Investors who bought AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) shares at the start of 2022 have likely enjoyed a good year. The company's stock has gained 40% since early January.
However, those who have held the financial services stock in their portfolio for a longer period – say a decade – are probably less happy with their investment.
The AMP share price has tumbled 70% since December 2012. Back then, $1,000 would probably have bought an investor 212 shares, each valued at $4.70.
Today, 212 shares would be worth just $296.80. The AMP share price closed Friday's session at $1.40.
For comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has gained around 57% in that time.
But have the dividends offered by AMP offset the blow? Let's take a look.
Image source: Getty Images
How much have AMP shares paid in dividends in 10 years?
Here are all the dividends handed to those invested in AMP shares over the last 10 years:
| AMP dividends' pay date | Type | Dividend amount |
| October 2020 | Special | 10 cents |
| March 2019 | Final | 4 cents |
| September 2018 | Interim | 10 cents |
| March 2018 | Final | 14.5 cents |
| September 2017 | Interim | 14.5 cents |
| March 2017 | Final | 14 cents |
| October 2016 | Interim | 14 cents |
| April 2016 | Final | 14 cents |
| October 2015 | Interim | 14 cents |
| April 2015 | Final | 13.5 cents |
| October 2014 | Interim | 12.5 cents |
| April 2014 | Final | 11.5 cents |
| October 2013 | Interim | 11.5 cents |
| April 2013 | Final | 12.5 cents |
| Total: | $1.705 |
If one were to have bought AMP shares in December 2012 and held onto their investment over the years to come, they likely would have received a total of $1.705 per share in dividends.
That means our figurative $1,000 investment would have returned $361.46 in that time – meaning a shareholder would still be $341.74 in the red.
As the chart above shows, AMP hasn't offered a regular dividend since 2019. Originally, the company said it would restart payouts on the sale of AMP Life, which occurred in 2020.
However, in the years since, it has chosen to forgo dividends in favour of maintaining balance sheet strength and conserving capital.
Looking forward, the company expects to return the proceeds of the sale of Collimate Capital to shareholders. It also recently announced a $1.1 billion capital return.
Part of that is the company's current $350 million on-market buyback. The remaining $750 million is expected to be returned via a combination of capital return, special dividend, or further buybacks.
Additionally, some experts have tipped AMP shares to restart dividends on the release of the company's full-year results in February, as my Fool colleague Matthew reported in September.
