SEC EDGAR · Insider purchase

CRF: Bradshaw Joshua reported buying shares

1 reported purchase of non-derivative securities. Code P includes open-market and private purchases; it does not establish motive.

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Became public: Oct 21, 2026
Event / period date: Oct 20, 2026
Collected: Nov 8, 2026, 8:06 PM EST

Why this is connected

This filing identifies CORNERSTONE TOTAL RETURN FUND INC as the issuer of the security. The company's SEC identifier connects it to CRF.

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Reported transactions

Bradshaw Joshua (Vice Chairman and President)

20,000 shares · Common Stock

Oct 20, 2026 · $5.88 per share

Value calculated from the reported shares and prices: $117,600.00.

Code P covers open-market and private purchases. Grants, option exercises, and tax withholding are excluded from purchase results. Read the source footnotes for ownership and pricing details.

Source evidence

Read the source excerpt or record

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0609</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2026-10-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000033934</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CORNERSTONE TOTAL RETURN FUND INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CRF</issuerTradingSymbol>
        <issuerForeignTradingSymbol></issuerForeignTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001892951</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Bradshaw Joshua</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerNonUSAddressFlag>false</rptOwnerNonUSAddressFlag>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1075 HENDERSONVILLE ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 250</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ASHEVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>28803</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice Chairman and President</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <aff10b5One>0</aff10b5One>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2026-10-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.88</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20484</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Joshua G. Bradshaw</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2026-10-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

Original documents control. Public records can be amended, and company connections may require interpretation. Nothing here is investment advice.