Present Value (PV) Calculator
Find out what a future sum of money or stream of future payments is worth in today’s currency based on the time value of money principle.
The project earns more than the required return at the selected discount rate. Value is expected to be added to the firm.
Bars: present value of each period (Year 0 is initial outlay). Polyline: running cumulative total. When the line crosses zero, the project achieves economic break-even in today's money.
| Year | Cash flow | Discount factor | Present value | Running total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 0 | $0 | 1.0000 | $0 | $0 |
| Year 1 | $100,000 | 0.9174 | $91,743 | $91,743 |
| Year 2 | $150,000 | 0.8417 | $126,252 | $217,995 |
| Year 3 | $200,000 | 0.7722 | $154,437 | $372,432 |
| Year 4 | $250,000 | 0.7084 | $177,106 | $549,538 |
| Year 5 | $300,000 | 0.6499 | $194,979 | $744,518 |
| Discount Rate | Scenario | Net Present Value | Variance vs Base | Viability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.0% | -400 bps | $844,794 | +$100,276 | Accept |
| 7.0% | -200 bps | $792,353 | +$47,835 | Accept |
| 8.0% | -100 bps | $767,892 | +$23,375 | Accept |
| 9.0%Active | Base Case (Active) | $744,518 | — (Base) | Accept |
| 10.0% | +100 bps | $722,169 | -$22,349 | Accept |
| 11.0% | +200 bps | $700,790 | -$43,728 | Accept |
| 13.0% | +400 bps | $660,735 | -$83,782 | Accept |
Sensitivity analysis reveals how NPV shifts when corporate borrowing costs or inflation vary. As the discount rate increases, present value decreases.
Formula & Calculation Logic
PV = FV / (1 + r)^tThis financial model applies precise periodic compounding to establish the exact present economic value of future cash inflows against the required initial investment.
Key Capabilities & Features
- Single lump-sum and stream discounting
- Time value of money schedule
- Interactive visual breakdown
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Net Present Value (NPV)?
Net Present Value (NPV) is a core financial metric used in capital budgeting to analyze the profitability of a projected investment or project. NPV calculations take into account the time value of money by discounting expected future cash flows back to their present value using a specified discount rate (such as WACC or required rate of return). If the NPV is positive, the project is projected to generate surplus value over and above its cost of capital.
How is NPV calculated step-by-step?
To calculate NPV step-by-step: 1. Identify the Year 0 initial investment outlay ($I_0$). 2. Estimate the expected net cash flow ($CF_t$) for each period $t = 1, 2, \dots, n$. 3. Determine the appropriate annual discount rate ($r$). 4. For each period, calculate the discount factor: $1 / (1 + r)^t$. 5. Multiply each cash flow by its discount factor to obtain its Present Value ($PV_t$). 6. Sum all present values: $PV_{\text{inflows}} = \sum PV_t$. 7. Subtract initial investment: $NPV = PV_{\text{inflows}} - I_0$.