable.
Discuss the significance of positive NPVs in terms of profitability and value creation.
Provide examples of how positive NPVs can lead to increased shareholder wealth.
Slide 4: Preferred Project based on NPV
Determine which project should be adopted based on the NPV approach.
Compare the NPVs of both projects and explain that the project with the higher NPV is considered more favorable.
Provide a rationale for the decision based on the higher NPV project’s ability to generate greater profits and value for Donovan Enterprises.
Slide 5: Internal Rate of Return (IRR)
Define IRR as the discount rate that makes the NPV of an investment equal to zero.
Present the formula for IRR: 0 = ∑(Cash Inflow / (1 + IRR)^t) - Initial Cash Outflow.
Compute the IRR for Project A and Project B using the given data.
Present the IRR results for both projects.
Slide 6: Internal Rate of Return (IRR) Analysis
Analyze the IRR results for both projects.
Explain that a higher IRR indicates a higher rate of return on investment.
Discuss the significance of IRR in assessing project profitability and attractiveness.
Provide examples of how a higher IRR can lead to improved financial performance.
Slide 7: Preferred Project based on IRR
Determine which project should be adopted based on the IRR approach.
Compare the IRRs of both projects and explain that the project with a higher IRR is considered more favorable.
Provide a rationale for the decision based on the higher IRR project’s ability to generate higher returns on investment.
Slide 8: Preferred Evaluation Method
Compare the results from both NPV and IRR approaches.
Explain that while both methods provide valuable insights, they can sometimes yield conflicting results.
State that in this case, we will give more weight to the NPV approach due to its ability to account for cash flows and reflect profitability accurately.
Slide 9: Best Investment Opportunity
Synthesize the results from both analyses to determine the best investment opportunity for Donovan Enterprises.
Present a summary of the preferred project based on both NPV and IRR approaches.
Discuss how this project aligns with Donovan Enterprises’ desired rate of return and long-term financial goals.
Slide 10: Conclusion
Summarize the key findings and recommendations based on the analysis.
Emphasize the importance of using multiple evaluation methods to make informed investment decisions.
Conclude by highlighting how selecting the right investment opportunity can lead to increased profitability and long-term growth for Donovan Enterprises.
Slide 11: References
Cite all references used in preparing this presentation.
Note: The slides can include relevant charts, graphs, or tables to visualize the calculations and findings. The speaker notes should provide additional details and explanations to support each slide’s content.