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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 LKQ Corp (NASD: LKQ)? Today, we examine the outcome of a five year investment into the stock back in 2014.

Start date: 09/05/2014
$10,000

09/05/2014
$9,225

09/04/2019
End date: 09/04/2019
Start price/share: $28.63
End price/share: $26.41
Starting shares: 349.28
Ending shares: 349.28
Dividends reinvested/share: $0.00
Total return: -7.75%
Average annual return: -1.60%
Starting investment: $10,000.00
Ending investment: $9,225.19

The above analysis shows the five year investment result worked out poorly, with an annualized rate of return of -1.60%. This would have turned a $10K investment made 5 years ago into $9,225.19 today (as of 09/04/2019). On a total return basis, that’s a result of -7.75% (something to think about: how might LKQ shares perform over the next 5 years?). [These numbers were computed with the Dividend Channel DRIP Returns Calculator.]

Here’s one more great investment quote before you go:
“Searching for companies is like looking for grubs under rocks: if you turn over 10 rocks you’ll likely find one grub; if you turn over 20 rocks you’ll find two.” — Peter Lynch