Calculate Total Return with Dividends
Enter a ticker symbol to see how reinvested dividends boost your investment returns over time.
Compare returns over 1, 3, 5, or 10 years with automatic dividend reinvestment.
How Dividend Reinvestment Works
When a company pays dividends, you receive cash based on the number of shares you own.
With DRIP, dividends automatically buy more shares at the stock price on the ex-dividend date.
As your share count grows, each future dividend payment is larger, accelerating your returns.
Total return shows the combined effect of price appreciation and compounded dividends.
Find the Best Dividend Stocks
Screen for dividend stocks with the highest total returns (including DRIP). See which dividend stocks actually grow your wealth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1What is Total Return?
Total return measures the complete return on an investment, including both price appreciation and dividends. Unlike price return which only shows stock price changes, total return captures the full picture of your investment performance.
Q2What is DRIP (Dividend Reinvestment Plan)?
DRIP is a strategy where dividends received are automatically reinvested to purchase more shares of the stock. This compounds your returns over time as you earn dividends on a growing number of shares. Many brokerages offer automatic DRIP for free.
Q3How does dividend reinvestment affect returns?
Reinvesting dividends can significantly boost long-term returns through compounding. For example, a stock with a 3% dividend yield reinvested over 20 years could more than double the number of shares you own, dramatically increasing your total return compared to just holding for price appreciation.
Q4Why do some stocks show no dividend contribution?
Stocks like Amazon, Tesla, and many growth companies don't pay dividends, reinvesting profits into business expansion instead. For these stocks, total return equals price-only return. The calculator handles both dividend-paying and non-dividend stocks.
Q5What date is used for dividend reinvestment?
This calculator assumes dividends are reinvested at the closing price on the ex-dividend date. In practice, actual reinvestment might occur on the payment date, but using the ex-date provides a more accurate representation of the dividend's impact on returns.