With the 2016 financial year drawing to a close its interesting to look back and review how one of Australia's favourite blue chips, Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) performed.
Over the 12 months to 30 June 2016, the share price of Wesfarmers gained less than 3%. For comparison, the return from the S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) was a negative 4%.
Including dividends and the total shareholder return (TSR) from holding Wesfarmers' shares improved to 6.8% according to CommSec.
While a single digit TSR is almost certainly below what shareholders were hoping for and on an absolute basis it's not that great considering the expectation for earning an equity risk premium from owning shares however it does need to be kept in perspective.
Firstly, on a relative basis, shares in Wesfarmers did outperform the index quite significantly.
Secondly, interest rates are at historic lows which arguably reduces the hurdle rate which investors should demand and expect.
Thirdly, it's the long term average return which counts. A 12 month holding period in isolation is simply not a period long enough to judge performance.
So was it worth owning Wesfarmers in financial year (FY) 2016?
I believe that it was, particularly for conservative investors. The stock provided fully franked dividends and outperformed the market average.
Importantly, Wesfarmers' business operations appear to be stronger now than they were a year ago.
One important highlight from the past year would have to be the group's strategic decision to enter the UK market via the acquisition of Homebase. The plan is to use Homebase as a springboard for Bunnings into this new market.
A key decision such as this can have significant long term consequences – hopefully positive ones – and is a major reason why a stock can't simply be judged over an arbitrary time period.
