Title
Project options valuation with net present value and decision tree analysis
Abstract
Real options analysis (ROA) has been developed to correctly value projects with inherent flexibility, including the possibility to abandon, defer, expand, contract or switch to a different project. ROA allows computing the correct discount rate using the replicating portfolio technique or risk-neutral probability method. We propose an alternative approach for valuing Real Options based on the certainty-equivalent version of the net present value formula, which eliminates the need to identify market-priced twin securities. In addition, our approach can be extended to the case of multinomial trees, a useful tool for modeling uncertainty in projects. We introduce within decision tree analysis (DTA) a method to derive the different discount rates that prevail at different chance nodes. We illustrate the valuation method with an application presented in “A Scenario Approach to Capacity Planning” [Eppen, G.D., Martin, R.K., Schrage, L.E., 1989. A scenario approach to capacity planning. Operations Research, 37 (4)], in which the authors state that for the capacity configuration investment decision studied at General Motors, “… there is no scientific way to determine the appropriate discount rate based on estimated demand.” Our method allows deriving the scientifically correct discount rates. A major result of the analysis is that the discount rates are endogenously derived from the project structure and its behavior in light of prevailing market conditions, instead of being exogenously imposed.
Year
DOI
Venue
2008
10.1016/j.ejor.2006.07.047
European Journal of Operational Research
Keywords
Field
DocType
Decision analysis,Finance,Investment analysis,Real options analysis,Scenarios
Present value,Decision analysis,Decision tree,Economics,Inversion (meteorology),Replicating portfolio,Operations research,Capacity planning,Net present value,Valuation (finance),Operations management
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
184
1
0377-2217
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
19
1.27
3
Authors
3
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Bert De Reyck154746.23
Zeger Degraeve251745.65
Roger Vandenborre3191.27