$2.$ As CFO, you are responsible for weighing the financial pros and cons of the many investment opportunities developed by your company$$s research and development division. You are currently evaluating two competing $15-$year projects that differ in several ways. Relative to your firm$$s current EPS, the first project is expected to generate above$-$average EPS during the first $5$ years, average EPS during the second $5$ years, and then below$-$average EPS during the last $5$ years. The second project is expected to generate below$-$average EPS during the first $5$ years, average EPS during the second $5$ years, and then well$-$above$-$average EPS during the last $5$ years. Is the choice obvious if you expect the second investment to result in a larger overall earnings increase? Given the goal of the firm, what issues will you consider before making a final decision?