Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares have experienced some sizeable price swings, both higher and lower, over the past four years.
Some of the share price moves were driven by company specific issues, both positives and negatives.
And, as you'd expect, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) energy stock also is highly leveraged to global oil prices.
In afternoon trade today, Woodside shares are down 0.3%, changing hands for $24.95 apiece.
So, if you'd invested $10,000 in the Aussie oil and gas giant four years ago, just how much would you have today?
Let's dig in.
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Taking a $10,000 stake in Woodside shares
Four years ago, on 26 November 2021, you could have bought Woodside shares for $21.60 each.
Meaning your $10,000 investment would have netted you 462 shares, with enough change left over for a fast-food lunch.
Today, those same shares are worth (a rounded) $11,527, equating to a gain of $1,527.
But wait. There's more!
There's a good reason Woodside is popular among passive income investors. Namely, the company's lengthy track record of paying market-beating dividends.
If you bought Woodside shares four years ago, you'd have received the past eight fully franked dividends.
According to my trusty calculator, those eight Woodside dividends total $10.06 per share.
So, if we add that back into today's price, then the accumulated value of the shares you bought four years ago is now worth $35.01.
Meaning your $10,000 investment would have grown to $16,175 today. With some potential tax benefits from those franking credits.
What's the latest from the ASX 200 energy stock?
The last price-sensitive news for Woodside shares was the company's Capital Markets Day on 5 November.
The company captured investor interest with forecasts that it expects to increase net operating cash flow by 55% by the early 2030s. Woodside's net operating cash flow came in at US$5.8 billion in 2024, with management aiming to boost that to US$9 billion, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 6%.
Management also aims to lift sales from 203.5 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMboe) in 2024 to more than 300MMboe by 2032.
On the passive income front, Woodside plans to boost its dividends by 50% from 2024 levels to what it expects to pay out in 2032.
That strong outlook is supported by the company's growth projects, including the Scarborough LNG project, the Beaumont New Ammonia project, and the Louisiana LNG project.
Commenting on the outlook for Woodside shares on the day, CEO Meg O'Neill said:
Woodside is a compelling investment opportunity supported by world-class assets, an integrated value chain, long-term customer relationships and a strong balance sheet. Woodside generates durable cash flows and has rewarded shareholders with approximately US$11 billion in dividends since 2022.
