I can't believe your INTNX can't work. Is your DATE variable SAS DATE type ? I highly skeptic it is CHARACTER.
Here is the LOG I runned the data you posted at the first . I have to leave now.
485 %let list= 1262 1272 ;
486 proc sql;
487 create table temp as
488 select permno,date,DISTCD,intnx('year',date,-2,'s') as prev_two_year
488! format=yymmddn8.,intnx('year',date,2,'s') as next_two_year format=yymmddn8.
489 from have
490 where DISTCD in ( &list )
491 order by permno,date;
NOTE: Table WORK.TEMP created, with 53 rows and 5 columns.
492 quit;
NOTE: PROCEDURE SQL used (Total process time):
real time 1.35 seconds
cpu time 0.04 seconds
493 data group;
494 set temp;
495 if permno ne lag(permno) or (permno eq lag(permno) and prev_two_year gt lag(next_two_year)) then
495! group+1;
496 run;
NOTE: There were 53 observations read from the data set WORK.TEMP.
NOTE: The data set WORK.GROUP has 53 observations and 6 variables.
NOTE: DATA statement used (Total process time):
real time 0.01 seconds
cpu time 0.02 seconds
497 data date_range;
498 set group;
499 by group;
500 retain start;
501 if first.group then start=prev_two_year;
502 if last.group then do;end=next_two_year; output;end;
503 keep permno start end;
504 format start end yymmddn8.;
505 run;
NOTE: There were 53 observations read from the data set WORK.GROUP.
NOTE: The data set WORK.DATE_RANGE has 6 observations and 3 variables.
NOTE: DATA statement used (Total process time):
real time 0.02 seconds
cpu time 0.01 seconds
506 proc sql;
507 create table want as
508 select * from have
509 except
510 select a.*
511 from have as a,date_range as b
512 where a.permno=b.permno and a.date between b.start and b.end ;
NOTE: Table WORK.WANT created, with 36 rows and 6 columns.
513 quit;
NOTE: PROCEDURE SQL used (Total process time):
real time 0.06 seconds
cpu time 0.01 seconds
Ksharp
