Bought $1,000 of Woolworths shares 10 years ago? Here's how much dividend income you've received

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:

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.