Converting Formulas To Values Using Excel

Varying the Period for a Present Value Calculation

The present value calculations on this page are applied to investments for which interest is compounded in each period of the investment.

To use this function, you will enter data and units into the formula: =Convert(number, “fromunit”, “tounit”). First learn how to enter the convert function manually or with Excel's Formula builder then discover how to apply that conversion to an entire column of data. Don't forget that unit names are case-sensitive! To convert simple text values to numbers, you can use the the VALUE function, or simply add zero as described below. In the example shown, the formula in C5 is: = VALUE(B5). The user could convert the formulas to text by using the shortcut CTRL+ALT+ V. When the ‘ Paste Special Dialogue Box ‘ opens, the user should select ‘values and number formats’ from the ‘ paste ‘ menu and click OK. The cells will be converted to values as shown in the image.

However if you are supplied with a stated annual interest rate, and told that the interest is compounded monthly, you will need to convert the annual interest rate to a monthly interest rate and the number of periods into months:

monthly interest rate = annual interest rate / 12
number of months = number of years * 12

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A similar conversion is required if interest is paid quarterly, semi-annually, etc.

Converting Formulas To Values Using Excel

For an example of this, see the section on How To Calculate Present Value When Interest is Compounded Monthly

Present Value Index:

Present Value of a Single Cash Flow
Present Value of a Series of Cash Flows
Present Value of a Perpetuity

Present Value of a Single Cash Flow

If you want to calculate the present value of a single investment that earns a fixed interest rate, compounded over a specified number of periods, the formula for this is:

where,

  • fv is the future value of the investment;
  • rate is the interest rate per period (as a decimal or a percentage);
  • nper is the number of periods over which the investment is made.
AB
1Future Value:15000
2Annual Interest Rate:4%
3Number of Years:5
4Present Value:=15000/(1+4%)^5

For example, if you want a future value of $15,000 in 5 years' time from an investment which earns an annual interest rate of 4%, the present value of this investment (i.e. the amount you will need to invest) can be calculated by typing the following formula into any Excel cell:

which gives the result 12328.9066.

I.e. the present value of the investment (rounded to 2 decimal places) is $12,328.91.


As with all Excel formulas, instead of typing the numbers directly into the present value formula, you can use references to cells containing values. Therefore, the present value formula in cell B4 of the above spreadsheet could be entered as:

which returns the same result.


Using the Excel PV Function to Calculate the Present Value of a Single Cash Flow

Instead of using the above formula, the present value of a single cash flow can be calculated using the built-in Excel PV function (which is generally used for a series of cash flows).

The syntax of the PV function is:

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where,

  • rate is the interest rate per period (as a decimal or a percentage);
  • nper is the number of periods over which the investment is made;
  • [pmt] is the regular payment per period (if omitted, this is set to the default value 0);
  • [fv] is the future value of the investment, at the end of nper payments (if omitted, this is set to the default value 0);
  • [type] specifies whether the payment is made at the start or the end of the period.

    This can have the value 0 or 1, meaning:

    0 - the payment is made at the end of the period (as for an ordinary annuity);
    1 - the payment is made at the start of the period (as for an annuity due).

    If omitted, the [type] argument is set to the default value 0.

Note that, in line with the general cash flow sign convention, the PV function treats negative values as outflows and positive values as inflows.

AB
1Future Value:15000
2Annual Interest Rate:4%
3Number of Years:5
4Present Value:=PV( 4%, 5, 0, 15000 )

For example, the above spreadsheet on the right shows the Excel PV function used to calculate the present value of an investment that earns an annual interest rate of 4% and has a future value of $15,000 after 5 years.

As shown in cell B4 of the spreadsheet, the PV function to calculate this is:

which gives the result -$12,328.91.

Note that in the above PV function:

  • The [pmt] argument is set to 0, as there are no ongoing payments after the initial investment;
  • The returned present value is negative, representing an outgoing payment.

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How To Calculate Present Value When Interest is Compounded Monthly

If the interest on your investment is compounded monthly (while being quoted as an annual interest rate), the annual interest rate needs to be converted into a monthly interest rate and the number of years needs to be converted into months.

I.e.

monthly interest rate = annual interest rate / 12
number of months = number of years * 12

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AB
1Future Value:15000
2Annual Interest Rate:4%
3Number of Years:5
4Present Value:=PV( 4%/12, 5*12, 0, 15000 )

Therefore, if an investment has a stated annual interest rate of 4% (compounded monthly), and returns $15,000 after 5 years, the present value of the investment can be calculated as follows:

which returns the result -$12,285.05.

(Note that, once again, the value returned from the PV function is negative, representing an outgoing payment).


Present Value of a Series of Cash Flows (An Annuity)

If you want to calculate the present value of an annuity (a series of periodic constant cash flows that earn a fixed interest rate over a specified number of periods), this can be done using the Excel PV function.

The syntax of the PV function is:

Values
PV( rate, nper, [pmt], [fv], [type] )

where,

  • rate is the interest rate per period (as a decimal or a percentage);
  • nper is the number of periods over which the investment is made;
  • [pmt] is the regular payment per period (if omitted, this is set to the default value 0);
  • [fv] is the future value of the investment, at the end of nper payments (if omitted, this is set to the default value 0);
  • [type] specifies whether the payment is made at the start or the end of the period.

    This can have the value 0 or 1, meaning:

    0 - the payment is made at the end of the period (as for an ordinary annuity);
    1 - the payment is made at the start of the period (as for an annuity due).

    If omitted, the [type] argument is set to the default value 0.

Note that, in line with the general cash flow sign convention, the PV function treats negative values as outflows and positive values as inflows.

Present Value of a Series of Periodic Constant Cash Flows:
AB
1Annual Interest Rate:4%
2Number of Years:5
3Annual Payment:500
4Present Value:=PV( 4%, 5, 500 )

Converting Formulas To Values Using Excel

For example, to calculate the present value of an ordinary annuity that has an annual interest rate of 4% and returns payments of $500 per year for 5 years, type the following formula into any Excel cell:

which gives the result -$2,225.91.

Note that in the above PV function:

  • The [fv] argument is omitted, and so takes on the default value 0;
  • the [type] argument is omitted, and so takes on the default value 0 (i.e. the calculation assumes that the payment is made at the end of each year);
  • The returned present value is negative, representing an outgoing payment.

Again, as with all Excel formulas, instead of typing the numbers directly into the present value formula, you can use references to cells containing values. Therefore, the PV function in cell B4 of the above spreadsheet could be entered as:

which returns the same result.


Present Value of a Perpetuity

A perpetuity is an annuity in which the constant periodic payments continue indefinitely.

The formula to calculate the present value of a perpetuity is:

where,

  • pmt is the regular payment per period;
  • rate is the interest rate per period (as a decimal or a percentage).
AB
1Annual Payment:30000
2Annual Interest Rate:3.5%
3Present Value:=30000/3.5%

For example, if you have a perpetuity that pays $30,000 per year and has an annual interest rate of 3.5%, the present value of the perpetuity can be calculated by typing the following formula into any Excel cell:

This gives the result 857142.8571.

I.e. the present value of the perpetuity (rounded to 2 decimal places) is $857,142.86.

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