1.Estimate the cash flows—interest and maturity value or dividends in the case of bonds and stocks, operating cash flows in the case of capital projects.
2.Assess the riskiness of the cash flows.
3.Determine the appropriate discount rate, based on the riskiness of the cash flows and the general level of interest rates. This is called the project cost of capital in capital budgeting.
4.Find (a) the PV of the expected cash flows and/or (b) the asset’s rate of return.
5.If the PV of the inflows is greater than the PV of the outflows (the NPV is positive), or if the calculated rate of return (the IRR) is higher than the project cost of capital, accept the project.