When the net present value is negative the internal rate of return is the firm's cost of capital?

When the net present value (NPV) of a project is negative, it indicates that the project's expected cash flows, discounted at the firm's cost of capital, do not cover the initial investment. In this scenario, the internal rate of return (IRR) is indeed equal to the firm's cost of capital, meaning that the project is not generating sufficient returns to justify the investment. Therefore, the project would generally be considered unworthy of pursuit if the NPV is negative.