Pleasant Company has an opportunity to invest in one of two new projects. Project Y requires a $700,000 investment for new machinery with a four year life and no salvage value. Project Z requires a $700,000 investment for new machinery with a three year life and no salvage value. The two projects yield the following predicted annual results. The company uses straight line depreciation, and cash flows occur evenly throughout each year.

 

Project Y

Project Z

Sales                                   

$700,000

$560,000

Expenses

 

 

Direct materials                       

98,000

70,000

Direct labor                           

140,000

84,000

Overhead including depreciation          

252,000

252,000

Selling and administrative expenses        

50,000

50,000

Total expenses                          

540,000

456,000

Pretax income                           

160,000

104,000

Income taxes (30%)                      

48,000

31,200

Net income                             

$112,000

$ 72,800

Required

1. Compute each project’s annual expected net cash flows. (Round the net cash flows to the nearest dollar.)

2. Determine each project’s payback period. (Round the payback period to two decimals.)

3. Compute each project’s accounting rate of return. (Round the percentage return to one decimal.)

4. Determine each project’s net present value using 8% as the discount rate. For part 4 only, assume that cash flows occur at each year end. (Round the net present value to the nearest dollar.)

5. Identify the project you would recommend to management and explain your choice.