About Total Return

摘要

Total return represents one of the best measures of how well an investor of a given stock has fared as it reflects both dividend income and price appreciation. Mergent calculates total return for each Dividend Achievers company on the basis that cash dividends were reinvested on the ex-dividend date of each dividend payment. The following table demonstrates the effect of compounding as well as each stock's performance and the level of dividends paid. Total returns have been adjusted for splits, stock dividends and spin-offs. In the case of a spin-off, shares in the spun-off company were assumed to be converted to cash and reinvested in the original company's stock.