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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 Biogen Inc (NASD: BIIB)? Today, we examine the outcome of a five year investment into the stock back in 2014.

Start date: 12/11/2014
$10,000

12/11/2014
$8,680

12/10/2019
End date: 12/10/2019
Start price/share: $342.33
End price/share: $297.20
Starting shares: 29.21
Ending shares: 29.21
Dividends reinvested/share: $0.00
Total return: -13.18%
Average annual return: -2.79%
Starting investment: $10,000.00
Ending investment: $8,680.70

The above analysis shows the five year investment result worked out poorly, with an annualized rate of return of -2.79%. This would have turned a $10K investment made 5 years ago into $8,680.70 today (as of 12/10/2019). On a total return basis, that’s a result of -13.18% (something to think about: how might BIIB shares perform over the next 5 years?). [These numbers were computed with the Dividend Channel DRIP Returns Calculator.]

One more investment quote to leave you with:
“If you’re prepared to invest in a company, then you ought to be able to explain why in simple language that a fifth grader could understand, and quickly enough so the fifth grader won’t get bored.” — Peter Lynch