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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

The Warren Buffett investment philosophy calls for a long-term investment horizon, where a five year holding period, or even longer, would fit right into the strategy. How would such a strategy have worked out for an investment into Autodesk Inc (NASD: ADSK)? Today, we examine the outcome of a five year investment into the stock back in 2020.

Start date: 07/15/2020
$10,000

07/15/2020
  $12,503

07/14/2025
End date: 07/14/2025
Start price/share: $235.58
End price/share: $294.55
Starting shares: 42.45
Ending shares: 42.45
Dividends reinvested/share: $0.00
Total return: 25.03%
Average annual return: 4.57%
Starting investment: $10,000.00
Ending investment: $12,503.61

The above analysis shows the five year investment result worked out as follows, with an annualized rate of return of 4.57%. This would have turned a $10K investment made 5 years ago into $12,503.61 today (as of 07/14/2025). On a total return basis, that’s a result of 25.03% (something to think about: how might ADSK shares perform over the next 5 years?). [These numbers were computed with the Dividend Channel DRIP Returns Calculator.]

More investment wisdom to ponder:
“As long as you enjoy investing, you’ll be willing to do the homework and stay in the game.” — Jim Cramer