The Qantas Airways Limited (ASX: QAN) share price has put on a rollercoaster performance over the last five years. Meanwhile, the airline operator battled through the onset of, and its recovery from, the COVID-19 pandemic.
If one were to have invested $8,000 in Qantas in early April 2018, they likely would have walked away with 1,322 shares, paying $6.05 apiece.
Today, that parcel would be worth $8,976.38. The Qantas share price has gained 12% over the last five years to trade at $6.79 as of Tuesday's close.
For comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has risen 25% in that time.
But what about the dividends on offer from the ASX 200 travel giant? Let's factor them into the stock's returns.
Image source: Getty Images
All dividends paid to those holding Qantas shares since 2018
Find all the dividends that have been paid to those holding Qantas shares over the last five years below:
| Qantas dividends' pay date | Type | Dividend amount |
| September 2019 | Final | 13 cents |
| March 2019 | Interim | 12 cents |
| October 2018 | Final | 10 cents |
| April 2018 | Interim | 7 cents |
| Total: | 42 cents |
As the above chart shows, each Qantas share has yielded just 42 cents in dividends since this time five years ago.
That means our figurative investment has likely brought in $555.24 of passive income over its life – bringing its total return on investment (ROI) to 19%.
Though, that's before considering the tax benefits that may have been born from accompanying franking credits.
The airline hasn't declared a dividend since the pandemic threw the travel industry into turmoil in early 2020.
While Qantas has since returned to profit, it hasn't yet posted a dividend. But investors haven't been left high and dry.
The ASX 200 giant has been returning capital to shareholders via on-market share buybacks.
It completed a $400 million buyback in December and announced another $500 million buyback in February.
