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

— Warren Buffett

The investment philosophy practiced by Warren Buffett calls for investors to take a long-term horizon when making an investment, such as a two-decade holding period (or even longer), and reconsider making the investment in the first place if unable to envision holding the stock for at least five years. Today, we look at how such a long-term strategy would have done for investors in O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. (NASD: ORLY) back in 1999, holding through to today.

Start date: 08/02/1999
$10,000

08/02/1999
$371,348

07/31/2019
End date: 07/31/2019
Start price/share: $10.26
End price/share: $380.76
Starting shares: 974.66
Ending shares: 974.66
Dividends reinvested/share: $0.00
Total return: 3,611.11%
Average annual return: 19.80%
Starting investment: $10,000.00
Ending investment: $371,348.10

As shown above, the two-decade investment result worked out exceptionally well, with an annualized rate of return of 19.80%. This would have turned a $10K investment made 20 years ago into $371,348.10 today (as of 07/31/2019). On a total return basis, that’s a result of 3,611.11% (something to think about: how might ORLY shares perform over the next 20 years?). [These numbers were computed with the Dividend Channel DRIP Returns Calculator.]

One more investment quote to leave you with:
“Markets are constantly in a state of uncertainty and flux and money is made by discounting the obvious and betting on the unexpected.” — George Soros