Rust Industrial Systems Company is trying to decide between two different conveyor belt systems. System A costs $275,000, has a four-year life, and requires $81,000 in pretax annual operating costs. System B costs $355,000, has a six-year life, and requires $75,000 in pretax annual operating costs. Both systems are to be depreciated straight-line to zero over their lives and will have zero salvage value. Whichever project is chosen, it will not be replaced when it wears out. The tax rate is 22 percent and the discount rate is 9 percent. Calculate the NPV for both conveyor belt systems. (A negative answer should be indicated by a minus sign. Do not round intermediate calculations and round your answers to 2 decimal places, e.g., 32.16.)

Which conveyor belt system should the firm choose?

multiple choice

• System A

• System B