Corporate finance, Module 2: “How to Calculate Present Values”
Practice Problems
(The attached PDF file has better formatting.)
Exercise 2.1: Compounding Intervals
What is the value of $200 after 5 years invested at (a) 12% per annum, (b) 3% a quarter, and (c) 1% a month?
Solution 2.1:
● Part A: At 12% per annum, value is $200 × 1.125 = $352.47
● Part B: At 3% per quarter, value is $200 × 1.034 × 5 = $361.22
● Part C: At 1% per month, value is $200 × 1.0112 × 5 = $363.34
Exercise 2.2: Compounding Intervals
What is the equivalent annual effective yield of each of the following?
A. 6% each half year
B. 3% a quarter
C. 1% a month
Solution 2.2:
Part A: 1.062 – 1 = 12.36%
Part B: 1.034 – 1 = 12.55%
Part C: 1.0112 – 1 = 12.68%
Question: How important is the compounding interval? And how important is the interest rate?
Answer: If we know the capitalization rate, it is good to be accurate. If the capitalization rate is 12%, we should not use 10% or 11%. For investment analysis, accurate interest rates are essential. Capital markets are efficient, and a slight difference in yield brings large changes in supply and demand.
Illustration: If the market yield is 12% per annum compounded quarterly, a bank that offers a yield of 12% with annual compounding may face much lower demand for its products.
For financial analysis, the increased accuracy pales compared to accurate estimates of future cash flows. A project may bring in $10 million in cash next year or $20 million. Good estimates of cash flows are the sine qua non of financial analysis. The proper capitalization rate is useful, but it is less important than the proper cash flows.
Exercise 2.3: Doubling Investments
How long will it take $1 to double when it is invested at (a) 3%, (b) 5%, (c) 10%, (d) 12%, (e) 15%? (Use logarithms to compute the answer.)
Solution 2.3:
Part A: With an annual effective interest rate of 3%:
$1 × 1.03z = $2 ➾ ln 2 = z ln 1.03 ➾ z = ln 2 / ln 1.03 = 23.450 years
Part B: With an annual effective interest rate of 5%:
$1 × 1.05z = $2 ➾ ln 2 = z ln 1.05 ➾ z = ln 2 / ln 1.05 = 14.207 years
Part C: With an annual effective interest rate of 10%:
$1 × 1.10z = $2 ➾ ln 2 = z ln 1.10 ➾ z = ln 2 / ln 1.10 = 7.273 years
Part D: With an annual effective interest rate of 10%:
$1 × 1.12z = $2 ➾ ln 2 = z ln 1.12 ➾ z = ln 2 / ln 1.12 = 6.116 years
Part E: With an annual effective interest rate of 15%:
$1 × 1.15z = $2 ➾ ln 2 = z ln 1.15 ➾ z = ln 2 / ln 1.15 = 4.959 years
Exercise 2.4: Discount Factors and Annuity Formula
An investment of $1,000 will produce income of $270 a year for 5 years. Calculate its NPV at a discount rate of 10% by the following methods:
A. The conventional NPV method, using separate discount factors
B. Using the annuity formula
Solution 2.4:
Part A: Discount factors: The present value of $270 per annum for 5 years at 10% is
$270 / 1.101 + $270 / 1.102 + $270 / 1.103 + $270 / 1.104 + $270 / 1.105 = $1,023.51
The net present value of the project is $1,023.51 – $1,000 = $23.51
Part B: Annuity Formula: $270 × = $1,023.51
The net present value of the project is $1,023.51 – $1,000 = $23.51
Exercise 2.5: Three Year Investment
An investment of $2,000 in year 0 produces cash flows of $700 in year 1, $700 in year 2, and $900 in year 3. Calculate its net present value at (a) 0%, (b) 5%, (c) 10%, (d) 15%.
Solution 2.5:
Part A: At 0%, – $2,000 + $700 + $700 + $900 = $300
Part B: At 5%, –$2,000 + $700 / 1.051 + $700 / 1.052 + $900 / 1.053 = $79.04
Part C: At 10%, –$2,000 + $700 / 1.101 + $700 / 1.102 + $900 / 1.103 = ($108.94)
Part D: At 15%, –$2,000 + $700 / 1.151 + $700 / 1.152 + $900 / 1.153 = ($270.24)
Exercise 2.6: Savings and Consumption
An actuarial candidate has savings of $1,200, and she expects to save an additional $600 next year. She will use the savings to pay exam fees of $800 in 2 years’ time and $900 in 3 years’ time. How much can she afford to spend now on textbooks if her savings earn (a) 5%, (b) 7%, (c) 9%?
Solution 2.6:
Part A: At 5%, $1,200 + $600 / 1.051 – $800 / 1.052 – $900 / 1.053 = $268.35
Part B: At 7%, $1,200 + $600 / 1.071 – $800 / 1.072 – $900 / 1.073 = $327.33
Part C: At 9%, $1,200 + $600 / 1.091 – $800 / 1.092 – $900 / 1.093 = $382.15
Exercise 2.7: Estate Value
An actuary will receive $40,000 from his uncle’s estate in 1 year and annually thereafter in perpetuity. What is the value of this perpetuity at an interest rate of (a) 8% (b) 10%?
Solution 2.7:
Part A: At 8%, $40,000 / 0.08 = $500,000
Part B: At 10%, $40,000 / 0.10 = $400,000
Exercise 2.8: Delayed Perpetuity
How much is the previous perpetuity worth if it begins in 5 years time instead of in 1?
Solution 2.8: If it begins in 5 years time instead of 1 year, it begins 4 years later than in the previous problem:
Part A: At 8%, $40,000 / (0.08 × 1.084) = $500,000 / 1.084 = $367,514.93
Part B: At 8%, $40,000 / (0.10 × 1.104) = $400,000 / 1.084 = $273,205.38
Exercise 2.9: Increasing Perpetuity
If the uncle’s will provides $40,000 in 1 year, increased annually by 6%. What is the present value of this growing stream of income at an interest rate of (a) 8% (b) 10%?
Solution 2.9:
Part A: At 8%, $40,000 / (0.08 – 0.06) = $2,000,000
Part B: At 10, $40,000 / (0.10 – 0.06) = $1,000,000
Question: These problems are not hard.
Answer: The first two modules are background; if you have dealt with these topics, the first five modules are not difficult.
Question 2.10: Yield to Maturity
All but which of the following would likely increase the yield to maturity on a corporate bond?
A. An increase in the firm’s business risk
B. An increase in the firm’s leverage ratio
C. An increase in the risk-free rate
D. An increase in the firm’s profitability ratio.
E. All of A, B, C, and D are true.
Answer 2.10: D
Statement A and B: Riskier firms have higher debt rates.
Statement C: The yield is the risk-free rate plus the firm’s risk premium.
Statement D: More profitable firms pay lower debt interest rates. Less profitable firms have higher probabilities of bankruptcy, so they pay higher debt interest rates.