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“I buy on the assumption that they could close the market the next day and not reopen it for five years.”

— Warren Buffett

Investors can learn a lot from Warren Buffett, whose above quote teaches the importance of thinking about investment time horizon, and asking ourselves before buying any given stock: can we envision holding onto it for years — even a five year holding period possibly?

Suppose a “buy-and-hold” investor was considering an investment into Charter Communications Inc (NASD: CHTR) back in 2015: back then, such an investor may have been pondering this very same question. Had they answered “yes” to a full five year investment time horizon and then actually held for these past 5 years, here’s how that investment would have turned out.

Start date: 03/03/2015
$10,000

03/03/2015
$26,590

03/02/2020
End date: 03/02/2020
Start price/share: $186.96
End price/share: $497.13
Starting shares: 53.49
Ending shares: 53.49
Dividends reinvested/share: $0.00
Total return: 165.90%
Average annual return: 21.59%
Starting investment: $10,000.00
Ending investment: $26,590.22

The above analysis shows the five year investment result worked out exceptionally well, with an annualized rate of return of 21.59%. This would have turned a $10K investment made 5 years ago into $26,590.22 today (as of 03/02/2020). On a total return basis, that’s a result of 165.90% (something to think about: how might CHTR shares perform over the next 5 years?). [These numbers were computed with the Dividend Channel DRIP Returns Calculator.]

One more investment quote to leave you with:
“Be fearful when others are greedy; be greedy when others are fearful.” — Warren Buffett