Nuveen Variable Rate Preferred & Income Fund
NYSE: NPFD · FINANCIAL SERVICES · ASSET MANAGEMENT
Updated 2026-10-16
Nuveen Variable Rate Preferred & Income Fund (NPFD) Stock Valuation Analysis
Fair value estimate, historical valuation range, and quality signals for NPFD.
Current price exceeds what fundamentals support. Risk/reward skewed unfavorably.
NPFD historical valuation range
Where current P/E sits in NPFD's own 5Y range.
NPFD intrinsic value (DCF)
DCF-based fair value estimate vs current market price.
Standard discounted cash flow models produce unreliable output for unprofitable or near-breakeven companies. Revenue-based multiples such as P/S and EV/Sales, combined with the historical valuation position above, give a more reliable read for this stock.
Intrinsic value calculated using discounted cash flow (DCF) model based on projected free cash flows, discount rate, and terminal growth assumptions. A positive margin of safety indicates the current price is below estimated fair value, providing a cushion against estimation error.
NPFD valuation signals
Quick-read green flags, caution flags, and risks based on current metrics.
P/E Ratio — History
Current: 14.32x
P/S Ratio — History
Current: 8.75x
Is NPFD overvalued in 2026?
Nuveen Variable Rate Preferred & Income Fund (NPFD) currently trades at $17.29 per share with a market capitalization of $429,155,000.00. Based on our multi-factor framework, the stock appears richly valued with a Smart Value Score of 48/100. This score blends growth quality, financial health, and price attractiveness into a single institutional-grade read.
The stock trades at a P/E ratio of 14.3x, above its 5-year median of 8.8x.
Looking at its own history, NPFD is currently trading more expensive than 97% of the last 5Y on P/E. This places it in the 97th percentile of its historical range, a zone where forward returns have typically been muted.
A standard DCF model does not produce reliable output for NPFD under current conditions. For unprofitable or near-breakeven companies, revenue-based multiples such as EV/Sales and historical P/S percentile are more informative than intrinsic value calculations.
Financial quality is a concern. The Piotroski F-Score of 2/9 flags weakening fundamentals that deserve closer scrutiny before the valuation case can be fully trusted.
Bottom line: NPFD appears richly valued on our framework, with a Smart Value Score of 48/100. At current levels the risk/reward is skewed against the buyer. A materially lower price or significant operational improvement would be needed to change the picture.
Frequently asked questions
Is NPFD overvalued?
NPFD scores 48/100 on our Smart Value Score (Grade C), a weak overall profile. A standard DCF is unreliable here given the profitability profile, so valuation leans on revenue-based measures like EV/Sales and the P/S percentile below.
What is NPFD's fair value?
A standard DCF is unreliable for NPFD given its current profitability profile. Revenue-based approaches like EV/Sales or the historical P/S percentile are more informative for this stock.
What P/E ratio does NPFD trade at?
NPFD trades at a P/E of 14.3x on trailing twelve-month earnings, against a 5-year median of 8.8x. P/E is what you pay per dollar of profit, and sitting above its own median means the stock is pricier than usual relative to its earnings.
Is NPFD a buy based on valuation?
Our Smart Value rating for NPFD is Sell, from a Smart Value Score of 48/100 that blends growth, quality, and valuation. The profile skews cautious, and a better price or clearer operating improvement would strengthen the case. This is research to inform your decision, not personalized financial advice.
How does NPFD's valuation compare to its history?
On P/E, NPFD sits in the 97th percentile of its own 5Y range, historically expensive relative to where it has traded. A high percentile means today's multiple is near the top of its historical band.
What is NPFD's Smart Value Score?
NPFD's Smart Value Score is 48/100. It is a proprietary WallStSmart metric blending growth quality, financial health, and valuation into a single 0-100 read, and scores above 75 are rare, signaling strong multi-factor alignment.