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IRR Calculation: interner Zinsfuß easily Explained with CalculationsExample

What you'll take away from this article
  • How to understand irr: definition and wirtschaftliche significance and use it for your capital strategy
  • How to understand the irr-formula and mathematischer hintergrand and use it for your capital strategy
  • How to understand manuelle calculation with trial-and-error and use it for your capital strategy
  • How to understand irr with excel calculate: the ikv-funktion and use it for your capital strategy

IRR: Definition and wirtschaftliche Significance

The internal Rate of Return (IRR), auch interner Zinsfuß genannt, is the Discount Rate, at dem the Netto-BarValue (NPV) ar investment gleich Null is. with antheen Worten: the IRR is the Return, The a investment about ihre gesamte Lonzeit durchschnittlich erzielt. a Highr IRR means a attraktive investment; A low IRR signalisiert a schlechte Return.

The IRR-Formula and mathematischer Hintergrand

The IRR will be implizit as Lösung the Followingn Gleichung definiert:

NPV = 0 = CF₀ + CF₁/(1+IRR)¹ + CF₂/(1+IRR)² + ... + CFₙ/(1+IRR)ⁿ

Here:

  • CF₀, CF₁, ..., CFₙ = Cash Flows the Perioden 0 bis n
  • IRR = internal Rate of Return (gesucht)
  • n = Anzahl the Perioden

The mathematische Herfromfortheung: Es provides ka geschlossene Formula for direkten Calculation des IRR. Stattdessen will be es withtels Iterationsverfahren (Trial-and-Error or Newton-Raphson) calculated.

Manuelle Calculation with Trial-and-Error

for afache Fälle can the IRR through systematisches fromprobieren gefanden will be.

Example investment:

  • Anfangsinvestment (year 0): −€100
  • year 1: +€40
  • year 2: +€40
  • year 3: +€40

Step 1: NPV with 10% testen

NPV = -100 + 40/1,10 + 40/1,10² + 40/1,10³

NPV = -100 + 36,36 + 33,06 + 30,05 = −€0,53 (sehr nah at Null!)

Step 2: NPV with 9% testen

NPV = -100 + 40/1,09 + 40/1,09² + 40/1,09³

NPV = -100 + 36,70 + 33,67 + 30,89 = +€1,26

Result: the IRR liegt between 9% and 10%, näher at 9,9%. through weitere Iteration findet man den exakten IRR ≈ 9,95%

IRR with Excel calculate: The IKV-Funktion

in the Practice will be the IRR fast fromschließlich with Excel calculated. The GermAn Excel-Funktion heißt IKV() (Englisch: IRR()).

Syntax: =IKV(Valueebereich, [SchätzValue])

Example: if Cash Flows in den Zellen A1:A4 stehen (−100, 40, 40, 40):

=IKV(A1:A4) liefert the Result 9,95%

Tipps:

  • the optionale SchätzValue (e.g. 0,1 for 10%) hilft Excel at schnellerem Konvergieren
  • if Cash Flows unregelmäßig zeitlich verteilt are (not jährlich), nutze XIRR() stattdessen
  • =XIRR(Valueebereich, Datumsbereich) = genauer for ungleichmäßige Abstände

interpretation: IRR as Hürdenrate vergleichen

The IRR will be typischerweise gegen The Hurdle Rate (MindestReturn) verglichen:

  • IRR > Hurdle Rate: investment is attraktiv, annehmen
  • IRR = Hurdle Rate: investment is grenzValueig
  • IRR < Hurdle Rate: investment is not attraktiv, ablehnen

The Hurdle Rate is typischerweise the WACC or The Corporate-Hurdle-Rate (e.g. 12% for Private Equity Fonds).

IRR vs. NPV: Unterschiede and wann welche Metrik zählt

IRR:

  • Zeigt The prozentuale Return
  • Leicht to verstehen and to kommunizieren
  • Unabhängig of the investmentsgröße
  • has mathematische Fallstricke (Multiple IRRs, Ravestmentsannahmen)

NPV:

  • Zeigt den absoluten Valuegewinn in €
  • Theoretisch korrekter unter allen Scenarios
  • Abhängig of the investmentsgröße
  • Erforthet Festlegung des Discount Ratees

Klassisches Example for Konflikt: at Mutually Exclusive Projects (zwei sich fromschließende investmenten) can NPV and IRR to unterschiedlichen Empfehlungen führen. the NPV should then den beforetog erhalten.

Modified IRR (MIRR) as Verbesserung

The Modified IRR (MIRR) behält The beforeteile des IRR, vermeidet but zwei Probleme:

MIRR-Formula:

MIRR = (FV(positive CF) / PV(negative CF))^(1/n) - 1

Here:

  • FV = Future Value positiver Cash Flows (ravestiert for Financingsrate)
  • PV = Present Value negativer Cash Flows (finanziert for Financingsrate)
  • Financingsrate = typischerweise WACC

The MIRR provides realisischere Returnerwartungen, da sie with realisischen Ravestmentsraten rechnet.

Private Equity and Venture Capital: IRR as Standard

Im PE/VC-Bereich is the IRR The zentrale Metrik for BeValueung of Exits:

  • Typical LBO IRR Targets: 20–25%+ (20% is the Benchmark)
  • Growth Equity IRR Targets: 25–30%+
  • Venture Capital IRR Targets: 30–50%+ (Portfolio-Level)

if a PE-Fonds a 20% IRR erzielt, means the, thes the ursprüngliche investment sich im Durchschnitt all ~3,5 Jahre verdoppelt has.

What this means for you

When you apply this knowledge, you gain a concrete advantage over competitors who enter investor conversations without this foundation. Use the insights from this article as the basis for your next step.

Fallstricke and aschränkungen des IRR

1. Multiple IRRs at not-konventionellen Cash Flows:

if Cash Flows mehrmals the beforezeichen wechseln (e.g. -100, +150, -50), can es mehrere mathematisch gültige IRRs provide. Excel wählt The erste Lösung.

2. Ravestmentsannahme:

The IRR unterstellt, thes betweengewinne to IRR ravestiert will be can. is oft unrealisisch.

3. Zeitliche Diskrepanzen:

The IRR bebeforetogt investmenten with schnellen Rückflüssen, auch if sie langfrisig weniger Value generieren.

4. Große investmentsunterschiede:

a €1 Mio investment with 15% IRR schlägt a €100 Mio investment with 10% IRR not zwingend (NPV höher).

Daher: IRR should Always with NPV and antheen Metriken kombiniert will be, um solide investmentsentscheidungen to treffen.

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Your advantage after this article

What you now know — and how to use it

  • You know the core concepts and can apply them directly to your situation
  • You know which mistakes to avoid — saving you time and capital
  • You understand how this building block fits into your overall strategy

Your next step: Have your situation professionally assessed — free and non-binding in an initial consultation with Daniel Huber.

Daniel Huber
Daniel Huber Gruender & CEO, CANVENA
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