Limited NAV Losses and Relative Outperformance
Ellington limited fund losses to approximately 9% of NAV in Q4, outperforming the overall peer set in a very challenging CLO equity market.
Strategic Shift into CLO Mezzanine Debt
Following conversion to a CLO closed-end fund, the firm increased allocation to CLO mezzanine debt: ~70% of CLO purchases during the 9-month buildout were mezzanine tranches. The proportion of debt in the CLO portfolio grew to just under 50% by year-end (up from roughly one-third at conversion).
Active Trading and Portfolio Expansion
High trading activity: 218 CLO trades over the 9-month period (47 unique trades in Q4 alone). Portfolio expanded nearly 50% to $370 million by calendar year-end, with $272 million of purchases and $63 million of sales (excluding redemptions) during that buildout.
Realized Gains and Defensive Positioning
Recorded positive realized gains in each CLO subsector for the quarter; several mezzanine positions purchased at discounts were redeemed at par, generating realized gains. The team exercised CLO call options and collapsed certain discounted CLOs to strengthen credit profile and liquidity.
Large Credit Hedge Allocation
Increased credit hedges to roughly $175 million of high-yield CDX bond equivalents by year-end, representing approximately 90% of NAV, reflecting significant downside protection.
Liquidity and Funding Optionality
Cash and cash equivalents totaled $24.3 million at December 31. Management is exploring issuance of long-term unsecured debt to add dry powder and optionality to deploy into dislocations.
Resilient CLO Mezzanine Performance
CLO mezzanine debt held up materially better than equity in Q4: net interest income and trading gains plus deal calls on discount positions offset most mark-to-market write-downs on mezzanine holdings.
Early 2026 Outperformance and Continued Mezzanine Focus
EARN outperformed its peer set in January with an NAV of $5.04. In 2026, >75% of purchases have been mezzanine debt (especially deleveraging BB tranches), reflecting continued defensive and opportunistic positioning.
Favorable Runway for Liability Resets
More than 40% of U.S. CLO portfolio deals are scheduled to exit non-call periods before year-end, creating potential for liability refinancing/resets that could mitigate coupon spread compression if market conditions permit.