Most Company has an opportunity to invest in one of two new projects. Project Y requires a $350,000 investment for new machinery with a four-year life and no salvage value. Project Z requires a $350,000 investment for new machinery with a three-year life and no salvage value. The two projects yield the following predicted annual results. The company uses straight-line depreciation, and cash flows occur evenly throughout each year. Project Y Project Z
Sales $390,000 $312,000
Expenses
Direct materials 54,600 39,000
Direct labor 78,000 46,800
Overhead including depreciation 140,400 140,400
Selling and administrative
expenses 28,000 28,000
Total expenses 301,000 254,200
Pretax income 89,000 57,800
Income taxes (40%) 35,600 23,120
Net income $53,400 $34,680
Required:
1. Compute each project's annual expected net cash flows.
2. Determine each project's payback period.
3. Compute each project's accounting rate of return.
4. Determine each project's net present value using 9% as the discount rate. Assume that cash flows occur at each year-end.

Most Company

                                                          Project Y     Project Z

1. Annual expected net cash flows   $140,500  $151,347

2. Payback period                                2.5 years   2.3 years

3. Accounting rate of return                 15.3%         9.9%

4. Net present value, using 9%        $105,220   $33,059

Explanation:

a) Data and Calculations:

                                                          Project Y     Project Z

Initial investment costs                    $350,000    $350,000

Useful life of project                         4 years        3 years

Salvage value                                    $0                $0

Annual depreciation                          $87,500     $116,667

Sales                                                $390,000    $312,000

Expenses

Direct materials                                   54,600       39,000

Direct labor                                          78,000       46,800

Overhead including depreciation     140,400     140,400

Selling and administrative  expenses 28,000      28,000

Total expenses                                  301,000    254,200

Pretax income                                     89,000      57,800

Income taxes (40%)                            35,600      23,120

Net income                                       $53,400   $34,680

Accounting rate of return                   15.3%         9.9%

= Net income/Initial investment cost * 100

Annual Cash inflows:

Net income                                       $53,400   $34,680

Annual depreciation                           87,500    116,667

Annual expected net cash flows   $140,500  $151,347

PV annuity factor at 9% for 4 years    3.240       2.531              

PV of annual cash inflows            $455,220 $383,059

Net Present Value = (Initial investment - PV of annual cash flows)

NPV =                                             $105,220   $33,059

Payback period = Initial investment cost/Annual cash inflow