A $10k Investment In MTD In 1999 Is Worth A Small Fortune Today

Photo credit: commons.wikimedia.org

— Warren Buffett

A critical pearl of wisdom from Warren Buffett teaches us that with any potential stock investment we may make, as soon as our buy order is filled we will have a choice: to remain a co-owner of that company for the long haul, or to react to the inevitable short-term ups and downs that the stock market is famous for (sometimes sharp ups and downs).

The reality of this choice forces us to challenge our confidence in any given company we might invest into, and keep our eyes on the long-term time horizon. The market may go up and down the interim, but over a two-decade holding period, will the investment succeed?

Back in 1999, investors may have been asking themselves that very question about Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. (NYSE: MTD). Let’s examine what would have happened over a two-decade holding period, had you invested in MTD shares back in 1999 and held on.

MTD 20-Year Return Details
Start date:	05/10/1999	$10,000 05/10/1999 $286,036 05/07/2019
End date:	05/07/2019
Start price/share:	$25.94
End price/share:	$742.30
Starting shares:	385.54
Ending shares:	385.54
Dividends reinvested/share:	$0.00
Total return:	2,761.88%
Average annual return:	18.25%
Starting investment:	$10,000.00
Ending investment:	$286,036.79

The above analysis shows the two-decade investment result worked out exceptionally well, with an annualized rate of return of 18.25%. This would have turned a $10K investment made 20 years ago into $286,036.79 today (as of 05/07/2019). On a total return basis, that’s a result of 2,761.88% (something to think about: how might MTD shares perform over the next 20 years?). [These numbers were computed with the Dividend Channel DRIP Returns Calculator.]

Here’s one more great investment quote before you go:
“A lot of people with high IQs are terrible investors because they’ve got terrible temperaments. You need to keep raw, irrational emotion under control.” — Charlie Munger