Photo credit: commons.wikimedia.org

“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 ABIOMED, Inc. (NASD: ABMD) back in 2015, bought the stock, ignored the market’s ups and downs, and simply held through to today.

Start date: 11/06/2015
$10,000

11/06/2015
$33,597

11/05/2020
End date: 11/05/2020
Start price/share: $81.09
End price/share: $272.40
Starting shares: 123.32
Ending shares: 123.32
Dividends reinvested/share: $0.00
Total return: 235.92%
Average annual return: 27.41%
Starting investment: $10,000.00
Ending investment: $33,597.41

As shown above, the five year investment result worked out exceptionally well, with an annualized rate of return of 27.41%. This would have turned a $10K investment made 5 years ago into $33,597.41 today (as of 11/05/2020). On a total return basis, that’s a result of 235.92% (something to think about: how might ABMD shares perform over the next 5 years?). [These numbers were computed with the Dividend Channel DRIP Returns Calculator.]

Here’s one more great investment quote before you go:
“Don’t wait for the perfect time, you will wait forever. Always take advantage of the time you’re given and make it perfect.” — Daymond John