Discounting Formula

Formula to Calculate Discounted Values

Discounting refers to adjusting the future cash flows to calculate the present value of cash flows and adjusted for compounding where the discounting formula is one plus discount rate divided by a number of year’s whole raise to the power number of compounding periods of the discounting rate per year into a number of years.

Discounting Formula primarily converts the future cash flows to present value by using the discounting factor. Discounting is a vital concept as it helps in comparing various projects and alternatives that conflict while making decisions since the timeline for those projects could be different. Discounting them back to the present will ease comparison. Further, discounting is also used in making investment decisions. Discounting is nothing but a compounding conceptCompounding Concept Compounding is a method of investing in which the income generated by an investment is reinvested, and the new principal amount is increased by the amount of income reinvested. Depending on the time period of deposit, interest is added to the principal amount.read more in a reverse way, and it will decrease as the time increases.

Formula to Calculate Discounted Values

The discounting formula is a financial calculation used to determine the present value of future cash flows.
The discounting formula considers two main factors: the future cash flow and the discount rate.
By applying the discounting formula, future cash flows are reduced to their present value, enabling meaningful comparisons and evaluation of cash flows occurring at different points in time.
The discounting formula is widely used in various financial analyses, including discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis, valuation of investments, and determining the fair value of assets or liabilities.

The equation for Discounting is:

D_n = 1 / (1+r)ⁿ

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For eg:
Source: Discounting Formula (wallstreetmojo.com)

Where,

D_nis the Discounting factor
r is the Discounting rate
n is the number of periods in discounting

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Steps to Calculate Discounted Values

To calculate discounted values, we need to follow the below steps.

Calculate the cash flows for the asset and timeline that is in which year they will follow.
Calculate the discount factors for the respective years using the formula.
Multiply the result obtained in step 1 by step 2. This will give us the present value of the cash flow.

Examples

You can download this Discounting Formula Excel Template here – Discounting Formula Excel Template

Example #1

Veronica is expecting the following cash flows in the future from her recurring deposit. Her son, however, needs funds today, and she is considering taking out those cash flows today, and she wants to know what the present value for those is if she withdraws today.

You are required to calculate the present values of those cash flows at 7% and calculate the total of those discounting cash flows.

Solution:

We are given the cash flows as well as the discount factor. All we need to do is discount them back to present value by using the above discounting equation.

First, we need to calculate discount factors which would be

Discount Factor for Year 1 = 1/(1+(7%)^1

The discount factor for Year 1 will be –

Discount Factor for Year 1 = 0.93458

Calculation of Discounted Cash Flow will be –

Lastly, we need to multiply each year’s cash flow with the discount factor Calculating above.

For example, for year one, it would 5,000 * 0.93458, which will be 4,672.90, and similarly, we can calculate for the rest of the years.

Discounted Cash Flow for Year 1 = 4672.90

Below is a summary of the calculations of discount factors and discounted cash flowDiscounted Cash Flow Discounted cash flow analysis is a method of analyzing the present value of a company, investment, or cash flow by adjusting future cash flows to the time value of money. This analysis assesses the present fair value of assets, projects, or companies by taking into account many factors such as inflation, risk, and cost of capital, as well as analyzing the company's future performance.read more that Veronica will receive in today’s term.

Total = 12770.57

Example #2

Mr. V is employed in an MNC company for around 20 years, and the company has been investing in a retirement fund, and Mr. V can withdraw the same when he reaches the retirement age, which is 60. The company has deposited till now $50,000 in his account as full and final. The company, however, allows only 60% premature withdrawal, which shall also be taxable and such withdrawal is allowed only in specific cases.

Mr. V, who is currently 43 years old, came up with an urgent requirement of funds for medical expenses, and this condition is met for premature withdrawal. And he also has FD, which is maturing at a similar period and is amounting to $60,000. He is thinking of breaking his FD as another option. However, the Bank allows only 75% premature withdrawal, and this would also be liable for the tax.

The tax rate for Mr. V is 30% flat for FD and 10% flat for the retirement fund. You are required to advise Mr. V as to what should be done? Use 5% as a discount rate.

Solution:

First, we will calculate cash flows, which would be the related percentage as per given in the problem, and will deduct the tax amount, and that final amounted will be discounted for years remaining, which is 17 years (60 – 43).

Use the following data for the calculation of the discount factors.

Calculation of the Discount Factor for retirement fund can be done as follows:

Discount Factor for Retirement Fund= 1/(1+0.05)^17

The discount Factor will be-

Discount Factor for Retirement Fund = 0.43630

Calculation of Discounted Amount for Retirement fund will be –

Discounted Amount for Retirement Fund = 11780.01

Calculation of the Discount Factor for FD can be done as follows:

Discount Factor for FD = 1/(1+0.05)^17

The discount Factor for FD will be –

Discount Factor for FD = 0.43630

Calculation of Discounted Amount for FD Will be –

Discounted Amount for FD = 13743.35

Hence, he can opt to withdraw from the FD fund as it maxes the present value amount in hand.

Example #3

ABC Incorporation wants to invest in on-the-run treasury bondsTreasury Bonds A Treasury Bond (or T-bond) is a government debt security with a fixed rate of return and relatively low risk, as issued by the US government. You can buy treasury bonds directly from the US Treasury or through a bank, broker, or mutual fund company.read more. However, they are skeptical about investing in the same as they believe they first want to do valuation of the treasury bond since the investment amount they are looking for is approx—$ 50 million.

The research department has provided them with security details of the bond.

Life of the bond=3 years
Coupon frequency= semi-annually
1^st Settlement date=1^st Jan 2019
Coupon Rate=8.00%
Par Value=$1,000

The Spot rate in the marketSpot Rate In The Market Spot Rate' is the cash rate at which an immediate transaction and/or settlement takes place between the buyer and seller parties. This rate can be considered for any and all types of products prevalent in the market ranging from consumer products to real estate to capital markets. It gives the immediate value of the product being transacted.read more is 8.25%, and Bond is currently trading at $879.78.

You are required to advise whether ABC Inc should invest in this bond or not?

Solution:

The question here is asking us to calculate the intrinsic valueCalculate The Intrinsic Value Intrinsic value is defined as the net present value of all future free cash flows to equity (FCFE) generated by a company over the course of its existence. It reflects the true value of the company that underlies the stock, i.e. the amount of money that might be received if the company and all of its assets were sold today.read more of the Bond, which can be done by discounting the cash flows of the bond that are to be received.

First, we will calculate the cash flows that are expected in the investment: Also, note that the bond pays semi-annually, and hence the coupon would be paid on its behalf, which would be 8/2 % on par value $1,000, which is $40.

Now, as a second step, we will calculate the discount factors in excel for each of the periods using 8.25%. Since we are competing for a half year period and the life of the bond is 3 years; therefore, 3 * 2 which is 6 and hence we need 6 discount factors.

Calculation of discount factor in excel for Year 1 can be done as follows.

The discount factor in excel for Year 1 will be –

Calculation of Discounted Cash Flow will be –

Lastly, we need to multiply each period cash flow with the discount factor Calculating above.

For example, for period 1, it would 40 * 0.96038, which will be 38.42, and similarly, we can calculate for the rest of the periods.

Below is the summary of our calculations and total discounted cash flow.

Since the current market price of the bond, $879.78 is less than the intrinsic value of the bond Calculated above, which states its undervalued, the company can make an investment in the bond.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the formula for discounting cash flows?

The formula for discounting cash flows is Present Value = Future Cash Flow / (1 + Discount Rate)^n, where “n” represents the number of periods.

What is the purpose of using a discount rate in the formula?

The discount rate represents the desired rate of return or the cost of capital used to account for the time value of money. It reflects the opportunity cost of investing elsewhere and adjusts the future cash flows to their present value.

How does the discounting formula account for risk or uncertainty?

The discount rate used in the formula can be adjusted to account for the level of risk associated with the cash flows. For example, Higher-risk cash flows may require a higher discount rate, resulting in a lower present value, while lower-risk cash flows may use a lower discount rate, leading to a higher current value.

Can the discounting formula be used for both inflows and outflows of cash?

Yes, the discounting formula can be used for both inflows and outflows of cash. For inflows, the future cash flow represents the amount received in the future, while for discharges, it represents the amount paid or invested.

Discounting Formula

Formula to Calculate Discounted Values

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