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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

The investment philosophy practiced by Warren Buffett calls for investors to take a long-term horizon when making an investment, such as a five year 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 Align Technology Inc (NASD: ALGN) back in 2015, holding through to today.

Start date: 04/01/2015
$10,000

04/01/2015
$33,164

03/31/2020
End date: 03/31/2020
Start price/share: $52.45
End price/share: $173.95
Starting shares: 190.66
Ending shares: 190.66
Dividends reinvested/share: $0.00
Total return: 231.65%
Average annual return: 27.08%
Starting investment: $10,000.00
Ending investment: $33,164.33

As we can see, the five year investment result worked out exceptionally well, with an annualized rate of return of 27.08%. This would have turned a $10K investment made 5 years ago into $33,164.33 today (as of 03/31/2020). On a total return basis, that’s a result of 231.65% (something to think about: how might ALGN shares perform over the next 5 years?). [These numbers were computed with the Dividend Channel DRIP Returns Calculator.]

More investment wisdom to ponder:
“A market downturn doesn’t bother us. It is an opportunity to increase our ownership of great companies with great management at good prices.” — Warren Buffett