-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 KS7g+WmxRXz4Z/zRc/UZdfTdVBMwQloSdVJxVOLudPEs7IzLYXUGbOZM35z/Hr2W
 pysBp42QeBsEdHeLBjS6nQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001124465-05-000001.txt : 20050114
<SEC-HEADER>0001124465-05-000001.hdr.sgml : 20050114
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050114184226
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001124465-05-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050112
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050114
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050114

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:		05531747

	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>2005-01-12</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>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>306000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>355100</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Fortress Principal Investment Holdings II LLC</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series B Preferred Stock, par value $0.01</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1096</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Newcastle Investment Holdings LLC</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>29.6</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-01-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>330000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-01-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>330000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>330000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Fortress Investment Holdings LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents an increase in shares being reported as owned directly by Mr. Nardone as a result of a transaction effected on December 17, 2004 that was exempt under Rule16(a)-13.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents a decrease in shares being reported as being indirectly held by Mr. Nardone as a result of the transaction described in footnote (1).  Mr. Nardone may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of shares of common stock of the issuer by virtue of his beneficial ownership of a portion of Fortress Principal Investment Holdings II LLC (&quot;FPIH II&quot;); Mr. Nardone disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares held by FPIH II except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</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 FPIH II and his ownership of interest in Newcastle Investment Holdings LLC (&quot;NIH&quot;); FPIH II is the managing member of and also owns a portion of NIH.  Mr. Nardone disclaims beneficial ownership of shares of the Issuer held by NIH except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Option granted to Fortress Investment Holdings LLC.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The Option is fully vested on the date of the grant and is exercisable in thirty (30) equal monthly installments beginning February 1, 2005.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Mr. Nardone may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of these shares by virtue of his beneficial ownership of a portion of Fortress Investment Holdings LLC (&quot;FIH&quot;).  Mr. Nardone disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares of common stock of the Issuer and derivative securities therefore held by FIH except to the the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Randal A. Nardone</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-01-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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