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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: 09/04/2019
$10,000

09/04/2019
  $2,722

09/03/2024
End date: 09/03/2024
Start price/share: $27.04
End price/share: $7.36
Starting shares: 369.82
Ending shares: 369.82
Dividends reinvested/share: $0.00
Total return: -72.78%
Average annual return: -22.90%
Starting investment: $10,000.00
Ending investment: $2,722.47

As we can see, the five year investment result worked out poorly, with an annualized rate of return of -22.90%. This would have turned a $10K investment made 5 years ago into $2,722.47 today (as of 09/03/2024). On a total return basis, that’s a result of -72.78% (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.]

Another great investment quote to think about:
“Only when the tide goes out do you discover who’s been swimming naked.” — Warren Buffett