Seeking Alphaยท2025-10-01 00:00Core Insights - The mortgage REITs have identified an opportunity in agency-backed mortgages due to historically high spreads, leading to significant capital deployment in this sector [1][2][4] - Dynex Capital (DX) exemplifies the trend among agency mREITs, having raised over $3 billion to expand its investment portfolio in agency MBS [2][15] - The tightening of mortgage spreads has resulted in substantial mark-to-market gains for mREITs, with 30-year mortgage yields dropping from approximately 7% to 6.5% [7][11][31] Group 1: Market Dynamics - Agency-backed mortgages are considered nearly as safe as U.S. Treasuries, with the added risk of prepayment and duration risk [5] - The recent increase in mortgage rates over the past five years has led to many mortgages trading at a discount to par, making prepayment potentially profitable for mREITs [6] - The tightening of spreads has been beneficial, with a notable drop in 30-year mortgage yields contributing to gains in mREIT portfolios [7][11] Group 2: Investment Strategies - Many mREITs have followed a similar strategy to Dynex by issuing equity to capitalize on high mortgage spreads, which has diluted common shareholders but benefited preferred shareholders [17][31] - AGNC Investment has also expanded its agency RMBS portfolio through equity issuance, leading to increased asset value amid spread tightening [15][31] - Preferred shares of mREITs are viewed as more attractive investments compared to common shares, with many trading at discounts to par and offering high dividend yields [33] Group 3: Future Outlook - The anticipated 3Q earnings reports are expected to reflect significant gains in book value for mREITs due to the recent tightening of spreads [31][32] - The market may not yet fully recognize the gains experienced by these companies, which could lead to a shift in sentiment and a reduction in the risk premium for both common and preferred shares [32] - There is potential for investment in common shares, but preferred shares are generally considered the better option due to their higher yields and discounted prices [33]