Energy Transfer (NYSE: ET) can be a difficult stock to track. Over the last five years, the share price has risen by a total of 2.4%. There's a hidden reality, however. Throughout that period, the company paid regularly dividends.

Right now, the dividend yield stands at an impressive 7.9%. What happens when you include those dividends into the total return?

Just based on stock price appreciation, a $500 investment in Energy Transfer stock would be worth just $512 today. When adding in dividends, however, that $500 investment would now be worth $816, a return of 63.2%. That's a big difference -- another reminder that it's important to look at total returns, not just share price returns. Total returns account for things like dividends and spinoffs, which can artificially mask or depress a company's true stock performance.

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Source Fool.com