The present invention provides a system and related method for automatically examining a technology expenditure by evaluating a company's financial data and evaluating factors affecting the company's shareholder return. Specifically, the present invention evaluates a company's spread through that company's debt and equity costs. The present invention further measures returns to investors from company growth, either organic growth or growth through Mergers and acquisitions. Proposed technology expenditures may then be evaluated according to their predicted changes to accounting values and the resulting changes in shareholder value from these changes.