Has Shopify Stock Been Good for Investors?

Core Viewpoint - Shopify has historically provided significant returns for long-term investors, with a $1,000 investment at its IPO in May 2015 now worth approximately $60,000, although recent five-year performance has been less favorable compared to the S&P 500 [1][2]. Shopify's Five-Year Performance - Over the past five years, Shopify's stock has increased by 58%, which is underwhelming compared to the S&P 500's more than 100% increase during the same period [2]. - Shareholders who held the stock for five years experienced significant volatility, including a peak increase of 60% in the first year after buying in November 2020, followed by a decline of up to 87% due to a bear market and strategic missteps [4][5]. Recent Developments - By early 2023, the bear market was concluding, and Shopify sold its fulfillment network to Flexport in June 2023, which helped the company return to profitability and led to an increase in share price [5][6]. - Shopify's decision to exit the fulfillment business allowed it to refocus on its core software competencies, maintaining a competitive advantage in the e-commerce platform ecosystem [6][7]. Historical Context - The 2022 bear market was the only significant downturn in Shopify's over 10-year history, with previous sell-offs being relatively shallow and typically recovering quickly [7][8]. - Current trends indicate that with rising revenue and profits, another sustained sell-off like that of 2022 is becoming increasingly unlikely [8]. Investment Outlook - Despite underperforming the market over the last five years, Shopify stock is still considered a good investment, with the potential for continued outperformance due to ongoing revenue and profit growth [9][10]. - Historical instances of significant losses are rare, and Shopify has generally outperformed the market over most time periods, suggesting resilience even if purchased at a short-term peak [10].