WallStSmart

Nuveen Variable Rate Preferred & Income Fund (NPFD)vsRoyal Bank of Canada (RY)

VS

Smart Verdict

WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison

Royal Bank of Canada generates 136432% more annual revenue ($65.72B vs $48.13M). NPFD leads profitability with a 108.7% profit margin vs 33.7%. NPFD trades at a lower P/E of 8.6x. RY earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 67/100 (B-).

NPFD

Buy

60

out of 100

Grade: C+

Growth: 6.3Profit: 8.5Value: 6.7Quality: 5.5
Piotroski: 2/9

RY

Strong Buy

67

out of 100

Grade: B-

Growth: 8.7Profit: 8.0Value: 4.3Quality: 5.0
Piotroski: 4/9Altman Z: -0.50

Key Strengths & Concerns

Side-by-side fundamental analysis

Key Strengths

NPFD5 strengths · Avg: 9.6/10
P/E RatioValuation
8.6x10/10

Attractively priced relative to earnings

Price/BookValuation
0.9x10/10

Reasonable price relative to book value

Profit MarginProfitability
108.7%10/10

Keeps 109 of every $100 in revenue as profit

Operating MarginProfitability
83.3%10/10

Strong operational efficiency at 83.3%

EPS GrowthGrowth
23.6%8/10

Earnings expanding 23.6% YoY

RY6 strengths · Avg: 9.3/10
Market CapQuality
$282.00B10/10

Mega-cap, among the largest globally

Profit MarginProfitability
33.7%10/10

Keeps 34 of every $100 in revenue as profit

Operating MarginProfitability
45.3%10/10

Strong operational efficiency at 45.3%

Free Cash FlowQuality
$20.82B10/10

Generating 20.8B in free cash flow

Revenue GrowthGrowth
16.1%8/10

16.1% revenue growth

EPS GrowthGrowth
27.5%8/10

Earnings expanding 27.5% YoY

Areas to Watch

NPFD2 concerns · Avg: 3.0/10
Market CapQuality
$448.25M3/10

Smaller company, higher risk/reward

Piotroski F-ScoreQuality
2/93/10

Weak financial health signals

RY3 concerns · Avg: 1.7/10
PEG RatioValuation
2.532/10

Expensive relative to growth rate

Altman Z-ScoreHealth
-0.502/10

Distress zone — elevated risk

Debt/EquityHealth
2.771/10

Elevated debt levels

Comparative Analysis Report

WallStSmart Research

Bull Case : NPFD

The strongest argument for NPFD centers on P/E Ratio, Price/Book, Profit Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 108.7% and operating margin at 83.3%.

Bull Case : RY

The strongest argument for RY centers on Market Cap, Profit Margin, Operating Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 33.7% and operating margin at 45.3%. Revenue growth of 16.1% demonstrates continued momentum.

Bear Case : NPFD

The primary concerns for NPFD are Market Cap, Piotroski F-Score.

Bear Case : RY

The primary concerns for RY are PEG Ratio, Altman Z-Score, Debt/Equity. Debt-to-equity of 2.77 is elevated, increasing financial risk.

Key Dynamics to Monitor

NPFD profiles as a mature stock while RY is a growth play — different risk/reward profiles.

RY carries more volatility with a beta of 0.94 — expect wider price swings.

RY is growing revenue faster at 16.1% — sustainability is the question.

RY generates stronger free cash flow (20.8B), providing more financial flexibility.

Bottom Line

RY scores higher overall (67/100 vs 60/100), backed by strong 33.7% margins and 16.1% revenue growth. Both earn "Strong Buy" and "Buy" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.

This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.

Nuveen Variable Rate Preferred & Income Fund

FINANCIAL SERVICES · ASSET MANAGEMENT · USA

The Nuveen Variable Rate Preferred & Income Fund (NPFD) is a closed-end fund designed for institutional investors seeking to generate substantial current income through a well-diversified portfolio of variable-rate preferred and income-generating securities. Managed by Nuveen, a leading investment management firm, NPFD emphasizes high-quality assets and a disciplined investment approach to optimize risk-adjusted returns. With a strategic focus on income stability in fluctuating interest rate environments, the fund offers a compelling opportunity to capitalize on the preferred securities market while effectively addressing income-related dynamics.

Royal Bank of Canada

FINANCIAL SERVICES · BANKS - DIVERSIFIED · USA

Royal Bank of Canada is a globally diversified financial services company. The company is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

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