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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 AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE: AZO)? Today, we examine the outcome of a five year investment into the stock back in 2017.

Start date: 01/11/2017
$10,000

01/11/2017
$25,416

01/10/2022
End date: 01/10/2022
Start price/share: $792.00
End price/share: $2,012.66
Starting shares: 12.63
Ending shares: 12.63
Dividends reinvested/share: $0.00
Total return: 154.12%
Average annual return: 20.51%
Starting investment: $10,000.00
Ending investment: $25,416.48

As shown above, the five year investment result worked out exceptionally well, with an annualized rate of return of 20.51%. This would have turned a $10K investment made 5 years ago into $25,416.48 today (as of 01/10/2022). On a total return basis, that’s a result of 154.12% (something to think about: how might AZO shares perform over the next 5 years?). [These numbers were computed with the Dividend Channel DRIP Returns Calculator.]

Another great investment quote to think about:
“All intelligent investing is value investing: acquiring more that you are paying for. You must value the business in order to value the stock.” — Charlie Munger