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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 Autodesk Inc (NASD: ADSK) back in 2017, bought the stock, ignored the market’s ups and downs, and simply held through to today.

Start date: 12/13/2017
$10,000

12/13/2017
  $18,852

12/12/2022
End date: 12/12/2022
Start price/share: $106.02
End price/share: $199.88
Starting shares: 94.32
Ending shares: 94.32
Dividends reinvested/share: $0.00
Total return: 88.53%
Average annual return: 13.52%
Starting investment: $10,000.00
Ending investment: $18,852.19

The above analysis shows the five year investment result worked out quite well, with an annualized rate of return of 13.52%. This would have turned a $10K investment made 5 years ago into $18,852.19 today (as of 12/12/2022). On a total return basis, that’s a result of 88.53% (something to think about: how might ADSK shares perform over the next 5 years?). [These numbers were computed with the Dividend Channel DRIP Returns Calculator.]

One more investment quote to leave you with:
“Every once in a while, the market does something so stupid it takes your breath away.” — Jim Cramer