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“Only buy something that you’d be perfectly happy to hold if the market shut down for 10 years.”

— 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 ten 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 DexCom Inc (NASD: DXCM) back in 2013, holding through to today.

Start date: 07/31/2013
$10,000

07/31/2013
  $242,934

07/28/2023
End date: 07/28/2023
Start price/share: $5.45
End price/share: $132.38
Starting shares: 1,834.86
Ending shares: 1,834.86
Dividends reinvested/share: $0.00
Total return: 2,328.99%
Average annual return: 37.59%
Starting investment: $10,000.00
Ending investment: $242,934.40

As we can see, the ten year investment result worked out exceptionally well, with an annualized rate of return of 37.59%. This would have turned a $10K investment made 10 years ago into $242,934.40 today (as of 07/28/2023). On a total return basis, that’s a result of 2,328.99% (something to think about: how might DXCM shares perform over the next 10 years?). [These numbers were computed with the Dividend Channel DRIP Returns Calculator.]

One more investment quote to leave you with:
“Investors should always keep in mind that the most important metric is not the returns achieved but the returns weighed against the risks incurred. Ultimately, nothing should be more important to investors than the ability to sleep soundly at night.” — Seth Klarman