N-CSR 1 d861076dncsr.htm NUVEEN INVESTMENT FUNDS, INC. Nuveen Investment Funds, Inc.

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT

INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number 811-05309

Nuveen Investment Funds, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

Nuveen Investments

333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Christopher M. Rohrbacher

Vice President and Secretary

333 West Wacker Drive,

Chicago, IL 60606

(Name and address of agent for service)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (312) 917-7700

Date of fiscal year end: December 31

Date of reporting period: December 31, 2019

Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30e-1). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policy making roles.

A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549-0609. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. ss.3507.


ITEM 1. REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS.

 


LOGO

 

Mutual Funds

 

31 December

2019

 

 

Nuveen Equity Funds

 

Fund Name   Class A   Class C   Class R3   Class R6   Class I
Nuveen Global Infrastructure Fund   FGIAX   FGNCX   FGNRX   FGIWX   FGIYX
Nuveen Global Real Estate Securities Fund   NGJAX   NGJCX     NGJFX   NGJIX
Nuveen Real Asset Income Fund   NRIAX   NRICX     NRIFX   NRIIX
Nuveen Real Estate Securities Fund   FREAX   FRLCX   FRSSX   FREGX   FARCX

 

Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Funds’ annual and semi-annual shareholder reports will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports. Instead, the reports will be made available on the Funds’ website (www.nuveen.com), and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report.

If you have already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the Funds electronically anytime by contacting the financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank) through which you hold your Fund shares or, if you are a direct investor, by enrolling at www.nuveen.com/e-reports.

You may elect to receive all future shareholder reports in paper free of charge at any time by contacting your financial intermediary or, if you are a direct investor, by calling 800-257-8787 and selecting option #1. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all funds held in your account with your financial intermediary or, if you are a direct investor, to all your directly held Nuveen Funds and any other directly held funds within the same group of related investment companies.

 

Annual Report


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Table

of Contents

 

Chair’s Letter to Shareholders

     4  

Portfolio Managers’ Comments

     5  

Risk Considerations and Dividend Information

     17  

Fund Performance and Expense Ratios

     21  

Holding Summaries

     26  

Expense Examples

     30  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     32  

Portfolios of Investments

     33  

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

     66  

Statement of Operations

     67  

Statement of Changes in Net Assets

     68  

Financial Highlights

     70  

Notes to Financial Statements

     78  

Additional Fund Information

     90  

Glossary of Terms Used in this Report

     91  

Annual Investment Management Agreement Approval Process

     93  

Directors/Trustees and Officers

     99  

 

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Chair’s Letter to Shareholders

 

LOGO

Dear Shareholders,

Financial markets finished 2019 on a high note, despite the challenges of a weak start to the year, a slower global economy and heightened geopolitical risks. While global manufacturing languished, consumers remained resilient amid tight labor markets, growing wages and tame inflation. Global business sentiment, however, was less optimistic due to trade frictions and weaker global demand. Across advanced economies growth in corporate profits and earnings was subdued in 2019. Nevertheless, the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) pivot to easing monetary conditions, along with liquidity provided by other central banks around the world, provided confidence that the economic cycle could be extended. Additionally, the year ended with a reduction in trade tensions and Brexit uncertainty, although the next phase of U.S.-China trade negotiations are expected to be more challenging and the U.K. has a relatively short transition window in which to redefine its relationship with the European Union.

We continue to anticipate muted economic growth and increased market volatility this year. The U.S. economy held steady in the second half of 2019, although growth for the year overall moderated from 2018’s pace. Consumer confidence remains underpinned by low unemployment and modest wage growth. Looser financial conditions, in part driven by the Fed’s three interest rate cuts in 2019, have revived momentum in the housing market and should continue to encourage borrowing by consumers and businesses. Although consumer spending in Europe and Japan, like in the U.S., has remained supported by jobs growth and rising wages, economic growth there appears more fragile. The COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak poses a new downside risk to the global economy, as disruptions to both demand and production ripple through global supply chains. We are closely monitoring the situation.

At Nuveen, we still see investment opportunities in the maturing economic environment, but we are taking a selective approach. If you’re concerned about where the markets are headed from here, we encourage you to work with your financial advisor to review your time horizon, risk tolerance and investment goals. On behalf of the other members of the Nuveen Fund Board, we look forward to continuing to earn your trust in the months and years ahead.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Terence J. Toth

Chair of the Board

February 21, 2020

 

 

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Portfolio Managers’ Comments

 

Nuveen Global Infrastructure Fund

Nuveen Global Real Estate Securities Fund

Nuveen Real Asset Income Fund

Nuveen Real Estate Securities Fund

These Funds feature portfolio management by Nuveen Asset Management, LLC, an affiliate of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, the Funds’ investment adviser. For the Nuveen Global Infrastructure Fund, Jay L. Rosenberg has been a portfolio manager since its inception in 2007 and Tryg T. Sarsland has been a portfolio manager since 2012, and Jagdeep S. Ghuman joined in 2019. For the Nuveen Global Real Estate Securities Fund, Jay L. Rosenberg along with Scott C. Sedlak have been portfolio managers since its inception in 2018. Benjamin T. Kerl and Jagdeep S. Ghuman joined the Nuveen Global Real Estate Securities Fund as portfolio managers in 2019. For the Nuveen Real Asset Income Fund, Jay L. Rosenberg has been portfolio manager since the Fund’s inception in 2011. Brenda A. Langenfeld, CFA, and Tryg T. Sarsland were added as portfolio managers in 2015 and Jean C. Lin, CFA joined in 2019. For the Nuveen Real Estate Securities Fund, Jay L. Rosenberg has served as a portfolio manager since he joined the Fund’s management team in 2005, while Scott C. Sedlak and Sarah Wade joined the team as portfolio managers in 2011 and 2017, respectively.

In October 2019, Jagdeep S. Ghuman was added as a portfolio manager on the Nuveen Global Infrastructure Fund and the Fund Nuveen Global Real Estate Securities Fund.

In January 2019, Benjamin T. Kerl was added as a portfolio manager to the Nuveen Global Real Estate Securities Fund.

In January 2019, Jean C. Lin, CFA, joined as a portfolio manager on the Nuveen Real Asset Income Fund.

On the following pages, the portfolio management teams for the Funds discuss the economy and financial markets, key investment strategies and the Funds’ performance for the twelve-month reporting period ended December 31, 2019.

What factors affected the U.S. economy and financial markets during the twelve-month reporting period ended December 31, 2019?

The U.S. economy reached the tenth year of expansion since the previous recession ended in June 2009, marking the longest expansion in U.S. history. In the fourth quarter of 2019, gross domestic product (GDP) grew at an annualized rate of 2.1%, according to the “advance” estimate by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. GDP measures the value of goods and services produced by the nation’s economy less the value of the goods and services used up in production, adjusted for price changes. In the final months of the year, the economy was boosted by moderate consumer spending, along with positive contributions from government spending and trade, which offset weakness in business investment. For 2019 as a whole, U.S. GDP grew 2.3%, a decline from 2.9% in 2018 and the slowest pace since 2016.

 

 

This material is not intended to be a recommendation or investment advice, does not constitute a solicitation to buy, sell or hold a security or an investment strategy and is not provided in a fiduciary capacity. The information provided does not take into account the specific objectives or circumstances of any particular investor, or suggest any specific course of action. Investment decisions should be made based on an investor’s objectives and circumstances and in consultation with his or her advisors.

Certain statements in this report are forward-looking statements. Discussions of specific investments are for illustration only and are not intended as recommendations of individual investments. The forward-looking statements and other views expressed herein are those of the portfolio managers as of the date of this report. Actual future results or occurrences may differ significantly from those anticipated in any forward-looking statements and the views expressed herein are subject to change at any time, due to numerous market and other factors. The Funds disclaim any obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or views expressed herein.

For financial reporting purposes, the ratings disclosed are the highest rating given by one of the following national rating agencies: Standard & Poor’s (S&P), Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (Moody’s) or Fitch, Inc. (Fitch). This treatment of split-rated securities may differ from that used for other purposes, such as for Fund investment policies. Credit ratings are subject to change. AAA, AA, A and BBB are investment grade ratings; BB, B, CCC, CC, C and D are below investment grade ratings. Holdings designated N/R are not rated by these national rating agencies.

Refer to the Glossary of Terms Used in this report for further definition of the terms used within this section.

 

5


Portfolio Managers’ Comments (continued)

 

Consumer spending, the largest driver of the economy, remained well supported by low unemployment, wage gains and tax cuts. As reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate fell to 3.5% in December 2019 from 3.9% in December 2018 and job gains averaged around 176,000 per month for the past twelve months. As the jobs market has tightened, average hourly earnings grew at an annualized rate of 2.9% in December 2019. However, inflation remained subdued. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 2.3% over the twelve-month reporting period ended December 31, 2019 before seasonal adjustment.

Low mortgage rates and low inventory drove home prices moderately higher in this reporting period, despite declining new home sales and housing starts. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index, which covers all nine U.S. census divisions, was up 3.5% year-over-year in November 2019 (most recent data available at the time this report was prepared). The 10-City and 20-City Composites reported year-over-year increases of 2.0% and 2.6%, respectively.

As data pointed to slower momentum in the overall economy, the Federal Reserve (Fed) notably shifted its stance. Although the Fed had indicated in December 2018 that there could be two more rate hikes in 2019, global growth concerns kept the central bank on the sidelines. As expected by the markets, the Fed left rates unchanged throughout the first half of 2019 while speculation increased that the Fed’s next move would be a rate cut. At the July 2019, September 2019 and October 2019 policy committee meetings, the Fed announced a 0.25% cut to its main policy rate. Markets registered disappointment with the Fed’s explanation that the rate cuts were a “mid-cycle adjustment,” rather than a prolonged easing period, and its signal that there would be no additional rate cuts in 2019. Also in the latter half of 2019, the Fed announced it would stop shrinking its bond portfolio sooner than scheduled, as well as began buying short-term Treasury bills to help money markets operate smoothly and maintain short-term borrowing rates at low levels. Fed Chairman Powell emphasized that the Treasury bill purchases were not a form of quantitative easing.

During the twelve-month reporting period, geopolitical news remained a prominent market driver. Tariff and trade policy topped the list of concerns, most prominently the U.S.-China relations. After several rounds of talks, escalating rhetoric from both sides and a series of tariff increases, tensions appeared to ease in the later months of 2019. The U.S. and China signaled their agreement on a partial trade deal, which included rolling back some tariffs, increasing China’s purchases of U.S. agriculture products and the consideration of intellectual property, technology and financial services rights. (Subsequent to the close of the reporting period, the “phase one” deal was signed on January 15, 2020.) While much of the focus remained on the U.S.-China relationship, trade spats between the U.S. and Mexico, the European Union, Brazil and Argentina also arose throughout the reporting period. More than a year after the three countries signed onto the U.S., Mexico and Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade deal, which replaces the North American Free Trade Agreement, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the deal in December 2019 (and, subsequent to the close of the reporting period, the Senate voted in January 2020 to approve it). Global manufacturing and export data continued to show evidence of trade-related slumps, which increased worries that the slowdown would spread into other segments of the global economy.

The Brexit saga also appeared to make a breakthrough by the end of 2019. After former Prime Minister Theresa May was unable to secure a Brexit deal by the original March 29, 2019 deadline, she resigned as of June 7, 2019. When her successor, Boris Johnson, failed to meet the EU’s first deadline extension of October 31, 2019, the EU approved a “flextension” to January 31, 2020. A U.K. general election was scheduled for December 2019, wherein the Conservative Party won a large majority and bolstered Prime Minister Johnson’s mandate to get Brexit done. A few days later, the British Parliament passed the Brexit Bill. In Italy, investors worried about another potential budget clash between the eurosceptic coalition government and the EU. However, following the unexpected resignation of the prime minister in August 2019, the newly formed coalition government appeared to take a less antagonistic stance. Europe also contended with the “yellow vest” protests in France, immigration policy concerns, Russian sanctions and political risk in Turkey.

Elsewhere, anti-government protests erupted across Latin America, Hong Kong and Lebanon during 2019, and Venezuela’s economic and political crisis deepened. In Argentina, markets were shocked by the defeat of incumbent President Macri, prompting concerns about the economic policies favored by the incoming Fernandez administration. Brazil’s Bolsonaro administration achieved a legislative win on pension reform and kept the economy on a path of modest growth. Europe’s traditional centrist parties lost seats in the May 2019 Parliamentary elections and populist parties saw marginal gains. The ruling parties in India and South Africa maintained their majorities, where slower economic growth could complicate their respective reform mandates.

 

6


In the U.S., the longest bull market on record continued, but not without significant bouts of volatility. Investors were concerned about ongoing political discord, trade friction with China and the path and pace of Fed rate increases. Fueled by better-than-expected fourth-quarter 2018 earnings, equities rebounded sharply in the beginning of 2019 through April 2019. However, markets continued to be quite volatile, selling off in May 2019 due to changing expectations regarding trade and Fed policy, as well as concerns about slowing economic growth. During the summer months, stock markets advanced strongly again with the S&P 500® hitting an all-time high in late July before falling in August 2019. Markets remained choppy and continued to struggle for footing amid escalating trade tensions, weaker Chinese economic data, protests in Hong Kong, increasing recession fears and the growing prevalence of negative interest rates worldwide. In the final months of the reporting period, however, the markets rebounded sharply in the wake of the three rate cuts by the Fed. Investors dismissed fears about the U.S. and global economies slipping into recession as strength in consumer spending, the labor market and service sector offset concerns about weak manufacturing and the inverted Treasury yield curve. Notable progress on two of the most significant risks that caused increased market volatility during the reporting period as the U.S./China trade dispute and Brexit reduced two key headline risks for investors.

U.S. large-cap companies produced strong gains during the reporting period and outpaced smaller-sized companies. For the reporting period, every sector in the index rose by double digits led by the information technology sector, followed by the communication services and financials sectors, which each rose more than 30%. Energy was the weakest sector over the course of the reporting period, pressured at times by falling energy prices due to slowing growth and oversupply. As noted, small-cap equities underperformed larger-cap stocks during much of the reporting period, likely weighed down more by trade tensions, increasing evidence of economic deceleration and rising political uncertainty stemming from mounting impeachment rhetoric in Washington D.C. However, investors felt comfortable taking on more risk as the reporting period progressed, leading the small-cap segment to post a strong gain of 25.52% as measured by the Russell 2000® Index. From a style perspective, growth-oriented stocks continued their long-running trend of outperforming value stocks across the capitalization spectrum, benefiting on a relative basis from slowing corporate profit growth.

In developed markets outside the U.S., geopolitical issues in Europe including the chaos surrounding Brexit, markedly slower economic growth across Europe and in particular Germany, and the negative impact of the trade war at times created headwinds for stocks. However, by the end of the reporting period, developed markets posted a fairly strong advance of 22.66% (as measured by the MSCI EAFE Index), although less than the U.S. market. Developed markets were spurred on by the decisive Conservative Party victory in the U.K. election, which reduced the prospect of a “hard Brexit,” and the phase-one trade deal between the U.S. and China. During the reporting period, the same issues also impacted emerging markets, especially China’s slowdown since these regions tend to be more reliant on that economy and the rising U.S. dollar. But these markets also gained footing as the reporting period wore on and the trade deal was reached.

Nuveen Global Infrastructure Fund

How did the Fund perform during the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2019?

The table in the Fund Performance and Expense Ratios section of this report provides total returns for the Fund for the one-year, five-year, ten-year and/or since inception periods ended December 31, 2019. Comparative performance information is provided for the Fund’s Class A Shares at net asset value (NAV). The Fund’s Class A Shares at NAV outperformed the S&P Global Infrastructure Index NR (Net Return) and the Lipper classification average during the twelve-month reporting period.

What strategies were used to manage the Fund during the reporting period and how did these strategies influence performance?

The Fund seeks to provide long-term growth of capital and income by investing primarily in equity securities issued by U.S. and non-U.S. companies that typically derive the majority of their value from owned or operated infrastructure assets. During the reporting period, our strategy for managing the Fund remained consistent as we focused on buying global infrastructure companies that own and operate long life assets that have visible cash flows, strong balance sheets, manageable amounts of leverage and inelastic demand characteristics. We believe these types of companies will have ongoing access to capital and the best chances for producing sustainable and growing cash flow. The Fund is structured using a number of core infrastructure companies that we believe should provide long-term outperformance versus the market, combined with more opportunistic holdings that we believe are undervalued

 

7


Portfolio Managers’ Comments (continued)

 

by the market in the short term. We have exposure around the globe to a mixture of holdings that represent significant value, as well as positions in companies that may prove to be more stable in a slowly growing global economy.

During the reporting period, the global infrastructure sector produced strong absolute returns with the segment gaining 25.75% as measured by the S&P Global Infrastructure Index NR. However, the segment wasn’t able to keep up with the strength of the broader domestic equity market, which advanced 31.49%, as measured by the S&P 500®Index. The segment also fell slightly short of global equities, as measured by the MSCI All Country World Index, which returned 26.60%. After leading markets earlier in 2019, defensive areas of the markets underperformed broader equities in the final months due to the decline in geopolitical risk (most notably the decisive win by the Conservative Party in the most recent U.K. election), improving global economic data and a “risk-on” rally in the marketplace.

For much of reporting period, the more defensive and highly regulated areas within infrastructure performed better than those that have higher potential earnings growth resulting from more of a tie to economic activity. However, that trend did reverse in the final months of the reporting period. That being said, every sector within the infrastructure index except for ports posted double-digit gains. The technology infrastructure, electric transmission, pipeline and rail sectors were standout performers during the reporting period.

The Fund experienced strong absolute and relative returns during the reporting period driven by solid outperformance across a number of sectors, led by technology infrastructure, electric utilities, toll roads and ports. The Fund had relatively few noteworthy detractors during the reporting period, although its cash position and slight weakness in the airport and electric transmission sectors were modest drags on results.

The technology infrastructure sector was the strongest contributor to the Fund’s performance. On the heels of a sell-off at the end of 2018, the segment experienced a significant rebound in 2019 with the Fund’s holdings collectively advancing by more than 52%, besting all other sectors within the Fund’s benchmark. This sector, comprised of businesses such as cell tower companies and data centers, provides the infrastructure necessary for mobile communications and computing. The group seemed to hit on all cylinders during the reporting period with two companies rumored to be acquisition targets, companies reporting strong earnings and a continued path toward future growth through expected asset purchases. Technology infrastructure is not represented in the benchmark; therefore, the Fund’s approximately 7% weight to the group represents its largest overweight by sector. The segment continued to benefit from fundamentally driven demand for both cell towers and data centers based on consumer and business needs for data and required upgrades, as well as tower densification to keep pace with advancing technologies. These factors have driven strong revenue growth for companies in the sector, which remains a compelling secular story. Given the sector’s strong returns in 2019, valuations are not as attractive as they once were. However, we believe they still seem justified, given the fundamental strength we continue to see in the segment.

In electric utilities, stock selection within the group drove the Fund’s positive relative results. We remain constructive regarding electric utilities and favor the segment over other areas in the utility space such as gas utilities. In fact, the Fund currently has one of its highest weights to the sector since the portfolio’s inception, but still remains underweight by about 8% versus the benchmark given the sector’s very high exposure in the index. We prefer to be more diversified than the benchmark across all the potential investment areas within infrastructure. Utilities in general were under some technical pressure later in the reporting period as investors rotated away from lower volatility, higher yielding equities and toward cyclical areas that gave them higher amounts of earnings sensitivity to the broader economy. Our electric utilities exposure remains focused on the more regulated companies within the investable universe, given their more consistent earnings profiles and lower sensitivity to commodity prices. The resultant underweight to integrated names, especially those in Europe and the U.S. such as Exelon Corporation, E.ON SE and Duke Energy Corporation, were the largest contributors to outperformance in the sector.

Our security selection in the toll road sector also contributed significantly to the Fund’s outperformance versus the benchmark. The leading contributor was an out-of-index position in Ferrovial SA, a Spanish transportation company. Spain remains one of the strongest economies in Europe and traffic growth, while moderating, is a bright spot relative to many other geographies in the region. Ferrovial had a strong year with its shares on an upward trajectory throughout the reporting period. Another out-of-index position, in French concessions and construction firm Vinci SA, also contributed to results in toll roads. Following a difficult end in 2018, Vinci shares rebounded throughout the reporting period to hit all-time highs in December 2019. The company completed the acquisition

 

8


of U.K.’s Gatwick airport, making it the second largest airport operator in the world, while its construction business continued to benefit from a strong order backlog. Additionally, the Fund was rewarded for its underweight position in Italian toll road company Atlantia SpA, which remained mired in a conflict with the Italian government over its culpability regarding the 2018 Morandi bridge collapse in Genoa. The concession/contract agreement Atlantia has with the government for that stretch of road is a very large portion of the company’s overall revenue. The Five Star Movement, one of the parties that comprises the current coalition government in Italy, has remained steadfast in its preference to potentially revoke that concession and compensate the company as little as possible. This conflict is not likely to be resolved anytime soon and may make its way all the way to the EU courts. The uncertainty and potential negative impact from losing the concession has remained an overhang on Atlantia’s stock and led to underperformance throughout the reporting period.

Ports were the fourth leading contributor to relative performance during the reporting period, primarily due to the Fund’s regional underweight to China. This included underweight positions in two Chinese seaport index constituents and no exposure to the third: COSCO SHIPPING Ports Ltd, China Merchants Port Holdings Co. Ltd., and Hutchison Port Holdings Trust, respectively. As China continues its fiscal stimulus in an effort to boost GDP growth, the country has targeted infrastructure assets, often through tariff reductions (i.e. lowered fees). Although these reductions are typically meant to benefit consumers and exporters alike, they often have the opposite effect on the companies that operate the infrastructure assets. An overall slowdown in economic activity also played a role in throughput declines, which coupled with the ongoing tariffs imposed by the U.S. on Chinese goods, has also negatively impacted these stocks.

The leading detractor during the reporting period was the Fund’s cash exposure. We usually do not call out cash as a detractor since we keep the Fund more or less fully invested, which means the cash allocation is typically below 5% of overall portfolio assets. While less than 2.5% of the Fund was allocated to cash during the reporting period, it served as a drag on performance given the 27% gain in the global infrastructure market. Only two sectors detracted modestly from relative performance, airports and electric transmission.

Our positioning within airport companies relative to the benchmark also detracted very modestly from performance. The Fund’s lack of exposure to British air transport services firm Signature Aviation Plc, a significant benchmark weight that was previously known as BBA Aviation until late November 2019, was the leading detractor. We typically have no exposure to this company due to the highly cyclical nature of its primary business, which is airplane refueling. We don’t consider this to be an appropriate infrastructure investment given the variability of earnings. The Fund’s underweight positon in three Mexican airport groups, which together represent a significant portion of the index weight, was detrimental. We have maintained an underweight due to political risk from the current administration’s dislike of privatized infrastructure and the cancellation of the Mexico City Airport Trust project, which had already begun construction. In conjunction with that concern, the airports were in the midst of a regulatory review, which had the potential to put substantial downward pressure on allowed returns for the group. However, the outcome toward the end of the reporting period was much more favorable to the companies than had been widely anticipated, causing the shares of the Mexican airports to advance fairly strongly.

The electric transmission sector detracted modestly from the Fund’s relative returns, mainly because of the Fund’s overweight position and greater diversification in the sector. The index has only one position in the sector, U.K. regulated utility National Grid PLC, which performed well after uncertainty surrounding a disorderly Brexit dissipated. Since the original Brexit referendum, we have had modest U.K. exposure in this portion of the portfolio, which has proved helpful. Our exposure in the sector has been spread across more than a dozen electric transmission names. However, during this reporting period, our underweight in National Grid detracted since much of the overhang on the stock was lifted.

Toward the end of the reporting period, we began to increase the Fund’s exposure to areas within our investment universe that have greater sensitivity to the global economic cycle in response to the uptick in global economic data and declining geopolitical risk. More specifically, we added exposures to U.S. freight rail companies and brought down the Fund’s regulated utility exposure. This positioning contrasts the first nine months of the reporting period when we were more focused on companies whose earnings were somewhat decoupled from the economic cycle. Generally speaking, we had focused more heavily on mitigating downside risk, given how late it appeared to be in the business cycle and how much downside volatility we saw in global equity markets late in 2018. However, with the signposts that emerged in late 2019 in terms of improving trade negotiations, improvement in the global growth outlook and a decline in geopolitical risk, we believed it was prudent to make some changes to take advantage of those emerging trends.

 

9


Portfolio Managers’ Comments (continued)

 

Geographically, we continued to keep the Fund’s portfolio well diversified. At the end of the reporting period, the Fund continued to have broad exposure to well over 20 different countries. We prefer to spread the Fund’s holdings out over many geographies and regulatory jurisdictions to mitigate risk. Although we may be in a period of reaccelerating economic growth, we still believe we are closer to the end of the current expansion phase than the beginning.

Nuveen Global Real Estate Securities Fund

How did the Fund perform during the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2019?

The table in the Fund Performance and Expense Ratios section of this report provides total returns for the Fund for the one-year and since inception periods ended December 31, 2019. Comparative performance information is provided for the Fund’s Class A Shares at net asset value (NAV). The Fund’s Class A Shares at NAV outperformed the FTSE EPRA/Nareit Developed Index NR (Net Return) and the Lipper classification Average during the twelve-month reporting period.

What strategies were used to manage the Fund during the reporting period and how did these strategies influence performance?

The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation with a secondary objective to provide current income. The Fund invests in income producing equities of companies engaged in the real estate industry. Applying a fundamentally based, relative value process, the investment team diversifies across geographies and sectors of listed global commercial real estate by investing at least 80% of the sum of its net assets and the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes in common stocks, preferred securities and other equity securities issued by U.S. and non-U.S. companies in the real estate industry, including real estate investment trusts (REITs) and similar REIT-like entities. REITs are types of real estate companies that pool investors’ funds for investment in real estate or in real estate related loans or other interests. REITs in the U.S. are generally not taxed on income distributed to shareholders so long as they meet certain requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. Foreign REITs and REIT-like entities are organized outside of the U.S. and generally have operations and receive tax treatment in their respective countries similar to that of U.S. REITs, though some countries may have REIT-like structures that are significantly different from U.S. REITs or may not have adopted a REIT-like structure at all. Equity securities in which the Fund may invest may be of any market capitalization, including small- and mid-capitalization companies.

The Fund may invest at least 40% of its net assets in securities of non-U.S. issuers and, in any case, will invest at least 30% of its net assets in such issuers. The Fund will invest in securities of issuers in at least three different countries and may invest up to 25% of its total assets in securities of emerging market issuers.

The Fund may utilize derivatives, including options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and forward foreign currency exchange contracts. The Fund may use these derivatives to manage market or business risk, enhance the Fund’s return, or hedge against adverse movements in currency exchange rates.

During the reporting period, the Fund experienced strong relative outperformance across all geographic regions and the majority of sectors and industries. The leading contributors to the Fund’s relative performance in terms of sectors included technology infrastructure, industrial, mall, office and health care REITs, while only a modest cash position detracted from results. All of the Fund’s country exposures added value during the reporting period led by positions in the U.S., Europe, the U.K. and Canada.

The technology infrastructure sector, which is made up of mostly global data center and cell phone tower companies, contributed the most to the Fund’s relative results during the reporting period. The Fund’s broad exposure once again proved beneficial, as many of the international companies the Fund owns which aren’t represented in the benchmark posted strong gains. While the index’s exposure to technology infrastructure is limited, the Fund maintained a higher allocation to the group, both in number of holdings as well as percentage weight relative to the benchmark. The Fund’s overweight to the sector represents one of the Fund’s largest overweights versus the index, although we did reduce exposure toward the end of the reporting period given the premium valuation many of the stocks were trading at relative to their historic averages. In terms of stock selection within the category, the Fund’s exposure to Equinix Inc. led the way. The company was the Fund’s largest holding in the data center group and contributed nearly half of the relative outperformance with the technology infrastructure sector. The stock’s momentum continued as the

 

10


company’s earnings once again beat analysts’ estimates by a significant margin. The company also raised its full-year guidance, which led several sell-side firms to raise their respective price targets, providing another tailwind for the company’s stock performance.

The Fund also benefited equally from an overweight in industrial real estate and widespread favorable security selection within the sector. Industrial real estate is directly benefiting from the same dynamics in the marketplace that are weighing on the regional mall/retail real estate sector, which is the disruption from ecommerce. The industrial group continued to demonstrate some of the strongest fundamentals with increasing demand for logistics and fulfillment facilities outstripping what has been a rather contained supply situation. These underlying fundamentals led to solid earnings growth expectations, which were rewarded by strong investor demand. As a result, the group delivered the best total return among all of the sub-property types within the index during the reporting period. While the U.S. names did perform well during the reporting period, the Fund’s exposure to international companies, several of which are not included in the benchmark, contributed even more significantly to the outperformance.

The mall sector was also a significant contributor to the Fund’s relative performance, due to both our underweight position and security selection. The sector struggled and was the only property type to post a negative return as measured by the index constituents in an otherwise strong reporting period where the other commercial real estate sectors were up by double digits. Retail store closings were predicted to be the highest ever in 2019 due largely to the disruption from ecommerce, shrinking footprints for retailers and a change of business mix for regional malls as they target more experiential options and restaurants versus traditional apparel storefronts. As a result, we continued to see significant underperformance from some companies within the mall sector. We have focused the Fund’s exposure in higher quality mall operators where they exist and in geographies less impacted by the above-mentioned trends. Additionally, the Fund’s exposure is more than 4% lower than the weight of the mall sector in the index. Given the weak and declining fundamentals, we believed capital could be better deployed in more productive areas where positive returns were more likely.

Our stock selection within the office sector also contributed to the Fund’s relative performance versus the benchmark. The most beneficial holding was a position in Terreis, a French office company that is not represented in the index. Fundamentals remained positive within the French office sector as low vacancy rates and limited high quality space placed pricing power in the hands of the landlords, leading to solid earnings growth. Although declining interest rates served as a tailwind, the most significant company-specific driver for Terreis was its disposition of several assets to a Swiss insurer at a premium to appraised property value. Investors viewed the transaction favorably as follow through on management’s stated strategy of accretive asset recycling to create value. The sale resulted in the announcement of a significant special dividend to be paid to Terreis shareholders as well as a share buyback tender offer at a substantial premium to where shares were trading, both of which were well received.

Finally, health care was a contributor and was driven by selection within the group. We continued to favor the life science area (lab space for research), as well as medical office space within the group. The Fund’s overweight positions in companies whose businesses are more focused in these areas led the outperformance within the sector. Medical office and lab facilities continued to benefit from stronger demand in core markets, expected growth rates that are higher than other areas of health care-focused real estate, and solid expected returns on property development pipelines. These strong fundamentals were key to the investor interest in these securities, which led to their outperformance. Conversely, companies with higher amounts of senior housing and skilled nursing exposure struggled. While demographics favor the senior housing category, new supply delivered to the market over the past several years has led to underutilization of space and a lack of pricing power for property owners. Although these issues are improving, superior growth expectations elsewhere garnered higher amounts of investor interest and better returns. Therefore, our underweight exposure to this group also benefited performance.

The leading performance detractor during the reporting period was the Fund’s cash exposure. We usually do not call out cash as a detractor since we keep the Fund more or less fully invested, which means the cash allocation is typically below 5% of overall portfolio assets. While slightly less than 2% of the Fund was allocated to cash during the reporting period, it served as a drag on performance. No other sector detracted, which limits our ability to provide commentary on any material laggards.

Based on improving economic data and lessening political risk, we began to slightly shift the Fund’s positioning away from more defensive property types and toward those that have more economic sensitivity. Also, the change in investor appetite for risk provided additional momentum for some of the more cyclical sectors within the real estate universe. We added exposure in the

 

11


Portfolio Managers’ Comments (continued)

 

industrial property area while reducing exposure to the more defensive health care and self-storage areas. By the end of the reporting period, industrial real estate was the Fund’s largest overweight due to positive supply-and-demand trends. Given the ecommerce disruption within the retail sector, the fundamental picture remains solid for the group. Also, international markets appear to be beginning to make up ground relative to the U.S. as fulfillment and third-party logistics are earlier on in their life cycle as it pertains to online retailing, which remains the secular theme most beneficial to the industrial group. Technology infrastructure was the Fund’s second largest overweight at the end of the reporting period, also driven by positive supply-and-demand trends. In the cell tower area, global tower growth continues on the back of individual and corporate demand for more data, while necessary future equipment upgrades for 5G have benefited tower companies as well. Also, the data center industry remains poised to benefit from demand for space to house servers to support several themes including cloud computing, big data and web-based enterprise technology solutions. While we did trim our holdings within the technology infrastructure group overall, the strength of the underlying fundamentals has so far continued somewhat uninterrupted.

Nuveen Real Asset Income Fund

How did the Fund perform during the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2019?

The table in the Fund Performance and Expense Ratios section of this report provides total returns for the Fund for the one-year, five-year and/or since inception periods ended December 31, 2019. Comparative performance information is provided for the Fund’s Class A Shares at net asset value (NAV). The Fund’s Class A Shares at NAV outperformed the Real Asset Income Blend benchmark, the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield Bond Index and the Lipper classification average during the twelve-month reporting period.

What strategies were used to manage the Fund during the reporting period and how did these strategies influence performance?

The Fund seeks a high level of current income with a secondary objective of capital appreciation by investing in a global portfolio of infrastructure and commercial real estate related securities (i.e. real assets) across the capital structure. These securities include a combination of infrastructure and real estate common stock, infrastructure and real estate preferred stock, and infrastructure and real estate related debt. Our goal is to combine these securities into a portfolio that provides investors with an attractive level of income and dampens levels of risk versus the broader equity market. We continued to select securities using an investment process that screens for companies and assets across the real assets market that provide higher yields. From the group of securities providing significant yields, we focus on owning those companies and securities with the highest total return potential in the Fund. Our process places a premium on finding securities whose revenues come from tangible assets with long-term concessions, contracts or leases and are therefore capable of producing steady, predictable and recurring cash flows. The Fund’s management team employs a bottom-up, fundamental approach to security selection and portfolio construction. We look for stable companies that demonstrate consistent and growing cash flow, strong balance sheets and histories of being good stewards of shareholder capital.

During the reporting period, all five of the real asset categories represented in the Real Asset Income Blend benchmark produced strong double-digit absolute returns. After outperforming global equities for a good portion of the reporting period, global real estate took a bit of a breather in the final months of the reporting period. The global real estate sector also lagged broader global equity markets, which enjoyed a strong gain for the reporting period. The global infrastructure segment outpaced real estate during the reporting period, but also wasn’t able to keep up with the strength of broader equity markets. After leading markets earlier in the reporting period, defensive areas of the markets underperformed broader equities in the final months due to the decline in geopolitical risk (most notably the decisive win by the Conservative Party in the recent U.K. election), improving global economic data and a “risk-on” rally in the marketplace.

Given the reversal in risk appetite along with the lessening of geopolitical tensions, interest rates experienced a modest uptick in the final months of the reporting period. However, rates were still significantly lower for the reporting period, providing a favorable backdrop for debt and preferred securities. The 10-year Treasury yield, for example, fell from 2.66% at the beginning of 2019 to 1.92% by the end of the reporting period. These more rate sensitive parts of the capital structure also posted strong absolute returns. High yield gained 14.32%, as measured by the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield Index, providing the strongest annual return for the sector since 2016. The high yield segment continued to benefit from strong credit fundamentals and default

 

12


rates near all-time lows. The two preferred indexes within the Fund’s Real Asset Income Blend benchmark also finished the reporting period strongly in positive territory. The Wells Fargo Hybrid & Preferred Securities REIT Index returned 19.25%, while the Bloomberg Barclays Global Capital Securities Index rose 14.17% during the reporting period.

During the reporting period, the REIT common equity segment was the primary driver of the Fund’s significant outperformance versus the benchmark, although the global infrastructure preferred and REIT preferred segments of the portfolio also contributed favorably. The global infrastructure common equity and high yield segments detracted from relative results.

The vast majority of the Fund’s outperformance versus its blended benchmark was due to stock selection in the real estate common equity portion of the portfolio. Selection was particularly beneficial in health care REITs, where the Fund had a higher weight and the securities we selected outperformed. Within this more defensive sector, we continued to benefit from our emphasis on the life science area (lab space for research), as well as medical office space, which are two areas where demand remains strong. Medical office and lab facilities continue to benefit from stronger demand in core markets, expected growth rates that are higher than other areas of health care-focused real estate, and solid expected returns on property development pipelines. Strong fundamentals were key to the investor interest in these securities, which led to their outperformance. Our underweight exposure and security selection in the mall sector also benefited the Fund’s relative results in the sector. During a strong reporting period for commercial real estate where every other sector advanced by double digits, the mall sector continued to struggle due to the well-documented disruption from ecommerce, which is shrinking footprints for retailers. Also, regional malls are seeing a change in business mix as they target more experiential options and restaurants versus traditional apparel storefronts. We have focused the Fund’s exposure in higher quality mall operators and in geographies less impacted by the above-mentioned trends for quite some time, a strategy that paid off during the reporting period.

Security selection within infrastructure preferreds benefited performance. A significant portion of the outperformance was the result of the Fund’s real asset mandate, which precludes the Fund from owning financial preferreds such as banks and larger conglomerate financial institutions. Although returns for these financial preferreds were also strong, the segment underperformed due to the market’s preference for more defensive company types for most of the reporting period as well as declining interest rates that can impact banking profitability. Technology infrastructure and pipeline preferreds provided strong absolute and relative performance for the Fund, neither of which are well represented in the blended benchmark. Technology infrastructure preferreds were bolstered by strong secular demand, while positive fundamentals and increasing oil prices helped to drive pipeline preferred shares higher.

The third leading contributor to relative outperformance came largely from our security selection within the REIT preferred segment. Within the segment, the Fund benefited from our exposures to technology infrastructure and self-storage preferreds, and our continued underweight to malls. The mall underweight was predicated on continued market share gains by ecommerce companies and ongoing store closures due to falling retail sales, especially in apparel.

The global infrastructure common equity portion of the portfolio was the greatest detractor. As noted above, global infrastructure common equity was the strongest performing asset class in the Fund during the reporting period. While our infrastructure equity holdings in the portfolio slightly outperformed those of the benchmark, the Fund’s underweight allocation negatively impacted relative returns. Our underweight to the group relative to REIT equities was primarily due to regulatory and political risk, especially in Europe and the U.K. For example, the portfolio has been underweight in the U.K. for some time because of Brexit uncertainty and the subsequent potential political fallout that could impact infrastructure assets. However, late in the reporting period, the decisive Conservative Party election victory and December 2019 Parliament vote to depart from the European Union (EU) in January 2020 removed some of the uncertainty surrounding Brexit. More importantly, it also eliminated the possibility of a Labour Party government that had suggested potential nationalization of several different infrastructure business types, which had weighed on those sectors, particularly regulated utilities. Additionally, the regulatory environment in Spain had created an overhang on infrastructure, especially regulated utilities in that country as allowable returns were reset in a lower rate environment, which did impact our outlook for returns for much of the reporting period. More specifically in terms of sectors, the Fund’s underweight allocation to the pipeline and airport sectors was most detrimental to relative performance. In the pipeline area, the second strongest performing sector within global infrastructure equity during the reporting period, we have tended to focus the Fund’s exposures in preferred securities, which offer exposure to the sector with less volatility relative to the common equity exposure. We also had a lower weight than the benchmark in airports, driven almost exclusively by the Fund’s primary objective to provide income. Although many airport companies are

 

13


Portfolio Managers’ Comments (continued)

 

represented in the benchmark, few have dividend yields high enough to warrant inclusion in the portfolio, leading to the Fund’s persistent underweight to the group. Given the strong performance of both pipelines and airport equities during the year, our underweight position detracted in relative terms.

The high yield debt portfolio also detracted modestly from the Fund’s relative performance, mainly from security selection in the electric utilities sector early in the reporting period. We held two independent power producers whose primary agreements were with PG&E, California’s largest utility. These holdings underperformed after PG&E filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection due to its potential liability related to a number of wildfires. Subsequently, we eliminated any material exposure to the uncertainty surrounding California wildfire liability from our debt portfolio.

We continued to actively manage the Fund’s allocations among the five investment categories to reflect what we believed to be the best opportunities in our investment universe. We took advantage of the strong high yield market and repositioned the debt portfolio. In the process, we continued to migrate the portfolio higher in quality relative to historic ranges, while reducing its exposure to less liquid issues. We also improved the high yield portfolio’s diversification by reducing issuer concentration and adding new issuers to the debt sleeve. We maintained a geographic representation in the debt portfolio that was similar to the equity and preferred categories. And similar to the preferred segment, utilities and pipeline infrastructure holdings remained the largest sectors in the debt portion of the portfolio at the end of the reporting period.

We also modestly increased exposure to equities in general, which further reduced the Fund’s overall underweight in equities. The primary source of funds for the rebalancing was a slight reduction in both infrastructure and real estate preferred shares, which both had a strong year in terms of total return. Although reduced, the Fund’s overall preferred exposure (infrastructure and real estate) remains overweight, but only slightly now meaning the allocations to equity, preferred, and debt are near neutral relative to where we would expect them to be over longer time periods.

Toward the end of the reporting period, we began to very slightly increase exposure to areas within the Fund’s investment universe that have greater sensitivity to the global economic cycle in response to the uptick in global economic data and declining geopolitical risk. This was in contrast to many of our positioning changes made throughout earlier part of the reporting period when we were more interested in companies whose earnings were somewhat decoupled from the economic cycle. However, we remained committed to higher quality companies within the Fund’s portfolio relative to historic ranges.

Nuveen Real Estate Securities Fund

How did the Fund perform during the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2019?

The table in the Fund Performance and Expense Ratios section of this report provides total returns for the Fund for the one-year, five-year, ten-year and/or since inception periods ended December 31, 2019. Comparative performance information is provided for the Fund’s Class A Shares at net asset value (NAV). The Fund’s Class A Shares at NAV underperformed the MSCI U.S. REIT Index and the Lipper classification average during the twelve-month reporting period.

What strategies were used to manage the Fund during the reporting period and how did these strategies influence performance?

The Fund seeks to provide above average current income and long-term capital appreciation by investing in income producing common stocks of publicly traded companies engaged in the real estate industry. During the reporting period, we continued to implement the Fund’s strategy of investing on a relative value basis with a focus on individual stocks rather than economic or market cycles. We also continued to invest the Fund in a fairly sector neutral manner with a goal of providing a well-diversified portfolio of public real estate stocks to our shareholders. A sector neutral approach reduces the impact of any one property type on relative performance. Additionally, we continued to invest in a broader universe of stocks than our benchmark index to access more dynamic parts of the commercial real estate cycle.

After outperforming global equities for a good portion of the reporting period, the public commercial real estate sector took a bit of a breather in the final months of the reporting period. The segment ended the reporting period with a strong advance of 25.84% (MSCI U.S. REIT Index), but shy of the overall broader equity market’s return of 31.49%, as measured by the S&P 500®. REITs

 

14


benefited from the Fed’s policy pivot and other central bank’s dovish moves earlier in the year, which led to an overall decline in U.S. and global interest rates. Real estate investment trusts (REITs) tend to be more sensitive to interest rate movements than equities in general. However, in the final months of the reporting period, a reduction in geopolitical risk and a global economic indicator reacceleration led to a higher appetite in the market for value and cyclicals and paved the way for modestly higher interest rates. Together, these factors contributed to short-term underperformance for commercial real estate at the end of the reporting period.

The Fund experienced strong absolute returns during the reporting period, but modestly underperformed its benchmarks. The only noteworthy detractors during the reporting period were found in the community center and net lease sectors, while the Fund experienced solid outperformance in the health care REIT, mall, industrial and technology infrastructure sectors.

The community center space was the leading detractor from the Fund’s relative performance versus its benchmark. We have maintained a bias toward higher quality companies and assets within the group similar to our positioning in the regional mall category discussed later in the report. In general terms, that meant an underweight to some of the higher yielding companies in the group whose assets trade at somewhat higher capitalization rates. However, the market favored these higher yielding names and they outperformed as rates declined, which led to the Fund’s relative underperformance in the community center space.

In the net lease sector, both security selection and an underweight versus the benchmark hurt performance during the reporting period. An underweight to WP Carey Inc. provided the largest drag within the sector after its shares performed well following a merger that was well received by the market. The Fund was underweight the stock based on our concerns regarding future earnings growth, but the transaction was the focal point for investors during the reporting period. Performance was also hindered by an overweight position in Four Corners Property Trust Inc., although we didn’t see any apparent fundamental reason that led to the underperformance of this company. It appears that investors showed favoritism for competitors with slightly lower multiples and slightly higher dividend yields during the reporting period. However, the underlying tenancy and core business of Four Corners remained solid and we maintained the Fund’s overweight.

The Fund’s leading contribution during the reporting period came from favorable stock selection in the health care REIT sector. We continued to favor the life science area (lab space for research), as well as medical office space within the group. Our overweight positions in companies whose businesses are more focused in these areas contributed to the outperformance within the sector. Medical office and lab facilities continued to benefit from stronger demand in core markets, expected growth rates that are higher than other areas of health care-focused real estate, and solid expected returns on property development pipelines. Strong fundamentals were key to the investor interest in these securities, which led to their outperformance. Specifically within the life science area, the Fund’s overweight position in Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc. aided performance. Conversely, companies with higher amounts of senior housing and skilled nursing exposure struggled. While demographics favor the senior housing category, new supply delivered to the market over the past several years has led to underutilization of space and a lack of pricing power for property owners. Although these issues are improving, superior growth expectations elsewhere garnered higher amounts of investor interest and better returns. Therefore, our underweight exposure to this group also benefited performance.

The mall sector was the second most significant contributor to the Fund’s relative performance, due to both our security selection and underweight position. The sector struggled all year and was the only property type to post significantly negative returns with a more than 10% decline as measured by the index constituents in an otherwise strong year for commercial real estate. Retail store closings are predicted to be the highest ever in 2019 due largely to the disruption from ecommerce, shrinking footprints for retailers, and a change of business mix for regional malls as they target more experiential options and restaurants versus traditional apparel storefronts. As a result, we continued to see significant underperformance from some companies within the mall sector. For quite some time, we have emphasized exposure to higher quality mall operators that have capital to redevelop assets to keep or increase foot traffic and sales. These companies have held up much better than those whose tenants are lower quality and whose assets aren’t as likely to draw shoppers. During the reporting period, our only significant position in the sector was Simon Property Group Inc., the largest mall operator in the U.S. All of our outperformance within the group came from having little to no exposure to the remaining six of seven names in the index.

The Fund also benefited from an overweight and security selection in industrial real estate. The sector is directly benefiting from the same dynamics in the marketplace that are weighing on the regional mall/retail real estate sector, which is the disruption from ecommerce. The industrial group continued to demonstrate some of the strongest fundamentals with ever-increasing demand for

 

15


Portfolio Managers’ Comments (continued)

 

logistics and fulfillment facilities outstripping what has been a rather contained supply situation. These underlying fundamentals led to solid earnings growth expectations, which were rewarded by strong investor demand. As a result, the group delivered some of the best total returns of the sub-property types within commercial real estate during the reporting period.

Technology infrastructure, a group comprised mainly of data center and cellular tower companies, rounded out the Fund’s top four performance contributors mainly due to security selection within the data center space. Specifically, the Fund benefited from underweights to Digital Realty Trust Inc. and CyrusOne Inc. Early in the reporting period, Digital Realty came out with guidance pointing to negative high single-digit declines on previous leases for a large tenant. While the issue was well known, the magnitude may have surprised investors somewhat causing relative underperformance for the name. The company was still able to provide investors with an attractive positive return, but it substantially lagged its peers within the sector. The Fund’s underweight to CyrusOne was primarily the result of our anticipation of the company’s equity needs for new development and our somewhat lower growth expectations. CyrusOne did in fact announce an equity raise to fund new developments. Toward the end of the reporting period, the market became more focused on the company’s potential growth going forward. After raising full-year guidance in the third quarter 2019, CyrusOne’s management reversed course and lowered the high end of the range in the fourth quarter 2019, while acknowledging an impairment loss on real estate. As a result, CyrusOne gave back earlier gains.

In terms of changes during the reporting period, we maintained our biases to large cap over small cap and high quality over lower quality, which were reflected in the Fund’s core/high-conviction names, especially within the mall sector. Based on improving economic data and lessening political risk, we changed course somewhat toward the end of 2019 relative to positioning in the first nine months of the year and began to increase the Fund’s weights in areas that are more linked to the global economic cycle. We added exposure to the office, industrial and hotel REIT sectors using capital from the self-storage, manufactured home and apartment sectors.

 

16


Risk Considerations and Dividend Information

 

Risk Considerations

Nuveen Global Infrastructure Fund

Mutual fund investing involves risk; principal loss is possible. Concentration in infrastructure-related securities involves sector risk and concentration risk, particularly greater exposure to adverse economic, regulatory, political, legal, liquidity, and tax risks associated with master limited partnerships (MLPs) and real estate investment trusts (REITS). Foreign investments involve additional risks including currency fluctuations and economic and political instability. These risks are magnified in emerging markets. Common stocks are subject to market risk or the risk of decline. Small- and mid-cap stocks are subject to greater price volatility. The use of derivatives involves substantial financial risks and transaction costs. The Fund’s potential investment in other investment companies means shareholders bear their proportionate share of fund expenses and indirectly, the expenses of other investment companies. Fund investments in exchange trade funds (ETFs) may involve tracking error. Preferred securities may involve greater credit risk than other debt instruments.

Nuveen Global Real Estate Securities Fund

Mutual fund investing involves risk; principal loss is possible. There is no guarantee the Fund’s investment objectives will be achieved. The real estate industry is greatly affected by economic downturns or by changes in real estate values, rents, property taxes, interest rates, tax treatment, regulations, or the legal structure of the REIT. Prices of equity securities may decline significantly over short or extended periods of time. Non-U.S. investments involve risks such as currency fluctuation, political and economic instability, lack of liquidity and differing legal and accounting standards. These risks are magnified in emerging markets. These and other risk considerations, such as active management, derivatives, preferred security, and, small and mid-cap risks, are described in detail in the Fund’s prospectus.

Nuveen Real Asset Income Fund

Mutual fund investing involves risk; principal loss is possible. Equity investments such as those held by the Fund are subject to market risk, call risk, derivatives risk, other investment companies risk, common stock risk, and tax risks associated with master limited partnerships (MLPs). Concentration in specific sectors may involve greater risk and volatility than more diversified investments: real estate sector involves the risk of exposure to economic downturns and changes in real estate values, rents, property taxes, interest rates and tax laws; infrastructure-related securities may involve greater exposure to adverse economic, regulatory, political, legal, and other changes affecting such securities. Foreign investments involve additional risks, including currency fluctuation, political and economic instability, lack of liquidity, and differing legal and accounting standards. These risks are magnified in emerging markets. Investments in small- and mid-cap companies are subject to greater volatility. In addition, the Fund will bear its proportionate share of any fees and expenses paid by the exchange trade funds (ETFs) in which it invests.

Debt or fixed income securities such as those held by the Fund are subject to market risk, credit risk, interest rate risk and income risk. As interest rates rise, bond prices fall. Below investment grade or high yield debt securities are subject to liquidity risk and heightened credit risk. Preferred securities are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure and therefore are subject to greater credit risk. Asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities are subject to additional risks such as prepayment risk, liquidity risk, default risk and adverse economic developments.

Nuveen Real Estate Securities Fund

Mutual fund investing involves risk; principal loss is possible. Common stocks and REITs such as those held in the Fund involve market risk, concentration risk, sector risk, and non-diversification risk. The real estate industry is greatly affected by economic downturns that may persist as well as changes in property values, taxes, and regulatory developments. Foreign investments involve additional risks including currency fluctuations, and economic or political instability. These risks are magnified in emerging markets. The use of derivatives involves substantial financial risks and transaction costs. Small cap stocks may experience more volatility than large cap stocks.

 

17


Risk Considerations and Dividend Information (continued)

 

Dividend Information

Regular dividends are declared and distributed annually for Nuveen Global Infrastructure Fund, declared daily and distributed monthly for Nuveen Real Asset Income Fund and declared and distributed quarterly for Nuveen Global Real Estate Securities Fund and Nuveen Real Estate Securities Fund. To permit a Fund to maintain a more stable dividend, the Fund may pay dividends at a rate that may be more or less than the amount of net investment income it actually earned during the period.

In certain instances, a portion of each Fund’s distributions may be paid from sources or comprised of elements other than ordinary income, including capital gains and/or a return of capital. This is generally due to the fact that the tax character of Fund distributions for a fiscal year is dependent upon the amount and tax character of distributions received from securities held in the Fund’s portfolio. Distributions received from certain securities in which the Fund invests, most notably real estate investment trust (REIT) securities, may be characterized for tax purposes as ordinary income, long-term capital gain and/or a return of capital. The issuer of a security typically reports the tax character of its distributions only once per year, generally during the first two months of the following calendar year. The full amount of the distributions received from such securities is included in the Fund’s ordinary income during the course of the year until such time the Fund is notified by the issuer of the actual tax character. To the extent that at the time of a particular distribution the Fund estimates that a portion of that distribution is attributable to a source or sources other than ordinary income, the Fund would send shareholders a notice to that effect. The final determination of the sources and tax character of all distributions for the fiscal year is made after the end of the fiscal year.

Additional Dividend Information for Nuveen Global Real Estate Securities Fund, Nuveen Real Asset Income Fund and Nuveen Real Estate Securities Fund

Nuveen Global Real Estate Securities Fund, Nuveen Real Asset Income Fund and Nuveen Real Estate Securities Fund seek to pay regular dividends at a rate that reflects the cash flow received from each Fund’s investments in portfolio securities. Fund distributions are not intended to include expected portfolio appreciation; however, the Funds invest in securities that make payments which ultimately may be fully or partially characterized for tax purposes by the securities’ issuers as gains or return of capital. While the reported sources of distributions may include capital gains and/or return of capital for tax purposes, the Funds intend to distribute only the net cash flow received as opposed to a distribution rate based on long-term total return. This tax treatment will generally “flow through” to the Funds’ distributions, but the specific tax treatment is often not known with certainty until after the end of the Funds’ tax year. As a result, certain portions of the regular distributions by Nuveen Real Asset Income Fund and Nuveen Real Estate Securities Fund throughout the year were later re-characterized for tax purposes as either long-term gains (both realized and unrealized), or as a non-taxable return of capital, as set forth in each Fund’s table below. Nuveen Global Real Estate Securities Fund did not have any such distribution re-characterizations.

Nuveen Real Asset Income Fund – Data as of December 31, 2019

 

Calendar Year 2019  
        Percentage of the Distribution     Per Share Amounts  
Share Class   Ticker Symbol   Net
Investment
Income
       Realized
Gains
       Return of
Capital
    Distributions        Net
Investment
Income
       Realized
Gains
       Return of
Capital
 

Class A

 

NRIAX

    97.30%          0.00%          2.70%     $ 1.4228        $ 1.3844        $ 0.0000        $ 0.0384  

Class C

 

NRICX

    96.92%          0.00%          3.08%     $ 1.2483        $ 1.2099        $ 0.0000        $ 0.0384  

Class R6

 

NRIFX

    97.44%          0.00%          2.56%     $ 1.4993        $ 1.4609        $ 0.0000        $ 0.0384  

Class I

 

NRIIX

    97.41%          0.00%          2.59%     $ 1.4798        $ 1.4414        $ 0.0000        $ 0.0384  

 

18


Nuveen Real Estate Securities Fund – Data as of December 31, 2019(1)

 

Calendar Year 2019  
        Percentage of the Distribution     Per Share Amounts  
Share Class   Ticker Symbol   Net
Investment
Income
       Realized
Gains
       Return of
Capital
    Distributions        Net
Investment
Income
       Realized
Gains
       Return of
Capital
 

Class A

 

FREAX

    14.37%          85.63%          0.0%     $ 2.2982        $ 0.3303        $ 1.9679        $ 0.0000  

Class C

 

FRLCX

    7.62%          92.38%          0.0%     $ 2.1303        $ 0.1624        $ 1.9679        $ 0.0000  

Class R3

 

FRSSX

    12.61%          87.39%          0.0%     $ 2.2519        $ 0.2840        $ 1.9679        $ 0.0000  

Class R6

 

FREGX

    17.81%          82.19%          0.0%     $ 2.3942        $ 0.4263        $ 1.9679        $ 0.0000  

Class I

 

FARCX

    16.61%          83.39%          0.0%     $ 2.3598        $ 0.3919        $ 1.9679        $ 0.0000  

 

(1)

The Fund owns REIT securities which attribute their distributions to various sources, including net investment income, gains and return of capital.

The amount and sources of distributions reported in this notice are for financial reporting purposes and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and character of the distributions for tax reporting purposes will be reported to shareholders on Form 1099-DIV which will be sent to shareholders shortly after calendar year-end. More details about each Fund’s distributions and the basis for these estimates are available on www.nuveen.com.

 

19


THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

 

20


Fund Performance and Expense Ratios

 

The Fund Performance and Expense Ratios for each Fund are shown within this section of the report.

Returns quoted represent past performance, which is no guarantee of future results. Investment returns and principal value will fluctuate so that when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown. Total returns for a period of less than one year are not annualized (i.e. cumulative returns). Since inception returns are shown for share classes that have less than 10-years of performance. Returns at net asset value (NAV) would be lower if the sales charge were included. Returns assume reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. For performance current to the most recent month-end visit nuveen.com or call (800) 257-8787.

Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

Returns may reflect fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements by the investment adviser during the periods presented. If any such waivers and/or reimbursements had not been in place, returns would have been reduced. See Notes to Financial Statements, Note 7—Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates for more information.

Returns reflect differences in sales charges and expenses, which are primarily differences in distribution and service fees, and assume reinvestment of dividends and capital gains.

Comparative index and Lipper return information is provided for Class A Shares at NAV only.

The expense ratios shown reflect total operating expenses (before fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements, if any) as shown in the most recent prospectus. The expense ratios include management fees and other fees and expenses.

 

21


Fund Performance and Expense Ratios (continued)

Nuveen Global Infrastructure Fund

 

Refer to the first page of this Fund Performance and Expense Ratios section for further explanation of the information included within this section. Refer to the Glossary of Terms Used in this Report for definitions of terms used within this section.

Fund Performance and Expense Ratios

 

       Inception
Date
       Average Annual

 

Total Returns as of December 31, 2019*

       Expense Ratios**  
        1-Year        5-Year        10-Year        Gross        Net  

Class A Shares at NAV

       12/17/07          29.27%          7.33%          9.52%          1.35%          1.22%  

Class A Shares at maximum Offering Price

       12/17/07          21.82%          6.06%          8.87%                    

S&P Global Infrastructure Index NR

                25.75%          5.61%          6.77%                    

Lipper Global Infrastructure Funds Classification Average

                27.10%          5.98%          8.89%                    

Class C Shares

       11/03/08          28.37%          6.54%          8.71%          2.11%          1.97%  

Class R3 Shares

       11/03/08          29.06%          7.08%          9.20%          1.60%          1.47%  

Class I Shares

       12/17/07          29.69%          7.60%          9.80%          1.10%          0.97%  

 

       Inception
Date
       Average Annual

 

Total Returns as of December 31, 2019*

       Expense Ratios**  
        1-Year        5-Year        Since Inception        Gross        Net  

Class R6 Shares

       6/30/16          29.70%          N/A          9.28%          1.02%          0.89%  

 

*

Class A Shares have a maximum 5.75% sales charge (Offering Price). Class A Share purchases of $1 million or more are sold at net asset value without an up-front sales charge but may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) of 1% if redeemed within eighteen months of purchase. Class C Shares have a 1% CDSC for redemptions within less than twelve months, which is not reflected in the total returns. Class C Shares automatically convert to Class A Shares ten years after purchase. Class R3 Shares have no sales charge and are only available for purchase by eligible retirement plans. Class R6 Shares have no sales charge and are available only to certain limited categories of investors as described in the prospectus. Class I Shares have no sales charge and may be purchased under limited circumstances or by specified classes of investors.

 

**

The Fund’s investment adviser has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse other Fund expenses through July 31, 2021 so that total annual Fund operating expenses (excluding 12b-1 distribution and/or service fees, interest expenses, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, fees incurred in acquiring and disposing of portfolio securities and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed 1.00% of the average daily net assets of any class of Fund shares. However, because Class R6 Shares are not subject to sub-transfer agent and similar fees, the total annual Fund operating expenses for Class R6 Shares will be less than the expense limitation. This expense limitation may be terminated or modified prior to that date only with the approval of the Board of Directors of the Fund.

Growth of an Assumed $10,000 Investment as of December 31, 2019 – Class A Shares

 

LOGO

The graphs do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder may pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

22


Fund Performance and Expense Ratios (continued)

Nuveen Global Real Estate Securities Fund

 

Refer to the first page of this Fund Performance and Expense Ratios section for further explanation of the information included within this section. Refer to the Glossary of Terms Used in this Report for definitions of terms used within this section.

Fund Performance and Expense Ratios

 

                Average Annual

 

Total Returns as of December 31, 2019*

       Expense Ratios**  
        Inception

Date

       1-Year        Since
Inception
       Gross        Net  

Class A Shares at NAV

       3/20/18          27.55%          13.81%          2.65%          1.30%  

Class A Shares at maximum Offering Price

       3/20/18          20.21%          10.10%                    

FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Developed Index NR

                21.91%          11.17%                    

Lipper Global Real Estate Funds Classification Average

                24.03%          11.51%                    

Class C Shares

       3/20/18          26.56%          12.96%          3.41%          2.05%  

Class R6 Shares

       3/20/18          27.91%          14.14%          2.38%          1.02%  

Class I Shares

       3/20/18          27.80%          14.06%          2.42%          1.05%  

 

*

Class A Shares have a maximum 5.75% sales charge (Offering Price). Class A Share purchases of $1 million or more are sold at net asset value without an up-front sales charge but may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) of 1% if redeemed within eighteen months of purchase. Class C Shares have a 1% CDSC for redemptions within less than twelve months, which is not reflected in the total returns. Class C Shares automatically convert to Class A Shares ten years after purchase. Class R6 Shares have no sales charge and are available only to certain limited categories of investors as described in the prospectus. Class I Shares have no sales charge and may be purchased under limited circumstances or by specified classes of investors.

 

**

The Fund’s investment adviser has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse other Fund expenses through July 31, 2021 so that total annual Fund operating expenses (excluding 12b-1 distribution and/or service fees, interest expenses, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, fees incurred in acquiring and disposing of portfolio securities and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed 1.09% of the average daily net assets of any class of Fund shares. However, because Class R6 Shares are not subject to sub-transfer agent and similar fees, the total annual Fund operating expenses for Class R6 Shares will be less than the expense limitation. This expense limitation may be terminated or modified prior to that date only with the approval of the Board of Trustees of the Fund.

Growth of an Assumed $10,000 Investment as of December 31, 2019 – Class A Shares

 

LOGO

The graphs do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder may pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

23


Fund Performance and Expense Ratios (continued)

Nuveen Real Asset Income Fund

 

Refer to the first page of this Fund Performance and Expense Ratios section for further explanation of the information included within this section. Refer to the Glossary of Terms Used in this Report for definitions of terms used within this section.

Fund Performance and Expense Ratios

 

                Average Annual

 

Total Returns as of December 31, 2019*

          
        Inception
Date
       1-Year        5-Year        Since
Inception
       Expense

Ratios

 

Class A Shares at NAV

       9/13/11          22.39%          6.39%          8.81%          1.14%  

Class A Shares at maximum Offering Price

       9/13/11          15.36%          5.13%          8.04%           

Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield Bond Index

                14.32%          6.13%          7.20%           

Real Asset Income Blend

                20.01%          5.79%          8.00%           

Lipper Real Return Classification Average

                15.47%          2.33%          2.09%           

Class C Shares

       9/13/11          21.50%          5.59%          8.01%          1.89%  

Class R6 Shares

       6/30/16          22.82%          N/A          7.57%          0.81%  

Class I Shares

       9/13/11          22.69%          6.65%          9.08%          0.89%  

 

*

Class A Shares have a maximum 5.75% sales charge (Offering Price). Class A Share purchases of $1 million or more are sold at net asset value without an up-front sales charge but may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) of 1% if redeemed within eighteen months of purchase. Class C Shares have a 1% CDSC for redemptions within less than twelve months, which is not reflected in the total returns. Class C Shares automatically convert to Class A Shares ten years after purchase. Class R6 Shares have no sales charge and are available only to certain limited categories of investors as described in the prospectus. Class I Shares have no sales charge and may be purchased under limited circumstances or by specified classes of investors.

Growth of an Assumed $10,000 Investment as of December 31, 2019 – Class A Shares

 

LOGO

The graphs do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder may pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

24


Fund Performance and Expense Ratios (continued)

Nuveen Real Estate Securities Fund

 

Refer to the first page of this Fund Performance and Expense Ratios section for further explanation of the information included within this section. Refer to the Glossary of Terms Used in this Report for definitions of terms used within this section.

Fund Performance and Expense Ratios

 

       Inception
Date
       Average Annual

 

Total Returns as of December 31, 2019*

       Expense
Ratios
 
        1-Year        5-Year        10-Year  

Class A Shares at NAV

       9/29/95          25.24%          6.46%          11.60%          1.26%  

Class A Shares at maximum Offering Price

       9/29/95          18.04%          5.21%          10.94%           

MSCI U.S. REIT Index

                25.84%          7.03%          11.93%           

Lipper Real Estate Funds Classification Average

                26.93%          6.68%          11.32%           

Class C Shares

       2/01/00          24.28%          5.67%          10.76%          2.02%  

Class R3 Shares

       9/24/01          24.88%          6.19%          11.32%          1.52%  

Class I Shares

       6/30/95          25.56%          6.72%          11.88%          1.02%  

 

       Inception
Date
       Average Annual

 

Total Returns as of December 31, 2019*

       Expense
Ratios
 
        1-Year        5-Year        Since Inception  

Class R6 Shares

       4/30/13          25.74%          6.89%          7.65%          0.88%  

 

*

Class A Shares have a maximum 5.75% sales charge (Offering Price). Class A Share purchases of $1 million or more are sold at net asset value without an up-front sales charge but may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) of 1% if redeemed within eighteen months of purchase. Class C Shares have a 1% CDSC for redemptions within less than twelve months, which is not reflected in the total returns. Class C Shares automatically convert to Class A Shares ten years after purchase. Class R3 Shares have no sales charge and are only available for purchase by eligible retirement plans. Class R6 Shares have no sales charge and are available only to certain limited categories of investors as described in the prospectus. Class I Shares have no sales charge and may be purchased under limited circumstances or by specified classes of investors.

Growth of an Assumed $10,000 Investment as of December 31, 2019 – Class A Shares

 

LOGO

The graphs do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder may pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

25


Holding Summaries    as of December 31, 2019

 

This data relates to the securities held in each Fund’s portfolio of investments as of the end of this reporting period. It should not be construed as a measure of performance for the Fund itself. Holdings are subject to change.

Nuveen Global Infrastructure Fund

 

Fund Allocation

(% of net assets)

 

   

Common Stocks

       94.1%  

Real Estate Investment Trust Common Stocks

       3.2%  

Investment Companies

       0.5%  

Repurchase Agreements

       1.9%  

Other Assets Less Liabilities

       0.3%  

Net Assets

       100%  

Top Five Common Stock & Real Estate Investment Trust

Common Stock Holdings

(% of net assets)

 

   

Transurban Group

       4.8%  

NextEra Energy Inc

       4.7%  

Aena SME SA

       4.6%  

Vinci SA

       3.7%  

Enbridge Inc

       3.6%  

Portfolio Composition

(% of net assets)

 

   

Transportation Infrastructure

       27.0%  

Electric Utilities

       23.8%  

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

       14.2%  

Multi-Utilities

       9.1%  

Construction & Engineering

       5.5%  

Other

       17.7%  

Repurchase Agreements

       1.9%  

Investment Companies

       0.5%  

Other Assets Less Liabilities

       0.3%  

Net Assets

       100%  

Country Allocation¹

(% of net assets)

 

   

United States

       37.7%  

France

       10.8%  

Spain

       10.2%  

Australia

       9.3%  

Canada

       8.1%  

Italy

       8.0%  

New Zealand

       2.5%  

Mexico

       1.7%  

Germany

       1.5%  

United Kingdom

       1.4%  

Japan

       1.3%  

Other

       7.2%  

Other Assets Less Liabilities

       0.3%  

Net Assets

       100%  
 

 

1

Includes 3.6% (as a percentage of net assets) in emerging market countries.

 

26


Nuveen Global Real Estate Securities Fund

 

Fund Allocation

(% of net assets)

 

   

Real Estate Investment Trust Common Stocks

       83.8%  

Common Stocks

       14.4%  

Real Estate Investment Trust Common Stocks Rights

       0.0%  

Repurchase Agreements

       1.3%  

Other Assets Less Liabilities

       0.5%  

Net Assets

       100%  

Top Five Common Stock & Real Estate Investment Trust

Common Stock Holdings

(% of net assets)

 

   

Prologis Inc

       3.0%  

Equinix Inc

       2.3%  

Duke Realty Corp

       2.3%  

Simon Property Group Inc

       2.1%  

Camden Property Trust

       2.0%  

Portfolio Composition

(% of net assets)

 

   

Residential

       15.7%  

Industrial

       14.0%  

Office

       13.6%  

Real Estate Management & Development

       13.1%  

Diversified

       11.6%  

Specialized

       10.4%  

Retail

       9.4%  

Health Care

       7.3%  

Other

       3.1%  

Repurchase Agreements

       1.3%  

Other Assets Less Liabilities

       0.5%  

Net Assets

       100%  

Country Allocation1

(% of net assets)

 

   

United States

       52.4%  

Japan

       10.4%  

Canada

       5.5%  

Germany

       5.3%  

United Kingdom

       5.1%  

Australia

       4.8%  

Hong Kong

       3.7%  

Singapore

       3.0%  

France

       2.3%  

Sweden

       1.0%  

Spain

       0.9%  

New Zealand

       0.7%  

Other

       4.4%  

Other Assets Less Liabilities

       0.5%  

Net Assets

       100%  
 

 

1

Includes 1.6% (as a percentage of net assets) in emerging market countries.

 

27


Holding Summaries as of December 31, 2019 (continued)

 

Nuveen Real Asset Income Fund

 

Fund Allocation

(% of net assets)

 

   

Real Estate Investment Trust Common Stocks

       26.8%  

Common Stocks

       20.2%  

$25 Par (or similar) Retail Preferred

       14.8%  

Corporate Bonds

       14.1%  

$1,000 Par (or similar) Institutional Preferred

       13.2%  

Convertible Preferred Securities

       4.5%  

Variable Rate Senior Loan Interests

       1.9%  

Convertible Bonds

       0.6%  

Investment Companies

       0.4%  

Asset-Backed Securities

       0.2%  

Real Estate Investment Trust Common Stocks Rights

       0.0%  

Repurchase Agreements

       1.8%  

Other Assets Less Liabilities

       1.5%  

Net Assets

       100%  

Top Five Common Stock & Real Estate Investment Trust

Common Stock Holdings

(% of net assets)

 

   

VEREIT Inc

       1.7%  

Medical Properties Trust Inc

       1.4%  

STAG Industrial Inc

       1.3%  

Engie SA

       1.0%  

MGM Growth Properties LLC

       1.0%  

Portfolio Composition

(% of net assets)

 

   

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

       14.5%  

Electric Utilities

       14.4%  

Equity Real Estate Investment Trust

       11.5%  

Multi-Utilities

       9.1%  

Industrial

       5.3%  

Health Care

       5.1%  

Diversified

       4.6%  

Retail

       4.0%  

Real Estate Management & Development

       3.8%  

Gas Utilities

       2.8%  

Office

       2.4%  

Other

       18.6%  

Repurchase Agreements

       1.8%  

Investment Companies

       0.4%  

Asset-Backed Securities

       0.2%  

Other Assets Less Liabilities

       1.5%  

Net Assets

       100%  

Country Allocation1

(% of net assets)

 

   

United States

       58.2%  

Canada

       13.0%  

Australia

       4.4%  

Singapore

       3.5%  

France

       2.8%  

Italy

       1.9%  

United Kingdom

       1.7%  

Spain

       1.7%  

Germany

       1.4%  

Portugal

       1.0%  

Brazil

       0.9%  

Other

       8.0%  

Other Assets Less Liabilities

       1.5%  

Net Assets

       100%  
 

 

1

Includes 5.0% (as a percentage of net assets) in emerging market countries.

 

28


Nuveen Real Estate Securities Fund

 

Fund Allocation

(% of net assets)

 

   

Real Estate Investment Trust Common Stocks

       97.1%  

Common Stocks

       0.2%  

Money Market Funds

       1.2%  

Other Assets Less Liabilities

       1.5%  

Net Assets

       100%  

 

Portfolio Composition

(% of net assets)

 

   

Residential

       21.2%  

Specialized

       15.4%  

Industrial

       14.9%  

Office

       12.6%  

Health Care

       12.6%  

Retail

       11.0%  

Diversified

       6.0%  

Other

       3.6%  

Money Market Funds

       1.2%  

Other Assets Less Liabilities

       1.5%  

Net Assets

       100%  

Top Five Common Stock and Real Estate Investment Trust Common Stock Holdings

(% of net assets)

 

   

Prologis Inc

       5.8%  

Equinix Inc

       4.5%  

Duke Realty Corp

       4.3%  

Camden Property Trust

       3.9%  

Simon Property Group Inc

       3.9%  
 

 

29


Expense Examples

 

As a shareholder of one or more of the Funds, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including up-front and back-end sales charges (loads) or redemption fees, where applicable; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees, where applicable; and other Fund expenses. The Examples below are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Funds and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The Examples below are based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held through the period ended December 31, 2019.

The beginning of the period is July 1, 2019.

The information under “Actual Performance,” together with the amount you invested, allows you to estimate actual expenses incurred over the reporting period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.60) and multiply the result by the cost shown for your share class, in the row entitled “Expenses Incurred During Period” to estimate the expenses incurred on your account during this period.

The information under “Hypothetical Performance,” provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on each Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expense you incurred for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the following tables are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transaction costs. Therefore, the hypothetical information is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds or share classes. In addition, if these transaction costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

Nuveen Global Infrastructure Fund

 

       Share Class  
        Class A        Class C        Class R3        Class R6        Class I  

Actual Performance

                                                      

Beginning Account Value

     $ 1,000.00        $ 1,000.00        $ 1,000.00        $ 1,000.00        $ 1,000.00  

Ending Account Value

     $ 1,061.95        $ 1,058.69        $ 1,061.52        $ 1,063.42        $ 1,063.67  

Expenses Incurred During the Period

     $ 6.34        $ 10.22        $ 7.64        $ 4.68        $ 5.05  

Hypothetical Performance

(5% annualized return before expenses)

                                                      

Beginning Account Value

     $ 1,000.00        $ 1,000.00        $ 1,000.00        $ 1,000.00        $ 1,000.00  

Ending Account Value

     $ 1,019.06        $ 1,015.27        $ 1,017.80        $ 1,020.67        $ 1,020.32  

Expenses Incurred During the Period

     $ 6.21        $ 10.01        $ 7.48        $ 4.58        $ 4.94  

For each class of the Fund, expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized net expense ratio of 1.22%, 1.97%, 1.47%, 0.90%, and 0.97% for Classes A, C, R3, R6, and I respectively, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

30


Nuveen Global Real Estate Securities Fund

 

       Share Class  
        Class A        Class C        Class R6        Class I  

Actual Performance

                                           

Beginning Account Value

     $ 1,000.00        $ 1,000.00        $ 1,000.00        $ 1,000.00  

Ending Account Value

     $ 1,078.48        $ 1,074.47        $ 1,080.11        $ 1,079.32  

Expenses Incurred During the Period

     $ 6.81        $ 10.72        $ 4.93        $ 5.50  

Hypothetical Performance

(5% annualized return before expenses)

                                           

Beginning Account Value

     $ 1,000.00        $ 1,000.00        $ 1,000.00        $ 1,000.00  

Ending Account Value

     $ 1,018.65        $ 1,014.87        $ 1,020.47        $ 1,019.91  

Expenses Incurred During the Period

     $ 6.61        $ 10.41        $ 4.79        $ 5.35  

For each class of the Fund, expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized net expense ratio of 1.30%, 2.05%, 0.94%, and 1.05% for Classes A, C, R6, and I respectively, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

Nuveen Real Asset Income Fund

 

       Share Class  
        Class A        Class C        Class R6        Class I  

Actual Performance

                                           

Beginning Account Value

     $ 1,000.00        $ 1,000.00        $ 1,000.00        $ 1,000.00  

Ending Account Value

     $ 1,069.97        $ 1,066.02        $ 1,071.86        $ 1,071.26  

Expenses Incurred During the Period

     $ 5.95        $ 9.84        $ 4.18        $ 4.59  

Hypothetical Performance

(5% annualized return before expenses)

                                           

Beginning Account Value

     $ 1,000.00        $ 1,000.00        $ 1,000.00        $ 1,000.00  

Ending Account Value

     $ 1,019.46        $ 1,015.68        $ 1,021.17        $ 1,020.77  

Expenses Incurred During the Period

     $ 5.80        $ 9.60        $ 4.08        $ 4.48  

For each class of the Fund, expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized net expense ratio of 1.14%, 1.89%, 0.80%, and 0.88% for Classes A, C, R6, and I respectively, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

Nuveen Real Estate Securities Fund

 

       Share Class  
        Class A        Class C        Class R3        Class R6        Class I  

Actual Performance

                                                      

Beginning Account Value

     $ 1,000.00        $ 1,000.00        $ 1,000.00        $ 1,000.00        $ 1,000.00  

Ending Account Value

     $ 1,060.12        $ 1,055.80        $ 1,058.42        $ 1,061.80        $ 1,061.02  

Expenses Incurred During the Period

     $ 6.75        $ 10.62        $ 8.04        $ 4.63        $ 5.45  

Hypothetical Performance

(5% annualized return before expenses)

                                                      

Beginning Account Value

     $ 1,000.00        $ 1,000.00        $ 1,000.00        $ 1,000.00        $ 1,000.00  

Ending Account Value

     $ 1,018.65        $ 1,014.87        $ 1,017.39        $ 1,020.72        $ 1,019.91  

Expenses Incurred During the Period

     $ 6.61        $ 10.41        $ 7.88        $ 4.53        $ 5.35  

For each class of the Fund, expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized net expense ratio of 1.30%, 2.05%, 1.55%, 0.89%, and 1.05% for Classes A, C, R3, R6, and I respectively, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

31


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Board of Directors of Nuveen Investment Funds, Inc., Board of Trustees of Nuveen Investment Trust V and Shareholders of

Nuveen Global Infrastructure Fund

Nuveen Global Real Estate Securities Fund

Nuveen Real Asset Income Fund

Nuveen Real Estate Securities Fund

Opinions on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the portfolios of investments, of Nuveen Global Infrastructure Fund, Nuveen Global Real Estate Securities Fund, Nuveen Real Asset Income Fund and Nuveen Real Estate Securities Fund (hereafter collectively referred to as the “Funds”) as of December 31, 2019, the related statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2019, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2019 (for Nuveen Global Real Estate Securities Fund, for the period March 20, 2018 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2019), including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated therein (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of each of the Funds as of December 31, 2019, the results of each of their operations for the year then ended, the changes in each of their net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2019 (for Nuveen Global Real Estate Securities Fund, for the period March 20, 2018 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2019) and each of the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated therein in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinions

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Funds’ management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Funds’ financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Funds in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2019 by correspondence with the custodians and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Chicago, Illinois

February 27, 2020

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in Nuveen Funds since 2002.

 

32


Nuveen Global Infrastructure Fund

Portfolio of Investments    December 31, 2019

 

Shares     Description (1)                 Value  
 

LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS – 97.8%

     
 

COMMON STOCKS – 94.1%

     
      Air Freight & Logistics – 0.1%                  
  21,402    

Oesterreichische Post AG, (2)

                  $ 813,497  
      Commercial Services & Supplies – 4.3%                  
  141,337    

Waste Connections Inc

        12,831,986  
  122,952    

Waste Management Inc

                    14,011,610  
 

Total Commercial Services & Supplies

                    26,843,596  
      Construction & Engineering – 5.5%                  
  50,036    

Eiffage SA, (2)

        5,740,469  
  178,851    

Ferrovial SA, (2)

        5,418,674  
  205,741    

Vinci SA, (2)

                    22,914,107  
 

Total Construction & Engineering

                    34,073,250  
      Diversified Telecommunication Services – 2.1%                  
  90,812    

Cellnex Telecom SA, 144A, (2), (3)

        3,917,231  
  77    

HKBN Ltd, (2)

        129  
  178    

HKT Trust & HKT Ltd, (2)

        251  
  424,734    

Infrastrutture Wireless Italiane SpA, 144A

        4,159,182  
  4,437,353    

NetLink NBN Trust

        3,117,810  
  2,094,109    

Telesites SAB de CV, (3)

                    1,550,577  
 

Total Diversified Telecommunication Services

                    12,745,180  
      Electric Utilities – 23.8%                  
  59,082    

Alupar Investimento SA, (2)

        405,696  
  169,568    

American Electric Power Co Inc

        16,025,872  
  3,394,920    

AusNet Services, (2)

        4,048,394  
  389,936    

CK Infrastructure Holdings Ltd, (2)

        2,775,051  
  108,685    

CLP Holdings Ltd, (2)

        1,140,912  
  83,602    

Duke Energy Corp

        7,625,338  
  42,317    

Edison International

        3,191,125  
  967,041    

EDP – Energias de Portugal SA, (2)

        4,196,371  
  7,671    

Elia System Operator SA/NV

        680,621  
  1,504,522    

Enel SpA, (2)

        11,951,656  
  50,834    

Entergy Corp

        6,089,913  
  16,805    

Eversource Energy

        1,429,601  
  1,551,857    

Iberdrola SA, (2)

        15,992,766  
  76,621    

Interconexion Electrica SA ESP

        456,850  
  95,727    

Neoenergia SA, (2), (3)

        593,976  
  121,365    

NextEra Energy Inc

        29,389,748  

 

33


Nuveen Global Infrastructure Fund (continued)

Portfolio of Investments    December 31, 2019

 

Shares     Description (1)                 Value  
      Electric Utilities (continued)                  
  126,738    

Power Assets Holdings Ltd, (2)

      $ 927,166  
  456,290    

Power Grid Corp of India Ltd

        1,218,424  
  77,939    

PPL Corp

        2,796,451  
  331,201    

Red Electrica Corp SA, (2), (3)

        6,673,621  
  115,268    

Southern Co

        7,342,572  
  2,587,279    

Terna Rete Elettrica Nazionale SpA, (2)

        17,303,490  
  180,633    

Transmissora Alianca de Energia Eletrica SA, (2)

        1,403,669  
  63,895    

Xcel Energy Inc

                    4,056,694  
 

Total Electric Utilities

                    147,715,977  
      Gas Utilities – 2.1%                  
  229,755    

APA Group, (2)

        1,788,514  
  33,319    

Atmos Energy Corp

        3,727,063  
  123,544    

China Resources Gas Group Ltd, (2)

        678,845  
  27,189    

Enagas SA

        693,522  
  200,835    

ENN Energy Holdings Ltd, (2)

        2,194,161  
  353,343    

Hong Kong & China Gas Co Ltd, (2)

        690,386  
  99,119    

Italgas SpA, (2)

        605,984  
  46,577    

Naturgy Energy Group SA, (2), (3)

        1,172,856  
  28,085    

New Jersey Resources Corp

                    1,251,748  
 

Total Gas Utilities

                    12,803,079  
      Independent Power & Renewable Electricity Producers – 0.4%                  
  50,011    

Clearway Energy Inc

        997,719  
  26,034    

NextEra Energy Partners LP

                    1,370,690  
 

Total Independent Power & Renewable Electricity Producers

                    2,368,409  
      IT Services – 0.8%                  
  38,070    

InterXion Holding NV, (3)

        3,190,647  
  441,938    

NEXTDC Ltd, (2), (3)

                    2,041,832  
 

Total IT Services

                    5,232,479  
      Multi-Utilities – 9.1%                  
  40,675    

Ameren Corp

        3,123,840  
  40,045    

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners LP

        2,001,850  
  92,266    

CMS Energy Corp

        5,797,995  
  119,539    

Dominion Energy Inc

        9,900,220  
  57,339    

DTE Energy Co

        7,446,616  
  389,005    

Engie SA, (2)

        6,301,227  
  396,956    

EON SE, (2)

        4,242,218  
  233,374    

Hera SpA, (2)

        1,022,187  
  85,223    

National Grid PLC, Sponsored ADR

        5,340,925  
  32,178    

Sempra Energy

        4,874,323  
  76,993    

Suez, (2)

        1,166,695  

 

34


Shares     Description (1)                 Value  
      Multi-Utilities (continued)                  
  57,980    

WEC Energy Group Inc

                  $ 5,347,495  
 

Total Multi-Utilities

                    56,565,591  
      Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels – 14.2%                  
  105,669    

Cheniere Energy Inc, (3)

        6,453,206  
  557,331    

Enbridge Inc

        22,165,054  
  26,103    

Enterprise Products Partners LP

        735,060  
  47,473    

Gibson Energy Inc

        972,090  
  130,575    

Inter Pipeline Ltd

        2,266,498  
  792,512    

Kinder Morgan Inc

        16,777,479  
  9,987    

Koninklijke Vopak NV, (2)

        542,697  
  31,024    

Magellan Midstream Partners LP

        1,950,479  
  152,303    

ONEOK Inc

        11,524,768  
  78,538    

Pembina Pipeline Corp

        2,910,965  
  150,477    

TC Energy Corp

        8,021,929  
  162,711    

TC Energy Corp

        8,665,891  
  206,071    

Williams Cos Inc

                    4,888,004  
 

Total Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

                    87,874,120  
      Road & Rail – 3.6%                  
  677,395    

Aurizon Holdings Ltd, (2)

        2,485,988  
  11,343    

Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd

        2,891,898  
  13,292    

Central Japan Railway Co, (2)

        2,672,605  
  954,800    

ComfortDelGro Corp Ltd, (2)

        1,689,430  
  44,795    

East Japan Railway Co, (2)

        4,043,283  
  15,086    

Kansas City Southern

        2,310,572  
  360,730    

Rumo SA, (2), (3)

        2,348,123  
  20,175    

Union Pacific Corp

                    3,647,438  
 

Total Road & Rail

                    22,089,337  
      Transportation Infrastructure – 27.0%                  
  148,760    

Aena SME SA, 144A, (2), (3)

        28,519,945  
  69,232    

Aeroports de Paris, (2)

        13,707,492  
  280,806    

Atlantia SpA, (2)

        6,553,701  
  1,357,010    

Atlas Arteria Ltd, (2)

        7,461,465  
  1,983,188    

Auckland International Airport Ltd, (2)

        11,689,664  
  411,560    

China Merchants Port Holdings Co Ltd, (2)

        696,368  
  630,133    

COSCO SHIPPING Ports Ltd, (2)

        516,093  
  780,756    

Enav SpA, 144A

        4,659,118  
  72,130    

Flughafen Wien AG, (2)

        3,064,633  
  40,390    

Flughafen Zurich AG, (2)

        7,372,377  
  54,793    

Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide, (2)

        4,651,106  
  918,534    

Getlink SE, (2)

        16,014,517  

 

35


Nuveen Global Infrastructure Fund (continued)

Portfolio of Investments    December 31, 2019

 

Shares     Description (1)                 Value  
      Transportation Infrastructure (continued)                  
  41,174    

Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte SAB de CV, ADR

      $ 2,467,970  
  47,094    

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico SAB de CV, ADR

        5,585,819  
  15,818    

Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG, (2)

        433,748  
  7,296    

International Container Terminal Services Inc, (2)

        18,491  
  59,260    

Kamigumi Co Ltd, (2)

        1,302,645  
  106,597    

Macquarie Infrastructure Corp

        4,566,615  
  666,097    

Port of Tauranga Ltd, (2)

        3,567,295  
  41,246    

Promotora y Operadora de Infraestructura SAB de CV

        422,157  
  65,343    

Promotora y Operadora de Infraestructura SAB de CV

        483,830  
  213,081    

Societa Iniziative Autostradali e Servizi SpA

        3,570,853  
  1,672,045    

Sydney Airport, (2)

        10,158,878  
  2,831,871    

Transurban Group, (2)

        29,641,325  
  27,845    

Westshore Terminals Investment Corp

                    406,348  
 

Total Transportation Infrastructure

                    167,532,453  
      Water Utilities – 1.1%                  
  2,557,330    

Aguas Andinas SA

        1,084,897  
  30,218    

American Water Works Co Inc

        3,712,281  
  822,428    

Guangdong Investment Ltd, (2)

        1,720,157  
  21,189    

Pennon Group PLC, (2)

                    287,401  
 

Total Water Utilities

                    6,804,736  
 

Total Common Stocks (cost $461,633,281)

                    583,461,704  
Shares     Description (1)                 Value  
 

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST COMMON STOCKS – 3.2%

     
      Health Care – 0.2%                  
  647,815    

Parkway Life Real Estate Investment Trust

                  $ 1,599,127  
      Specialized – 3.0%                  
  17,857    

American Tower Corp

        4,103,896  
  16,129    

CoreSite Realty Corp

        1,808,384  
  57,203    

CyrusOne Inc

        3,742,792  
  11,057    

Digital Realty Trust Inc

        1,323,965  
  3,546    

Equinix Inc

        2,069,800  
  714,080    

Keppel DC REIT, (2)

        1,104,835  
  14,073    

QTS Realty Trust Inc

        763,742  
  14,223    

SBA Communications Corp

                    3,427,601  
 

Total Specialized

                    18,345,015  
 

Total Real Estate Investment Trust Common Stocks (cost $17,598,672)

                    19,944,142  

 

36


Shares     Description (1), (4)                 Value  
      INVESTMENT COMPANIES – 0.5%                  
  772,809    

3I Infrastructure PLC

                  $ 3,012,988  
 

Total Investment Companies (cost $2,700,580)

                    3,012,988  
 

Total Long-Term Investments (cost $481,932,533)

                    606,418,834  
Principal
Amount (000)
    Description (1)   Coupon     Maturity     Value  
 

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS – 1.9%

     
      REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS – 1.9%                  
$ 11,462    

Repurchase Agreement with Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, dated 12/31/19, repurchase price $11,462,074, collateralized by $11,260,000 U.S. Treasury Bonds, 2.500%, due 2/15/45, value $11,694,850

    0.650%       1/02/20     $ 11,461,660  
 

Total Short-Term Investments (cost $11,461,660)

                    11,461,660  
 

Total Investments (cost $493,394,193) – 99.7%

                    617,880,494  
 

Other Assets Less Liabilities – 0.3%

                    1,862,521  
 

Net Assets – 100%

                  $ 619,743,015  

For Fund portfolio compliance purposes, the Fund’s industry classifications refer to any one or more of the industry sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or ratings group indexes, and/or as defined by Fund management. This definition may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine industry sub-classifications into sectors for reporting ease.

 

(1)

All percentages shown in the Portfolio of Investments are based on net assets.

 

(2)

For fair value measurement disclosure purposes, investment classified as Level 2. See Notes to Financial Statements, Note 3 – Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements for more information.

 

(3)

Non-income producing; issuer has not declared a dividend within the past twelve months.

 

(4)

A copy of the most recent financial statements for these investment companies can be obtained directly from the Securities and Exchange Commission on its website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

144A

Investment is exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These investments may only be resold in transactions exempt from registration, which are normally those transactions with qualified institutional buyers.

 

ADR

American Depositary Receipt

 

REIT

Real Estate Investment Trust

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

37


Nuveen Global Real Estate Securities Fund

Portfolio of Investments    December 31, 2019

 

Shares     Description (1)                 Value  
 

LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS – 98.2%

 

 

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST COMMON STOCKS – 83.8%

 

      Diversified – 11.6%                  
  36,201    

Abacus Property Group, (2)

      $ 91,680  
  10    

Activia Properties Inc, (2)

        50,115  
  1,597    

Alexander & Baldwin Inc

        33,473  
  2,604    

American Assets Trust Inc

        119,524  
  10,189    

Charter Hall Long Wale REIT, (2)

        39,321  
  6,909    

Cominar Real Estate Investment Trust

        75,339  
  115,247    

Cromwell European Real Estate Investment Trust

        69,807  
  33    

Daiwa House REIT Investment Corp, (2)

        86,290  
  1,395    

Empire State Realty Trust Inc

        19,474  
  1,204    

Gecina SA

        215,544  
  81,851    

Goodman Property Trust, (2)

        122,396  
  49,526    

GPT Group, (2)

        195,085  
  24    

Heiwa Real Estate REIT Inc

        29,996  
  55    

Hulic Reit Inc

        99,821  
  25    

Kenedix Office Investment Corp, (2)

        193,157  
  2,148    

Liberty Property Trust

        128,987  
  66,159    

LondonMetric Property PLC

        207,343  
  146,943    

LXI REIT plc

        272,497  
  10,391    

Merlin Properties Socimi SA, (2)

        149,353  
  38,450    

Mirvac Group, (2)

        86,063  
  691    

PS Business Parks Inc

        113,925  
  164    

Star Asia Investment Corp, (2)

        176,287  
  12,486    

Stockland, (2)

        40,512  
  17,961    

Stride Property Group

        28,536  
  77,290    

Sunlight Real Estate Investment Trust, (2)

        49,997  
  50    

Tokyu REIT Inc, (2)

        94,816  
  28,186    

VEREIT Inc

        260,439  
  78    

Washington Real Estate Investment Trust

        2,276  
  2,494    

WP Carey Inc

                    199,620  
 

Total Diversified

                    3,251,673  
      Health Care – 7.3%                  
  180    

Aedifica SA

        22,856  
  8,197    

Healthcare Realty Trust Inc

        273,534  
  2,512    

Healthcare Trust of America Inc

        76,063  
  10,338    

Healthpeak Properties Inc

        356,351  
  10,152    

Medical Properties Trust Inc

        214,309  

 

38


Shares     Description (1)                 Value  
      Health Care (continued)                  
  648    

National Health Investors Inc

      $ 52,799  
  14,307    

NorthWest Healthcare Properties Real Estate Investment Trust

        131,441  
  3,323    

Omega Healthcare Investors Inc

        140,729  
  16,945    

Parkway Life Real Estate Investment Trust

        41,829  
  4,339    

Physicians Realty Trust

        82,181  
  331    

Primary Health Properties PLC

        702  
  3,150    

Ventas Inc

        181,881  
  5,812    

Welltower Inc

                    475,305  
 

Total Health Care

                    2,049,980  
      Hotels – 1.8%                  
  2,579    

Host Hotels & Resorts Inc

        47,840  
  3,156    

MGM Growth Properties LLC

        97,741  
  1,461    

Pebblebrook Hotel Trust

        39,169  
  1,135    

Ryman Hospitality Properties Inc

        98,359  
  742    

Summit Hotel Properties Inc

        9,156  
  15,401    

Sunstone Hotel Investors Inc

                    214,382  
 

Total Hotels

                    506,647  
      Industrial – 14.0%                  
  5,257    

Americold Realty Trust

        184,310  
  4,568    

APN Industria REIT, (2)

        9,326  
  61,830    

Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust, (2)

        136,604  
  47,962    

Centuria Industrial REIT, (2)

        112,433  
  11,171    

Deutsche Industrie REIT AG

        210,513  
  6,633    

Dream Industrial Real Estate Investment Trust

        67,119  
  18,416    

Duke Realty Corp

        638,483  
  691    

EastGroup Properties Inc

        91,675  
  41,240    

ESR-REIT

        16,251  
  197,953    

Frasers Logistics & Industrial Trust

        182,506  
  95    

GLP J-Reit

        117,947  
  18,488    

Goodman Group, (2)

        173,735  
  17    

LaSalle Logiport REIT, (2)

        25,270  
  9,930    

Lexington Realty Trust

        105,457  
  37,930    

Mapletree Industrial Trust, (2)

        73,357  
  69,509    

Mapletree Logistics Trust, (2)

        89,910  
  36    

Nippon Prologis REIT Inc, (2)

        91,689  
  9,519    

Prologis Inc

        848,524  
  2,171    

Rexford Industrial Realty Inc

        99,150  
  8,333    

Segro PLC, (2)

        99,225  
  4,877    

STAG Industrial Inc

        153,967  
  4,662    

Summit Industrial Income REIT

        43,297  

 

39


Nuveen Global Real Estate Securities Fund (continued)

Portfolio of Investments    December 31, 2019

 

Shares     Description (1)                 Value  
      Industrial (continued)                  
  1,303    

Terreno Realty Corp

      $ 70,544  
  95,195    

Warehouse Reit PLC

        140,596  
  9,284    

WPT Industrial Real Estate Investment Trust

                    128,026  
 

Total Industrial

                    3,909,914  
      Office – 13.6%                  
  2,469    

Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc

        398,941  
  3,194    

Allied Properties Real Estate Investment Trust

        128,075  
  2,741    

Boston Properties Inc

        377,874  
  11,446    

CapitaLand Commercial Trust, (2)

        16,952  
  21,559    

Centuria Metropolitan REIT, (2)

        43,937  
  9,131    

COIMA RES SpA, 144A, (2)

        90,560  
  490    

Columbia Property Trust Inc

        10,246  
  4,398    

Corporate Office Properties Trust

        129,213  
  622    

Cousins Properties Inc

        25,626  
  19    

Daiwa Office Investment Corp, (2)

        145,903  
  4,335    

Derwent London PLC

        230,260  
  28,384    

Dexus, (2)

        233,651  
  5,170    

Douglas Emmett Inc

        226,963  
  51,246    

GDI Property Group

        53,044  
  75,620    

Hibernia REIT plc

        119,600  
  3,311    

Hudson Pacific Properties Inc

        124,659  
  141    

Ichigo Office REIT Investment

        146,379  
  7,359    

Inmobiliaria Colonial Socimi SA, (2), (4)

        93,925  
  3,074    

Intervest Offices & Warehouses NV, (2)

        88,374  
  77    

Japan Excellent Inc

        124,583  
  3,804    

JBG SMITH Properties

        151,742  
  1,102    

Kilroy Realty Corp

        92,458  
  1,138    

Mack-Cali Realty Corp

        26,322  
  34    

Mori Trust Sogo Reit Inc

        60,956  
  33    

Nippon Building Fund Inc, (2)

        241,898  
  1,019    

NSI NV

        49,607  
  16    

Orix JREIT Inc, (2)

        34,681  
  5,162    

Paramount Group Inc

        71,855  
  423    

Piedmont Office Realty Trust Inc

        9,408  
  34,067    

Precinct Properties New Zealand Ltd, (2)

        42,091  
  3,006    

Vornado Realty Trust

                    199,899  
 

Total Office

                    3,789,682  
      Residential – 15.7%                  
  58    

American Campus Communities Inc

        2,728  
  8,735    

American Homes 4 Rent

        228,944  

 

40


Shares     Description (1)                 Value  
      Residential (continued)                  
  2,835    

Apartment Investment & Management Co

      $ 146,428  
  2,132    

AvalonBay Communities Inc

        447,080  
  2,066    

Boardwalk Real Estate Investment Trust

        73,075  
  5,255    

Camden Property Trust

        557,556  
  9,858    

Canadian Apartment Properties REIT

        402,428  
  2,613    

Equity LifeStyle Properties Inc

        183,929  
  3,920    

Equity Residential

        317,206  
  702    

Essex Property Trust Inc

        211,204  
  29,438    

European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust

        105,415  
  7,314    

InterRent Real Estate Investment Trust

        88,091  
  288    

Investors Real Estate Trust

        20,880  
  9,884    

Invitation Homes Inc

        296,223  
  31,944    

Irish Residential Properties REIT PLC, (4)

        56,972  
  153    

Japan Rental Housing Investments Inc

        149,684  
  49    

Kenedix Residential Next Investment Corp

        92,268  
  4,122    

Killam Apartment Real Estate Investment Trust

        60,121  
  1,636    

Mid-America Apartment Communities Inc

        215,723  
  3,307    

Minto Apartment Real Estate Investment Trust

        58,956  
  547    

NexPoint Residential Trust Inc

        24,615  
  1    

Nippon Accommodations Fund Inc

        6,314  
  1,638    

Sun Communities Inc

        245,864  
  4,323    

UDR Inc

        201,884  
  7,511    

UNITE Group PLC

        125,358  
  1,414    

Xior Student Housing NV

                    80,097  
 

Total Residential

                    4,399,043  
      Retail – 9.4%                  
  3,896    

Acadia Realty Trust

        101,023  
  1,139    

Agree Realty Corp

        79,924  
  1    

Altarea SCA

        227  
  591    

Brixmor Property Group Inc

        12,772  
  1,240    

Brookfield Property REIT Inc

        22,872  
  1,003    

Federal Realty Investment Trust

        129,116  
  3,235    

First Capital Real Estate Investment Trust

        51,494  
  37,071    

Fortune Real Estate Investment Trust, (2)

        43,253  
  58,039    

Frasers Centrepoint Trust, (2)

        121,371  
  86,705    

IGB Real Estate Investment Trust

        40,062  
  37    

Kenedix Retail REIT Corp

        94,156  
  46,471    

Link REIT, (2)

        492,312  
  23,304    

Mapletree Commercial Trust, (2)

        41,440  
  3,054    

National Retail Properties Inc

        163,755  

 

41


Nuveen Global Real Estate Securities Fund (continued)

Portfolio of Investments    December 31, 2019

 

Shares     Description (1)                 Value  
      Retail (continued)                  
  30,453    

NewRiver REIT PLC

      $ 80,878  
  2,862    

Realty Income Corp

        210,729  
  3,049    

Regency Centers Corp

        192,361  
  2,364    

RPT Realty

        35,555  
  10,070    

Scentre Group, (2)

        27,101  
  3,879    

Simon Property Group Inc

        577,816  
  5,239    

SITE Centers Corp

        73,451  
  1,207    

Urban Edge Properties

        23,150  
  50    

Weingarten Realty Investors

                    1,562  
 

Total Retail

                    2,616,380  
      Specialized – 10.4%                  
  427    

American Tower Corp

        98,133  
  4,931    

ARGAN SA

        429,214  
  2,580    

Big Yellow Group PLC, (2)

        40,977  
  17,659    

Charter Hall Social Infrastructure REIT

        40,151  
  392    

CoreSite Realty Corp

        43,951  
  2,305    

CubeSmart

        72,561  
  2,478    

CyrusOne Inc

        162,136  
  2,433    

Digital Realty Trust Inc

        291,327  
  1,325    

EPR Properties

        93,598  
  1,120    

Equinix Inc

        653,744  
  995    

Extra Space Storage Inc

        105,092  
  3,458    

Four Corners Property Trust Inc

        97,481  
  39,060    

Keppel DC REIT, (2)

        60,434  
  2,323    

Public Storage

        494,706  
  55    

QTS Realty Trust Inc

        2,985  
  10,763    

Safestore Holdings PLC

        114,909  
  64    

SBA Communications Corp

        15,423  
  4,066    

VICI Properties Inc

                    103,886  
 

Total Specialized

                    2,920,708  
 

Total Real Estate Investment Trust Common Stocks (cost $20,906,191)

                    23,444,027  
Shares     Description (1)                 Value  
 

COMMON STOCKS – 14.4%

     
      Diversified Telecommunication Services – 0.4%                  
  362    

Cellnex Telecom SA, 144A, (2), (4)

      $ 15,615  
  5,159    

Infrastrutture Wireless Italiane SpA, 144A

        50,519  
  55,298    

Telesites SAB de CV, (4)

                    40,945  
 

Total Diversified Telecommunication Services

                    107,079  

 

42


Shares     Description (1)                 Value  
      Health Care Providers & Services – 0.0%                  
  437    

Sienna Senior Living Inc

                  $ 6,145  
      Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure – 0.2%                  
  2,294    

Pandox AB

                    51,923  
      IT Services – 0.7%                  
  1,166    

InterXion Holding NV, (4)

        97,722  
  19,863    

NEXTDC Ltd, (2), (4)

                    91,771  
 

Total IT Services

                    189,493  
      Real Estate Management & Development – 13.1%                  
  5,600    

ADLER Real Estate AG, (4)

        85,429  
  8,617    

Aroundtown SA, (2)

        77,396  
  36,749    

Ascendas India Trust

        42,352  
  50,578    

Ayala Land Inc, (2)

        45,364  
  17,297    

BR Properties SA, (2)

        62,511  
  1,890    

CA Immobilien Anlagen AG

        79,395  
  16,321    

CapitaLand Ltd, (2)

        45,544  
  25    

City Developments Ltd, (2)

        203  
  21,599    

CK Asset Holdings Ltd, (2)

        155,863  
  51,117    

Corp Inmobiliaria Vesta SAB de CV

        92,244  
  11,633    

Cyrela Commercial Properties SA Empreendimentos e Participacoes, (4)

        73,482  
  2,777    

Dios Fastigheter AB, (2)

        25,446  
  2,847    

Entra ASA, 144A, (2)

        47,066  
  724    

Fabege AB, (2)

        12,027  
  1,050    

Fastighets AB Balder, (2), (4)

        48,595  
  21,696    

Godewind Immobilien AG, 144A, (4)

        115,355  
  25,330    

Grainger PLC

        105,085  
  3,619    

Kennedy-Wilson Holdings Inc

        80,704  
  204,935    

Land & Houses PCL, (4)

        67,049  
  3,292    

LEG Immobilien AG, (2)

        388,773  
  3,574    

Lifestyle Communities Ltd, (2)

        23,063  
  5,409    

Mitsubishi Estate Co Ltd, (2)

        103,500  
  22,197    

Mitsui Fudosan Co Ltd, (2), (DD1)

        542,493  
  11,787    

Nyfosa AB, (4)

        101,934  
  12,959    

Samhallsbyggnadsbolaget i Norden AB, (WI/DD)

        31,754  
  320    

Sino Land Co Ltd, (2)

        464  
  122,568    

Sirius Real Estate Ltd

        143,683  
  5,991    

Sumitomo Realty & Development Co Ltd, (2)

        209,023  
  19,536    

Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd, (2)

        299,191  
  9,711    

TAG Immobilien AG, (2)

        241,179  
  11,563    

Tricon Capital Group Inc

        94,655  
  4,031    

VIB Vermoegen AG

        134,743  

 

43


Nuveen Global Real Estate Securities Fund (continued)

Portfolio of Investments    December 31, 2019

 

Shares     Description (1)                 Value  
      Real Estate Management & Development – 13.1%                  
  1,444    

Vonovia SE, (2)

                  $ 77,556  
 

Total Real Estate Management & Development

                    3,653,121  
 

Total Common Stocks (cost $3,649,050)

                    4,007,761  
Shares     Description (1)                 Value  
 

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST COMMON STOCKS RIGHTS – 0.0%

     
      Diverse REIT – 0.0%                  
  830    

Charter Hall Long Wale REIT, (3), (4)

                  $  
 

Total Real Estate Investment Trust Common Stocks Rights (cost $0)

                     
 

Total Long-Term Investments (cost $24,555,241)

                    27,451,788  
Principal
Amount (000)
    Description (1)   Coupon     Maturity     Value  
 

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS – 1.3%

     
      REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS – 1.3%                  
$ 369    

Repurchase Agreement with Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, dated 12/31/19, repurchase price $369,066, collateralized by $365,000 U.S. Treasury Bonds, 2.500%, due 2/15/45, value $379,096

    0.650%       1/02/20     $ 369,053  
 

Total Short-Term Investments (cost $369,053)

                    369,053  
 

Total Investments (cost $24,924,294) – 99.5%

                    27,820,841  
 

Other Assets Less Liabilities – 0.5%

                    146,691  
 

Net Assets – 100%

                  $ 27,967,532  

 

For Fund portfolio compliance purposes, the Fund’s industry classifications refer to any one or more of the industry sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or ratings group indexes, and/or as defined by Fund management. This definition may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine industry sub-classifications into sectors for reporting ease.

 

(1)

All percentages shown in the Portfolio of Investments are based on net assets.

 

(2)

For fair value measurement disclosure purposes, investment classified as Level 2. See Notes to Financial Statements, Note 3 – Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements for more information.

 

(3)

Investment valued at fair value using methods determined in good faith by, or at the discretion of, the Board. For fair value measurement disclosure purposes, investment classified as Level 3. See Notes to Financial Statements, Note 3 – Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements for more information.

 

(4)

Non-income producing; issuer has not declared a dividend within the past twelve months.

 

144A

Investment is exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These investments may only be resold in transactions exempt from registration, which are normally those transactions with qualified institutional buyers.

 

DD1

Portion of investment purchased on a delayed delivery basis.

 

WI/DD

Purchased on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis.

 

REIT

Real Estate Investment Trust

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

44


Nuveen Real Asset Income Fund

Portfolio of Investments    December 31, 2019

 

Shares     Description (1)                                           Value  
 

LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS – 96.7%

                
 

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST COMMON STOCKS – 26.8%

                
      Diversified – 4.6%                                         
  1,245,032    

Abacus Property Group, (2)

                 $ 3,153,083  
  334,802    

Armada Hoffler Properties Inc

                   6,143,617  
  994,087    

Charter Hall Long Wale REIT, (2)

                   3,836,361  
  1,757    

Cofinimmo SA

                   258,178  
  376,621    

Cominar Real Estate Investment Trust

                   4,106,853  
  6,872,700    

Cromwell European Real Estate Investment Trust

                   4,162,918  
  292,174    

Growthpoint Properties Australia Ltd, (2)

                   851,016  
  80,270    

ICADE, (2)

                   8,740,359  
  2,481,957    

LXI REIT plc

                   4,602,640  
  2,258,989    

Nexus Real Estate Investment Trust

                   3,774,985  
  4,986    

Star Asia Investment Corp, (2)

                   5,359,559  
  897,604    

Stockland, (2)

                   2,912,331  
  761,517    

Stride Property Group

                   1,209,861  
  4,141,004    

VEREIT Inc

                   38,262,877  
  206,008    

WP Carey Inc

                                                 16,488,880  
 

Total Diversified

                                                 103,863,518  
      Health Care – 5.1%                                         
  1,473,362    

Medical Properties Trust Inc

                   31,102,672  
  184,731    

National Health Investors Inc

                   15,051,882  
  1,508,300    

NorthWest Healthcare Properties Real Estate Investment Trust

                   13,857,009  
  471,309    

Omega Healthcare Investors Inc

                   19,959,936  
  1,734,922    

Parkway Life Real Estate Investment Trust

                   4,282,643  
  1,089,396    

Physicians Realty Trust

                   20,633,160  
  2,189,413    

Target Healthcare REIT PLC

                   3,364,111  
  111,939    

Ventas Inc

                                                 6,463,358  
 

Total Health Care

                                                 114,714,771  
      Hotels – 1.8%                                         
  737,694    

MGM Growth Properties LLC

                   22,846,383  
  245,272    

Park Hotels & Resorts Inc

                   6,345,187  
  105,264    

Pebblebrook Hotel Trust

                   2,822,128  
  94,496    

Summit Hotel Properties Inc

                   1,166,081  
  489,438    

Sunstone Hotel Investors Inc

                                                 6,812,977  
 

Total Hotels

                                                 39,992,756  
      Industrial – 5.3%                                         
  1,163,067    

APN Industria REIT, (2)

                   2,374,491  
  4,502,132    

Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust, (2)

                   9,946,801  

 

45


Nuveen Real Asset Income Fund (continued)

Portfolio of Investments    December 31, 2019

 

Shares     Description (1)                                           Value  
      Industrial (continued)                                         
  3,578,783    

Centuria Industrial REIT, (2)

                 $ 8,389,410  
  1,639,805    

Dream Industrial Real Estate Investment Trust

                   16,593,152  
  4,032,546    

ESR-REIT

                   1,589,092  
  18,620,508    

Frasers Logistics & Industrial Trust

                   17,167,501  
  2,395,004    

Mapletree Industrial Trust, (2)

                   4,631,957  
  5,555,101    

Mapletree Logistics Trust, (2)

                   7,185,569  
  1,336,236    

PLA Administradora Industrial S de RL de CV

                   2,190,840  
  613,465    

Prologis Property Mexico SA de CV

                   1,362,715  
  915,149    

STAG Industrial Inc

                   28,891,254  
  3,009,197    

Warehouse Reit PLC

                   4,444,370  
  1,017,915    

WPT Industrial Real Estate Investment Trust

                                                 14,037,048  
 

Total Industrial

                                                 118,804,200  
      Mortgage – 1.2%                                         
  196,958    

TPG RE Finance Trust Inc

                   3,992,339  
  591,218    

Blackstone Mortgage Trust Inc

                   22,005,134  
  29,774    

KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc

                                                 607,985  
 

Total Mortgage

                                                 26,605,458  
      Office – 2.4%                                         
  31,416    

Befimmo SA

                   1,906,448  
  163,493    

Brandywine Realty Trust

                   2,575,015  
  2,839,841    

Centuria Metropolitan REIT, (2)

                   5,787,500  
  497,120    

City Office REIT Inc

                   6,721,062  
  62,281    

Covivio, (2)

                   7,073,243  
  1,757,361    

GDI Property Group

                   1,819,011  
  211,248    

Globalworth Real Estate Investments Ltd

                   2,215,547  
  418,977    

Inovalis Real Estate Investment Trust

                   3,439,448  
  196,411    

Intervest Offices & Warehouses NV, (2)

                   5,646,614  
  197,083    

NSI NV

                   9,594,351  
  1,303,417    

True North Commercial Real Estate Investment Trust

                                                 7,317,323  
 

Total Office

                                                 54,095,562  
      Residential – 0.3%                                         
  97,300    

Independence Realty Trust Inc

                   1,369,984  
  264,935    

Northview Apartment Real Estate Investment Trust

                                                 6,047,263  
 

Total Residential

                                                 7,417,247  
      Retail – 4.0%                                         
  15,808    

Altarea SCA

                   3,590,696  
  101,839    

British Land Co PLC

                   861,715  
  117,473    

Brixmor Property Group Inc

                   2,538,592  
  244,661    

Brookfield Property REIT Inc

                   4,512,772  
  357,198    

CT Real Estate Investment Trust

                   4,439,703  

 

46


Shares     Description (1)                                           Value  
      Retail (continued)                                         
  4,815,557    

Fortune Real Estate Investment Trust, (2)

                 $ 5,618,633  
  3,727,250    

Frasers Centrepoint Trust, (2)

                   7,794,402  
  10,637,690    

IGB Real Estate Investment Trust

                   4,915,104  
  133,060    

Immobiliare Grande Distribuzione SIIQ SpA

                   925,371  
  2,398    

Kenedix Retail REIT Corp

                   6,102,315  
  1,532,277    

NewRiver REIT PLC

                   4,069,456  
  168,877    

RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust

                   3,480,150  
  293,499    

RPT Realty

                   4,414,225  
  1,019,174    

Scentre Group, (2)

                   2,742,857  
  75,936    

Simon Property Group Inc

                   11,311,427  
  647,805    

SITE Centers Corp

                   9,082,226  
  69,203    

SmartCentres Real Estate Investment Trust

                   1,663,260  
  3,478,821    

Viva Energy REIT, (2)

                   6,507,004  
  180,734    

Weingarten Realty Investors

                                                 5,646,130  
 

Total Retail

                                                 90,216,038  
      Specialized – 2.1%                                         
  575,484    

Automotive Properties Real Estate Investment Trust

                   5,384,568  
  1,302,938    

Charter Hall Social Infrastructure REIT

                   2,962,451  
  273,517    

EPR Properties

                   19,321,241  
  2,393,005    

National Storage REIT, (2)

                   3,080,995  
  618,290    

VICI Properties Inc

                                                 15,797,310  
 

Total Specialized

                                                 46,546,565  
 

Total Real Estate Investment Trust Common Stocks (cost $541,359,918)

 

     602,256,115  
Shares     Description (1)                                           Value  
 

COMMON STOCKS – 20.2%

                
      Air Freight & Logistics – 0.5%                                         
  101,840    

bpost SA, (2)

                 $ 1,177,438  
  242,613    

Oesterreichische Post AG, (2)

                                                 9,221,794  
 

Total Air Freight & Logistics

                                                 10,399,232  
      Commercial Services & Supplies – 0.3%                                         
  436,028    

Covanta Holding Corp

                                                 6,470,656  
      Diversified Telecommunication Services – 1.1%                                         
  1,186,771    

HKBN Ltd, (2)

                   1,989,909  
  2,641,176    

HKT Trust & HKT Ltd, (2)

                   3,722,173  
  23,447,947    

NetLink NBN Trust

                   16,475,192  
  1,426,173    

Singapore Telecommunications Ltd, (2)

                                                 3,522,188  
 

Total Diversified Telecommunication Services

                                                 25,709,462  
      Electric Utilities – 5.2%                                         
  15,265,699    

AusNet Services, (2)

                   18,204,129  

 

47


Nuveen Real Asset Income Fund (continued)

Portfolio of Investments    December 31, 2019

 

Shares     Description (1)                                           Value  
      Electric Utilities (continued)                                         
  208,004    

Cia de Transmissao de Energia Eletrica Paulista, (2)

                 $ 1,169,671  
  1,467,731    

Contact Energy Ltd, (2)

                   7,050,359  
  2,918,995    

EDP – Energias de Portugal SA, (2)

                   12,666,666  
  423,405    

Endesa SA, (2), (4)

                   11,306,913  
  686,375    

Enel Chile SA, ADR

                   3,260,281  
  586,859    

HK Electric Investments & HK Electric Investments Ltd

                   578,401  
  860,678    

Power Assets Holdings Ltd, (2)

                   6,296,390  
  409,034    

PPL Corp

                   14,676,140  
  947,903    

Red Electrica Corp SA, (2), (4)

                   19,100,018  
  6,277,126    

Spark Infrastructure Group, (2)

                   9,202,204  
  183,718    

SSE PLC, (2)

                   3,503,914  
  1,480,566    

Transmissora Alianca de Energia Eletrica SA, (2)

                                                 11,505,230  
 

Total Electric Utilities

                                                 118,520,316  
      Gas Utilities – 1.6%                                         
  447,593    

APA Group, (2)

                   3,484,261  
  403,447    

Enagas SA

                   10,290,907  
  283,111    

Naturgy Energy Group SA, (2), (4)

                   7,129,019  
  2,847,786    

Snam SpA, (2)

                                                 14,973,087  
 

Total Gas Utilities

                                                 35,877,274  
      Health Care Providers & Services – 0.0%                                         
  12,636    

Sienna Senior Living Inc

                                                 177,685  
      Independent Power & Renewable Electricity Producers – 0.7%                                         
  21,869    

Atlantica Yield plc

                   577,123  
  45,353    

Brookfield Renewable Partners LP

                   2,106,031  
  3,216    

Canadian Solar Infrastructure Fund Inc, (2)

                   3,528,224  
  560,454    

TerraForm Power Inc, (4)

                   8,625,387  
  908    

TransAlta Renewables Inc

                                                 10,852  
 

Total Independent Power & Renewable Electricity Producers

                                                 14,847,617  
      Media – 0.2%                                         
  260,170    

Eutelsat Communications SA

                                                 4,228,656  
      Multi-Utilities – 3.3%                                         
  140,798    

Dominion Energy Inc

                   11,660,890  
  1,410,945    

Engie SA, (2)

                   22,854,938  
  763,983    

EON SE, (2)

                   8,164,589  
  194,902    

National Grid PLC, Sponsored ADR

                   12,214,508  
  3,493,988    

REN – Redes Energeticas Nacionais SGPS SA

                   10,660,241  
  216,871    

Suez, (2)

                   3,286,303  
  1,913,877    

Vector Ltd, (2)

                                                 4,807,773  
 

Total Multi-Utilities

                                                 73,649,242  

 

48


Shares     Description (1)                                           Value  
      Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels – 4.6%                                         
  556,918    

Enbridge Inc

                 $ 22,148,629  
  300,332    

Enterprise Products Partners LP

                   8,457,349  
  330,280    

Gibson Energy Inc

                   6,763,040  
  652,900    

Inter Pipeline Ltd

                   11,332,922  
  25,578    

Keyera Corp

                   670,104  
  847,647    

Kinder Morgan Inc

                   17,944,687  
  223,720    

Magellan Midstream Partners LP

                   14,065,276  
  76,970    

ONEOK Inc

                   5,824,320  
  48,194    

Plains GP Holdings LP

                   913,276  
  454,561    

Williams Cos Inc

                   10,782,187  
  517,582    

Z Energy Ltd, (2)

                                                 1,531,937  
 

Total Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

                                                 100,433,727  
      Real Estate Management & Development – 0.9%                                         
  3,750,580    

Ascendas India Trust

                   4,322,390  
  312,111    

Cibus Nordic Real Estate AB, (4)

                   4,848,436  
  3,050,957    

Corp Inmobiliaria Vesta SAB de CV

                   5,505,681  
  38,590    

DIC Asset AG

                   688,254  
  9,113,681    

Land & Houses PCL, (4)

                   2,981,733  
  1,206,051    

Sirius Real Estate Ltd

                                                 1,413,818  
 

Total Real Estate Management & Development

                                                 19,760,312  
      Road & Rail – 0.3%                                         
  2,163,878    

Aurizon Holdings Ltd, (2)

                                                 7,941,268  
      Thrifts & Mortgage Finance – 0.1%                                         
  1,478,289    

Real Estate Credit Investments Ltd

                                                 3,289,677  
      Transportation Infrastructure – 1.2%                                         
  519,162    

COSCO SHIPPING Ports Ltd, (2)

                   425,205  
  38,087    

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico SAB de CV, ADR

                   4,517,499  
  387,428    

Macquarie Infrastructure Corp

                   16,597,416  
  808,230    

Sydney Airport, (2)

                                                 4,910,579  
 

Total Transportation Infrastructure

                                                 26,450,699  
      Water Utilities – 0.2%                                         
  3,706,769    

Aguas Andinas SA

                   1,572,524  
  2,934,272    

Inversiones Aguas Metropolitanas SA, (2)

                                                 3,194,912  
 

Total Water Utilities

                                                 4,767,436  
 

Total Common Stocks (cost $418,473,444)

                                                 452,523,259  
Shares     Description (1)                   Coupon              Ratings (5)      Value  
 

$25 PAR (OR SIMILAR) RETAIL PREFERRED – 14.8%

                
      Diversified Financial Services – 0.1%                                         
  109,717    

National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp

                      5.500%                 A3      $ 3,022,703  

 

49


Nuveen Real Asset Income Fund (continued)

Portfolio of Investments    December 31, 2019

 

Shares     Description (1)                   Coupon              Ratings (5)      Value  
      Electric Utilities – 1.9%                                         
  223,352    

Duke Energy Corp

          5.750%           BBB      $ 6,189,084  
  127,495    

Entergy Arkansas LLC

          4.875%           A        3,318,695  
  47,804    

Entergy Texas Inc

          5.375%           BBB–        1,269,913  
  195,036    

Georgia Power Co

          5.000%           BBB        5,014,376  
  343,355    

Integrys Holding Inc, (2)

          6.000%           BBB        9,227,666  
  1,775    

NextEra Energy Capital Holdings Inc

          5.000%           BBB        45,298  
  189,681    

NextEra Energy Capital Holdings Inc

          5.250%           BBB        4,941,190  
  83,200    

NextEra Energy Capital Holdings Inc

          5.650%           BBB        2,282,176  
  215,137    

Southern Co

          5.250%           BBB        5,666,709  
  171,081    

Southern Co

                      5.250%                 BBB        4,501,141  
 

Total Electric Utilities

                                                 42,456,248  
      Equity Real Estate Investment Trust – 8.4%                                         
  62,259    

American Homes 4 Rent

          6.500%           BB        1,630,563  
  231,322    

American Homes 4 Rent

          6.350%           BB        5,993,553  
  103,422    

American Homes 4 Rent

          5.875%           BB        2,707,588  
  191,319    

American Homes 4 Rent

          5.875%           BB        5,002,992  
  80,462    

Armada Hoffler Properties Inc

          6.750%           N/R        2,258,568  
  27,474    

Cedar Realty Trust Inc

          7.250%           N/R        689,048  
  136,681    

Cedar Realty Trust Inc

          6.500%           N/R        3,169,632  
  217,243    

City Office REIT Inc

          6.625%           N/R        5,604,869  
  50,966    

Colony Capital Inc

          7.500%           N/R        1,279,247  
  132,198    

Colony Capital Inc

          7.125%           N/R        3,162,176  
  10,192    

Colony Capital Inc

          7.150%           N/R        246,239  
  197,332    

Colony Capital Inc

          7.125%           N/R        4,718,208  
  150,902    

Digital Realty Trust Inc

          5.250%           Baa3        3,888,745  
  201,291    

Digital Realty Trust Inc

          5.850%           Baa3        5,535,502  
  148,050    

Digital Realty Trust Inc

          5.200%           Baa3        3,821,170  
  192,498    

EPR Properties

          5.750%           Baa3        4,970,298  
  57,283    

Hersha Hospitality Trust

          6.875%           N/R        1,433,221  
  316,183    

Hersha Hospitality Trust

          6.500%           N/R        7,872,957  
  204,880    

Hersha Hospitality Trust

          6.500%           N/R        5,122,000  
  346,064    

Investors Real Estate Trust

          6.625%           N/R        9,086,810  
  147,987    

Kimco Realty Corp

          5.250%           Baa2        3,832,863  
  4,655    

Mid-America Apartment Communities Inc

          8.500%           BBB–        307,183  
  300,876    

Monmouth Real Estate Investment Corp

          6.125%           N/R        7,497,830  
  54,608    

National Retail Properties Inc

          5.200%           Baa2        1,388,681  
  155,592    

National Storage Affiliates Trust

          6.000%           N/R        4,141,859  
  190,311    

Pebblebrook Hotel Trust

          6.500%           N/R        4,833,899  
  223,453    

Pebblebrook Hotel Trust

          6.375%           N/R        5,774,026  
  233,790    

Pebblebrook Hotel Trust

          6.300%           N/R        6,008,403  
  93,963    

PS Business Parks Inc

          5.250%           BBB        2,452,434  

 

50


Shares     Description (1)                   Coupon              Ratings (5)      Value  
      Equity Real Estate Investment Trust (continued)                                         
  166,119    

PS Business Parks Inc

          5.200%           Baa2      $ 4,265,936  
  286,016    

PS Business Parks Inc

          4.875%           Baa2        7,090,337  
  68,970    

Public Storage

          5.600%           A3        1,909,779  
  134,285    

Public Storage

          4.875%           A3        3,457,839  
  190,069    

Rexford Industrial Realty Inc

          5.625%           BB+        4,873,369  
  81,295    

Saul Centers Inc

          6.125%           N/R        2,096,598  
  119,574    

Saul Centers Inc

          6.000%           N/R        3,144,796  
  184,380    

SITE Centers Corp

          6.375%           BB+        4,830,756  
  40,951    

STAG Industrial Inc

          6.875%           BB+        1,092,573  
  99,545    

Summit Hotel Properties Inc

          6.450%           N/R        2,568,062  
  303,814    

Summit Hotel Properties Inc

          6.250%           N/R        7,762,448  
  48,537    

Sunstone Hotel Investors Inc

          6.950%           N/R        1,262,447  
  226,193    

Sunstone Hotel Investors Inc

          6.450%           N/R        5,831,256  
  94,824    

UMH Properties Inc

          8.000%           N/R        2,455,942  
  190,740    

UMH Properties Inc

          6.750%           N/R        4,985,944  
  135,987    

Urstadt Biddle Properties Inc

          6.250%           N/R        3,621,334  
  141,255    

Urstadt Biddle Properties Inc

          5.875%           N/R        3,599,177  
  356,032    

Vornado Realty Trust

                      5.250%                 Baa3        9,093,057  
 

Total Equity Real Estate Investment Trust

                                                 188,372,214  
      Gas Utilities – 0.4%                                         
  240,106    

South Jersey Industries Inc

          5.625%           BB+        6,406,028  
  86,693    

Spire Inc

                      5.900%                 BBB        2,394,461  
 

Total Gas Utilities

                                                 8,800,489  
      Independent Power & Renewable Electricity Producers – 0.1%         
  146,449    

Brookfield Renewable Partners LP

                      5.750%                 BBB–        2,898,417  
      Multi-Utilities – 2.4%                                         
  94,257    

Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp

          6.200%           BB+        2,658,047  
  277,440    

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners LP

          5.350%           BBB–        5,510,129  
  140,457    

CMS Energy Corp

          5.875%           Baa2        3,835,881  
  349,402    

Dominion Energy Inc

          5.250%           BBB–        9,147,344  
  101,462    

DTE Energy Co

          5.250%           BBB–        2,593,369  
  228,325    

DTE Energy Co

          5.375%           BBB–        5,902,201  
  196,209    

DTE Energy Co

          6.000%           BBB–        5,279,984  
  120,165    

DTE Energy Co

          5.250%           BBB–        3,177,163  
  184,347    

NiSource Inc

          6.500%           BBB–        5,139,594  
  378,614    

Sempra Energy

                      5.750%                 Baa2        10,059,774  
 

Total Multi-Utilities

                                                 53,303,486  
      Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels – 0.6%                                         
  96,230    

Energy Transfer Operating LP

          7.600%           BB        2,436,544  
  153,214    

NGL Energy Partners LP

          9.000%           N/R        4,015,739  

 

51


Nuveen Real Asset Income Fund (continued)

Portfolio of Investments    December 31, 2019

 

Shares     Description (1)                   Coupon              Ratings (5)      Value  
      Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (continued)                                         
  206,311    

NuStar Energy LP

          8.500%           B1      $ 4,965,906  
  132,440    

NuStar Energy LP

                      7.625%                 B1        2,867,326  
 

Total Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

                                                 14,285,515  
      Real Estate Management & Development – 0.9%                                         
  305,387    

Brookfield Property Partners LP

          6.500%           BB+        7,930,900  
  289,942    

Brookfield Property Partners LP

          6.375%           BB+        7,692,161  
  165,501    

Landmark Infrastructure Partners LP

                      7.900%                 N/R        4,236,826  
 

Total Real Estate Management & Development

                                                 19,859,887  
 

Total $25 Par (or similar) Retail Preferred (cost $318,240,249)

 

              332,998,959  
Principal
Amount (000) (6)
    Description (1)                   Coupon      Maturity      Ratings (5)      Value  
 

CORPORATE BONDS – 14.1%

                
      Chemicals – 0.1%                                         
$ 2,200    

Calumet Specialty Products Partners LP / Calumet Finance Corp, 144A

                      11.000%        4/15/25        B–      $ 2,392,500  
      Commercial Services & Supplies – 1.2%                                         
  1,500    

Atento Luxco 1 SA, 144A

          6.125%        8/10/22        BB        1,477,500  
  125    

Clean Harbors Inc, 144A

          4.875%        7/15/27        BB+        131,563  
  2,475    

Clean Harbors Inc, 144A

          5.125%        7/15/29        BB+        2,654,685  
  2,516    

Covanta Holding Corp

          5.875%        7/01/25        B1        2,654,380  
  2,500  EUR   

DSV Miljoe Group AS, Reg S

          5.900%        5/10/21        N/R        2,833,169  
  5,970    

GFL Environmental Inc, 144A

          7.000%        6/01/26        CCC+        6,306,708  
  200    

GFL Environmental Inc, 144A

          5.125%        12/15/26        B+        210,276  
  900    

GFL Environmental Inc, 144A

          8.500%        5/01/27        CCC+        990,000  
  950    

Stericycle Inc, 144A

          5.375%        7/15/24        BB+        997,500  
  4,559    

Tervita Corp, 144A

          7.625%        12/01/21        B+        4,587,494  
  3,525    

Waste Pro USA Inc, 144A

                      5.500%        2/15/26        B+        3,674,812  
 

Total Commercial Services & Supplies

                                                 26,518,087  
      Communications Equipment – 0.2%                                         
  1,700    

IHS Netherlands Holdco BV, 144A

          8.000%        9/18/27        B+        1,806,250  
  780    

ViaSat Inc, 144A

          5.625%        9/15/25        B        803,400  
  850    

ViaSat Inc, 144A

                      5.625%        4/15/27        BB+        909,500  
 

Total Communications Equipment

                                                 3,519,150  
      Construction & Engineering – 0.1%                                         
  1,800    

GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd, 144A

          5.375%        4/10/24        BB+        1,863,791  
  1,000    

International Airport Finance SA, 144A

                      12.000%        3/15/33        B2        1,097,500  
 

Total Construction & Engineering

                                                 2,961,291  
      Diversified Financial Services – 0.4%                                         
  1,265    

Cometa Energia SA de CV, 144A

          6.375%        4/24/35        BBB        1,375,193  
  850    

Minejesa Capital BV, 144A

          4.625%        8/10/30        Baa3        879,404  

 

52


Principal
Amount (000) (6)
    Description (1)                   Coupon      Maturity      Ratings (5)      Value  
      Diversified Financial Services (continued)                                         
$ 1,815    

Minejesa Capital BV, 144A

          5.625%        8/10/37        Baa3      $ 1,970,892  
  17,405  BRL   

Swiss Insured Brazil Power Finance Sarl, 144A

                      9.850%        7/16/32        AAA        5,029,784  
 

Total Diversified Financial Services

                                                 9,255,273  
      Electric Utilities – 1.6%                                         
  1,810    

Acwa Power Management And Investments One Ltd, 144A

          5.950%        12/15/39        Baa3        1,924,772  
  2,325    

Adani Green Energy UP Ltd / Prayatna Developers Pvt Ltd / Parampujya Solar Energ, 144A

          6.250%        12/10/24        BB+        2,498,677  
  800    

Adani Transmission Ltd, 144A

          4.250%        5/21/36        BBB–        808,102  
  740    

Consorcio Transmantaro SA, 144A

          4.700%        4/16/34        Baa3        813,082  
  1,900    

Empresa de Transmision Electrica SA, 144A

          5.125%        5/02/49        Baa1        2,161,269  
  5,700,000  COP   

Empresas Publicas de Medellin ESP, 144A

          8.375%        11/08/27        BBB        1,826,151  
  1,200    

Enel Americas SA

          4.000%        10/25/26        A–        1,242,012  
  4,430    

Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad, 144A

          6.950%        11/10/21        B1        4,618,319  
  1,700    

Lamar Funding Ltd, 144A

          3.958%        5/07/25        Ba1        1,659,557  
  1,500    

Listrindo Capital BV, 144A

          4.950%        9/14/26        BB+        1,520,775  
  1,285    

LLPL Capital Pte Ltd, 144A

          6.875%        2/04/39        Baa3        1,493,674  
  600    

Pampa Energia SA, 144A

          7.500%        1/24/27        B–        511,384  
  650    

Perusahaan Listrik Negara PT, 144A

          4.875%        7/17/49        BBB        703,625  
  1,750    

Talen Energy Supply LLC

          6.500%        6/01/25        B        1,493,503  
  1,650    

Talen Energy Supply LLC, 144A

          7.250%        5/15/27        BB        1,736,130  
  4,700    

TerraForm Power Operating LLC, 144A

          4.750%        1/15/30        BB        4,782,250  
  3,575    

Vistra Operations Co LLC, 144A

          5.625%        2/15/27        BB        3,767,156  
  1,950    

Vistra Operations Co LLC, 144A

                      5.000%        7/31/27        BB        2,037,711  
 

Total Electric Utilities

                                                 35,598,149  
      Electrical Equipment – 0.1%                                         
  3,200    

NextEra Energy Operating Partners LP, 144A

                      3.875%        10/15/26        Ba1        3,212,000  
      Energy Equipment & Services – 0.6%                
  695    

Archrock Partners LP / Archrock Partners Finance Corp

          6.000%        10/01/22        B+        700,213  
  4,150    

Archrock Partners LP / Archrock Partners Finance Corp, 144A

 

        6.875%        4/01/27        B+        4,388,625  
  3,600    

Archrock Partners LP / Archrock Partners Finance Corp, 144A

 

        6.250%        4/01/28        B+        3,708,000  
  2,250    

Transocean Poseidon Ltd, 144A

          6.875%        2/01/27        B1        2,385,000  
  2,200    

Transocean Sentry Ltd, 144A

                      5.375%        5/15/23        B1        2,238,500  
 

Total Energy Equipment & Services

                                                 13,420,338  
      Equity Real Estate Investment Trust – 1.5%                
  4,250    

Brookfield Property REIT Inc / BPR Cumulus LLC / BPR Nimbus LLC / GGSI Sellco LL, 144A

          5.750%        5/15/26        BB+        4,483,750  
  1,285    

Cibanco SA Ibm / PLA Administradora Industrial S de RL de CV, 144A

          4.962%        7/18/29        Baa3        1,328,382  
  2,900    

Equinix Inc

          5.375%        5/15/27        BBB–        3,149,487  
  600    

HAT Holdings I LLC / HAT Holdings II LLC, 144A

          5.250%        7/15/24        BB+        630,750  

 

53


Nuveen Real Asset Income Fund (continued)

Portfolio of Investments    December 31, 2019

 

Principal
Amount (000) (6)
    Description (1)                   Coupon      Maturity      Ratings (5)      Value  
      Equity Real Estate Investment Trust (continued)                                         
$ 2,335    

Iron Mountain Inc, 144A

          5.250%        3/15/28        BB–      $ 2,428,400  
  4,250    

iStar Inc

          4.750%        10/01/24        BB        4,404,062  
  3,055    

MPT Operating Partnership LP / MPT Finance Corp

          5.000%        10/15/27        BBB–        3,238,300  
  6,000    

MPT Operating Partnership LP / MPT Finance Corp

          4.625%        8/01/29        BBB–        6,180,000  
  2,615    

Sabra Health Care LP

          5.125%        8/15/26        BBB–        2,813,644  
  2,490    

SBA Communications Corp

          4.875%        9/01/24        BB–        2,583,375  
  1,525    

VICI Properties LP / VICI Note Co Inc, 144A

          4.250%        12/01/26        BB        1,570,750  
  975    

VICI Properties LP / VICI Note Co Inc, 144A

                      4.625%        12/01/29        BB        1,018,875  
 

Total Equity Real Estate Investment Trust

                                                 33,829,775  
      Gas Utilities – 0.8%                                         
  4,015    

AmeriGas Partners LP / AmeriGas Finance Corp

          5.750%        5/20/27        BB        4,406,462  
  2,100    

LBC Tank Terminals Holding Netherlands BV, 144A

          6.875%        5/15/23        B        2,123,625  
  4,570    

National Gas Co of Trinidad & Tobago Ltd, 144A

          6.050%        1/15/36        BBB        4,775,696  
  1,675    

NGL Energy Partners LP / NGL Energy Finance Corp

          6.125%        3/01/25        B+        1,578,688  
  1,900    

NGL Energy Partners LP / NGL Energy Finance Corp, 144A

          7.500%        4/15/26        B+        1,838,250  
  2,915    

Suburban Propane Partners LP/Suburban Energy Finance Corp

                      5.875%        3/01/27        BB–        3,031,600  
 

Total Gas Utilities

                                                 17,754,321  
      Health Care Providers & Services – 0.9%                                         
  1,660    

CHS/Community Health Systems Inc

          6.250%        3/31/23        BB        1,684,900  
  2,330    

CHS/Community Health Systems Inc, 144A

          8.000%        3/15/26        B        2,399,900  
  4,450    

Encompass Health Corp

          5.750%        9/15/25        B+        4,661,375  
  200    

HCA Inc

          5.625%        9/01/28        Ba2        227,920  
  4,250    

HCA Inc

          5.875%        2/01/29        Ba2        4,914,062  
  2,595    

RegionalCare Hospital Partners Holdings Inc / LifePoint Health Inc, 144A

          9.750%        12/01/26        CCC+        2,932,350  
  1,500    

Tenet Healthcare Corp

          6.750%        6/15/23        B–        1,648,065  
  1,500    

Tenet Healthcare Corp, 144A

                      5.125%        11/01/27        BB–        1,584,375  
 

Total Health Care Providers & Services

                                                 20,052,947  
      Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure – 0.1%                                         
  1,695    

MGM Growth Properties Operating Partnership LP / MGP Finance Co-Issuer Inc

                      4.500%        1/15/28        BB+        1,771,275  
      Household Durables – 0.2%                                         
  2,400    

KB Home

          6.875%        6/15/27        BB–        2,778,000  
  1,600    

LGI Homes Inc, 144A

                      6.875%        7/15/26        BB–        1,676,000  
 

Total Household Durables

                                                 4,454,000  
      Independent Power & Renewable Electricity Producers – 0.4%                
  1,685    

Azure Power Energy Ltd, 144A

          5.500%        11/03/22        Ba3        1,717,419  
  1,310    

Calpine Corp, 144A

          5.250%        6/01/26        BB+        1,364,037  
  1,500    

Kallpa Generacion SA, 144A

          4.125%        8/16/27        Baa3        1,528,140  

 

54


Principal
Amount (000) (6)
    Description (1)                   Coupon      Maturity      Ratings (5)      Value  
      Independent Power & Renewable Electricity Producers (continued)                
$ 1,325    

NRG Energy Inc, 144A

          5.250%        6/15/29        BB      $ 1,432,656  
  1,125    

NRG Energy Inc, 144A

          4.450%        6/15/29        BBB–        1,176,964  
  1,450    

Termocandelaria Power Ltd, 144A

                      7.875%        1/30/29        BB+        1,598,625  
 

Total Independent Power & Renewable Electricity Producers

 

              8,817,841  
      Machinery – 0.2%                                         
  4,425    

USA Compression Partners LP / USA Compression Finance Corp

                      6.875%        9/01/27        BB–        4,609,080  
      Media – 0.6%                                         
  2,275    

Altice France SA/France, 144A

          7.375%        5/01/26        B        2,442,531  
  1,545    

CSC Holdings LLC, 144A

          7.500%        4/01/28        B        1,745,850  
  5,250    

CSC Holdings LLC, 144A

          5.750%        1/15/30        B        5,604,375  
  2,950    

Lamar Media Corp

                      5.750%        2/01/26        BB        3,126,705  
 

Total Media

                                                 12,919,461  
      Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trust – 0.1%         
  1,500    

MGM Growth Properties Operating Partnership LP / MGP Finance Co-Issuer Inc, 144A

          5.750%        2/01/27        BB+        1,676,250  
  1,720    

Starwood Property Trust Inc

                      4.750%        3/15/25        BB–        1,814,600  
 

Total Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trust

                                                 3,490,850  
      Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels – 3.2%                                         
  4,300    

Antero Midstream Partners LP / Antero Midstream Finance Corp, 144A

          5.750%        3/01/27        BB+        3,781,313  
  1,450    

Antero Midstream Partners LP / Antero Midstream Finance Corp, 144A

          5.750%        1/15/28        BB+        1,261,500  
  1,565    

Cheniere Corpus Christi Holdings LLC

          5.125%        6/30/27        BBB–        1,729,607  
  3,485    

Cheniere Corpus Christi Holdings LLC, 144A

          3.700%        11/15/29        BBB–        3,553,941  
  5,650    

Cheniere Energy Partners LP, 144A

          4.500%        10/01/29        BB        5,805,940  
  4,775    

Crestwood Midstream Partners LP / Crestwood Midstream Finance Corp, 144A

          5.625%        5/01/27        BB–        4,840,656  
  3,750    

DCP Midstream Operating LP

          5.125%        5/15/29        BB+        3,890,625  
  2,200    

EnLink Midstream LLC

          5.375%        6/01/29        BBB–        2,068,000  
  3,000    

EnLink Midstream Partners LP

          4.850%        7/15/26        BBB–        2,812,500  
  4,345    

Enterprise Products Operating LLC

          5.375%        2/15/78        Baa2        4,318,028  
  3,900    

Enviva Partners LP / Enviva Partners Finance Corp, 144A

          6.500%        1/15/26        BB–        4,175,457  
  4,460    

Genesis Energy LP / Genesis Energy Finance Corp

          5.625%        6/15/24        B+        4,303,900  
  1,620    

Global Partners LP / GLP Finance Corp

          7.000%        6/15/23        B+        1,668,600  
  2,320    

Global Partners LP / GLP Finance Corp, 144A

          7.000%        8/01/27        B+        2,465,000  
  2,000    

Hess Midstream Operations LP, 144A

          5.625%        2/15/26        BB+        2,081,770  
  1,700    

KazTransGas JSC, 144A

          4.375%        9/26/27        Baa3        1,782,324  
  1,370    

Martin Midstream Partners LP / Martin Midstream Finance Corp

          7.250%        2/15/21        B–        1,246,700  
  3,500    

NuStar Logistics LP

          6.000%        6/01/26        Ba2        3,701,250  

 

55


Nuveen Real Asset Income Fund (continued)

Portfolio of Investments    December 31, 2019

 

Principal
Amount (000) (6)
    Description (1)                   Coupon      Maturity      Ratings (5)      Value  
      Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (continued)                                         
$ 1,690    

Par Petroleum LLC / Par Petroleum Finance Corp, 144A

          7.750%        12/15/25        BB–      $ 1,749,150  
  1,700    

Peru LNG Srl, 144A

          5.375%        3/22/30        BBB–        1,674,517  
  1,175    

Promigas SA ESP / Gases del Pacifico SAC, 144A

          3.750%        10/16/29        Baa3        1,185,293  
  3,000    

Sunoco LP / Sunoco Finance Corp

          5.875%        3/15/28        BB        3,185,415  
  625    

Targa Resources Partners LP / Targa Resources Partners Finance Corp, 144A

          6.500%        7/15/27        BB        684,375  
  2,500    

Targa Resources Partners LP / Targa Resources Partners Finance Corp, 144A

          6.875%        1/15/29        BB        2,775,000  
  1,300    

Targa Resources Partners LP / Targa Resources Partners Finance Corp, 144A

          5.500%        3/01/30        BB        1,335,750  
  3,015    

TransMontaigne Partners LP / TLP Finance Corp

          6.125%        2/15/26        BB        2,954,700  
  600    

Transportadora de Gas del Sur SA, 144A

                      6.750%        5/02/25        B–        529,500  
 

Total Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

                                                 71,560,811  
      Real Estate Management & Development – 0.6%         
  8,685    

Hunt Cos Inc, 144A

          6.250%        2/15/26        BB–        8,576,438  
  3,968    

Kennedy-Wilson Inc

          5.875%        4/01/24        BB        4,067,200  
  600    

RKI Overseas Finance 2016 B Ltd, Reg S

          4.700%        9/06/21        BB–        597,664  
  600    

Shimao Property Holdings Ltd, Reg S

                      4.750%        7/03/22        BBB–        611,319  
 

Total Real Estate Management & Development

                                                 13,852,621  
      Road & Rail – 0.2%                                         
  660    

Lima Metro Line 2 Finance Ltd, 144A

          4.350%        4/05/36        Baa1        698,775  
  1,700    

Rumo Luxembourg Sarl, 144A

          5.875%        1/18/25        BB        1,823,250  
  1,700    

Transnet SOC Ltd, 144A

                      4.000%        7/26/22        Baa3        1,723,800  
 

Total Road & Rail

                                                 4,245,825  
      Thrifts & Mortgage Finance – 0.2%                                         
  4,580    

Ladder Capital Finance Holdings LLLP / Ladder Capital Finance Corp, 144A

                      5.250%        10/01/25        BB        4,751,750  
      Trading Companies & Distributors – 0.1%                
  2,430    

Fortress Transportation & Infrastructure Investors LLC, 144A

                      6.500%        10/01/25        BB–        2,564,865  
      Transportation Infrastructure – 0.5%                                         
  1,400    

Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone Ltd, 144A

          4.000%        7/30/27        BBB–        1,408,330  
  1,650    

Aeropuerto Internacional de Tocumen SA, 144A

          6.000%        11/18/48        BBB+        2,043,954  
  2,810    

Aeropuertos Dominicanos Siglo XXI SA, 144A

          6.750%        3/30/29        BB–        3,105,078  
  1,700    

DP World PLC, 144A

          5.625%        9/25/48        Baa1        1,962,820  
  10,691  MXN   

Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte SAB de CV

          6.850%        6/07/21        N/R        562,122  
  1,800    

Mexico City Airport Trust, 144A

                      4.250%        10/31/26        BBB+        1,881,018  
 

Total Transportation Infrastructure

                                                 10,963,322  
      Wireless Telecommunication Services – 0.2%         
  2,225    

Hughes Satellite Systems Corp

          6.625%        8/01/26        BB        2,469,750  

 

56


Principal
Amount (000) (6)
    Description (1)                   Coupon      Maturity      Ratings (5)      Value  
      Wireless Telecommunication Services (continued)                                         
$ 1,100    

Sprint Spectrum Co LLC / Sprint Spectrum Co II LLC / Sprint Spectrum Co III LLC, 144A

                      5.152%        3/20/28        Baa2      $ 1,199,000  
 

Total Wireless Telecommunication Services

                                                 3,668,750  
 

Total Corporate Bonds (cost $303,703,964)

                                                 316,184,282  
Principal
Amount (000) (6)
    Description (1)                   Coupon      Maturity      Ratings (5)      Value  
 

$1,000 PAR (OR SIMILAR) INSTITUTIONAL PREFERRED – 13.2%

 

  
      Diversified Financial Services – 0.6%                                         
$ 2,460    

National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp

          5.250%        4/20/46        A3      $ 2,665,259  
  10,672    

Transcanada Trust

                      5.625%        5/20/75        BBB        11,125,560  
 

Total Diversified Financial Services

                                                 13,790,819  
      Electric Utilities – 4.4%                                         
  3,865    

AES Gener SA, 144A

          6.350%        10/07/79        BB        3,961,625  
  5,850    

AusNet Services Holdings Pty Ltd, Reg S

          5.750%        3/17/76        BBB        6,113,552  
  2,640    

ComEd Financing III

          6.350%        3/15/33        BBB        2,814,900  
  9,450    

Duke Energy Corp

          4.875%        N/A (7)        BBB        9,908,797  
  3,500  GBP   

Electricite de France SA, Reg S

          5.875%        N/A (7)        BBB        5,068,416  
  15,315    

Emera Inc

          6.750%        6/15/76        BBB–        17,305,950  
  10,125    

Enel SpA, 144A

          8.750%        9/24/73        BBB        11,884,219  
  8,859    

NextEra Energy Capital Holdings Inc (3-Month LIBOR reference rate + 2.068% spread), (8)

          3.977%        10/01/66        BBB        7,795,920  
  13,641    

NextEra Energy Capital Holdings Inc (3-Month LIBOR reference rate + 2.125% spread), (8)

          4.019%        6/15/67        BBB        12,201,507  
  8,585    

NextEra Energy Capital Holdings Inc

          4.800%        12/01/77        BBB        8,861,866  
  6,540    

NextEra Energy Capital Holdings Inc

          5.650%        5/01/79        BBB        7,239,712  
  1,858    

PPL Capital Funding Inc (3-Month LIBOR reference rate + 2.665% spread), (8)

          4.626%        3/30/67        BBB        1,773,925  
  2,810    

SSE PLC, Reg S

                      4.750%        9/16/77        BBB–        2,883,060  
 

Total Electric Utilities

                                                 97,813,449  
      Independent Power & Renewable Electricity Producers – 0.2%                              
  5,175    

AES Gener SA, 144A

                      7.125%        3/26/79        BB        5,431,244  
      Marine – 0.1%                                         
  2,950    

Royal Capital BV, Reg S

                      4.875%        N/A (7)        N/R        2,982,822  
      Multi-Utilities – 1.6%                                         
  9,510    

CenterPoint Energy Inc

          6.125%        N/A (7)        BBB–        10,056,825  
  3,330    

Dominion Energy Inc

          5.750%        10/01/54        BBB–        3,589,074  
  3,925    

Dominion Energy Inc

          4.650%        N/A (7)        BBB–        4,004,167  
  2,340    

NiSource Inc

          5.650%        N/A (7)        BBB–        2,398,500  
  6,700    

RWE AG, Reg S

          6.625%        7/30/75        BB+        7,595,211  

 

57


Nuveen Real Asset Income Fund (continued)

Portfolio of Investments    December 31, 2019

 

Principal
Amount (000) (6)
    Description (1)                   Coupon      Maturity      Ratings (5)      Value  
      Multi-Utilities (continued)                                         
$ 7,530    

WEC Energy Group Inc (3-Month LIBOR reference rate + 2.113% spread), (8)

                      4.022%        5/15/67        BBB      $ 7,012,890  
 

Total Multi-Utilities

                                                 34,656,667  
      Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels – 5.3%                                         
  5,490    

Buckeye Partners LP

          6.375%        1/22/78        B+        4,036,523  
  6,345    

DCP Midstream Operating LP, 144A

          5.850%        5/21/43        BB–        5,900,850  
  16,037    

Enbridge Inc

          6.000%        1/15/77        BBB–        16,979,976  
  17,309    

Enbridge Inc

          5.500%        7/15/77        BBB–        17,857,868  
  6,087    

Enbridge Inc

          6.250%        3/01/78        BBB–        6,601,899  
  13,786    

Energy Transfer Operating LP (3-Month LIBOR reference rate + 3.018% spread), (8)

          4.927%        11/01/66        Ba1        10,615,220  
  2,189    

Energy Transfer Operating LP

          6.250%        N/A (7)        BB        2,057,660  
  985    

EnLink Midstream Partners LP

          6.000%        N/A (7)        BB        677,187  
  4,826    

Enterprise Products Operating LLC

          4.875%        8/16/77        Baa2        4,765,675  
  9,470    

Enterprise Products Operating LLC

          5.250%        8/16/77        Baa2        9,583,451  
  5,930  CAD   

Inter Pipeline Ltd

          6.625%        11/19/79        BBB–        4,572,340  
  9,735    

Plains All American Pipeline LP

          6.125%        N/A (7)        BB        9,077,888  
  15,145    

TransCanada PipeLines Ltd (3-Month LIBOR reference rate + 2.210% spread), (8)

          4.120%        5/15/67        Baa2        12,670,609  
  7,510    

Transcanada Trust

          5.875%        8/15/76        BBB        8,083,013  
  6,045    

Transcanada Trust

                      5.500%        9/15/79        BBB        6,344,227  
 

Total Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

                                                 119,824,386  
      Real Estate Management & Development – 0.8%         
  11,250    

AT Securities BV, Reg S

          5.250%        N/A (7)        BBB–        11,705,625  
  3,000  EUR   

CPI Property Group SA, Reg S

          4.375%        N/A (7)        BB+        3,506,771  
  4,750  SGD   

Frasers Property Treasury Pte Ltd, Reg S

                      3.950%        N/A (7)        N/R        3,489,855  
 

Total Real Estate Management & Development

 

              18,702,251  
      Road & Rail – 0.2%                                         
  3,730    

BNSF Funding Trust I

                      6.613%        12/15/55        A–        4,177,600  
 

Total $1,000 Par (or similar) Institutional Preferred (cost $294,162,249)

 

              297,379,238  
Shares     Description (1)                   Coupon              Ratings (5)      Value  
 

CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED SECURITIES – 4.5%

 

     
      Electric Utilities – 1.3%                                         
  181,004    

American Electric Power Co Inc

          6.125%           BBB      $ 9,797,746  
  193,079    

NextEra Energy Inc

          4.872%           A–        9,901,091  
  192,622    

Southern Co

                      6.750%                 BBB        10,382,326  
 

Total Electric Utilities

                                                 30,081,163  
      Equity Real Estate Investment Trust – 1.4%                
  144,059    

Braemar Hotels & Resorts Inc

          5.500%           N/R        2,737,121  

 

58


Shares     Description (1)                   Coupon              Ratings (5)      Value  
      Equity Real Estate Investment Trust (continued)                
  7,719    

Crown Castle International Corp, (2)

          6.875%           N/R      $ 9,893,027  
  25,936    

Equity Commonwealth

          6.500%           N/R        732,433  
  25,720    

Lexington Realty Trust

          6.500%           N/R        1,466,297  
  69,496    

QTS Realty Trust Inc

          6.500%           B–        8,976,798  
  64,087    

RLJ Lodging Trust

          1.950%           N/R        1,839,938  
  98,840    

RPT Realty

                      7.250%                 N/R        5,916,562  
 

Total Equity Real Estate Investment Trust

                                                 31,562,176  
      Multi-Utilities – 1.8%                                         
  139,736    

CenterPoint Energy Inc

          7.000%           N/R        6,810,733  
  107,469    

Dominion Energy Inc

          7.250%           BBB–        11,498,108  
  269,566    

DTE Energy Co

          6.250%           BBB–        13,817,953  
  52,933    

Sempra Energy

          6.000%           N/R        6,353,019  
  14,228    

Sempra Energy

                      6.750%                 N/R        1,694,128  
 

Total Multi-Utilities

                                                 40,173,941  
 

Total Convertible Preferred Securities (cost $92,473,524)

 

              101,817,280  
Principal
Amount (000)
    Description (1)   Coupon (9)      Reference
Rate (9)
     Spread (9)      Maturity (10)      Ratings (5)      Value  
 

VARIABLE RATE SENIOR LOAN INTERESTS – 1.9% (9)

 

  
      Capital Markets – 0.1%         
$ 1,602    

Capital Automotive LP, Term Loan, First Lien

    4.300%        1-Month LIBOR        2.500%        3/24/24        B1      $ 1,610,060  
  1,537    

Capital Automotive LP, Term Loan, Second Lien

    7.800%        1-Month LIBOR        6.000%        3/24/25        CCC+        1,545,869  
  3,139    

Total Capital Markets

                                                 3,155,929  
      Chemicals – 0.1%                                         
  2,481    

Messer Industries GmbH, Term Loan

    4.445%        3-Month LIBOR        2.500%        3/01/26        BB-        2,497,961  
      Diversified Telecommunication Services – 0.1%                
  1,576    

SBA Senior Finance II LLC, Term Loan B

    3.550%        1-Month LIBOR        1.750%        4/11/25        BB+        1,583,801  
      Equity Real Estate Investment Trust – 0.2%         
  1,485    

Iron Mountain Inc., Term Loan B

    3.542%        1-Month LIBOR        1.750%        1/02/26        BB        1,483,491  
  2,860    

VICI Properties 1 LLC, Term Loan B

    3.785%        1-Month LIBOR        2.000%        12/22/24        BBB-        2,877,460  
  4,345    

Total Equity Real Estate Investment Trust

 

     4,360,951  
      Health Care Providers & Services – 0.2%                
  3,666    

RegionalCare Hospital Partners Holdings, Inc., Term Loan B

    6.299%        1-Month LIBOR        4.500%        11/16/25        B+        3,700,621  
      Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure – 0.1%         
  2,947    

CityCenter Holdings LLC, Term Loan B

    4.049%        1-Month LIBOR        2.250%        4/18/24        BB–        2,963,445  
      Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels – 0.4%         
  5,431    

BCP Renaissance Parent LLC, Term Loan B

    5.349%        2-Month LIBOR        3.500%        11/01/24        BB–        4,843,996  

 

59


Nuveen Real Asset Income Fund (continued)

Portfolio of Investments    December 31, 2019

 

Principal
Amount (000)
    Description (1)   Coupon (9)      Reference
Rate (9)
     Spread (9)      Maturity (10)      Ratings (5)      Value  
      Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (continued)         
$ 1,600    

Buckeye Partners, LP Term Loan B

    4.441%        1-Month LIBOR        2.750%        11/01/26        BBB–      $ 1,616,448  
  3,896    

Delek US Holdings Inc, Term Loan B

    4.042%        1-Month LIBOR        2.250%        3/30/25        BB+        3,893,335  
  10,927    

Total Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

                                                 10,353,779  
      Real Estate Management & Development – 0.4%         
  3,940    

Brookfield Property REIT Inc., Term Loan B

    4.299%        1-Month LIBOR        2.500%        8/24/25        BB+        3,922,863  
  4,460    

Invitation Homes Operating Partnership, Term Loan A

    3.492%        1-Month LIBOR        1.700%        2/06/22        N/R        4,400,080  
  8,400    

Total Real Estate Management & Development

 

     8,322,943  
      Road & Rail – 0.3%                                         
  4,900    

Genesee & Wyoming Inc, Term Loan

    3.906%        3-Month LIBOR        2.000%        12/30/26        Baa2        4,953,361  
  999    

Kenan Advantage Group Inc, Term Loan

    4.799%        1-Month LIBOR        3.000%        8/01/22        B+        994,743  
  238    

Kenan Advantage Group Inc, Term Loan B

    4.799%        1-Month LIBOR        3.000%        7/29/22        B+        236,552  
  6,137    

Total Road & Rail

                                                 6,184,656  
$ 43,618    

Total Variable Rate Senior Loan Interests (cost $43,354,205)

 

     43,124,086  
Principal
Amount (000)
    Description (1)                   Coupon      Maturity      Ratings (5)      Value  
 

CONVERTIBLE BONDS – 0.6%

 

  
      Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels – 0.4%                
$ 12,325    

Cheniere Energy Inc

                      4.250%        3/15/45        N/R      $ 9,706,586  
      Real Estate Management & Development – 0.2%         
  3,545    

Tricon Capital Group Inc, 144A

                      5.750%        3/31/22        N/R        3,669,075  
$ 15,870    

Total Convertible Bonds (cost $12,259,171)

 

     13,375,661  
Shares     Description (1), (11)                                           Value  
 

INVESTMENT COMPANIES – 0.4%

 

  
  7,970,544    

Keppel Infrastructure Trust

 

            $ 3,199,952  
  3,803,382    

Starwood European Real Estate Finance Ltd

 

                                         5,262,531  
 

Total Investment Companies (cost $7,896,966)

 

              8,462,483  
Principal
Amount (000)
    Description (1)                   Coupon      Maturity      Ratings (5)      Value  
 

ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES – 0.2%

 

  
$ 1,500    

Natixis Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust 2019-MILE, 144A, (1-Month LIBOR reference rate + 2.750% spread), (8)

          4.490%        7/15/36        N/R      $ 1,499,997  
  2,525    

Natixis Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust 2019-MILE, 144A, (1-Month LIBOR reference rate + 4.250% spread), (8)

                      5.990%        7/15/36        N/R        2,524,992  
$ 4,025    

Total Asset-Backed Securities (cost $4,025,000)

 

              4,024,989  

 

60


Shares     Description (1)                                           Value  
 

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST COMMON STOCKS RIGHTS – 0.0%

 

  
      Diverse REIT – 0.0%                
  66,272    

Charter Hall Long Wale REIT, (3), (4)

                                               $  
 

Total Real Estate Investment Trust Common Stocks Rights (cost $0)

                                                  
 

Total Long-Term Investments (cost $2,035,948,690)

 

     2,172,146,352  
Principal
Amount (000)
    Description (1)                   Coupon      Maturity              Value  
 

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS – 1.8%

 

  
      REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS – 1.8%         
$ 39,454    

Repurchase Agreement with Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, dated 12/31/19, repurchase price $39,455,552, collateralized by $39,890,000 U.S. Treasury Notes, 2.125%, due 5/31/21, value $40,246,936

                      0.650%        1/02/20               $ 39,454,127  
 

Total Short-Term Investments (cost $39,454,127)

 

     39,454,127  
 

Total Investments (cost $2,075,402,817) – 98.5%

 

     2,211,600,479  
 

Other Assets Less Liabilities – 1.5%

                                                 33,647,467  
 

Net Assets – 100%

                                               $ 2,245,247,946  

For Fund portfolio compliance purposes, the Fund’s industry classifications refer to any one or more of the industry sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or ratings group indexes, and/or as defined by Fund management. This definition may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine industry sub-classifications into sectors for reporting ease.

 

(1)

All percentages shown in the Portfolio of Investments are based on net assets.

 

(2)

For fair value measurement disclosure purposes, investment classified as Level 2. See Notes to Financial Statements, Note 3 – Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements for more information.

 

(3)

Investment valued at fair value using methods determined in good faith by, or at the discretion of, the Board. For fair value measurement disclosure purposes, investment classified as Level 3. See Notes to Financial Statements, Note 3 – Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements for more information.

 

(4)

Non-income producing; issuer has not declared a dividend within the past twelve months.

 

(5)

For financial reporting purposes, the ratings disclosed are the highest of Standard & Poor’s Group (“Standard & Poor’s”), Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or Fitch, Inc. (“Fitch”) rating. This treatment of split-rated securities may differ from that used for other purposes, such as for Fund investment policies. Ratings below BBB by Standard & Poor’s, Baa by Moody’s or BBB by Fitch are considered to be below investment grade. Holdings designated N/R are not rated by any of these national rating agencies. Ratings are not covered by the report of independent registered public accounting firm.

 

(6)

Principal Amount (000) denominated in U.S. Dollars, unless otherwise noted.

 

(7)

Perpetual security. Maturity date is not applicable.

 

(8)

Variable rate security. The rate shown is the coupon as of the end of the reporting period.

 

(9)

Senior loans generally pay interest at rates which are periodically adjusted by reference to a base short-term, floating lending rate (Reference Rate) plus an assigned fixed rate (Spread). These floating lending rates are generally (i) the lending rate referenced by the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), or (ii) the prime rate offered by one or more major United States banks. Senior loans may be considered restricted in that the Fund ordinarily is contractually obligated to receive approval from the agent bank and/or borrower prior to the disposition of a senior loan. The rate shown is the coupon as of the end of the reporting period.

 

(10)

Senior loans generally are subject to mandatory and/or optional prepayment. Because of these mandatory prepayment conditions and because there may be significant economic incentives for a borrower to prepay, prepayments of senior loans may occur. As a result, the actual remaining maturity of senior loans held may be substantially less than the stated maturities shown.

 

(11)

A copy of the most recent financial statements for these investment companies can be obtained directly from the Securities and Exchange Commission on its website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

144A

Investment is exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These investments may only be resold in transactions exempt from registration, which are normally those transactions with qualified institutional buyers.

 

ADR

American Depositary Receipt

 

BRL

Brazilian Real

 

CAD

Canadian Dollar

 

COP

Colombian Peso

 

EUR

Euro

 

GBP

Pound Sterling

 

LIBOR

London Inter-Bank Offered Rate

 

MXN

Mexican Peso

 

REIT

Real Estate Investment Trust

 

Reg S

Regulation S allows U.S. companies to sell securities to persons or entities located outside of the United States without registering those securities with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Specifically, Regulation S provides a safe harbor from the registration requirements of the Securities Act for the offers and sales of securities by both foreign and domestic issuers that are made outside the United States.

 

SGD

Singapore Dollar

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

61


Nuveen Real Estate Securities Fund

Portfolio of Investments    December 31, 2019

 

Shares     Description (1)                 Value  
 

LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS – 97.3%

     
 

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST COMMON STOCKS – 97.1%

     
      Diversified – 6.0%                  
  318,312    

Alexander & Baldwin Inc

      $ 6,671,820  
  520,945    

American Assets Trust Inc

        23,911,375  
  280,887    

Empire State Realty Trust Inc

        3,921,183  
  429,583    

Liberty Property Trust

        25,796,459  
  138,494    

PS Business Parks Inc

        22,833,506  
  5,664,257    

VEREIT Inc

        52,337,735  
  15,678    

Washington Real Estate Investment Trust

        457,484  
  498,622    

WP Carey Inc

                    39,909,705  
 

Total Diversified

                    175,839,267  
      Health Care – 12.6%                  
  1,619,816    

Healthcare Realty Trust Inc

        54,053,260  
  502,170    

Healthcare Trust of America Inc

        15,205,708  
  2,066,047    

Healthpeak Properties Inc

        71,216,640  
  2,037,424    

Medical Properties Trust Inc

        43,010,021  
  129,888    

National Health Investors Inc

        10,583,274  
  666,235    

Omega Healthcare Investors Inc

        28,215,052  
  862,848    

Physicians Realty Trust

        16,342,341  
  631,998    

Ventas Inc

        36,491,565  
  1,157,618    

Welltower Inc

                    94,670,000  
 

Total Health Care

                    369,787,861  
      Hotels – 3.4%                  
  517,794    

Host Hotels & Resorts Inc

        9,605,079  
  632,400    

MGM Growth Properties LLC

        19,585,428  
  297,511    

Pebblebrook Hotel Trust

        7,976,270  
  227,613    

Ryman Hospitality Properties Inc

        19,724,943  
  148,789    

Summit Hotel Properties Inc

        1,836,056  
  3,079,248    

Sunstone Hotel Investors Inc

                    42,863,132  
 

Total Hotels

                    101,590,908  
      Industrial – 14.9%                  
  1,042,860    

Americold Realty Trust

        36,562,672  
  3,652,936    

Duke Realty Corp

        126,647,291  
  138,876    

EastGroup Properties Inc

        18,424,679  
  1,970,086    

Lexington Realty Trust

        20,922,313  
  1,907,522    

Prologis Inc

        170,036,511  
  432,133    

Rexford Industrial Realty Inc

        19,735,514  
  977,376    

STAG Industrial Inc

        30,855,760  

 

62


Shares     Description (1)                 Value  
      Industrial (continued)                  
  260,492    

Terreno Realty Corp

                  $ 14,103,037  
 

Total Industrial

                    437,287,777  
      Office – 12.6%                  
  493,316    

Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc

        79,709,999  
  550,836    

Boston Properties Inc

        75,938,251  
  96,282    

Columbia Property Trust Inc

        2,013,257  
  878,613    

Corporate Office Properties Trust

        25,813,650  
  125,258    

Cousins Properties Inc

        5,160,630  
  1,041,931    

Douglas Emmett Inc

        45,740,771  
  661,823    

Hudson Pacific Properties Inc

        24,917,636  
  754,765    

JBG SMITH Properties

        30,107,576  
  220,930    

Kilroy Realty Corp

        18,536,027  
  229,231    

Mack-Cali Realty Corp

        5,302,113  
  1,037,310    

Paramount Group Inc

        14,439,355  
  84,769    

Piedmont Office Realty Trust Inc

        1,885,263  
  605,281    

Vornado Realty Trust

                    40,251,187  
 

Total Office

                    369,815,715  
      Residential – 21.2%                  
  11,754    

American Campus Communities Inc

        552,791  
  1,772,745    

American Homes 4 Rent

        46,463,646  
  567,567    

Apartment Investment & Management Co

        29,314,836  
  428,982    

AvalonBay Communities Inc

        89,957,525  
  1,072,371    

Camden Property Trust

        113,778,563  
  523,150    

Equity LifeStyle Properties Inc

        36,824,529  
  779,946    

Equity Residential

        63,113,230  
  141,054    

Essex Property Trust Inc

        42,437,506  
  59,046    

Investors Real Estate Trust

        4,280,835  
  1,950,270    

Invitation Homes Inc

        58,449,592  
  324,262    

Mid-America Apartment Communities Inc

        42,757,187  
  109,051    

NexPoint Residential Trust Inc

        4,907,295  
  326,116    

Sun Communities Inc

        48,950,012  
  865,329    

UDR Inc

                    40,410,864  
 

Total Residential

                    622,198,411  
      Retail – 11.0%                  
  784,374    

Acadia Realty Trust

        20,338,818  
  226,496    

Agree Realty Corp

        15,893,224  
  118,638    

Brixmor Property Group Inc

        2,563,767  
  248,459    

Brookfield Property REIT Inc

        4,582,826  
  198,685    

Federal Realty Investment Trust

        25,576,720  
  611,858    

National Retail Properties Inc

        32,807,826  

 

63


Nuveen Real Estate Securities Fund (continued)

Portfolio of Investments    December 31, 2019

 

Shares     Description (1)                 Value  
      Retail (continued)                  
  570,757    

Realty Income Corp

      $ 42,024,838  
  606,079    

Regency Centers Corp

        38,237,524  
  469,410    

RPT Realty

        7,059,926  
  763,654    

Simon Property Group Inc

        113,753,900  
  1,051,328    

SITE Centers Corp

        14,739,619  
  241,479    

Urban Edge Properties

        4,631,567  
  10,063    

Weingarten Realty Investors

                    314,368  
 

Total Retail

                    322,524,923  
      Specialized – 15.4%                  
  87,009    

American Tower Corp

        19,996,408  
  78,460    

CoreSite Realty Corp

        8,796,935  
  462,331    

CubeSmart

        14,554,180  
  500,329    

CyrusOne Inc

        32,736,526  
  488,950    

Digital Realty Trust Inc

        58,546,873  
  265,619    

EPR Properties

        18,763,326  
  226,822    

Equinix Inc

        132,396,001  
  198,761    

Extra Space Storage Inc

        20,993,137  
  693,911    

Four Corners Property Trust Inc

        19,561,351  
  469,286    

Public Storage

        99,939,147  
  11,349    

QTS Realty Trust Inc

        615,910  
  12,792    

SBA Communications Corp

        3,082,744  
  822,668    

VICI Properties Inc

                    21,019,167  
 

Total Specialized

                    451,001,705  
 

Total Real Estate Investment Trust Common Stocks (cost $2,126,096,344)

                    2,850,046,567  
Shares     Description (1)                 Value  
 

COMMON STOCKS – 0.2%

     
      Real Estate Management & Development – 0.2%                  
  258,274    

Kennedy-Wilson Holdings Inc

                  $ 5,759,510  
 

Total Common Stocks (cost $5,596,695)

                    5,759,510  
 

Total Long-Term Investments (cost $2,131,693,039)

                    2,855,806,077  
Shares     Description (1)          Coupon     Value  
 

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS – 1.2%

     
      MONEY MARKET FUNDS – 1.2%                  
  35,870,340    

First American Treasury Obligations Fund, Class Z

            1.488% (2)     $ 35,870,340  
 

Total Short-Term Investments (cost $35,870,340)

                    35,870,340  
 

Total Investments (cost $2,167,563,379) – 98.5%

                    2,891,676,417  
 

Other Assets Less Liabilities – 1.5%

                    44,060,066  
 

Net Assets – 100%

                  $ 2,935,736,483  

 

64


For Fund portfolio compliance purposes, the Fund’s industry classifications refer to any one or more of the industry sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or ratings group indexes, and/or as defined by Fund management. This definition may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine industry sub-classifications into sectors for reporting ease.

 

(1)

All percentages shown in the Portfolio of Investments are based on net assets.

 

(2)

The rate shown is the annualized seven-day subsidized yield as of the end of the reporting period.

 

REIT

Real Estate Investment Trust

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

65


 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2019

 

      Global
Infrastructure
       Global
Real Estate
Securities
       Real
Asset Income
       Real Estate
Securities
 

Assets

                 

Long-term investments, at value (cost $481,932,533, $24,555,241, $2,035,948,690 and $2,131,693,039, respectively)

   $ 606,418,834        $ 27,451,788        $ 2,172,146,352        $ 2,855,806,077  

Short-term investments, at value (cost approximates value)

     11,461,660          369,053          39,454,127          35,870,340  

Cash

     236          904          111,632           

Cash denominated in foreign currencies (cost $84, $31,287, $141,666 and $—, respectively)

     85          31,456          141,470           

Receivable for:

                 

Dividends

     1,068,785          134,563          7,811,230          14,758,368  

From Adviser

              24,833                    

Interest

     207          7          9,522,889          35,664  

Investments sold

     6,604,664          401,434          21,961,224          45,940,104  

Reclaims

     306,814          10,528          168,709          38,871  

Shares sold

     1,296,229                   8,786,872          6,699,448  

Other assets

     68,612          14,099          121,434          336,955  

Total assets

     627,226,126          28,438,665          2,260,225,939          2,959,485,827  

Liabilities

                 

Payable for:

                 

Dividends

                       782,044          503  

Investments purchased – regular settlement

     5,659,835          233,819          8,501,156          12,031,015  

Investments purchased – when-issued/delayed-delivery settlement

              58,548                    

Shares redeemed

     966,474                   3,018,663          7,414,548  

Accrued expenses:

                 

Custodian fees

     106,879          98,562          197,293          55,477  

Directors/Trustees fees

     39,942          343          83,569          318,215  

Management fees

     409,052                   1,355,948          2,098,749  

Professional fees

     55,614          71,061          86,845          120,770  

Shareholder servicing agent fees

     175,889          218          582,103          1,349,549  

12b-1 distribution and service fees

     32,892          37          227,659          93,715  

Other

     36,534          8,545          142,713          266,803  

Total liabilities

     7,483,111          471,133          14,977,993          23,749,344  

Net assets

   $ 619,743,015        $ 27,967,532        $ 2,245,247,946        $ 2,935,736,483  

Class A Shares

                 

Net assets

   $ 57,378,816        $ 35,111        $ 220,664,605        $ 249,172,095  

Shares outstanding

     5,013,373          1,580          8,913,073          12,324,492  

Net asset value (“NAV”) per share

   $ 11.45        $ 22.22        $ 24.76        $ 20.22  

Offering price per share (NAV per share plus maximum sales charge of 5.75% of offering price)

   $ 12.15        $ 23.58        $ 26.27        $ 21.45  

Class C Shares

                 

Net assets

   $ 24,639,525        $ 33,306        $ 217,976,461        $ 37,351,819  

Shares outstanding

     2,171,473          1,500          8,800,903          1,910,874  

NAV and offering price per share

   $ 11.35        $ 22.21        $ 24.77        $ 19.55  

Class R3 Shares

                 

Net assets

   $ 358,180        $        $        $ 21,227,471  

Shares outstanding

     30,759                            1,030,988  

NAV and offering price per share

   $ 11.64        $        $        $ 20.59  

Class R6 Shares

                 

Net assets

   $ 60,186,904        $ 27,709,165        $ 80,903,450        $ 479,972,824  

Shares outstanding

     5,268,207          1,246,250          3,251,029          23,018,639  

NAV and offering price per share

   $ 11.42        $ 22.23        $ 24.89        $ 20.85  

Class I Shares

                 

Net assets

   $ 477,179,590        $ 189,950        $ 1,725,703,430        $ 2,148,012,274  

Shares outstanding

     41,859,879          8,549          69,706,796          104,330,431  

NAV and offering price per share

   $ 11.40        $ 22.22        $ 24.76        $ 20.59  

Fund level net assets consist of:

                                         

Capital paid-in

   $ 506,966,448        $ 25,178,060        $ 2,149,359,259        $ 2,211,188,771  

Total distributable earnings

     112,776,567          2,789,472          95,888,687          724,547,712  

Fund level net assets

   $ 619,743,015        $ 27,967,532        $ 2,245,247,946        $ 2,935,736,483  

Authorized shares – per class

     2 billion          Unlimited          2 billion          2 billion  

Par value per share

   $ 0.0001        $ 0.01        $ 0.0001        $ 0.0001  

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

66


Statement of Operations

Year Ended December 31, 2019

 

      Global
Infrastructure
       Global
Real Estate
Securities
       Real
Asset Income
       Real Estate
Securities
 

Investment Income

                 

Dividends

   $ 18,037,408        $ 848,459        $ 69,804,229        $ 91,577,778  

Interest

     138,515          6,518          37,947,976          1,113,248  

Foreign tax withheld on dividend income

     (1,327,430        (45,249        (3,346,756        3,740  

Foreign tax withheld from interest income

                       21,581           

Securities lending income

                                2,869  

Total investment income

     16,848,493          809,728          104,427,030          92,697,635  

Expenses

                 

Management fees

     4,737,248          253,974          14,138,415          27,061,832  

12b-1 service fees – Class A Shares

     139,876          80          493,842          661,530  

12b-1 distribution and service fees – Class C Shares

     250,558          315          2,021,287          446,186  

12b-1 distribution and service fees – Class R3 Shares

     1,581                            112,793  

Shareholder servicing agent fees

     517,837          1,040          1,843,184          4,948,136  

Custodian fees

     314,655          326,706          570,277          332,038  

Directors/Trustees fees

     14,252          763          53,600          89,938  

Professional fees

     89,898          122,042          128,945          156,255  

Shareholder reporting expenses

     40,232          27,371          612,151          501,890  

Federal and state registration fees

     96,043          66,974          116,053          115,677  

Other

     14,729          6,990          43,143          207,986  

Total expenses before fee waiver/expense reimbursement

     6,216,909          806,255          20,020,897          34,634,261  

Fee waiver/expense reimbursement

     (750,382        (535,200                  

Net expenses

     5,466,527          271,055          20,020,897          34,634,261  

Net investment income (loss)

     11,381,966          538,673          84,406,133          58,063,374  

Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

                 

Net realized gain (loss) from investments and foreign currency

     40,026,850          2,520,749          58,948,028          348,063,149  

Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments and foreign currency

     79,549,316          3,552,336          245,455,301          327,922,170  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     119,576,166          6,073,085          304,403,329          675,985,319  

Net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations

   $ 130,958,132        $ 6,611,758        $ 388,809,462        $ 734,048,693  

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

67


Statement of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Global Infrastructure            Global Real Estate Securities  
      Year Ended
12/31/19
     Year Ended
12/31/18
            Year Ended
12/31/19
     For the period
March 20, 2018
(commencement of
operations) through
December 31, 2018
 

Operations

             

Net investment income (loss)

   $ 11,381,966      $ 10,951,354        $ 538,673      $ 460,590  

Net realized gain (loss) from:

             

Investments and foreign currency

     40,026,850        5,967,204          2,520,749        (32,490

Futures contracts

                             

Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of:

 

          

Investments and foreign currency

     79,549,316        (61,292,713        3,552,336        (656,752

Futures contracts

                                   

Net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations

     130,958,132        (44,374,155              6,611,758        (228,652

Distributions to Shareholders

             

Dividends

             

Class A Shares

     (3,877,179      (3,755,306        (3,173      (882

Class C Shares

     (1,500,681      (1,273,099        (2,785      (738

Class R3 Shares

     (22,743      (13,284                

Class R6 Shares

     (4,360,413      (726,034        (2,643,546      (926,961

Class I Shares

     (33,676,572      (21,971,240        (14,624      (1,003

Class T Shares(1)

            (273                

Return of Capital

             

Class A Shares

            (160,320                

Class C Shares

            (58,872                

Class R3 Shares

            (610                

Class R6 Shares

            (26,614                

Class I Shares

            (879,812                

Class T Shares(1)

            (50                      

Decrease in net assets from distributions to shareholders

     (43,437,588      (28,865,514              (2,664,128      (929,584

Fund Share Transactions

             

Proceeds from sale of shares

     248,764,694        132,913,905          164,015        25,003,000  

Proceeds from shares issued to shareholders due to reinvestment of distributions

     29,867,584        21,919,163                13,021        73  
     278,632,278        154,833,068          177,036        25,003,073  

Cost of shares redeemed

     (184,363,049      (253,244,145              (962      (1,009

Net increase (decrease) in net assets from Fund share transactions

     94,269,229        (98,411,077              176,074        25,002,064  

Net increase (decrease) in net assets

     181,789,773        (171,650,746        4,123,704        23,843,828  

Net assets at the beginning of period

     437,953,242        609,603,988                23,843,828         

Net assets at the end of period

   $ 619,743,015      $ 437,953,242              $ 27,967,532      $ 23,843,828  

 

(1)

Class T shares were not available for public offering.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

68


     Real Asset Income            Real Estate Securities  
      Year Ended
12/31/19
     Year Ended
12/31/18
            Year Ended
12/31/19
     Year Ended
12/31/18
 

Operations

             

Net investment income (loss)

   $ 84,406,133      $ 98,725,400        $ 58,063,374      $ 66,724,738  

Net realized gain (loss) from:

             

Investments and foreign currency

     58,948,028        (37,840,856        348,063,149        67,415,493  

Futures contracts

            2,813,514                  

Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of:

 

          

Investments and foreign currency

     245,455,301        (187,951,172        327,922,170        (320,335,746

Futures contracts

            (133,634                      

Net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations

     388,809,462        (124,386,748              734,048,693        (186,195,515

Distributions to Shareholders

             

Dividends

             

Class A Shares

     (11,627,309      (9,712,967        (26,598,316      (17,730,670

Class C Shares

     (10,327,392      (8,470,366        (3,934,152      (2,449,091

Class R3 Shares

                     (2,189,834      (1,414,187

Class R6 Shares

     (3,824,352      (1,478,458        (50,325,533      (20,227,182

Class I Shares

     (92,558,832      (74,646,020        (239,701,123      (149,246,103

Class T Shares(1)

            (1,055               (765

Return of Capital

             

Class A Shares

     (319,381      (1,105,163                

Class C Shares

     (326,727      (1,153,747                

Class R3 Shares

                             

Class R6 Shares

     (96,249      (158,482                

Class I Shares

     (2,433,660      (8,043,786                

Class T Shares(1)

            (127                      

Decrease in net assets from distributions to shareholders

     (121,513,902      (104,770,171              (322,748,958      (191,067,998

Fund Share Transactions

             

Proceeds from sale of shares

     695,040,316        579,661,431          753,698,574        869,814,162  

Proceeds from shares issued to shareholders due to reinvestment of distributions

     110,345,096        95,025,457                262,074,094        154,000,537  
     805,385,412        674,686,888          1,015,772,668        1,023,814,699  

Cost of shares redeemed

     (532,060,862      (844,651,713              (1,469,696,254      (1,454,944,075

Net increase (decrease) in net assets from Fund share transactions

     273,324,550        (169,964,825              (453,923,586      (431,129,376

Net increase (decrease) in net assets

     540,620,110        (399,121,744        (42,623,851      (808,392,889

Net assets at the beginning of period

     1,704,627,836        2,103,749,580                2,978,360,334        3,786,753,223  

Net assets at the end of period

   $ 2,245,247,946      $ 1,704,627,836              $ 2,935,736,483      $ 2,978,360,334  

 

(1)

Class T shares were not available for public offering.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

69


Financial Highlights

 

Global Infrastructure

Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period:

 

      Investment Operations           Less Distributions           

Class (Commencement Date)

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

  Beginning
NAV
    Net
Investment
Income
(Loss)(a)
       Net
Realized/
Unrealized
Gain (Loss)
       Total           

From

Net
Investment
Income

      

From

Accumulated

Net Realized

Gains

       Return
of
Capital
       Total        Ending
NAV
 

Class A (12/07)

 

                                   

2019

  $ 9.48     $ 0.22        $ 2.56        $ 2.78       $ (0.20      $ (0.61      $        $ (0.81      $ 11.45  

2018

    10.93       0.20          (1.05        (0.85       (0.22        (0.36        (0.02        (0.60        9.48  

2017

    9.69       0.22          1.66          1.88         (0.23        (0.41                 (0.64        10.93  

2016

    9.75       0.25          0.49          0.74         (0.30        (0.50                 (0.80        9.69  

2015

    10.79       0.19          (0.93        (0.74             (0.20        (0.10                 (0.30        9.75  

Class C (11/08)

 

                                   

2019

    9.41       0.14          2.52          2.66         (0.11        (0.61                 (0.72        11.35  

2018

    10.85       0.12          (1.04        (0.92       (0.14        (0.36        (0.02        (0.52        9.41  

2017

    9.62       0.14          1.65          1.79         (0.15        (0.41                 (0.56        10.85  

2016

    9.69       0.16          0.49          0.65         (0.22        (0.50                 (0.72        9.62  

2015

    10.71       0.11          (0.91        (0.80             (0.12        (0.10                 (0.22        9.69  

Class R3 (11/08)

 

                                   

2019

    9.64       0.19          2.59          2.78         (0.17        (0.61                 (0.78        11.64  

2018

    11.11       0.18          (1.07        (0.89       (0.20        (0.36        (0.02        (0.58        9.64  

2017

    9.85       0.20          1.68          1.88         (0.21        (0.41                 (0.62        11.11  

2016

    9.90       0.22          0.51          0.73         (0.28        (0.50                 (0.78        9.85  

2015

    10.95       0.17          (0.95        (0.78             (0.17        (0.10                 (0.27        9.90  

Class R6 (6/16)

                                     

2019

    9.47       0.26          2.54          2.80         (0.24        (0.61                 (0.85        11.42  

2018

    10.91       0.22          (1.03        (0.81       (0.25        (0.36        (0.02        (0.63        9.47  

2017

    9.65       0.27          1.66          1.93         (0.26        (0.41                 (0.67        10.91  

2016(e)

    11.06       0.11          (0.67        (0.56             (0.35        (0.50                 (0.85        9.65  

Class I (12/07)

 

                                   

2019

    9.44       0.25          2.54          2.79         (0.22        (0.61                 (0.83        11.40  

2018

    10.89       0.22          (1.04        (0.82       (0.25        (0.36        (0.02        (0.63        9.44  

2017

    9.66       0.26          1.64          1.90         (0.26        (0.41                 (0.67        10.89  

2016

    9.73       0.27          0.50          0.77         (0.34        (0.50                 (0.84        9.66  

2015

    10.77       0.22          (0.94        (0.72             (0.22        (0.10                 (0.32        9.73  

 

70


 

      Ratios/Supplemental Data  
                  Ratios to Average
Net Assets Before
Waiver/Reimbursement
          Ratios to Average
Net Assets After
Waiver/Reimbursement(c)
          
Total
Return(b)
    Ending
Net
Assets
(000)
           Expenses        Net
Investment
Income
(Loss)
           Expenses        Net
Investment
Income
(Loss)
       Portfolio
Turnover
Rate(d)
 
                        
  29.27   $ 57,379         1.36        1.85       1.22        1.99        144
  (7.88     55,856         1.35          1.74         1.22          1.87          174  
  19.38       87,876         1.42          1.85         1.22          2.05          161  
  7.61       70,173         1.45          2.20         1.22          2.42          149  
  (6.89     287,424               1.45          1.59               1.22          1.82          133  
                        
  28.37       24,640         2.11          1.11         1.97          1.26          144  
  (8.60     24,556         2.11          1.00         1.97          1.13          174  
  18.55       29,227         2.17          1.11         1.97          1.31          161  
  6.71       22,868         2.21          1.30         1.97          1.53          149  
  (7.50     22,307               2.20          0.83               1.97          1.05          133  
                        
  29.06       358         1.61          1.54         1.47          1.69          144  
  (8.14     239         1.60          1.54         1.47          1.68          174  
  19.03       337         1.67          1.63         1.47          1.83          161  
  7.37       730         1.71          1.81         1.47          2.04          149  
  (7.10     607               1.70          1.39               1.47          1.62          133  
                        
  29.70       60,187         1.03          2.11         0.89          2.26          144  
  (7.56     11,520         1.02          1.93         0.89          2.06          174  
  19.95       19,575         1.02          2.24         0.80          2.46          161  
  (5.08     7,627               1.09        1.78             0.86        2.02        149  
                        
  29.69       477,180         1.11          2.10         0.97          2.24          144  
  (7.67     345,782         1.10          1.98         0.97          2.11          174  
  19.61       472,564         1.17          2.14         0.97          2.34          161  
  7.91       314,001         1.20          2.30         0.97          2.54          149  
  (6.67)       320,406               1.20          1.83               0.97          2.05          133  

 

(a)

Per share Net Investment Income (Loss) is calculated using the average daily shares method.

 
(b)

Total return is the combination of changes in NAV without any sales charge, reinvested dividend income at NAV and reinvested capital gains distributions at NAV, if any. Total returns are not annualized.

 
(c)

After fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement from the Adviser, where applicable. See Note 7 – Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates, Management Fees for more information.

 
(d)

Portfolio Turnover Rate is calculated based on the lesser of long-term purchases or sales (as disclosed in Note 4 – Portfolio Securities and Investment in Derivatives, Investment Transactions) divided by the average long-term market value during the period.

 
(e)

For the period June 30, 2016 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2016.

 
*

Annualized.

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

71


Financial Highlights (continued)

 

Global Real Estate Securities

Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period:

 

          Investment Operations           Less Distributions           

Class (Commencement Date)

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

  Beginning
NAV
    Net
Investment
Income
(Loss)(a)
       Net
Realized/
Unrealized
Gain (Loss)
       Total            From
Net
Investment
Income
       From
Accumulated
Net Realized
Gains
       Total        Ending
NAV
 

Class A (03/18)

                                

2019

  $ 19.07     $ 0.36        $ 4.84        $ 5.20       $ (1.33      $ (0.72      $ (2.05      $ 22.22  

2018(e)

    20.00       0.32          (0.54        (0.22             (0.53        (0.18        (0.71        19.07  

Class C (03/18)

                                

2019

    19.06       0.19          4.84          5.03         (1.16        (0.72        (1.88        22.21  

2018(e)

    20.00       0.20          (0.55        (0.35             (0.41        (0.18        (0.59        19.06  

Class R6 (03/18)

                                

2019

    19.07       0.43          4.85          5.28         (1.40        (0.72        (2.12        22.23  

2018(e)

    20.00       0.37          (0.55        (0.18             (0.57        (0.18        (0.75        19.07  

Class I (03/18)

                                

2019

    19.07       0.47          4.79          5.26         (1.39        (0.72        (2.11        22.22  

2018(e)

    20.00       0.36          (0.54        (0.18             (0.57        (0.18        (0.75        19.07  

 

72


 

      Ratios/Supplemental Data  
                  Ratios to Average
Net Assets Before
Waiver/Reimbursement
          Ratios to Average
Net Assets After
Waiver/Reimbursement(c)
          
Total
Return(b)
    Ending
Net
Assets
(000)
           Expenses        Net
Investment
Income
(Loss)
           Expenses       

Net

Investment
Income
(Loss)

       Portfolio
Turnover
Rate(d)
 
                        
  27.55   $ 35         3.21        (0.31 )%        1.30        1.60        198
  (1.21     24               2.65        0.67             1.30        2.02        161  
                        
  26.56       33         3.96          (1.05       2.05          0.86          198  
  (1.77     24               3.41        (0.09 )*              2.05        1.27        161  
                        
  27.91       27,709         2.88          0.01         0.97          1.93          198  
  (0.97     23,770               2.38        0.94             1.02        2.30        161  
                        
  27.80       190         2.96          0.15         1.05          2.06          198  
  (1.03)       26               2.42        0.86             1.05        2.24        161  

 

(a)

Per share Net Investment Income (Loss) is calculated using the average daily shares method.

 
(b)

Total return is the combination of changes in NAV without any sales charge, reinvested dividend income at NAV and reinvested capital gains distributions at NAV, if any. Total returns are not annualized.

 
(c)

After fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement from the Adviser, where applicable. See Note 7 – Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates, Management Fees for more information.

 
(d)

Portfolio Turnover Rate is calculated based on the lesser of long-term purchases or sales (as disclosed in Note 4 – Portfolio Securities and Investment in Derivatives, Investment Transactions) divided by the average long-term market value during the period.

 
(e)

For the period March 20, 2018 (commencement of operations) though December 31, 2018.

 
*

Annualized.

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

73


Financial Highlights (continued)

 

Real Asset Income

Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period:

 

          Investment Operations           Less Distributions           

Class (Commencement Date)

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

  Beginning
NAV
    Net
Investment
Income
(Loss)(a)
       Net
Realized/
Unrealized
Gain (Loss)
       Total            From
Net
Investment
Income
       From
Accumulated
Net Realized
Gains
       Return
of
Capital
       Total        Ending
NAV
 

Class A (9/11)

 

                                   

2019

  $ 21.46     $ 0.99        $ 3.73        $ 4.72       $ (1.38      $        $ (0.04      $ (1.42      $ 24.76  

2018

    24.14       1.12          (2.61        (1.49       (1.07                 (0.12        (1.19        21.46  

2017

    22.76       1.11          1.59          2.70         (1.32                          (1.32        24.14  

2016

    21.87       1.08          1.00          2.08         (1.12                 (0.07        (1.19        22.76  

2015

    23.78       1.08          (1.80        (0.72             (1.08        (0.01        (0.10        (1.19        21.87  

Class C (9/11)

 

                                   

2019

    21.47       0.81          3.74          4.55         (1.21                 (0.04        (1.25        24.77  

2018

    24.15       0.95          (2.62        (1.67       (0.89                 (0.12        (1.01        21.47  

2017

    22.77       0.94          1.59          2.53         (1.15                          (1.15        24.15  

2016

    21.89       0.91          0.99          1.90         (0.95                 (0.07        (1.02        22.77  

2015

    23.79       0.92          (1.81        (0.89             (0.90        (0.01        (0.10        (1.01        21.89  

Class R6 (6/16)

                                     

2019

    21.56       1.10          3.73          4.83         (1.46                 (0.04        (1.50        24.89  

2018

    24.24       1.20          (2.63        (1.43       (1.13                 (0.12        (1.25        21.56  

2017

    22.83       1.22          1.58          2.80         (1.39                          (1.39        24.24  

2016(e)

    23.49       0.48          (0.57        (0.09             (0.50                 (0.07        (0.57        22.83  

Class I (9/11)

 

                                   

2019

    21.46       1.05          3.73          4.78         (1.44                 (0.04        (1.48        24.76  

2018

    24.14       1.18          (2.61        (1.43       (1.13                 (0.12        (1.25        21.46  

2017

    22.76       1.18          1.58          2.76         (1.38                          (1.38        24.14  

2016

    21.88       1.14          0.98          2.12         (1.17                 (0.07        (1.24        22.76  

2015

    23.78       1.14          (1.79        (0.65             (1.14        (0.01        (0.10        (1.25        21.88  

 

74


 

      Ratios/Supplemental Data  
                  Ratios to Average
Net Assets Before
Waiver/Reimbursement
          Ratios to Average
Net Assets After
Waiver/Reimbursement(c)
          
Total
Return(b)
    Ending
Net
Assets
(000)
           Expenses        Net
Investment
Income
(Loss)
           Expenses        Net
Investment
Income
(Loss)
       Portfolio
Turnover
Rate(d)
 
                        
  22.39   $ 220,665         1.14        4.16       1.14        4.16        85
  (6.38     178,651         1.14          4.85         1.14          4.85          94  
  12.07       225,282         1.15          4.64         1.15          4.64          84  
  9.60       234,495         1.18          4.72         1.16          4.74          89  
  (3.19     161,064               1.18          4.68               1.16          4.69          82  
                        
  21.50       217,976         1.89          3.41         1.89          3.41          85  
  (7.09     186,043         1.89          4.10         1.89          4.11          94  
  11.25       241,844         1.90          3.94         1.90          3.94          84  
  8.74       182,744         1.93          3.97         1.91          3.99          89  
  (3.88     129,301               1.92          3.99               1.91          4.01          82  
                        
  22.82       80,903         0.80          4.59         0.80          4.59          85  
  (6.08     27,654         0.81          5.18         0.81          5.19          94  
  12.47       29,332         0.81          5.10         0.81          5.10          84  
  (0.43     7,237               0.84        4.08             0.82        4.11        89  
                        
  22.69       1,725,703         0.89          4.42         0.89          4.42          85  
  (6.13     1,312,280         0.89          5.10         0.89          5.11          94  
  12.35       1,607,267         0.90          4.96         0.90          4.96          84  
  9.82       846,584         0.93          4.98         0.91          5.00          89  
  (2.90)       555,149               0.93          4.97               0.91          4.98          82  

 

(a)

Per share Net Investment Income (Loss) is calculated using the average daily shares method.

 
(b)

Total return is the combination of changes in NAV without any sales charge, reinvested dividend income at NAV and reinvested capital gains distributions at NAV, if any. Total returns are not annualized.

 
(c)

After fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement from the Adviser, where applicable. See Note 7 – Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates, Management Fees for more information.

 
(d)

Portfolio Turnover Rate is calculated based on the lesser of long-term purchases or sales (as disclosed in Note 4 – Portfolio Securities and Investment in Derivatives, Investment Transactions) divided by the average long-term market value during the period.

 
(e)

For the period June 30, 2016 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2016.

 
*

Annualized.

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

75


Financial Highlights (continued)

 

Real Estate Securities

Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period:

 

      Investment Operations           Less Distributions         

Class (Commencement Date)

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

  Beginning
NAV
    Net
Investment
Income
(Loss)(a)
       Net
Realized/
Unrealized
Gain (Loss)
     Total           

From

Net
Investment
Income

    

From

Accumulated

Net Realized

Gains

     Total      Ending
NAV
 

Class A (9/95)

 

                      

2019

  $ 18.03     $ 0.33        $ 4.16      $ 4.49       $ (0.33    $ (1.97    $ (2.30    $ 20.22  

2018

    20.23       0.31          (1.43      (1.12       (0.34      (0.74      (1.08      18.03  

2017

    21.75       0.32          0.85        1.17         (0.37      (2.32      (2.69      20.23  

2016

    22.66       0.31          1.14        1.45         (0.31      (2.05      (2.36      21.75  

2015

    23.79       0.32          0.38        0.70               (0.37      (1.46      (1.83      22.66  

Class C (2/00)

 

                      

2019

    17.49       0.16          4.03        4.19         (0.16      (1.97      (2.13      19.55  

2018

    19.63       0.17          (1.39      (1.22       (0.18      (0.74      (0.92      17.49  

2017

    21.18       0.15          0.82        0.97         (0.20      (2.32      (2.52      19.63  

2016

    22.11       0.12          1.12        1.24         (0.12      (2.05      (2.17      21.18  

2015

    23.24       0.15          0.36        0.51               (0.18      (1.46      (1.64      22.11  

Class R3 (9/01)

 

                      

2019

    18.34       0.28          4.23        4.51         (0.29      (1.97      (2.26      20.59  

2018

    20.56       0.28          (1.46      (1.18       (0.30      (0.74      (1.04      18.34  

2017

    22.08       0.27          0.85        1.12         (0.32      (2.32      (2.64      20.56  

2016

    23.00       0.26          1.16        1.42         (0.29      (2.05      (2.34      22.08  

2015

    24.13       0.25          0.40        0.65               (0.32      (1.46      (1.78      23.00  

Class R6 (4/13)

 

                      

2019

    18.54       0.44          4.27        4.71         (0.43      (1.97      (2.40      20.85  

2018

    20.75       0.44          (1.51      (1.07       (0.40      (0.74      (1.14      18.54  

2017

    22.23       0.46          0.82        1.28         (0.44      (2.32      (2.76      20.75  

2016

    23.07       0.43          1.16        1.59         (0.38      (2.05      (2.43      22.23  

2015

    24.17       0.43          0.37        0.80               (0.44      (1.46      (1.90      23.07  

Class I (6/95)

 

                      

2019

    18.34       0.39          4.22        4.61         (0.39      (1.97      (2.36      20.59  

2018

    20.55       0.39          (1.47      (1.08       (0.39      (0.74      (1.13      18.34  

2017

    22.07       0.40          0.84        1.24         (0.44      (2.32      (2.76      20.55  

2016

    22.97       0.38          1.15        1.53         (0.38      (2.05      (2.43      22.07  

2015

    24.10       0.38          0.39        0.77               (0.44      (1.46      (1.90      22.97  

 

76


 

      Ratios/Supplemental Data  
                  Ratios to Average
Net Assets
                
Total
Return(b)
    Ending
Net
Assets
(000)
           Expenses        Net
Investment
Income
(Loss)
              Portfolio
Turnover
Rate(c)
 
                 
  25.24   $ 249,172         1.30        1.56          109
  (5.78     264,414         1.26          1.61            131  
  5.34       459,034         1.29          1.47            131  
  6.58       679,318         1.30          1.32            139  
  3.22       690,025               1.30          1.37                  104  
                 
  24.28       37,352         2.06          0.79            109  
  (6.46     43,152         2.02          0.89            131  
  4.59       66,953         2.04          0.71            131  
  5.76       89,123         2.05          0.55            139  
  2.45       93,499               2.05          0.65                  104  
                 
  24.88       21,227         1.55          1.32            109  
  (5.98     22,073         1.52          1.42            131  
  5.08       36,829         1.54          1.23            131  
  6.31       53,413         1.55          1.11            139  
  2.95       57,416               1.55          1.06                  104  
                 
  25.74       479,973         0.88          2.03            109  
  (5.39     346,185         0.88          2.21            131  
  5.78       277,978         0.87          2.04            131  
  7.05       307,921         0.87          1.83            139  
  3.60       254,414               0.87          1.80                  104  
                 
  25.56       2,148,012         1.06          1.80            109  
  (5.51     2,302,536         1.02          1.96            131  
  5.61       2,945,935         1.04          1.78            131  
  6.79       3,497,055         1.05          1.61            139  
  3.48     3,666,093             1.05        1.58                104

 

(a)

Per share Net Investment Income (Loss) is calculated using the average daily shares method.

 
(b)

Total return is the combination of changes in NAV without any sales charge, reinvested dividend income at NAV and reinvested capital gains distributions at NAV, if any. Total returns are not annualized.

 
(c)

Portfolio Turnover Rate is calculated based on the lesser of long-term purchases or sales (as disclosed in Note 4 – Portfolio Securities and Investment in Derivatives, Investment Transactions) divided by the average long-term market value during the period.

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

77


Notes to Financial Statements

 

1. General Information

Trust and Fund Information

Nuveen Investment Funds, Inc. and Nuveen Investment Trust V (each a “Trust” and collectively, the “Trusts”), are open-end management investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) as amended. Nuveen Investment Funds, Inc. is comprised of Nuveen Global Infrastructure Fund (“Global Infrastructure”), Nuveen Real Asset Income Fund (“Real Asset Income”) and Nuveen Real Estate Securities Fund (“Real Estate Securities”), among others, and Nuveen Investment Trust V is comprised of Nuveen Global Real Estate Securities Fund (“Global Real Estate Securities”), among others, (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”), as diversified funds. Nuveen Investment Funds, Inc. was incorporated in the State of Maryland on August 20, 1987 and Nuveen Investment Trust V was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on September 27, 2006.

The end of the reporting period for the Funds is December 31, 2019, and the period covered by these Notes to Financial Statements is the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 (the “current fiscal period”).

Investment Adviser and Sub-Adviser

The Funds’ investment adviser is Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (the “Adviser”), a subsidiary of Nuveen, LLC (“Nuveen”). Nuveen is the investment management arm of Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA). The Adviser has overall responsibility for management of the Funds, oversees the management of the Funds’ portfolios, manages the Funds’ business affairs and provides certain clerical, bookkeeping and other administrative services, and, if necessary, asset allocation decisions. The Adviser has entered into sub-advisory agreements with Nuveen Asset Management, LLC, (the “Sub-Adviser”), a subsidiary of the Adviser, under which the Sub-Adviser manages the investment portfolios of the Funds.

Share Classes and Sales Charges

Class A Shares are generally sold with an up-front sales charge. Class A Share purchases of $1 million or more are sold at net asset value (“NAV”) without an up-front sales charge but may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1% if redeemed within eighteen months of purchase. Class C Shares are sold without an up-front sales charge but are subject to a CDSC of 1% if redeemed within twelve months of purchase. Class C Shares automatically convert to Class A Shares ten years after purchase. Class R3, R6, and I Shares are sold without an up-front sales charge.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The accompanying financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), which may require the use of estimates made by management and the evaluation of subsequent events. Actual results may differ from those estimates. Each Fund is an investment company and follows accounting guidance in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies. The NAV for financial reporting purposes may differ from the NAV for processing security and shareholder transactions. The NAV for financial reporting purposes includes security and shareholder transactions through the date of the report. Total return is computed based on the NAV used for processing security and shareholder transactions. The following is a summary of the significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Funds.

Compensation

Neither Trust pays compensation directly to those of its directors/trustees who are affiliated with the Adviser or to its officers, all of whom receive remuneration for their services to each Trust from the Adviser or its affiliates. The Funds’ Board of Directors/Trustees (the “Board”) has adopted a deferred compensation plan for independent directors/trustees that enables directors/trustees to elect to defer receipt of all or a portion of the annual compensation they are entitled to receive from certain Nuveen-advised funds. Under the plan, deferred amounts are treated as though equal dollar amounts had been invested in shares of select Nuveen-advised funds.

Distributions to Shareholders

Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The amount and timing of distributions are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP.

The tax character of Fund distributions for a fiscal year is dependent upon the amount and tax character of distributions received from securities held in the Funds’ portfolios. Distributions received from certain securities in which the Funds invest, most notably real estate investment trust (“REIT”) securities, may be characterized for tax purposes as ordinary income, long-term capital gain and/or a return of capital. The issuer of a security reports the tax character of its distributions only once per year, generally during the first two months of the calendar year. The distribution is included in the Funds’ ordinary income until such time the Fund is notified by the issuer of the actual tax character. For the current fiscal period, dividend income, net realized gain (loss) and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) recognized on the Statement of Operations reflect the amounts of ordinary income, capital gain, and/or return of capital as reported by the issuers of such securities as of the current fiscal period.

 

78


Foreign currency transactions and translation

The books and records of the Funds are maintained in U.S. dollars. Assets, including investments, and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the end of each day. Purchases and sales of securities, income and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at each prevailing exchange rate on the respective dates of the transactions.

Net realized foreign currency gains and losses resulting from changes in exchange rates associated with (i) foreign currency, (ii) investments and (iii) derivatives include foreign currency gains and losses between trade date and settlement date of the transactions, foreign currency transactions, and the difference between the amounts of interest and dividends recorded on the books of the Funds and the amounts actually received are recognized as a component of “Net realized gain (loss) from investments and foreign currency” on the Statement of Operations, when applicable.

The unrealized gains and losses resulting from changes in foreign currency exchange rates and changes in foreign exchange rates associated with (i) investments and (ii) other assets and liabilities are recognized as a component of “Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments and foreign currency” on the Statement of Operations, when applicable. The unrealized gains and losses resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates associated with investments in derivatives are recognized as a component of the respective derivative’s related “Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)” on the Statement of Operations, when applicable.

As of the end of the end of the reporting period, the following Funds’ investments in non-U.S. securities were as follows:

 

Global Infrastructure      Value      % of
Net Assets
 
Country:        

France

     $ 66,929,404        10.8

Spain

       62,982,591        10.2

Australia

       57,626,396        9.3

Canada

       50,302,523        8.1

Italy

       49,826,171        8.0

New Zealand

       15,256,959        2.5

Mexico

       10,510,353        1.7

Germany

       9,327,072        1.5

United Kingdom

       8,641,314        1.4

Japan

       8,018,533        1.3

Other

       44,562,817        7.2
Total non-U.S securities      $ 383,984,133        62.0
Global Real Estate Securities                  
Country:        

Japan

     $ 2,917,226        10.4

Canada

       1,536,549        5.5

Germany

       1,474,627        5.3

United Kingdom

       1,417,830        5.1

Australia

       1,330,680        4.8

Hong Kong

       1,041,080        3.7

Singapore

       826,401        3.0

France

       644,985        2.3

Sweden

       271,679        1.0

Spain

       258,893        0.9

New Zealand

       193,023        0.7

Other

       1,246,777        4.4
Total non-U.S securities      $ 13,159,750        47.1
Real Asset Income                  
Country:        

Canada

     $ 290,972,091        13.0

Australia

       97,584,405        4.4

Singapore

       79,285,152        3.5

France

       62,715,125        2.8

Italy

       43,591,883        1.9

United Kingdom

       39,233,451        1.7

Spain

       38,194,567        1.7

Germany

       32,065,458        1.4

Portugal

       23,326,907        1.0

Brazil

       19,527,935        0.9

Other

       179,340,916        8.0
Total non-U.S securities      $ 905,837,890        40.3

 

79


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

Indemnifications

Under each Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and directors/trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to each Trust. In addition, in the normal course of business, each Trust enters into contracts that provide general indemnifications to other parties. Each Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against each Trust that have not yet occurred. However, each Trust has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these contracts and expects the risk of loss to be remote.

Investments and Investment Income

Securities transactions are accounted for as of the trade date for financial reporting purposes. Realized gains and losses on securities transactions are based upon the specific identification method. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for foreign securities, when information is available. Non-cash dividends received in the form of stock, if any, are recognized on the ex-dividend date and recorded at fair value. Interest income, which reflects the amortization of premiums and includes accretion of discounts for financial reporting purposes, is recorded on an accrual basis. Interest income also reflects payment-in-kind (“PIK”) interest and paydown gains and losses, if any. PIK interest represents income received in the form of securities in lieu of cash. Securities lending income is comprised of fees earned from borrowers and income earned on cash collateral investments.

Multiclass Operations and Allocations

Income and expenses of Global Infrastructure, Global Real Estate Securities and Real Estate Securities that are not directly attributable to a specific class of shares are prorated among the classes of each Fund based on the relative net assets of each class. Income and expenses of Real Asset Income that are not directly attributable to a specific class of shares are prorated among the classes based on the relative settled shares of each class. Expenses directly attributable to a class of shares are recorded to the specific class. Currently, the only expenses that are allocated on a class-specific basis are 12b-1 distribution and service fees.

Sub-transfer agent fees and similar fees, which are recognized as a component of “Shareholder servicing agent fees” on the Statement of Operations, are not charged to Class R6 Shares and are prorated among the other classes based on their relative net assets for Global Infrastructure, Global Real Estate Securities and Real Estate Securities and relative settled shares for Real Asset Income.

Realized and unrealized capital gains and losses of the Funds are prorated among the classes based on the relative net assets of each class.

Netting Agreements

In the ordinary course of business, the Funds may enter into transactions subject to enforceable master repurchase agreements, International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (ISDA) master agreements or other similar arrangements (“netting agreements”). Generally, the right to offset in netting agreements allows each Fund to offset certain securities and derivatives with a specific counterparty, when applicable, as well as any collateral received or delivered to that counterparty based on the terms of the agreements. Generally, each Fund manages its cash collateral and securities collateral on a counterparty basis.

The Funds’ investments subject to netting agreements as of the end of the reporting period, if any, are further described in Note 4 – Portfolio Securities and Investments in Derivatives.

New Accounting Pronouncements and Rule Issuances

FASB Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2017-08 (“ASU 2017-08”) Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities

The FASB has issued ASU 2017-08, which shortens the premium amortization period for purchased non-contingently callable debt securities. ASU 2017-08 specifies that the premium amortization period ends at the earliest call date, for purchased non-contingently callable debt securities. ASU 2017-08 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. During the current fiscal period, ASU 2017-08 became effective for the Funds and it did not have a material impact on the Funds’ financial statements.

Fair Value Measurement: Disclosure Framework

During August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13 (“ASU 2018-13”), Fair Value Measurement: Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurements. ASU 2018-13 modifies the disclosures required by Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements. The amendments in ASU 2018-13 are effective for all entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Management has early implemented this guidance and it did not have a material impact on the Funds’ financial statements.

3. Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements

The fair valuation input levels as described below are for fair value measurement purposes.

The Funds’ investments in securities are recorded at their estimated fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received upon selling an investment or transferring a liability in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the investment. A three-tier hierarchy is used to maximize the use of observable market data and minimize the use of unobservable inputs and to establish classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Observable inputs are based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs reflect the

 

80


reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Unobservable inputs are based on the best information available in the circumstances. The following is a summary of the three-tiered hierarchy of valuation input levels.

 

Level 1 –   Inputs are unadjusted and prices are determined using quoted prices in active markets for identical securities.
Level 2 –   Prices are determined using other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, credit spreads, etc.).
Level 3 –   Prices are determined using significant unobservable inputs (including management’s assumptions in determining the fair value of investments).

Common stocks and other equity-type securities are valued at the last sales price on the securities exchange on which such securities are primarily traded and are generally classified as Level 1. Securities primarily traded on the Nasdaq National Market (“Nasdaq”) are valued at the Nasdaq Official Closing Price and are generally classified as Level 1. However, securities traded on a securities exchange or Nasdaq for which there were no transactions on a given day or securities not listed on a securities exchange or Nasdaq are valued at the quoted bid price and are generally classified as Level 2. Prices of certain American Depositary Receipts (“ADR”) held by the Funds that trade in the United States are valued based on the last traded price, official closing price, or the most recent bid price of the underlying non-U.S.-traded stock, adjusted as appropriate for the underlying-to-ADR conversion ratio and foreign exchange rate, and from time-to-time may also be adjusted further to take into account material events that may take place after the close of the local non-U.S. market but before the close of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), which may represent a transfer from a Level 1 to a Level 2 security.

Prices of fixed-income securities are provided by an independent pricing service (“pricing service”) approved by the Board. The pricing service establishes a security’s fair value using methods that may include consideration of the following: yields or prices of investments of comparable quality, type of issue, coupon, maturity and rating, market quotes or indications of value from security dealers, evaluations of anticipated cash flows or collateral, general market conditions and other information and analysis, including the obligor’s credit characteristics considered relevant. These securities are generally classified as Level 2. In pricing certain securities, particularly less liquid and lower quality securities, the pricing service may consider information about a security, its issuer or market activity, provided by the Adviser. These securities are generally classified as Level 2 or Level 3 depending on the observability of the significant inputs.

Like most fixed-income securities, the senior and subordinated loans in which the Fund invests are not listed on an organized exchange. The secondary market of such investments may be less liquid relative to markets for other fixed-income securities. Consequently, the value of senior and subordinated loans, determined as described above, may differ significantly from the value that would have been determined had there been an active market for that senior loan. These securities are generally classified as Level 2.

Investments in investment companies are valued at their respective NAVs on the valuation date and are generally classified as Level 1.

Repurchase agreements are valued at contract amount plus accrued interest, which approximates market value. These securities are generally classified as Level 2.

Investments initially valued in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are converted to the U.S. dollar using exchange rates obtained from pricing services. As a result, the NAV of the Funds’ shares may be affected by changes in the value of currencies in relation to the U.S. dollar. The value of securities traded in markets outside the United States or denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar may be affected significantly on a day that the NYSE is closed and an investor is not able to purchase, redeem or exchange shares. If significant market events occur between the time of determination of the closing price of a foreign security on an exchange and the time that the Funds’ NAV is determined, or if under the Funds’ procedures, the closing price of a foreign security is not deemed to be reliable, the security would be valued at fair value as determined in accordance with procedures established in good faith by the Board. These securities are generally classified as Level 2 or Level 3 depending on the observability of the significant inputs.

Certain securities may not be able to be priced by the pre-established pricing methods as described above. Such securities may be valued by the Board and/or its appointee at fair value. These securities generally include, but are not limited to, restricted securities (securities which may not be publicly sold without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) for which a pricing service is unable to provide a market price; securities whose trading has been formally suspended; debt securities that have gone into default and for which there is no current market quotation; a security whose market price is not available from a pre-established pricing source; a security with respect to which an event has occurred that is likely to materially affect the value of the security after the market has closed but before the calculation of a Fund’s NAV (as may be the case in non-U.S. markets on which the security is primarily traded) or make it difficult or impossible to obtain a reliable market quotation; and a security whose price, as provided by the pricing service, is not deemed to reflect the security’s fair value. As a general principle, the fair value of a security would appear to be the amount that the owner might reasonably expect to receive for it in a current sale. A variety of factors may be considered in determining the fair value of such securities, which may include consideration of the following: yields or prices of investments of comparable quality, type of issue, coupon, maturity and rating, market quotes or indications of value from security dealers, evaluations of anticipated cash flows or collateral, general market conditions and other information and analysis, including the obligor’s credit characteristics considered relevant. These securities are generally classified as Level 2 or Level 3 depending on the observability of the significant inputs. Regardless of the method employed to value a particular security, all valuations are subject to review by the Board and/or its appointee.

 

81


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing securities are not an indication of the risks associated with investing in those securities. The following is a summary of each Fund’s fair value measurements as of the end of the reporting period:

 

Global Infrastructure   Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
Long-Term Investments*:           

Common Stocks**

  $ 294,180,246      $ 289,281,458      $   —      $ 583,461,704  

Real Estate Investment Trust Common Stocks**

    18,839,307        1,104,835               19,944,142  

Investment Companies

    3,012,988                      3,012,988  
Short-Term Investments:           

Repurchase Agreements

           11,461,660               11,461,660  
Total   $ 316,032,541      $ 301,847,953      $   —      $ 617,880,494  
Global Real Estate Securities                               
Long-Term Investments*:           

Real Estate Investment Trust Common Stocks**

  $ 19,398,546      $ 4,045,481      $      $ 23,444,027  

Common Stocks**

    1,495,118        2,512,643               4,007,761  

Real Estate Investment Trust Common Stocks Rights

                  ***        
Short-Term Investments:           

Repurchase Agreements

           369,053               369,053  
Total   $ 20,893,664      $ 6,927,177      $      $ 27,820,841  
Real Asset Income                               
Long-Term Investments*:           

Real Estate Investment Trust Common Stocks**

  $ 500,623,930      $ 101,632,185      $      $ 602,256,115  

Common Stocks**

    246,652,168        205,871,091               452,523,259  

$25 Par (or similar) Retail Preferred**

    323,771,293        9,227,666               332,998,959  

Corporate Bonds

           316,184,282               316,184,282  

$1,000 Par (or similar) Institutional Preferred

           297,379,238               297,379,238  

Convertible Preferred Securities**

    91,924,253        9,893,027               101,817,280  

Variable Rate Senior Loan Interests

           43,124,086               43,124,086  

Convertible Bonds

           13,375,661               13,375,661  

Investment Companies

    8,462,483                      8,462,483  

Asset-Backed Securities

           4,024,989               4,024,989  

Real Estate Investment Trust Common Stocks Rights

                  ***        
Short-Term Investments:           

Repurchase Agreements

           39,454,127               39,454,127  
Total   $ 1,171,434,127      $ 1,040,166,352      $      $ 2,211,600,479  
Real Estate Securities                               
Long-Term Investments*:           

Real Estate Investment Trust Common Stocks

  $ 2,850,046,567      $      $      $ 2,850,046,567  

Common Stocks

    5,759,510                      5,759,510  
Short-Term Investments:           

Money Market Funds

    35,870,340                      35,870,340  
Total   $ 2,891,676,417      $      $      $ 2,891,676,417  
*

Refer to the Fund’s Portfolio of Investments for industry and country classifications, where applicable.

**

Refer to the Fund’s Portfolio of Investments for securities classified as Level 2.

***

Refer to the Fund’s Portfolio of Investments for securities classified as Level 3. Value equals zero as of the end of the reporting period.

4. Portfolio Securities and Investments in Derivatives

Portfolio Securities

Securities Lending

In order to generate additional income, Real Estate Securities may lend securities representing up to one-third of the value of its total assets (which includes collateral for securities on loan) to broker-dealers, banks or other institutions. When loaning securities, the Fund retains the benefits of owning the securities, including the economic equivalent of dividends or interest generated by the security. The Fund also has the ability to recall the securities on loan at any time.

The Fund’s policy is to receive, at the inception of a loan, cash collateral equal to at least 102% of the value of securities loaned, which is recognized as “Payable for collateral from securities lending program” on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Collateral for securities on loan is invested in a money market fund, which is recognized as “Investments purchased with collateral from securities lending, at value” on the Statement of Assets and

 

82


Liabilities. The market value of the securities loaned is determined at the close of each business day in order to determine the adequacy of the collateral. If the value of the securities on loan increases such that the level of collateralization falls below 100%, additional collateral is received from the borrower on the next business day, which is recognized as “Due from broker” on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Securities out on loan are subject to termination at any time at the option of the borrower or the Fund. Upon termination, the borrower is required to return to the Fund securities identical to the securities loaned. Generally, in the event the borrower defaults on its obligation to return the loaned securities, the Fund has the right to use the collateral to acquire identical securities. In the event the Fund is delayed or prevented from exercising its right to dispose of the collateral, there may be a loss to the Fund. Under the Fund’s securities lending agreement, however, the securities lending agent has indemnified the Fund against losses resulting from borrower default, except to the extent that those losses result from a decrease in the value of the collateral due to its investment by the Fund. The Fund bears the risk of loss with respect to the investment of collateral.

The Fund’s custodian, U.S. Bank National Association, serves as its securities lending agent. Income earned from the securities lending program is paid to the Fund. Income from securities lending is recognized as “Securities lending income” on the Statement of Operations.

The Fund had no such securities out on loan as of the end of the reporting period.

Repurchase Agreements

In connection with transactions in repurchase agreements, it is each Fund’s policy that its custodian take possession of the underlying collateral securities, the fair value of which exceeds the principal amount of the repurchase transaction, including accrued interest, at all times. If the counterparty defaults, and the fair value of the collateral declines, realization of the collateral may be delayed or limited.

The following table presents the repurchase agreements for the Funds that are subject to netting agreements as of the end of the reporting period, and the collateral delivered related to those repurchase agreements.

 

Fund   Counterparty  

Short-Term

Investments, at Value

   

Collateral

Pledged (From)
Counterparty*

    Net
Exposure
 
Global Infrastructure   Fixed Income Clearing Corporation   $ 11,461,660     $ (11,461,660   $   —  
Global Real Estate Securities   Fixed Income Clearing Corporation     369,053       (369,053       —  
Real Asset Income   Fixed Income Clearing Corporation     39,454,127       (39,454,127       —  
*

As of the end of the reporting period, the value of the collateral pledged from the counterparty exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements. Refer to the Fund’s Portfolio of Investments for details on the repurchase agreements.

Investment Transactions

Long-term purchases and sales (including maturities but excluding investments purchased with collateral from securities lending, where applicable) during the current fiscal period were as follows:

 

     Global
Infrastructure
     Global
Real Estate
Securities
     Real Asset
Income
     Real Estate
Securities
 
Purchases   $ 799,709,191      $ 53,999,610      $ 1,860,947,814      $ 3,444,275,791  
Sales and maturities     739,678,827        55,790,079        1,634,391,653        4,166,095,773  

The Funds may purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis. Securities purchased on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis may have extended settlement periods; interest income is not accrued until settlement date. Any securities so purchased are subject to market fluctuation during this period. The Funds have earmarked securities in their portfolios with a current value at least equal to the amount of the when-issued/delayed-delivery purchase commitments. If a Fund has outstanding when-issued/delayed-delivery purchases commitments as of the end of the reporting period, such amounts are recognized on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Investments in Derivatives

Each Fund is authorized to invest in certain derivative instruments. The Funds record derivative instruments at fair value, with changes in fair value recognized on the Statement of Operations, when applicable. Even though the Funds’ investments in derivatives may represent economic hedges, they are not considered to be hedge transactions for financial reporting purposes.

Although the Funds are authorized to invest in derivative instruments, and may do so in the future, they did not make any such investments during the current fiscal period.

Market and Counterparty Credit Risk

In the normal course of business each Fund may invest in financial instruments and enter into financial transactions where risk of potential loss exists due to changes in the market (market risk) or failure of the other party to the transaction to perform (counterparty credit risk). The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets recorded on the financial statements. Financial assets, which potentially expose each Fund to counterparty credit risk, consist principally of cash due from counterparties on forward, option and swap transactions, when applicable. The extent of each Fund’s exposure to counterparty credit risk in respect to these financial assets approximates their carrying value as recorded on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

83


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

Each Fund helps manage counterparty credit risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties the Adviser believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by having the Adviser monitor the financial stability of the counterparties. Additionally, counterparties may be required to pledge collateral daily (based on the daily valuation of the financial asset) on behalf of each Fund with a value approximately equal to the amount of any unrealized gain above a pre-determined threshold. Reciprocally, when each Fund has an unrealized loss, the Funds have instructed the custodian to pledge assets of the Funds as collateral with a value approximately equal to the amount of the unrealized loss above a pre-determined threshold. Collateral pledges are monitored and subsequently adjusted if and when the valuations fluctuate, either up or down, by at least the pre-determined threshold amount.

5. Fund Shares

On December 12, 2018, Class T Shares were liquidated.

Transactions in Fund shares during the current and prior fiscal period were as follows:

 

       Year Ended
12/31/19
       Year Ended
12/31/18
 
Global Infrastructure     

Shares

      

Amount

       Shares        Amount  
Shares sold:                    

Class A

       1,136,248        $ 12,708,402          914,122        $ 9,675,613  

Class A – automatic conversion of Class C Shares

       929          11,004                    

Class C

       166,939          1,858,191          437,191          4,565,763  

Class R3

       12,337          141,144          5,279          56,286  

Class R6

       4,685,272          55,385,164          734,678          7,924,547  

Class I

       15,912,134          178,660,789          10,499,676          110,691,696  
Shares issued to shareholders due to reinvestment of distributions:               

Class A

       329,948          3,794,245          390,426          3,846,492  

Class C

       124,927          1,417,383          129,745          1,269,665  

Class R3

       1,947          22,743          1,233          12,347  

Class R6

       231,381          2,661,254          72,844          715,551  

Class I

       1,916,004          21,971,959          1,641,064          16,075,108  
         24,518,066          278,632,278          14,826,258          154,833,068  
Shares redeemed:                    

Class A

       (2,345,623        (25,621,970        (3,449,622        (35,564,244

Class C

       (729,475        (7,917,611        (650,997        (6,747,995

Class C – automatic conversion of Class A Shares

       (941        (11,004                  

Class R3

       (8,347        (96,436        (12,032        (129,441

Class R6

       (865,525        (9,790,401        (1,385,111        (14,148,033

Class I

       (12,589,094        (140,925,627        (18,899,242        (196,631,176

Class T(1)

                         (2,264        (23,256
         (16,539,005        (184,363,049        (24,399,268        (253,244,145
Net increase (decrease)        7,979,061        $ 94,269,229          (9,573,010      $ (98,411,077
(1) 

Class T Shares were not available for public offering.

 

       Year Ended
12/31/19
       For the Period 3/20/18
(commencement of operations)
through 12/31/18
 
Global Real Estate Securities     

Shares

      

Amount

       Shares        Amount  
Shares sold:                    

Class A

       303        $ 6,675          1,250        $ 25,000  

Class C

       231          5,000          1,250          25,000  

Class R6

                         1,246,250          24,925,000  

Class I

       6,705          152,340          1,395          28,000  
Shares issued to shareholders due to reinvestment of distributions:               

Class A

       27          606                    

Class C

       19          429                    

Class R6

                                   

Class I

       537          11,986          4          73  
         7,822          177,036          1,250,149          25,003,073  
Shares redeemed:                    

Class A

                                   

Class C

                                   

Class R6

                                   

Class I

       (43        (962        (49        (1,009
         (43        (962        (49        (1,009
Net increase (decrease)        7,779        $ 176,074          1,250,100        $ 25,002,064  

 

84


       Year Ended
12/31/19
       Year Ended
12/31/18
 
Real Asset Income     

Shares

      

Amount

       Shares        Amount  
Shares sold:                    

Class A

       2,526,184        $ 60,388,627          2,308,123        $ 53,398,939  

Class A – automatic conversion of Class C Shares

       48          1,134          33          756  

Class C

       1,359,465          32,603,646          1,286,094          29,754,671  

Class R6

       2,167,549          51,505,730          455,552          10,521,822  

Class I

       23,129,844          550,541,179          21,070,549          485,985,243  
Shares issued to shareholders due to reinvestment of distributions:                    

Class A

       480,797          11,554,673          458,084          10,492,392  

Class C

       417,053          10,029,767          397,715          9,115,780  

Class R6

       160,294          3,891,286          71,249          1,636,924  

Class I

       3,529,991          84,869,370          3,220,695          73,780,361  
         33,771,225          805,385,412          29,268,094          674,686,888  
Shares redeemed:                    

Class A

       (2,418,830        (57,264,360        (3,772,845        (86,148,974

Class C

       (1,640,280        (38,821,483        (3,032,882        (69,466,348

Class C – automatic conversion of Class A Shares

       (48        (1,134        (33        (756

Class R6

       (359,602        (8,593,528        (454,318        (10,291,330

Class I

       (18,112,481        (427,380,357        (29,707,203        (678,721,285

Class T(1)

                         (1,048        (23,020
         (22,531,241        (532,060,862        (36,968,329        (844,651,713
Net increase (decrease)        11,239,984        $ 273,324,550          (7,700,235      $ (169,964,825
(1) 

Class T Shares were not available for public offering.

 

       Year Ended
12/31/19
       Year Ended
12/31/18
 
Real Estate Securities     

Shares

      

Amount

       Shares        Amount  
Shares sold:                    

Class A

       2,425,074        $ 50,998,149          4,023,254        $ 77,536,586  

Class A – automatic conversion of Class C Shares

       10,855          240,439          7,246          146,917  

Class C

       128,382          2,591,478          170,862          3,199,768  

Class R3

       167,185          3,589,539          256,017          4,986,275  

Class R6

       7,815,191          169,358,895          8,589,549          171,099,358  

Class I

       24,744,137          526,920,074          31,487,671          612,845,258  
Shares issued to shareholders due to reinvestment of distributions:                    

Class A

       1,227,193          24,664,074          888,013          17,118,013  

Class C

       159,188          3,082,180          104,841          1,961,282  

Class R3

       104,692          2,138,636          69,356          1,360,314  

Class R6

       2,272,481          47,149,362          956,296          18,917,387  

Class I

       9,024,351          185,039,842          5,855,866          114,643,541  
         48,078,729          1,015,772,668          52,408,971          1,023,814,699  
Shares redeemed:                    

Class A

       (6,001,448        (125,908,237        (12,950,508        (253,478,814

Class C

       (832,870        (17,263,648        (1,210,755        (22,666,215

Class C – automatic conversion of Class A Shares

       (11,207        (240,439        (7,467        (146,917

Class R3

       (444,650        (9,429,406        (913,251        (17,938,934

Class R6

       (5,742,061        (126,181,421        (4,271,476        (84,946,053

Class I

       (55,018,976        (1,190,673,103        (55,091,024        (1,075,744,697

Class T(1)

                         (1,131        (22,445
         (68,051,212        (1,469,696,254        (74,445,612        (1,454,944,075
Net increase (decrease)        (19,972,483      $ (453,923,586        (22,036,641      $ (431,129,376
(1) 

Class T Shares were not available for public offering.

6. Income Tax Information

Each Fund is a separate taxpayer for federal income tax purposes. Each Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net capital gains to shareholders and to otherwise comply with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required.

For all open tax years and all major taxing jurisdictions, management of the Funds has concluded that there are no significant uncertain tax positions that would require recognition in the financial statements. Open tax years are those that are open for examination by taxing authorities (i.e., generally

 

85


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

the last four tax year ends and the interim tax period since then). Furthermore, management of the Funds is also not aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next twelve months.

The following information is presented on an income tax basis. Differences between amounts for financial statement and federal income tax purposes are primarily due to timing differences in recognizing certain gains and losses on investment transactions. To the extent that differences arise that are permanent in nature, such amounts are reclassified within the capital accounts as detailed below. Temporary differences do not require reclassification. Temporary and permanent differences do not impact the NAVs of the Funds.

The table below presents the cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of each Fund’s investment portfolio, as determined on a federal income tax basis, as of December 31, 2019.

 

     Global
Infrastructure
     Global
Real Estate
Securities
     Real Asset
Income
     Real Estate
Securities
 
Tax cost of investments   $ 506,953,048      $ 25,488,455      $ 2,102,834,668      $ 2,211,817,676  
Gross unrealized:           

Appreciation

  $ 125,708,683      $ 2,986,080      $ 154,354,645      $ 728,705,020  

Depreciation

    (14,781,237      (653,694      (45,588,834      (48,846,279
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments   $ 110,927,446      $ 2,332,386      $ 108,765,811      $ 679,858,741  

Permanent differences, primarily due to federal taxes paid, foreign currency transactions, distribution reallocations, bond premium amortization adjustments, investments in passive foreign investment companies, investments in partnerships, REIT adjustments, Sec. 305(c) adjustments, and complex securities character adjustments, resulted in reclassifications among the Funds’ components of net assets as of December 31, 2019, the Funds’ tax year end.

The tax components of undistributed net ordinary income and net long-term capital gains as of December 31, 2019, the Funds’ tax year end, were as follows:

 

     Global
Infrastructure
     Global
Real Estate
Securities
     Real Asset
Income
     Real Estate
Securities
 
Undistributed net ordinary income1   $ 934,968      $ 391,910      $   —      $ 16,655,170  
Undistributed net long-term capital gains     1,066,707        66,139               28,320,376  
1 

Net ordinary income consists of net taxable income derived from dividends, interest, and net short-term capital gains, if any.

The tax character of distributions paid during the Funds’ tax years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 was designated for purposes of the dividends paid deduction as follows:

 

2019   Global
Infrastructure
     Global
Real Estate
Securities
     Real Asset
Income
     Real Estate
Securities
 
Distributions from net ordinary income1   $ 38,104,828      $ 2,426,283      $ 118,337,885      $ 156,022,613  
Distributions from net long-term capital gains2     5,332,760        237,845               166,726,345  
Return of capital                   3,176,017         
2018   Global
Infrastructure
     Global
Real Estate
Securities3
     Real Asset
Income
     Real Estate
Securities
 
Distributions from net ordinary income1   $ 17,050,993      $ 890,956      $ 94,308,866      $ 75,657,914  
Distributions from net long-term capital gains     10,688,243        38,628               115,410,084  
Return of capital     1,126,278               10,461,305         
1 

Net ordinary income consists of net taxable income derived from dividends, interest, and net short-term capital gains, if any.

2 

The Funds designate as long-term capital gain dividend, pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 852(b)(3), the amount necessary to reduce earnings and profits of the Funds related to net capital gain to zero for the tax year ended December 31, 2019.

3 

For the period March 20, 2018 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2018.

As of December 31, 2019, the Funds’ tax year end, the following Fund had unused capital losses carrying forward available for federal income tax purposes to be applied against future capital gains, if any. The capital losses are not subject to expiration.

 

        Real Asset
Income
 
Not subject to expiration:     

Short-term

     $ 7,298,497  

Long-term

       5,538,334  
Total      $ 12,836,831  

During the Funds’ tax year ended December 31, 2019, Real Asset Income utilized $31,858,267 of its capital loss carryforward.

 

86


7. Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Management Fees

Each Fund’s management fee compensates the Adviser for the overall investment advisory and administrative services and general office facilities. The Sub-Adviser is compensated for its services to the Funds from the management fees paid to the Adviser.

Each Fund’s management fee consists of two components – a fund-level fee, based only on the amount of assets within each individual Fund, and a complex-level fee, based on the aggregate amount of all eligible fund assets managed by the Adviser. This pricing structure enables each Fund’s shareholders to benefit from growth in the assets within their respective Fund as well as from growth in the amount of complex-wide assets managed by the Adviser.

The annual fund-level fee, payable monthly, for each Fund is calculated according to the following schedules:

 

Average Daily Net Assets      Global
Infrastructure
and Global
Real Estate
Securities
       Real Estate
Securities
 
For the first $125 million        0.7500        0.7000
For the next $125 million        0.7375          0.6875  
For the next $250 million        0.7250          0.6750  
For the next $500 million        0.7125          0.6625  
For the next $1 billion        0.7000          0.6500  
For the next $3 billion        0.6750          0.6250  
For the next $2.5 billion        0.6500          0.6000  
For the next $2.5 billion        0.6375          0.5875  
For net assets over $10 billion        0.6250          0.5750  

 

Average Daily Net Assets      Real Asset
Income
 
For the first $125 million        0.6000
For the next $125 million        0.5875  
For the next $250 million        0.5750  
For the next $500 million        0.5625  
For the next $1 billion        0.5500  
For the next $3 billion        0.5250  
For the next $5 billion        0.5000  
For net assets over $10 billion        0.4875  

The annual complex-level fee, payable monthly, for each Fund is determined by taking the complex-level fee rate, which is based on the aggregate amount of “eligible assets” of all Nuveen funds as set forth in the schedule below, and (except for Global Real Estate Securities and Real Asset Income) making, as appropriate, an upward adjustment to that rate based upon the percentage of the particular fund’s assets that are not “eligible assets.” The complex level fee schedule for each Fund is as follows:

 

Complex-Level Eligible Asset Breakpoint Level*      Effective Complex-Level Fee
Rate at Breakpoint Level
 
$55 billion        0.2000
$56 billion        0.1996  
$57 billion        0.1989  
$60 billion        0.1961  
$63 billion        0.1931  
$66 billion        0.1900  
$71 billion        0.1851  
$76 billion        0.1806  
$80 billion        0.1773  
$91 billion        0.1691  
$125 billion        0.1599  
$200 billion        0.1505  
$250 billion        0.1469  
$300 billion        0.1445  
*

The complex-level fee is calculated based upon the aggregate daily “eligible assets” of all Nuveen open-end and closed-end funds. Eligible assets do not include assets attributable to investments in other Nuveen funds or assets in excess of a determined amount (originally $2 billion) added to the Nuveen fund complex in connection with the Adviser’s assumption of the management of the former First American Funds effective January 1, 2011, but do not include certain assets of certain Nuveen funds that were reorganized into funds advised by an affiliate of the Advisor during the 2019 calendar year. Eligible assets include closed-end fund assets managed by the Adviser that are attributable to certain types of leverage. For these purposes, leverage includes the closed-end funds’ use of preferred stock and borrowings and certain investments in the residual interest certificates (also called inverse floating rate securities) in tender option bond (TOB) trusts, including the

 

87


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

  portion of assets held by a TOB trust that has been effectively financed by the trust’s issuance of floating rate securities, subject to an agreement by the Adviser as to certain funds to limit the amount of such assets for determining eligible assets in certain circumstances. As of December 31, 2019, the complex-level fee for each Fund was as follows:

 

Fund      Complex-Level Fee  

Global Infrastructure

       0.1661

Global Real Estate Securities

       0.1562  

Real Asset Income

       0.1562  

Real Estate Securities

       0.1909  

The Adviser has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses (“Expense Cap”) of the following Funds so that the total annual Fund operating expenses (excluding 12b-1 distribution and/or service fees, interest expenses, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, fees incurred in acquiring and disposing of portfolio securities and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed the average daily net assets of any class of Fund shares in the amounts and for the time periods stated in the following table. However, because Class R6 Shares are not subject to sub-transfer agent and similar fees, the total annual Fund operating expenses for the Class R6 Shares will be less than the expense limitation. The expense limitations that expire may be terminated or modified prior to that date only with the approval of the Board.

 

Fund      Temporary
Expense Cap
       Temporary
Expense
Cap
Expiration
Date
 

Global Infrastructure

       1.00        July 31, 2021  

Global Real Estate Securities

       1.09          July 31, 2021  

Real Asset Income

       0.95        July 31, 2021  

Distribution and Service Fees

Each Fund has adopted a distribution and service plan under rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Class A Shares incur a 0.25% annual 12b-1 service fee. Class C Shares incur a 0.75% annual 12b-1 distribution fee and a 0.25% annual 12b-1 service fee. Class R3 Shares incur a 0.25% annual 12b-1 distribution fee and a 0.25% annual 12b-1 service fee. Class R6 Shares and Class I Shares are not subject to 12b-1 distribution or service fees. The fees under this plan compensate Nuveen Securities, LLC, (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nuveen, for services provided and expenses incurred in distributing shares of the Funds and establishing and maintaining shareholder accounts.

Other Transactions with Affiliates

During the current fiscal period, the Distributor, collected sales charges on purchases of Class A Shares, the majority of which were paid out as concessions to financial intermediaries as follows:

 

     Global
Infrastructure
     Global
Real Estate
Securities
     Real Asset
Income
     Real Estate
Securities
 
Sales charges collected (Unaudited)   $ 202,312      $   —      $ 824,940      $ 67,305  
Paid to financial intermediaries (Unaudited)     179,183               737,031        59,216  

The Distributor also received 12b-1 service fees on Class A Shares, substantially all of which were paid to compensate financial intermediaries for providing services to shareholders relating to their investments.

During the current fiscal period, the Distributor compensated financial intermediaries directly with commission advances at the time of purchase as follows:

 

     Global
Infrastructure
     Global
Real Estate
Securities
     Real Asset
Income
     Real Estate
Securities
 
Commission advances (Unaudited)   $ 31,498      $   —      $ 374,765      $ 15,833  

To compensate for commissions advanced to financial intermediaries, all 12b-1 service and distribution fees collected on C Shares during the first year following a purchase were retained by the Distributor. During the current fiscal period, the Distributor retained such 12b-1 fees as follows:

 

     Global
Infrastructure
     Global
Real Estate
Securities
     Real Asset
Income
     Real Estate
Securities
 
12b-1 fees retained (Unaudited)   $ 17,168      $ 278      $ 210,195      $ 17,027  

The remaining 12b-1 fees charged to each Fund were paid to compensate financial intermediaries for providing services to shareholders relating to their investments.

 

88


The Distributor also collected and retained CDSC on share redemptions during the current fiscal period, as follows:

 

     Global
Infrastructure
     Global
Real Estate
Securities
     Real Asset
Income
     Real Estate
Securities
 
CDSC retained (Unaudited)   $ 7,247      $   —      $ 11,757      $ 436  

As of the end of the reporting period, TIAA owned shares of the following Fund:

 

     Global
Real Estate
Securities
 
Class A Shares     1,250  
Class C Shares     1,250  
Class R6 Shares     1,246,250  
Class I Shares     1,250  

8. Borrowing Arrangements

Committed Line of Credit

The Funds, along with certain other funds managed by the Adviser (“Participating Funds”), have established a 364-day, $2.65 billion standby credit facility with a group of lenders, under which the Participating Funds may borrow for various purposes other than leveraging for investment purposes. Each Participating Fund is allocated a designated proportion of the facility’s capacity (and its associated costs, as described below) based upon a multi-factor assessment of the likelihood and frequency of its need to draw on the facility, the size of the Fund and its anticipated draws, and the potential importance of such draws to the operations and well-being of the Fund, relative to those of the other Funds. A Fund may effect draws on the facility in excess of its designated capacity if and to the extent that other Participating Funds have undrawn capacity. The credit facility expires in June 2020 unless extended or renewed.

The credit facility has the following terms: a fee of 0.15% per annum on unused commitment amounts, and interest at a rate equal to the higher of (a) one-month LIBOR (London Inter-Bank Offered Rate) plus 1.00% per annum or (b) the Fed Funds rate plus 1.00% per annum on amounts borrowed. Participating Funds paid administration, legal and arrangement fees, which are recognized as a component of “Other expenses” on the Statement of Operations, and along with commitment fees, have been allocated among such Participating Funds based upon the relative proportions of the facility’s aggregate capacity reserved for them and other factors deemed relevant by the Adviser and the Board of each Participating Fund.

During the current fiscal period, none of the Funds utilized this facility.

 

89


Additional Fund Information (Unaudited)

 

 

Investment Adviser

Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

 

Sub-Adviser

Nuveen Asset Management, LLC

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

  

Independent Registered
Public Accounting Firm

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

One North Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

 

Custodians

State Street Bank & Trust
Company

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

 

U.S. Bank National Association*

1555 North RiverCenter Drive Suite 302

Milwaukee, WI 53202

  

Legal Counsel

Chapman and Cutler LLP

Chicago, IL 60603

  

Transfer Agent and
Shareholder Services

DST Asset Manager

Solutions, Inc. (DST)

P.O. Box 219140

Kansas City, MO 64121-9140

(800) 257-8787

  
    

*  For Nuveen Real Estate Securities Fund only.

        

 

             
 

Foreign Taxes: Global Infrastructure paid qualifying foreign taxes of $1,244,837 and earned $11,739,249 of foreign source income during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. Pursuant to Section 853 of the Internal Revenue Code, Global Infrastructure hereby designates $0.02 per share as foreign taxes paid and $0.22 per share as income earned from foreign sources for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. The actual foreign tax credit distribution will be reported to shareholders on Form 1099-DIV which will be sent to shareholders shortly after calendar year end.

             

 

 

Distribution Information: The Funds hereby designate their percentages of dividends paid from net ordinary income as dividends qualifying for the dividends received deduction (“DRD”) for corporations, their percentages of qualified dividend income (“QDI”) for individuals under Section 1(h)(11) of the Internal Revenue Code, and their percentages of qualified business income (“QBI”) for individuals under Section 199A of the Internal Revenue Code as shown in the accompanying table. The actual qualified dividend and business income distributions will be reported to shareholders on Form 1099-DIV which will be sent to shareholders shortly after calendar year end.

    Fund    Global
Infrastructure
   Global Real
Estate Securities
   Real Asset
Income
   Real Estate
Securities
   
  % QDI    37.2%    3.0%    22.9%    1.6%  
  % DRD    11.6%    0.0%    9.5%    1.6%  
  % QBI    0.0%    13.1%    15.6%    42.3%  
 

Real Asset Income hereby designates its percentage of dividends paid from net ordinary income as dividends qualifying as Interest-Related Dividends and/or short-term capital gain dividends as defined in Internal Revenue Code Section 871(k) for the taxable year ended December 31, 2019.

 

  % of Interest Related Dividends    17.1%  

 

             
 

Portfolio of Investments Information: Each Fund is required to file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its report on Form N-PORT. You may obtain this information on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

             

 

 

Nuveen Funds’ Proxy Voting Information: You may obtain (i) information regarding how each fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities held during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30, without charge, upon request, by calling Nuveen toll-free at (800) 257-8787 or on Nuveen’s website at www.nuveen.com and (ii) a description of the policies and procedures that each fund used to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities without charge, upon request, by calling Nuveen toll-free at (800) 257-8787. You may also obtain this information directly from the SEC. Visit the SEC on-line at http://www.sec.gov.

 

             
 

FINRA BrokerCheck: The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) provides information regarding the disciplinary history of FINRA member firms and associated investment professionals. This information as well as an investor brochure describing FINRA BrokerCheck is available to the public by calling the FINRA BrokerCheck Hotline number at (800) 289-9999 or by visiting www.FlNRA.org.

 

90


Glossary of Terms Used in this Report

(Unaudited)

 

Average Annual Total Return: This is a commonly used method to express an investment’s performance over a particular, usually multi-year time period. It expresses the return that would have been necessary each year to equal the investment’s actual cumulative performance (including change in NAV or offer price and reinvested dividends and capital gains distributions, if any) over the time period being considered.

Basis Point: One one-hundredth of one percentage point, or 0.01%. For example, 25 basis points equals 0.25%.

Beta: A measure of the volatility of a portfolio relative to the overall market. A beta less than 1.0 indicates lower risk than the market; a beta greater than 1.0 indicates higher risk than the market.

Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield Bond Index: An index that covers the universe of fixed-rate, non-investment-grade corporate debt of issuers in non-emerging market countries. Eurobonds and debt issues from countries designated as emerging markets are excluded. Index returns assume reinvestment of distributions, but do not reflect any applicable sales charges or management fees.

FTSE EPRA/NAREIT (Financial Times Stock Exchange – European Public Real Estate Association/National Association of Real Estate Investments Trust) Developed Index NR (Net Return): An index designed to track the performance of listed real estate companies and REITS worldwide. By making the index constituents free-float adjusted, liquidity, size and revenue screened, the series is suitable for use as the basis for investment products, such as derivatives and Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). The index returns assume reinvestment of distributions, but do not reflect any applicable sales charges or management fees.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP): The total market value of all final goods and services produced in a country/region in a given year, equal to total consumer, investment and government spending, plus the value of exports, minus the value of imports.

Lipper Global Infrastructure Funds Classification Average: Represents the average annualized returns for all reporting funds in the Lipper Global Infrastructure Funds Classification. Lipper returns account for the effects of management fees and assume reinvestment of distributions, but do not reflect any applicable sales charges.

Lipper Global Real Estate Funds Classification Average: Represents the average annualized returns for all reporting funds in the Lipper Global Real Estate Funds Classification. Lipper returns account for the effects of management fees and assume reinvestment of distributions, but do not reflect any applicable sales charges.

Lipper Real Estate Funds Classification Average: Represents the average annualized returns for all reporting funds in the Lipper Real Estate Funds Classification. Lipper returns account for the effects of management fees and assume reinvestment of distributions, but do not reflect any applicable sales charges.

Lipper Real Return Funds Classification Average: Represents the average annualized returns for all reporting funds in the Lipper Real Return Funds Classification. Lipper returns account for the effects of management fees and assume reinvestment of distributions, but do not reflect any applicable sales charges.

Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) All Country World Index (ACWI): A free-float adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure equity market performance in the global developed and emerging markets. Index returns assume reinvestment of distributions, but do not reflect any applicable sales charges or management fees.

MSCI EAFE Index: The MSCI (Morgan Stanley Capital International) EAFE (Europe, Australasia, Far East) Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index designed to measure developed market equity performance,

 

91


Glossary of Terms Used in this Report (Unaudited) (continued)

 

excluding the U.S. and Canada. The index returns assume reinvestment of distributions, but do not reflect any applicable sales charges or management fees.

MSCI U.S. REIT Index: An unmanaged index that tracks the performance of real estate investment trusts (REITs). Index returns assume reinvestment of distributions, but do not reflect any applicable sales charges or management fees.

Net Asset Value (NAV) Per Share: A fund’s Net Assets is equal to its total assets (securities, cash and accrued earnings) less its total liabilities. For funds with multiple classes, Net Assets are determined separately for each share class. NAV per share is equal to the fund’s (or share class’) Net Assets divided by its number of shares outstanding.

Real Asset Income Blend: A five index blend comprised of weightings approximating the Fund’s proposed portfolio. The Fund’s proposed portfolio may differ significantly from the blended portfolio and actual returns may be substantially lower. Benchmark returns do not include the effects of any sales charges or management fees.

 

Weighting
Percentage
   Index    Definition
28%    S&P Global Infrastructure Index NR (Net Return)    An unmanaged index comprised of 75 of the largest publicly listed infrastructure companies that meet specific investability requirements.
21%    Financial Times Stock Exchange - European Public Real Estate Association/National Association of Real Estate Investments Trust
(FTSE EPRA/NAREIT) Developed Index NR (Net Return)
   An index designed to track the performance of listed real estate companies and REITs worldwide.
18%    Wells Fargo Hybrid & Preferred Securities REIT Index TR    An Index designed to track the performance of preferred securities issued in the U.S. market by real estate investment trusts (REITs). The index is composed exclusively of preferred shares and depositary shares.
18%    Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield Bond Index TR    An index that covers the U.S. dollar-denominated, non-investment grade, fixed-rate, taxable corporate bond market.
15%    Bloomberg Barclays Global Capital Securities Index TR    An index that tracks fixed-rate, investment grade capital securities denominated in USD, EUR and GBP.

Russell 2000® Index: A market-weighted index published by the Frank Russell Company measuring the performance of the 2,000 smallest companies in the Russell 3000® Index. The Russell 3000® is made up of 3,000 of the largest U.S. stocks and represents approximately 98% of the U.S. equity market. The Russell 2000® serves as a benchmark for small-cap stocks in the U.S. Index returns assume reinvestment of distributions, but do not reflect any applicable sales charges or management fees.

S&P 500®: An unmanaged Index generally considered representative of the U.S. stock market. Index returns assume reinvestment of distributions, but do not reflect of any applicable sales charges or management fees.

S&P Global Infrastructure Index NR (Net Return): An index that provides liquid and tradable exposure to 75 companies from around the world that represent the listed infrastructure universe. To create diversified exposure across the global listed infrastructure market, the index has balanced weights across three distinct infrastructure clusters: utilities, transportation, and energy. Index returns assume reinvestment of distributions, but do not reflect any applicable sales charges or management fees.

Tax Equalization: The practice of treating a portion of the distribution made to a redeeming shareholder, which represents his proportionate part of undistributed net investment income and capital gain as a distribution for tax purposes. Such amounts are referred to as the equalization debits (or payments) and will be considered a distribution to the shareholder of net investment income and capital gain for calculation of the fund’s dividends paid deduction.

 

92


Annual Investment Management Agreement Approval Process

(Unaudited)

 

At a meeting held on May 21-23, 2019 (the “May Meeting”), the Board of Trustees or Directors, as applicable (the “Board” and each Trustee or Director, a “Board Member”) of the Funds, including the Board Members who are not “interested persons” (as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”)) (the “Independent Board Members”), approved, for each Fund, the renewal of the management agreement (each, an “Investment Management Agreement”) with Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (the “Adviser”) pursuant to which the Adviser serves as investment adviser to such Fund and the sub-advisory agreement (each, a “Sub-Advisory Agreement”) with Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (the “Sub-Adviser”) pursuant to which the Sub-Adviser serves as the sub-adviser to such Fund. Following an initial two-year period, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, is required under the 1940 Act to review and approve each Investment Management Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement on behalf of the applicable Fund on an annual basis. The Investment Management Agreements and Sub-Advisory Agreements are collectively referred to as the “Advisory Agreements” and the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser are collectively, the “Fund Advisers” and each, a “Fund Adviser.”

In response to a request on behalf of the Independent Board Members by independent legal counsel, the Board received and reviewed prior to the May Meeting extensive materials specifically prepared for the annual review of Advisory Agreements by the Adviser as well as by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”), an independent provider of investment company data. The materials provided in connection with the annual review covered a breadth of subject matter including, but not limited to, a description of the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Fund Advisers; a review of the Sub-Adviser and investment team; an analysis of fund performance in absolute terms and as compared to the performance of certain peer funds and benchmarks with a focus on any performance outliers; an analysis of the fees and expense ratios of the Nuveen funds in absolute terms and as compared to those of certain peer funds with a focus on any expense outliers; a description of portfolio manager compensation; a review of the performance of various service providers; a description of various initiatives Nuveen had undertaken or continued during the year for the benefit of particular fund(s) and/or the complex; a description of the profitability or financial data of Nuveen and the Sub-Adviser; and a description of indirect benefits received by the Fund Advisers as a result of their relationships with the Nuveen funds. The Board Members held an in-person meeting on April 17-18, 2019 (the “April Meeting”), in part, to review and discuss the performance of the Nuveen funds and the Adviser’s evaluation of the various sub-advisers to the Nuveen funds. The Independent Board Members asked questions and requested additional information that was provided for the May Meeting.

The information prepared specifically for the annual review of the Advisory Agreements supplemented the information provided to the Board and its committees throughout the year. The Board and its committees met regularly during the year and the information provided and topics discussed were relevant to the review of the Advisory Agreements. Some of these reports and other data included, among other things, materials that outlined the investment performance of the Nuveen funds; strategic plans of the Adviser which may impact the services it provides to the Nuveen funds; the review of the Nuveen funds and applicable investment teams; compliance, regulatory and risk management matters; the trading practices of the various sub-advisers; valuation of securities; fund expenses; payments to financial intermediaries, including 12b-1 fees and sub-transfer agency fees; and overall market and regulatory developments. The Board further continued its practice of seeking to meet periodically with the various sub-advisers to the Nuveen funds and their investment teams, when feasible. The Independent Board Members considered the review of the Advisory Agreements to be an ongoing process and employed the accumulated information, knowledge, and experience the Board Members had gained during their tenure on the boards governing the Nuveen funds and working with the Fund Advisers in their review of the Advisory Agreements. The contractual arrangements are a result of multiple years of review, negotiation and information provided in connection with the boards’ annual review of the Nuveen funds’ advisory arrangements and oversight of the Nuveen funds.

The Independent Board Members were advised by independent legal counsel during the annual review process as well as throughout the year, including meeting in executive sessions with such counsel at which no representatives from the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser were present. In connection with their annual review, the Independent Board Members also received a memorandum from independent legal counsel outlining their fiduciary duties and legal standards in reviewing the Advisory Agreements.

In deciding to renew the Advisory Agreements, the Independent Board Members did not identify a particular factor or information as determinative or controlling, but rather the decision reflected the comprehensive consideration of all the information provided, and each Board Member may have attributed different levels of importance to the various factors and information considered in connection with the approval process. The following summarizes the principal factors and information, but not all the factors, the Board considered in deciding to renew the Advisory Agreements and its conclusions.

A. Nature, Extent and Quality of Services

In evaluating the renewal of the Advisory Agreements, the Independent Board Members received and considered information regarding the nature, extent and quality of the applicable Fund Adviser’s services provided to the respective Fund with particular focus on the services and enhancements to

 

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Annual Investment Management Agreement Approval Process (Unaudited) (continued)

 

such services provided during the last year. The Board recognized that the Adviser provides a comprehensive set of services necessary to operate the Nuveen funds in a highly regulated industry and noted that the scope of such services has expanded over the years as a result of regulatory, market and other developments, such as the development of the liquidity management program and expanded compliance programs. Some of the functions the Adviser is responsible for include, but are not limited to: product management (such as analyzing a fund’s position in the marketplace, setting dividends, preparing shareholder and intermediary communications and other due diligence support); investment oversight (such as analyzing fund performance, sub-advisers and investment teams and analyzing trade executions of portfolio transactions, soft dollar practices and securities lending activities); securities valuation services (such as executing the daily valuation process for portfolio securities and developing and recommending changes to valuation policies and procedures); risk management (such as overseeing operational and investment risks, including stress testing); fund administration (such as preparing fund tax returns and other tax compliance services, overseeing the Nuveen funds’ independent public accountants and other service providers; managing fund budgets and expenses; and helping to fulfill the funds’ regulatory filing requirements); oversight of shareholder services and transfer agency functions (such as oversight and liaison of transfer agent service providers which include registered shareholder customer service and transaction processing); Board relations services (such as organizing and administering Board and committee meetings, preparing various reports to the Board and committees and providing other support services); compliance and regulatory oversight services (such as developing and maintaining a compliance program to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations, monitoring compliance with applicable fund policies and procedures and adherence to investment restrictions, and evaluating the compliance programs of the Nuveen fund sub-advisers and certain other service providers); and legal support and oversight of outside law firms (such as with respect to filing and updating registration statements; maintaining various regulatory registrations; and providing legal interpretations regarding fund activities, applicable regulations and implementation of policies and procedures). In reviewing the scope and quality of services, the Board recognized the continued efforts and resources the Adviser and its affiliates have employed to continue to enhance their services for the benefit of the complex as well as particular Nuveen funds over recent years. Such service enhancements have included, but are not limited to:

 

   

Fund Improvements and Product Management Initiatives – continuing to proactively manage the Nuveen fund complex as a whole and at the individual fund level with an aim to enhance the shareholder outcomes through, among other things, repositioning funds, merging funds, introducing additional share classes, reviewing and updating investment policies and benchmarks, modifying the composition of certain portfolio management teams and analyzing various data to help devise such improvements;

 

   

Capital Initiatives – continuing to invest capital to support new funds with initial capital as well as to facilitate modifications to the strategies or structure of existing funds;

 

   

Compliance Program Initiatives – continuing efforts to enhance the compliance program through, among other things, internally integrating various portfolio management teams and aligning compliance support accordingly, completing a comprehensive review of existing policies and procedures and revising such policies and procedures as appropriate, enhancing compliance-related technologies and workflows, and optimizing compliance shared services across the organization and affiliates;

 

   

Risk Management and Valuation Services – continuing efforts to strengthen the risk management functions, including through, among other things, enhancing the interaction and reporting between the investment risk management team and various affiliates, increasing the efficiency of risk monitoring performed on the Nuveen funds through improved reporting, continuing to implement risk programs designed to provide a more disciplined and consistent approach to identifying and mitigating operational risks, continuing progress on implementing a liquidity program that complies with the new liquidity regulatory requirements and continuing to oversee the daily valuation process;

 

   

Additional Compliance Services – continuing investment of time and resources necessary to develop the compliance policies and procedures and other related tools necessary to meet the various new regulatory requirements affecting the Nuveen funds that have been adopted over recent years;

 

   

Government Relations – continuing efforts of various Nuveen teams and affiliates to advocate and communicate their positions with lawmakers and other regulatory bodies on issues that will impact the Nuveen funds;

 

   

Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery and Information Services – establishing an information security program to help identify and manage information security risks, periodically testing disaster recovery plans, maintaining and updating business continuity plans and providing reports to the Board, at least annually, addressing, among other things, management’s security risk assessment, cyber risk profile, incident tracking and other relevant information technology risk-related reports; and

 

   

Expanded Dividend Management Services – continuing to expand the services necessary to manage the dividends among the varying types of Nuveen funds that have developed as the Nuveen complex has grown in size and scope.

In addition to the services provided by the Adviser, the Board also considered the risks borne by the Adviser and its affiliates in managing the Nuveen funds, including entrepreneurial, operational, reputational, regulatory and litigation risks.

 

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The Board further considered the division of responsibilities between the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser and recognized that the Sub-Adviser and its investment personnel generally are responsible for the management of each Fund’s portfolio. The Board noted that the Adviser oversees the Sub-Adviser and considered an analysis of the Sub-Adviser provided by the Adviser which included, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s assets under management and changes thereto, a summary of the investment team and changes thereto, the investment approach of the team and the performance of the funds sub-advised by the Sub-Adviser over various periods. The Board further considered at the May Meeting or prior meetings evaluations of the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and trade execution. The Board noted that the Adviser recommended the renewal of the Sub-Advisory Agreements.

Based on its review, the Board determined, in the exercise of its reasonable business judgment, that it was satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the respective Funds under each applicable Advisory Agreement.

B. The Investment Performance of the Funds and Fund Advisers

In evaluating the quality of the services provided by the Fund Advisers, the Board also received and considered the investment performance of the Nuveen funds they advise. In this regard, the Board reviewed Fund performance over the quarter, one-, three- and five-year periods ending December 31, 2018 (or for shorter periods available in the case of Nuveen Global Real Estate Securities Fund (the “Global Real Estate Securities Fund”), which was not in existence for part of the foregoing timeframe), as well as performance data for the first quarter of 2019 ending March 29, 2019. The performance data was based on Class A shares; however, the performance of other classes should be substantially similar as they invest in the same portfolio of securities and differences in performance among the classes would be principally attributed to the variations in the expense structures of the classes. Unless otherwise indicated, the performance data referenced below reflects the periods ended December 31, 2018. The Board considered the Adviser’s analysis of each fund’s performance, with particular focus on funds that were considered performance outliers and the factors contributing to their performance. The Board also noted that it received performance data of the Nuveen funds during its quarterly meetings throughout the year and took into account the discussions that occurred at these Board meetings regarding fund performance. In this regard, in its evaluation of Nuveen fund performance at meetings throughout the year, the Board considered performance information for the funds for different time periods, both absolute and relative to appropriate benchmarks and peers, with particular attention to information indicating underperformance of the respective funds and discussed with the Adviser the reasons for such underperformance.

The Board reviewed both absolute and relative fund performance during the annual review. With respect to the latter, the Board considered fund performance in comparison to the performance of peer funds (the “Performance Peer Group”) and recognized and/or customized benchmarks (i.e., generally benchmarks derived from multiple recognized benchmarks). In considering performance data, the Board is aware of certain inherent limitations with such data, including that differences between the objective(s), strategies and other characteristics of the Nuveen funds compared to the respective Performance Peer Group and/or benchmark(s) (such as differences in the use of leverage) will necessarily contribute to differences in performance results and limit the value of the comparative information. To assist the Board in its review of the comparability of the relative performance, the Adviser has ranked the relevancy of the peer group to the funds as low, medium or high. Depending on the facts and circumstances, however, the Board may be satisfied with a fund’s performance notwithstanding that its performance may be below its benchmark or peer group for certain periods. In addition, the performance data may vary significantly depending on the end date selected, and shareholders may evaluate fund performance based on their own holding period which may differ from the performance periods reviewed by the Board leading to different results. Further, the Board considered a fund’s performance in light of the overall financial market conditions during the respective periods. As noted above, the Board reviewed, among other things, Nuveen fund performance over various periods ended December 31, 2018, and the Board was aware of the market decline in the fourth quarter of 2018 and considered performance from the first quarter of 2019 as well. The Board also noted that a shorter period of underperformance may significantly impact longer term performance.

In their review of performance, the Independent Board Members focused, in particular, on the Adviser’s analysis of Nuveen funds determined to be underperforming performance outliers. The Board recognized that some periods of underperformance may only be temporary while other periods of underperformance may indicate a broader issue that may require a corrective action. Accordingly, with respect to any Nuveen funds for which the Board had identified performance issues, the Board monitors such funds closely until performance improves, discusses with the Adviser the reasons for such results, considers whether any steps are necessary or appropriate to address such issues, and reviews the results of any efforts undertaken.

The Board’s determinations with respect to each Fund are summarized below.

For Nuveen Real Estate Securities Fund (the “Real Estate Securities Fund”), the Board noted that although the Fund’s performance was below its benchmark in the one-, three- and five-year periods, the Fund ranked in the second quartile of its Performance Peer Group in the one- and three-year periods and first quartile in the five-year period. The Board was satisfied with the Fund’s overall performance.

For the Global Real Estate Securities Fund, the Board noted that the Fund was new with available performance information that was too limited to make a meaningful assessment of performance.

 

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Annual Investment Management Agreement Approval Process (Unaudited) (continued)

 

For Nuveen Global Infrastructure Fund (the “Global Infrastructure Fund”), the Board noted that although the Fund’s performance was below its benchmark in the three-year period, the Fund outperformed its benchmark in the one- and five-year periods and ranked in the second quartile of its Performance Peer Group in the one- and five-year periods and third quartile in the three-year period. The Board was satisfied with the Fund’s overall performance.

For Nuveen Real Asset Income Fund (the “Real Asset Income Fund”), the Board noted that the Fund ranked in the second quartile of its Performance Peer Group in the one- and three-year periods and first quartile in the five-year period. The Board, however, noted the Performance Peer Group was rated low for relevancy. The Fund also outperformed the performance of its benchmark in the one-, three- and five-year periods. The Board was satisfied with the Fund’s overall performance.

C. Fees, Expenses and Profitability

1. Fees and Expenses

In its annual review, the Board considered the fees paid to the Fund Advisers and the total operating expense ratio of each Nuveen fund, before and after any undertaking by Nuveen to limit the fund’s total annual operating expenses to certain levels. More specifically, the Independent Board Members reviewed, among other things, each fund’s gross and net management fee rates (i.e., before and after expense reimbursements and/or fee waivers, if any) and net total expense ratio in relation to those of a comparable universe of funds (the “Peer Universe”) and to a more focused subset of comparable funds (the “Peer Group”) established by Broadridge. The Independent Board Members reviewed the methodology Broadridge employed to establish its Peer Universe and Peer Group and recognized that differences between the applicable fund and its respective Peer Universe and/or Peer Group as well as changes to the composition of the Peer Group and/or Peer Universe from year to year may limit some of the value of the comparative data. The Independent Board Members also considered a fund’s operating expense ratio as it more directly reflected the shareholder’s costs in investing in the respective fund.

In their review, the Independent Board Members considered, in particular, each fund with a net expense ratio of six basis points or higher compared to that of its peer average (each, an “Expense Outlier Fund”), including the Real Asset Income Fund, and an analysis as to the factors contributing to each such fund’s higher relative net expense ratio. Accordingly, in reviewing the comparative data between a fund and its peers, the Board generally considered the fund’s net expense ratio and fees to be higher if they were over 10 basis points higher, slightly higher if they were 6 to 10 basis points higher, in line if they were within approximately 5 basis points higher than the peer average and below if they were below the peer average of the Peer Group. The Independent Board Members also considered, in relevant part, a fund’s net management fee and net total expense ratio in light of its performance history.

In their review of the fee arrangements for the Nuveen funds, the Independent Board Members considered the management fee schedules, including the complex-wide and fund-level breakpoint schedules, and the expense reimbursements and/or fee waivers provided by Nuveen for each fund, as applicable. The Board noted that across the Nuveen fund complex, the complex-wide fee breakpoints reduced fees by $51.5 million and fund-level breakpoints reduced fees by $55.1 million in 2018. Further, fee caps and waivers for all applicable Nuveen funds saved an additional $15 million in fees for shareholders in 2018.

With respect to the Sub-Adviser, the Board considered the sub-advisory fee paid to the Sub-Adviser, including any breakpoint schedule, and as described below, comparative data of the fees the Sub-Adviser charges to other clients, if any.

The Independent Board Members noted that the Global Infrastructure Fund and the Global Real Estate Securities Fund each had a net management fee and a net expense ratio that were below the respective peer averages. The Board further noted that the Global Real Estate Securities Fund did not incur a management fee after fee waivers and expense reimbursements for the last fiscal year. The Independent Board Members noted that the Real Estate Securities Fund had a net management fee and a net expense ratio that were in line with the respective peer averages. The Board noted that the Real Asset Income Fund had a net management fee that was in line with the peer average, but a net expense ratio that was slightly higher than the peer average. The Independent Board Members noted that the net expense ratio of the Real Asset Income Fund was slightly higher than the peer average due to, among other things, the smaller size of the Fund compared to peers in the Peer Group and the management fee of a peer that was subject to performance adjustments. Based on its review of the information provided, the Board determined that each Fund’s management fees (as applicable) to a Fund Adviser were reasonable in light of the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund.

2. Comparisons with the Fees of Other Clients

In determining the appropriateness of fees, the Board also reviewed information regarding the fee rates the respective Fund Advisers charged to certain other types of clients and the type of services provided to these other clients. For the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser, such other clients may include retail and institutional managed accounts; sub-advised funds outside the Nuveen family; foreign investment companies offered by Nuveen; and collective investment trusts. The Board further noted that the Adviser also advised certain exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) sponsored by Nuveen.

 

96


The Board recognized that each Fund had an affiliated sub-adviser and, with respect to affiliated sub-advisers, reviewed, among other things, the range of fees assessed for managed accounts and foreign investment companies offered by Nuveen. The Board also reviewed the fee range and average fee rate of certain selected investment strategies offered in retail and institutional managed accounts by the Sub-Adviser and of the non-Nuveen investment companies sub-advised by affiliated sub-advisers.

In addition to the comparative fee data, the Board also reviewed, among other things, a description of the different levels of services provided to certain other clients compared to the services provided to the Nuveen funds as well as the differences in portfolio investment policies, investor profiles, account sizes and regulatory requirements, all of which contribute to the variations in the fee schedules. The Board noted, among other things, the wide range of services in addition to investment management services provided to the Nuveen funds when the Adviser is principally responsible for all aspects of operating the funds, including the increased regulatory requirements that must be met in managing the funds, the larger account sizes of managed accounts and the increased entrepreneurial, legal and regulatory risks that the Adviser incurs in sponsoring and managing the funds. Further, with respect to ETFs, the Board considered that Nuveen ETFs are passively managed compared to the active management of other Nuveen funds which contributed to the differences in fee levels between the Nuveen ETFs and other Nuveen funds. In general, higher fee levels reflect higher levels of service provided by the Adviser, increased investment management complexity, greater product management requirements, and higher levels of business risk or some combination of these factors. The Board further considered that the Sub-Adviser’s fee is essentially for portfolio management services and therefore more comparable to the fees it receives for retail wrap accounts and other external sub-advisory mandates. The Board concluded the varying levels of fees were justified given, among other things, the inherent differences in the products and the level of services provided to the Nuveen funds versus other clients, the differing regulatory requirements and legal liabilities and the entrepreneurial, legal and regulatory risks incurred in sponsoring and advising a registered investment company.

3. Profitability of Fund Advisers

In conjunction with their review of fees, the Independent Board Members considered information regarding Nuveen’s level of profitability for its advisory services to the Nuveen funds for the calendar years 2018 and 2017. The Board reviewed, among other things, Nuveen’s net margins (pre-tax) (both including and excluding distribution expenses); gross and net revenue margins (pre- and post-tax); revenues, expenses, and net income (pre-tax and after-tax and before distribution) of Nuveen for fund advisory services; and comparative profitability data comparing the adjusted margins of Nuveen compared to the adjusted margins of certain peers with publicly available data and with the most comparable assets under management (based on asset size and asset composition) for each of the last two calendar years. The Board also reviewed the revenues and expenses the Adviser derived from its ETF product line that was launched in 2016. The Independent Board Members noted that Nuveen’s net margins were higher in 2018 than the previous year and considered the key drivers behind the revenue and expense changes that impacted Nuveen’s net margins between the years. The Board considered the costs of investments in the Nuveen business, including the investment of seed capital in certain Nuveen funds and additional investments in infrastructure and technology. The Independent Board Members also noted that Nuveen’s adjusted margins from its relationships with the Nuveen funds were on the low range compared to the adjusted margins of the peers; however, the Independent Board Members recognized the inherent limitations of the comparative data of other publicly traded peers given that the calculation of profitability is rather subjective and numerous factors (such as types of funds, business mix, cost of capital, methodology to allocate expenses and other factors) can have a significant impact on the results.

The Independent Board Members also reviewed a description of the expense allocation methodology employed to develop the financial information and a summary of the history of changes to the methodology over the ten-year period from 2008 to 2018, and recognized that other reasonable allocation methodologies could be employed and lead to significantly different results. The Board noted that two Independent Board Members, along with independent counsel, serve as the Board’s liaisons to review profitability and discuss any proposed changes to the methodology prior to the full Board’s review.

Aside from Nuveen’s profitability, the Board recognized that the Adviser is a subsidiary of Nuveen, LLC, the investment management arm of Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (“TIAA”). As such, the Board also reviewed a balance sheet for TIAA reflecting its assets, liabilities and capital and contingency reserves for the 2018 and 2017 calendar years to consider the financial strength of TIAA having recognized the importance of having an adviser with significant resources.

In addition to Nuveen, the Independent Board Members also considered the profitability of the Sub-Adviser from its relationships with the Nuveen funds. In this regard, the Independent Board Members reviewed the Sub-Adviser’s revenues, expenses and revenue margins (pre- and post-tax) for its advisory activities for the calendar year ended December 31, 2018. The Independent Board Members also reviewed a profitability analysis reflecting the revenues, expenses and revenue margin (pre- and post-tax) by asset type for the Sub-Adviser for the calendar year ending December 31, 2018 and the pre- and post-tax revenue margin from 2018 and 2017.

In evaluating the reasonableness of the compensation, the Independent Board Members also considered any other ancillary benefits derived by the respective Fund Adviser from its relationship with the Nuveen funds as discussed in further detail below.

Based on a consideration of all the information provided, the Board noted that Nuveen’s and the Sub-Adviser’s level of profitability was acceptable and not unreasonable in light of the services provided.

 

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Annual Investment Management Agreement Approval Process (Unaudited) (continued)

 

D. Economies of Scale and Whether Fee Levels Reflect These Economies of Scale

With respect to economies of scale, the Independent Board Members noted that although economies of scale are difficult to measure, the Adviser shares the benefits of economies of scale in various ways including breakpoints in the management fee schedule (subject to limited exceptions), fee waivers and/or expense limitations, the pricing of Nuveen funds at scale at inception and investments in its business which can enhance the services provided to the funds for the fees paid. With respect to breakpoint schedules, because the Board had previously recognized that economies of scale may occur not only when the assets of a particular Nuveen fund grow but also when the assets in the complex grow, the Nuveen funds generally pay the Adviser a management fee comprised of a fund-level component and a complex-level component each with its own breakpoint schedule, subject to certain exceptions. In general terms, the breakpoint schedule at the fund level reduces fees as assets in the particular fund pass certain thresholds and the breakpoint schedule at the complex level reduces fees on the Nuveen funds as the eligible assets in the complex pass certain thresholds. The Independent Board Members reviewed, among other things, the fund-level and complex-level fee schedules and the temporary and/or permanent expense caps applicable to certain Nuveen funds (including the amounts of fees waived or amounts reimbursed to the respective funds in 2017 and 2018), including the temporary expense caps applicable to the Global Infrastructure Fund, Global Real Estate Securities Fund and Real Asset Income Fund. The Independent Board Members noted that as a result of fund-level management fee changes implemented in June 2017, none of the Nuveen open-end funds were above their top level fee breakpoint.

In addition, the Independent Board Members recognized the Adviser’s continued reinvestment in its business through, among other things, investments in its business infrastructure and information technology, portfolio accounting system as well as other systems and platforms that will, among other things, support growth, simplify and enhance information sharing, and enhance the investment process to the benefit of all of the Nuveen funds.

Based on its review, the Board concluded that the current fee arrangements together with the Adviser’s reinvestment in its business appropriately shared any economies of scale with shareholders.

E. Indirect Benefits

The Independent Board Members received and considered information regarding other benefits the respective Fund Adviser or its affiliates may receive as a result of their relationship with the Nuveen funds. The Independent Board Members recognized that an affiliate of the Adviser serves as principal underwriter providing distribution and/or shareholder services to the open-end funds. The Independent Board Members further noted that the Nuveen open-end funds pay 12b-1 fees and while a majority of such fees were paid to third party broker-dealers, the Board reviewed the amount retained by the Adviser’s affiliate as a result of serving as principal underwriter. In addition, the Independent Board Members also noted that the Sub-Adviser engages in soft dollar transactions pursuant to which it may receive the benefit of research products and other services provided by broker-dealers executing portfolio transactions on behalf of the applicable Nuveen funds.

The Board, however, noted that the benefits for the Sub-Adviser when transacting in fixed-income securities may be more limited as such securities generally trade on a principal basis and therefore do not generate brokerage commissions. Further, the Board noted that although the Sub-Adviser may benefit from the receipt of research and other services that it may otherwise have to pay for out of its own resources, the research may also benefit the Nuveen funds to the extent it enhances the ability of the Sub-Adviser to manage such funds or is acquired through the commissions paid on portfolio transactions of other clients.

Based on their review, the Board concluded that any indirect benefits received by a Fund Adviser as a result of its relationship with the Funds were reasonable and within acceptable parameters.

F. Other Considerations

The Board Members did not identify any single factor discussed previously as all-important or controlling. The Board Members, including the Independent Board Members, concluded that the terms of each Advisory Agreement were fair and reasonable, that the respective Fund Adviser’s fees were reasonable in light of the services provided to each Fund and that the Advisory Agreements be renewed.

 

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Directors and Officers

(Unaudited)

 

The management of the Funds, including general supervision of the duties performed for the Funds by the Adviser, is the responsibility of the Board of Directors of the Funds. The number of Directors of the Funds is currently set at nine. None of the Directors who are not “interested” persons of the Funds (referred to herein as “Independent Directors”) has ever been a Director or employee of, or consultant to, Nuveen or its affiliates. The names and business addresses of the Directors and officers of the Funds, their principal occupations and other affiliations during the past five years, the number of portfolios each Director oversees and other directorships they hold are set forth below.

The Funds’ Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) includes more information about the Directors. To request a free copy, call Nuveen Investments at (800) 257-8787 or visit the Funds’ website at www.nuveen.com.

 

Name,

Year of Birth

& Address

 

Position(s)

Held with

the Funds

  Year First
Elected or
Appointed (1)
 

Principal Occupation(s)

Including other Directorships

During Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director
   
Independent Directors:  

Terence J. Toth

1959

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

  Chairman and Director   2008   Formerly, a Co-Founding Partner, Promus Capital (2008-2017); Director, Quality Control Corporation (since 2012); member: Catalyst Schools of Chicago Board (since 2008) and Mather Foundation Board (since 2012), and chair of its investment committee; formerly, Director, Fulcrum IT Services LLC (2010-2019); formerly, Director, Legal & General Investment Management America, Inc. (2008-2013); formerly, CEO and President, Northern Trust Global Investments (2004-2007); Executive Vice President, Quantitative Management & Securities Lending (2000-2004); prior thereto, various positions with Northern Trust Company (since 1994); formerly, Member, Northern Trust Mutual Funds Board (2005-2007), Northern Trust Global Investments Board (2004-2007), Northern Trust Japan Board (2004-2007), Northern Trust Securities Inc. Board (2003- 2007) and Northern Trust Hong Kong Board (1997-2004).   157

Jack B. Evans

1948

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

  Director   1999   Chairman (since 2019), formerly, President (1996-2019), The Hall-Perrine Foundation, a private philanthropic corporation; Director and Chairman, United Fire Group, a publicly held company; Director, Public member, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (since 2015); Life Trustee of Coe College and the Iowa College Foundation; formerly, President Pro-Tem of the Board of Regents for the State of Iowa University System; formerly, Director, Alliant Energy and The Gazette Company; formerly, Director, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago; formerly, President and Chief Operating Officer, SCI Financial Group, Inc., a regional financial services firm.   157

William C. Hunter

1948

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

  Director   2003   Dean Emeritus, formerly, Dean, Tippie College of Business, University of Iowa (2006-2012); Director of Wellmark, Inc. (since 2009); past Director (2005-2015), and past President (2010- 2014) Beta Gamma Sigma, Inc., The International Business Honor Society; formerly, Director (2004-2018) of Xerox Corporation; Dean and Distinguished Professor of Finance, School of Business at the University of Connecticut (2003-2006); previously, Senior Vice President and Director of Research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago (1995-2003); formerly, Director (1997-2007), Credit Research Center at Georgetown University.   157

 

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Directors and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)

 

Name,

Year of Birth

& Address

 

Position(s)

Held with

the Funds

  Year First
Elected or
Appointed (1)
 

Principal Occupation(s)

Including other Directorships

During Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director

Albin F. Moschner

1952

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

  Director   2016   Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Northcroft Partners, LLC, a management consulting firm (since 2012); formerly, Chairman (2019), and Director (2012-2019), USA Technologies, Inc., a provider of solutions and services to facilitate electronic payment transactions; formerly, Director, Wintrust Financial Corporation (1996-2016); previously, held positions at Leap Wireless International, Inc., including Consultant (2011-2012), Chief Operating Officer (2008-2011), and Chief Marketing Officer (2004-2008); formerly, President, Verizon Card Services division of Verizon Communications, Inc. (2000-2003); formerly, President, One Point Services at One Point Communications (1999-2000); formerly, Vice Chairman of the Board, Diba, Incorporated (1996-1997); formerly, various executive positions (1991-1996) and Chief Executive Officer (1995-1996) of Zenith Electronics Corporation.   157

John K. Nelson

1962

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

  Director   2013   Member of Board of Directors of Core12 LLC. (since 2008), a private firm which develops branding, marketing and communications strategies for clients; served The President’s Council of Fordham University (2010-2019) and previously a Director of the Curran Center for Catholic American Studies (2009-2018); formerly, senior external advisor to the Financial Services practice of Deloitte Consulting LLP. (2012-2014); former Chair of the Board of Trustees of Marian University (2010-2014 as trustee, 2011-2014 as Chair); formerly Chief Executive Officer of ABN AMRO Bank N.V., North America, and Global Head of the Financial Markets Division (2007-2008), with various executive leadership roles in ABN AMRO Bank N.V. between 1996 and 2007.   157

Judith M. Stockdale

1947

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

  Director   1997   Board Member, Land Trust Alliance (since 2013); formerly, Board Member, U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (2013-2019); formerly, Executive Director (1994-2012), Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; prior thereto, Executive Director, Great Lakes Protection Fund (1990-1994).   157

Carole E. Stone

1947

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

  Director   2007   Former Director, Chicago Board Options Exchange (2006-2017), and C2 Options Exchange, Incorporated (2009-2017); Director, Cboe Global Markets, Inc., formerly, CBOE Holdings, Inc. (since 2010); formerly, Commissioner, New York State Commission on Public Authority Reform (2005-2010).   157

Margaret L. Wolff

1955

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

  Director   2016   Formerly, member of the Board of Directors (2013-2017) of Travelers Insurance Company of Canada and The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company (each, a part of Travelers Canada, the Canadian operation of The Travelers Companies, Inc.); formerly, Of Counsel, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (Mergers & Acquisitions Group) (2005-2014); Member of the Board of Trustees of New York-Presbyterian Hospital (since 2005); Member (since 2004) and Chair (since 2015) of the Board of Trustees of The John A. Hartford Foundation (a philanthropy dedicated to improving the care of older adults); formerly, Member (2005-2015) and Vice Chair (2011-2015) of the Board of Trustees of Mt. Holyoke College.   157

 

100


Name,

Year of Birth

& Address

 

Position(s)

Held with

the Funds

  Year First
Elected or
Appointed (1)
 

Principal Occupation(s)

Including other Directorships

During Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director

Robert L. Young(2)

1963

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

  Director   2017   Formerly, Chief Operating Officer and Director, J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. (2010-2016); formerly, President and Principal Executive Officer (2013-2016), and Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (2005-2010), of J.P. Morgan Funds; formerly, Director and various officer positions for J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. (formerly, JPMorgan Funds Management, Inc. and formerly, One Group Administrative Services) and JPMorgan Distribution Services, Inc. (formerly, One Group Dealer Services, Inc.) (1999-2017).   155

 

Name,
Year of Birth
& Address
  Position(s)
Held with
the Funds
  Year First
Elected or
Appointed (3)
  Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
 
Officers of the Funds:

Greg A. Bottjer

1971

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

  Chief Administrative Officer   2016   Senior (since 2017) Managing Director (since 2011), formerly, Senior Vice President (2007-2010) of Nuveen; Senior (since 2017) Managing Director (since 2016) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Chartered Financial Analyst.

Mark J. Czarniecki

1979

901 Marquette Avenue

Minneapolis, MN 55402

  Vice President and Assistant Secretary   2013   Vice President and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen Securities, LLC (since 2016) and Nuveen Fund Advisors (since 2017); Vice President and Associate General Counsel of Nuveen (since 2013) and Vice President, Assistant Secretary and Associate General Counsel of Nuveen Asset Management (since 2018).

Diana R. Gonzalez

1978

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

  Vice President and Assistant Secretary   2017   Vice President and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (since 2017); Vice President and Associate General Counsel of Nuveen (since 2017); Associate General Counsel of Jackson National Asset Management (2012-2017).

Nathaniel T. Jones

1979

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

  Vice President and Treasurer   2016   Managing Director (since 2017), formerly, Senior Vice President (2016-2017), formerly, Vice President (2011-2016) of Nuveen; Managing Director (since 2015) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Chartered Financial Analyst.

Walter M. Kelly

1970

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

  Chief Compliance Officer and Vice President   2003   Managing Director (since 2017), formerly, Senior Vice President (2008-2017) of Nuveen Investments Holdings, Inc.

Tina M. Lazar

1961

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

  Vice President   2002   Managing Director (since 2017), formerly, Senior Vice President (2014-2017) of Nuveen Securities, LLC.

Brian J. Lockhart

1974

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

  Vice President   2019   Managing Director (since 2019) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Managing Director (since 2017), formerly, Vice President (2010-2017) of Nuveen; Head of Investment Oversight (since 2017), formerly, Team Leader of Manager Oversight (2015-2017); Chartered Financial Analyst and Certified Financial Risk Manager.

Jacques M. Longerstaey 1963

8500 Andrew Carnegie Blvd.

Charlotte, NC 28262

  Vice President   2019   Senior Managing Director, Chief Risk Officer, Nuveen, LLC (since May 2019); Senior Managing Director (since May 2019) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; formerly, Chief Investment and Model Risk Officer, Wealth & Investment Management Division, Wells Fargo Bank (NA) (from 2013-2019).

 

101


Directors and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)

 

Name,
Year of Birth
& Address
  Position(s)
Held with
the Funds
  Year First
Elected or
Appointed (3)
  Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

Kevin J. McCarthy

1966

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

  Vice President and Assistant Secretary   2007   Senior Managing Director (since 2017) and Secretary and General Counsel (since 2016) of Nuveen Investments, Inc., formerly, Executive Vice President (2016-2017) and Managing Director and Assistant Secretary (2008-2016); Senior Managing Director (since 2017) and Assistant Secretary (since 2008) of Nuveen Securities, LLC, formerly Executive Vice President (2016-2017) and Managing Director (2008-2016); Senior Managing Director (since 2017), Secretary (since 2016) and Co-General Counsel (since 2011) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, formerly, Executive Vice President (2016-2017), Managing Director (2008-2016) and Assistant Secretary (2007-2016); Senior Managing Director (since 2017), Secretary (since 2016) and Associate General Counsel (since 2011) of Nuveen Asset Management, LLC, formerly Executive Vice President (2016-2017) and Managing Director and Assistant Secretary (2011-2016); Senior Managing Director (since 2017) and Secretary (since 2016) of Nuveen Investments Advisers, LLC, formerly Executive Vice President (2016-2017); Vice President (since 2007) and Secretary (since 2016), formerly, Assistant Secretary, of NWQ Investment Management Company, LLC, Symphony Asset Management, LLC, Santa Barbara Asset Management, LLC and Winslow Capital Management, LLC (since 2010). Senior Managing Director (since 2017) and Secretary (since 2016) of Nuveen Alternative Investments, LLC.

Jon Scott Meissner

1973

8500 Andrew Carnegie Blvd.

Charlotte, NC 28262

  Vice President   2019   Managing Director of Mutual Fund Tax and Financial Reporting groups at Nuveen (since 2017); Managing Director of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (since 2019); Senior Director of Teachers Advisors, LLC and TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC (since 2016); Senior Director (since 2015) Mutual Fund Taxation to the TIAA-CREF Funds, the TIAA-CREF Life Funds, the TIAA Separate Account VA-1 and the CREF Accounts; has held various positions with TIAA since 2004.

Christopher M. Rohrbacher 1971

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

  Vice President and Secretary   2008   Managing Director (since 2017) and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen Securities, LLC; Managing Director (since 2017), formerly, Senior Vice President (2016-2017), Co-General Counsel (since 2019) and Assistant Secretary (since 2016) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Managing Director (since 2017), formerly, Senior Vice President (2012-2017) and Associate General Counsel (since 2016), formerly, Assistant General Counsel (2008-2016) of Nuveen.

William A. Siffermann

1975

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

  Vice President   2017   Managing Director (since 2017), formerly Senior Vice President (2016-2017) and Vice President (2011-2016) of Nuveen.

E. Scott Wickerham

1973

TIAA

730 Third Avenue

New York, NY 10017

  Vice President and Controller   2019   Senior Managing Director, Head of Fund Administration at Nuveen, LLC (since 2019), formerly, Managing Director; Senior Managing Director (since 2019), Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Principal Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer and Treasurer (since 2017) to the TIAA-CREF Funds, the TIAA-CREF Life Funds, the TIAA Separate Account VA-1 and the Treasurer (since 2017) to the CREF Accounts; Senior Director, TIAA-CREF Fund Administration (2014-2015); has held various positions with TIAA since 2006.

Gifford R. Zimmerman

1956

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

  Vice President and Assistant Secretary   1988   Managing Director (since 2002), and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen Securities, LLC; Managing Director (since 2004) and Assistant Secretary (since 1994) of Nuveen Investments, Inc.; Managing Director (since 2002), Assistant Secretary (since 1997) and Co-General Counsel (since 2011) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Managing Director, Assistant Secretary and Associate General Counsel of Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (since 2011); Vice President (since 2017), formerly, Managing Director (2003-2017) and Assistant Secretary (since 2003) of Symphony Asset Management LLC ; Managing Director and Assistant Secretary (since 2002) of Nuveen Investments Advisers, LLC; Vice President and Assistant Secretary of NWQ Investment Management Company, LLC (since 2002), Santa Barbara Asset Management, LLC (since 2006) and of Winslow Capital Management, LLC, (since 2010); Chartered Financial Analyst.

 

(1)

Directors serve an indefinite term until his/her successor is elected or appointed. The year first elected or appointed represents the year in which the director was first elected or appointed to any fund in the Nuveen fund complex.

(2)

Effective July 1, 2017, Mr. Young was appointed as a Board Member of each of the Nuveen Funds except Nuveen Diversified Dividend and Income Fund (JDD) and Nuveen Real Estate Income Fund (JRS). Effective February 27, 2020, Mr. Young was appointed as a Board Member of JDD and JRS.

(3)

Officers serve one year terms through August of each year. The year first elected or appointed represents the year in which the officer was first elected or appointed to any fund in the Nuveen fund complex.

 

102


Notes

 

 

103


LOGO

 

Nuveen:

Serving Investors for Generations

Since 1898, financial advisors and their clients have relied on Nuveen to provide dependable investment solutions through continued adherence to proven, long-term investing principles. Today, we offer a range of high quality solutions designed to be integral components of a well-diversified core portfolio.

Focused on meeting investor needs.

Nuveen is the investment manager of TIAA. We have grown into one of the world’s premier global asset managers, with specialist knowledge across all major asset classes and particular strength in solutions that provide income for investors and that draw on our expertise in alternatives and responsible investing. Nuveen is driven not only by the independent investment processes across the firm, but also the insights, risk management, analytics and other tools and resources that a truly world-class platform provides. As a global asset manager, our mission is to work in partnership with our clients to create solutions which help them secure their financial future.

Find out how we can help you.

To learn more about how the products and services of Nuveen may be able to help you meet your financial goals, talk to your financial advisor, or call us at (800) 257-8787. Please read the information provided carefully before you invest. Investors should consider the investment objective and policies, risk considerations, charges and expenses of any investment carefully. Where applicable, be sure to obtain a prospectus, which contains this and other relevant information. To obtain a prospectus, please contact your securities representative or Nuveen, 333 W. Wacker Dr., Chicago, IL 60606. Please read the prospectus carefully before you invest or send money.

Learn more about Nuveen Funds at: www.nuveen.com/mutual-funds

 

Nuveen Securities, LLC, member FINRA and SIPC  | 
333 West Wacker Drive  | Chicago, IL 60606  | www.nuveen.com
  MAN-FREGIF-1219D        1077312-INV-Y-02/21


ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS.

As of the end of the period covered by this report, the registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. There were no amendments to or waivers from the code during the period covered by this report. The registrant has posted the code of ethics on its website at www.nuveen.com/fund-governance. (To view the code, click on Code of Conduct.)

ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.

As of the end of the period covered by this report, the registrant’s Board of Directors or Trustees (“Board”) determined that the registrant has at least one “audit committee financial expert” (as defined in Item 3 of Form N-CSR) serving on its Audit Committee. The registrant’s audit committee financial experts are Carole E. Stone, Jack B. Evans and William C. Hunter, who are “independent” for purposes of Item 3 of Form N-CSR.

Ms. Stone served for five years as Director of the New York State Division of the Budget. As part of her role as Director, Ms. Stone was actively involved in overseeing the development of the State’s operating, local assistance and capital budgets, its financial plan and related documents; overseeing the development of the State’s bond-related disclosure documents and certifying that they fairly presented the State’s financial position; reviewing audits of various State and local agencies and programs; and coordinating the State’s system of internal audit and control. Prior to serving as Director, Ms. Stone worked as a budget analyst/examiner with increasing levels of responsibility over a 30 year period, including approximately five years as Deputy Budget Director. Ms. Stone has also served as Chair of the New York State Racing Association Oversight Board, as Chair of the Public Authorities Control Board, as a Commissioner on the New York State Commission on Public Authority Reform and as a member of the Boards of Directors of several New York State public authorities. These positions have involved overseeing operations and finances of certain entities and assessing the adequacy of project/entity financing and financial reporting. Currently, Ms. Stone is on the Board of Directors of CBOE Holdings, Inc., of the Chicago Board Options Exchange, and of C2 Options Exchange. Ms. Stone’s position on the boards of these entities and as a member of both CBOE Holdings’ Audit Committee and its Finance Committee has involved, among other things, the oversight of audits, audit plans and preparation of financial statements.

Mr. Evans was formerly President and Chief Operating Officer of SCI Financial Group, Inc., a full service registered broker-dealer and registered investment adviser (“SCI”). As part of his role as President and Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Evans actively supervised the Chief Financial Officer (the “CFO”) and actively supervised the CFO’s preparation of financial statements and other filings with various regulatory authorities. In such capacity, Mr. Evans was actively involved in the preparation of SCI’s financial statements and the resolution of issues raised in connection therewith. Mr. Evans has also served on the audit committee of various reporting companies. At such companies, Mr. Evans was involved in the oversight of audits, audit plans, and the preparation of financial statements. Mr. Evans also formerly chaired the audit committee of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

Mr. Hunter was formerly a Senior Vice President at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. As part of his role as Senior Vice President, Mr. Hunter was the senior officer responsible for all operations of each of the Economic Research, Statistics, and Community and Consumer Affairs units at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. In such capacity, Mr. Hunter oversaw the subunits of the Statistics and Community and Consumer Affairs divisions responsible for the analysis and evaluation of bank and bank holding company financial statements and financial filings. Prior to serving as Senior Vice President at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Mr. Hunter was the Vice President of the Financial Markets unit at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta where he supervised financial staff and bank holding company analysts who analyzed and evaluated bank and bank holding company financial statements. Mr. Hunter also currently serves on the Boards of Directors of Xerox Corporation and Wellmark, Inc. as well as on the Audit Committees of such Boards. As an Audit Committee member, Mr. Hunter’s responsibilities include, among other things, reviewing financial statements, internal audits and internal controls over financial reporting. Mr. Hunter also formerly was a Professor of Finance at the University of Connecticut School of Business and has authored numerous scholarly articles on the topics of finance, accounting and economics.

ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.

The following tables show the amount of fees that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Funds’ auditor, billed to the Funds’ during the Funds’ last two full fiscal years. The Audit Committee approved in advance all audit services and non-audit services that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, provided to the Funds, except for those non-audit services that were subject to the pre-approval exception under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X (the “pre-approval exception”). The preapproval exception for services provided directly to the Funds waives the pre-approval requirement for services other than audit, review or attest services if: (A) the aggregate amount of all such services provided constitutes no more than 5% of the total amount of revenues paid by the Funds during the fiscal year in which the services are provided; (B) the Funds did not recognize the services as non-audit services at the time of the engagement; and (C) the services are promptly brought to the Audit Committee’s attention, and the Committee (or its delegate) approves the services before the audit is completed.

The Audit Committee has delegated certain pre-approval responsibilities to its Chair (or, in her absence, any other member of the Audit Committee).

 

Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2019

   Audit Fees Billed
to Funds 1
     Audit-Related Fees
Billed to Funds 2
     Tax Fees Billed
to Funds 3
     All Other Fees
Billed to Funds 4
 

Fund Name

           

Nuveen Global Infrastructure Fund

     46,310        0        19,649        0  

Nuveen Real Estate Securities Fund

     57,950        0        954        0  

Nuveen Real Asset Income Fund

     51,885        0        1,210        0  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 156,145      $ 0      $ 21,813      $ 0  

 

1    

“Audit Fees” are the aggregate fees billed for professional services for the audit of the Fund’s annual financial statements and services provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.

2   

“Audit-Related Fees” are the aggregate fees billed for assurance and related services reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of financial statements that are not reported under “Audit Fees”. These fees include offerings related to the Fund’s common shares and leverage.

3   

“Tax Fees” are the aggregate fees billed for professional services for tax advice, tax compliance, and tax planning. These fees include: all global withholding tax services; excise and state tax reviews; capital gain, tax equalization and taxable basis calculations performed by the principal accountant.

4   

“All Other Fees” are the aggregate fees billed for products and services other than “Audit Fees”, “Audit-Related Fees” and “Tax Fees”. These fees represent all “Agreed-Upon Procedures” engagements pertaining to the Fund’s use of leverage.

 

     Percentage Approved Pursuant to Pre-approval Exception  
     Audit Fees Billed
to Funds
    Audit-Related Fees
Billed to Funds
    Tax Fees
Billed to Funds
    All Other Fees
Billed to Funds
 

Fund Name

        

Nuveen Global Infrastructure Fund

     0     0     0     0

Nuveen Real Estate Securities Fund

     0     0     0     0

Nuveen Real Asset Income Fund

     0     0     0     0

December 31, 2018

   Audit Fees Billed
to Funds 1
    Audit-Related Fees
Billed to Funds 2
    Tax Fees
Billed to Funds 3
    All Other Fees
Billed to Funds 4
 

Fund Name

        

Nuveen Global Infrastructure Fund

     46,663       0       21,943       0  

Nuveen Real Estate Securities Fund

     58,452       0       5,683       0  

Nuveen Real Asset Income Fund

     52,903       0       3,283       0  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 158,018     $ 0     $ 30,909     $ 0  

 

1    

“Audit Fees” are the aggregate fees billed for professional services for the audit of the Fund’s annual financial statements and services provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.

2   

“Audit-Related Fees” are the aggregate fees billed for assurance and related services reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of financial statements that are not reported under “Audit Fees”. These fees include offerings related to the Fund’s common shares and leverage.

3   

“Tax Fees” are the aggregate fees billed for professional services for tax advice, tax compliance, and tax planning. These fees include: all global withholding tax services; excise and state tax reviews; capital gain, tax equalization and taxable basis calculations performed by the principal accountant.

4   

“All Other Fees” are the aggregate fees billed for products and services other than “Audit Fees”, “Audit-Related Fees” and “Tax Fees”. These fees represent all “Agreed-Upon Procedures” engagements pertaining to the Fund’s use of leverage.

 

     Percentage Approved Pursuant to Pre-approval Exception  
     Audit Fees Billed
to Funds
    Audit-Related Fees
Billed to Funds
    Tax Fees
Billed to  Funds
    All Other Fees
Billed to Funds
 

Fund Name

        

Nuveen Global Infrastructure Fund

     0     0     0     0

Nuveen Real Estate Securities Fund

     0     0     0     0

Nuveen Real Asset Income Fund

     0     0     0     0

 

Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2019

   Audit-Related Fees
Billed to Adviser  and
Affiliated Fund
Service Providers
    Tax Fees Billed to
Adviser and
Affiliated Fund
Service Providers 
    All Other Fees
Billed to Adviser
and Affiliated Fund
Service Providers
 

Nuveen Investment Funds, Inc.

   $ 0     $ 0     $ 0  
     Percentage Approved Pursuant to Pre-approval Exception  
     Audit-Related Fees
Billed to Adviser and
Affiliated Fund
Service Providers
    Tax Fees Billed to
Adviser and
Affiliated Fund
Service Providers
    All Other Fees
Billed to Adviser
and Affiliated Fund
Service Providers
 
     0     0     0

Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2018

   Audit-Related Fees
Billed to Adviser and
Affiliated Fund
Service Providers
    Tax Fees Billed to
Adviser and
Affiliated Fund
Service Providers
    All Other Fees
Billed to Adviser
and Affiliated Fund
Service Providers
 

Nuveen Investment Funds, Inc.

   $ 0     $ 0     $ 0  
     Percentage Approved Pursuant to Pre-approval Exception  
     Audit-Related Fees
Billed to Adviser and
Affiliated Fund
Service Providers
    Tax Fees Billed to
Adviser and
Affiliated Fund
Service Providers
    All Other Fees
Billed to Adviser
and Affiliated Fund
Service Providers
 
     0     0     0

 

Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2019

   Total Non-Audit Fees
Billed to Trust
     Total Non-Audit Fees
billed to Adviser and
Affiliated Fund Service
Providers (engagements
related directly to the
operations and financial
reporting of the Trust)
     Total Non-Audit Fees
billed to Adviser and
Affiliated Fund Service
Providers (all other
engagements)
     Total  

Fund Name

           

Nuveen Global Infrastructure Fund

     19,649        0        0        19,649  

Nuveen Real Estate Securities Fund

     954        0        0        954  

Nuveen Real Asset Income Fund

     1,210        0        0        1,210  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 21,813      $ 0      $ 0      $ 21,813  

“Non-Audit Fees billed to Fund” for both fiscal year ends represent “Tax Fees” and “All Other Fees” billed to Fund in their respective amounts from the previous table.

Less than 50 percent of the hours expended on the principal accountant’s engagement to audit the registrant’s financial statements for the most recent fiscal year were attributed to work performed by persons other than the principal accountant’s full-time, permanent employees.

 

Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2018

   Total Non-Audit Fees
Billed to Trust
     Total Non-Audit Fees
billed to Adviser and
Affiliated Fund Service
Providers (engagements
related directly to the
operations and financial
reporting of the Trust)
     Total Non-Audit Fees 
billed to Adviser and 
Affiliated Fund Service
Providers (all other
engagements)
     Total  

Fund Name

           

Nuveen Global Infrastructure Fund

     21,943        0        0        21,943  

Nuveen Real Estate Securities Fund

     5,683        0        0        5,683  

Nuveen Real Asset Income Fund

     3,283        0        0        3,283  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 30,909      $ 0      $ 0      $ 30,909  

“Non-Audit Fees billed to Fund” for both fiscal year ends represent “Tax Fees” and “All Other Fees” billed to Fund in their respective amounts from the previous table.

Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures. Generally, the Audit Committee must approve (i) all non-audit services to be performed for the Funds by the Funds’ independent accountant and (ii) all audit and non-audit services to be performed by the Funds’ independent accountant for the Affiliated Fund Service Providers with respect to the operations and financial reporting of the Funds. Regarding tax and research projects conducted by the independent accountant for the Funds and Affiliated Fund Service Providers (with respect to operations and financial reports of the Trust), such engagements will be (i) pre-approved by the Audit Committee if they are expected to be for amounts greater than $10,000; (ii) reported to the Audit Committee Chair for her verbal approval prior to engagement if they are expected to be for amounts under $10,000 but greater than $5,000; and (iii) reported to the Audit Committee at the next Audit Committee meeting if they are expected to be for an amount under $5,000.

ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.

Not applicable to this registrant.

ITEM 6. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS.

 

a)   See Portfolio of Investments in Item 1.

 

b)   Not applicable.

ITEM 7. DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

Not applicable to this registrant.

ITEM 8. PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

Not applicable to this registrant.

ITEM 9. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS.

Not applicable to this registrant.

ITEM 10. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

There have been no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s Board of Trustees implemented after the registrant last provided disclosure in response to this Item.

ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

 

  (a)  

The registrant’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c))) are effective, as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on their evaluation of the controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(b)) and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (17 CFR 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15(b)).

 

  (b)  

There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d)) that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 12. DISCLOSURE OF SECURITIES LENDING ACTIVITIES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

Not applicable.

ITEM 13. EXHIBITS.

File the exhibits listed below as part of this Form.

 

(a)(1)   Any code of ethics, or amendment thereto, that is the subject of the disclosure required by Item 2, to the extent that the registrant intends to satisfy the Item 2 requirements through filing of an exhibit: Not applicable because the code is posted on registrant’s website at www.nuveen.com/fund-governance and there were no amendments during the period covered by this report. (To view the code, click on Code of Conduct.)
(a)(2)   A separate certification for each principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the registrant as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(a)) in the exact form set forth below: See EX-99.CERT attached hereto.
(a)(3)   Any written solicitation to purchase securities under Rule 23c-1 under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.23c-1) sent or given during the period covered by the report by or on behalf of the registrant to 10 or more persons: Not applicable to this registrant.
(a)(4)   Change in the registrant’s independent public accountant. Not applicable.
(b)   If the report is filed under Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, provide the certifications required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(b)), Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13a-14(b) or 240.15d-14(b)), and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code (18 U.S.C. 1350) as an Exhibit. A certification furnished pursuant to this paragraph will not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78r), or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. Such certification will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the registration specifically incorporates it by reference: See EX-99.906 CERT attached hereto.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

(Registrant) Nuveen Investment Funds, Inc.

 

By (Signature and Title)    /s/ Christopher M. Rohrbacher
   Christopher M. Rohrbacher
   Vice President and Secretary

Date: March 6, 2020

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By (Signature and Title)    /s/ Greg A. Bottjer
   Greg A. Bottjer
   Chief Administrative Officer
   (principal executive officer)

Date: March 6, 2020

 

By (Signature and Title)    /s/ E. Scott Wickerham
   E. Scott Wickerham
   Vice President and Controller
   (principal financial officer)

Date: March 6, 2020