A key metric in capital budgeting, it represents the ratio of the present value of future cash flows expected from an investment to the initial investment amount. The result offers a straightforward indication of the value created per unit of investment. For example, if the present value of future cash flows is $1,200,000 and the initial investment is $1,000,000, the index is 1.2, implying that for every dollar invested, $1.20 of present value is generated.
This index aids in prioritizing potential investments, particularly when capital is constrained. Projects with an index greater than 1 are generally considered acceptable because they are expected to generate value for the organization. Historically, this type of analysis has grown from simpler methods of assessing investment returns and contributes towards effective strategic decision-making. Its use allows an entity to compare projects of varying scales and investment levels on a normalized basis.