The last decade has likely disappointed those invested in Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) shares.
If one were to have poured $1,000 into the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) energy stock in January 2013, they likely would have walked away with 94 shares and $8 change, having paid $10.55 apiece.
Today, that parcel would be worth just $691.84. The Santos share price closed Monday's session at $7.36 – 30.2% lower than it was 10 years ago.
For comparison, the ASX 200 has gained around 54% in that time.
But have the oil and gas giant's dividends made up for its stock's poor performance? Let's take a look.
How much have Santos shares paid in dividends since 2013?
Here are all the dividends those invested in Santos shares have received over the last decade:
| Santos dividends' pay date | Type | Dividend amount |
| September 2022 | Interim | 10.9 cents |
| March 2022 | Final | 11.8 cents |
| September 2021 | Interim | 7.7 cents |
| March 2021 | Final | 6.3 cents |
| September 2020 | Interim | 2.9 cents |
| March 2020 | Final | 7.6 cents |
| September 2019 | Interim | 8.9 cents |
| March 2019 | Final | 8.6 cents |
| September 2018 | Interim | 4.8 cents |
| March 2016 | Final | 5 cents |
| September 2015 | Interim | 15 cents |
| March 2015 | Final | 15 cents |
| September 2014 | Interim | 20 cents |
| March 2014 | Final | 15 cents |
| September 2013 | Interim | 15 cents |
| March 2013 | Final | 15 cents |
| Total: | $1.695 |
As the chart above shows, the last decade has been a wild ride for Santos dividends.
The company paid out as much as 20 cents per share between 2013 and 2015, after which a change in its dividend framework saw it paying out at least 40% of its underlying net profits, subject to business conditions. The energy giant then forewent offering dividends for much of 2016, 2017, and 2018 as it worked to reduce debt.
Ultimately, those invested in Santos shares have received a total of approximately $1.695 per security over the last decade. That leaves our figurative investor having realised $159.33 of passive income over the life of their holding.
Meaning, even considering dividends, those who invested in Santos shares in January 2013 are still 14.2% in the red.
Though, it's worth mentioning most of Santos' dividends in that time have been fully franked, potentially allowing investors to realise additional benefits at tax time.
Right now, Santos shares are trading with a 3.09% dividend yield.
