“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 Copart Inc (NASD: CPRT) back in 2016: 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: | 01/05/2016 |
|
|||
| End date: | 01/04/2021 | ||||
| Start price/share: | $18.87 | ||||
| End price/share: | $120.65 | ||||
| Starting shares: | 529.94 | ||||
| Ending shares: | 529.94 | ||||
| Dividends reinvested/share: | $0.00 | ||||
| Total return: | 539.37% | ||||
| Average annual return: | 44.90% | ||||
| Starting investment: | $10,000.00 | ||||
| Ending investment: | $63,941.56 | ||||
The above analysis shows the five year investment result worked out exceptionally well, with an annualized rate of return of 44.90%. This would have turned a $10K investment made 5 years ago into $63,941.56 today (as of 01/04/2021). On a total return basis, that’s a result of 539.37% (something to think about: how might CPRT 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:
“Calling someone who trades actively in the market an investor is like calling someone who repeatedly engages in one-night stands a romantic.” — Warren Buffett
