You are selecting between two NPV positive projects for the new investment: Project A and Project B. To incorporate flexibility you decide to conduct valuation using Real Option Analysis (ROA). Which of the following parameters is most likely not needed for the Real Option Analysis (ROA) valuation?

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Question restatement: You are choosing between two NPV-positive projects (Project A and Project B) for a new investment and plan to use Real Option Analysis (ROA). Which parameter is most likely not needed for ROA valuation?

Option A: A. WACC
- WACC (weighted average cost of capital) is a general discount rate used in traditional NPV analyses to reflect the opportunity cost of all capital sources. In ROA, valuations are typically conducted using option-pricing frameworks that rely on risk-neutral valuation and parameters like the risk-free rate, volatility, and the underlying asset (project) value. WACC is not a standard input in the core real option pricing formula, because ROA aims to capture the value of optionality under uncertainty rather than apply a single firm-wide discount rate. Therefore, WACC is not typically required in ROA valuations.

Option B: B. Risk-neutral probabilities
- Risk-neutral probabilities are central to many real option valuation methodologies. They are used to price the option by taking expected payoffs under a risk-neutral measure, which simplifies handling uncertainty and risk preferences. Without risk-neutral probabilities, the standard ROA pricing approach would lose its theoretical footing, making this input essential rather than unnecessary.

Option C: C. None of the other answers
- This choice would be true only if all other listed inputs were required for ROA. Given that risk-neutral probabilities (Option B) and the risk-free rate (Option D) are typically used in ROA, while WACC (Option A) is not standard, Option C would be incorrect because not all other answers are unnecessary.

Option D: D. Risk-free rate
- The risk-free rate is commonly used in option pricing, including ROA, as the baseline rate in risk-neutral valuation and to derive discounting components in the option value. It is generally considered a needed input in ROA analyses rather than something to omit.

Summary of why the options behave the way they do:
- The core of ROA relies on an options framework with risk-neutral valuation, which uses the risk-free rate and volatility-derived measures of uncertainty, and often requires risk-neutral probabilities. WACC, while important in traditional NPV calculations, is not a standard input for ROA and therefore is the most likely candidate to be not needed. The remaining options (risk-neutral probabilities and the risk-free rate) are typically required in ROA, aligning with established real options pricing methods. The statement in Option C would be incorrect because not all the other answers are unnecessary; specifically, Option A is not needed, making C false overall. The statement in Option D is true about ROA inputs, reinforcing why A is the outlier.

Corporate Finance (WI000091) (11.08.2025) Lecture Hall Exam

You are selecting between two NPV positive projects for the new investment: Project A and Project B. To incorporate flexibility you decide to conduct valuation using Real Option Analysis (ROA). Which of the following parameters is most likely not needed for the Real Option Analysis (ROA) valuation?

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