Capital Budgeting

Question 1

What is Capital Budgeting? How is it used?

Answer 1

Capital Budgeting is a managerial accounting technique that:

• evaluates different investment options
• Helps management make decisions
• uses both accounting and non-accounting information.

With this technique, the focus is internal and GAAP is not mandatory.

Question 2

What values are used in Capital Budgeting?

Answer 2

Capital Budgeting ONLY uses Present Value tables. It NEVER uses Fair Value.

Question 3

When is the Present Value of $1 table used?

Answer 3

For ONE payment- ONE time

Question 4

When is the Present Value of an Annuity Due used?

Answer 4

The Present Value of an Annuity Due is used on multiple payments made over time where the payments are made at the START of the period

Question 5

When is the Present Value of an Ordinary Annuity of $1 (PVOA) used?

Answer 5

The Present Value of an Ordinary Annuity of $1 is used on multiple payments over time where payments are made at the END of the period.

Think A for Arrears.

Question 6

What is the calculation for the Present Value of $1?

Answer 6

(1 / ( 1+i )^n) i = interest rate n = number of periods

Question 7

What is Net Present Value (NPV)?

Answer 7

NPV is a preferred method of evaluating profitability. It is one of the two methods that use the Time Value of Money:
PV of Future Cash Flows - Investment

Question 8

How is NPV used to calculate future benefit?

Answer 8

NPV: PV Future Cash Flows - Investment
-If NPV is Negative - cost is greater than benefits
(bad investment)
-If NPV is Positive - cost is less than benefit (good
investment)
-If NPV = 0, then Cost = Benefit (Management is
indifferent)

Question 9

What is the rate of return of an investment called?

Answer 9

The Discount Rate

Question 10

What does the Discount Rate represent?

Answer 10

The Discount Rate is the rate of return on an investment used. It represents the minimum rate of return required.

Question 11

What are the strengths of the Net Present Value system?

Answer 11

Net Present Value uses:
- Time Value of Money
- all cash flows; not just the cash flows to arrive
at Payback; and
-takes risks into consideration

Question 12

What are the weaknesses of the Net Present Value system?

Answer 12

The NPV system is NOT as simple as the Accounting Rate of Return.

Question 13

How do Salvage Value and Depreciation affect Net Present Value?

Answer 13

NPV includes Salvage Value because it is a future cash inflow. NPV does NOT include depreciation because it is non-cash. Exception: If a CPA Exam question says to include tax considerations, then you have to include depreciation because of income tax savings generated by depreciation.

Question 14

If multiple potential rates of return are available, which is used to calculate Net Present Value?

Answer 14

The minimum rate of return is used.

Question 15

What is the Internal Rate of Return (IRR)?

Answer 15

The IRR calculates a project’s actual rate of return through the project’s expected cash flows. It is the rate of return required for PV of future cash flows to EQUAL the investment.
Investment / After-Tax Annual Cash Inflow = PV
Factor

Question 16

Which rate of return is used to reinvest cash flows for Internal Rate of Return?

Answer 16

Cash flows are reinvested at the rate of return earned by the original investment.

Question 17

How does the rate used for Internal Rate of Return (IRR) compare to that used for Net Present Value (NPV)?

Answer 17

Rate of return for IRR is the rate earned by the investment. Rate of return for NPV is the minimum rate.

Question 18

What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Internal Rate of Return system?

Answer 18

Strengths: Uses Time Value of Money - Cash Flow emphasis
Weakness: Uneven cash flows lead to varied IRR

Question 19

When is NPV on an Investment positive?

Answer 19

The NPV is positive on an investment when:

   - Benefits are greater than the costs
   - IRR is greater than the Discount Rate

Question 20

When is NPV on an Investment negative?

Answer 20

The NPV is negative on an investment when:

 - Costs are greater than Benefits
 - IRR is less than the Discount Rate

Question 21

When is NPV Zero?

Answer 21

NPV is ZERO when:

- Benefits equal the Costs
- IRR= Discount Rate

Question 22

What is the Payback Method? How is it calculated?

Answer 22

he Payback Method measures an investment in terms of how long it takes to recoup the initial investment via Annual Cash Inflow. Investment / Annual Cash Inflow :

Payback Method Compare to a targeted timeframe:
-If payback is shorter than target, it’s a good
investment.
-If payback is longer than target, it’s a bad
investment.

Question 23

What are the strengths of the Payback Method?

Answer 23

The payback method takes risk into consideration.

Ex.) Two year payback is less risky than a five-year payback.

Question 24

What are the weaknesses of the payback method?

Answer 24

The payback method ignores the Time Value of Money.
Exception: Discount payback method.

It ignores cash flow after the initial investment is paid back.

Question 25

What is the Accounting Rate of Return (ARR)?

Answer 25

The Accounting Rate of Return is an approximate rate of return on assets. ARR: Net Income / Average Investment

Compare to a targeted return rate:

 - If ARR is greater than target - good investment.
 - If ARR less than target - bad investment.

Question 26

What are the strengths of the Accounting Rate of Return (ARR)?

Answer 26

ARR is:

 - Simple to use
 - Easy to understand

Question 27

What are the weaknesses of the Accounting Rate of Return (ARR)?

Answer 27

ARR:

 - Can be skewed based on Depreciation method 
 - Ignores Time Value of Money

Question 28

What is an Expected Return?

Answer 28

An Expected Return is an approximate rate of return on assets.