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

— Warren Buffett

Investors can learn a lot from Warren Buffett, whose above quote teaches the importance of thinking about investment time horizon, and asking ourselves before buying any given stock: can we envision holding onto it for years — even a twenty year holding period possibly?

Suppose a “buy-and-hold” investor was considering an investment into Trimble Inc (NASD: TRMB) back in 2003: back then, such an investor may have been pondering this very same question. Had they answered “yes” to a full twenty year investment time horizon and then actually held for these past 20 years, here’s how that investment would have turned out.

Start date: 01/06/2003
$10,000

01/06/2003
  $214,276

01/05/2023
End date: 01/05/2023
Start price/share: $2.34
End price/share: $50.12
Starting shares: 4,273.50
Ending shares: 4,273.50
Dividends reinvested/share: $0.00
Total return: 2,041.88%
Average annual return: 16.55%
Starting investment: $10,000.00
Ending investment: $214,276.46

As shown above, the twenty year investment result worked out exceptionally well, with an annualized rate of return of 16.55%. This would have turned a $10K investment made 20 years ago into $214,276.46 today (as of 01/05/2023). On a total return basis, that’s a result of 2,041.88% (something to think about: how might TRMB shares perform over the next 20 years?). [These numbers were computed with the Dividend Channel DRIP Returns Calculator.]

One more piece of investment wisdom to leave you with:
“Generally, the greater the stigma or revulsion, the better the bargain.” — Seth Klarman