What is Accounting Rate Of Return ?
855 reads · Last updated: December 5, 2024
The accounting rate of return (ARR) is a formula that reflects the percentage rate of return expected on an investment or asset, compared to the initial investment's cost. The ARR formula divides an asset's average revenue by the company's initial investment to derive the ratio or return that one may expect over the lifetime of an asset or project. ARR does not consider the time value of money or cash flows, which can be an integral part of maintaining a business.
Definition
The Accounting Rate of Return (ARR) is a percentage formula used to measure the expected rate of return on an investment or asset. It is calculated by dividing the average income from the asset by the initial investment of the company, indicating the rate of return one can expect over the entire lifecycle of the asset or project. It is important to note that ARR does not consider the time value of money or cash flows.
Origin
The concept of the Accounting Rate of Return originated in the early 20th century as business financial management became more complex. It was initially used to help businesses assess the profitability of investment projects, particularly in capital budgeting decisions.
Categories and Features
ARR is primarily used to evaluate the profitability of individual projects or assets. Its features include simplicity in calculation, ease of understanding, and application, making it suitable for preliminary screening of investment projects. However, because it does not consider the time value of money, ARR may overestimate the attractiveness of long-term projects.
Case Studies
Case 1: A company invests $1 million in new equipment, expecting to generate $200,000 in net income annually. Using ARR, the project's ARR is 20%. Case 2: Another company invests $5 million in new technology, expecting to generate $500,000 in net income annually. The ARR is 10%. These cases demonstrate the application of ARR in evaluating different investment projects.
Common Issues
Common issues include that ARR does not consider the time value of money, which may lead to misjudgment of long-term projects. Additionally, ARR does not account for cash flow volatility, which may affect the assessment of project risk.
