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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 above quote from Warren Buffett is timeless, and brings into focus the choice about time horizon that any investor should think about before buying a stock they are considering. Behind every stock is an actual business; what will that business look like over a five year period?

Today, let’s look backwards in time to 2014, and take a look at what happened to investors who asked that very question about Waters Corp. (NYSE: WAT), by taking a look at the investment outcome over a five year holding period.

Start date: 05/14/2014
$10,000

05/14/2014
$20,483

05/13/2019
End date: 05/13/2019
Start price/share: $102.14
End price/share: $209.23
Starting shares: 97.90
Ending shares: 97.90
Dividends reinvested/share: $0.00
Total return: 104.85%
Average annual return: 15.42%
Starting investment: $10,000.00
Ending investment: $20,483.56

The above analysis shows the five year investment result worked out exceptionally well, with an annualized rate of return of 15.42%. This would have turned a $10K investment made 5 years ago into $20,483.56 today (as of 05/13/2019). On a total return basis, that’s a result of 104.85% (something to think about: how might WAT shares perform over the next 5 years?). [These numbers were computed with the Dividend Channel DRIP Returns Calculator.]

One more investment quote to leave you with:
“While some might mistakenly consider value investing a mechanical tool for identifying bargains, it is actually a comprehensive investment philosophy that emphasizes the need to perform in-depth fundamental analysis, pursue long-term investment results, limit risk, and resist crowd psychology.” — Seth Klarman