[ARTICLE] 6
[CIK] 0000874835
[NAME] SMITH BARNEY SERIES FUND
[SERIES]
   [NUMBER] 5
   [NAME] TOTAL RETURN
<TABLE>
<S>                             <C>
[PERIOD-TYPE]                   YEAR
[FISCAL-YEAR-END]                          DEC-31-1996
[PERIOD-END]                               DEC-31-1996
[INVESTMENTS-AT-COST]                      150,578,176
[INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE]                     171,337,648
[RECEIVABLES]                                  423,650
[ASSETS-OTHER]                                   6,345
[OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS]                                 0
[TOTAL-ASSETS]                             171,767,643
[PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES]                             0
[SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT]                              0
[OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES]                      264,244
[TOTAL-LIABILITIES]                            264,244
[SENIOR-EQUITY]                                      0
[PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON]                   139,057,985
[SHARES-COMMON-STOCK]                       10,899,666
[SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR]                        6,123,389
[ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT]                    3,944,080
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII]                               0
[ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS]                      7,741,862
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS]                             0
[ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC]                    20,759,472
[NET-ASSETS]                               171,503,399
[DIVIDEND-INCOME]                            3,411,639
[INTEREST-INCOME]                            1,295,906
[OTHER-INCOME]                                       0
[EXPENSES-NET]                                 996,969
[NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME]                      3,710,576
[REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT]                     8,063,440
[APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT]                   16,541,648
[NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS]                       28,315,664
[EQUALIZATION]                                       0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME]                      744,542
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS]                     1,914,537
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER]                                0
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD]                     70,721,239
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED]                  5,576,476
[SHARES-REINVESTED]                          2,659,079
[NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS]                      93,490,427
[ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR]                        978,046
[ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR]                    1,592,959
[OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR]                              0
[OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR]                           0
[GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES]                          665,417
[INTEREST-EXPENSE]                                   0
[GROSS-EXPENSE]                                996,969
[AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS]                       121,155,295
[PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN]                            12.75
[PER-SHARE-NII]                                  03.06
[PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC]                          00.17
[PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND]                                 0
[PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS]                        00.25
[RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL]                                 0
[PER-SHARE-NAV-END]                              15.73
[EXPENSE-RATIO]                                  00.83
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING]                               0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE]                                 0
</TABLE>