Efficient Capital Project Selection Through a Yield-Based Capital Budgeting Technique

A yield-based capital budgeting methodology is presented that provides capital project evaluations consistent with shareholder wealth maximization under the assumptions of perlect capital markets and cash flows known with certainty. The methodology is derived by adjusting a modified rate of return technique proposed originally by Lin and more recently in another form by Beaves. Hence, the Lin/Beaves method is examined and an interpretation is suggested for both its investment base and its return measure. Being based upon the Lin/Beaves method, the adjusted methodology shares the economic interpretations associated with both the investment base and the return measure of the Lin/Beaves method. As a result, the adjusted methodology both appropriately evaluates capital projects and provides a return measure with a clear interpretation.