How Much of the S&P 500's Return Actually Came From Dividends vs. Price Appreciation, by Decade
Dividends have become a smaller component of the S&P 500's total return, but that hasn't always been the case.
Overview
There are two components to an investment's total return: price return and dividend return. Add those together, and you get the total return.
Most people who invest in the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) treat the dividend as a footnote. Since the current yield on the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF is only 1%, it's understandable.
That hasn't always been the case, though. Over the past century, dividends have provided roughly one-third of the total return for the S&P 500. On a decade-by-decade basis, however, that number has fluctuated wildly.
Details
Source
Originally published at www.fool.com.
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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Data may be delayed up to 15 minutes. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Consult a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.