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“I buy on the assumption that they could close the market the next day and not reopen it for five years.”

— Warren Buffett

The Warren Buffett investment philosophy calls for a long-term investment horizon, where a five year holding period, or even longer, would fit right into the strategy. How would such a strategy have worked out for an investment into DISH Network Corp (NASD: DISH)? Today, we examine the outcome of a five year investment into the stock back in 2014.

Start date: 11/17/2014
$10,000

11/17/2014
$5,463

11/14/2019
End date: 11/14/2019
Start price/share: $65.28
End price/share: $35.66
Starting shares: 153.19
Ending shares: 153.19
Dividends reinvested/share: $0.00
Total return: -45.37%
Average annual return: -11.40%
Starting investment: $10,000.00
Ending investment: $5,463.32

As shown above, the five year investment result worked out poorly, with an annualized rate of return of -11.40%. This would have turned a $10K investment made 5 years ago into $5,463.32 today (as of 11/14/2019). On a total return basis, that’s a result of -45.37% (something to think about: how might DISH shares perform over the next 5 years?). [These numbers were computed with the Dividend Channel DRIP Returns Calculator.]

Here’s one more great investment quote before you go:
“Know what you own and why you own it.” — Peter Lynch