Generally accepted accounting principles and Internal rate of return: Difference between pages

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(GAAP).  
(IRR).  


The common set of accounting principles, standards and procedures.


They are a combination of published authoritative standards (set by policy boards such as the FASB in the US and the FRC in the UK) and the accepted ways of doing accounting.
== Definition of IRR ==


The internal rate of return of a set of cash flows is the [[cost of capital]] which, when applied to discount all of the cash flows (including any initial investment flow at Time 0) results in a Net Present Value ([[NPV]]) of NIL.


Sometimes also known as Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.
For an investor, the IRR of an investment proposal therefore represents their expected rate of [[return]] on their investment in the project.
 
 
'''Example'''
 
A project requires an investment today of $100m, with $110m being receivable one year from now.
 
The IRR of this project is 10%, because that is the cost of capital which results in an NPV of $0, as follows:
 
 
[[PV]] of Time 0 outflow $100m
 
= $(100m)
 
 
PV of Time 1 inflow $110m
 
= $110m x 1.1<sup>-1</sup>
 
= $100m
 
 
NPV = - $100m + $100m
 
= '''$0'''.
 
 
 
== Determining IRR ==
 
 
Unless the pattern of cash flows is very simple, it is normally only possible to determine IRR by trial and error (iterative) methods.
 
 
'''Example'''
 
Using straight line interpolation and the following data:
 
First estimated rate of return 5%, positive NPV = $+4m.
 
Second estimated rate of return 6%, negative NPV = $-4m.
 
The straight-line-interpolated estimated IRR is the mid-point between 5% and 6%.
 
This is '''5.5%'''.
 
 
Using iteration, the straight-line estimation process could then be repeated, using the value of 5.5% to recalculate the NPV, and so on.
 
The IRR function in Excel uses a similar trial and error method.
 
 
 
== IRR project analysis decision rule ==
 
 
In simple IRR project analysis the decision rule would be that:
 
(1) All opportunities with above the required IRR should be accepted.
 
(2) All other opportunities should be rejected.
 
 
However this assumes the unlimited availability of further capital with no increase in the cost of capital.
 
 
A more refined decision rule is that:
 
(1) All opportunities with IRRs BELOW the required IRR should still be REJECTED; while
 
(2) All other opportunities remain eligible for further consideration (rather than automatically being accepted).




== See also ==
== See also ==
* [[Accounting Council]]
* [[CertFMM]]
* [[Accounting standards]]
* [[Effective interest rate]]
* [[Covenant]]
* [[Hurdle rate]]
* [[FASB]]
* [[Implied rate of interest]]
* [[Financial statements]]
* [[Interpolation]]
* [[International Accounting Standards Board]]
* [[Iteration]]
* [[International GAAP]]
* [[Linear interpolation]]
* [[Pension cost]]
* [[Market yield]]
* [[Pensions Research Accountants Group]]
* [[Net present value]]
* [[US GAAP]]
* [[Present value]]
* [[FRC]]
* [[Shareholder value]]
 
* [[Yield to maturity]]
[[Category:Accounting,_tax_and_regulation]]

Revision as of 15:34, 16 March 2015

(IRR).


Definition of IRR

The internal rate of return of a set of cash flows is the cost of capital which, when applied to discount all of the cash flows (including any initial investment flow at Time 0) results in a Net Present Value (NPV) of NIL.

For an investor, the IRR of an investment proposal therefore represents their expected rate of return on their investment in the project.


Example

A project requires an investment today of $100m, with $110m being receivable one year from now.

The IRR of this project is 10%, because that is the cost of capital which results in an NPV of $0, as follows:


PV of Time 0 outflow $100m

= $(100m)


PV of Time 1 inflow $110m

= $110m x 1.1-1

= $100m


NPV = - $100m + $100m

= $0.


Determining IRR

Unless the pattern of cash flows is very simple, it is normally only possible to determine IRR by trial and error (iterative) methods.


Example

Using straight line interpolation and the following data:

First estimated rate of return 5%, positive NPV = $+4m.

Second estimated rate of return 6%, negative NPV = $-4m.

The straight-line-interpolated estimated IRR is the mid-point between 5% and 6%.

This is 5.5%.


Using iteration, the straight-line estimation process could then be repeated, using the value of 5.5% to recalculate the NPV, and so on.

The IRR function in Excel uses a similar trial and error method.


IRR project analysis decision rule

In simple IRR project analysis the decision rule would be that:

(1) All opportunities with above the required IRR should be accepted.

(2) All other opportunities should be rejected.


However this assumes the unlimited availability of further capital with no increase in the cost of capital.


A more refined decision rule is that:

(1) All opportunities with IRRs BELOW the required IRR should still be REJECTED; while

(2) All other opportunities remain eligible for further consideration (rather than automatically being accepted).


See also