Final answer:
The net present value of Project A and Project B is calculated by discounting their expected net annual cash flows using an 8% discount rate and subtracting the initial cost. The profitability index is calculated by dividing the present value of cash flows by the initial investment for each project. These calculations aid in determining which project may provide the better investment opportunity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Net Present Value and Profitability Index Calculations for Capital Expenditure Proposals
To calculate the net present value (NPV) of each project, we need to discount the net annual cash flows back to their present value using the given discount rate of 8%.
For Project A, the calculation is as follows:
NPV = ($72,400 / (1 + 0.08)^1) + ($72,400 / (1 + 0.08)^2) + … + ($72,400 / (1 + 0.08)^12) - $496,000
For Project B, the calculation is:
NPV = ($50,000 / (1 + 0.08)^1) + ($50,000 / (1 + 0.08)^2) + … + ($50,000 / (1 + 0.08)^12) - $335,000
The profitability index (PI) is calculated by dividing the present value of future cash flows by the initial investment amount. So, for Project A and Project B, PI formulas would be:
PI (Project A) = Present Value of Cash Flows for Project A / $496,000
PI (Project B) = Present Value of Cash Flows for Project B / $335,000
We use a financial calculator or present value tables to find the present value of an annuity. After getting the present values for each project, we subtract the initial investment to get the NPV and divide by the initial investment to get the PI.
By comparing the NPV and PI of both projects, Oriole Company can make an informed decision on which project to undertake based on the higher NPV or PI, as these are indicators of expected profitability and return on investment.