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“When we own portions of outstanding businesses with outstanding managements, our favorite holding period is forever.”

— 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 2002, holding through to today.

Start date: 08/05/2002
$10,000

08/05/2002
  $188,156

08/02/2022
End date: 08/02/2022
Start price/share: $8.76
End price/share: $164.75
Starting shares: 1,141.55
Ending shares: 1,141.55
Dividends reinvested/share: $0.00
Total return: 1,780.71%
Average annual return: 15.80%
Starting investment: $10,000.00
Ending investment: $188,156.95

As we can see, the twenty year investment result worked out exceptionally well, with an annualized rate of return of 15.80%. This would have turned a $10K investment made 20 years ago into $188,156.95 today (as of 08/02/2022). On a total return basis, that’s a result of 1,780.71% (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.]

One more investment quote to leave you with:
“Successful investing is anticipating the anticipations of others.” — John Maynard Keynes