Real Options Estimate Using Probabilistic Present Worth Analysis

Abstract

The article presents a method for estimating the value of a real option using probabilistic present worth analysis. The method is shown to capture the upside value of a real option in an equivalent way as—and provide similar results to— the Black-Scholes method. Its strength lies in its intuitive appeal, the avoidance of having to estimate volatility, relaxed assumptions, and the simplicity of the underlying calculations. A comparison with the Black-Scholes method is undertaken in structural terms, with differences noted, and numerically for a range of input parameters. The proposed method is also applicable to evaluating financial options.