“I buy on the assumption that they could close the market the next day and not reopen it for five years.”
— Warren Buffett
One of the most important things investors can learn from Warren Buffett, is about how they approach their time horizon for an investment into a stock under consideration. Because immediately after buying shares of a given stock, investors will then be able to check on the day-to-day (and even minute-by-minute) market value. Some days the stock market will be up, other days down. These daily fluctuations can often distract from the long-term view. Today, we look at the result of a five year holding period for an investor who was considering AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE: AZO) back in 2014, bought the stock, ignored the market’s ups and downs, and simply held through to today.
| Start date: | 10/01/2014 |
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| End date: | 09/30/2019 | ||||
| Start price/share: | $508.01 | ||||
| End price/share: | $1,084.62 | ||||
| Starting shares: | 19.68 | ||||
| Ending shares: | 19.68 | ||||
| Dividends reinvested/share: | $0.00 | ||||
| Total return: | 113.50% | ||||
| Average annual return: | 16.38% | ||||
| Starting investment: | $10,000.00 | ||||
| Ending investment: | $21,349.70 | ||||
The above analysis shows the five year investment result worked out exceptionally well, with an annualized rate of return of 16.38%. This would have turned a $10K investment made 5 years ago into $21,349.70 today (as of 09/30/2019). On a total return basis, that’s a result of 113.50% (something to think about: how might AZO shares perform over the next 5 years?). [These numbers were computed with the Dividend Channel DRIP Returns Calculator.]
Another great investment quote to think about:
“You’ve got to be careful if you don’t know where you’re going, ’cause you might not get there.” — Yogi Berra
