Virtus Total Return Fund Inc. Announces Distributions

Rhea-AI Summary

Virtus Total Return Fund Inc. (NYSE: ZTR) announced its monthly distributions of $0.08 per share for March, April, and May 2023. The ex-dates are March 10, April 12, and May 10, 2023, with payable dates on March 23, April 25, and May 23, 2023, respectively. Under its Managed Distribution Plan, the Fund aims for consistent distribution levels, which may include net investment income and realized capital gains, but may include returns of capital if income and gains are insufficient. The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and gains, indicating potential returns of capital for shareholders.

Positive

• Consistent monthly distribution of $0.08 per share announced for March, April, and May 2023.
• Managed Distribution Plan aims for stable distribution levels, enhancing investor confidence.

Negative

• The Fund's distributions may include returns of capital, indicating reliance on asset liquidation rather than income generation.
• The Fund has distributed more than its income and capital gains, suggesting potential sustainability concerns for future distributions.

HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Virtus Total Return Fund Inc. (NYSE: ZTR) today announced the following monthly distributions:

Amount of Distribution	Ex-Date	Record Date	Payable Date
$0.08	March 10, 2023	March 13, 2023	March 23, 2023
$0.08	April 12, 2023	April 13, 2023	April 25, 2023
$0.08	May 10, 2023	May 11, 2023	May 23, 2023

Under the terms of its Managed Distribution Plan, the Fund will seek to maintain a consistent distribution level that may be paid in part, or in full, from net investment income and realized capital gains, or a combination thereof. Shareholders should note, however, that if the Fund's aggregate net investment income and net realized capital gains are less than the amount of the distribution level, the difference will be distributed from the Fund's assets and will constitute a return of the shareholder's capital. You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund’s investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund’s Managed Distribution Plan.

The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund’s investment performance and should not be confused with ‘yield’ or ‘income’.

The Fund provided this estimate of the sources of the distributions:

Distribution Estimates	January 2023 (MTD)			Fiscal Year-to-Date (YTD) (1)
(Sources)	Per Share Amount		Percentage of Current Distribution	Per Share Amount		Percentage of Current Distribution
Net Investment Income	$	-	0.0%	$	0.026	16.0%
Net Realized Foreign Currency Gains		0.000(2)	0.2%		0.000(2)	0.1%
Net Realized Short-Term Capital Gains		0.011	13.2%		0.011	6.6%
Net Realized Long-Term Capital Gains		0.004	4.6%		0.004	2.3%
Return of Capital (or other Capital Source)		0.065	82.0%		0.119	75.0%
Total Distribution	$	0.080	100.0%	$	0.160	100.0%

		(1)		Fiscal year started December 1, 2022
		(2)		Per share amount less than 0.0005

Information regarding the Fund’s performance and distribution rates is set forth below. Please note that all performance figures are based on the Fund’s NAV and not the market price of the Fund’s shares. Performance figures are not meant to represent individual shareholder performance.

January 31, 2023
Average Annual Total Return on NAV for the 5-year period (3)		3.56%
Annualized Current Distribution Rate (4)		12.90%
Fiscal YTD Cumulative Total Return on NAV (5)		1.28%
Fiscal YTD Cumulative Distribution Rate (6)		2.15%

		(3)		Average Annual Total Return on NAV is the annual compound return for the five-year period. It reflects the change in the Fund’s NAV and reinvestment of all distributions.
		(4)		Annualized Current Distribution Rate is the current distribution rate annualized as a percentage of the Fund's NAV at month end.
		(5)		Fiscal YTD Cumulative Total Return on NAV is the percentage change in the Fund's NAV from the first day of the fiscal year to this month end, including distributions paid and assuming reinvestment of those distributions.
		(6)		Fiscal YTD Cumulative Distribution Rate is the dollar value of distributions from the first day of the fiscal year to this month end as a percentage of the Fund's NAV at month end.

The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this notice are estimates only and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the distributions for tax purposes will depend on the Fund’s investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund or your broker will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you what distributions to report for federal income tax purposes.

About the Fund

Virtus Total Return Fund Inc. is a diversified closed-end fund whose investment objective is capital appreciation, with income as a secondary objective. Virtus Investment Advisers, Inc. is the investment adviser, and Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. and Newfleet Asset Management are the subadvisers, to the Fund.

For more information on the Fund, contact shareholder services at (866) 270-7788, by email at closedendfunds@virtus.com, or through the Closed-End Funds section of virtus.com.

Fund Risks

An investment in a fund is subject to risk, including the risk of possible loss of principal. A fund’s shares may be worth less upon their sale than what an investor paid for them. Shares of closed-end funds may trade at a premium or discount to their net asset value. For more information about the Fund’s investment objective and risks, please see the Fund’s annual report. A copy of the Fund’s most recent annual report may be obtained free of charge by contacting “Shareholder Services” as set forth at the bottom of this press release.

About Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co.

Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. pursues investment strategies with exceptional depth of resources and expertise. With more than 35 years of experience managing investment portfolios, Duff & Phelps has earned a reputation as a leader in investing in global listed infrastructure, global listed real estate, clean energy, and diversified real assets in institutional separate accounts and open- and closed-end funds. For more information, visit dpimc.com.

About Newfleet Asset Management

Newfleet Asset Management provides comprehensive fixed income portfolio management in multiple strategies. The Newfleet Multi-Sector Strategies team that manages Virtus Total Return Fund Inc. employs active sector rotation and disciplined risk management in portfolio construction, avoiding interest rate bets, and remaining duration neutral to each strategy’s stated benchmark. Newfleet Asset Management is a division of Virtus Fixed Income Advisers, LLC, which is a registered investment adviser affiliated with Virtus Investment Partners. For more information, visit newfleet.com.

About Virtus Investment Partners

Virtus Investment Partners (NASDAQ: VRTS) is a distinctive partnership of boutique investment managers singularly committed to the long-term success of individual and institutional investors. The company provides investment management products and services through its affiliated managers and select subadvisers, each with a distinct investment style, autonomous investment process, and individual brand. For more information, visit virtus.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230301006089/en/

For Further Information:

Shareholder Services

(866) 270-7788

closedendfunds@virtus.com

Source: Virtus Total Return Fund Inc.

FAQ

What is the recent distribution amount for Virtus Total Return Fund (ZTR)?

Virtus Total Return Fund (NYSE: ZTR) announced a monthly distribution of $0.08 per share.

When are the ex-dates for Virtus Total Return Fund distributions?

The ex-dates for the distributions are March 10, April 12, and May 10, 2023.

What does the Managed Distribution Plan of Virtus Total Return Fund imply?

The Managed Distribution Plan seeks to maintain consistent distribution levels, potentially funded by net investment income and realized capital gains.

What should shareholders know about returns of capital in the distributions?

Shareholders should note that a portion of the distribution may be a return of capital if the Fund's income and gains are insufficient.

What are the payable dates for the upcoming distributions of ZTR?

The payable dates for the distributions are March 23, April 25, and May 23, 2023.