Chapter 8

Rate of Return
Multiple
Alternatives
Lecture slides to accompany

Engineering Economy
7th edition

Leland Blank
Anthony Tarquin

© 2012 by McGraw-Hill All Rights Reserved

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 LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Why incremental analysis is required in ROR
2. Incremental cash flow (CF) calculation
3. Interpretation of ROR on incremental CF
4. Select alternative by ROR based on PW
relation
5. Select alternative by ROR based on AW
relation
6. Select best from several alternatives using
ROR method
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 Why Incremental Analysis is Necessary
Selecting the alternative with highest ROR may not
yield highest return on available capital
Must consider weighted average of total capital available
Capital not invested in a project is assumed to earn at MARR
Example: Assume $90,000 is available for investment and MARR = 16%
per year. If alternative A would earn 35% per year on investment of $50,000, and
B would earn 29% per year on investment of $85,000, the weighted averages are:

Overall RORA = [50,000(0.35) + 40,000(0.16)]/90,000 = 26.6%

Overall RORB = [85,000(0.29) + 5,000(0.16)]/90,000 = 28.3%

Which investment is better, economically?

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 Why Incremental Analysis is Necessary
If selection basis is higher ROR:
Select alternative A (wrong answer)

If selection basis is higher overall ROR:

Select alternative B
Conclusion: Must use an incremental ROR analysis to make a
consistently correct selection

Unlike PW, AW, and FW values, if not analyzed correctly, ROR values
can lead to an incorrect alternative selection. This is called the ranking
inconsistency problem (discussed later)

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 Calculation of Incremental CF
Incremental cash flow = cash flowB – cash flowA
where larger initial investment is Alternative B

Example: Either of the cost alternatives shown below can be used in

a grinding process. Tabulate the incremental cash flows.

A B B-A
First cost, $ -40,000 - 60,000 -20,000
Annual cost, $/year -25,000 -19,000 +6000
Salvage value, $ 8,000 10,000 +2000

The incremental CF is shown in the (B-A) column

The ROR on the extra $20,000 investment in B determines which alternative
to select (as discussed later)
8-5 © 2012 by McGraw-Hill All Rights Reserved
 Example
A sole-source vendor can supply a new industrial park
with large transformers suitable for underground
utilities and vault-type installation. Type A has an initial
cost of $70,000 and a life of 8 years. Type B has an
initial cost of $95,000 and a life expectancy of 12
years. The annual operating cost for type A is expected
to be $9000, while the AOC for type B is expected to
be $7000. If the salvage values are $5000 and $10,000
for type A and type B, respectively, tabulate the
incremental cash flow using their LCM

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 © 2012 by McGraw-Hill, New York, N.Y All Rights Reserved
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 Interpretation of ROR on Extra Investment
Based on concept that any avoidable investment that
does not yield at least the MARR should not be made.
Once a lower-cost alternative has been economically justified, the
ROR on the extra investment (i.e., additional amount of money associated
with a higher first-cost alternative) must also yield a ROR ≥ MARR
(because the extra investment is avoidable by selecting the economically-justified
lower-cost alternative).

This incremental ROR is identified as ∆i*

For independent projects, select all that have ROR ≥ MARR (no
incremental analysis is necessary)
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 ROR Evaluation for Two ME Alternatives
(1) Order alternatives by increasing initial investment cost
(2) Develop incremental CF series using LCM of years
(3) Draw incremental cash flow diagram, if needed
(4) Count sign changes to see if multiple ∆i* values exist
(5) Set up PW, AW, or FW = 0 relation and find ∆i*B-A
Note: Incremental ROR analysis requires equal-service comparison. The
LCM of lives must be used in the relation
(6) If ∆i*B-A < MARR, select A; otherwise, select B
If multiple ∆i* values exist, find EROR using either
MIRR or ROIC approach.

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 Example: Incremental ROR Evaluation

Either of the cost alternatives shown below can be used in a

chemical refining process. If the company’s MARR is 15% per year,
determine which should be selected on the basis of ROR analysis?

A B
First cost ,$ -40,000 -60,000
Annual cost, $/year -25,000 -19,000
Salvage value, $ 8,000 10,000
Life, years 5 5

Initial observations: ME, cost alternatives with equal life estimates

and no multiple ROR values indicated
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 Example: ROR Evaluation of Two Alternatives
Solution, using procedure:
A B B-A
First cost , $ -40,000 -60,000 -20,000
Annual cost, $/year -25,000 -19,000 +6000
Salvage value, $ 8,000 10,000 +2000
Life, years 5 5

Order by first cost and find incremental cash flow B - A

Write ROR equation (in terms of PW, AW, or FW) on incremental CF
0 = -20,000 + 6000(P/A,∆i*,5) + 2000(P/F,∆i*,5)
Solve for ∆i* and compare to MARR
∆i*B-A = 17.2% > MARR of 15%
ROR on $20,000 extra investment is acceptable: Select B
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 Breakeven ROR Value
An ROR at which the PW,
AW or FW values:
 Of cash flows for two
alternatives are exactly
equal. This is the i* value

 Of incremental cash flows

between two alternatives are
exactly equal.
This is the ∆i* value

If MARR > breakeven ROR,

select lower-investment
alternative
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 ROR Analysis – Multiple Alternatives
Six-Step Procedure for Mutually Exclusive Alternatives
(1) Order alternatives from smallest to largest initial investment
(2) For revenue alts, calculate i* (vs. DN) and eliminate all with i* < MARR; remaining
alternative with lowest cost is defender. For cost alternatives, go to step (3)
(3) Determine incremental CF between defender and next lowest-cost alternative
(known as the challenger). Set up ROR relation
(4) Calculate ∆i* on incremental CF between two alternatives from step (3)
(5) If ∆i* ≥ MARR, eliminate defender and challenger becomes new defender
against next alternative on list
(6) Repeat steps (3) through (5) until only one alternative remains. Select it.

For Independent Projects

Compare each alternative vs. DN and select all with ROR ≥ MARR
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 Example: ROR for Multiple Alternatives
The five mutually exclusive alternatives shown below are under consideration
for improving visitor safety and access to additional areas of a national park. If
all alternatives are considered to last indefinitely, determine which should be
selected on the basis of a rate of return analysis using an interest rate of 10%.

                                                 A         B         C         D        E_

        First cost, $ millions                      -20      -40      -35       -90      -70
        Annual M&O cost, $ millions         -2     -1.5     -1.9      -1.1     -1.3

Solution: Rank on the basis of initial cost: A,C,B,E,D; calculate CC values

C vs. A: 0 = -15 + 0.1/0.1 ∆i* = 6.7% (eliminate C)
B vs. A: 0 = -20 + 0.5/0.1 ∆i* = 25% (eliminate A)
E vs. B: 0 = -30 + 0.2/0.1 ∆i* = 6.7% (eliminate E)
D vs. B: 0 = -50 + 0.4/0.1 ∆i* = 8% (eliminate D)
Select alternative B
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 Summary of Important Points
Must consider incremental cash flows for mutually exclusive alternatives
Incremental cash flow = cash flowB – cash flowA
where alternative with larger initial investment is Alternative B
Eliminate B if incremental ROR ∆i* < MARR; otherwise, eliminate A

Breakeven ROR is i* between project cash flows of two alternatives, or

∆i* between incremental cash flows of two alternatives

For multiple mutually exclusive alternatives, compare two at a time

and eliminate alternatives until only one remains

For independent alternatives, compare each against DN and select

all that have ROR ≥ MARR

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