S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) dividend share Medibank Private Ltd (ASX: MPL) has been a strong performer over the last five years.
The stock has gained 27.5% in half a decade, lifting from $2.76 this time five years ago to trade at $3.52 today.
For context, the ASX 200 has gained around 24% over that time, leaving the health insurance provider outperforming by 3.5%.
And on top of that, the stock has hand investors a portion of its profits every six months.
Indeed, Medibank shares passed their maiden dividend along in 2015, less than a year after the company floated on the ASX.
But how much has it paid out over the last five years? Let's take a look.
How much have Medibank shares paid in dividends since 2017?
Here's a recap of all the dividends Medibank has offered its shareholders over the half-decade just been:
| Medibank dividend | Amount offered | Franking |
| September 2017 | 6.75 cents | 100% |
| March 2018 | 5.5 cents | 100% |
| September 2018 | 7.2 cents | 100% |
| March 2019 | 5.7 cents | 100% |
| September 2019 | 9.9 cents | 100% |
| March 2020 | 5.7 cents | 100% |
| September 2020 | 6.3 cents | 100% |
| March 2021 | 5.8 cents | 100% |
| September 2021 | 6.9 cents | 100% |
| March 2022 | 6.1 cents | 100% |
All those consistent dividends add up to a grand total of 65.85 cents.
On top of that, long-term investors in the company have seen their shares gain 76 cents apiece in that time.
That would have left them nearly $1.42 better off for each security they held over the last five years – marking a 51.4% return on investment. That's certainly nothing to scoff at.
And, of course, the franking credits offered alongside the company's dividends might have brought additional benefits for some investors.
Medibank shares are trading with a 3.7% dividend yield right now.
