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“Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.”

— Warren Buffett

The investment philosophy practiced by Warren Buffett calls for investors to take a long-term horizon when making an investment, such as a twenty year holding period (or even longer), and reconsider making the investment in the first place if unable to envision holding the stock for at least five years. Today, we look at how such a long-term strategy would have done for investors in Dollar Tree Inc (NASD: DLTR) back in 2001, holding through to today.

Start date: 11/09/2001
$10,000

11/09/2001
$128,737

11/08/2021
End date: 11/08/2021
Start price/share: $8.60
End price/share: $110.66
Starting shares: 1,162.79
Ending shares: 1,162.79
Dividends reinvested/share: $0.00
Total return: 1,186.74%
Average annual return: 13.62%
Starting investment: $10,000.00
Ending investment: $128,737.01

The above analysis shows the twenty year investment result worked out quite well, with an annualized rate of return of 13.62%. This would have turned a $10K investment made 20 years ago into $128,737.01 today (as of 11/08/2021). On a total return basis, that’s a result of 1,186.74% (something to think about: how might DLTR shares perform over the next 20 years?). [These numbers were computed with the Dividend Channel DRIP Returns Calculator.]

Another great investment quote to think about:
“Buy not on optimism, but on arithmetic.” — Benjamin Graham