The last five years have likely been a disappointing period for those invested in AGL Energy Limited (ASX: AGL) shares.
The stock has tumbled more than 60% in that time amid a failed demerger plan, deepening losses, and a major board room shake up, to name a few dramas facing the company.
Back in April 2018, $3,000 would likely have bought 141 AGL shares. The energy producer and retailer's stock was trading at around $21.14 at that point.
Today, that holding would sell for just $1,1,73.12. The AGL share price last closed at $8.32.
For comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has lifted around 24% over the same period.
But what about the ASX 200 energy giant's dividends? Let's see if the company's offerings have made up for its share price's poor performance.
All the dividends paid to those holding AGL shares since 2018
Here are all the dividends paid by AGL shares over the last five years:
| AGL dividends' pay date | Type | Dividend amount |
| March 2023 | Interim | 8 cents |
| September 2022 | Final | 10 cents |
| March 2022 | Interim | 16 cents |
| September 2021 | Final | 34 cents |
| March 2021 | Interim | 31 cents |
| March 2021 | Special | 10 cents |
| September 2020 | Final | 51 cents |
| March 2020 | Interim | 47 cents |
| September 2019 | Final | 64 cents |
| March 2019 | Interim | 55 cents |
| September 2018 | Final | 63 cents |
| Total: | $3.89 |
All up, AGL shares have each provided investors with $3.89 in dividends over the last five years.
That means our figurative parcel has likely yielded around $548.49 – not quite enough to mitigate the capital losses.
Though, it has bumped the total return on investment (ROI) offered by AGL shares in that time to a 42% loss.
It's also worth remembering that some of the company's dividends have carried franking credits. All the offerings it paid between 2017 and 2020 were 80% franked – meaning they might have brought additional benefits for some shareholders at tax time.
Right now, AGL shares trade with a 2.16% dividend yield.
