Abbot Labs - ABT - Monthly - What to expect when investing

That chart comments say it all:

You need to know that investments are far more volatile than what people discuss and far more than most people can handle because you need to expect to see big declines from time to time because that's just what happens. If you borrow money to buy stocks, you will take too much pressure and face liquidation by the margin department that loaned you the money to buy the stock. Look at all of the big percentage declines and also look at the fact that the dividend is now as great as the stock price was 45 years ago. Now that is compounding for the long term!

Tim

November 6, 2015 $45.18 last ABT, up from $0.30 in 1971