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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 Warren Buffett investment philosophy calls for a long-term investment horizon, where a five year holding period, or even longer, would fit right into the strategy. How would such a strategy have worked out for an investment into Align Technology Inc (NASD: ALGN)? Today, we examine the outcome of a five year investment into the stock back in 2016.

Start date: 07/12/2016
$10,000

07/12/2016
$74,341

07/09/2021
End date: 07/09/2021
Start price/share: $84.37
End price/share: $627.19
Starting shares: 118.53
Ending shares: 118.53
Dividends reinvested/share: $0.00
Total return: 643.38%
Average annual return: 49.43%
Starting investment: $10,000.00
Ending investment: $74,341.81

As shown above, the five year investment result worked out exceptionally well, with an annualized rate of return of 49.43%. This would have turned a $10K investment made 5 years ago into $74,341.81 today (as of 07/09/2021). On a total return basis, that’s a result of 643.38% (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.]

One more investment quote to leave you with:
“In trading you have to be defensive and aggressive at the same time. If you are not aggressive, you are not going to make money, and if you are not defensive, you are not going to keep money.” — Ray Dalio