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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 Discovery Inc (NASD: DISCA)? Today, we examine the outcome of a five year investment into the stock back in 2015.

Start date: 02/27/2015
$10,000

02/27/2015
$8,196

02/26/2020
End date: 02/26/2020
Start price/share: $32.30
End price/share: $26.47
Starting shares: 309.60
Ending shares: 309.60
Dividends reinvested/share: $0.00
Total return: -18.05%
Average annual return: -3.90%
Starting investment: $10,000.00
Ending investment: $8,196.28

The above analysis shows the five year investment result worked out poorly, with an annualized rate of return of -3.90%. This would have turned a $10K investment made 5 years ago into $8,196.28 today (as of 02/26/2020). On a total return basis, that’s a result of -18.05% (something to think about: how might DISCA 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:
“You make most of your money in a bear market, you just don’t realize it at the time.” — Shelby Davis