What does the term cost of capital / WACC describe in FinOps?

• A. COGS
• B. Cost of capital / WACC
• C. Blended rates
• D. Covered usage

Answer: (B)

WACC describes the blended rate a company must pay to finance its assets, combining debt and equity in proportion to their share of the capital. It represents the average return investors require given the company’s risk. In FinOps, WACC acts as the hurdle rate or discount rate for evaluating cloud investments and cost-optimization initiatives: if a project’s expected value or return exceeds the WACC, it adds value; if not, it’s unlikely to meet the required cost of capital. This rate reflects the cost of debt (adjusted for tax benefits) and the cost of equity, blended into one figure. It’s not COGS, nor just a vague “blended rate,” nor related to “covered usage.”