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IMANET Exam CMA Topic 3 Question 88 Discussion

Actual exam question for IMANET's CMA exam
Question #: 88
Topic #: 3
[All CMA Questions]

Union Electric Company must clean up the water released from its generating plant. The company's cost of capital is 12 percent for average risk projects, and that rate is normally adjusted up or down by 2 percentage points for high- and low- risk projects. Clean-Up Plan A . which is of average risk, has an initial cost of $10 million, and its operating cost will be $1 million per year for its 10-year life. Plan B, which is a high-risk project, has an initial cost of $5 million, and its annual operating cost over Years 1 to 10 will be $2 million. What is the approximate PV of costs for the better project?

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Suggested Answer: B

The cash flows of Plan A are discounted at 12%, the company's cost of capital for average risk projects. Plan B is evaluated with a lower cost of capital that reflects a greater risk of the cash outflow of the project. Thus, the cash flows of Plan B are discounted at 10% (12% --- 2%). the company's adjusted cost of capital for high risk projects. The net present value of each plan is the initial cost plus the present value of an annuity for 10 years at the appropriate rate multiplied times the annual operating cost.

The present value factors are found in the tools section of CMA Test Prep.

Plan A NPV = $10,000,000 + ($1,000,000 x 5.650)

Plan A NPV = $15,650,000

Plan B NPV = $5,000,000 + ($2,000,000 x 6.145)

Plan B NPV = $17,290,000

Plan A has a lower NPV and thus is the better project.


Contribute your Thoughts:

Lanie
5 months ago
This question is making my brain hurt, but I'm determined to figure it out. Time to channel my inner financial wizard!
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Rory
5 months ago
Haha, the Union Electric Company must be really feeling the heat to clean up their act! I wonder if they'll pass the costs on to the cusEliseoers.
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Myong
6 months ago
Hold on, is this a trick question? I feel like I'm missing something here. Gotta be careful with these tricky utility company scenarios.
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Keith
5 months ago
The better project is the one with the lower present value of costs.
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Scarlet
5 months ago
Plan B has a higher initial cost but lower annual operating cost.
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Matthew
5 months ago
Plan A has a lower initial cost but higher annual operating cost.
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Eliseo
6 months ago
Whoa, this is some heavy-duty discounting and present value calculations. I better double-check my work!
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Rene
6 months ago
Alright, let's see if I can crunch these numbers and come up with the right answer. Time to put my finance skills to the test!
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Muriel
4 months ago
B) $15,650,000
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Ramonita
4 months ago
A) $15,432,000
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Carlton
4 months ago
B) $15,650,000
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Marge
4 months ago
A) $15,432,000
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Delpha
5 months ago
I believe it's B) $15,650,000.
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Deonna
5 months ago
B) $15,650,000
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Karrie
5 months ago
I think the answer is A) $15,432,000.
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Una
5 months ago
A) $15,432,000
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Lynelle
6 months ago
This question is a real head-scratcher! Gotta break out the calculator for this one.
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Luke
5 months ago
Definitely not D) $17,290,000, that seems too high.
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Marti
5 months ago
D) $17,290,000
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Tresa
5 months ago
I'm not sure about C) $16,300,000, it seems a bit high.
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Chauncey
5 months ago
C) $16,300,000
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Lorriane
5 months ago
I'm leaning towards B) $15,650,000 as the better project.
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Essie
5 months ago
B) $15,650,000
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Malcom
6 months ago
I think the answer is A) $15,432,000.
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Freeman
6 months ago
A) $15,432,000
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