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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 Warner Bros Discovery Inc (NASD: WBD)? Today, we examine the outcome of a five year investment into the stock back in 2019.

Start date: 07/26/2019
$10,000

07/26/2019
  $2,538

07/25/2024
End date: 07/25/2024
Start price/share: $31.47
End price/share: $7.99
Starting shares: 317.76
Ending shares: 317.76
Dividends reinvested/share: $0.00
Total return: -74.61%
Average annual return: -23.97%
Starting investment: $10,000.00
Ending investment: $2,538.63

As shown above, the five year investment result worked out poorly, with an annualized rate of return of -23.97%. This would have turned a $10K investment made 5 years ago into $2,538.63 today (as of 07/25/2024). On a total return basis, that’s a result of -74.61% (something to think about: how might WBD shares perform over the next 5 years?). [These numbers were computed with the Dividend Channel DRIP Returns Calculator.]

More investment wisdom to ponder:
“Calling someone who trades actively in the market an investor is like calling someone who repeatedly engages in one-night stands a romantic.” — Warren Buffett