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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 Celgene Corp (NASD: CELG) back in 1999, holding through to today.

Start date: 08/27/1999
$10,000

08/27/1999
$1,329,292

08/26/2019
End date: 08/26/2019
Start price/share: $0.73
End price/share: $97.00
Starting shares: 13,698.63
Ending shares: 13,698.63
Dividends reinvested/share: $0.00
Total return: 13,187.67%
Average annual return: 27.68%
Starting investment: $10,000.00
Ending investment: $1,329,292.24

As shown above, the twenty year investment result worked out exceptionally well, with an annualized rate of return of 27.68%. This would have turned a $10K investment made 20 years ago into $1,329,292.24 today (as of 08/26/2019). On a total return basis, that’s a result of 13,187.67% (something to think about: how might CELG shares perform over the next 20 years?). [These numbers were computed with the Dividend Channel DRIP Returns Calculator.]

Another great investment quote to think about:
“When everyone is going right, look left.” — Sam Zell