The internal rate of return (IRR) refers to the compound annual rate of return that a project generates based on its up-front cost and subsequent cash flows. Consider the case of Falcon Freight:

Falcon Freight is evaluating a proposed capital budgeting project (project Sigma) that will require an initial investment of $850,000.

Falcon Freight has been basing capital budgeting decisions on a projects NPV; however, its new CFO wants to start using the IRR method for capital budgeting decisions. The CFO says that the IRR is a better method because returns in percentage form are easier to understand and compare to required returns. Falcon Freights WACC is 9%, and project Sigma has the same risk as the firms average project.

The project is expected to generate the following net cash flows:

Year	Cash Flow
Year 1	$375,000
Year 2	$500,000
Year 3	$450,000
Year 4	$475,000

Which of the following is the correct calculation of project Sigmas IRR?

29.60%

40.70%

37.00%

42.55%

If this is an independent project, the IRR method states that the firm should .

If the projects cost of capital were to increase, how would that affect the IRR?

The IRR would not change.

The IRR would decrease.

The IRR would increase.