Big data: Seeing investments in an entirely new way

Across American society, big data is shining a brilliant light on previously obscure relationships. Marketers use people's web searches and purchase histories to offer up their most irresistible offers. Political campaigns transform ages, education levels and zip codes into targeted messages that aim to boost support at the ballot box.

Data of every kind allow us to see and measure all aspects of our lives — including how people invest. At the same time, our ability to crunch and curate vast amounts of environmental, social and governance data is helping us see investment opportunities in an entirely new light. In fact, we just celebrated the internal launch of Nuveen's ESG Data Refinery — one of the first big-data ESG technology platforms to enable more informed investment decision-making using our 50 years of intellectual capital.

We are big believers in big data's ability to demonstrate how good ESG practices may help performance, while managing risk and generating positive outcomes for society. Our investment and data science teams seek to uncover good investment opportunities using big-data in multiple asset classes.

ESG information may give you an investment edge

As the old adage goes, "you cannot manage what you cannot measure." Traditional valuation models like discounted cash flow can help assess financial risks, but they often fail to capture the complete picture. Intangible assets — which are impacted by financially material ESG risks and opportunities — now compose as much as 87 percent of the market value of the S&P 500.¹ Using alternative data sets such as material ESG factors allows us to detect otherwise underappreciated opportunities for increasing alpha, as well as underestimated risks.

The most up-to-date information on most companies tends to be the new — this is true for information regarding financial data as well as information about ESG issues. While the news may not cover all issues, it is the most expedient source. NLP, a branch of artificial intelligence, allows machines to interpret human language, and in this context allows investors to gain insight from hundreds, if not thousands, of news releases. For quants, this is a fruitful area to explore, as it speeds up the availability of information. For fundamental investors, this would make a powerful complementary tool. Some specialized ESG data organizations have already made headway into this area.

New frontier in ESG analysis shines a new light on municipal bond valuations

Big data is also revolutionizing how we assess opportunities in the municipal bond market by uncovering relevant ESG metrics that can help sharpen our view of risk. Two seemingly identical cities with the same credit quality may suddenly reveal stark differences when we apply our proprietary analysis using FBI crime data, EPA climate data, housing affordability data and more. Our sophisticated head-to-head comparisons draw on extensive data sources to identify ESG leaders who have the potential to deliver sustainable value relative to their competitor groups.

Two seemingly identical cities with the same credit quality may suddenly reveal stark differences with ESG big data analysis

Data-fueled insights may help drive farmland performance, address risk factors

When it comes to investing in real assets — farmland, timber, energy and infrastructure — sustainability is essential for assessing risk and preserving long-term value. Where does big data come in? As just one example, we engage technology and data analysis in our due diligence for land purchases. We combine data from satellite imagery to understand historical land-use patterns, while matching it to government global-positioning-system data used to substantiate land claims. This is particularly important in regions where we must adhere to regulatory frameworks that promote zero deforestation and sustainable agriculture.

California: Aerial image data drives greater water efficiency

In California's Central Valley, nearly all of our tree-nut operators have begun using aerial spectral imagery to optimize water and nitrogen use. High-resolution, multispectral images provide farmers with accurate, real-time information about the water and nutrient status of plants, and flag irrigation leaks and blockages for repair. Images captured throughout the growing season let farmers gauge their progress in addressing issues. When combined with soil-moisture monitoring programs already in place, this data-intense imaging technology helps to derive optimal value from every drop of water in this drought-challenged part of the United States. See how it works.