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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 two-decade holding period, or even longer, would fit right into the strategy. How would such a strategy have worked out for an investment into ABIOMED, Inc. (NASD: ABMD)? Today, we examine the outcome of a two-decade investment into the stock back in 1999.

Start date: 11/01/1999
$10,000

11/01/1999
$177,407

10/30/2019
End date: 10/30/2019
Start price/share: $10.25
End price/share: $181.77
Starting shares: 975.61
Ending shares: 975.61
Dividends reinvested/share: $0.00
Total return: 1,673.37%
Average annual return: 15.46%
Starting investment: $10,000.00
Ending investment: $177,407.98

The above analysis shows the two-decade investment result worked out exceptionally well, with an annualized rate of return of 15.46%. This would have turned a $10K investment made 20 years ago into $177,407.98 today (as of 10/30/2019). On a total return basis, that’s a result of 1,673.37% (something to think about: how might ABMD 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:
“Opportunities come infrequently. When it rains gold, put out the bucket, not the thimble.” — Warren Buffett