“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 Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. (NYSE: MTD) back in 2018, bought the stock, ignored the market’s ups and downs, and simply held through to today.
Start date: | 10/03/2018 |
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End date: | 10/02/2023 | ||||
Start price/share: | $614.34 | ||||
End price/share: | $1,087.33 | ||||
Starting shares: | 16.28 | ||||
Ending shares: | 16.28 | ||||
Dividends reinvested/share: | $0.00 | ||||
Total return: | 76.99% | ||||
Average annual return: | 12.10% | ||||
Starting investment: | $10,000.00 | ||||
Ending investment: | $17,702.23 |
The above analysis shows the five year investment result worked out quite well, with an annualized rate of return of 12.10%. This would have turned a $10K investment made 5 years ago into $17,702.23 today (as of 10/02/2023). On a total return basis, that’s a result of 76.99% (something to think about: how might MTD 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:
“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” — Benjamin Franklin