Gaston Company is considering a capital budgeting project that would require a $2,400,000 investment in equipment with a useful life of five years and no salvage value. The company's tax rate is 30% and its after-tax cost of capital is 13%. It uses the straight-line depreciation method for financial reporting and tax purposes. The project would provide net operating income each year for five years as follows: Sales Variable expenses Contribution margin Fixed expenses: Advertising, salaries, and other fixed out-of-pocket costs Depreciation Total fixed expenses $ 3,100,000 1,630,000 1,470,000 $ 690,000 480,000 1,170,000 $ 300,000 Net operating income Click here to view Exhibit 148-1 and Exhibit 148-2, to determine the appropriate discount factor(s) using tables.. Required: Compute the project's net present value. Net present value