For normal projects’ NPV profiles to cross, one project must have both a higher vertical axis intercept and a steeper slope than the other. A project’s vertical axis intercept typically depends on (1) the size of the project and (2) the size and timing pattern of the cash flows—large projects, and ones with large distant cash flows, would generally be expected to have relatively high vertical axis intercepts. The slope of the NPV profile depends entirely on the timing pattern of the cash flows—long-term projects have steeper NPV profiles than short-term ones. Thus, we conclude that NPV profiles can cross in two situations: (1) when mutually exclusive projects differ in scale (or size) and (2) when the projects’ cash flows differ in terms of the timing pattern of their cash flows (as for Projects L and S).