Casey Nelson is a divisional manager for Pigeon Company. His annual pay raises are largely determined by his division$$s return on investment $($ROI$),$ which has been above $23\%$ each of the last three years. Casey is considering a capital budgeting project that would require a $$5,800,000$ investment in equipment with a useful life of five years and no salvage value. Pigeon Company$$s discount rate is $19\%.$ The project would provide net operating income each year for five years as follows:

Sales $ $5,100,000$

Variable expenses $2,280,000$

Contribution margin $2,820,000$

Fixed expenses:

Advertising, salaries, and other fixed out$-$of$-$pocket costs $ $870,000$

Depreciation $1,160,000$

Total fixed expenses $2,030,000$

Net operating income $ $790,000$

$1.$ What is the project$$s net present value?

$2.$ What is the project$$s internal rate of return to the nearest whole percent?

$3.$ What is the project$$s simple rate of return?

$4-$a$.$ Would the company want Casey to pursue this investment opportunity?

$4-$b$.$ Would Casey be inclined to pursue this investment opportunity?