Net present value (NPV) represents the difference between the present value of cash inflows and outflows over a set time period. Knowing how to calculate net present value can be useful when choosing ...

Definition: The net present value (NPV) of an investment is the present (discounted) value of future cash inflows minus the present value of the investment and any associated future cash outflows.

Present value is a useful mathematical formula designed to figure out if money received now is worth more than money received later. What Is Present Value? Terms Associated With the Present Value of ...

When a company is making capital budgeting decisions -- whether it's something as small as buying a new copier vs. servicing an old one or as big as entering a new market -- it must weigh the expected ...

Small business owners frequently make decisions about how to invest money to increase profitability. Part of being a good business manager is the ability to analyze the income potential of long-term ...

NPV calculates profitability using all projected cash inflows and outflows, considering time value of money. A positive NPV suggests a profitable project; a negative NPV suggests a loss. NPV's ...

Julia Kagan is a financial/consumer journalist and former senior editor, personal finance, of Investopedia. Dr. Melody Bell is a personal finance expert, entrepreneur, educator, and researcher. Melody ...

The net present value (NPV) method can be a very good way to analyze the profitability of an investment in a company, or a new project within a company. But like many methods in finance, it is not the ...