Present Value of An Annuity
Present Value of An Annuity
Present Value of An Annuity
The current value of a set of cash flows in the future, given a specified rate of
return or discount rate. The future cash flows of the annuity are discounted at the discount
rate, and the higher the discount rate, the lower the present value of the annuity.
The present value calculation is made with a discount rate, which roughly equates to the current rate
of return on an investment. The higher the discount rate, the lower the present value of an annuity
will be. Conversely, a low discount rate equates to a higher present value for an annuity.
The formula for calculating the present value of an annuity due (where payments occur at
the beginning of a period) is:
P = (PMT [(1 - (1 / (1 + r)n)) / r]) x (1+r)
Where:
P = The present value of the annuity stream to be paid in the future
PMT = The amount of each annuity payment
r = The interest rate
n = The number of periods over which payments are made
This is the same formula as for the present value of an ordinary annuity (where payments occur at
the end of a period), except that the far right side of the formula adds an extra payment; this
accounts for the fact that each payment essentially occurs one period sooner than under the ordinary
annuity model.
For example, ABC International is paying a third party $100,000 at the beginning of each year for the
next eight years in exchange for the rights to a key patent. What would it cost ABC if it were to pay
the entire amount immediately, assuming an interest rate of 5%? The calculation is:
P = ($100,000 [(1 - (1 / (1 + .05)8)) / .05]) x (1+.05)
P = $678,637
The factor used for the present value of an annuity due can be derived from a standard table of
present value factors that lays out the applicable factors in a matrix by time period and interest rate.
For a greater level of precision, you can use the preceding formula within an electronic spreadsheet
sum of the amount invested and the compound interest earned on the investment with the product of
number of the periodic payments and the face value of each payment.
Formula
Although the present value (PV) of an annuity can be calculated by discounting each periodic payment
separately to the starting point and then adding up all the discounted figures, however, it is more
convenient to use the 'one step' formulas given below.
1 (1 + i)-n
PV of an Ordinary Annuity = R
i
1 (1 + i)-n
PV of an Annuity Due = R
(1 + i)
Where,
i is the interest rate per compounding period;
n are the number of compounding periods; and
R is the fixed periodic payment.
Examples
Example 1: Calculate the present value on Jan 1, 2011 of an annuity of $500 paid at the end of each
month of the calendar year 2011. The annual interest rate is 12%.
Solution
We have,
Periodic Payment
= $500
Number of Periods
= 12
Interest Rate
= 12%/12 = 1%
Present Value
PV
= $500 (1-(1+1%)^(-12))/1%
= $500 (1-1.01^-12)/1%
$500 (1-0.88745)/1%
$500 0.11255/1%
$500 11.255
$5,627.54
Example 2: A certain amount was invested on Jan 1, 2010 such that it generated a periodic payment
of $1,000 at the beginning of each month of the calendar year 2010. The interest rate on the
investment was 13.2%. Calculate the original investment and the interest earned.
Solution
Periodic Payment
= $1,000
Number of Periods
= 12
Interest Rate
= 13.2%/12 = 1.1%
Original Investment
Interest Earned
$1,000 12 $11,307.32
$692.68
Where:
PVoa = Present Value of an Ordinary Annuity
PMT = Amount of each payment
i = Discount Rate Per Period
n = Number of Periods
Example 1: What amount must you invest today at 6% compounded annually so that
you can withdraw $5,000 at the end of each year for the next 5 years?
PMT = 5,000
i = .06
n=5
PVoa = 5,000 [(1 - (1/(1 + .06)5)) / .06] = 5,000 (4.212364) = 21,061.82
Year
Begin
Interest
21,061.82
17,325.53
13,365.06
9,166.96
4,716.98
1,263.71
1,039.53
801.90
550.02
283.02
Withdraw
End
-5,000
-5,000
-5,000
-5,000
-5,000
17,325.53
13,365.06
9,166.96
4,716.98
.00
Example 2: In practical problems, you may need to calculate both the present value
of an annuity (a stream of future periodic payments) and the present value of a single
future amount:
For example, a computer dealer offers to lease a system to you for $50 per month for
two years. At the end of two years, you have the option to buy the system for $500.
You will pay at the end of each month. He will sell the same system to you for
$1,200 cash. If the going interest rate is 12%, which is the better offer?
You can treat this as the sum of two separate calculations:
1. the present value of an ordinary annuity of 24 payments at $50
per monthly period Plus
2. the present value of $500 paid as a single amount in two
years.
PMT = 50 per period
i = .12 /12 = .01 Interest per period (12% annual rate / 12 payments per year)
n = 24 number of periods
PVoa = 50 [ (1 - ( 1/(1.01)24)) / .01] = 50 [(1- ( 1 / 1.26973)) /.01] = 1,062.17
+
FV = 500 Future value (the lease buy out)
i = .01 Interest per period
n = 24 Number of periods
PV = FV [ 1 / (1 + i)n ] = 500 ( 1 / 1.26973 ) = 393.78
The present value (cost) of the lease is $1,455.95 (1,062.17 + 393.78). So if taxes are
not considered, you would be $255.95 better off paying cash right now if you have it.
The Present Value of an Annuity Due is identical to an ordinary annuity except that
each payment occurs at the beginning of a period rather than at the end. Since each
payment occurs one period earlier, we can calculate the present value of an ordinary
annuity and then multiply the result by (1 + i).
PVad = PVoa (1+i)
Where:
PV-ad = Present Value of an Annuity Due
PV-oa = Present Value of an Ordinary Annuity
i = Discount Rate Per Period
Example: What amount must you invest today a 6% interest rate compounded
annually so that you can withdraw $5,000 at the beginning of each year for the next 5
years?
PMT = 5,000
i = .06
n=5
PVoa = 21,061.82 (1.06) = 22,325.53
Year
Begin
Interest
22,325.53
18,365.06
14,166.96
9,716.98
1,039.53
801.90
550.02
283.02
5
5,000.00
Withdraw
End
-5,000.00
-5,000.00
-5,000.00
-5,000.00
-5,000.00
18,365.06
14,166.96
9,716.98
5,000.00
.00