-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OUp4/oO177QRBMsjPIufkhaeBMwktUT8r7PSo+1jYbyoMRIfIPtWv8mu+5O+mVeL
 H3C0GOrDn59Nfjv1fDaSKQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001124465-04-000001.txt : 20040525
<SEC-HEADER>0001124465-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040525
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040525172032
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001124465-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040525
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040525

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NARDONE RANDAL A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001124465

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31458
		FILM NUMBER:		04830540

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1251 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS 16FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10020
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2127986100

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NEWCASTLE INVESTMENT CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001175483
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				810559116
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O FORTRESS
		STREET 2:		1251 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS 16TH FL
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10020
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2127986100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O FORTRESS
		STREET 2:		1251 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS 16TH FL
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10020
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-05-25</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001175483</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NEWCASTLE INVESTMENT CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>nct</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001124465</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NARDONE RANDAL A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Secretary</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>25.75</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>345000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-05-25</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock par value $0.01</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>345000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>345000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Fortress Principal Investment Holdings LLC</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Option granted to Fortress Principal Investment Holdings LLC.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Option is fully vested on the date of grant and is exercisable in thirty (30) equal monthly installments beginning on June 1, 2004.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Mr. Nardone may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of these shares by virtue of his beneficial ownership of a portion of Fortress Principal Investment Holdings LLC (&quot;FPIH&quot;). Mr. Nardone disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares of Common Stock of the Issuer and derivative securities therefore held by FPIH except to the extent of this pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Randal A. Nardone</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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