Those who have held Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) shares over the past decade have likely been pretty chuffed with their investment.
The Woolworths share price has gained 37% over the last 10 years. If an investor bought $1,000 of Woolies stock in December 2012, they likely would have walked away with 40 shares, paying $24.97 apiece.
Today, 40 Woolworths shares would be worth $1,372.40. Stock in the supermarket operator is currently trading at $34.31 per share.
However, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has lifted around 56% over the same period, leaving the Woolworths share price's performance in its dust.
But have the supermarket giant's dividends levelled the playing field? Let's take a look.
How much have Woolworths shares paid in dividends in 10 years?
Here are all the dividends Woolworths has offered over the decade just been:
| Westpac dividends' pay date | Type | Dividend amount |
| September 2022 | Final | 53 cents |
| April 2022 | Interim | 39 cents |
| October 2021 | Final | 55 cents |
| April 2021 | Interim | 53 cents |
| October 2020 | Final | 48 cents |
| April 2020 | Interim | 46 cents |
| September 2019 | Final | 57 cents |
| April 2019 | Interim | 45 cents |
| October 2018 | Final | 50 cents |
| October 2018 | Special | 10 cents |
| April 2018 | Interim | 43 cents |
| October 2017 | Final | 50 cents |
| April 2017 | Interim | 34 cents |
| October 2016 | Final | 33 cents |
| April 2016 | Interim | 44 cents |
| October 2015 | Final | 72 cents |
| April 2015 | Interim | 67 cents |
| October 2014 | Final | 72 cents |
| April 2014 | Interim | 65 cents |
| October 2013 | Final | 71 cents |
| April 2013 | Interim | 62 cents |
| Total: | $10.69 |
As the above chart shows, Woolworths shares have paid out $10.69 per share in dividends over the last 10 years.
That means someone holding 40 stocks in the ASX 200 supermarket operator likely would have received $427.60 of dividends in that time.
Thus, our figurative $1,000 investment a decade ago has yielded $372.40 in capital gains and $427.60 in passive income – a total of $800. That leaves Woolworths shares boasting an 80% return in that time.
And that's before considering franking credits. All Woolies dividends in that time have been fully franked, potentially bringing additional benefits at tax time.
Finally, a savvy investor who reinvested their dividends, potentially through the company's dividend investment plan (DRP), likely would have realised an even larger gain through the magic of compounding.
Woolworths shares are currently trading with a 2.68% trailing dividend yield.
