NEW YORK, Jan. 4, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Zweig Total Return Fund, Inc. (NYSE: ZTR) declared a monthly distribution of $0.080 per share, payable on January 11, 2016, to shareholders of record on December 31, 2015 (ex-date December 29, 2015).

The Fund has a Managed Distribution Plan ("Plan") to pay 7% of the Fund's net asset value on an annualized basis, consistent with its primary investment objectives and as required by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Distributions may represent earnings from net investment income, capital gains, or if necessary, return of 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 Plan.

The following chart discloses information on the sources of the distribution:



    Distribution Estimates                             December 2015 (MTD)        Year-to-date (YTD) (1)
    ----------------------                             ------------------         ---------------------

                                                            Per Share                   Percentage             Per Share          Percentage
                                                             Amount                     of Current              Amount            of Current
                                                                                       Distribution                              Distribution

                                             (Sources)
                                              --------

    Net Investment Income                                                  $0.030                        37.8%           $0.231                22.6%
    ---------------------                                                  ------                         ----            ------                 ----

    Net Realized Foreign Currency Gains                                         -                        0.0%                -                0.0%
    -----------------------------------                                       ---                         ---               ---                 ---

    Net Realized Short-Term Capital Gains                                       -                        0.0%                -                0.0%
    -------------------------------------                                     ---                         ---               ---                 ---

    Net Realized Long-Term Capital Gains                                        -                        0.0%            0.622                60.9%
    ------------------------------------                                      ---                         ---             -----                 ----

    Return of Capital (or other Capital Source)                             0.050                        62.2%            0.169                16.5%
    ------------------------------------------                              -----                         ----             -----                 ----

    Total Distribution                                                     $0.080                       100.0%           $1.022               100.0%
    ------------------                                                     ------                        -----            ------                -----



    (1)              YTD February 2, 2015 to
                     January 11, 2016. (The
                     distribution paid on
                     January 9, 2015 was
                     reportable for tax on Form
                     1099 in 2014)

The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and net realized capital gains in the fiscal year to date; therefore, a portion of the 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 amounts and sources of distributions reported in this notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send shareholders a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

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.



    December 31, 2015
    -----------------

    Average Annual Total Return on
     NAV for the 5-year period ended
     this month (2)                                      6.63%
    --------------------------------                      ----

    Current Fiscal YTD Annualized
     Distribution Rate (3)                               7.08%
    -----------------------------                         ----


    YTD Cumulative Total Return on
     NAV (4)                                            -4.19%
    ------------------------------                       -----

    YTD Cumulative Distribution Rate
     (5)                                                7.54%
    --------------------------------                      ----



    (2)              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.

    (3)              Current Fiscal YTD Annualized
                     Distribution Rate is the
                     cumulative distribution rate
                     annualized as a percentage of
                     the Fund's NAV at month end.

    (4)              YTD Cumulative Total Return on
                     NAV is the percentage change in
                     the Fund's NAV from the first
                     day of the year to this month
                     end, including distributions
                     paid and assuming reinvestment
                     of those distributions.

    (5)              YTD Cumulative Distribution Rate
                     is the dollar value of
                     distributions from the first
                     day of the year to this month
                     end as a percentage of the
                     Fund's NAV at month end.

Section 19(a) notices are posted on the Fund's website at:
ZTR 19A Notices

The Zweig closed-end funds are advised by Zweig Advisers LLC. For more information on the Fund, please contact shareholder services at 800.272.2700, by email at zweig@virtus.com, or visit us on the web at www.virtus.com.

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SOURCE The Zweig Total Return Fund, Inc.