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“Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.”

— 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 twenty year holding period for an investor who was considering Hologic Inc (NASD: HOLX) back in 2004, bought the stock, ignored the market’s ups and downs, and simply held through to today.

Start date: 06/14/2004
$10,000

06/14/2004
  $137,533

06/11/2024
End date: 06/11/2024
Start price/share: $5.30
End price/share: $72.90
Starting shares: 1,886.79
Ending shares: 1,886.79
Dividends reinvested/share: $0.00
Total return: 1,275.47%
Average annual return: 14.00%
Starting investment: $10,000.00
Ending investment: $137,533.61

The above analysis shows the twenty year investment result worked out quite well, with an annualized rate of return of 14.00%. This would have turned a $10K investment made 20 years ago into $137,533.61 today (as of 06/11/2024). On a total return basis, that’s a result of 1,275.47% (something to think about: how might HOLX shares perform over the next 20 years?). [These numbers were computed with the Dividend Channel DRIP Returns Calculator.]

One more investment quote to leave you with:
“Calling someone who trades actively in the market an investor is like calling someone who repeatedly engages in one-night stands a romantic.” — Warren Buffett