Virtus Total Return Fund Inc. Bolsters Strategy with Portfolio Manager
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 30 2025
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Should l Buy VRTS?
Source: Newsfilter
New Portfolio Manager Announcement: Benjamin Caron from Newfleet Asset Management has been appointed as a portfolio manager for the Virtus Total Return Fund Inc., bringing over 25 years of investment experience to the team.
Management Changes: Connie Luecke will step down as a portfolio manager for the Fund but will continue her role with DNP Select Income Fund Inc., while Caron will also manage additional funds under Newfleet's multi-sector strategies.
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Analyst Views on VRTS
Wall Street analysts forecast VRTS stock price to rise
4 Analyst Rating
1 Buy
1 Hold
2 Sell
Hold
Current: 132.260
Low
158.00
Averages
181.00
High
218.00
Current: 132.260
Low
158.00
Averages
181.00
High
218.00
About VRTS
Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. provides investment management and related services to institutions and individuals. It offers investment strategies for institutional and individual investors in different investment products and through multiple distribution channels. It provides various asset classes (equity, fixed income, multi-asset and alternatives), geographies (domestic, global, international and emerging), market capitalizations (large, mid and small), styles (growth, core and value) and investment approaches (fundamental and quantitative). Its retail products include open-end funds, closed-end funds and retail separate accounts. Its institutional products are offered to a variety of institutional clients through institutional separate accounts and commingled accounts, including sub advisory services to other investment advisers and its sponsored structured products. Its institutional products are marketed through relationships with consultants as well as directly to clients.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Virtus Convertible & Income Fund II Declares Cash Distribution
- Cash Distribution Announcement: Virtus Convertible & Income Fund II has declared a cash distribution of $0.34375 per share payable on March 31, 2026, to Series A cumulative preferred shareholders of record on March 24, 2026, demonstrating the fund's commitment to shareholder returns.
- Preferred Stock Rating and Yield: The Series A cumulative preferred shares, trading on the NYSE, are rated 'A' by Fitch and offer an annual dividend rate of $1.375 per share, indicating the fund's capability to provide stable income.
- Share Issuance and Liquidity: The 4,360,000 Series A cumulative preferred shares were issued at $25.00 per share on September 11, 2018, and are now callable at any time at liquidation value plus accrued dividends, enhancing liquidity options for investors.
- Investment Objectives and Risks: The fund aims to provide total return through capital appreciation and high current income, although investments carry risks, including potential loss of principal, necessitating careful evaluation of the fund's investment objectives and risks.
See More
Virtus Total Return Fund Announces Monthly Distribution Plan
- Distribution Announcement: Virtus Total Return Fund Inc. has announced monthly distributions of $0.05 per share for March, April, and May 2026, reflecting the fund's commitment to maintaining consistent payouts, although it may draw from assets to meet distribution levels.
- Source of Distributions: Under its Managed Distribution Plan, the fund's distribution sources for the fiscal year-to-date show net investment income at 21.9%, short-term capital gains at 37.0%, and long-term capital gains at 41.1%, indicating a diversified income structure that helps stabilize investor confidence.
- Performance Overview: As of February 27, 2025, the fund reported a five-year average annual return of 10.62% and an annualized current distribution rate of 7.46%, demonstrating its dual objectives of capital appreciation and income generation, enhancing its attractiveness to investors.
- Risk Disclosure: Investing in the fund carries risks, including potential loss of principal, and shares may trade at a premium or discount to net asset value, necessitating careful evaluation by investors before making decisions.
See More
Virtus Convertible & Income Fund Declares Cash Distribution
- Cash Distribution Announcement: Virtus Convertible & Income Fund has declared a cash distribution of $0.3515625 per share payable on March 31, 2026, to Series A cumulative preferred shareholders of record on March 24, 2026, demonstrating the company's commitment to shareholder returns.
- Preferred Stock Rating and Yield: The Series A cumulative preferred shares, trading on the NYSE, are rated 'A' by Fitch Ratings with an annual dividend rate of $1.40625 per share, indicating the fund's capability to provide stable income, appealing to income-seeking investors.
- Share Issuance and Liquidity: The 4 million Series A cumulative preferred shares issued on September 20, 2018, at an initial price of $25.00 per share are now callable at any time at the liquidation value plus accrued dividends, enhancing liquidity options for investors.
- Investment Objective and Risks: The fund aims to provide total return through capital appreciation and high current income, and while there are risks of principal loss, its diversified investment strategies and management team offer investors a range of investment solutions.
See More
Virtus Stone Harbor Fund Announces Monthly Distributions
- Distribution Announcement: Virtus Stone Harbor Emerging Markets Income Fund (NYSE:EDF) has announced monthly distributions of $0.06 per share for March, April, and May 2026, reflecting the fund's ongoing commitment to providing stable income.
- Payment Dates: The distributions are scheduled to be paid on March 30, April 29, and May 28, 2026, ensuring timely receipt of income for investors and enhancing their confidence in the fund's management.
- Tax Information Disclaimer: The announcement specifies that the distribution amounts are estimates and will depend on the fund's investment performance and changes in tax regulations, reminding investors to consider potential tax implications.
- Investment Objective: The fund aims to maximize total return through income and capital appreciation, although there is no assurance of achieving this goal, its focus on emerging market securities indicates a pursuit of high-yield investment opportunities.
See More
Investors Claim Microsoft Stock is Cheap at Current Prices
- Stock Price Decline Context: Microsoft has seen a 15% drop in stock price this year, making it the largest victim of the broader sell-off in the software sector, with investors expressing concerns over potential disruptions from artificial intelligence; however, some investors on CNBC's program challenged this view.
- Investor Position Increase: Steve Weiss, CIO of Short Hills Capital, and Bill Baruch, founder of Blue Line Capital, have recently increased their positions in Microsoft, asserting that the company is well-positioned in the AI space, and while some damage may occur, the overall outlook remains positive.
- Valuation Support Analysis: Baruch noted that Microsoft is currently trading two standard deviations below its long-run price-to-earnings ratio, which he sees as a significant support level, suggesting that the recent price decline could represent a long-term buying opportunity and recommending investors consider increasing their Microsoft holdings to a weight level.
- Market Recovery Expectations: Joe Terranova from Virtus Investment Partners views Microsoft as a proxy for OpenAI, stating that if the software sector rebounds, Microsoft's stock will rise, and despite some investors' concerns about the sustainability of Azure's growth, he believes these fears are unfounded.
See More
Virtus Investment Partners Reports $158.4B AUM Decline Amid Net Outflows
- AUM Decline: As of January 31, 2026, Virtus Investment Partners reported assets under management (AUM) of $158.4 billion, reflecting a 0.65% decline from December 31, 2025, primarily due to net outflows in retail separate accounts, institutional accounts, and U.S. retail funds, although partially offset by market performance and positive net flows in ETFs.
- Total Client Assets: The total client assets reached $160.2 billion, including $1.8 billion in other fee-earning assets, indicating that despite facing net outflows, the overall client asset level remains robust, showcasing the company's relative stability in the market.
- Product Type Distribution: By product type, open-end funds accounted for $53.4 billion in AUM, closed-end funds held $10.9 billion, retail separate accounts totaled $41.5 billion, and institutional accounts stood at $52.5 billion, demonstrating the company's diversified offerings across various investment products.
- Asset Class Breakdown: In terms of asset classes, equities represented $80.7 billion, fixed income accounted for $39.9 billion, multi-asset strategies totaled $21.9 billion, and alternatives reached $15.7 billion, indicating strong performance in equities and fixed income despite the outflow pressures.
See More
Virtus Convertible & Income Fund II Declares Cash Distribution
- Cash Distribution Announcement: Virtus Convertible & Income Fund II has declared a cash distribution of $0.34375 per share payable on March 31, 2026, to Series A cumulative preferred shareholders of record on March 24, 2026, demonstrating the fund's commitment to shareholder returns.
- Preferred Stock Rating and Yield: The Series A cumulative preferred shares, trading on the NYSE, are rated 'A' by Fitch and offer an annual dividend rate of $1.375 per share, indicating the fund's capability to provide stable income.
- Share Issuance and Liquidity: The 4,360,000 Series A cumulative preferred shares were issued at $25.00 per share on September 11, 2018, and are now callable at any time at liquidation value plus accrued dividends, enhancing liquidity options for investors.
- Investment Objectives and Risks: The fund aims to provide total return through capital appreciation and high current income, although investments carry risks, including potential loss of principal, necessitating careful evaluation of the fund's investment objectives and risks.
See More
Virtus Total Return Fund Announces Monthly Distribution Plan
- Distribution Announcement: Virtus Total Return Fund Inc. has announced monthly distributions of $0.05 per share for March, April, and May 2026, reflecting the fund's commitment to maintaining consistent payouts, although it may draw from assets to meet distribution levels.
- Source of Distributions: Under its Managed Distribution Plan, the fund's distribution sources for the fiscal year-to-date show net investment income at 21.9%, short-term capital gains at 37.0%, and long-term capital gains at 41.1%, indicating a diversified income structure that helps stabilize investor confidence.
- Performance Overview: As of February 27, 2025, the fund reported a five-year average annual return of 10.62% and an annualized current distribution rate of 7.46%, demonstrating its dual objectives of capital appreciation and income generation, enhancing its attractiveness to investors.
- Risk Disclosure: Investing in the fund carries risks, including potential loss of principal, and shares may trade at a premium or discount to net asset value, necessitating careful evaluation by investors before making decisions.
See More
Virtus Convertible & Income Fund Declares Cash Distribution
- Cash Distribution Announcement: Virtus Convertible & Income Fund has declared a cash distribution of $0.3515625 per share payable on March 31, 2026, to Series A cumulative preferred shareholders of record on March 24, 2026, demonstrating the company's commitment to shareholder returns.
- Preferred Stock Rating and Yield: The Series A cumulative preferred shares, trading on the NYSE, are rated 'A' by Fitch Ratings with an annual dividend rate of $1.40625 per share, indicating the fund's capability to provide stable income, appealing to income-seeking investors.
- Share Issuance and Liquidity: The 4 million Series A cumulative preferred shares issued on September 20, 2018, at an initial price of $25.00 per share are now callable at any time at the liquidation value plus accrued dividends, enhancing liquidity options for investors.
- Investment Objective and Risks: The fund aims to provide total return through capital appreciation and high current income, and while there are risks of principal loss, its diversified investment strategies and management team offer investors a range of investment solutions.
See More
Virtus Stone Harbor Fund Announces Monthly Distributions
- Distribution Announcement: Virtus Stone Harbor Emerging Markets Income Fund (NYSE:EDF) has announced monthly distributions of $0.06 per share for March, April, and May 2026, reflecting the fund's ongoing commitment to providing stable income.
- Payment Dates: The distributions are scheduled to be paid on March 30, April 29, and May 28, 2026, ensuring timely receipt of income for investors and enhancing their confidence in the fund's management.
- Tax Information Disclaimer: The announcement specifies that the distribution amounts are estimates and will depend on the fund's investment performance and changes in tax regulations, reminding investors to consider potential tax implications.
- Investment Objective: The fund aims to maximize total return through income and capital appreciation, although there is no assurance of achieving this goal, its focus on emerging market securities indicates a pursuit of high-yield investment opportunities.
See More
Investors Claim Microsoft Stock is Cheap at Current Prices
- Stock Price Decline Context: Microsoft has seen a 15% drop in stock price this year, making it the largest victim of the broader sell-off in the software sector, with investors expressing concerns over potential disruptions from artificial intelligence; however, some investors on CNBC's program challenged this view.
- Investor Position Increase: Steve Weiss, CIO of Short Hills Capital, and Bill Baruch, founder of Blue Line Capital, have recently increased their positions in Microsoft, asserting that the company is well-positioned in the AI space, and while some damage may occur, the overall outlook remains positive.
- Valuation Support Analysis: Baruch noted that Microsoft is currently trading two standard deviations below its long-run price-to-earnings ratio, which he sees as a significant support level, suggesting that the recent price decline could represent a long-term buying opportunity and recommending investors consider increasing their Microsoft holdings to a weight level.
- Market Recovery Expectations: Joe Terranova from Virtus Investment Partners views Microsoft as a proxy for OpenAI, stating that if the software sector rebounds, Microsoft's stock will rise, and despite some investors' concerns about the sustainability of Azure's growth, he believes these fears are unfounded.
See More
Virtus Investment Partners Reports $158.4B AUM Decline Amid Net Outflows
- AUM Decline: As of January 31, 2026, Virtus Investment Partners reported assets under management (AUM) of $158.4 billion, reflecting a 0.65% decline from December 31, 2025, primarily due to net outflows in retail separate accounts, institutional accounts, and U.S. retail funds, although partially offset by market performance and positive net flows in ETFs.
- Total Client Assets: The total client assets reached $160.2 billion, including $1.8 billion in other fee-earning assets, indicating that despite facing net outflows, the overall client asset level remains robust, showcasing the company's relative stability in the market.
- Product Type Distribution: By product type, open-end funds accounted for $53.4 billion in AUM, closed-end funds held $10.9 billion, retail separate accounts totaled $41.5 billion, and institutional accounts stood at $52.5 billion, demonstrating the company's diversified offerings across various investment products.
- Asset Class Breakdown: In terms of asset classes, equities represented $80.7 billion, fixed income accounted for $39.9 billion, multi-asset strategies totaled $21.9 billion, and alternatives reached $15.7 billion, indicating strong performance in equities and fixed income despite the outflow pressures.
See More
