What does a positive IRR indicate in private equity?

A positive IRR, or Internal Rate of Return, indicates that an investment is yielding returns that exceed the investment cost. This metric is a critical measure in private equity and other investment contexts because it reflects the profitability of an investment over time, adjusted for the cost of the invested capital.

When the IRR is positive, it signals that the cash flows generated by the investment are greater than the initial outlay required to make the investment. This means that the investment not only recoups its costs but also generates additional value for the investors, which is a fundamental goal of private equity investments.

A negative IRR would suggest that the investment has failed to deliver expected returns, leading to a lack of profitability, but a positive IRR clearly represents financial success beyond the original investment input. In the context of private equity, where risk and return are paramount, a positive IRR is a strong indicator of a favorable performance outcome.