While the cap rate provides a simple way to estimate returns on commercial real estate investments, it fails to account for changes in market conditions over time or the time value of money. A discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis is a more advanced method that calculates the net present value and internal rate of return, providing more insight into how an investment will perform in the future. The DCF analysis discounts future cash flows to account for the fact that a dollar today is worth more than a dollar in the future due to inflation and changing market values. It is therefore a more comprehensive tool than the cap rate for evaluating commercial real estate investments and making informed decisions.