Deposit account rates are on the decline. The good news: You can lock in a competitive return on a certificate of deposit (CD) today and preserve your earning power. In fact, the best CDs still pay rates above 4%. Read on for a snapshot of CD rates today and where to find the best offers. Where are the best CD rates today? CDs today typically offer rates significantly higher than traditional savings accounts. Currently, the best short-term CDs (six to 12 months) generally offer rates around 4% to 4.5% AP ...

What do you make of these moves and do you think we're overdoing it at the front end of the US curve. So I think that the US is in a specific situation since the Fed has a dual mandate and we were already uncertain about the labor market going into this series of events. Europe, the UK.That makes more sense given how we would expect monetary policymakers to react there. I do think that it is not the type of move to jump in front of because there's so much uncertainty associated with what's going on in the M ...

Deposit account rates are on the decline. The good news: You can lock in a competitive return on a certificate of deposit (CD) today and preserve your earning power. In fact, the best CDs still pay rates above 4%. Read on for a snapshot of CD rates today and where to find the best offers. Where are the best CD rates today? CDs today typically offer rates significantly higher than traditional savings accounts. Currently, the best short-term CDs (six to 12 months) generally offer rates around 4% to 4.5% AP ...

Deposit account rates are on the decline — but the good news is you can lock in a competitive return on a certificate of deposit (CD) today and preserve your earning power. In fact, the best CDs still pay rates above 4%. Read on for a snapshot of CD rates today and where to find the best offers. Where are the best CD rates today? CDs today typically offer rates significantly higher than traditional savings accounts. Currently, the best short-term CDs (six to 12 months) generally offer rates around 4% APY ...

Core Insights - Deposit account rates are declining, but competitive returns on certificates of deposit (CDs) can still be locked in, with the best CDs offering rates above 4% [1] Group 1: Current CD Rates - The best short-term CDs (six to 12 months) currently offer rates around 4% APY, with Synchrony Bank providing the highest rate of 4.1% APY on a 14-month CD as of March 10, 2026 [2] - CDs generally offer significantly higher rates than traditional savings accounts, making them an attractive option for savers [2] Group 2: Historical Trends - CD rates were relatively high in the early 2000s but began to decline due to economic slowdowns and Federal Reserve rate cuts, with average one-year CDs at around 1% APY by 2009 [3] - The trend of falling CD rates continued into the 2010s, with average rates for 6-month CDs dropping to about 0.1% APY by 2013 [4] - A slight improvement in CD rates occurred between 2015 and 2018 as the Fed gradually increased rates, but the COVID-19 pandemic led to emergency rate cuts, causing new record lows for CD rates [5] Group 3: Recent Developments - Following the pandemic, inflation prompted the Fed to hike rates 11 times between March 2022 and July 2023, resulting in higher APYs on savings products, including CDs [6] - As of September 2024, the Fed began cutting the federal funds rate, leading to a steady decline in CD rates from their peak, although they remain high by historical standards [7] Group 4: Understanding CD Rates - Traditionally, longer-term CDs offered higher interest rates, but the current highest average CD rate is for a 12-month term, indicating a flattening or inversion of the yield curve [8] - When choosing a CD, factors such as goals, type of financial institution, account terms, and inflation should be considered to ensure the best fit for individual needs [9]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q4 2025, the company reported GAAP net income applicable to common stockholders of $5.3 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, compared to a book value per common share of $3.44, up from $3.36 as of September 30, 2025 [5][16] - The NAV increased by approximately $3.1 million, or 1.3%, relative to September 30, 2025 [5] - Financial leverage remained consistent at 5.4x, indicating a prudent leverage strategy [5] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The MSR portfolio had a UPB of $15.9 billion with a market value of approximately $215 million, representing about 40% of equity capital [10] - The RMBS portfolio accounted for approximately 40% of equity capital and 79% of investable assets, excluding cash [10] - The RMBS portfolio's net interest spread was 2.52%, lower than the previous quarter due to reduced dollar roll income [13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted a stabilization in the interest rate environment and a steeper yield curve, which contributed to gains in spread and equity markets [9] - The RMBS portfolio's prepayment speeds rose to 8.5% CPR for the three-month period ended December, compared to 6.1% for the prior quarter [11] - The market experienced tightening in January followed by widening in February, indicating a flight to quality in the mortgage market [21] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to seek out investment opportunities that are accretive to its business while maintaining strong liquidity and prudent leverage [8] - The strategic partnership with Real Genius LLC is expected to facilitate growth as mortgage rates potentially decrease [6][7] - The company plans to continue managing its portfolio proactively to enhance shareholder value through improved performance and earnings [13] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism regarding the potential for reduced mortgage rates to accelerate growth for Real Genius as more homebuyers look to refinance [7] - The company is monitoring the mortgage rate environment closely, particularly the impact of Fed rate cuts on refinancing opportunities [12] - Management acknowledged a softer tone in the market compared to the previous quarter, with a focus on quality in investment decisions [21] Other Important Information - Operating expenses for the quarter were reported at $3.3 million, reflecting a normalization from non-recurring expenses in the previous quarter [17] - The company declared a dividend of $0.10 per common share for Q4 2025, paid in cash on January 30, 2026 [17] Q&A Session Summary Question: Market conditions at the start of 2026 compared to 2025 - Management noted that net spreads tightened initially due to GSEs reinvesting in mortgage-backed securities, but the market has since shown signs of widening and a flight to quality [20][21] Question: Normalized level for CPR - Management indicated that the CPR could normalize around 20% if mortgage rates drop to 5.5%, with current speeds around 8.5% [27] Question: Drivers of the drop in G&A expenses - The decrease in G&A expenses was attributed to the normalization of costs following non-recurring expenses related to personnel changes in the previous quarter [35] Question: Share buybacks and preferred stock strategy - Management is considering strategies regarding preferred stock buybacks and is focused on growing the company rather than immediate share repurchases [37] Question: Update on book value - As of March 31, the book value is expected to show about a 1% increase compared to December 31 [47]

Core Insights - Deposit account rates are declining, but competitive returns on certificates of deposit (CDs) can still be locked in, with the best CDs offering rates above 4% [1] Group 1: Current CD Rates - The best short-term CDs (six to 12 months) currently offer rates around 4% to 4.5% APY, with the highest rate at 4.1% APY from Synchrony Bank for a 14-month CD [2] - Historical trends show that CD rates were significantly higher in the early 2000s but fell to around 1% APY for one-year CDs by 2009 due to economic slowdowns and Federal Reserve rate cuts [2] - The trend of falling CD rates continued into the 2010s, with average rates for 6-month CDs dropping to about 0.1% APY by 2013 [3] Group 2: Economic Influences on CD Rates - The Federal Reserve's policies, particularly the decision to keep benchmark interest rates near zero, led to very low CD rates following the Great Recession [3] - Between 2015 and 2018, CD rates improved slightly as the Fed began to increase rates, but the COVID-19 pandemic caused emergency rate cuts, leading to new record lows for CD rates [4] - Post-pandemic, inflation prompted the Fed to hike rates 11 times between March 2022 and July 2023, resulting in higher APYs on savings products, including CDs [5] Group 3: Future Trends and Considerations - As of September 2024, the Fed started cutting the federal funds rate, leading to a steady decline in CD rates from their peak, although they remain high by historical standards [6] - Traditionally, longer-term CDs offered higher interest rates, but currently, the highest average CD rate is for a 12-month term, indicating a flattening or inversion of the yield curve [7] - When choosing a CD, factors such as goals, type of financial institution, account terms, and inflation should be considered to maximize returns [8]

Core Insights - Deposit account rates are declining, but competitive returns on certificates of deposit (CDs) can still be locked in, with the best CDs offering rates above 4% [1] Group 1: Current CD Rates - The best short-term CDs (six to 12 months) currently offer rates around 4% APY, with Marcus by Goldman Sachs providing the highest rate of 4% APY on its 1-year CD as of February 24, 2026 [2] - CDs generally offer significantly higher rates than traditional savings accounts, making them an attractive option for savers [2] Group 2: Historical Trends - CD rates were relatively high in the early 2000s but began to decline due to economic slowdowns and Federal Reserve rate cuts, with average one-year CDs at around 1% APY by 2009 [3] - The trend of falling CD rates continued into the 2010s, with average rates for 6-month CDs dropping to about 0.1% APY by 2013 [4] - A slight improvement in CD rates occurred between 2015 and 2018 as the Fed gradually increased rates, but the COVID-19 pandemic led to emergency rate cuts, causing new record lows [5] Group 3: Recent Developments - Following the pandemic, inflation prompted the Fed to hike rates 11 times between March 2022 and July 2023, resulting in higher APYs on savings products, including CDs [6] - As of September 2024, the Fed began cutting the federal funds rate, leading to a steady decline in CD rates from their peak, although they remain high by historical standards [7] Group 4: Understanding CD Rates - Traditionally, longer-term CDs offered higher interest rates, but the current highest average CD rate is for a 12-month term, indicating a flattening or inversion of the yield curve [8] - When choosing a CD, factors such as goals, type of financial institution, account terms, and inflation should be considered to ensure the best fit for individual needs [9]

Core Viewpoint - Arbor Realty Trust (ABR) is expected to report a decline in interest income and earnings year-over-year for the fourth quarter of 2025, with earnings per share estimated at 21 cents, reflecting a 47.5% decrease from the previous year [1][12]. Financial Performance - In the last reported quarter, ABR posted distributable earnings of 35 cents per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 25%, while net interest income was $223 million, missing the estimate by 7.1% [2]. - Over the trailing four quarters, ABR surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate once and missed three times, with an average negative surprise of 3.39% [3]. Market Conditions - The mREIT sector has experienced volatility in fixed-income markets, increasing asset impairment risks and hedging mismatches for ABR [4]. - A positively sloped yield curve is anticipated to have supported mortgage REIT valuations, potentially increasing ABR's book value per share [4]. Revenue Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ABR's net servicing revenues is $28.9 million, indicating a 13.3% year-over-year decline [5]. - Revenues from mortgage servicing rights are estimated at $11.1 million, suggesting a 17.1% year-over-year decline [7]. - The consensus estimate for gain on sales revenues is $16.7 million, reflecting a 24.7% decline from the prior-year quarter [8]. - The overall revenue estimate for the fourth quarter is pegged at $221.7 million, implying a 15.7% decrease from the previous year [12]. Interest Rates and Funding Costs - The Federal Reserve has cut interest rates three times since September 2025, which is expected to have benefited ABR by lowering funding costs [9]. - The projected net interest income for the fourth quarter is $219.5 million, indicating an 8.8% year-over-year decline [10]. Peer Comparison - Annaly Capital Management, Inc. reported fourth-quarter earnings of 74 cents per share, beating estimates and showing an increase from the previous year [13]. - AGNC Investment Corp. reported a net spread and dollar roll income of 35 cents per share, missing estimates and declining 5.4% from the year-ago quarter [14][15].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - ARMOUR reported a total economic return of 10.63% for Q4 2025, benefiting from MBS spreads tightening and a lower interest rate environment [4] - GAAP net income available to common stockholders was $208.7 million, or $1.86 per share, with net interest income at $50.4 million [4] - Distributable earnings available to common stockholders was $79.8 million, or $0.71 per common share [4] - Quarter-end book value increased to $18.63 per common share, up 6.5% from September 30 [5] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - ARMOUR's mortgage assets now total over $20 billion, with a portfolio growth of more than 10% from the end of Q3 2025 [9] - The portfolio remains nearly 100% agency MBS, agency CMBS, or US Treasuries, with over $3 billion of MBS pools added in Q4 and early Q1 [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The market is experiencing declining rate volatility and easing funding costs, supported by the Fed's efforts to lower rates [10] - Aggregate portfolio prepayments averaged 11.1 CPR through Q4 2025 and Q1 2026 to date, compared to 8.1 CPR in Q3 2025 [15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - ARMOUR views agency MBS as a high conviction opportunity, with a strategy focused on stress testing liquidity and systematic hedging [9][20] - The company aims to maintain an attractive and stable dividend, with a medium-term outlook [7][20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the current market conditions, anticipating continued favorable returns from MBS [10][20] - The administration's focus on lowering mortgage spreads is expected to support a stable mortgage market, with GSEs playing a crucial role [10] Other Important Information - ARMOUR raised approximately $3.8 million of capital by issuing preferred stock and has raised about $138 million under its common-at-the-market program [6][5] - The company has launched a new investor presentation to provide additional insights into its portfolio transformation [20] Q&A Session Summary Question: Outlook for portfolio and interest-bearing assets growth in 2026 - Management indicated that growth depends on market behavior and capital raising opportunities [24] Question: Incremental returns on new investments - Current levered yield on 30-year 5s is around 15%, with potential for further spread tightening [29] Question: Likelihood of government actions to lower mortgage rates - Management noted that while some actions have been taken, further measures may introduce complexities [34] Question: Current liquidity position - Liquidity is approximately 54% of total equity, reflecting moderate leverage and steady conditions [37] Question: Risk of faster prepayments with lower mortgage rates - Management acknowledged increased prepayment risk but stated that the portfolio is structured to mitigate this risk [39]