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“Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.”

— Warren Buffett

The Warren Buffett investment philosophy calls for a long-term investment horizon, where a twenty year holding period, or even longer, would fit right into the strategy. How would such a strategy have worked out for an investment into Red Hat Inc (NYSE: RHT)? Today, we examine the outcome of a twenty year investment into the stock back in 1999.

Start date: 08/12/1999
$10,000

08/12/1999
$25,833

06/24/2019
End date: 06/24/2019
Start price/share: $72.62
End price/share: $187.45
Starting shares: 137.69
Ending shares: 137.69
Dividends reinvested/share: $0.00
Total return: 158.11%
Average annual return: 4.89%
Starting investment: $10,000.00
Ending investment: $25,833.44

The above analysis shows the twenty year investment result worked out as follows, with an annualized rate of return of 4.89%. This would have turned a $10K investment made 20 years ago into $25,833.44 today (as of 06/24/2019). On a total return basis, that’s a result of 158.11% (something to think about: how might RHT shares perform over the next 20 years?). [These numbers were computed with the Dividend Channel DRIP Returns Calculator.]

One more piece of investment wisdom to leave you with:
“The most important quality for an investor is temperament, not intellect. You need a temperament that neither derives great pleasure from being with the crowd or against the crowd.” — Warren Buffett