Case Study: A Firm Uses A Single Discount Rate To Compute The NPV

Even though Mr. Fordham mentions that he in his “Statement of Cost of Goods Manufactured for Year Ended Dec. 31 1956” that he depreciated $24,000 of Plant and Equipment, I decided to change the depreciation schedule so that PP&E would be fully depreciated by the end of the 5 year period. Thus, I used a straight-line depreciation schedule that accumulated $40,000 worth of depreciation per year, which was spread evenly across the 12 months of this Balance Sheet (or $3,333.33 per month).

9. Why is the $1,000 you receive today worth more than $1,000 you receive next year? What concept does this illustrate? Why is this concept particularly important when firms evaluate capital budgeting proposals?

NPV analysis uses future cash flows to estimate the value that a project could add to a firm’s shareholders. A company director or shareholders can be clearly provided the present value of a long-term project by this approach. By estimating a project’s NPV, we can see whether the project is profitable. Despite NPV analysis is only based on financial aspects and it ignore non-financial information such as brand loyalty, brand goodwill and other intangible assets, NPV analysis is still the most popular way evaluate a project by companies.

For the depreciation part, we adopted the straight-line method. Here since the depreciation of year 1984 was $1270, we just assumed all the depreciation amount to be equal to $1270 till the year 1989. With all of these previous assumptions, we obtain the complete pro forma financial statement and the cash flow table for the Collinsville Plant.

2. Net Present Value – Secondly, Peter needs to investigate the Net Present Value (NPV) of each project scenario, i.e. job type, gross margin, and # new diamonds drills purchased. The NPV will measure the variance of the present value of cash outflow (drilling equipment investment) versus the future value of cash inflows (future profits), at the benchmark hurdle rate of 20%. A positive NPV associated with the investment means that the investment should be undertaken as it exceeds the minimum rate of return. A higher NPV determines which project scenario will have the highest return on cash flow, hence determining the most profitable investment in terms of present money value.

4. The depreciation accounting changes assume that Harnischfeger’s plant and machinery will last longer and will lose their value more slowly.  Given the business conditions Harnischfeger was facing in its primary industries in 1984, are these economic assumptions justified?

c. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the asset’s estimated useful life, which is determined by asset category as follows: Buildings and improvements (5 – 40 years); Store fixtures and equipment (3 – 15years), Leasehold improvements (Shorter of initial lease term or asset life); Capitalized software (3 – 7 years).

Capital assets that can be deprecated must be, either by straight-line depreciation or the composite method (weighted average) of depreciation.

The type of depreciation method the Target Corporation uses is a straight-line method. Property and equipment is depreciated using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives or lease terms if shorter. “Target amortizes leasehold improvements purchased after the beginning of the initial lease term over the shorter of the assets' useful lives or a term that includes the original lease term, plus any renewals that are reasonably assured at the date the leasehold improvements are acquired” (Stock Analysis, n.d.).

-In 1984, there was a switch from accelerated to straight line depreciation retroactively. Because of this, the depreciation expense decreased.

Depreciation and depletion are two models of computing financial reports. These techniques are used as adjustments when preparing statements of cash flow within the direct or indirect method. This paper will identify and examine the methods of depreciation and depletion, describe the difference between the methods, and compare and contrast depreciation and depletion as well using scholarly references to support the points.

(a) Compute depreciation expense for 2011 and 2012 using (1) the straight-line method, (2) the units-of-activity method, and (3) the double-declining balance method.

The way that they record depreciation and amortization is by using the straight-line method over the shorter of the estimated useful lives of their assets or the terms of the respective leases. As we have learned, straight-line method is one of the types of ways that a company can depreciate their assets. This method considers depreciation as a “function of time rather than a function of usage.” Because this method is known to be one of the simplest, many companies often use it, including Toys “R” Us. The straight-line procedure is also often considered to be the most conceptually appropriate. The straight-line method often results in a major objection because it rests on two tenuous assumptions. The two include: The asset's economic usefulness is the same each year, and the maintenance and repair expense is essentially the same each period. Another problem that arises from using the straight-line method is that distortions in the rate of return analysis (income/assets)

Net Present Value (NPV) calculates the sum of discounted future cash flows and subtracting that amount with the initial investment of the project. If the NPV of a project results in a positive number, the project should be undertaken. It is the most widely used method of capital budgeting. While discount rate used in NPV is typically the organization’s WACC, higher risk projects would not be factored in into the calculation. In this case, higher discount rate should be used. An example of this is when the project to be undertaken happens to be an international project where the country risk is high. Therefore, NPV is usually used to determine if a project will add value to the company. Another disadvantage of NPV method is that it is fairly complex compared to the other methods discussed earlier.

The disadvantage of straight line method is it assumes the benefits contributed by an asset are the same over the period in which the assets are used. Besides, straight line method may not give an accurate measure of the loss in value or reduction in useful life. The other disadvantage is it may not reflect the true pattern of asset’s economic benefits.