Example: Solving for Unequal Cash Flows

These examples show you how to enter and edit unequal cash-flow data to calculate:

Net present value (NPV)
Internal rate of return (IRR)

A company pays $7,000 for a new machine, plans a 20% annual return on the investment, and expects these annual cash flows over the next six years:

Year

Cash Flow Number

Cash Flow Estimate

Purchase

CFo

-$7,000

1

C01

3,000

2–5

C02

5,000 each year

6

C03

4,000

As the time line shows, the cash flows are a combination of equal and unequal values. As an outflow, the initial cash flow (CFo) appears as a negative value.

Entering Cash-Flow Data

To

Press

 

Display

Select Cash Flow worksheet.

'

CFo=

0.00

Enter initial cash flow.

7000 S!

CFo=

-7,000.001

 

Enter cash flow for first year.

# 3000 !
#

C01=
F01=

3,000.001
1.001

Enter cash flows for years two through five.

# 5000 !
#
4 !

C02=
F02=

5,000.001

4.001

Enter cash flow for sixth year.

# 4000 !
#

C03=
F03=

4,000.001

1.001

Editing Cash-Flow Data

After entering the cash-flow data, you learn that the $4,000 cash-flow value should occur in the second year instead of the sixth. To edit, delete the $4,000 value for year 6 and insert it for year 2.

To

Press

Display

Move to third cash flow.

"

C03=

4,000.001

Delete third cash flow.

& W

C03=

0.00

Move to second cash flow.

" "

C02=

5,000.001

Insert new second cash flow.

& X 4000 ! #

C02=
F02=

4,000.001
1.001

Move to next cash flow to verify data.

#
#

C03=
F03=

5,000.001
4.01

Computing NPV

Use an interest rate per period (I) of 20%.

To

Press

Display

Access interest rate variable

(

I=

0.00

Enter interest rate per period.

20 !

I=

20.001

Compute net present value.

# C

NPV=

7,266.447

 

Answers: NPV is $7,266.44.

Computing IRR

To

Press

Display

Access IRR.

)

IRR=

0.00

Compute internal rate of return.

C

IRR=

52.717

Answer: IRR is 52.71%.