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9706 · 4.4.1

Investment Appraisal flashcards

Revision flashcards for Cambridge 9706 Investment Appraisal (syllabus 4.4.1). Flip, recall, then mark a real past-paper question.

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    Payback Period

    The time it takes for a project's net cash inflows to recover the initial cost of the investment. It is a measure of liquidity and risk.

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    Accounting Rate of Return (ARR)

    A measure of profitability calculated as (Average Annual Profit / Average Investment) x 100. It uses profit, not cash flow.

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    Net Present Value (NPV)

    The difference between the present value of future cash inflows and the initial investment. It accounts for the time value of money.

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    Internal Rate of Return (IRR)

    The discount rate at which the NPV of a project is zero. It represents the project's true percentage rate of return.

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    Time Value of Money

    The concept that a sum of money is worth more now than the same sum will be at a future date due to its potential earning capacity.

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    Cost of Capital

    The required rate of return a company must earn on an investment to satisfy its investors. It is used as the discount rate in NPV calculations and as a benchmark for IRR.

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    Discounted Cash Flow (DCF)

    A valuation method used to estimate the value of an investment based on its expected future cash flows. NPV and IRR are both DCF techniques.

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    NPV Decision Rule

    If NPV is positive (> 0), accept the project. If NPV is negative (< 0), reject the project. If NPV is zero, the project earns exactly the required rate of return, and the firm is indifferent.