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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 Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc (NYSE: CMG) back in 2018, bought the stock, ignored the market’s ups and downs, and simply held through to today.

Start date: 08/17/2018
$10,000

08/17/2018
  $36,575

08/16/2023
End date: 08/16/2023
Start price/share: $510.44
End price/share: $1,866.89
Starting shares: 19.59
Ending shares: 19.59
Dividends reinvested/share: $0.00
Total return: 265.74%
Average annual return: 29.61%
Starting investment: $10,000.00
Ending investment: $36,575.69

As we can see, the five year investment result worked out exceptionally well, with an annualized rate of return of 29.61%. This would have turned a $10K investment made 5 years ago into $36,575.69 today (as of 08/16/2023). On a total return basis, that’s a result of 265.74% (something to think about: how might CMG shares perform over the next 5 years?). [These numbers were computed with the Dividend Channel DRIP Returns Calculator.]

Another great investment quote to think about:
“I’d like to live as a poor man with lots of money.” — Pablo Picasso