Rithm Capital (US:RITM) Seeking Alphaยท2025-09-10 15:30Core Insights - The article focuses on analyzing Rithm Capital Corp.'s (RITM) recent performance compared to 17 mortgage real estate investment trust (mREIT) peers, highlighting key metrics such as investment composition, leverage, hedging coverage ratio, and economic returns [1][2][3]. Investment Composition and Performance - As of June 30, 2025, RITM's investment portfolio consisted of 20% fixed-rate agency MBS, 0% variable-rate agency MBS, 36% mortgage servicing rights (MSR), and 44% non-agency MBS and other mortgage-related investments [17][19]. - RITM's total MSR sub-portfolio had an unpaid principal balance of $865 billion, reflecting a significant increase from $648 billion a year prior, largely due to acquisitions [37][38]. Leverage and Hedging - RITM's on-balance sheet leverage ratio was 2.5x, with an at-risk leverage ratio of 0.9x as of June 30, 2025, indicating a slight decrease in leverage compared to the previous quarter [19][20]. - The hedging coverage ratio for RITM was 44% as of June 30, 2025, which is geared towards lower mortgage interest rates, allowing the company to maintain stability in its book value (BV) during fluctuating interest rate environments [46][53]. Economic Returns - RITM achieved a trailing 24-month economic return of 20.97%, outperforming its mREIT peers, which averaged negative returns across various classifications [51][52]. - The company's BV increased by 2.58% from Q1 to Q2 2025, supported by a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share, resulting in an economic return of 4.60% for the quarter [20][21]. Valuation and Market Position - As of September 5, 2025, RITM's stock price was $12.62, trading at a 2.55% discount to the estimated current BV of $12.95, suggesting a slightly undervalued position compared to peers [48][49]. - RITM's diversified investment strategy, including MSR and various mortgage-related assets, positions it favorably for risk-adjusted returns across different interest rate scenarios [56][57].