Risk Management and Hedging Maintained
Management acted quickly to manage interest rate exposure in March, holding combined interest-rate derivative notional of approximately $396 million (swaps, TBAs, treasury futures, swap futures). Financial leverage remained prudent and stable at 5.5x and the hedge strategy was described as intact, helping mitigate book value impact through the quarter.
Strong Liquidity Position
Company finished the quarter with $47 million of unrestricted cash on the balance sheet, providing a solid liquidity profile to support operations and potential opportunistic investments.
MSR Portfolio Size and Resilience
Servicing portfolio UPB was $15.6 billion with a market value of approximately $213 million. MSR and related net assets represented ~41% of equity capital and ~21% of investable assets (ex-cash). MSR net CPR averaged ~4.5% (down modestly), and recapture remained de minimis, indicating limited refinance incentive in the portfolio.
RMBS Portfolio Contribution and Improved Net Interest Margin
RMBS constituted ~42% of equity capital (~79% of investable assets ex-cash). RMBS net interest spread improved to 2.9% for the quarter (higher than the prior quarter), aided by lower repo/financing costs (financing rate declined to 3.78% from 3.99%) and improved dollar roll income.
Operational Results: EAD and Dividends
Earnings available for distribution (EAD) attributable to common stockholders were $5.3 million or $0.14 per share. The Board declared and paid a common dividend of $0.10 per share for the quarter and paid preferred dividends of $0.5125 (Series A) and $0.5978 (Series B).
Post-Quarter Improvement in Book Value and Opportunity Returns
Management reported April 30 book value per share increased nearly 2% from March 31 (excluding any Q2 dividend accrual). Management also provided illustrative levered return expectations if stabilization persists: RMBS roughly mid-teens to high-teens (%) and MSR roughly 10–12% on a levered basis.
Strategic Partnership Progress
The strategic partnership and investment with Real Genius, a digital mortgage technology company, continues to progress in line with expectations, representing potential strategic upside.