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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 Ulta Beauty Inc (NASD: ULTA) 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: 05/02/2016
$10,000

05/02/2016
$15,605

04/29/2021
End date: 04/29/2021
Start price/share: $210.72
End price/share: $328.90
Starting shares: 47.46
Ending shares: 47.46
Dividends reinvested/share: $0.00
Total return: 56.08%
Average annual return: 9.32%
Starting investment: $10,000.00
Ending investment: $15,605.80

The above analysis shows the five year investment result worked out well, with an annualized rate of return of 9.32%. This would have turned a $10K investment made 5 years ago into $15,605.80 today (as of 04/29/2021). On a total return basis, that’s a result of 56.08% (something to think about: how might ULTA 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:
“It’s not whether you’re right or wrong that’s important, but how much money you make when you’re right and how much you lose when you’re wrong.” — George Soros