The Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) share price has outperformed the market over the last three years. It's lifted 35% since June 2023.
Back then, shares in the telecommunications giant were swapping hands for $3.22. At which point, a $3,000 investment would have bought 931 Telstra shares.
Today, that parcel would be worth $4,040.54. The Telstra share price last traded at $4.34.
In the meantime, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has risen 19%.
But more than share price gains, Telstra has also provided biannual dividends – and plenty of special dividends – in that time.
Let's take a look at the passive income the ASX 200 favourite has offered since June 2020.
All dividends paid to those holding Telstra shares since 2020
Here are all the dividends paid to those holding Telstra shares since June 2020:
| Telstra dividends' pay date | Type | Dividend amount |
| March 2023 | Interim | 8.5 cents |
| September 2022 | Final and special | 7.5 cents and 1 cent |
| April 2022 | Interim and special | 6 cents and 2 cents |
| September 2021 | Final and special | 5 cents and 3 cents |
| March 2021 | Interim and special | 5 cents and 3 cents |
| September 2020 | Final and special | 5 cents and 3 cents |
| Total: | 49 cents |
As the above chart shows, each Telstra share has provided 49 cents of passive income over the last three years.
That means our figurative $3,000 investment has yielded a total of $456.19 in dividends.
Considering both the telco's share price gains and its dividends, those who bought the stock in June 2020 can likely brag a return on investment (ROI) of 50%.
Not to mention, the compounding they might have realised had they used their dividends to buy more shares in the company, perhaps making the most of its dividend reinvestment plan (DRP).
And that's before we consider that all the dividends paid by the company in that time have been fully franked. Thus, they might have brought additional benefits for some investors at tax time.
Right now, Telstra shares are trading with a 3.68% dividend yield, not considering its most recent special dividend.
