Net Present Value (NPV) & Discounted Cash Flow Solver
Net Present Value discounts a future cash inflow CF back to present-day purchasing power using the cost of capital r and subtracts the initial investment outlay I₀.
Present value surplus created above the hurdle rate
Expected terminal cash receipt at year t
Upfront investment required at t = 0
Annual cost of capital or hurdle rate in percent
Years until cash flow realization
Step-by-Step Calculation
Net Present Value discounts a future cash inflow CF back to present-day purchasing power using the cost of capital r and subtracts the initial investment outlay I₀.
Real-World Reference Values
Weighted average cost of capital benchmark
Early-stage risk-adjusted discount rate
Set NPV = 0 and solve for r (%) to find exact IRR
20-Row Comparison Table
Net Present Value (NPV) · Future Cash Inflow (CF)
| # | Future Cash Inflow ($) | Net Present Value ($) | Δ % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 1,000.00 $ | -99,192.79 $ | -570.52% |
| 02 | 45,019.08 $ | -63,660.10 $ | -401.97% |
| 03 | 89,038.16 $ | -28,127.41 $ | -233.42% |
| 04 | 150,000.00 $Current | 21,081.67 $ | 0.00% |
| 05 | 177,076.32 $ | 42,937.98 $ | +103.67% |
| 06 | 221,095.39 $ | 78,470.67 $ | +272.22% |
| 07 | 265,114.47 $ | 114,003.36 $ | +440.77% |
| 08 | 309,133.55 $ | 149,536.05 $ | +609.32% |
| 09 | 353,152.63 $ | 185,068.74 $ | +777.87% |
| 10 | 397,171.71 $ | 220,601.44 $ | +946.41% |
| 11 | 441,190.79 $ | 256,134.13 $ | +1114.96% |
| 12 | 485,209.87 $ | 291,666.82 $ | +1283.51% |
| 13 | 529,228.95 $ | 327,199.51 $ | +1452.06% |
| 14 | 573,248.03 $ | 362,732.20 $ | +1620.60% |
| 15 | 617,267.11 $ | 398,264.89 $ | +1789.15% |
| 16 | 661,286.18 $ | 433,797.59 $ | +1957.70% |
| 17 | 705,305.26 $ | 469,330.28 $ | +2126.25% |
| 18 | 749,324.34 $ | 504,862.97 $ | +2294.80% |
| 19 | 793,343.42 $ | 540,395.66 $ | +2463.34% |
| 20 | 837,362.50 $ | 575,928.35 $ | +2631.89% |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find the Internal Rate of Return (IRR) with this solver?+
Set NPV = 0 and click SOLVE FOR on r (%). The discount rate that drives NPV to zero is by definition the Internal Rate of Return.
What does a positive NPV mean?+
An NPV > 0 indicates the project generates returns exceeding the opportunity cost of capital r, creating net shareholder wealth.
How sensitive is NPV to the discount rate?+
Longer time horizons t amplify discount rate sensitivity exponentially because (1 + r)^t sits in the denominator.