If mutually exclusive projects with normal cash flows are being analyzed, the net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return (IRR) methods agree. Projects W and X are mutually exclusive projects. Their cash flows and NPV profiles are shown as follows. If the weighted average cost of capital (WACC) for each project is 6%, do the NPV and IRR methods agree or conflict? The methods agree. The methods conflict. A key to resolving this conflict is the assumed reinvestment rate. The IRR calculation assumes that intermediate cash flows are reinvested at the ____________________________________ , and the NPV calculation implicitly assumes that the rate at which cash flows can be reinvested is the . Project X As a result, when evaluating mutually exclusive projects, the is usually the better decision criterion