WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000278187
<NAME> PRUDENTIAL HIGH YIELD FUND
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 004
<NAME> PRUDENTIAL HIGH YIELD FUND (CLASS Z)
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 3,757,523,024
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 3,351,812,274
<RECEIVABLES> 126,677,960
<ASSETS-OTHER> 91,036
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,478,581,270
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 56,423,119
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 167,730,584
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 20,697,590
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 244,851,293
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 4,249,754,350
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 468,752,898
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 510,963,160
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> (4,152,120)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (610,072,074)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (401,800,179)
<NET-ASSETS> 3,233,729,977
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 6,229,644
<INTEREST-INCOME> 175,509,796
<OTHER-INCOME> 211,309
<EXPENSES-NET> 18,328,223
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 163,622,526
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (136,678,979)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (88,476,448)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (61,532,901)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (163,622,526)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> (3,102,762)
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 527,572,146
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (910,059,369)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 77,560,190
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (533,185,222)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (473,393,095)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> (1,049,358)
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 7,179,577
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 18,328,223
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 46,076,000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 7.39
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.36
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.47)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.36)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (0.01)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 6.91
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.58
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0.00
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0.00
</TABLE>
