SEC Form N-CSR filed by Nuveen Select Tax Free Income Portfolio III

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Table of Contents

 

3

Chair’s Letter
to Shareholders

Dear Shareholders,

More than a year has passed since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic in March 2020: a year of global economic recession, financial market turbulence and some immeasurable losses. A year later the health crisis persists but the widespread distribution of vaccines in the U.S. is enabling us to look forward to what our “new normal” might be. In the meantime, extraordinary economic interventions by governments and central banks around the world are helping to bridge the gap.

With vaccine progress and economic stimulus beginning to provide real benefits to the global economy, markets are anticipating a strong rebound in growth, especially in the U.S. To extend relief programs enacted earlier in the crisis, the U.S. government passed $900 billion in aid to individuals and businesses in late December 2020. Another $1.9 trillion relief package was signed into law in March 2021 providing extended unemployment benefits, direct payments to individuals and families, assistance to state and local municipalities, grants to education and public health, and other support. Additional stimulus proposals are set to be discussed in Congress. The U.S. Federal Reserve, along with other central banks around the world, has pledged to keep monetary conditions accommodative for as long as necessary, as they consider the recent increase in inflation risks as transitory.

While the markets’ longer-term outlook has brightened, we expect intermittent bouts of volatility to continue. COVID-19 cases are still elevated in some regions, as more virulent strains have spread and vaccination rollouts have been uneven around the world. The recovery hinges on controlling the virus, and estimates vary considerably on when economic activity might be fully restored. Achieving sufficient inoculation of the population depends on many variables, including logistics, public confidence, real-world efficacy and the emergence of variant virus strains, as well as whether young children can safely and effectively be vaccinated. In the U.S., the recent slowdown in vaccine demand is prompting a shift from mass distribution to outreach. On the political front, the Biden administration’s full policy agenda and the potential for Congressional gridlock remain to be seen, either of which could cause investment outlooks to shift. Short-term market fluctuations can provide your Fund opportunities to invest in new ideas as well as upgrade existing positioning while providing long-term value for shareholders. For more than 120 years, the careful consideration of risk and reward has guided Nuveen’s focus on delivering long-term results to our shareholders.

If you have concerns about what’s coming next, it can be an opportune time to assess your portfolio. We encourage you to review your time horizon, risk tolerance and investment goals with your financial professional. On behalf of the other members of the Nuveen Fund Board, we look forward to continuing to earn your trust in the months and years ahead.

Sincerely,

Terence J. Toth
Chair of the Board
May 24, 2021

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Portfolio Managers’ Comments

Nuveen Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio (NXP)

Nuveen Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio 2 (NXQ)

Nuveen Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio 3 (NXR)

Nuveen California Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio (NXC)

Nuveen New York Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio (NXN)

These Funds feature portfolio management by Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (NAM), an affiliate of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, the Funds’ investment adviser. Portfolio managers Michael S. Hamilton and Scott R. Romans, PhD, discuss U.S. economic and municipal market conditions, key investment strategies and the twelve-month performance of the Nuveen Select Portfolios (the “Funds”). Michael has managed the three national Funds since 2016, while Scott has managed NXC since 2003 and NXN since 2011.

What factors affected the U.S. economy and the national municipal market during the twelve-month reporting period ended March 31, 2021?

The U.S. economy rebounded more quickly than expected from the deep downturn caused by the COVID-19 crisis and containment measures, but gross domestic product (GDP) shrank 3.5% in 2020 overall compared to 2019’s annual level. After falling into a deep recession in February 2020 due to the restrictions on business and social activity to mitigate the COVID-19 spread, the economy bounced back with the help of government stimulus aiding individuals and businesses, accommodative monetary policy that kept borrowing costs low, gradual reopening of businesses and vaccine rollouts. U.S. GDP growth picked up pace in the first quarter of 2021, growing at an annualized rate of 6.4% according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis “advance” estimate, an increase from 4.3% (annualized) in the fourth quarter of 2020. GDP measures the value of goods and services produced by the nation’s economy less the value of the goods and services used up in production, adjusted for price changes.

Although, consumer spending, the largest driver of the economy, remained resilient despite the disruption caused by the health and economic crisis, it declined significantly as unemployment rose sharply starting in March 2020. These measures rebounded markedly in the second half of 2020, although the momentum slowed toward the end of 2020 amid a resurgence of COVID-19 infections. As of March 2021, slightly more than half of the 22 million jobs lost in March and April 2020 have been recovered resulting in an unemployment rate of 6.0% in March 2021 as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, up from 4.4% in March 2020. The average hourly earnings rate increased, growing at an annualized rate of 4.2% in March 2021, despite the spike in unemployment. Earnings data was skewed by the concentration of job losses in lower-wage work, which effectively eliminated most of the

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This material is not intended to be a recommendation or investment advice, does not constitute a solicitation to buy, sell or hold a security or an investment strategy and is not provided in a fiduciary capacity. The information provided does not take into account the specific objectives or circumstances of any particular investor, or suggest any specific course of action. Investment decisions should be made based on an investor’s objectives and circumstances and in consultation with his or her advisors.

Certain statements in this report are forward-looking statements. Discussions of specific investments are for illustration only and are not intended as recommendations of individual investments. The forward-looking statements and other views expressed herein are those of the portfolio managers as of the date of this report. Actual future results or occurrences may differ significantly from those anticipated in any forward-looking statements, and the views expressed herein are subject to change at any time, due to numerous market and other factors. The Funds disclaim any obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or views expressed herein.

For financial reporting purposes, the ratings disclosed are the highest rating given by one of the following national rating agencies: Standard & Poor’s Group (S&P), Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (Moody’s) or Fitch, Inc. (Fitch). This treatment of split-rated securities may differ from that used for other purposes, such as for Fund investment policies. Credit ratings are subject to change. AAA, AA, A and BBB are investment grade ratings, while BB, B, CCC, CC, C and D are below investment grade ratings. Holdings designated N/R are not rated by these national rating agencies.

Bond insurance guarantees only the payment of principal and interest on the bond when due, and not the value of the bonds themselves, which will fluctuate with the bond market and the financial success of the issuer and the insurer. Insurance relates specifically to the bonds in the portfolio and not to the share prices of a Fund. No representation is made as to the insurers’ ability to meet their commitments.

Refer to the Glossary of Terms Used in this Report for further definition of the terms used within this section.

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Portfolio Managers’ Comments (continued)

low-wage data, resulting in an average of mostly higher numbers. The overall trend of inflation accelerated, largely due to rising energy prices and the improving economy. The higher annual inflation rate in March 2021 is also the result of the comparison from a year ago, when consumer prices fell sharply as the first lockdowns were imposed in March 2020. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 2.6% over the twelve-month reporting period ended March 31, 2021, before seasonal adjustment.

With the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, the Federal Reserve (Fed) enacted an array of emergency measures in March 2020 to stabilize the financial system and support the markets, including cutting its main interest rate to near zero, offering lending programs to aid small and large companies and allowing unlimited bond purchases, known as quantitative easing. In August 2020, the Fed announced a change in its inflation targeting policy, moving from a program of absolute targeting to an average inflation targeting policy. Under this regime, the Fed will tolerate the inflation rate temporarily overshooting the target rate to offset periods of below-target inflation, so that inflation averages a 2% target rate over time. Fed officials remained cautious, acknowledging the economy’s significant improvement from the COVID-19 crisis recession but also expressing concerns about near-term weakness, and left monetary policy unchanged over the remainder of their meetings in 2020 and early 2021.

The federal government also intervened with historic relief measures, starting with three aid packages in March and April 2020. These included $2 trillion allocated across direct payments to individuals, an expansion of unemployment insurance, loans to large and small businesses, funding to hospitals and health agencies and support to state and local governments, and more than $100 billion in funding to employers offering paid leave. In December 2020, the government enacted a $900 billion relief package extending some of these programs, and followed in March 2021 with another $1.9 trillion deal providing support to individuals and families, small businesses, state and local governments, education and public health/vaccination. The Biden administration has proposed another $2 trillion stimulus plan focused on infrastructure and jobs. However, the plan is expected to face legislative hurdles.

The COVID-19 crisis rapidly dwarfed all other market concerns starting in late February 2020. Equity and commodity markets sold off and safe-haven assets rallied in March 2020 as countries initiated quarantines, restricted travel and shuttered factories and businesses. The potential economic shock was particularly difficult to assess at the time, which amplified market volatility. An ill-timed oil price war between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC member Russia, which caused oil prices to plunge in March 2020, exacerbated the market sell-off. At year end, the announcement of high efficacy rates in several COVID-19 vaccine trials, followed by regulatory authorizations and public vaccination drives across Western countries, improved the outlook for 2021 and led to risk-on sentiment in the markets. However, market volatility picked up in early 2021, as a stronger economic outlook and improving vaccination rates led to rising inflation concerns and an increase in long-term interest rates.

Geopolitical uncertainty remained elevated during 2020 in anticipation of the U.S. presidential election in November 2020 and the Brexit transition period set to expire in December 2020. However, political risks began to ease with the election of President Joe Biden and a final deal struck between the European Union and U.K. before the end of the transition period. Although China and the U.S. signed a “phase one” trade deal in January 2020, tensions continued to flare over other trade and technology/security issues, Hong Kong’s sovereignty and the management of the COVID-19 crisis.

The municipal bond market’s positive performance over the twelve-month reporting period reflects its recovery from the COVID-19 crisis sell-off in March 2020. For most of the reporting period, a significant decline in interest rates drove municipal bond prices higher, with positive technical and fundamental conditions also supporting credit spread tightening. However, early in the reporting period, the market was beginning to stabilize after coronavirus risks drove U.S. Treasury yields to historic lows and rate volatility increased sharply, especially from late February to the end of March 2020. In that six-week period, as liquidity became stressed, investors began to liquidate any asset possible, including municipal bonds. Municipal bond prices declined rapidly (and yields spiked higher), amid rampant selling across both the high grade and high yield segments that was exacerbated in some cases by

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exchange-traded fund and closed-end fund selling. Municipal bond prices became severely dislocated from Treasury prices. Credit spreads widened significantly during the March 2020 sell-off, ending the month above their long-term average. Ongoing monetary and fiscal interventions from the Fed and U.S. government helped the market stabilize, then recover over the course of 2020 and early 2021.

The municipal yield curve steepened over this reporting period, initially driven by a pronounced drop in yields at the short end of the curve. Then a new steepening cycle began in early 2021 as markets priced in a stronger economic recovery and higher inflation, fueled by increasing vaccination rates and more federal stimulus, which drove longer-term interest rates higher.

Municipal bond gross issuance nationwide remained strong in the reporting period, with deals postponed rather than canceled during the COVID-19 crisis driven sell-off. The overall low level of interest rates has encouraged issuers to continue to actively refund their outstanding debt. In these transactions the issuers are issuing new bonds and taking the bond proceeds and redeeming (calling) old bonds. These refunding transactions have ranged from 30% to 60% of total issuance over the past few years. Thus, the net issuance (all bonds issued less bonds redeemed) is actually much lower than the gross issuance. This lower net issuance was an overall positive technical factor on municipal bond investment performance in recent years. Notably, taxable municipal bond issuance has increased meaningfully since the advent of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017, which prohibits municipal issuers from issuing new tax-exempt bonds to pre-refund existing tax-exempt bonds. However, municipalities have taken advantage of the low interest rate environment and the strong demand for yield to issue taxable municipal debt, enabling them to save on net interest costs while adding to the scarcity value of tax-exempt issues.

While municipal bond funds suffered significant outflows in March 2020, particularly from high yield municipal bond funds, fund flows rebounded strongly over the remainder of 2020 and sustained a robust pace through early 2021. Demand has been resilient even though municipal defaults, as expected, have increased somewhat during the COVID-19 crisis. However, default activity has occurred mainly in sectors with greater COVID-19 risk exposure, such as senior living, corporate-backed and real estate-backed. Moreover, while there are some pockets of municipal credit ratings stress, a wave of downgrades has not materialized. With interest rates in the U.S. and globally still near all-time lows, even after the recent increase in long-term rates, the appetite for yield has continued to drive investors toward higher after-tax yielding assets, including U.S. municipal bonds. Additionally, as tax payers have adjusted to the 2017 tax law, which caps the state and local tax (SALT) deduction for individuals, there has been increased demand for tax-exempt municipal bonds, especially in states with high income taxes and/or property taxes.

How were the economic and market environments in California and New York during the twelve-month reporting period ended March 31, 2021?

California’s $3.1 trillion economy is the largest in the United States and ranks fifth in the world, according to the International Monetary Fund. California job growth regained some of the lost jobs over the summer but lags the national average. California’s economy is driven by high technology, international trade and tourism but is also supplemented by better residential construction and real estate conditions. The state’s unemployment rate was 8.3% as of March 2021, down from its recent peak of 16.2% in April 2020 but still high compared to pre-COVID-19 crisis unemployment rate of 4.5% in March 2020 and higher than the nation’s 6.0% as of March 2021. According to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Index, home prices in San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco rose 17.0%, 11.9% and 11.0%, respectively, over the twelve months ended February 2021 (most recent data available at the time this report was prepared), compared with an average increase of 12.0% nationally. The enacted Fiscal Year 2021 general fund budget totals $133.9 billion, which is 8.9% lower than the revised Fiscal Year 2020 budget. The Fiscal Year 2021 Budget projected a $54.3 billion deficit due to the economic fallout from the COVID-19 crisis shutdowns. The state made various cuts to education, health and human services, and government operations, which include drawing down on reserves, borrowing from internal funds, deferred

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Portfolio Managers’ Comments (continued)

revenue to schools and making temporary tax law changes to fill the gap. Governor Newsom released his Budget Proposal for Fiscal Year 2021-2022 in January 2021 totaling $154.51 billion. This is up 5.5% over the revised Fiscal Year 2021 Budget. Revenues are nearly back to pre-COVID-19 crisis levels and state costs have not risen as dramatically as anticipated, and as a result, the state experienced a significant windfall of $15 billion to be allocated toward the Fiscal Year 2022 Budget. The state plans to use those funds on one-time or temporary spending, making deposits to reserves, reducing taxes to low income taxpayers and repaying debts and liabilities made in Fiscal Year 2021 and additional payments to CalPERS (California Public Employees’ Retirement System). The revised budget will come in May 2021. The Budget proposal does not factor in federal stimulus enacted in December 2020 nor the American Rescue Plan Act funding. California is estimated to receive $42 billion under the American Rescue Plan: $26 billion for the state and $16 billion for its local governments. For the state of California, its Fiscal Year end is June 30, 2021. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the state’s budget will be impacted to a varying degree as tax receipts are reduced and the expense to fight the virus increases. As of February 2021, Standard & Poor’s affirmed its AA-/Stable rating and outlook on California general obligation (GO) debt and Moody’s Investors Service affirmed its state GO rating of Aa2 with a stable outlook. Moody’s upgraded the state’s GO on October 14, 2019 to Aa2, citing its “continued expansion of the state’s massive, diverse and dynamic economy and corresponding growth in revenue. The action also recognizes the state government’s disciplined approach to managing revenue growth indicated by its use of surplus funds to build reserves and pay down long-term liabilities.”

New York State’s $1.7 trillion economy represents 8.0% of U.S. gross domestic product and, according to the International Monetary Fund, would be the eleventh largest economy in the world on a stand-alone basis. Prior to the COVID-19 crisis, New York State’s financial profile had generally improved over the previous decade, and Fiscal Year 2020 saw New York State post a $355 million General Fund surplus, equal to 0.9% of General Fund revenues. New York State’s economy has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Unemployment for the state topped out at 16.2% in April 2020, well above the national peak of 14.8%. New York State’s unemployment stood at 8.5% in March 2021, exceeding the national average of 6.0% and second worst in the nation. New York State’s Fiscal Year 2021 budget contained appropriations for all state debt service, introduced no new taxes and held school funding basically level. In response to the uncertainty surrounding the impact of the COVID-19 crisis, the budget legislation authorized up to $11 billion of borrowing if necessary and also authorized the state budget director to make spending reductions should they be required. Fiscal Year 2021 revenues were not as dire as initially feared, and have come in ahead of earlier estimates. This, coupled with certain expenditure reductions, has allowed the state Fiscal Year 2021 to end in balance. New York State is in line to receive $12.2 billion in federal assistance for the state government alone under the American Recovery Act. Total state-wide assistance to both the state and local governments is estimated at $50 billion. For the state of New York, its Fiscal Year end is March 31, 2021. New York is a high-income state, with per-capita income at 126% of the U.S. average, third highest among the 50 states. New York is also a heavily indebted state. According to Moody’s, New York ranked fifth in the nation in debt per capita in 2019 (NY: $3,314; median: $1,071), eighth in debt per capita as a percentage of personal income (NY: 4.6%; median: 2.0%) and ninth in debt to gross state domestic product (NY: 3.7%; median: 1.9%). The state’s pensions have traditionally been well funded, with a combined funding ratio of 95.7% in Fiscal Year 2020. On March 12, 2021, Moody’s affirmed its “Aa2” stable rating on New York State. Moody’s had downgraded New York State from Aa1 to Aa2 on October 1, 2020, citing the challenges from the COVID-19 crisis. S&P confirmed its “AA+” rating for New York State on March 12, 2021. However, S&P’s outlook for New York State’s rating is negative, citing the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the state’s economy. Municipal bond supply totaled $56.7 billion for the twelve-month period ended March 31, 2021, a 19.2% increase from the same period a year earlier. This ranked New York second among state issuers behind only California and narrowly ahead of Texas.

What key strategies were used to manage the Funds during the twelve-month reporting period ended March 31, 2021?

Each Fund seeks to provide current income and stable dividends, exempt from regular federal and designated state income taxes, where applicable, consistent with the preservation of capital by investing primarily in a portfolio of municipal obligations. Under

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normal market conditions, NXC and NXN invests at least 80% of the sum of its net assets and the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes in municipal bonds that pay interest that is exempt from regular federal personal income tax and a single state’s personal income tax. The Funds may invest up to 20% in municipal securities that are exempt from regular federal income tax, but not from that single state’s income tax if, in the Portfolio Manager’s judgement, such purchases are expected to enhance the Fund’s after-tax total return potential. To the extent that the Funds invest in bonds of municipal issuers located in other states, each Fund may have income that is not exempt from state personal income tax. The Fund may use inverse floating rate securities (or tender option bond financing) to more efficiently implement its investment strategy to create up to 10% effective leverage.

The twelve-month reporting period was bookended by challenging conditions in the municipal bond market, with the advent of the COVID-19 crisis just prior to the start of the reporting period and a sudden increase in long-term interest rates late in the period. The health and economic crisis and the anticipated recovery from the COVID-19 crisis recession contributed to elevated interest rate volatility and considerable swings in municipal market valuations during this reporting period. Municipal yields ended the reporting period lower than where they began and credit spreads largely recovered from the dramatic widening seen at the peak of the market sell-off in March-April 2020. The municipal yield curve steepened over the reporting period as a whole, with the market pricing in the prospects for a strengthening economic recovery aided by massive fiscal stimulus, accommodative monetary policy and vaccination progress. The California and New York municipal markets underperformed the national municipal market in this reporting period.

The Funds’ trading activity continued to focus on pursuing their investment objectives. For the three national Funds, NXP, NXQ and NXR, trading was mainly driven by the reinvestment of proceeds from called and maturing bonds. The three Funds bought bonds across a diverse group of sectors, mainly in maturities of 15 years and longer but also a smaller amount of shorter maturity (4 years and shorter) bonds. The early months of the reporting period were a particularly good time to buy new bonds and rotate positions, as valuations were temporarily under pressure from the short-term uncertainty created by the health crisis. For some of the Funds’ positions, the prevailing market environment was favorable to sell depreciated bonds with lower yields and buy similarly structured but higher yielding bonds, a strategy known as tax-loss swaps. We implemented this approach to enhance the Funds’ income earning capability and seek to make the Funds more tax efficient.

For NXC and NXN, broadly speaking, the prevailing market environment was favorable for the Funds to pursue both bond swapping and bond rotation strategies during the reporting period. The state Funds also employed a tax loss swapping strategy to enhance the Funds’ income earning capability and seek to improve tax efficiency. In some cases, the Funds’ sold and then bought the same name with a longer maturity structure, which in effect offered a higher yield for the same credit. In other cases, the Funds sold a position to replace it with a similar name bond or structure as the prevailing yields moved higher. The Funds’ bond rotation strategy involved selling a higher quality, lower yielding bond to buy a lower rated, higher yielding bond, when the valuations looked relatively more favorable for the lower rated bond. NXC and NXN also reinvested the proceeds from called and maturing bonds, particularly as call activity increased after the market stabilized from the March 2020 sell-off and yields declined. Notable additions to NXC included California housing bonds, mainly bought toward the end of the reporting period when issuance was higher; Puerto Rico sales tax revenue bonds (known as COFINAs), which NXC bought both with cash inflows and through tax loss swapping; and health care bonds. NXN bought credits issued for airport deals secured by airline gate leases, health care and stadium projects (for the New York Mets and New York Yankees). Additionally, NXN did tax loss swaps in airport, airline-related and public transportation (Metropolitan Transportation Authority) bonds.

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Portfolio Managers’ Comments (continued)

How did the Funds perform during the twelve-month reporting period ended March 31, 2021?

The tables in the Performance Overview and Holding Summaries section of this report provides total returns at net asset value (NAV) for the period ended March 31, 2021. Each Fund’s total returns at NAV are compared with the performance of corresponding market indexes.

For the twelve months ended March 31, 2021, the total returns on common share NAV for NXC and NXN outperformed their respective state’s S&P Municipal Bond Index. For the three national Funds, NXP, NXQ and NXR outperformed the national S&P Municipal Bond Index during the twelve-month reporting period.

The factors affecting performance during this reporting period included duration and yield curve positioning, credit ratings allocations and sector positioning.

For the three national Funds, duration and yield curve positioning were a positive contributor to relative performance versus the S&P Municipal Bond Index. Generally speaking, longer duration bonds outperformed and shorter duration bonds underperformed in this reporting period. NXP’s overweight to durations of 10 years and longer added the most to performance, although it was slightly offset by the negative impact of a small overweight to the 2- to 4-year duration category. NXQ’s overweight to durations of 6 years and longer drove relative outperformance. NXR also benefited most from the overweight to durations of 6 years and longer, and especially 12 years and longer. Relative to their respective state indexes, NXC and NXN were favorably positioned. The two state Funds maintained slightly longer durations than their benchmarks, which added to relative performance, although the impact was modest.

Bonds lower down the credit spectrum outperformed in this reporting period, with credit spreads largely recovering on the back of federal stimulus, economic reopening, vaccine progress and upgraded economic forecasts. NXP, NXQ and NXR’s credit quality positioning was advantageous overall, relative to the national index, due to overweights to bonds rated A and lower. However, the three national Funds’ underweight allocation to non-rated credits, especially long duration non-rated, detracted somewhat from performance. For NXC and NXN, credit ratings allocation was the largest contributor, relative to their respective state indexes. The two state Funds strongly benefited from both the overweight allocation to lower rated, higher yielding bonds and the corresponding underweight to the highest quality (AAA and AA) debt.

Sector allocations were a marginal detractor from performance for the five Funds. NXP held an overweight to hospitals that helped performance. Although NXP held an equal weight in the transportation sector (which had no relative performance impact), the Fund’s positioning in shorter duration transportation bonds, which lagged, was detrimental to performance relative to the national index. NXQ and NXR held an overweight to the tax supported sector, which was disadvantageous relative to the national index as the sector underperformed in this reporting period. However, the two Funds were overweight in the dedicated tax subsector, a segment of the tax supported sector, which outperformed and contributed positively to performance. NXQ benefited from an overweight to the health care sector, especially hospitals, but gains were offset by underweights to the transportation (especially “other transportation”) and industrial development revenue (IDR) sectors, which detracted. NXR similarly benefited from an overweight to health care (primarily hospitals) but was hurt by a slight underweight to transportation (notably “other transportation”) and an overweight to pre-refunded bonds, which underperformed due to their high credit quality and short maturity structures. NXC’s sector positioning was a small detractor from performance relative to the California municipal index. In California, the best performing sectors were tobacco, housing, IDR, higher education and transportation, while pre-refunded, tax supported and utility were the weakest performers. For NXN, sector allocations had a small negative impact relative to the New York municipal index. The top performing sectors in New York were tobacco, transportation (including airports and public transportation), health care and IDR. The state’s worst performing sectors were pre-refunded, tax supported, utility and higher education.

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Individual credit selection was a meaningful positive contributor to NXP, NXQ and NXR relative to the national index. In NXP, nearly all of the relative gain came from one holding, New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority zero coupon insured bonds, which performed well due to their long duration and spread tightening across both transportation and New Jersey-related bonds. Other top contributors for NXP included Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority McCormick Place Expansion Project (Met Pier) in Chicago, Illinois, and Guam Business Privilege Tax bonds. Both of these credits were long duration, lower rated bonds with exposure to the expected turnaround in tourism activity. NXQ’s largest contributing holdings were Met Pier zero coupon bonds and pre-paid gas bonds, which are backed by banking institutions whose outlooks have improved amid rising interest rates and upgraded economic growth forecasts. NXR benefited most from holdings in Met Pier and New Jersey Transportation Trust bonds.

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Common Share Information

COMMON SHARE DISTRIBUTION INFORMATION

The following information regarding the Funds’ distributions is current as of March 31, 2021. Each Fund’s distribution levels may vary over time based on each Fund’s investment activity and portfolio investment value changes.

During the current reporting period, each Fund’s distributions to common shareholders were as shown in the accompanying table.

 

Each Fund seeks to pay regular monthly dividends out of its net investment income at a rate that reflects its past and projected net income performance. To permit each Fund to maintain a more stable monthly dividend, the Fund may pay dividends at a rate that may be more or less than the amount of net income actually earned by the Fund during the period. Distributions to common shareholders are determined on a tax basis, which may differ from amounts recorded in the accounting records. In instances where the monthly dividend exceeds the earned net investment income, the Fund would report a negative undistributed net ordinary income. Refer to Note 6 – Income Tax Information for additional information regarding the amounts of undistributed net ordinary income and undistributed net long-term capital gains and the character of the actual distributions paid by the Fund during the period.

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All monthly dividends paid by each Fund during the current reporting period were paid from net investment income. If a portion of the Fund’s monthly distributions is sourced or comprised of elements other than net investment income, including capital gains and/or a return of capital, common shareholders will be notified of those sources. For financial reporting purposes, the per share amounts of the Fund’s distributions for the reporting period are presented in this report’s Financial Highlights. For income tax purposes, distribution information for each Fund as of its most recent tax year end is presented in Note 6 – Income Tax Information within the Notes to Financial Statements of this report.

NUVEEN CLOSED-END FUND DISTRIBUTION AMOUNTS

The Nuveen Closed-End Funds’ monthly and quarterly periodic distributions to shareholders are posted on www.nuveen.com and can be found on Nuveen’s enhanced closed-end fund resource page, which is at https://www.nuveen.com/resource-center-closedendfunds, along with other Nuveen closed-end fund product updates. To ensure timely access to the latest information, shareholders may use a subscribe function, which can be activated at this web page (https://www.nuveen.com/subscriptions).

COMMON SHARE REPURCHASES

During August 2020, the Funds’ Board of Trustees reauthorized an open-market common share repurchase program, allowing each Fund to repurchase an aggregate of up to approximately 10% of its outstanding common shares.

As of March 31, 2021, and since the inception of the Funds’ repurchase programs, the Funds have cumulatively repurchased and retired their outstanding common shares as shown in the accompanying table.

 

OTHER COMMON SHARE INFORMATION

As of March 31, 2021, the Funds’ common share prices were trading at a premium/(discount) to their common share NAV and trading at an average premium/(discount) to NAV during the current reporting period, as follows:

 

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Past performance is not predictive of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the data shown. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that shareholders may have to pay on Fund distributions or upon the sale of Fund shares. Returns at NAV are net of Fund expenses, and assume reinvestment of distributions. Comparative index return information is provided for the Fund’s shares at NAV only. Indexes are not available for direct investment.

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 This data relates to the securities held in the Fund’s portfolio of investments as of the end of the reporting period. It should not be construed as a measure of performance for the Fund itself. Holdings are subject to change.

For financial reporting purposes, the ratings disclosed are the highest rating given by one of the following national rating agencies: Standard & Poor’s Group, Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or Fitch, Inc. This treatment of split-rated securities may differ from that used for other purposes, such as for Fund investment policies. Credit ratings are subject to change. AAA, AA, A and BBB are investment grade ratings; BB, B, CCC, CC, C and D are below-investment grade ratings. Holdings designated N/R are not rated by these national rating agencies.

 

 

 ¹ See Portfolio of Investments for details on “other” States and Territories.

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Past performance is not predictive of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the data shown. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that shareholders may have to pay on Fund distributions or upon the sale of Fund shares. Returns at NAV are net of Fund expenses, and assume reinvestment of distributions. Comparative index return information is provided for the Fund’s shares at NAV only. Indexes are not available for direct investment.

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This data relates to the securities held in the Fund’s portfolio of investments as of the end of the reporting period. It should not be construed as a measure of performance for the Fund itself. Holdings are subject to change.

For financial reporting purposes, the ratings disclosed are the highest rating given by one of the following national rating agencies: Standard & Poor’s Group, Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or Fitch, Inc. This treatment of split-rated securities may differ from that used for other purposes, such as for Fund investment policies. Credit ratings are subject to change. AAA, AA, A and BBB are investment grade ratings; BB, B, CCC, CC, C and D are below-investment grade ratings. Holdings designated N/R are not rated by these national rating agencies.

 

 

 ¹ See Portfolio of Investments for details on “other” States and Territories.

17

 

 

 

Past performance is not predictive of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the data shown. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that shareholders may have to pay on Fund distributions or upon the sale of Fund shares. Returns at NAV are net of Fund expenses, and assume reinvestment of distributions. Comparative index return information is provided for the Fund’s shares at NAV only. Indexes are not available for direct investment.

18

 

This data relates to the securities held in the Fund’s portfolio of investments as of the end of the reporting period. It should not be construed as a measure of performance for the Fund itself. Holdings are subject to change.

For financial reporting purposes, the ratings disclosed are the highest rating given by one of the following national rating agencies: Standard & Poor’s Group, Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or Fitch, Inc. This treatment of split-rated securities may differ from that used for other purposes, such as for Fund investment policies. Credit ratings are subject to change. AAA, AA, A and BBB are investment grade ratings; BB, B, CCC, CC, C and D are below-investment grade ratings. Holdings designated N/R are not rated by these national rating agencies.

 

 

 

¹ See Portfolio of Investments for details on “other” States and Territories.

19

 

 

Past performance is not predictive of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the data shown. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that shareholders may have to pay on Fund distributions or upon the sale of Fund shares. Returns at NAV are net of Fund expenses, and assume reinvestment of distributions. Comparative index return information is provided for the Fund’s shares at NAV only. Indexes are not available for direct investment.

20

 

This data relates to the securities held in the Fund’s portfolio of investments as of the end of the reporting period. It should not be construed as a measure of performance for the Fund itself. Holdings are subject to change.

For financial reporting purposes, the ratings disclosed are the highest rating given by one of the following national rating agencies: Standard & Poor’s Group, Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or Fitch, Inc. This treatment of split-rated securities may differ from that used for other purposes, such as for Fund investment policies. Credit ratings are subject to change. AAA, AA, A and BBB are investment grade ratings; BB, B, CCC, CC, C and D are below-investment grade ratings. Holdings designated N/R are not rated by these national rating agencies.

 

 

 

21

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Past performance is not predictive of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the data shown. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that shareholders may have to pay on Fund distributions or upon the sale of Fund shares. Returns at NAV are net of Fund expenses, and assume reinvestment of distributions. Comparative index return information is provided for the Fund’s shares at NAV only. Indexes are not available for direct investment.

22

This data relates to the securities held in the Fund’s portfolio of investments as of the end of the reporting period. It should not be construed as a measure of performance for the Fund itself. Holdings are subject to change.

For financial reporting purposes, the ratings disclosed are the highest rating given by one of the following national rating agencies: Standard & Poor’s Group, Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or Fitch, Inc. This treatment of split-rated securities may differ from that used for other purposes, such as for Fund investment policies. Credit ratings are subject to change. AAA, AA, A and BBB are investment grade ratings; BB, B, CCC, CC, C and D are below-investment grade ratings. Holdings designated N/R are not rated by these national rating agencies.

 

 

 

23

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and Board of Trustees
Nuveen Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio
Nuveen Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio 2
Nuveen Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio 3
Nuveen California Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio
Nuveen New York Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio:


Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities of Nuveen Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio, Nuveen Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio 2, Nuveen Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio 3, Nuveen California Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio, and Nuveen New York Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio (the Funds), including the portfolios of investments, as of March 31, 2021, the related statements of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the related notes (collectively, the financial statements) and the financial highlights for each of the years in the five-year period then ended. In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Funds as of March 31, 2021, the results of their operations for the year then ended, the changes in their net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years in the five-year period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Funds’ management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and financial highlights, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights. Such procedures also included confirmation of securities owned as of March 31, 2021, by correspondence with custodians and brokers or other appropriate auditing procedures. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements and financial highlights. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ KPMG LLP

We have served as the auditor of one or more Nuveen investment companies since 2014.

Chicago, Illinois

May 27, 2021

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