Profitability Index Calculator

Ascertain whether an investment is viable with computed input of ROI to allow an informed decision on investment management.

Profitability Index Calculator

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Initial Investment ($)
Discount Rate
Number of Years
Year 1 Annual Cash Flow
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Profitability Index Results

Profitability Index:
Net Present Value ($):
Expected Cash Flows ($):

Quantifying the value of your investments with profitability index calculator

Running a profitable business demands a lot of investments and assessing them for profitability is essential. The profitability index (PI), also known as profit investment ratio (PIR) is a method to describe the relationship between cost and benefits of a project.

Profitability index is a modification of the net present value method of assessing an investment's potential profitability. PI ratio compares the present value of future cash flows from an investment against the cost of making that investment.

How to calculate profitability index ratio

The PI ratio calculations are based on the following formula:

Where:

• The initial investment (i) is the amount that you are planning to invest to start a project.
• The present value (pv) of future cash flows is the present value of the sum of the future stream of cash flows at a specified rate of return. This is calculated by using the following formula:

Where:

• FV = Future Value
• r = Rate of return
• n = Number of periods

If you don't fancy calculating the present value manually, you can use the present value calculator here.

In order to calculate the profitability index ratio you will require a calculator that can offer you quick results with a few inputs. Let's see below what the iCalculator's profitability index calculator will ask you to do this calculation:

• Currency: This is an optional column to select if you want to result figures in a particular currency.
• Initial Investment: Enter the amount of initial cost of a project.
• Discount rate: The return on investment that can be earned on a project.
• Number of years: The number of years the project is expected to be completed, or life of the project.
• Year: A different amount of expected cash flow for each year can be entered here.

On the basis of the above inputs, the calculator will provide you with the following results:

• Profitability Index: As explained above, this will show you the ratio of profitability of the project.
• Net present value: This represents the total difference between the present value of cash inflows and the present value of cash outflows over the life of a project.
• Expected cash flows: This shows the total amount of expected cash flows during the entire life cycle of the project in question.

Why use a calculator to access your profitability index

The profitability index calculator will not only show you the index value, it will also give you the detailed version of it, which includes the net present value and the expected cash flows of a project. Besides that, it offers:

• Ease of calculation: The calculator is created in a way that will require the least effort by simply providing you with the results without getting into complex calculations.
• Comparisons: Results from the calculator can be used to compare the profitability of different projects that you are planning to execute, and that is done just by editing the values that you have entered before.

Advantages of using the profitability index ratio

Realize the importance of time value of money

The PI ratio uses the time value of money, which means that if you receive a payment today, you can reinvest it today, and start making profits immediately, rather than receiving the same amount on a later date.

Considering a project

The PI ratio will result in a number that is 1, less than 1 or bigger than 1. Generally the PI ratio of 1 is least acceptable as it represents the break even point of a project, which defines the point where total sales (revenue) equal to the total cost. A PI ratio of less than 1 is completely undesirable as it represents that a project will cost more than it is expected to earn.

Ideally the PI ratio of more than 1 is expected from the project, which means the value of future cash flows will be greater than the initial investments and it reflects the profitability of a proposed project.

Estimate the risk

The PI ratio uses discounting, the cash flows are discounted by an appropriate rate of return. This is the minimum rate of return expected from a project. Discounting of cash flows reflects the risk involved in a project.

Conclusion

There are some factors that affect this ratio such as absence skunk cost, difficulty in assessing the appropriate rate of return and the projects may be projected unrealistically positive. However, the profitability index ratio can be very helpful in assessing the profitability of the projects when used along with other measures of profitability assessment.