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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

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 Align Technology Inc (NASD: ALGN) back in 2016, bought the stock, ignored the market’s ups and downs, and simply held through to today.

Start date: 01/14/2016
$10,000

01/14/2016
$91,880

01/13/2021
End date: 01/13/2021
Start price/share: $59.99
End price/share: $551.14
Starting shares: 166.69
Ending shares: 166.69
Dividends reinvested/share: $0.00
Total return: 818.72%
Average annual return: 55.79%
Starting investment: $10,000.00
Ending investment: $91,880.93

As we can see, the five year investment result worked out exceptionally well, with an annualized rate of return of 55.79%. This would have turned a $10K investment made 5 years ago into $91,880.93 today (as of 01/13/2021). On a total return basis, that’s a result of 818.72% (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.]

Here’s one more great investment quote before you go:
“When I was young I thought that money was the most important thing in life; now that I am old I know that it is.” — Oscar Wilde