Virtus Total Return Fund (ZTR) Announces Monthly Distribution of $0.05
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 29 2025
0mins
Source: Businesswire
- Distribution Announcement: Virtus Total Return Fund Inc. has announced a monthly distribution of $0.05 per share payable on December 11, 2025, demonstrating its ability to maintain consistent distributions under its Managed Distribution Plan, although part of this may come from capital return.
- Income Source Analysis: For the fiscal year 2025, 36.9% of the distribution comes from net investment income while 63.1% is from capital return, indicating a reliance on capital return for distributions, which may affect investor confidence in long-term returns.
- Annual Return Rate: As of November 28, 2025, the fund's average annual total return over five years stands at 7.31%, with an annualized current distribution rate of 8.30%, reflecting a balance between capital appreciation and income distribution.
- Risk Warning: Investors should note that the fund's distributions do not necessarily reflect its investment performance and may face risks of capital loss, especially during market volatility, where the trading price of the fund may be less than its net asset value.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy ZTR?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on ZTR
Wall Street analysts forecast ZTR stock price to rise
0 Analyst Rating
0 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Current: 6.620
Low
Averages
High
Current: 6.620
Low
Averages
High

No data
About ZTR
Virtus Total Return Fund Inc. (the Fund) is a closed-end, diversified management investment company. The Fund's investment objective is capital appreciation, with current income as a secondary objective. The Fund invests approximately 60% of its total assets in equity securities, managed by Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. The Fund invests 40% in fixed income, managed by Newfleet Asset Management, LLC. Its products include mutual funds, retail separate accounts, closed-end funds, variable insurance funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), undertakings for the collective investment in transferable securities (UCITS) and CollegeAccess 529. The Fund invests in consumer discretionary, financials, healthcare, industrials, consumer staples, telecommunication services, energy, information technology, materials and utility sectors. The Fund's investment adviser is Virtus Investment Advisers, Inc.
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.
- Distribution Increase: Virtus Total Return Fund Inc. announced an increase in its monthly distribution from $0.05 to $0.055 per share, representing a 10% rise aimed at enhancing shareholder value and reducing the current discount to net asset value.
- Annual Distribution Rate: The new distribution rate translates to an annualized rate of approximately 10.0% based on the market price of $6.60 as of June 2, 2026, and about 8.8% based on the net asset value of $7.53, indicating the fund's attractiveness to investors.
- Transparent Distribution Sources: Under its Managed Distribution Plan, the fund may pay distributions partially or fully from net investment income and realized capital gains, and if these are insufficient, the shortfall will be distributed from the fund's assets, constituting a return of capital to shareholders.
- Investment Performance Caution: Despite the increase in distributions, investors should not assess the fund's investment performance solely based on the distribution amount or the terms of the Managed Distribution Plan, as overall fund performance and risks must be considered.
See More
- Distribution Amount Announced: Virtus Total Return Fund Inc. has announced monthly distributions of $0.05 for March, April, and May 2026, reflecting the fund's commitment to maintaining stable distributions, which aims to enhance investor confidence and attract more investments.
- Source of Distributions Analysis: Under the Managed Distribution Plan, distributions will be funded partially or fully from net investment income and realized capital gains, and if these are insufficient, the shortfall will be drawn from the fund's assets, potentially impacting shareholder capital returns.
- Annual Return Performance: As of February 2025, the fund's average annual total return on NAV over five years stands at 10.62%, indicating strong performance in capital appreciation, which further solidifies its competitive position in the market.
- Risk Advisory: Investing in the fund carries risks, including the potential loss of principal, as shares may trade at a premium or discount to their net asset value, necessitating careful evaluation by investors before making investment decisions.
See More
- 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
- Distribution Announcement: Virtus Total Return Fund Inc. has announced a monthly distribution of $0.05 per share payable on December 11, 2025, demonstrating its ability to maintain consistent distributions under its Managed Distribution Plan, although part of this may come from capital return.
- Income Source Analysis: For the fiscal year 2025, 36.9% of the distribution comes from net investment income while 63.1% is from capital return, indicating a reliance on capital return for distributions, which may affect investor confidence in long-term returns.
- Annual Return Rate: As of November 28, 2025, the fund's average annual total return over five years stands at 7.31%, with an annualized current distribution rate of 8.30%, reflecting a balance between capital appreciation and income distribution.
- Risk Warning: Investors should note that the fund's distributions do not necessarily reflect its investment performance and may face risks of capital loss, especially during market volatility, where the trading price of the fund may be less than its net asset value.
See More
- Share Buyback Completed: Virtus Total Return Fund successfully repurchased 5,554,844 shares, representing 10% of its outstanding shares, indicating the company's confidence in its value while enhancing earnings per share.
- Investor Response Strong: A total of 14,916,518 shares were properly tendered, reflecting strong support from investors for the buyback plan, with approximately 37.25% of shares accepted on a prorated basis, enhancing shareholder engagement.
- Buyback Price Set: The purchase price for accepted shares is $6.9874 each, approximately 98% of the fund's net asset value, a pricing strategy aimed at attracting more shareholder participation while maintaining market stability for the fund.
- Fund Background Overview: Virtus Total Return Fund is a diversified closed-end fund focused on capital appreciation, with income as a secondary objective, demonstrating its robust positioning and investment strategy in the market.
See More
Tender Offer Announcement: Virtus Total Return Fund Inc. has triggered its second conditional tender offer to acquire 10% of its outstanding shares due to an average trading discount exceeding 10% during the specified measurement period.
Tender Offer Details: The tender offer is expected to commence on November 3, 2025, and will allow shareholders to sell shares at 98% of the net asset value, with further details to be provided in the Fund's offering materials.
See More








