WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0001035687
<NAME> PRUDENTIAL HIGH YIELD TOTAL RETURNFUND, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 003
<NAME> HIGH YIELD TOTAL RETURNFUND (CLASS C)
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 119,153,195
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 99,313,164
<RECEIVABLES> 9,981,298
<ASSETS-OTHER> 85,487
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 0
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<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 925,217
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 0
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 141,247,842
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 13,568,463
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 14,729,457
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 46,847
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (17,196,944)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (19,840,031)
<NET-ASSETS> (28,297,920)
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 71,421
<INTEREST-INCOME> 5,873,363
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 942,097
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 5,002,687
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (7,439,147)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (43,967)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (2,480,427)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (5,002,687)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 7,798,016
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (19,762,415)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 2,829,521
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (16,617,992)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> (8,040,950)
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
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<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
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<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
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<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 12,812,000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 8.21
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.35
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.53)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.35)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 7.68
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.79
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0.00
</TABLE>
