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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 Live Nation Entertainment Inc (NYSE: LYV) 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: 11/10/2016
$10,000

11/10/2016
$40,516

11/09/2021
End date: 11/09/2021
Start price/share: $28.78
End price/share: $116.61
Starting shares: 347.46
Ending shares: 347.46
Dividends reinvested/share: $0.00
Total return: 305.18%
Average annual return: 32.29%
Starting investment: $10,000.00
Ending investment: $40,516.79

The above analysis shows the five year investment result worked out exceptionally well, with an annualized rate of return of 32.29%. This would have turned a $10K investment made 5 years ago into $40,516.79 today (as of 11/09/2021). On a total return basis, that’s a result of 305.18% (something to think about: how might LYV shares perform over the next 5 years?). [These numbers were computed with the Dividend Channel DRIP Returns Calculator.]

One more piece of investment wisdom to leave you with:
“Spend each day trying to be a little wiser than you were when you woke up.” — Charlie Munger