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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 Akamai Technologies Inc (NASD: AKAM)? Today, we examine the outcome of a five year investment into the stock back in 2020.

Start date: 03/20/2020
$10,000

03/20/2020
  $10,005

03/19/2025
End date: 03/19/2025
Start price/share: $82.37
End price/share: $82.41
Starting shares: 121.40
Ending shares: 121.40
Dividends reinvested/share: $0.00
Total return: 0.05%
Average annual return: 0.01%
Starting investment: $10,000.00
Ending investment: $10,005.00

The above analysis shows the five year investment result worked out as follows, with an annualized rate of return of 0.01%. This would have turned a $10K investment made 5 years ago into $10,005.00 today (as of 03/19/2025). On a total return basis, that’s a result of 0.05% (something to think about: how might AKAM shares perform over the next 5 years?). [These numbers were computed with the Dividend Channel DRIP Returns Calculator.]

Another great investment quote to think about:
“The best stock to buy is the one you already own.” — Peter Lynch