General Mills shares drop 16% over three years despite earnings growth

General Mills shareholders have seen a 16% drop in share price over the past three years, while the market rose by about 25%. The company's earnings per share grew by 8.8% annually during this time, despite the declining stock value. In the last three months, the share price fell by 17%, contributing to a loss of $3 billion in market value. Revenue has remained flat, and the dividend payments have not offset the share price decline. The total shareholder return, which includes dividends, was -7.8% over the past three years, indicating that while the stock price fell, dividends provided some compensation to investors.