Anyone who has been invested in the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS) since March 2018 will likely know of the fund's strong performance.
It's gained an impressive 47% in the five years since to trade at $95.87 right now.
The exchange-traded fund (ETF) tracks the MCSI World ex-Australia Index, providing exposure to many of the globe's largest companies.
Its units were trading for $65.15 apiece five years ago. That means a $1,000 investment at that time likely would have bought 15 units. Today, that parcel would be worth around $1,438.05.
For comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has lifted just 19.5% over the same period.
But what happens when we also factor in the quarterly dividends on offer by the ETF? Let's take a look.
How much has the VGS ETF paid in dividends in 5 years?
Here are all the dividends paid out by the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF since March 2018, rounded to the nearest tenth of a cent:
| VGS dividends' pay date | Dividend value (rounded to the nearest tenth of a cent) |
| January 2023 | 30.3 cents |
| October 2022 | 34.8 cents |
| July 2022 | 54.8 cents |
| April 2022 | 40.8 cents |
| January 2022 | 43.1 cents |
| October 2021 | 34.3 cents |
| July 2021 | 81.3 cents |
| April 2021 | 31.6 cents |
| January 2021 | 40.3 cents |
| October 2020 | 34.5 cents |
| July 2020 | 63.5 cents |
| April 2020 | 45.4 cents |
| January 2020 | 45.1 cents |
| October 2019 | 37 cents |
| July 2019 | 73 cents |
| April 2019 | 48.4 cents |
| January 2019 | 39 cents |
| October 2018 | 30.3 cents |
| July 2018 | 90.9 cents |
| April 2018 | 21 cents |
| Total: | $9.19 |
As readers can see, each Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF unit has paid around $9.19 of passive income over the last half-decade.
That means our figurative parcel has likely provided $137.85 of dividend income, leaving it with a total return on investment (ROI) of around 61%.
And that's before considering the potential benefits that might have been brought about if one had reinvested their offerings, thereby compounding their gains.
At the time of writing, the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF boasts a 1.68% trailing dividend yield.
