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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 Netflix Inc (NASD: NFLX) back in 2019, bought the stock, ignored the market’s ups and downs, and simply held through to today.

Start date: 03/11/2019
$10,000

03/11/2019
  $16,853

03/08/2024
End date: 03/08/2024
Start price/share: $358.86
End price/share: $604.82
Starting shares: 27.87
Ending shares: 27.87
Dividends reinvested/share: $0.00
Total return: 68.54%
Average annual return: 11.01%
Starting investment: $10,000.00
Ending investment: $16,853.35

The above analysis shows the five year investment result worked out quite well, with an annualized rate of return of 11.01%. This would have turned a $10K investment made 5 years ago into $16,853.35 today (as of 03/08/2024). On a total return basis, that’s a result of 68.54% (something to think about: how might NFLX shares perform over the next 5 years?). [These numbers were computed with the Dividend Channel DRIP Returns Calculator.]

Here’s one more great investment quote before you go:
“The four most dangerous words in investing are: ‘this time it’s different.'” — Sir John Templeton