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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

One of the most important things investors can learn from Warren Buffett, is about how they approach their time horizon for an investment into a stock under consideration. Because immediately after buying shares of a given stock, investors will then be able to check on the day-to-day (and even minute-by-minute) market value. Some days the stock market will be up, other days down. These daily fluctuations can often distract from the long-term view. Today, we look at the result of a five year holding period for an investor who was considering Tesla Inc (NASD: TSLA) back in 2017, bought the stock, ignored the market’s ups and downs, and simply held through to today.

Start date: 01/18/2017
$10,000

01/18/2017
$220,183

01/14/2022
End date: 01/14/2022
Start price/share: $47.67
End price/share: $1,049.61
Starting shares: 209.78
Ending shares: 209.78
Dividends reinvested/share: $0.00
Total return: 2,101.83%
Average annual return: 85.78%
Starting investment: $10,000.00
Ending investment: $220,183.03

The above analysis shows the five year investment result worked out exceptionally well, with an annualized rate of return of 85.78%. This would have turned a $10K investment made 5 years ago into $220,183.03 today (as of 01/14/2022). On a total return basis, that’s a result of 2,101.83% (something to think about: how might TSLA 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:
“Though tempting, trying to time the market is a loser’s game.” — Christopher Davis