Comparing Mutually Exclusive Projects

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Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Sarah's got two factories on her desk today
Widget plant or gadget shop, which one should pay?
Both look profitable, numbers seem so bright
But only one can claim her million dollar might
NPV says gadgets win by twenty grand
IRR screams widgets at thirty percent, so grand

[Chorus]
When projects clash and cannot coexist
NPV's the king you can't dismiss
Mutually exclusive, pick just one
NPV wins when the fighting's done
Dollar value beats percentage games
NPV's the ruler when resources have claims

[Verse 2]
Tommy's torn between a mine and shipping dock
IRR shows mining beats his hurdle by a block
But NPV reveals the dock brings wealth supreme
Scale difference tricks the rate, disrupts the dream
Reinvestment fallacy haunts IRR's tale
Assumes you'll earn that rate without fail

[Chorus]
When projects clash and cannot coexist
NPV's the king you can't dismiss
Mutually exclusive, pick just one
NPV wins when the fighting's done
Dollar value beats percentage games
NPV's the ruler when resources have claims

[Bridge]
Crossover rate's the breaking point you seek
Where both methods finally agree and speak
Plot the NPVs at discount rates
Watch the lines cross, seal both fates
Before crossover, big project leads
After crossover, small one feeds

[Verse 3]
Profitability index muddles waters too
Divides the NPV by investment due
Great for rationing capital tight
But mutual exclusion needs different sight
Modified IRR can help the cause
But NPV still writes the laws

[Chorus]
When projects clash and cannot coexist
NPV's the king you can't dismiss
Mutually exclusive, pick just one
NPV wins when the fighting's done
Dollar value beats percentage games
NPV's the ruler when resources have claims

[Outro]
Remember Sarah's choice between her plants
NPV gave her the final chance
Gadgets won despite the lower rate
Dollar maximization sealed the fate

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