Nuveen Core Equity Alpha Fund

 

 

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)

Gifford R. Zimmerman—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:       December 31      

Date of reporting period:  March 31, 2018  

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

 

 

JCE
Nuveen Core Equity Alpha Fund
Portfolio of Investments    March 31, 2018
(Unaudited)
Shares   Description (1)       Value
    LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS  –  98.3%        
    COMMON STOCKS  –  98.3%        
    Aerospace & Defense – 9.1%        
21,800   Boeing Company, (2)       $7,147,784
5,700   General Dynamics Corporation       1,259,130
10,500   Harris Corporation       1,693,440
7,900   L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc.       1,643,200
4,600   Lockheed Martin Corporation       1,554,478
12,800   Northrop Grumman Corporation       4,468,736
14,300   Raytheon Company       3,086,226
4,100   Rockwell Collins, Inc.       552,885
1,400   Textron Inc.       82,558
    Total Aerospace & Defense       21,488,437
    Air Freight & Logistics – 1.0%        
15,000   C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.       1,405,650
4,300   FedEx Corporation       1,032,473
    Total Air Freight & Logistics       2,438,123
    Auto Components – 1.2%        
20,300   Aptiv PLC       1,724,891
22,200   BorgWarner Inc.       1,115,106
    Total Auto Components       2,839,997
    Automobiles – 0.5%        
31,900   General Motors Company       1,159,246
    Banks – 3.0%        
34,100   Citigroup Inc.       2,301,750
17,300   Citizens Financial Group Inc.       726,254
4,900   Comerica Incorporated       470,057
22,100   Fifth Third Bancorp       701,675
17,600   Huntington BancShares Inc.       265,760
5,200   KeyCorp       101,660
7,200   People's United Financial, Inc.       134,352
3,100   PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.       468,844
36,500   Regions Financial Corporation       678,170
1,200   SunTrust Banks, Inc.       81,648
23,200   Zions Bancorporation       1,223,336
    Total Banks       7,153,506
0

JCE Nuveen Core Equity Alpha Fund (continued)
  Portfolio of Investments March 31, 2018
  (Unaudited)
Shares   Description (1)       Value
    Beverages – 3.1%        
25,375   Brown-Forman Corporation, Class B       $1,380,400
21,600   Constellation Brands, Inc., Class A       4,923,072
17,300   Monster Beverage Corporation       989,733
    Total Beverages       7,293,205
    Biotechnology – 0.9%        
22,000   AbbVie Inc.       2,082,300
    Building Products – 0.4%        
19,400   Masco Corporation       784,536
2,500   Smith AO Corporation       158,975
    Total Building Products       943,511
    Capital Markets – 8.1%        
5,900   Affiliated Managers Group Inc.       1,118,522
4,100   Ameriprise Financial, Inc.       606,554
1,100   BlackRock Inc.       595,892
15,600   CBOE Holdings Inc.       1,779,960
1,800   Charles Schwab Corporation       93,996
21,300   CME Group, Inc., (2)       3,445,062
24,500   E*Trade Group Inc.       1,357,545
15,300   Moody's Corporation       2,467,890
16,300   NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc.       1,405,386
4,800   Northern Trust Corporation       495,024
15,200   S&P Global, Inc.       2,904,112
25,500   T. Rowe Price Group Inc.       2,753,235
    Total Capital Markets       19,023,178
    Chemicals – 3.7%        
4,500   Albemarle Corporation       417,330
31,400   CF Industries Holdings, Inc.       1,184,722
3,900   Eastman Chemical Company       411,762
18,000   FMC Corporation       1,378,260
7,200   International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.       985,752
21,600   LyondellBasell Industries NV, Class A       2,282,688
6,100   Monsanto Company       711,809
1,900   Praxair, Inc.       274,170
2,600   Sherwin-Williams Company       1,019,512
    Total Chemicals       8,666,005
    Commercial Services & Supplies – 1.1%        
25,900   Republic Services, Inc.       1,715,357
9,400   Waste Management, Inc.       790,728
    Total Commercial Services & Supplies       2,506,085
1

Shares   Description (1)       Value
    Construction & Engineering – 0.1%        
4,400   Fluor Corporation       $ 251,768
    Consumer Finance – 1.1%        
11,500   American Express Company       1,072,720
14,700   Discover Financial Services       1,057,371
14,800   Synchrony Financial       496,244
    Total Consumer Finance       2,626,335
    Containers & Packaging – 0.6%        
12,300   Avery Dennison Corporation       1,306,875
100   Packaging Corp. of America       11,270
    Total Containers & Packaging       1,318,145
    Distributors – 0.5%        
4,600   Genuine Parts Company       413,264
17,100   LKQ Corporation       648,945
    Total Distributors       1,062,209
    Electric Utilities – 3.0%        
15,700   Alliant Energy Corporation       641,502
9,100   American Electric Power Company, Inc.       624,169
5,600   Entergy Corporation       441,168
7,200   Eversource Energy       424,224
2,300   Exelon Corporation       89,723
18,300   NextEra Energy Inc.       2,988,939
40,700   Xcel Energy, Inc., (2)       1,851,036
    Total Electric Utilities       7,060,761
    Electrical Equipment – 0.4%        
11,800   Ametek Inc.       896,446
900   Emerson Electric Company       61,470
    Total Electrical Equipment       957,916
    Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components – 1.7%        
34,800   Amphenol Corporation, Class A       2,997,324
3,100   FLIR Systems Inc.       155,031
7,500   TE Connectivity Limited       749,250
    Total Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components       3,901,605
    Energy Equipment & Services – 0.1%        
3,400   Helmerich & Payne Inc.       226,304
    Equity Real Estate Investment Trust – 3.4%        
3,000   Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc.       374,670
10,000   American Tower Corporation, REIT       1,453,400
7,100   Duke Realty Corporation       188,008
143   Equinix Inc.       59,794
2

JCE Nuveen Core Equity Alpha Fund (continued)
  Portfolio of Investments March 31, 2018
  (Unaudited)
Shares   Description (1)       Value
    Equity Real Estate Investment Trust (continued)        
400   Essex Property Trust Inc.       $96,272
16,900   Extra Space Storage Inc.       1,476,384
17,100   Iron Mountain Inc.       561,906
700   Mid-America Apartment Communities       63,868
46,600   Prologis Inc.       2,935,334
2,400   Regency Centers Corporation       141,552
3,600   SBA Communications Corporation       615,312
    Total Equity Real Estate Investment Trust       7,966,500
    Food & Staples Retailing – 0.8%        
2,000   Costco Wholesale Corporation       376,860
9,700   Kroger Co.       232,218
13,000   Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.       1,156,610
    Total Food & Staples Retailing       1,765,688
    Food Products – 0.7%        
1,800   Hershey Foods Corporation       178,128
19,400   Tyson Foods, Inc., Class A       1,419,886
    Total Food Products       1,598,014
    Health Care Equipment & Supplies – 5.5%        
36,500   Abbott Laboratories       2,187,080
5,200   Align Technology, Inc., (3)       1,305,876
34,300   Baxter International, Inc., (2)       2,230,872
16,100   Intuitive Surgical, Inc.       6,646,563
4,600   ResMed Inc.       452,962
    Total Health Care Equipment & Supplies       12,823,353
    Health Care Providers & Services – 1.7%        
9,300   Aetna Inc.       1,571,700
16,600   Centene Corporation, (3)       1,774,042
3,700   CIGNA Corporation       620,638
    Total Health Care Providers & Services       3,966,380
    Health Care Technology – 0.5%        
21,400   Cerner Corporation       1,241,200
    Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure – 2.9%        
21,400   Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.       1,685,464
17,900   Marriott International, Inc., Class A       2,434,042
4,700   McDonald's Corporation       734,986
6,100   Wyndham Worldwide Corporation       698,023
7,600   Wynn Resorts Ltd       1,385,936
    Total Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure       6,938,451
3

Shares   Description (1)       Value
    Household Durables – 1.2%        
39,400   D.R. Horton, Inc., (2)       $1,727,296
4,200   Garmin Limited       247,506
1,500   Lennar Corporation, Class A       88,410
29,400   PulteGroup Inc.       867,006
    Total Household Durables       2,930,218
    Independent Power & Renewable Electricity Producers – 0.6%        
42,400   NRG Energy Inc.       1,294,472
    Industrial Conglomerates – 0.8%        
7,900   3M Co.       1,734,208
1,800   Honeywell International Inc.       260,118
    Total Industrial Conglomerates       1,994,326
    Insurance – 3.1%        
5,600   AFLAC Incorporated       245,056
17,800   Allstate Corporation       1,687,440
6,100   AON PLC       856,013
8,500   Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.       437,920
55,200   Progressive Corporation       3,363,336
4,500   Torchmark Corporation       378,765
6,300   Unum Group       299,943
100   Willis Towers Watson PLC       15,219
    Total Insurance       7,283,692
    Internet Software & Services – 1.2%        
17,300   Akamai Technologies, Inc.       1,227,954
13,200   VeriSign, Inc.       1,564,992
    Total Internet Software & Services       2,792,946
    IT Services – 3.7%        
5,100   Accenture Limited, Class A       782,850
9,328   DXC Technology Company       937,744
14,600   Fidelity National Information Services       1,405,980
4,500   MasterCard, Inc., Class A       788,220
15,000   Paychex, Inc.       923,850
29,400   PayPal Holdings, Inc.       2,230,578
20,200   Total System Services Inc.       1,742,452
    Total IT Services       8,811,674
    Life Sciences Tools & Services – 0.7%        
400   Iqvia Holdings, Inc., (3)       39,244
3,000   Mettler-Toledo International Inc., (3)       1,725,090
    Total Life Sciences Tools & Services       1,764,334
4

JCE Nuveen Core Equity Alpha Fund (continued)
  Portfolio of Investments March 31, 2018
  (Unaudited)
Shares   Description (1)       Value
    Machinery – 3.9%        
24,800   Caterpillar Inc.       $3,655,024
3,500   Cummins Inc.       567,315
4,500   Deere & Company       698,940
14,000   Dover Corporation       1,375,080
15,700   Fortive Corporation       1,217,064
1,100   Illinois Tool Works, Inc.       172,326
20,700   Xylem Inc.       1,592,244
    Total Machinery       9,277,993
    Media – 0.1%        
17,600   News Corporation, Class A       278,080
    Metals & Mining – 1.2%        
156,800   Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.       2,754,976
1,700   Newmont Mining Corporation       66,419
    Total Metals & Mining       2,821,395
    Multiline Retail – 2.2%        
26,600   Dollar General Corporation       2,488,430
25,700   Dollar Tree Stores Inc.       2,438,930
5,200   Kohl's Corporation       340,652
    Total Multiline Retail       5,268,012
    Multi-Utilities – 2.2%        
21,600   Ameren Corporation       1,223,208
3,400   Consolidated Edison, Inc.       264,996
7,900   Dominion Resources, Inc.       532,697
9,700   DTE Energy Company       1,012,680
35,200   Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated       1,768,448
4,300   WEC Energy Group, Inc.       269,610
    Total Multi-Utilities       5,071,639
    Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels – 6.8%        
2,100   Anadarko Petroleum Corporation       126,861
20,800   Andeavor       2,091,648
37,500   Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation       899,250
9,300   Cimarex Energy Company       869,550
5,400   Concho Resources Inc.       811,782
19,500   ConocoPhillips       1,156,155
28,200   Devon Energy Corporation       896,478
4,100   EOG Resources, Inc.       431,607
67,600   Marathon Oil Corporation       1,090,388
15,200   Marathon Petroleum Corporation       1,111,272
10,400   Occidental Petroleum Corporation       675,584
33,100   Phillips 66       3,174,952
5

Shares   Description (1)       Value
    Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (continued)        
29,200   Valero Energy Corporation       $ 2,708,884
    Total Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels       16,044,411
    Personal Products – 0.4%        
6,000   Estee Lauder Companies Inc., Class A       898,320
    Professional Services – 0.4%        
13,600   Robert Half International Inc.       787,304
1,200   Verisk Analytics Inc., (3)       124,800
    Total Professional Services       912,104
    Real Estate Management & Development – 0.4%        
18,600   CBRE Group Inc., Class A, (3)       878,292
    Road & Rail – 1.3%        
13,500   CSX Corporation, (2)       752,085
9,600   J.B. Hunt Transports Services Inc.       1,124,640
8,700   Norfolk Southern Corporation       1,181,286
    Total Road & Rail       3,058,011
    Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment – 3.8%        
35,800   Applied Materials, Inc., (2)       1,990,838
2,600   Lam Research Corporation       528,216
85,900   Micron Technology, Inc., (2)       4,478,826
17,800   Texas Instruments Incorporated       1,849,242
    Total Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment       8,847,122
    Software – 1.8%        
2,300   Ansys Inc.       360,387
10,700   Cadence Design Systems, Inc., (3)       393,439
6,700   Intuit, Inc.       1,161,445
11,300   Red Hat, Inc.       1,689,463
4,800   Salesforce.com, Inc.       558,240
    Total Software       4,162,974
    Specialty Retail – 2.4%        
2,600   AutoZone, Inc., (3)       1,686,594
9,500   Best Buy Co., Inc.       664,905
24,300   Gap, Inc.       758,160
3,500   Home Depot, Inc.       623,840
24,300   L Brands Inc.       928,503
1,300   O'Reilly Automotive Inc., (3)       321,594
3,900   Ross Stores, Inc.       304,122
7,300   Tractor Supply Company       460,046
    Total Specialty Retail       5,747,764
6

JCE Nuveen Core Equity Alpha Fund (continued)
  Portfolio of Investments March 31, 2018
  (Unaudited)
Shares   Description (1)       Value
    Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals – 0.4%        
4,300   Apple, Inc.       $721,454
4,900   NetApp, Inc.       302,281
    Total Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals       1,023,735
    Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods – 2.2%        
8,100   Michael Kors Holdings Limited, (3)       502,848
12,500   PVH Corporation       1,892,875
5,100   Ralph Lauren Corporation       570,180
5,800   Tapestry Inc.       305,138
25,300   VF Corporation       1,875,236
    Total Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods       5,146,277
    Trading Companies & Distributors – 1.6%        
15,800   Fastenal Company       862,522
9,300   United Rentals Inc., (3)       1,606,389
5,000   W.W. Grainger, Inc.       1,411,350
    Total Trading Companies & Distributors       3,880,261
    Water Utilities – 0.8%        
22,500   American Water Works Company       1,847,925
 
    Total Long-Term Investments (cost $207,909,291)       231,334,199
    
Principal Amount (000)   Description (1) Coupon Maturity Ratings (4) Value
    SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS  –  3.6%        
    REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS – 2.5%        
$ 5,963   Repurchase Agreement with Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, dated 3/29/18, repurchase price $5,963,050, collateralized by $6,235,000 U.S. Treasury Notes, 2.125%, due 9/30/24, value $6,086,002 0.740% 4/02/18 N/A $ 5,962,560
    U.S. GOVERNMENT AND AGENCY OBLIGATIONS  –  1.1%        
2,500   U.S. Treasury Bills, (2) 0.000% 7/19/18 F1+ 2,486,918
$ 8,463   Total Short-Term Investments (cost $8,450,521)       8,449,478
    Total Investments (cost $216,359,812) – 101.9%       239,783,677
    Other Assets Less Liabilities – (1.9)% (5)       (4,496,493)
    Net Assets – 100%       $ 235,287,184
Investments in Derivatives
Futures Contracts  
Description Contract
Position 		Number of
Contracts 		Expiration
Date 		Notional
Amount 		Value Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation) 		Variation
Margin
Receivable/
(Payable)
S&P 500 E-Mini Long 40 6/18 $5,576,888 $5,286,000 $(290,888) $70,800
    
7

Options Written  
Description(6) Type Number of
Contracts 		Notional
Amount (7) 		Exercise
Price 		Expiration
Date 		Value
RUSSELL 2000® Index Call (40) $ (6,300,000) $1,575 4/20/18 $(30,800)
RUSSELL 2000® Index Call (100) (16,000,000) 1,600 4/20/18 (31,000)
RUSSELL 2000® Index Call (100) (16,100,000) 1,610 4/20/18 (23,250)
RUSSELL 2000® Index Call (195) (31,687,500) 1,625 4/20/18 (26,325)
RUSSELL 2000® Index Call (75) (12,225,000) 1,630 4/20/18 (8,438)
Total Options Written (premiums received $356,211)   (510) $(82,312,500)     $(119,813)
Fair Value Measurements
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received 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 $231,334,199 $  — $ — $231,334,199
Short-Term Investments:        
Repurchase Agreements  — 5,962,560  — 5,962,560
U.S. Government and Agency Obligations  — 2,486,918  — 2,486,918
Investments in Derivatives:        
Futures Contracts* (290,888)  —  — (290,888)
Options Written (119,813)  —  — (119,813)
Total $230,923,498 $8,449,478 $ — $239,372,976
    
* Represents net unrealized appreciation (depreciation).
8

JCE Nuveen Core Equity Alpha Fund (continued)
  Portfolio of Investments March 31, 2018
  (Unaudited)
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 and certain options 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.
The table below presents the cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of the Fund's investment portfolio, as determined on a federal income tax basis, as of March 31, 2018.
For purposes of this disclosure, derivative tax cost is generally the sum of any upfront fees or premiums exchanged and any amounts unrealized for income statement reporting but realized in income and/or capital gains for tax reporting. If a particular derivative category does not disclose any tax unrealized appreciation or depreciation, the change in value of those derivatives have generally been fully realized for tax purposes.
Tax cost of investments $216,359,850
Gross unrealized:  
Appreciation $ 27,309,217
Depreciation (3,885,390)
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments $ 23,423,827
    
Tax cost of futures $(290,888)
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of futures  —
    
Tax cost of options $(119,813)
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of options  —
  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) Investment, or portion of investment, has been pledged to collateralize the net payment obligations for investments in derivatives.  
(3) Non-income producing; issuer has not declared a dividend within the past twelve months.  
(4) For financial reporting purposes, the ratings disclosed are the highest of Standard & Poor’s Group (“Standard & Poor’s”), Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or Fitch, Inc. (“Fitch”) rating. This treatment of split-rated securities may differ from that used for other purposes, such as for Fund investment policies. 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.  
(5) Other assets less liabilities includes the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of certain over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivatives as well as the OTC cleared and exchange-traded derivatives, when applicable. Other assets less liabilities also includes the value of options.  
(6) Exchange-traded, unless otherwise noted.  
(7) For disclosure purposes, Notional Amount is calculated by multiplying the Number of Contracts by the Strike Price by 100.  
N/A Not Applicable  
REIT Real Estate Investment Trust  
9

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/ Gifford R. Zimmerman                                                        
   Gifford R. Zimmerman   
   Vice President and Secretary   

Date: May 30, 2018

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/ Cedric H. Antosiewicz                                                         
   Cedric H. Antosiewicz   
   Chief Administrative Officer (principal executive officer)   
Date: May 30, 2018      
By (Signature and Title)    /s/ Stephen D. Foy                                                                    
   Stephen D. Foy   
   Vice President and Controller (principal financial officer)   
Date: May 30, 2018