Net Present Value Method, Present Value Index, and Analysis for a service company

Continental Railroad Company is evaluating three capital investment proposals by using the net present value method. Relevant data related to the proposals are summarized as follows:

		Maintenance Equipment		Ramp Facilities		Computer Network
Amount to be invested		$797,601		$545,351		$237,855
Annual net cash flows:
	Year 1	363,000		265,000		152,000
	Year 2	338,000		239,000		105,000
	Year 3	309,000		212,000		76,000

Present Value of $1 at Compound Interest
Year	6%	10%	12%	15%	20%
1	0.943	0.909	0.893	0.870	0.833
2	0.890	0.826	0.797	0.756	0.694
3	0.840	0.751	0.712	0.658	0.579
4	0.792	0.683	0.636	0.572	0.482
5	0.747	0.621	0.567	0.497	0.402
6	0.705	0.564	0.507	0.432	0.335
7	0.665	0.513	0.452	0.376	0.279
8	0.627	0.467	0.404	0.327	0.233
9	0.592	0.424	0.361	0.284	0.194
10	0.558	0.386	0.322	0.247	0.162

Required:

1. Assuming that the desired rate of return is 12%, prepare a net present value analysis for each proposal. Use the present value of $1 table above. If required, use the minus sign to indicate a negative net present value. If required, round to the nearest dollar.

	Maintenance Equipment	Ramp Facilities	Computer Network
Present value of net cash flow total	$	$	$
Amount to be invested	$	$	$
Net present value	$	$	$

2. Determine a present value index for each proposal. If required, round your answers to two decimal places.

	Present Value Index
Maintenance Equipment
Ramp Facilities
Computer Network

3. The has the largest present value index. Although has the largest net present value, it returns less present value per dollar invested than does the , as revealed by the present value indexes. The present value index for the is less than 1, indicating that it does not meet the minimum rate of return standard.