“I buy on the assumption that they could close the market the next day and not reopen it for five years.”
— Warren Buffett
Investors can learn a lot from Warren Buffett, whose above quote teaches the importance of thinking about investment time horizon, and asking ourselves before buying any given stock: can we envision holding onto it for years — even a five year holding period possibly?
Suppose a “buy-and-hold” investor was considering an investment into United Airlines Holdings Inc (NASD: UAL) back in 2020: back then, such an investor may have been pondering this very same question. Had they answered “yes” to a full five year investment time horizon and then actually held for these past 5 years, here’s how that investment would have turned out.
| Start date: | 10/16/2020 |
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| End date: | 10/15/2025 | ||||
| Start price/share: | $34.16 | ||||
| End price/share: | $104.05 | ||||
| Starting shares: | 292.74 | ||||
| Ending shares: | 292.74 | ||||
| Dividends reinvested/share: | $0.00 | ||||
| Total return: | 204.60% | ||||
| Average annual return: | 24.95% | ||||
| Starting investment: | $10,000.00 | ||||
| Ending investment: | $30,456.59 | ||||
As shown above, the five year investment result worked out exceptionally well, with an annualized rate of return of 24.95%. This would have turned a $10K investment made 5 years ago into $30,456.59 today (as of 10/15/2025). On a total return basis, that’s a result of 204.60% (something to think about: how might UAL 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:
“I believe in the discipline of mastering the best that other people have ever figured out. I don’t believe in just sitting down and trying to dream it all up yourself. Nobody’s that smart.” — Charlie Munger
