Exhibit 4
WARREN E. BUFFETT, 2005
Hypothetical Example of Value Creation
Assume:
• 5-year investment horizon, when you liquidate at “book” or accumulated investment value • initial investment is $50 million
• no dividends are paid, all cash flows are reinvested
• return on equity = 20%
• cost of equity = 15%
Year
Investment or
book equity
value 50 60 72 86 104 124
Market value (or
intrinsic value) = Present value @ 15% of 124 = $61.65
Market/book = $61.65/50.00 = $1.23
Value created: $1.00 invested becomes $1.23 in market value.