UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

FORM N-Q

 

QUARTERLY SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY

 

Investment Company Act file number 811-22003

 

 

Nuveen Core Equity Alpha Fund

 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

   333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606   

 

 

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

 

Kevin J. McCarthy—Vice President and Secretary
   333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606   

 

 

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

312-917-7700

 

Date of fiscal year end:

12/31

 

Date of reporting period:

9/30/2013

 

 

Form N-Q is to be used by management investment companies, other than small business investment companies registered on Form N-5 (§§ 239.24 and 274.5 of this chapter), to file reports with the Commission, not later than 60 days after the close of the first and third fiscal quarters, pursuant to rule 30b1-5 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30b1-5). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-Q in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles.

A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-Q, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-Q 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 the 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. § 3507.

 

 

 



 

Item 1. Schedule of Investments

 



 

 

 

Portfolio of Investments (Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

Nuveen Core Equity Alpha Fund (JCE)

 

 

 

 

 

September 30, 2013

 

 

 

 

Shares

 

Description (1)

 

Value

 

 

 

LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS - 98.6%

 

 

 

 

 

Common Stocks - 98.6%

 

 

 

 

 

Aerospace & Defense - 2.9%

 

 

 

22,300

 

Boeing Company

 

$       2,620,250

 

400

 

Honeywell International Inc.

 

33,216

 

1,100

 

L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc.

 

103,950

 

9,100

 

Lockheed Martin Corporation

 

1,160,705

 

32,400

 

Northrop Grumman Corporation

 

3,086,424

 

1,700

 

Precision Castparts Corporation

 

386,308

 

4,900

 

Raytheon Company

 

377,643

 

1,600

 

Rockwell Collins, Inc.

 

108,576

 

200

 

United Technologies Corporation

 

21,564

 

 

 

Total Aerospace & Defense

 

7,898,636

 

 

 

Airlines - 0.4%

 

 

 

12,100

 

Delta Air Lines, Inc.

 

285,439

 

62,500

 

Southwest Airlines Co.

 

910,000

 

 

 

Total Airlines

 

1,195,439

 

 

 

Auto Components - 0.6%

 

 

 

25,000

 

Delphi Automotive PLC

 

1,460,500

 

1,000

 

Johnson Controls, Inc.

 

41,500

 

 

 

Total Auto Components

 

1,502,000

 

 

 

Automobiles - 0.5%

 

 

 

49,500

 

Ford Motor Company

 

835,065

 

11,300

 

General Motors Company, (2)

 

406,461

 

 

 

Total Automobiles

 

1,241,526

 

 

 

Beverages - 2.0%

 

 

 

12,000

 

Beam Inc.

 

775,800

 

6,900

 

Brown-Forman Corporation

 

470,097

 

11,000

 

Coca-Cola Company

 

416,680

 

45,900

 

Constellation Brands, Inc., Class A, (2)

 

2,634,660

 

6,300

 

Dr. Pepper Snapple Group

 

282,366

 

6,700

 

Monster Beverage Corporation, (2)

 

350,075

 

6,800

 

PepsiCo, Inc.

 

540,600

 

 

 

Total Beverages

 

5,470,278

 

 

 

Biotechnology - 3.2%

 

 

 

28,600

 

Amgen Inc.

 

3,201,484

 

7,900

 

Biogen Idec Inc., (2)

 

1,902,004

 

5,700

 

Celgene Corporation, (2)

 

877,401

 

32,300

 

Gilead Sciences, Inc., (2)

 

2,029,732

 

400

 

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (2)

 

125,148

 

5,000

 

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, (2)

 

379,100

 

 

 

Total Biotechnology

 

8,514,869

 

 

 

Capital Markets - 3.2%

 

 

 

12,900

 

Ameriprise Financial, Inc.

 

1,174,932

 

8,700

 

BlackRock Inc.

 

2,354,394

 

39,300

 

Charles Schwab Corporation

 

830,802

 

6,800

 

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

 

1,075,828

 

48,900

 

State Street Corporation

 

3,215,175

 

 

 

Total Capital Markets

 

8,651,131

 

 

 

Chemicals - 3.4%

 

 

 

1,400

 

Airgas, Inc.

 

148,470

 

3,900

 

E.I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company

 

228,384

 

6,300

 

Eastman Chemical Company

 

490,770

 

2,700

 

Ecolab Inc.

 

266,652

 

8,700

 

FMC Corporation

 

623,964

 

3,800

 

International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.

 

312,740

 

5,600

 

LyondellBasell Industries NV

 

410,088

 

1,600

 

Monsanto Company

 

166,992

 

2,500

 

Mosaic Company

 

107,550

 

14,500

 

PPG Industries, Inc.

 

2,422,370

 

6,100

 

Praxair, Inc.

 

733,281

 

17,100

 

Sherwin-Williams Company

 

3,115,278

 

1,700

 

Sigma-Aldrich Corporation

 

145,010

 

 

 

Total Chemicals

 

9,171,549

 

 

 

Commercial Banks - 1.6%

 

 

 

40,300

 

BB&T Corporation

 

1,360,125

 

2,500

 

Comerica Incorporated

 

98,275

 

10,800

 

KeyCorp

 

123,120

 

13,200

 

M&T Bank Corporation

 

1,477,344

 

22,000

 

Regions Financial Corporation

 

203,720

 

11,500

 

U.S. Bancorp

 

420,670

 

16,450

 

Wells Fargo & Company

 

679,714

 

 

 

Total Commercial Banks

 

4,362,968

 

 

 

Commercial Services & Supplies - 0.7%

 

 

 

4,600

 

ADT Corporation

 

187,036

 

19,600

 

Cintas Corporation

 

1,003,520

 

3,500

 

Republic Services, Inc.

 

116,760

 

1,400

 

Stericycle Inc., (2)

 

161,560

 

9,300

 

Waste Management, Inc.

 

383,532

 

 

 

Total Commercial Services & Supplies

 

1,852,408

 

 

 

Communications Equipment - 0.2%

 

 

 

7,900

 

Cisco Systems, Inc.

 

185,018

 

5,600

 

Juniper Networks Inc., (2)

 

111,216

 

3,000

 

Motorola Solutions Inc.

 

178,140

 

 

 

Total Communications Equipment

 

474,374

 

 

 

Computers & Peripherals - 2.2%

 

 

 

6,100

 

Apple, Inc.

 

2,908,175

 

71,500

 

Dell Inc.

 

984,555

 

19,400

 

Hewlett-Packard Company

 

407,012

 

5,200

 

NetApp, Inc.

 

221,624

 

7,300

 

Seagate Technology PLC

 

319,302

 

17,700

 

Western Digital Corporation

 

1,122,180

 

 

 

Total Computers & Peripherals

 

5,962,848

 

 

 

Construction & Engineering - 0.2%

 

 

 

8,100

 

Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc., (2)

 

471,258

 

 

 

Consumer Finance - 1.6%

 

 

 

12,200

 

American Express Company

 

921,344

 

37,800

 

Discover Financial Services

 

1,910,412

 

55,000

 

SLM Corporation

 

1,369,500

 

 

 

Total Consumer Finance

 

4,201,256

 

 

 

Containers & Packaging - 0.5%

 

 

 

10,100

 

Avery Dennison Corporation

 

439,552

 

9,000

 

Bemis Company, Inc.

 

351,090

 

1,300

 

MeadWestvaco Corporation

 

49,894

 

7,300

 

Owens-Illinois, Inc., (2)

 

219,146

 

11,300

 

Sealed Air Corporation

 

307,247

 

 

 

Total Containers & Packaging

 

1,366,929

 

 

 

Distributors - 0.1%

 

 

 

1,700

 

Genuine Parts Company

 

137,513

 

 

 

Diversified Consumer Services - 0.8%

 

 

 

80,200

 

H & R Block Inc.

 

2,138,132

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services - 3.2%

 

 

 

1,200

 

Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Class B, (2)

 

136,212

 

10,600

 

Citigroup Inc.

 

514,206

 

20,500

 

CME Group, Inc.

 

1,514,540

 

2,600

 

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., (2)

 

471,692

 

24,105

 

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

 

1,245,987

 

23,900

 

Leucadia National Corporation

 

651,036

 

16,400

 

McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

 

1,075,676

 

26,100

 

Moody’s Corporation

 

1,835,613

 

12,500

 

NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc.

 

401,125

 

20,400

 

New York Stock Exchange Euronext

 

856,392

 

 

 

Total Diversified Financial Services

 

8,702,479

 

 

 

Diversified Telecommunication Services - 0.8%

 

 

 

53,000

 

AT&T Inc.

 

1,792,460

 

4,900

 

Verizon Communications Inc.

 

228,634

 

 

 

Total Diversified Telecommunication Services

 

2,021,094

 

 

 

Electric Utilities - 1.6%

 

 

 

2,400

 

American Electric Power Company, Inc.

 

104,040

 

39,256

 

Duke Energy Corporation

 

2,621,516

 

7,600

 

Entergy Corporation

 

480,244

 

14,100

 

Exelon Corporation

 

417,924

 

4,200

 

NextEra Energy Inc.

 

336,672

 

1,800

 

Pinnacle West Capital Corporation

 

98,532

 

6,300

 

PPL Corporation

 

191,394

 

2,900

 

Southern Company

 

119,422

 

1,900

 

Xcel Energy Inc.

 

52,459

 

 

 

Total Electric Utilities

 

4,422,203

 

 

 

Electrical Equipment - 0.8%

 

 

 

5,200

 

AMETEK, Inc.

 

239,304

 

15,744

 

Eaton PLC

 

1,083,817

 

2,400

 

Rockwell Automation, Inc.

 

256,656

 

5,200

 

Roper Industries Inc.

 

690,924

 

 

 

Total Electrical Equipment

 

2,270,701

 

 

 

Electronic Equipment & Instruments - 0.5%

 

 

 

12,300

 

Corning Incorporated

 

179,457

 

34,200

 

FLIR Systems Inc.

 

1,073,880

 

1,000

 

TE Connectivity Limited

 

51,780

 

 

 

Total Electronic Equipment & Instruments

 

1,305,117

 

 

 

Energy Equipment & Services - 0.0%

 

 

 

1,400

 

Helmerich & Payne Inc.

 

96,530

 

 

 

Food & Staples Retailing - 2.2%

 

 

 

800

 

Costco Wholesale Corporation

 

92,096

 

2,400

 

CVS Caremark Corporation

 

136,200

 

49,500

 

Kroger Co.

 

1,996,830

 

3,000

 

Sysco Corporation

 

95,490

 

23,700

 

Walgreen Co.

 

1,275,060

 

29,700

 

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

 

2,196,612

 

 

 

Total Food & Staples Retailing

 

5,792,288

 

 

 

Food Products - 3.6%

 

 

 

8,500

 

Archer-Daniels-Midland Company

 

313,140

 

20,500

 

Campbell Soup Company

 

834,555

 

60,900

 

ConAgra Foods, Inc.

 

1,847,706

 

12,100

 

General Mills, Inc.

 

579,832

 

14,200

 

Hershey Foods Corporation

 

1,313,500

 

31,400

 

Hormel Foods Corporation

 

1,322,568

 

6,500

 

JM Smucker Company

 

682,760

 

8,500

 

Kellogg Company

 

499,205

 

2,300

 

Kraft Foods Inc.

 

120,612

 

16,100

 

McCormick & Company, Incorporated

 

1,041,670

 

3,500

 

Mead Johnson Nutrition Company

 

259,910

 

31,800

 

Tyson Foods, Inc., Class A

 

899,304

 

 

 

Total Food Products

 

9,714,762

 

 

 

Health Care Equipment & Supplies - 1.7%

 

 

 

7,900

 

Abbott Laboratories

 

262,201

 

11,300

 

Baxter International, Inc.

 

742,297

 

9,900

 

Becton, Dickinson and Company

 

990,198

 

134,400

 

Boston Scientific Corporation, (2)

 

1,577,856

 

500

 

C. R. Bard, Inc.

 

57,600

 

14,300

 

CareFusion Corporation, (2)

 

527,670

 

1,300

 

Intuitive Surgical, Inc., (2)

 

489,151

 

 

 

Total Health Care Equipment & Supplies

 

4,646,973

 

 

 

Health Care Providers & Services - 3.8%

 

 

 

27,959

 

Aetna Inc.

 

1,789,935

 

31,300

 

AmerisourceBergen Corporation

 

1,912,430

 

1,700

 

Cardinal Health, Inc.

 

88,655

 

20,900

 

CIGNA Corporation

 

1,606,374

 

26,800

 

Davita Inc., (2)

 

1,524,920

 

3,900

 

Express Scripts Holding Company, (2)

 

240,942

 

2,900

 

Humana Inc.

 

270,657

 

3,900

 

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, (2)

 

386,646

 

300

 

McKesson HBOC Inc.

 

38,490

 

7,800

 

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated

 

481,962

 

3,200

 

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated

 

229,152

 

19,200

 

Wellpoint Inc.

 

1,605,312

 

 

 

Total Health Care Providers & Services

 

10,175,475

 

 

 

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure - 0.6%

 

 

 

700

 

Chipotle Mexican Grill, (2)

 

300,090

 

2,500

 

Darden Restaurants, Inc.

 

115,725

 

5,300

 

McDonald’s Corporation

 

509,913

 

1,100

 

Starbucks Corporation

 

84,667

 

6,800

 

Wyndham Worldwide Corporation

 

414,596

 

4,200

 

YUM! Brands, Inc.

 

299,838

 

 

 

Total Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure

 

1,724,829

 

 

 

Household Durables - 0.6%

 

 

 

10,300

 

Leggett and Platt Inc.

 

310,545

 

45,700

 

Newell Rubbermaid Inc.

 

1,256,750

 

700

 

Whirlpool Corporation

 

102,508

 

 

 

Total Household Durables

 

1,669,803

 

 

 

Household Products - 0.8%

 

 

 

3,400

 

Clorox Company

 

277,848

 

13,400

 

Colgate-Palmolive Company

 

794,620

 

7,100

 

Kimberly-Clark Corporation

 

668,962

 

4,100

 

Procter & Gamble Company

 

309,919

 

 

 

Total Household Products

 

2,051,349

 

 

 

Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders - 0.6%

 

 

 

57,600

 

NRG Energy Inc.

 

1,574,208

 

 

 

Industrial Conglomerates - 0.2%

 

 

 

900

 

3M Co.

 

107,469

 

12,200

 

General Electric Company

 

291,458

 

 

 

Total Industrial Conglomerates

 

398,927

 

 

 

Insurance - 7.5%

 

 

 

32,700

 

AFLAC Incorporated

 

2,027,073

 

91,900

 

Allstate Corporation

 

4,645,545

 

17,300

 

AON PLC

 

1,287,812

 

32,500

 

Assurant Inc.

 

1,758,250

 

45,300

 

Cincinnati Financial Corporation

 

2,136,348

 

27,800

 

Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.

 

865,136

 

8,900

 

Lincoln National Corporation

 

373,711

 

3,000

 

Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.

 

130,650

 

9,300

 

MetLife, Inc.

 

436,635

 

20,000

 

Principal Financial Group, Inc.

 

856,400

 

8,200

 

Progressive Corporation

 

223,286

 

10,400

 

Prudential Financial, Inc.

 

810,992

 

13,750

 

Torchmark Corporation

 

994,813

 

8,100

 

Travelers Companies, Inc.

 

686,637

 

48,100

 

Unum Group

 

1,464,164

 

46,900

 

XL Group PLC

 

1,445,458

 

 

 

Total Insurance

 

20,142,910

 

 

 

Internet & Catalog Retail - 0.1%

 

 

 

4,300

 

TripAdvisor, Inc., (2)

 

326,112

 

 

 

Internet Software & Services - 2.1%

 

 

 

9,100

 

eBay Inc., (2)

 

507,689

 

3,400

 

Google Inc., Class A, (2)

 

2,978,094

 

1,300

 

VeriSign, Inc., (2)

 

66,157

 

64,500

 

Yahoo! Inc., (2)

 

2,138,820

 

 

 

Total Internet Software & Services

 

5,690,760

 

 

 

IT Services - 3.2%

 

 

 

10,500

 

Accenture Limited

 

773,220

 

1,600

 

Automatic Data Processing, Inc.

 

115,808

 

39,200

 

Computer Sciences Corporation

 

2,028,208

 

31,300

 

Fidelity National Information Services

 

1,453,572

 

12,100

 

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM)

 

2,240,678

 

6,200

 

Paychex, Inc.

 

251,968

 

9,600

 

Visa Inc., Class A

 

1,834,560

 

 

 

Total IT Services

 

8,698,014

 

 

 

Leisure Equipment & Products - 0.2%

 

 

 

8,300

 

Hasbro, Inc.

 

391,262

 

6,300

 

Mattel, Inc.

 

263,718

 

 

 

Total Leisure Equipment & Products

 

654,980

 

 

 

Life Sciences Tools & Services - 1.0%

 

 

 

16,000

 

Life Technologies Corporation, (2)

 

1,197,280

 

15,600

 

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

 

1,437,540

 

 

 

Total Life Sciences Tools & Services

 

2,634,820

 

 

 

Machinery - 1.6%

 

 

 

18,900

 

Dover Corporation

 

1,697,787

 

24,300

 

Flowserve Corporation

 

1,516,077

 

9,800

 

Snap-on Incorporated

 

975,100

 

 

 

Total Machinery

 

4,188,964

 

 

 

Media - 9.7%

 

 

 

11,100

 

CBS Corporation, Class B

 

612,276

 

170,200

 

Comcast Corporation, Class A

 

7,684,530

 

8,700

 

DirecTV, (2)

 

519,825

 

13,600

 

Discovery Communications, Inc., Class A, (2)

 

1,148,112

 

25,800

 

Interpublic Group Companies, Inc.

 

443,244

 

18,825

 

News Corporation, Class A, (2)

 

302,330

 

2,100

 

Omnicom Group, Inc.

 

133,224

 

15,500

 

Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc., Class A

 

1,210,705

 

57,100

 

The Walt Disney Company

 

3,682,379

 

900

 

The Washington Post Company

 

550,215

 

15,800

 

Time Warner Cable

 

1,763,280

 

84,800

 

Time Warner Inc.

 

5,580,688

 

75,300

 

Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc., Class A

 

2,522,550

 

400

 

Viacom Inc., Class B

 

33,432

 

 

 

Total Media

 

26,186,790

 

 

 

Multiline Retail - 0.6%

 

 

 

3,900

 

Dollar General Corporation, (2)

 

220,194

 

4,800

 

Dollar Tree, Inc., (2)

 

274,368

 

28,900

 

J.C. Penney Company, Inc., (2)

 

254,898

 

1,500

 

Kohl’s Corporation

 

77,625

 

9,000

 

Macy’s, Inc.

 

389,430

 

4,800

 

Target Corporation

 

307,104

 

 

 

Total Multiline Retail

 

1,523,619

 

 

 

Multi-Utilities - 2.6%

 

 

 

15,900

 

CMS Energy Corporation

 

418,488

 

3,000

 

Consolidated Edison, Inc.

 

165,420

 

15,800

 

Dominion Resources, Inc.

 

987,184

 

6,300

 

DTE Energy Company

 

415,674

 

1,100

 

Integrys Energy Group, Inc.

 

61,479

 

29,900

 

NiSource Inc.

 

923,611

 

4,500

 

PG&E Corporation

 

184,140

 

9,700

 

Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated

 

319,421

 

6,200

 

Scana Corporation

 

285,448

 

27,600

 

Sempra Energy

 

2,362,560

 

3,500

 

TECO Energy, Inc.

 

57,890

 

22,800

 

Wisconsin Energy Corporation

 

920,664

 

 

 

Total Multi-Utilities

 

7,101,979

 

 

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels - 2.8%

 

 

 

29,600

 

Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation

 

1,104,672

 

3,500

 

Chevron Corporation

 

425,250

 

1,700

 

ConocoPhillips

 

118,167

 

7,800

 

EQT Corporation

 

692,016

 

1,100

 

Exxon Mobil Corporation

 

94,644

 

1,000

 

Hess Corporation

 

77,340

 

32,150

 

Marathon Petroleum Corporation

 

2,067,888

 

7,400

 

Murphy Oil Corporation

 

446,368

 

2,100

 

Occidental Petroleum Corporation

 

196,434

 

1,100

 

Range Resources Corporation

 

83,479

 

15,500

 

Spectra Energy Corporation

 

530,565

 

21,500

 

Tesoro Corporation

 

945,570

 

9,500

 

Valero Energy Corporation

 

324,425

 

8,100

 

Williams Companies, Inc.

 

294,516

 

 

 

Total Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

 

7,401,334

 

 

 

Personal Products - 0.1%

 

 

 

9,500

 

Avon Products, Inc.

 

195,700

 

1,000

 

Estee Lauder Companies Inc., Class A

 

69,900

 

 

 

Total Personal Products

 

265,600

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals - 3.3%

 

 

 

8,200

 

AbbVie Inc.

 

366,786

 

16,500

 

Actavis PLC, (2)

 

2,376,000

 

48,000

 

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company

 

2,221,440

 

17,000

 

Eli Lilly and Company

 

855,610

 

4,100

 

Johnson & Johnson

 

355,429

 

18,932

 

Merck & Company Inc.

 

901,352

 

34,100

 

Mylan Laboratories Inc., (2)

 

1,301,597

 

800

 

Perrigo Company

 

98,704

 

2,400

 

Pfizer Inc.

 

68,904

 

9,300

 

Zoetis Inc

 

289,416

 

 

 

Total Pharmaceuticals

 

8,835,238

 

 

 

Professional Services - 1.3%

 

 

 

9,900

 

Dun and Bradstreet Inc.

 

1,028,115

 

32,200

 

Equifax Inc.

 

1,927,170

 

12,700

 

Nielsen Holdings NV

 

462,915

 

3,400

 

Robert Half International Inc.

 

132,702

 

 

 

Total Professional Services

 

3,550,902

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trust - 1.6%

 

 

 

6,300

 

Apartment Investment & Management Company, Class A

 

176,022

 

400

 

Health Care REIT, Inc.

 

24,952

 

6,800

 

Public Storage, Inc.

 

1,091,740

 

8,800

 

Simon Property Group, Inc.

 

1,304,424

 

500

 

Ventas Inc.

 

30,750

 

53,800

 

Weyerhaeuser Company

 

1,540,294

 

 

 

Total Real Estate Investment Trust

 

4,168,182

 

 

 

Road & Rail - 0.1%

 

 

 

700

 

Kansas City Southern Industries

 

76,552

 

1,300

 

Union Pacific Corporation

 

201,942

 

 

 

Total Road & Rail

 

278,494

 

 

 

Semiconductors & Equipment - 1.1%

 

 

 

72,500

 

Applied Materials, Inc.

 

1,271,650

 

17,600

 

First Solar Inc., (2)

 

707,696

 

11,900

 

Intel Corporation

 

272,748

 

1,700

 

Lam Research Corporation, (2)

 

87,023

 

1,800

 

Linear Technology Corporation

 

71,388

 

29,300

 

Micron Technology, Inc., (2)

 

511,871

 

600

 

Xilinx, Inc.

 

28,116

 

 

 

Total Semiconductors & Equipment

 

2,950,492

 

 

 

Software - 1.4%

 

 

 

13,400

 

Adobe Systems Incorporated, (2)

 

695,996

 

35,600

 

CA Inc.

 

1,056,252

 

29,500

 

Electronic Arts Inc., (2)

 

753,725

 

27,200

 

Microsoft Corporation

 

906,032

 

15,500

 

Symantec Corporation

 

383,625

 

 

 

Total Software

 

3,795,630

 

 

 

Specialty Retail - 8.3%

 

 

 

500

 

AutoZone, Inc., (2)

 

211,365

 

2,400

 

Bed Bath and Beyond Inc., (2)

 

185,664

 

23,100

 

Best Buy Co., Inc.

 

866,250

 

3,900

 

CarMax, Inc., (2)

 

189,033

 

20,500

 

GameStop Corporation

 

1,017,825

 

37,500

 

Gap, Inc.

 

1,510,500

 

108,300

 

Home Depot, Inc.

 

8,214,555

 

4,200

 

L Brands Inc.

 

256,620

 

12,600

 

Lowe’s Companies, Inc.

 

599,886

 

3,400

 

O’Reilly Automotive Inc., (2)

 

433,806

 

28,500

 

Ross Stores, Inc.

 

2,074,800

 

2,400

 

Tiffany & Co.

 

183,888

 

115,600

 

TJX Companies, Inc.

 

6,518,684

 

 

 

Total Specialty Retail

 

22,262,876

 

 

 

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods - 0.4%

 

 

 

4,300

 

Nike, Inc., Class B

 

312,352

 

1,200

 

PVH Corporation

 

142,428

 

3,200

 

VF Corporation

 

636,960

 

 

 

Total Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods

 

1,091,740

 

 

 

Thrifts & Mortgage Finance - 0.0%

 

 

 

5,500

 

Hudson City Bancorp, Inc.

 

49,775

 

 

 

Tobacco - 1.4%

 

 

 

50,600

 

Altria Group, Inc.

 

1,738,110

 

8,000

 

Lorillard Inc.

 

358,240

 

12,700

 

Philip Morris International

 

1,099,693

 

13,100

 

Reynolds American Inc.

 

639,018

 

 

 

Total Tobacco

 

3,835,061

 

 

 

Trading Companies & Distributors - 1.7%

 

 

 

21,000

 

Fastenal Company

 

1,055,250

 

13,300

 

W.W. Grainger, Inc.

 

3,480,743

 

 

 

Total Trading Companies & Distributors

 

4,535,993

 

 

 

Wireless Telecommunication Services - 1.4%

 

 

 

50,100

 

Crown Castle International Corporation, (2)

 

3,658,803

 

 

 

Total Long-Term Investments (cost $209,376,862)

 

265,008,920

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Principal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amount (000)

 

Description (1)

 

Coupon

 

Maturity

Ratings (3)

 

Value

 

 

 

Short-Term Investments - 3.5%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Repurchase Agreements - 2.6%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$       6,869

 

Repurchase Agreement with State Street Bank, dated 9/30/13, repurchase price $6,869,149, collateralized by $6,995,000 U.S. Treasury Notes, 0.875%, due 2/28/17, value $7,008,815

 

0.000

%

10/01/13

 

N/A

 

$       6,869,149

 

 

 

U.S. Government and Agency Obligations - 0.9%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,500

 

U.S. Treasury Bills, (4)

 

0.010

%

2/13/14

 

Aaa

 

2,499,860

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments (cost $9,368,516)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9,369,009

 

 

 

Total Investments (cost $218,745,378) - 102.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

274,377,929

 

 

 

Other Assets Less Liabilities - (2.1)% (5)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(5,718,005

)

 

 

Net Assets - 100%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$   268,659,924

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investments in Derivatives as of September 30, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Call Options Written outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

 

Notional

 

Expiration

 

Strike

 

 

 

Contracts

 

Type

 

Amount (6)

 

Date

 

Price

 

Value (5)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(150)

 

Russell 2000® INDEX

 

$   (15,893,261

)

10/11/13

 

$1,059.5507

 

$      (333,985

)

(150)

 

Russell 2000® INDEX

 

(16,310,850

)

10/17/13

 

1,087.3900

 

(141,376

)

(200)

 

Russell 2000® INDEX

 

(21,712,000

)

10/21/13

 

1,085.6000

 

(236,346

)

(200)

 

S&P MidCap 400® Index

 

(24,500,000

)

10/07/13

 

1,225.0000

 

(472,117

)

(260)

 

S&P MidCap 400® Index

 

(33,923,302

)

10/28/13

 

1,304.7424

 

(41,464

)

(960)

 

Total Call Options Written (premiums received $742,193)

 

$ (112,339,413

)

 

 

 

 

$   (1,225,288

)

 

Futures Contracts outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Type

 

Contract
Position

 

Number of
Contracts

 

Contract
Expiration

 

Notional Amount
at Value

 

Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

E-mini S&P 500®

 

Long

 

60

 

12/13

 

$   5,022,900

 

$   (12,330

)

 

 

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements

 

 

Fair value is defined as the price that the Fund would receive 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 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, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.).

Level 3 - Prices are determined using significant unobservable inputs (including management’s assumptions in determining the fair value of investments).

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 the Fund’s fair value measurements as of the end of the reporting period:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Total

 

 

 

Long-Term Investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Stocks

 

$  265,008,920

 

$                —

 

$     —

 

$  265,008,920

 

 

 

Short-Term Investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Repurchase Agreements

 

 

6,869,149

 

 

6,869,149

 

 

 

U.S. Government and Agency Obligations

 

 

2,499,860

 

 

2,499,860

 

 

 

Derivatives:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Call Options Written

 

 

(1,225,288

)

 

(1,225,288

)

 

 

Futures Contracts*

 

(12,330

)

 

 

(12,330

)

 

 

Total

 

$  264,996,590

 

$   8,143,721

 

$     —

 

$  273,140,311

 

 

 

* Represents net unrealized appreciation (depreciation).

 

 

 

Income Tax Information

 

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 and the recognition of unrealized gain or loss for tax (mark-to-market) on futures contracts. To the extent that differences arise that are permanent in nature, such amounts are reclassified within the capital accounts on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities presented in the annual report, based on their federal tax basis treatment; temporary differences do not require reclassification. Temporary and permanent differences do not impact the net asset value of the Fund.

 

As of September 30, 2013, the cost of investments (excluding investments in derivatives) was $218,863,859.

 

Gross unrealized appreciation and gross unrealized depreciation of investments (excluding investments in derivatives) as of September 30, 2013, were as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross unrealized:

 

 

 

 

 

Appreciation

 

$  57,212,537

 

 

 

Depreciation

 

(1,698,467

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments

 

$  55,514,070

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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)

 

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

 

 

(3)

 

Ratings: Using the highest of Standard & Poor’s Group (“Standard & Poor’s”), Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or Fitch, Inc. (“Fitch”) rating. 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.

 

 

(4)

 

Investment, or portion of investment, has been pledged to collateralize the net payment obligations for investments in derivatives.

 

 

(5)

 

Other Assets Less Liabilities includes the Value of certain derivative instruments as listed within Investments in Derivatives as of the end of the reporting period.

 

 

(6)

 

For disclosure purposes, Notional Amount is calculated by multiplying the Number of Contracts by the Strike Price by 100.

 

 

N/A

 

Not applicable.

 



 

Item 2. 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 Rule 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (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 registrant’s last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 3. Exhibits.

 

File as exhibits as part of this Form 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)), exactly as set forth below: EX-99 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 Core Equity Alpha Fund

 

 

By (Signature and Title)

/s/ Kevin J. McCarthy

 

 

Kevin J. McCarthy

 

 

Vice President and Secretary

 

 

 

Date: November 27, 2013

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/ Gifford R. Zimmerman

 

 

Gifford R. Zimmerman

 

 

Chief Administrative Officer (principal executive officer)

 

 

 

Date: November 27, 2013

 

 

 

By (Signature and Title)

/s/ Stephen D. Foy

 

 

Stephen D. Foy

 

 

Vice President and Controller (principal financial officer)

 

 

 

Date: November 27, 2013