Cherry Hill Mortgage Investment (CHMI) - 2025 Q3 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q3 2025, the company reported GAAP net income applicable to common stockholders of $2 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, with comprehensive income of $4.5 million, or $0.12 per diluted share [14][15] - Book value per common share increased to $3.36 from $3.34 as of June 30, 2025, reflecting a slight growth [5][15] - Earnings available for distribution (EAD) were $3.3 million, or $0.09 per share [15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The MSR portfolio had an unpaid principal balance (UPB) of $16.2 billion and a market value of approximately $219 million, representing about 41% of equity capital [10] - The RMBS portfolio stood at approximately $782 million, up from $756 million in the previous quarter, indicating a strategic shift towards lower and middle-of-the-coupon stack mortgages [12] - The net interest spread for the RMBS portfolio was approximately 2.87%, higher than the previous quarter, driven by increased asset purchases [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The 10-year yield ended the quarter marginally lower at 4.15%, with mortgage rates hovering around 6% [4][7] - The average net CPR for the MSR portfolio was approximately 5.9%, consistent with the previous quarter, while the RMBS portfolio's prepayment speeds held steady at 6.1% CPR [10][11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company adjusted its dividend to $0.10 per share, aligning it with earnings power for sustainability [6] - A strategic partnership with Real Genius LLC was highlighted, focusing on enhancing the digital mortgage experience, which is expected to accelerate growth as mortgage rates decrease [6][8] - The company aims to monitor the economic environment closely while seeking investment opportunities that are accretive to its business [8] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted a reduction in macro volatility and anticipated continued easing from the Fed, which could lead to higher prepayment speeds for high coupon mortgages [4][5] - The company expressed optimism regarding the potential for accelerated growth due to lower mortgage rates, which may encourage refinancing and home purchases [8] Other Important Information - Financial leverage remained consistent at 5.3 times, with $55 million of unrestricted cash, indicating a solid liquidity profile [5] - Operating expenses for the quarter were reported at $3.8 million [16] Q&A Session Summary Question: Regarding the Real Genius partnership, was it opportunistic, or can more partnerships be expected? - Management indicated that while they are not prepared to forecast, they are open to exploring interesting and creative opportunities that align with their skill set [19][20] Question: Thoughts on expenses going forward, particularly G&A and compensation? - Management acknowledged a 12.5% sequential rise in G&A and compensation, attributing it to personnel changes and professional fees, but anticipates costs to decrease moving forward [25][28] Question: Update on current book value? - Management reported that the book value per share as of October 31 was up about 1.2% from September 30, before any fourth-quarter dividend accrual [33]