3 Top-Ranked Nuveen Mutual Funds to Buy for Strong Growth Potential

Nuveen Investments, headquartered in Chicago, was founded in 1898 by John Nuveen. The company aims to provide financial services to its clients using a multi-boutique structure. It provides these services through an independent team, comprising Nuveen Asset Management, Winslow Capital and Symphony.

Nuveen is the number one farmland assets manager in the world and a leader in alternative investments. In its Multi-Asset Solutions, the company had $1.4 trillion of assets under management as of Dec. 31, 2025. Nuveen offers a wide range of asset classes and products, ranging from equity, fixed income, real estate, real assets, multi-asset and private capital.

Below, we share with you three top-ranked Nuveen mutual funds, viz.,Nuveen Large Cap Growth Fund TILWX, Nuveen Quant Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund TSMEX and Nuveen Global Equity Income Fund NQGAX. Each has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and is expected to outperform its peers in the future. Investors can click here to see the complete list of Nuveen mutual funds.

Nuveen Large Cap Growth Fund invests most of its assets, along with borrowing, if any, in equity securities of large-cap growth companies, which are expected to benefit from prospective acquisitions, reorganizations, corporate restructurings or other special situations. TILWX advisors also invest a small portion of the fund’s net assets in foreign issues.

Nuveen Large Cap Growth Fund has three-year annualized returns of 20%. As of the end of January 2026, TILWX held 46 issues, with 12.3% of its assets invested in NVIDIA.

Nuveen Quant Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund invests most of its assets in equity securities of medium and small-capitalization companies, which its advisors believe have favorable prospects for significant long-term capital appreciation. TSMEX advisors may also invest a small portion of its net assets in foreign equity securities, denominated in U.S. dollars or in international currencies.

Nuveen Quant Small/mid Cap Equity Fund has three-year annualized returns of 17.5%. TSMEX has an expense ratio of 0.77%.

Nuveen Global Equity Income Fund invests most of its assets, along with borrowings, if any, in income-producing equity securities, including common stock, preferred and other securities with equity characteristics. NQGAX advisors generally invest a small portion of the net assets in corporate and U.S. government debt securities.

Nuveen Global Equity Income Fund has three-year annualized returns of 17%. James T. Stephenson has been the fund manager of NQGAX since March 2012.