Nuveen Credit Strategies Income Fund

JQC

Market cap $744M

Nuveen Credit Strategies Income Fund offers a high 12.3% yield but faces weakening distribution coverage due to heavy floating-rate asset exposure. JQC conducted a rights offering earlier this year, which was dilutive and put increased downward pressure on the fund with the broader market in sell-off mode at the time too. Distribution coverage has continued its downward trend, with further deterioration likely as the Fed continues to cut rates, impacting JQC's income generation.

Nuveen Credit Strategies Income Fund maintains a high 12.2% yield but faces ongoing concerns about dividend sustainability and NAV erosion. JQC relies heavily on leverage (37% of assets) and invests primarily in below-investment-grade loans, increasing risk in a high-rate environment. Distribution coverage remains inconsistent, with payouts often exceeding earnings; recent dividend increases may be aimed at narrowing JQC's discount to NAV.

While most of Wall Street focuses on large and mega-cap stocks, as they provide a degree of safety and liquidity, many investors are limited in the number of shares they can buy. Many of the most significant public companies, especially the technology giants, trade at prices up to $1,000 per share, while many are in the low to mid-hundreds. It is hard to get decent share count leverage at those steep prices. Many investors, especially more aggressive traders, look at lower-priced stocks to make a profit and increase their share count. That can help the decision-making process, especially when you are on to a winner, as you can always sell half and keep half.

JQC offers high yield (11.85%) via exposure to senior loans, high-yield debt, and CLOs, but carries elevated risk from credit quality and leverage. Macroeconomic factors like trade tariffs and interest rates pose significant risks to high-yield issuers, potentially impacting JQC's portfolio performance. JQC charges relatively high fees (202bps) and has historically underperformed peers like ARDC, despite a stable distribution since Q3'23.

While Most of Wall Street focuses on large and mega-cap stocks, as they provide a degree of safety and liquidity, many investors are limited in the number of shares they can buy.

Although double-digit yields were normal during the 1980s, lower interest rates and a robust stock market have rendered yields of 10% or higher obscure.

Investors love dividend stocks, especially the ultra-high-yield variety, because they offer a significant income stream and have massive total return potential.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nuveen Credit Strategies Income Fund (NYSE: JQC) (the “Fund”) today announced the preliminary results of its transferable rights offering (the “Offer”) which expired at 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on April 29, 2025 (the “Expiration Date”). The Offer entitled the rights holders to subscribe for additional common shares of the Fund (“Common Shares”). The Offer is expected to result in the issuance of approximately 12.2 million Common Shares (including notices of guaranteed.

Nuveen Credit Strategies Income Fund's 1-for-5 rights offering has a subscription price based on the higher of 90% of NAV or 95% of the average closing price. The "higher of" condition prevents a vicious cycle of discount widening, effectively creating a discount floor and limiting how wide the discount can get. Investors should not subscribe if JQC's discount widens beyond -10%, as it would be cheaper to purchase the fund on the open market.

CEF Insights welcomes back Nuveen Head of Senior Loans Scott Caraher. Who shares new insights into senior loans, which continue to offer many potential benefits in today's evolving market. Gain updates on the senior loan market environment and outlook, Nuveen's strategy for income and more.