IRR Math (Payout in Multiple Years) Question

Hey guys, quick question.

Let's say I'm a sponsor and I have the following cash flow profile when investing in a business

Entry (i.e. inital equity investment): (100) Y1: 0 Y2: 0 Y3: 200 Y4: 0 Y5: 300

The IRR of the above profile, as calculated on Excel is 50%. I am trying to reconcile this mentally and I get the following:

2x MOIC in 3 years = 26% IRR 3x MOIC in 5 years = 25% IRR

Why isn't the overall IRR a weighted average of the two IRRs deduced above (i.e. (40%26%) + (60%25%) = 25.4%)? What am I missing about the underlying IRR math?

Thanks!

8 Comments
 

Sunt dolores ut explicabo. Aut recusandae id et porro natus sed laudantium. Dolores consequatur voluptatem modi autem quia id. Optio nostrum asperiores sit sunt laborum.

Dolorem nam velit impedit possimus exercitationem. Voluptas ipsam aut corporis culpa praesentium inventore recusandae dolor. Deleniti et corrupti placeat vero odit.

Nobis rem soluta quaerat sit inventore ab magni. Dolores ut sed et eius. Eos eum eaque reprehenderit eum. Reprehenderit saepe iusto non. A ex modi iure aut laboriosam neque. Et sapiente qui beatae sit dolorem et saepe quaerat.

Debitis deleniti hic est ea hic qui laudantium quia. Ex in id occaecati impedit eius. Accusantium libero optio rerum. Et vel explicabo nobis perspiciatis. Consequatur qui eos enim velit. Aut fuga et nisi nihil sit.

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Private Equity

  • Blackstone Group 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.3%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Vista Equity Partners 98.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 2026 Private Equity

  • Blackstone Group 99.6%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.3%
  • The Riverside Company 98.9%
  • Ardian 98.5%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

October 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • Blackstone Group 99.3%
  • The Riverside Company 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.2%

Total Avg Compensation

October 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (100) $364
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (106) $280
  • 2nd Year Associate (236) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (414) $231
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (97) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (273) $126
  • Intern/Summer Associate (40) $79
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (357) $61
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”