Core Viewpoint - The conference call is focused on the Q1 2025 earnings results of Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (Farmer Mac), highlighting the company's performance and future outlook [1]. Group 1: Company Overview - Farmer Mac's earnings conference call is led by Jalpa Nazareth, Senior Director of Investor Relations and Finance Strategies [3]. - The call includes participation from key executives such as Brad Nordholm, President & CEO, and Aparna Ramesh, EVP, CFO & Treasurer [1][5]. Group 2: Financial Disclosures - The call will discuss non-GAAP financial measures, with disclosures and reconciliations available in the most recent Form 10-Q and earnings release on Farmer Mac's website [5]. - Forward-looking statements regarding the company's business strategies and prospects will be presented, based on management's current expectations [4].

Financial Performance - Net income from continuing operations was $0.47 per common share[5] - Distributable losses were $(0.09) per common share[5] - Distributable earnings before realized losses were $0.00 per common share[5] - A dividend of $0.125 per common share was declared[5] Loan Portfolio - The total loan portfolio was $8.4 billion[5] - The weighted average yield in the $5.9 billion CRE core portfolio was 8.3%[5] - Total loan originations amounted to $466.1 million[5] - Loan repayments and sales totaled $758.2 million[5] - Core delinquencies (60+ days) stood at 4.1%[5] Capitalization & Acquisitions - 3.4 million shares were repurchased at an average price of $5.02, impacting book value per share by $0.11[5] - Total leverage was 3.5x, with a recourse leverage ratio of 1.3x[5] - The acquisition of United Development Funding IV was closed for $167 million, which was $0.14 per share accretive to book value per share[5] Portfolio Composition - The carrying value of the Core portfolio is $5.88 billion with 4.1% being 60+ days delinquent[7] - The carrying value of the Non-Core portfolio is $0.74 billion with 40.9% being 60+ days delinquent[7]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported GAAP net income of $0.35 per share and adjusted distributable earnings (ADE) of $0.39 per share, which continue to cover dividends [5][13] - The recourse debt to equity ratio decreased to 1.7:1 from 1.8:1 quarter over quarter, indicating improved leverage [10][18] - Book value per common share stood at $13.44, with a total economic return for the first quarter of 9.5% annualized [19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The adjusted long credit portfolio decreased by 4% to $3.3 billion due to securitizations and a smaller residential transitional loan portfolio [17] - The Longbridge portfolio increased by 31% sequentially to $549 million, driven by proprietary reverse mortgage loan originations [17] - The agency RMBS portfolio declined by 14% to $256 million as the company rotated capital into higher yielding opportunities [17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The weighted average borrowing rate on recourse borrowings decreased by 12 basis points to 6.09% [18] - The net interest margin (NIM) on the credit portfolio decreased by 12 basis points, while the NIM on agency increased by 24 basis points [18] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on establishing joint ventures to secure consistent access to high-quality loans at attractive pricing [10] - The management emphasized the importance of dynamic hedging strategies and a diversified portfolio to protect book value during market volatility [30][32] - The company is tightening underwriting guidelines to focus on higher FICO borrowers and loans with more extensive underwriting [23] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's positioning to take advantage of heightened market volatility and recharged opportunities [34] - The company noted that the current environment is well-suited to its core strengths, with short-duration loan portfolios steadily returning principal [30] - Management highlighted the ongoing positive contributions from the mortgage servicing rights (MSR) portfolio, despite not expecting the same mark-to-market gains as in the previous quarter [20][22] Other Important Information - The company completed five new securitization deals in the first quarter, taking advantage of tight spreads [7] - The company sold a variety of credit-sensitive securities to lock in gains and enhance liquidity [9] - The company is actively developing proprietary tools to support loan origination [28] Q&A Session Summary Question: Have you been able to deploy a material amount of capital in attractive trading opportunities? - Management indicated that while there was not material growth in April, the portfolio has grown net relative to March 31, with growth in non-QM and opportunistic securities [38][39] Question: Can you provide more detail on the resolutions of commercial bridge loans? - Management explained that one was a discounted payoff, another an REO sale, and one is in active CapEx and lease-up, freeing up $20 million to $25 million for reinvestment [44][46] Question: Does the high level of spread volatility impact your near-term appetite for loan acquisitions? - Management noted that heightened volatility allows for opportunities to buy securities and loans, with a balanced market of buyers and sellers [56][58] Question: Can you share timing and size on potential joint ventures with originators? - Management stated that the investments would be under $5 million in total, aimed at diversifying sourcing channels [68][70] Question: Is the increased value on consumer relationships a reflection of the current lock-in effect? - Management believes it reflects a broader trend in the mortgage space, emphasizing the importance of maintaining customer relationships over time [75][80]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported GAAP net income of $0.35 per share and adjusted distributable earnings (ADE) of $0.39 per share, which continue to cover dividends [5][13] - The recourse debt to equity ratio decreased to 1.7:1 from 1.8:1 quarter over quarter, indicating improved leverage management [10][18] - Book value per common share stood at $13.44, with a total economic return for the first quarter of 9.5% annualized [19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The adjusted long credit portfolio decreased by 4% to $3.3 billion due to securitizations and a smaller residential transitional loan portfolio [17] - The Longbridge portfolio increased by 31% sequentially to $549 million, driven by proprietary reverse mortgage loan originations [17] - The agency RMBS portfolio declined by 14% to $256 million as the company rotated capital into higher yielding opportunities [18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The weighted average borrowing rate on recourse borrowings decreased by 12 basis points to 6.09% [18] - The net interest margin (NIM) on the credit portfolio decreased by 12 basis points, while the NIM on agency increased by 24 basis points [18] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on establishing joint ventures to secure consistent access to high-quality loans at attractive pricing [10] - The company is tightening underwriting guidelines to focus on higher FICO borrowers and loans with more extensive underwriting [23] - The company is actively developing proprietary tools to support loan origination and enhance operational efficiency [29] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's positioning to take advantage of heightened market volatility and recharged opportunity sets [30][34] - The company anticipates ongoing meaningful contributions to ADE from its mortgage servicing rights (MSR) portfolio [21] - Management noted that the current high levels of volatility are creating compelling trading opportunities [30] Other Important Information - The company completed five new securitization deals in the first quarter, taking advantage of tight spreads [7] - The company sold a variety of credit-sensitive securities to lock in gains and enhance liquidity [9] - The company expects to resolve remaining significant workout assets by the end of the second quarter [10] Q&A Session Summary Question: Have you been able to deploy a material amount of capital in attractive trading opportunities? - Management indicated that while there was not material growth in April, the portfolio has grown net relative to March 31, with growth in non-QM and non-agency MBS [38][39] Question: Can you provide more detail on the resolutions of commercial bridge loans? - Management clarified that one was a discounted payoff and another was an REO sale, freeing up $20 million to $25 million for reinvestment [44][46] Question: Does the high level of spread volatility impact your near-term appetite for loan acquisitions? - Management noted that they have been diligent about hedging spread widening risk and have found opportunities to buy loans as spreads tightened [56][58] Question: Can you share timing and size on potential joint ventures with originators? - Management stated that the investments would be under $5 million in total and are expected to close in the next quarter or two [69][74] Question: Is the $0.9 earnings run rate for the Longbridge segment still achievable? - Management confirmed that the $0.9 run rate is still achievable, with seasonal trends affecting volumes [86][89] Question: Can you discuss current performance and dynamics in the CLO market? - Management indicated that CLOs represent a small part of the portfolio and recent negative performance was due to spread widening rather than underlying credit issues [91][92]

Financial Performance - Ellington Financial reported net income of $31649 million, or $035 per share[11] - Adjusted Distributable Earnings were $35493 million, or $039 per share[11] - The economic return for the quarter was 23%, non-annualized[11] Portfolio Composition and Strategy - The adjusted long credit portfolio decreased by 4% to $330 billion[11, 18] - The long Agency portfolio decreased by 14% to $2561 million[11, 26] - The Longbridge portfolio increased by 31% to $5490 million, driven by proprietary reverse mortgage loan originations[11, 29] Leverage and Capital Structure - The recourse debt-to-equity ratio was 17:1[11] - The total debt-to-equity ratio, including non-recourse borrowings, was 87:1[11] - Total stockholders' equity was $161 billion, including $128 billion of common equity and $332 million of preferred equity[11]

Financial Performance - The company reported a total economic return of 1.9% for Q1 2025[7] - Distributable earnings were $0.29 per common share[7] - The company's economic book value was $13.84 per common share[7] - The company increased its quarterly dividend to $0.36 per share[7, 9] Investment Activity - The company acquired $383 million of Non-QM loans and $268 million of Agency MBS[8] - The company's investment portfolio grew by $225 million to $10.7 billion[13] - The average coupon on all loans acquired in Q1 2025 was 8.7%[13] Portfolio Metrics - Non-QM Loans: Portfolio grew to $4.6 billion UPB, with an average LTV of 65% and an average coupon of 7.8%[28] - Single-Family Rental Loans: Portfolio remained stable at $1.4 billion UPB, with a delinquency rate of 4.0%[33, 34] - Single-Family Transitional Loans: Portfolio declined to $1 billion UPB, with a delinquency rate of 11.7%[38, 39]

Economic Overview - The U.S. economy contracted by 0.3% in the first quarter of 2025, marking the first quarter of negative growth since Q1 2022 and missing analysts' expectations of 0.4% growth [3] - Consumer confidence fell by 7.9 points to 86 in April, reaching a five-year low, indicating a lack of investor confidence in the economy [6] Trade and Tariffs - Concerns are rising that President Trump's tariffs could negatively impact economic health, despite a temporary 90-day pause on tariffs that led to a 41.3% increase in imports for the quarter, while exports only grew by 1.8% [4][6] Consumer Behavior - Consumer spending has slowed as individuals are saving more in anticipation of tougher economic conditions, alongside a significant decline in federal expenditures contributing to sluggish GDP figures [5] Dividend-Paying Stocks - In light of economic uncertainty, investing in dividend-paying stocks is recommended as they tend to provide steady income and stability [2][7] - Atkore Inc. (ATKR) announced a dividend of $0.33 per share with a dividend yield of 2%, having increased its dividend once in the past five years with a payout ratio of 12% [9][8] - Enact Holdings, Inc. (ACT) declared a dividend of $0.21 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.07%, having increased its dividend six times in the past five years with a payout ratio of 16% [11][10] - Pool Corporation (POOL) announced a dividend of $1.25 per share with a dividend yield of 1.64%, having increased its dividend six times in the past five years and a payout ratio of 46% [13][12] - American Water Works Company, Inc. (AWK) declared a dividend of $0.83 per share with a dividend yield of 2.08%, having increased its dividend six times in the past five years and a payout ratio of 57% [15][14]

MCLEAN, Va., May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) today posted to its website its Monthly Volume Summary for March 2025, which provides information on Freddie Mac’s mortgage-related portfolios, securities issuance, risk management, delinquencies, debt activities and other investments. Freddie Mac’s mission is to make home possible for families across the nation. We promote liquidity, stability and affordability in the housing market throughout all economic cycles. Since 1970, we have h ...

Core Insights - Freddie Mac reported its First Quarter 2025 financial results and filed its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission [1] - The company will hold a media call to discuss its results, which will be webcast and available for replay for approximately 30 days [2] - Freddie Mac's mission focuses on promoting liquidity, stability, and affordability in the housing market, having assisted millions of families since 1970 [3]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported GAAP earnings of $14.4 million or $0.10 per share, compared to a loss of $8.4 million or negative $0.07 per share in the previous quarter, indicating a significant sequential improvement [22] - Book value per share ended the quarter at $8.39, a slight decline from $8.46 in the fourth quarter, translating to a positive economic return of 1.3% for the first quarter [22] - Earnings available for distribution (EAD) for the first quarter was $19.8 million or $0.14 per share, up from $18.4 million or $0.13 per share in the fourth quarter [23] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Sequoia's first quarter performance showed $4 billion in locks, representing a 73% quarter-on-quarter growth, driven by wallet share growth and seasoned bulk portfolios [11] - Net income from Sequoia was $25.8 million, representing a 28% return on equity (ROE) for the quarter, up from 23% in the previous quarter [23] - CorVest generated net income of $2.9 million, resulting in a 20% ROE for the quarter, despite a slight decrease in volumes from the fourth quarter [24] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted that the mortgage market has not experienced disproportionate effects from recent market volatility, unlike previous years [6] - The company observed a significant demand for the assets created, with trillions of dollars raised by private credit institutions looking to invest in the residential mortgage space [9] - The company reported that the average capital allocation ticked down for the quarter, indicating a focus on liquidity and execution risk management [38] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on strategic partnerships with entities on both the supply and demand side of the market as part of its growth initiatives [10] - The company is advocating for a leveling of the playing field between private capital and government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) to streamline regulatory burdens [9] - The company aims to achieve annualized EAD returns on equity in the 9% to 12% range by reallocating capital towards operating platforms and reducing exposure to legacy investments [30] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the transformation in mortgage financing and the potential for significant growth opportunities in the housing finance policy landscape [8] - The management highlighted the importance of speed and efficiency in managing liquidity and execution risk amidst market volatility [40] - The company is adjusting production priorities in response to emerging local trends to meet growth goals at attractive risk-adjusted returns [17] Other Important Information - The company ended the quarter with unrestricted cash of $260 million, up from $245 million at year-end, indicating improved liquidity [25] - The company has a current share repurchase authorization of over $100 million and is actively evaluating opportunities for buybacks [64] - The company has reduced securities repo by 40% since March 31, reflecting a proactive approach to managing its debt profile [27] Q&A Session Summary Question: How did the company hedge its portfolio during recent market volatility? - Management indicated that they constantly turn capital and move risk quickly, utilizing various transactions to manage the portfolio effectively [32] Question: How does the company manage liquidity and execution risk with high volume locks? - Management emphasized the importance of speed and knowing where risk can be cleared, with half of the pipeline already sold or securitized since the end of the quarter [39] Question: Can you clarify the nature of the $1.9 billion bulk purchases? - Management confirmed that these were closed loans categorized as part of forward purchases, indicating a robust addressable market for such transactions [44] Question: What is the outlook for the bridge loans and the associated risks? - Management noted that the $1.6 per share figure pertains specifically to older vintage multifamily bridge loans, with ongoing efforts to optimize financing and pursue resolutions [49] Question: Can you elaborate on the expected EAD ROE for 2025? - Management indicated a target of 9% to 12% for the full year, with expectations for growth driven by increased flow activity and capital redeployment [59]