Oracle Corporation (NYSE: ORCL) has been one of the most resilient technology giants, weathering changing market landscapes and continuing to deliver robust returns for investors. Anyone who put money into Oracle stock a decade ago has seen their investment grow dramatically, thanks to both substantial share price appreciation and a decade of steadily rising dividends.
The starting point: $1,000 in September 2015
On September 10, 2015, the closing price of Oracle shares was $37.61. With a $1,000 investment at that time, an investor could have purchased approximately 26.6 shares of Oracle stock.
Fast forward to September 10, 2025, Oracle’s closing price stands at about $338.68. The growth has been explosive, especially considering Oracle’s relative stability during various tech sector upheavals and economic challenges. That original block of 26.6 shares would be worth:
26.6 shares × $338.68 ≈ $9,005
This capital appreciation alone turns the original $1,000 into more than $9,000—a return of just over 800% over the decade. This figure demonstrates the power of long-term investing in industry leaders, as Oracle’s shift into cloud computing and enterprise software paid off handsomely for shareholders.
The power of dividend growth
Oracle has also rewarded investors with regular and rising dividends. In 2015, Oracle initiated an annual dividend per share of about $0.48, and by 2025, the dividend payout has increased to roughly $2.00 per share annually. Over the ten-year period, an investor would have received dividends four times per year, with the dividend increasing nearly every year.
A rough estimate using the historic per-share dividends suggests that a holder of 26.6 shares would have collected approximately $14 to $16 per year in the first years, rising to over $50 per year by 2025, as payouts grew. Summing annual payments, the cumulative dividend income over ten years would likely total between $265 and $400, depending on the timing and growth of dividend increases.
If those dividends were reinvested in additional Oracle stock — rather than taken as cash — the total return would be even higher, due to the power of compounding.
The role of total return vs. Price return
It’s important to note that the over 800% return discussed above is based on price appreciation alone. When including dividends (with reinvestment), Oracle’s total return climbs even higher. Data compiled by several investing platforms indicates the ten-year total return for Oracle, with reinvested dividends, approaches roughly 900% to 950%.
A $1,000 investment, with all dividends reinvested, could be worth between $9,000 and $9,500 by September 2025. This puts Oracle near the top tier of large-cap tech performers over the decade.
Factors behind Oracle’s growth
Several key trends have propelled Oracle’s massive share price and dividend growth over the past ten years:
- Transition to cloud: Oracle successfully reinvented its business, shifting from legacy databases to cloud-based solutions and infrastructure-as-a-service. This drove fresh revenue streams and higher margins.
- Aggressive share repurchases: Oracle consistently bought back its own shares, enhancing earnings per share and boosting shareholder value.
- Consistent profitability: The company maintained strong free cash flow generation and robust profit margins, supporting regular dividend hikes.
- Technology sector tailwinds: The broader technology sector enjoyed strong growth, with increased demand for data, analytics, and cybersecurity, all core Oracle offerings.
A $1,000 investment in Oracle a decade ago would have grown to over $9,000 today, thanks to dramatic price appreciation and regular dividend income. With dividends reinvested, the figure climbs even higher, validating the merits of long-term investing in blue chip technology stocks. Oracle’s transformation and unwavering returns have turned small stakes into sizable portfolios for patient investors.
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