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“When we own portions of outstanding businesses with outstanding managements, our favorite holding period is forever.”

— Warren Buffett

The Warren Buffett investment philosophy calls for a long-term investment horizon, where a two-decade 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 two-decade investment into the stock back in 2005.

Start date: 07/11/2005
$10,000

07/11/2005
  $22,836

04/22/2025
End date: 04/22/2025
Start price/share: $3.48
End price/share: $7.95
Starting shares: 2,873.56
Ending shares: 2,873.56
Dividends reinvested/share: $0.00
Total return: 128.45%
Average annual return: 4.26%
Starting investment: $10,000.00
Ending investment: $22,836.61

As shown above, the two-decade investment result worked out as follows, with an annualized rate of return of 4.26%. This would have turned a $10K investment made 20 years ago into $22,836.61 today (as of 04/22/2025). On a total return basis, that’s a result of 128.45% (something to think about: how might WBD shares perform over the next 20 years?). [These numbers were computed with the Dividend Channel DRIP Returns Calculator.]

One more investment quote to leave you with:
“Every once in a while, the market does something so stupid it takes your breath away.” — Jim Cramer