Question

Ginny is considering an investment costing $55,000 that has cash flows of $35,000 in Year 2, $36,000 in Year 3, and −$5,000 in Year 4. Ginny requires a rate of return of 8 percent and has a required payback period of three years. Based on the payback method should she make this investment? All things considered, do you agree with this decision? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Answer:

Cumulative cash flows in year 0 = -$55,000

Cumulative cash flows in year 1 = -$55,000

Cumulative cash flows in year 2 = -$55,000 + $35,000 = -$20,000

Cumulative cash flows in year 3 = -$55,000 + 35,000 + $36,000 = $16,000

So, Payback period of three years =2+20000/36000 = 2.5555556 years

Now, as the payback period is less than three years, we should make the investment

However, I do not agree with the decision as payback method does not consider time value of money and ignores all cash flows beyond payback period and hence in this case it is ignoring cash flows in year 4 which is an outflow

NPV=-55000+0/1.08^1+35000/1.08^2+36000/1.08^3-5000/1.08^4=-90.3298767  As NPV is negative, let do not make the investment.