Profitability Index vs Net Present Value: Which One Is Better?

Author Charlie Cutler Read bio
Tags: net present value profitability index
Date: December 18, 2023

When a company grows, it needs to make smart decisions about where to invest its money. Capital Budgeting is important in this process, helping businesses make complex investment choices and find the best opportunities to make money.

Investing money comes with different challenges for each project. These include finding funding, dealing with various costs, understanding taxes, managing resources, and other important factors that affect a company’s finances.

But in real-world finance, things aren’t always simple. 

Good capital budgeting usually involves using different methods to make decisions. Two important methods are Net Present Value (NPV) and Profitability Index (PI). They help companies understand how successful and profitable their investments might be. These methods guide companies to invest wisely and make sure their decisions support their long-term financial goals.

What is the Profitability Index Method (PI)?

A profitability index is a financial tool that can tell us whether an investment should be accepted or declined. Also, with the Profitability Index formula (or profitability index calculator) we are able to estimate the ratio between the present value of future cash flows and the initial investment.

profitability index (PI

Is a Higher Profitability Index Better?

When the profitability index is greater than 1, the project automatically creates value, meaning that it generates a return greater than our required one. 

On the other hand, when some project’s profitability index is less than 1 – it is said that the project destroys its value because it generates a return less than our required return.

We also have the situation where the profitability index is equal to 1, which tells us that the project generates a return equivalent to the discount rate.

Calculating a Profitability Index – Profitability Index Formula

When we obtain the information from the net present value calculator, we can determine a profitability index for the investment. The profitability index is calculated with the following formula:

Formula for the Profitability Index

To calculate the profitability index, we need only to know the present value of the future cash flows. To get this number (the present value of all the future cash flow), we add up the present values (of the cash flows) that occur from Year 1 to Year 10.

In what situation is the profitability index a better option?

The Profitability Index can serve as a substitute for Net Present Value, once we determine the profits per dollar of investment. The profitability index method can also be a better-suited method when you need to employ Capital Rationing.

For example, in situations where two, mutually exclusive, projects deliver the same amount of money in terms of NPV, but one project costs twice as much as another. This is when the profitability index (PI) gives the best answer.

Also, when investors choose between two mutually independent projects with the same NPV, the one with lower initial cost or higher PI will be selected.

Benefits of Using the Profitability Index Method

The Profitability Index method offers a quick means to assess the potential earnings of an investment, guiding your decision on whether to go ahead with the deal. It serves as an initial step in evaluating the various aspects of the property and determining its likelihood of being profitable.

What is Net Present Value (NPV)?

As the name suggests, Net Present Value is nothing but the present value of cash inflows and outflows, but with reduced flows on a specified rate.

NPV calculator/NPV formula:

NPV formula

To determine the present value of the cash flows, we need to discount them at a particular rate, derived considering the return of investment with a similar risk of borrowing. 

Net Present Value takes into consideration the time value of money. 

This simply means that the money of today is worth more today than tomorrow, and the net present value method helps to decide whether it is worth taking some project based on its present value of the cash flows.

When is NPV considered a superior technique?

The net present value method is a comprehensive tool taking into consideration all aspects of the investment, such as: 

  • all the inflows, 
  • outflows, 
  • period of time, and 
  • risks involved. 

Therefore the NPV calculator is the most transparent way to measure the amount of shareholder value. The given NPV analysis is also easy to compare among projects. 

Net present value also considers the time value of money and takes care of the cash flows until the end of the project, even if that project has the same profitability index with different investments.

Wait – Is NPV the same as profit?

Well…

The Time Value of Money Is Important

The net present value calculator is known to be the tool for analyzing the profitability of a particular project. People like to take this into consideration when analyzing time and money spent somewhere.

The net present value method allows companies to compare similar projects judiciously. 

Let’s say Project A with a life span of 3 years has higher cash flows in the initial period, and that Project B with a life of 3 years has higher cash flows in the later years.

By using the NPV formula, the investor is able to choose Project A, knowing that inflows of “today” are more valued than inflows earned later on.

Value of Investment

The net present value definition not only states that a project can be profitable or not but also gives insight into the value of total profits. The tool quantifies the gains or/and losses from the investment, especially after discounting the cash flows.

NPV Discount Rate

Selecting an appropriate discount rate is crucial when calculating Net Present Value (NPV). This rate can stem from the cost of the capital needed for the investment. Alternatively, it might reflect the Federal Reserve’s interest rate for short-term loans to banks, or it could be the rate used in Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) analyses to adjust future cash flows for present value.

A lower NPV suggests greater risk, necessitating a higher discount rate. Therefore, investments with higher risks, like gross lease real estate, typically carry higher discount rates compared to lower-risk options, such as absolute NNN lease real estate.

What Are the Disadvantages of the NPV Method?

One of the central weaknesses of the analysis is that the size of the project has a big impact on the project’s NPV. 

The size of a project’s NPV is related to the size of the original investment, and it’s not used for determining which project has a higher return in percentage terms. 

The Profitability Index, on the other hand, fixes this basic problem by allowing you to compare the profitability indexes of two (or more) projects and find the scheme that creates the most value for every dollar you invest.

Considering the fact that many businesses have an established budget and sometimes two (or more) project options,  the NPV formula can not be used for comparing these projects in different periods of time, or even the risk involved in the projects.

The Main Limitation of Net Present Value Method

One of the strongest disadvantages of the NPV system is that the rate of return has to be determined in advance. 

If a higher rate of return is assumed, it can show a false negative NPV. Also, if a lower rate of return is expected, it can show false profitability – hence resulting in wrong decision making.

The NPV method can spike a lot of assumptions in terms of inflows, outflows, with a lot of expenditure that will come to the surface when the project actually takes off.

Today software is used to perform the NPV analysis and assist in decision making, so in spite of all its limitations, the NPV method is a very useful and widely used tool in capital budgeting.

Ready to Navigate Your Investment Journey with Confidence? Contact IPG Today!

If you’re seeking expert guidance on capital investment decisions, look no further. Our team at IPG is here to assist you with personalized advice and strategic solutions. Whether it’s understanding NPV, selecting the right discount rate, or any other investment queries, we’ve got you covered. Reach out to IPG now and take the first step towards making informed, profitable investment choices.