Three Top Performing Mutual Funds from Nuveen: Building Wealth Through Strategic Equity Investing

When seeking top performing mutual funds, Nuveen Investments stands out as a distinguished choice for investors pursuing long-term growth. Since its founding in 1898 by John Nuveen, this Chicago-based financial powerhouse has evolved into one of the world’s leading asset managers, overseeing $1.3 trillion in assets as of March 31, 2025. The company’s multi-boutique structure—comprising Nuveen Asset Management, Winslow Capital, and Symphony—enables specialized expertise across diverse investment strategies, from traditional equities to alternative investments and fixed-income solutions.

Nuveen’s Leadership Position in Asset Management

Nuveen’s dominance in alternative investments and farmland assets management, combined with its comprehensive product suite, positions it as an industry leader. The company delivers solutions spanning equity funds, municipal bonds, taxable fixed-income instruments, and alternative asset classes. This diversified approach reflects Nuveen’s commitment to meeting varied investor needs while maintaining rigorous quality standards. The three funds highlighted here—all earning Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1 (Strong Buy)—exemplify this commitment to excellence and are positioned to outperform their peer groups going forward.

Small and Mid-Cap Strength: TSMEX and TSCWX

The Nuveen Quant Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund (TSMEX) and Nuveen Quant Small Cap Equity Fund (TSCWX) represent compelling opportunities for growth-oriented investors seeking exposure to dynamic market segments. TSMEX focuses on small and medium-capitalization equities where advisors identify substantial long-term appreciation potential. The fund maintains flexibility to incorporate foreign securities denominated in U.S. dollars or international currencies, providing global diversification. With three-year annualized returns of 18.1%, TSMEX has demonstrated strong performance, holding 357 different securities as of July 2025, including a notable 1.1% allocation to SoFi Technologies.

TSCWX takes a more concentrated approach, emphasizing small-cap equities selected for their positioning toward significant capital appreciation. Delivering three-year annualized returns of 17.6%, this fund operates with a competitive expense ratio of 0.41%, making it cost-efficient for long-term investors. Both funds showcase why top performing mutual funds from Nuveen resonate with sophisticated investors looking to capture growth in undervalued market segments.

Global Equity Income Generation: NQGAX

For investors prioritizing income alongside growth, the Nuveen Global Equity Income Fund (NQGAX) offers an attractive alternative. This fund deploys its assets—and any leverage utilized—into income-producing equities, including common stocks and preferred securities, while maintaining a modest allocation to corporate and government debt instruments. Under the management of James T. Stephenson since March 2012, NQGAX has achieved three-year annualized returns of 17.6%, demonstrating consistent execution of its income-focused strategy.

Performance Outlook and Investment Considerations

The three funds collectively illustrate why Nuveen’s top performing mutual funds attract investor attention. Each has earned recognition through rigorous evaluation metrics, with the Zacks Rank reflecting expected future outperformance. The consistency of three-year annualized returns ranging from 17.6% to 18.1% demonstrates disciplined fund management across different equity strategies. These performance metrics, combined with expert portfolio management and diverse investment philosophies, position these offerings as strategic components within a comprehensive investment portfolio.

For investors evaluating fund options, Nuveen’s blend of specialized expertise, transparent management structures, and demonstrated track records makes the case for considering these top performing mutual funds as core holdings in equity-focused portfolios.