Adam Hayes, Ph.D., CFA, is a financial writer with 15+ years Wall Street experience as a derivatives trader. Besides his extensive derivative trading expertise, Adam is an expert in economics and ...

Investopedia contributors come from a range of backgrounds, and over 25 years there have been thousands of expert writers and editors who have contributed. Andy Smith is a Certified Financial Planner ...

IRR measures the rate needed to break even on an investment. Calculate IRR by setting NPV to zero and solving for the discount rate. Use Excel's IRR function by inputting initial cost and cash inflow.