MFA MFA Financial Inc

NEW YORK, May 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- MFA Financial, Inc. (NYSE:MFA) today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2018.

First Quarter 2018 and other highlights:

• MFA generated first quarter net income available to common shareholders of $79.6 million, or $0.20 per common share (based on 398.3 million weighted average common shares outstanding). As of March 31, 2018, book value per common share was $7.62.
• Net Income was lower than in the fourth quarter of 2017, which included mark to market gains on CRT securities that had recovered in value following declines due to hurricane-related concerns in the third quarter of 2017.
• Asset acquisitions exceeded run-off during the quarter. MFA purchased in excess of $700 million of residential mortgage assets in the first quarter, including $522 million of residential whole loans.
• On April 30, 2018, MFA paid its first quarter 2018 dividend of $0.20 per share of common stock to shareholders of record as of March 29, 2018.

Craig Knutson, MFA's CEO and President, said, "In the first quarter, we continued to execute our strategy of targeted investment within the residential mortgage universe with a focus on credit sensitive assets.  We again grew our portfolio this quarter, as acquisitions exceeded run-off, which included opportunistic sales of $19.4 million of Legacy Non-Agency MBS that generated realized gains of $8.8 million.  As we have done for over five years now, we continue to manage this Legacy Non-Agency MBS portfolio through selective and strategic sales of positions.

"MFA remains well-positioned to generate attractive returns despite the continuing low interest rate environment and elevated asset prices.  Through our asset selection and hedging strategy, the estimated net effective duration, a gauge of our portfolio's sensitivity to interest rates, remains relatively low and measured 1.02 at quarter-end. MFA's book value per common share decreased to $7.62 from $7.70 at the end of 2017 despite a substantial increase in interest rates, as our investment strategy continues to produce relatively stable book value. Leverage, which reflects the ratio of our financing obligations to equity, was 2.2:1 at quarter-end."

Mr. Knutson added, "MFA's portfolio asset selection process continues to emphasize residential mortgage credit exposure while seeking to minimize sensitivity to interest rates.  As housing prices maintain their upward trend and borrowers repair their credit and balance sheets, the performance of our credit sensitive residential whole loan portfolio benefits from this fundamental strength.  MFA's proactive asset management team has been able to shorten liquidation timelines and increase property sale proceeds, leading to improved outcomes and better returns.  Additionally, MFA's Legacy Non-Agency MBS portfolio continues to outperform our credit assumptions.  In the first quarter of 2018, we reduced our credit reserve on this portfolio by $7.1 million."

During the first quarter MFA purchased more than $700 million of residential mortgage assets, including $522 million of residential whole loans.  Portfolio run-off in RPL/NPL MBS, which had been elevated during most of 2017, was relatively low during the first quarter.

At March 31, 2018, our investments in credit sensitive residential whole loans totaled $2.7 billion.  Of this amount, $1.1 billion is recorded at carrying value and generated a loss-adjusted yield of 5.81% (5.52% net of servicing costs) during the quarter, and $1.6 billion is recorded at fair value on our consolidated balance sheet.  On this portion of the portfolio, we recorded gains for the quarter of approximately $38.5 million, primarily reflecting coupon interest payments and other cash received during the quarter and changes in the fair value of the underlying loans.

MFA's Legacy Non-Agency MBS had a face amount of $2.6 billion with an amortized cost of $1.9 billion and a net purchase discount of $770.3 million at March 31, 2018.  This discount consists of a $572.6 million credit reserve and other-than-temporary impairments and a $197.7 million net accretable discount.  We believe this credit reserve appropriately factors in remaining uncertainties regarding underlying mortgage performance and the potential impact on future cash flows.  Our Legacy Non-Agency MBS have underlying mortgage loans that are on average approximately twelve years seasoned and approximately 12.6% are currently 60 or more days delinquent.

As of March 31, 2018, the Agency MBS portfolio totaled $2.6 billion, had an amortized cost basis of 103.8% of par and generated a 2.21% yield in the first quarter.  The Legacy Non-Agency MBS portfolio had an amortized cost of 70.9% of par as of March 31, 2018, and generated a loss-adjusted yield of 9.44% in the first quarter.  At the end of the first quarter, MFA held approximately $935.2 million of RPL/NPL MBS.  These securities had an amortized cost of 99.80% of par and generated a 4.36% yield for the quarter.  Our investments in CRT securities totaled $679.5 million at March 31, 2018, and generated a yield of 6.12% in the first quarter.  Values of our CRT securities were largely unchanged during the quarter, in contrast to the higher price volatility experienced in the third and fourth quarters of 2017.

For the three months ended March 31, 2018, MFA's costs for compensation and benefits and other general and administrative expenses were $10.6 million, or an annualized 1.31% of stockholders' equity as of March 31, 2018.

The following table presents the weighted average prepayment speed on MFA's MBS portfolio.

As of March 31, 2018, under its swap agreements, MFA had a weighted average fixed-pay rate of interest of 2.04% and a floating receive rate of 1.82% on notional balances totaling $2.6 billion, with an average maturity of 24 months.

The following table presents MFA's asset allocation as of March 31, 2018, and the first quarter 2018 yield on average interest-earning assets, average cost of funds and net interest rate spread for the various asset types.

At March 31, 2018, MFA's $5.1 billion of Agency and Legacy Non-Agency MBS were backed by hybrid, adjustable and fixed-rate mortgages.  Additional information about these MBS, including average months to reset and three-month average CPR, is presented below:

Webcast
MFA Financial, Inc. plans to host a live audio webcast of its investor conference call on Tuesday, May 8, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) to discuss its first quarter 2018 financial results. The live audio webcast will be accessible to the general public over the internet at http://www.mfafinancial.com through the "Webcasts & Presentations" link on MFA's home page.  To listen to the conference call over the internet, please go to the MFA website at least 15 minutes before the call to register and to download and install any needed audio software.  Earnings presentation materials will be posted on the MFA website prior to the conference call and an audio replay will be available on the website following the call.

Cautionary Language Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
When used in this press release or other written or oral communications, statements which are not historical in nature, including those containing words such as "will," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "plan," "continue," "intend," "should," "could," "would," "may" or similar expressions, are intended to identify "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and, as such, may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Statements regarding the following subjects, among others, may be forward-looking: changes in interest rates and the market (i.e., fair) value of MFA's MBS, residential whole loans, CRT securities and other assets; changes in the prepayment rates on the mortgage loans securing MFA's MBS, an increase of which could result in a reduction of the yield on MBS in our portfolio and an increase of which could require us to reinvest the proceeds received by us as a result of such prepayments in MBS with lower coupons; credit risks underlying MFA's assets, including changes in the default rates and management's assumptions regarding default rates on the mortgage loans securing MFA's Non-Agency MBS and relating to MFA's residential whole loan portfolio; MFA's ability to borrow to finance its assets and the terms, including the cost, maturity and other terms, of any such borrowings; implementation of or changes in government regulations or programs affecting MFA's business; MFA's estimates regarding taxable income, the actual amount of which is dependent on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, changes in the amount of interest income and financing costs, the method elected by MFA to accrete the market discount on Non-Agency MBS and residential whole loans and the extent of prepayments, realized losses and changes in the composition of MFA's Agency MBS, Non-Agency MBS and residential whole loan portfolios that may occur during the applicable tax period, including gain or loss on any MBS disposals and whole loan modification, foreclosure and liquidation; the timing and amount of distributions to stockholders, which are declared and paid at the discretion of MFA's Board of Directors and will depend on, among other things, MFA's taxable income, its financial results and overall financial condition and liquidity, maintenance of its REIT qualification and such other factors as MFA's Board of Directors deems relevant; MFA's ability to maintain its qualification as a REIT for federal income tax purposes; MFA's ability to maintain its exemption from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (or the "Investment Company Act"), including statements regarding the Concept Release issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") relating to interpretive issues under the Investment Company Act with respect to the status under the Investment Company Act of certain companies that are engaged in the business of acquiring mortgages and mortgage-related interests; MFA's ability to successfully implement its strategy to grow its residential whole loan portfolio, which is dependent on, among other things, the supply of loans offered for sale in the market; expected returns on our investments in non-performing residential whole loans ("NPLs"), which are affected by, among other things, the length of time required to foreclose upon, sell, liquidate or otherwise reach a resolution of the property underlying the NPL, home price values, amounts advanced to carry the asset (e.g., taxes, insurance, maintenance expenses, etc. on the underlying property) and the amount ultimately realized upon resolution of the asset; risks associated with our investments in MSR related assets, including servicing, regulatory and economic risks, and risks associated with investing in real estate assets, including changes in business conditions and the general economy. These and other risks, uncertainties and factors, including those described in the annual, quarterly and current reports that MFA files with the SEC, could cause MFA's actual results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements it makes. All forward-looking statements are based on beliefs, assumptions and expectations of MFA's future performance, taking into account all information currently available.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. New risks and uncertainties arise over time and it is not possible to predict those events or how they may affect MFA. Except as required by law, MFA is not obligated to, and does not intend to, update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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SOURCE MFA Financial, Inc.