Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q1 2025, the company generated distributable earnings of $25.5 million, or $0.20 per share, with a return on equity of 6.6% and adjusted leverage of 1.4 times [5][21] - As of March 31, 2025, the company's liquidity stood at $1.3 billion, including $480 million in cash and cash equivalents, with 83% of total assets unencumbered [10][21] - The company's total gross leverage was 1.83 times, with 72% of debt comprised of unsecured corporate bonds [22][24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company originated $329 million in new loans and acquired $521 million in AAA securities in Q1 2025, totaling over $800 million in investment activity [7][12] - The loan portfolio as of March 31, 2025, was $1.7 billion, representing 38% of total assets, with a weighted average yield of 8.7% [11][28] - The real estate portfolio generated $12.2 million of net operating income during Q1 2025, primarily consisting of net leased properties [15][30] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - 74% of new loan originations in Q1 2025 were backed by multi-family or industrial assets [13][50] - The company expects muted payoffs for the remainder of the year due to strong payoffs achieved in 2024 [13] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to redeploy liquidity generated from loan payoffs into new loans that better reflect current market conditions [6][9] - The strategy includes a shift towards unsecured debt as the primary funding source, with a focus on maintaining a robust balance sheet and high credit ratings [10][11][24] - The company is prepared to navigate market volatility and capitalize on opportunities with the best risk-adjusted returns [18] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledges the potential for market volatility and uncertainty but remains optimistic about the company's liquidity and balance sheet strength [8][9] - The company anticipates attractive opportunities arising from the current economic environment, particularly in conduit securitizations [40] Other Important Information - The company has a CECL reserve of $52 million, which is deemed sufficient to cover potential losses in the loan portfolio [14][28] - The company repurchased $20 million in principal value of unsecured bonds during Q1 2025 and declared a $0.23 per share dividend [26][27] Q&A Session Summary Question: Regarding origination activity and spreads - The company noted that the blended spread of 394 basis points was influenced by market volatility, with expectations for continued opportunities in the high 300s range [44][49] Question: Expectations for origination pace - Management expects origination to exceed the pace set in Q1 2025, despite some slowdown in securitizations due to market volatility [56][61] Question: Long-term views on the net lease portfolio - The company is open to holding or selling properties based on market conditions, with no active attempts to sell but willing to grow the portfolio [63][67] Question: Outlook on interest rates and their impact - Management anticipates a steeper yield curve, with expectations for the 10-year treasury yield to rise, which could create opportunities for the company [72][77] Question: Asset allocation and future mix - The company does not have a fixed game plan for asset allocation but aims to maintain liquidity while adjusting to market conditions [90][92]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q1 2025, the company generated distributable earnings of $25.5 million or $0.20 per share, achieving a return on equity of 6.6% with adjusted leverage of 1.4 times [4][14] - As of March 31, 2025, the company had $1.3 billion in liquidity, with 83% of its asset base unencumbered and 72% of its debt comprised of unsecured corporate bonds [6][7] - The carrying value of the securities portfolio increased by 37% from year-end to $1.5 billion, with a weighted average yield of 5.67% [19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The loan portfolio stood at $1.7 billion, representing 38% of total assets, with a weighted average yield of 8.7% [8] - New loan originations in Q1 totaled $329 million, with 74% backed by multifamily or industrial assets [9][24] - The real estate portfolio generated $12.2 million of net operating income during the first quarter, primarily consisting of net leased properties [11][20] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted that the current macroeconomic environment is characterized by persistent interest rate volatility and geopolitical uncertainty, impacting commercial real estate demand [12][13] - The company expects to see more attractive lending opportunities as acquisitions become more common and newly built multifamily units come off construction loans [22][23] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on redeploying liquidity generated from loan payoffs into new loans at lower reset basis, reflecting current market conditions [5] - The strategy includes a shift towards unsecured debt as the primary funding source, aiming for potential investment-grade ratings [8][17] - The company plans to maintain a disciplined approach to capital deployment, prioritizing higher-yielding loans over securities [25][75] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in navigating market volatility due to substantial liquidity and a robust balance sheet [6][13] - The company anticipates an increase in loan originations for the remainder of 2025, despite potential slowdowns in certain areas [39][44] - Management highlighted the importance of being well-capitalized to capitalize on opportunities that arise from market fluctuations [13][81] Other Important Information - The company repurchased $20 million in principal value of unsecured bonds during the first quarter and declared a $0.23 per share dividend [16][18] - The CECL reserve remained at $52 million, which management believes is sufficient to cover potential losses [10][19] Q&A Session Summary Question: What was the origination activity in the quarter? - The company noted that the blended spread was wide, with opportunities arising from market volatility and special situations [30][31] Question: Do you expect originations to maintain or exceed the pace generated in the first quarter? - Management expects originations to exceed the first quarter pace [39] Question: How are you thinking about the net lease portfolio longer term? - The company is open to selling properties but is not actively managing to sell; they are prepared to hold assets [45][49] Question: What is the outlook for the ten-year treasury yield? - Management anticipates the ten-year yield will rise due to the U.S. deficit, projecting it could reach around 4.75% in six months [57] Question: How do you protect against interest rate risk when adding CMBS? - The company hedges with swaps and focuses on floating rate instruments to mitigate volatility [63]