If You Invested in Nuveen Real Asset Income and Growth Fund (JRI)

Nuveen Real Asset Income and Growth Fund (JRI) is a United States-based closed-end management investment company sponsored and managed by Nuveen. According to its stated objective, the fund seeks to provide a high level of current income along with long-term capital appreciation. It pursues this objective by investing most of its managed assets in equity and debt securities issued by real asset related companies located in various markets around the world.

The fund focuses on securities of real asset-related companies, which, based on its description, include businesses engaged in owning, operating, or developing infrastructure projects, facilities, and services, as well as real estate investment trusts (REITs). Its investment plan references five security types, including infrastructure common stock, REIT preferred stock, and debt securities, giving the fund flexibility to allocate across different parts of the capital structure within its real asset universe.

Investment objective and strategy

JRI’s primary objective is to generate a high level of current income, with a secondary objective of long-term capital growth. To pursue these goals, the fund invests a majority of its managed assets in a mix of equity and debt securities tied to real assets. The description notes that these holdings may be issued by companies located anywhere in the world, which allows the portfolio to draw from both U.S. and non-U.S. issuers in the real asset and REIT space.

The fund’s focus on infrastructure-related issuers and REITs means its portfolio is oriented toward companies involved with physical assets such as infrastructure projects, facilities, and services, and real estate investment trusts. Within this framework, the fund can hold common stocks, preferred securities, and debt instruments, as reflected in its reference to infrastructure common stock, REIT preferred stock, and debt securities as part of its investment plan.

Closed-end fund structure and distributions

JRI is structured as a closed-end fund, which typically issues a fixed number of shares that trade on an exchange under the ticker symbol JRI. Nuveen has issued multiple informational notices under Section 19(a) of the Investment Company Act describing the sources of distributions for several of its closed-end funds, including JRI. These notices explain that distributions may be derived from net investment income, capital gains, and, in some periods, a return of capital.

The 19(a) notices highlight that, for JRI and certain other Nuveen closed-end funds, it has been estimated at various times that the funds distributed more than their income and net realized capital gains, so a portion of the distributions was characterized as return of capital. The notices emphasize that a return of capital does not necessarily reflect investment performance and should not be confused with yield or income, and that final tax characterization is provided on Form 1099-DIV after the end of the calendar year.

Role within Nuveen’s closed-end fund lineup

JRI is one of several Nuveen closed-end funds that focus on income and real asset exposure. Nuveen has described itself as a sponsor of numerous closed-end funds with assets under management across dozens of CEFs, designed for income-focused investors seeking regular distributions. JRI fits within this broader platform as a fund that concentrates on real asset-related companies and REITs while aiming to balance current income with the potential for long-term capital appreciation.

Nuveen, the investment manager of TIAA, has repeatedly described its capabilities in managing closed-end funds and other vehicles across traditional and alternative investments. Within that context, JRI represents a strategy that targets real asset exposure through a diversified mix of equity and debt securities tied to infrastructure and real estate-related issuers.

Real asset and REIT focus

According to the fund’s description, real asset-related companies for JRI include those engaged in owning, operating, or developing infrastructure projects, facilities, and services, as well as REITs. By investing in both equity and debt securities of these issuers, the fund can participate in income streams and potential capital appreciation associated with real assets. The mention of infrastructure common stock and REIT preferred stock indicates that the portfolio can span different security types within its real asset mandate.

This focus on real asset-related issuers distinguishes JRI from funds that invest primarily in traditional equities or fixed income without a specific real asset orientation. Instead, JRI’s mandate is built around companies whose business activities are tied to physical assets and real estate investment trusts, while still seeking to meet its income and growth objectives.

Investor considerations

Because JRI is a closed-end fund, its shares trade in the secondary market and investors may consider both the fund’s net asset value and market price when evaluating the investment. The repeated 19(a) notices for JRI and other Nuveen closed-end funds underscore that distributions can include net investment income and return of capital, and that the distribution level alone does not provide a complete picture of performance.

Investors reviewing JRI may look at its stated objectives, its focus on real asset-related companies and REITs, and its use of equity and debt securities as key structural features. The fund’s role within Nuveen’s broader closed-end fund platform also indicates that it is part of a family of income-oriented strategies managed by the same sponsor.

FAQs about Nuveen Real Asset Income and Growth Fund (JRI)

• What is the investment objective of Nuveen Real Asset Income and Growth Fund (JRI)?
  The fund’s objective, as described in its profile, is to provide a high level of current income and long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in equity and debt securities issued by real asset-related companies.
• What types of securities does JRI invest in?
  JRI invests a majority of its managed assets in equity and debt securities of real asset-related companies. Its plan specifically references infrastructure common stock, REIT preferred stock, and debt securities among the security types it may hold.
• How does JRI define real asset-related companies?
  According to its description, real asset-related companies include those engaged in owning, operating, or developing infrastructure projects, facilities, and services, as well as real estate investment trusts (REITs).
• Is JRI a closed-end fund?
  Yes. JRI is identified as a United States-based closed-end fund sponsored and managed by Nuveen, and its shares trade under the ticker symbol JRI.
• Does JRI invest globally or only in U.S. companies?
  The fund description states that JRI invests a majority of its managed assets in equity and debt securities issued by real asset-related companies located anywhere in the world, which allows for both U.S. and non-U.S. issuers.
• How are JRI’s distributions characterized?
  Nuveen’s 19(a) notices for JRI explain that distributions can come from net investment income and, in some periods, may also include a return of capital when the fund distributes more than its income and net realized capital gains. The notices emphasize that return of capital does not necessarily indicate performance and that final tax reporting is provided on Form 1099-DIV.
• Where can investors find information on JRI’s distribution sources?
  Nuveen has issued 19(a) notices that provide estimates of the sources of JRI’s distributions, including net investment income and return of capital, for specified periods. These notices are described as informational and not for tax reporting purposes.
• How does JRI fit within Nuveen’s broader product lineup?
  JRI is one of multiple Nuveen closed-end funds that are designed for income-focused investors. Nuveen has described itself as a sponsor of many closed-end funds offering exposure to different asset classes, and JRI represents the real asset and REIT-oriented strategy within that lineup.