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“When we own portions of outstanding businesses with outstanding managements, our favorite holding period is forever.”

— Warren Buffett

The investment philosophy practiced by Warren Buffett calls for investors to take a long-term horizon when making an investment, such as a twenty year holding period (or even longer), and reconsider making the investment in the first place if unable to envision holding the stock for at least five years. Today, we look at how such a long-term strategy would have done for investors in SVB Financial Group (NASD: SIVB) back in 1999, holding through to today.

Start date: 05/17/1999
$10,000

05/17/1999
$240,215

05/15/2019
End date: 05/15/2019
Start price/share: $9.55
End price/share: $229.48
Starting shares: 1,047.12
Ending shares: 1,047.12
Dividends reinvested/share: $0.00
Total return: 2,302.93%
Average annual return: 17.22%
Starting investment: $10,000.00
Ending investment: $240,215.75

The above analysis shows the twenty year investment result worked out exceptionally well, with an annualized rate of return of 17.22%. This would have turned a $10K investment made 20 years ago into $240,215.75 today (as of 05/15/2019). On a total return basis, that’s a result of 2,302.93% (something to think about: how might SIVB shares perform over the next 20 years?). [These numbers were computed with the Dividend Channel DRIP Returns Calculator.]

Here’s one more great investment quote before you go:
“If a speculator is correct half of the time, he is hitting a good average. Even being right 3 or 4 times out of 10 should yield a person a fortune if he has the sense to cut his losses quickly on the ventures where he is wrong.” — Bernard Baruch