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Ellington Residential Mortgage REIT - Quarter Report: 2017 March (Form 10-Q)



UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2017
OR
¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                      to         
Commission file number 001-35896
Ellington Residential Mortgage REIT
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Maryland
 
46-0687599
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
 
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
53 Forest Avenue
Old Greenwich, CT 06870
(Address of principal executive offices, zip code)
(203) 698-1200
(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x No ¨ 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large Accelerated Filer
¨
 
Accelerated Filer
x
Non-Accelerated Filer (do not check if a smaller reporting company)
¨
 
Smaller Reporting Company
¨
 
 
 
Emerging Growth Company
x

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes  ¨  No  x
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
Class
 
Outstanding at April 28, 2017
Common Shares of Beneficial Interest, $0.01 par value per share
 
9,130,897


ELLINGTON RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE REIT
INDEX
PART I. Financial Information
 
Item 1. Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
PART II. Other Information
 
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Item 6. Exhibits


PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
ELLINGTON RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE REIT
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
(UNAUDITED)
 
March 31, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
(In thousands except for share amounts)
 
 
 
ASSETS
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
37,509

 
$
33,504

Mortgage-backed securities, at fair value
1,230,076

 
1,226,994

Due from brokers
27,205

 
49,518

Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value
5,464

 
6,008

Reverse repurchase agreements
80,133

 
75,012

Receivable for securities sold
82,269

 
33,199

Interest receivable
4,966

 
4,633

Other assets
185

 
266

Total Assets
$
1,467,807

 
$
1,429,134

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
 
 
LIABILITIES

 
 
Repurchase agreements
$
1,178,285

 
$
1,197,973

Payable for securities purchased
58,620

 
5,516

Due to brokers
1,031

 
1,055

Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value
3,572

 
1,975

U.S. Treasury securities sold short, at fair value
79,454

 
74,194

Dividend payable
3,652

 
3,652

Accrued expenses
708

 
647

Management fee payable
528

 
533

Interest payable
1,832

 
1,912

Total Liabilities
1,327,682

 
1,287,457

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
 
 
Preferred shares, par value $0.01 per share, 100,000,000 shares authorized;
(0 shares issued and outstanding, respectively)
—

 
—

Common shares, par value $0.01 per share, 500,000,000 shares authorized;
(9,130,897 shares issued and outstanding, respectively)
92

 
92

Additional paid-in-capital
181,044

 
180,996

Accumulated deficit
(41,011
)
 
(39,411
)
Total Shareholders' Equity
140,125

 
141,677

Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
$
1,467,807

 
$
1,429,134



See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
3

ELLINGTON RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE REIT
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)
 
 
Three Month
Period Ended
March 31, 2017
 
Three Month
Period Ended
March 31, 2016
(In thousands except for per share amounts)
 
 
 
 
INTEREST INCOME (EXPENSE)
 
 
 
 
Interest income
 
$
12,329

 
$
9,651

Interest expense
 
(3,179
)
 
(2,051
)
Total net interest income
 
9,150

 
7,600

EXPENSES
 
 
 
 
Management fees
 
527

 
528

Professional fees
 
175

 
218

Compensation expense
 
159

 
151

Other operating expenses
 
411

 
454

Total expenses
 
1,272

 
1,351

OTHER INCOME (LOSS)
 
 
 
 
Net realized gains (losses) on securities
 
(2,990
)
 
3,010

Net realized gains (losses) on financial derivatives
 
1,653

 
(3,996
)
Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on securities
 
(2,347
)
 
8,633

Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on financial derivatives
 
(2,142
)
 
(14,135
)
Total other income (loss)
 
(5,826
)
 
(6,488
)
NET INCOME (LOSS)
 
$
2,052

 
$
(239
)
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE:
 
 
 
 
Basic and Diluted
 
$
0.22

 
$
(0.03
)
CASH DIVIDENDS PER COMMON SHARE:
 
 
 
 
Dividends declared
 
$
0.40

 
$
0.45



See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
4

ELLINGTON RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE REIT
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
(UNAUDITED)
 
Common Shares
 
Common
Shares,
par value
 
Preferred Shares
 
Preferred Shares,
par value
 
Additional Paid-in-Capital
 
Accumulated (Deficit) Earnings
 
Total
(In thousands except for share amounts)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BALANCE, December 31, 2015
9,135,103

 
92

 
—

 
—

 
181,027

 
(36,264
)
 
144,855

Share based compensation
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
40

 
 
 
40

Repurchase of common shares
(17,920
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(196
)
 
 
 
(196
)
Dividends declared
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(4,103
)
 
(4,103
)
Net loss
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(239
)
 
(239
)
BALANCE, March 31, 2016
9,117,183

 
$
92

 
—

 
$
—

 
$
180,871

 
$
(40,606
)
 
$
140,357

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BALANCE, December 31, 2016
9,130,897

 
92

 
—

 
—

 
180,996

 
(39,411
)
 
141,677

Share based compensation
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
48

 
 
 
48

Dividends declared
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(3,652
)
 
(3,652
)
Net income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2,052

 
2,052

BALANCE, March 31, 2017
9,130,897

 
$
92

 
—

 
$
—

 
$
181,044

 
$
(41,011
)
 
$
140,125


See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
5

ELLINGTON RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE REIT
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)
 
 
Three Month Period Ended
March 31, 2017
 
Three Month Period Ended
March 31, 2016
(In thousands)
 
 
 
 
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss)
 
$
2,052

 
$
(239
)
Reconciliation of net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Net realized (gains) losses on securities
 
2,990

 
(3,010
)
Change in net unrealized (gains) losses on securities
 
2,347

 
(8,633
)
Net realized (gains) losses on financial derivatives
 
(1,653
)
 
3,996

Change in net unrealized (gains) losses on financial derivatives
 
2,142

 
14,135

Amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts (net)
 
701

 
1,850

Share based compensation
 
48

 
40

(Increase) decrease in assets:
 
 
 
 
Due from brokers
 
22,313

 
3,091

Interest receivable
 
(333
)
 
233

Other assets
 
81

 
(234
)
Increase (decrease) in liabilities:
 
 
 
 
Due to brokers
 
(24
)
 
(312
)
Accrued expenses
 
61

 
(86
)
Interest payable
 
(80
)
 
21

Management fees payable
 
(5
)
 
(17
)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
 
30,640

 
10,835

Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities:
 
 
 
 
Purchases of securities
 
(315,416
)
 
(723,002
)
Proceeds from sale of securities
 
273,393

 
782,510

Principal repayments of mortgage-backed securities
 
37,716

 
30,044

Proceeds from investments sold short
 
225,738

 
157,931

Repurchase of investments sold short
 
(221,258
)
 
(169,090
)
Proceeds from disposition of financial derivatives
 
4,362

 
3,004

Purchase of financial derivatives
 
(2,709
)
 
(7,028
)
Payments made on reverse repurchase agreements
 
(4,354,368
)
 
(4,546,558
)
Proceeds from reverse repurchase agreements
 
4,349,247

 
4,555,615

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
 
(3,295
)
 
83,426

Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities:
 
 
 
 
Repurchase of common shares
 
—

 
(196
)
Dividends paid
 
(3,652
)
 
(4,111
)
Borrowings under repurchase agreements
 
390,532

 
559,785

Repayments of repurchase agreements
 
(410,220
)
 
(648,663
)
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities
 
(23,340
)
 
(93,185
)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
 
4,005

 
1,076

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD
 
33,504

 
40,166

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD
 
$
37,509

 
$
41,242

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
 
 
 
 
Interest paid
 
$
3,259

 
$
2,030

Dividends payable
 
$
3,652

 
$
4,103


See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
6


ELLINGTON RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE REIT
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 2017
(UNAUDITED)
1. Organization and Investment Objective
Ellington Residential Mortgage REIT, or "EARN," was formed as a Maryland real estate investment trust, or "REIT," on August 2, 2012, and commenced operations on September 25, 2012. EARN conducts its business through its wholly owned subsidiaries, EARN OP GP LLC, or the "General Partner," and Ellington Residential Mortgage LP, or the "Operating Partnership," which were formed as a Delaware limited liability company and a Delaware limited partnership, respectively, on July 31, 2012 and commenced operations on September 25, 2012. The Operating Partnership conducts its business of acquiring, investing in, and managing residential mortgage- and real estate-related assets through its wholly owned subsidiaries. EARN, the General Partner, the Operating Partnership, and their consolidated subsidiaries are hereafter defined as the "Company."
Ellington Residential Mortgage Management LLC, or the "Manager," serves as the Manager of the Company pursuant to the terms of the Fourth Amended and Restated Management Agreement, or the "Management Agreement." The Manager is an affiliate of Ellington Management Group, L.L.C., or "EMG," an investment management firm that is an SEC-registered investment adviser with a 22-year history of investing in a broad spectrum of mortgage-backed securities and related derivatives, with an emphasis on the residential mortgage-backed securities, or "RMBS," market. In accordance with the terms of the Management Agreement and the Services Agreement (as described in Note 9), the Manager is responsible for administering the Company's business activities and day-to-day operations, and performs certain services, subject to oversight by the Board of Trustees. See Note 9 for further information on the Management Agreement.
The Company acquires and manages RMBS, for which the principal and interest payments are guaranteed by a U.S. government agency or a U.S. government-sponsored entity, or "Agency RMBS," and RMBS that do not carry such guarantees, or "non-Agency RMBS," such as RMBS backed by prime jumbo, Alternative A-paper, manufactured housing, and subprime residential mortgage loans. Agency RMBS include both Agency pools and Agency collateralized mortgage obligations, or "CMOs," and non-Agency RMBS primarily consist of non-Agency CMOs, both investment grade and non-investment grade. The Company may also acquire and manage mortgage servicing rights, residential mortgage loans, and other mortgage- and real estate-related assets. The Company may also invest in other instruments including, but not limited to, forward-settling To-Be-Announced Agency pass-through certificates, or "TBAs," interest rate swaps and swaptions, U.S. Treasury securities, Eurodollar and U.S. Treasury futures, other financial derivatives, and cash equivalents. The Company's targeted investments may range from unrated first loss securities to AAA senior securities.
The Company has elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or "the Code," and intends to conduct its operations to be qualified and taxed as a REIT. As a REIT, the Company is required to distribute annually at least 90% of its taxable income. As long as the Company continues to qualify as a REIT, it will not be subject to U.S. federal corporate taxes on its taxable income to the extent that it distributes all of its annual taxable income to its shareholders. It is the intention of the Company to distribute at least 100% of its taxable income, after application of available tax attributes, within the time limits prescribed by the Code, which may extend into the subsequent taxable year.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
(A) Basis of Presentation: The Company's unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, or "U.S. GAAP." Entities in which the Company has a controlling financial interest, through ownership of the majority of the entities' voting equity interests, or through other contractual rights that give the Company control, are consolidated by the Company. All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated. The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates and those differences could be material. In management's opinion, all material adjustments considered necessary for a fair statement of the Company's interim consolidated financial statements have been included and are only of a normal recurring nature. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire fiscal year. The information included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.
(B) Valuation: The Company applies ASC 820-10, Fair Value Measurement ("ASC 820-10"), to its holdings of financial instruments. ASC 820-10 establishes a three-level valuation hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements. The valuation

7


hierarchy is based upon the observability of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date. The three levels are defined as follows:
•
Level 1—inputs to the valuation methodology are observable and reflect quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets. Currently, the types of financial instruments the Company generally includes in this category are exchange-traded derivatives;
•
Level 2—inputs to the valuation methodology other than quoted prices included in Level 1 are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Currently, the types of financial instruments that the Company generally includes in this category are Agency RMBS, non-Agency RMBS determined to have sufficiently observable market data, U.S. Treasury securities, actively traded derivatives such as TBAs, interest rate swaps, and swaptions; and
•
Level 3—inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement. Currently, this category includes RMBS where there is less price transparency.
For certain financial instruments, the various inputs that management uses to measure fair value for such financial instrument may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, the determination of which category within the fair value hierarchy is appropriate for such financial instrument is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. ASC 820 prioritizes the various inputs that management uses to measure fair value with the highest priority to inputs that are observable and reflect quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets (Level 1) and the lowest priority to inputs that are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement (Level 3). The assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the financial instrument. The Company may use valuation techniques consistent with the market and income approaches to measure the fair value of its assets and liabilities. The market approach uses third-party valuations and information obtained from market transactions involving identical or similar assets or liabilities. The income approach uses projections of the future economic benefits of an instrument to determine its fair value, such as in the discounted cash flow methodology. The inputs or methodology used for valuing financial instruments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in these financial instruments. Transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy are assumed to occur at the end of the reporting period.
Summary Valuation Techniques
For financial instruments that are traded in an "active market," the best measure of fair value is the quoted market price. However, many of the Company's financial instruments are not traded in an active market. Therefore, management generally uses third-party valuations when available. If third-party valuations are not available, management uses other valuation techniques, such as the discounted cash flow methodology. The following are summary descriptions, for the various categories of financial instruments, of the valuation methodologies management uses in determining fair value of the Company's financial instruments in such categories. Management utilizes such methodologies to assign a good faith fair value (the estimated price that, in an orderly transaction at the valuation date, would be received to sell an asset, or paid to transfer a liability, as the case may be) to each such financial instrument.
Valuations for fixed rate RMBS pass-throughs issued by a U.S government agency or government-sponsored enterprise, or "GSE," are typically based on observable pay-up data (pay-ups are price premiums for specified categories of fixed rate pools relative to their TBA counterparts) or models that use observable market data, such as interest rates and historical prepayment speeds, and are validated against third-party valuations. With respect to the Company's other RMBS investments and TBAs, management seeks to obtain at least one third-party valuation, and often obtains multiple valuations when available. Management has been able to obtain third-party valuations on the vast majority of these instruments and expects to continue to solicit third-party valuations in the future. Management generally values each financial instrument at the average of third-party valuations received and not rejected as described below. Third-party valuations are not binding, and while management generally does not adjust the valuations it receives, management may challenge or reject a valuation when, based on its validation criteria, management determines that such valuation is unreasonable or erroneous. Furthermore, based on its validation criteria, management may determine that the average of the third-party valuations received for a given instrument does not result in what management believes to be the fair value of such instrument, and in such circumstances management may override this average with its own good faith valuation. The validation criteria may take into account output from management's own models, recent trading activity in the same or similar instruments, and valuations received from third parties. The use of proprietary models requires the use of a significant amount of judgment and the application of various assumptions including, but not limited to, assumptions concerning future prepayment rates and default rates.
Given their relatively high level of price transparency, Agency RMBS pass-throughs and TBAs are typically designated as Level 2 assets, although Agency interest only and inverse interest only RMBS are currently designated as Level 3 assets since they generally have less price transparency. Non-Agency RMBS are generally classified as either Level 2 or Level 3 based on

8


analysis of available market data such as recent trades and executable bids. Furthermore, the methodology used by the third-party valuation providers is reviewed at least annually by management, so as to ascertain whether such providers are utilizing observable market data to determine the valuations that they provide.
Interest rate swaps and swaptions are typically valued based on internal models that use observable market data, including applicable interest rates in effect as of the measurement date; the model-generated valuations are then typically compared to counterparty valuations for reasonableness. These financial derivatives are generally designated as Level 2 instruments.
In valuing its derivatives, the Company also considers the creditworthiness of both the Company and its counterparties, along with collateral provisions contained in each derivative agreement.
The Company's repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are carried at cost, which approximates fair value. Repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements are classified as Level 2 assets and liabilities based on the adequacy of the collateral and their short term nature.
The Company's valuation process, including the application of validation criteria, is overseen by the Manager's Valuation Committee ("Valuation Committee"). The Valuation Committee includes senior level executives from various departments within the Manager, and each quarter the Valuation Committee reviews and approves the valuations of the Company's investments. The valuation process also includes a monthly review by the Company's third party administrator. The goal of this review is to replicate various aspects of the Company's valuation process based on the Company's documented procedures.
Because of the inherent uncertainty of valuation, the estimated fair value of the Company's financial instruments may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a ready market for the financial instruments existed, and the differences could be material to the consolidated financial statements.
(C) Accounting for Securities: Purchases and sales of investments are recorded on trade date and realized and unrealized gains and losses are calculated based on identified cost.
The Company has chosen to make a fair value election pursuant to ASC 825-10, Financial Instruments, for its securities portfolio. Electing the fair value option allows the Company to record changes in fair value in the Consolidated Statement of Operations, which, in management's view, more appropriately reflects the results of operations for a particular reporting period as all securities activities will be recorded in a similar manner. As such, securities are recorded at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheet and the period change in fair value is recorded in current period earnings on the Consolidated Statement of Operations as a component of Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on securities.
(D) Interest Income: Coupon interest income on investment securities is accrued based on the outstanding principal balance or notional amount and the current coupon rate on each security. The Company amortizes purchase premiums and accretes purchase discounts on its fixed income securities. For RMBS that are deemed to be of high credit quality at the time of purchase, premiums and discounts are generally amortized/accreted into interest income over the life of such securities using the effective interest method. An effective yield retroactive to the time of purchase is periodically recomputed based on actual prepayments and changes in projected prepayment activity, and a catch-up adjustment, or "Catch-up Premium Amortization Adjustment," is made to amortization to reflect the cumulative impact of the change in effective yield. For RMBS that are deemed not to be of high credit quality at the time of purchase, interest income is recognized based on the effective interest method. For purposes of determining the effective interest rate, management estimates the future expected cash flows of its investment holdings based on assumptions including, but not limited to, assumptions for future prepayment rates, default rates, and loss severities (each of which may in turn incorporate various macro-economic assumptions, such as future housing prices). These assumptions are re-evaluated not less than quarterly. Principal write-offs are generally treated as realized losses. Changes in projected cash flows, as applied to the current amortized cost of the security, may result in a prospective change in the yield/interest income recognized on such securities.
The Company's accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums on securities for U.S. federal and other tax purposes is likely to differ from the accounting treatment under U.S. GAAP of these items as described above.
(E) Cash and Cash Equivalents: Cash and cash equivalents include cash and short term investments with original maturities of three months or less at the date of acquisition. Cash and cash equivalents typically include amounts held in an interest bearing overnight account and amounts held in money market funds, and these balances generally exceed insured limits. The Company holds its cash at institutions that it believes to be highly creditworthy.
(F) Due from brokers/Due to brokers: Due from brokers and Due to brokers accounts on the Consolidated Balance Sheet include collateral transferred to or received from counterparties, including clearinghouses, along with receivables and payables for open and/or closed derivative positions.

9


(G) Financial Derivatives: The Company enters into various types of financial derivatives subject to its investment guidelines, which include restrictions associated with maintaining its qualification as a REIT. The Company's financial derivatives are predominantly subject to bilateral collateral arrangements or clearing in accordance with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010. The Company may be required to deliver or may receive cash or securities as collateral upon entering into derivative transactions. In addition, changes in the relative value of financial derivative transactions may require the Company or the counterparty to post or receive additional collateral. In the case of cleared financial derivatives, the clearinghouse becomes the Company's counterparty and a futures commission merchant acts as intermediary between the Company and the clearinghouse with respect to all facets of the related transaction, including the posting and receipt of required collateral. Collateral received by the Company is reflected on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as "Due to Brokers." Conversely, collateral posted by the Company is reflected as "Due from Brokers" on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The types of financial derivatives that have been utilized by the Company to date are interest rate swaps, TBAs, swaptions, and futures.
Swaps: The Company enters into interest rate swaps. Interest rate swaps are contractual agreements whereby one party pays a floating interest rate on a notional principal amount and receives a fixed rate payment on the same notional principal, or vice versa, for a fixed period of time. The Company enters into interest rate swap contracts primarily to mitigate interest rate risk. The Company is subject to interest rate risk exposure in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives.
Swaps change in value with movements in interest rates or total return of the reference securities. During the term of swap contracts, changes in value are recognized as unrealized gains or losses on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. When a contract is terminated, the Company realizes a gain or loss equal to the difference between the proceeds from (or cost of) the closing transaction and the Company's basis in the contract, if any. Periodic payments or receipts required by swap agreements are recorded as unrealized gains or losses when accrued and realized gains or losses when received or paid. Upfront payments paid and/or received by the Company to open swap contracts are recorded as an asset and/or liability on the Consolidated Balance Sheet and are recorded as a realized gain or loss on the termination date.
TBA Securities: The Company transacts in the forward settling TBA market. A TBA position is a forward contract for the purchase ("long position") or sale ("short position") of Agency RMBS at a predetermined price, face amount, issuer, coupon, and maturity on an agreed-upon future delivery date. For each TBA contract and delivery month, a uniform settlement date for all market participants is determined by the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association. The specific Agency RMBS to be delivered into the contract at the settlement date are not known at the time of the transaction. The Company typically does not take delivery of TBAs, but rather enters into offsetting transactions and settles the associated receivable and payable balances with its counterparties. The Company primarily uses TBAs to mitigate interest rate risk, but from time to time it also holds net long positions in certain TBA securities as a means of acquiring exposure to Agency RMBS.
TBAs are accounted for by the Company as financial derivatives. The difference between the contract price and the fair value of the TBA position as of the reporting date is included in Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on financial derivatives in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Upon settlement of the TBA contract, the realized gain (loss) on the TBA contract is equal to the net cash amount received (paid).
Options: The Company enters into swaption contracts. It may purchase or write put, call, straddle, or other similar options contracts. The Company enters into options contracts primarily to help mitigate interest rate risk. When the Company purchases an options contract, the option asset is initially recorded at an amount equal to the premium paid, if any, and is subsequently marked-to-market. Premiums paid for purchasing options contracts that expire unexercised are recognized on the expiration date as realized losses. If an options contract is exercised, the premium paid is subtracted from the proceeds of the sale or added to the cost of the purchase to determine whether the Company has realized a gain or loss on the related investment transaction. When the Company writes an options contract, the option liability is initially recorded at an amount equal to the premium received, if any, and is subsequently marked-to-market. Premiums received for writing options contracts that expire unexercised are recognized on the expiration date as realized gains. If an options contract is exercised, the premium received is subtracted from the cost of the purchase or added to the proceeds of the sale to determine whether the Company has realized a gain or loss on the related investment transaction. When the Company enters into a closing transaction, the Company will realize a gain or loss depending upon whether the amount from the closing transaction is greater or less than the premiums paid or received. In general, the Company's options contracts contain forward-settling premiums. In this case, no money is exchanged upfront; instead, the agreed-upon premium is paid by the buyer upon expiration of the options contract, regardless of whether or not the options contract is exercised. Unrealized gains or (losses) resulting from the options contract being marked-to-market are included in Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on financial derivatives in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Realized gains or (losses) are included in Realized gains (losses) on financial derivatives in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

10


Futures Contracts: The Company enters into Eurodollar futures contracts and U.S. Treasury futures contracts. A futures contract is an exchange-traded agreement to buy or sell an asset for a set price on a future date. Initial margin deposits are made upon entering into futures contracts and can be either in the form of cash or securities. During the period the futures contract is open, changes in the value of the contract are recognized as unrealized gains or losses by marking-to-market to reflect the current market value of the contract. Unrealized gains or (losses) are included in Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on financial derivatives in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Variation margin payments are made or received periodically, depending upon whether unrealized losses or gains are incurred. When the contract is closed, the Company records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the proceeds of the closing transaction and the Company's basis in the contract. Realized gains or (losses) are included in Realized gains (losses) on financial derivatives in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
Financial derivative assets are included in Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheet while financial derivative liabilities are included in Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
(H) Repurchase Agreements: The Company enters into repurchase agreements with third-party broker-dealers, whereby it sells securities under agreements to repurchase at an agreed upon price and date. The Company accounts for repurchase agreements as collateralized borrowings, with the initial sale price representing the amount borrowed, and with the future repurchase price consisting of the amount borrowed plus interest, at the implied interest rate of the repurchase agreement, on the amount borrowed over the term of the repurchase agreement. The interest rate on a repurchase agreement is based on competitive market rates (or competitive market spreads, in the case of agreements with floating interest rates) at the time such agreement is entered into. When the Company enters into a repurchase agreement, the lender establishes and maintains an account containing cash and/or securities having a value not less than the repurchase price, including accrued interest, of the repurchase agreement. Repurchase agreements are carried at their contractual amounts, which approximate fair value due to their short-term nature.
(I) Reverse Repurchase Agreements: The Company enters into reverse repurchase agreement transactions with third-party broker-dealers, whereby it purchases securities under agreements to resell at an agreed upon price and date. The interest rate on a reverse repurchase agreement is based on competitive market rates (or competitive market spreads, in the case of agreements with floating interest rates) at the time such agreement is entered into. Reverse repurchase agreements are carried at their contractual amounts, which approximate fair value due to their short-term nature.
Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements that are conducted with the same counterparty can be reported on a net basis if they meet the requirements of ASC 210-20, Balance Sheet Offsetting. There are currently no repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements reported on a net basis in the Company's consolidated financial statements.
(J) Securities Sold Short: The Company may purchase or engage in short sales of U.S. Treasury securities to mitigate the potential impact of changes in interest rates on the performance of its portfolio. When the Company sells securities short, it typically satisfies its security delivery settlement obligation by obtaining the security sold short from the same or a different counterparty. The Company generally is required to deliver cash or securities as collateral to the counterparty for the Company's obligation to return the borrowed security.
The Company has chosen to make a fair value election pursuant to ASC 825-10, Financial Instruments, for its securities sold short. Electing the fair value option allows the Company to record changes in fair value in the Consolidated Statement of Operations, which, in management's view, more appropriately reflects the results of operations for a particular reporting period as all securities activities will be recorded in a similar manner. As such, securities sold short are recorded at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheet and the period change in fair value is recorded in current period earnings on the Consolidated Statement of Operations as a component of Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on securities. A realized gain or loss will be recognized upon the termination of a short sale if the market price is less or greater than the proceeds originally received. Such realized gain or loss is recorded on the Company's Consolidated Statement of Operations in Net realized gains (losses) on securities.
(K) Offering Costs/Deferred Offering Costs: Offering costs are charged against shareholders' equity within Additional paid-in-capital, and typically include legal, accounting, printing, and other fees associated with the cost of raising equity capital.
(L) Share Based Compensation: The Company applies the provisions of ASC 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation ("ASC 718"), with regard to its equity incentive plans. ASC 718 covers a wide range of share-based compensation arrangements including share options, restricted share plans, performance-based awards, share appreciation rights, and employee share purchase plans. ASC 718 requires that compensation cost relating to share-based payment transactions be recognized in financial statements. The cost is measured based on the fair value, at the grant date, of the equity or liability

11


instruments issued and is amortized over the vesting period. Restricted shares issued to the Company's independent directors and partially dedicated personnel are participating securities and receive dividends prior to vesting. Fair value for such awards is based on the closing stock price on the New York Stock Exchange at the grant date. The vesting period for restricted share awards is typically one to two years.
(M) Dividends: Dividends payable are recorded on the declaration date.
(N) Expenses: Expenses are recognized as incurred on the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
(O) Earnings Per Share: In accordance with the provisions of ASC 260, Earnings per Share, the Company calculates basic income (loss) per share by dividing net income (loss) for the period by the weighted average of the Company's common shares outstanding for that period. Diluted income (loss) per share takes into account the effect of dilutive instruments, such as share options and warrants, and uses the average share price for the period in determining the number of incremental shares that are to be added to the weighted average number of shares outstanding.
(P) Share Repurchases: Common shares that are repurchased by the Company subsequent to issuance decrease the total number of shares issued and outstanding and are immediately retired upon settlement. The cost of such share repurchases is charged against Additional paid-in-capital on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet.
(Q) Income Taxes: The Company has elected to be taxed as a REIT under Sections 856 to 860 of the Code. As a REIT, the Company is generally not subject to corporate-level federal and state income tax on net income it distributes to its shareholders. To qualify as a REIT, the Company must meet a number of organizational and operational requirements, including the distribution of at least 90% of its annual taxable income to shareholders. Even if the Company qualifies as a REIT, it may be subject to certain federal, state, local and foreign taxes on its income and property and to federal income and excise taxes on its undistributed taxable income. If the Company fails to qualify as a REIT, and does not qualify for certain statutory relief provisions, it will be subject to U.S. federal, state, and local income taxes and may be precluded from qualifying as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year in which the Company fails to qualify as a REIT.
The Company follows the authoritative guidance on accounting for and disclosure of uncertainty on tax positions, which requires management to determine whether a tax position of the Company is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by the applicable taxing authority, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. For uncertain tax positions, the tax benefit to be recognized is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company did not have any unrecognized tax benefits resulting from tax positions related to the current period or to 2016, 2015, 2014, or 2013 (its open tax years). In the normal course of business, the Company may be subject to examination by federal, state, local, and foreign jurisdictions, where applicable, for the current period, 2016, 2015, 2014, and 2013 (its open tax years). The Company may take positions with respect to certain tax issues which depend on legal interpretation of facts or applicable tax regulations. Should the relevant tax regulators successfully challenge any of such positions, the Company might be found to have a tax liability that has not been recorded in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. Also, management's conclusions regarding the authoritative guidance may be subject to review and adjustment at a later date based on changing tax laws, regulations, and interpretations thereof. There were no amounts accrued for penalties or interest as of or during the periods presented in these consolidated financial statements.
(R) Recent Accounting Pronouncements: In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis ("ASU 2015-02"). This amends ASC 810, Consolidation (ASC "810"), to improve targeted areas of consolidation guidance by simplifying the requirements of consolidation and placing more emphasis on risk of loss when determining a controlling financial interest. ASU 2015-02 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017 with early adoption permitted. The adoption of ASU 2015-02 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
3. Mortgage-Backed Securities
The following tables present details of the Company's mortgage-backed securities portfolio at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. The Company's Agency RMBS include mortgage pass-through certificates and CMOs representing interests in or obligations backed by pools of residential mortgage loans issued or guaranteed by a U.S. government agency or GSE. The non-Agency RMBS portfolio is not issued or guaranteed by the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, or any agency of the U.S. Government and is therefore subject to greater credit risk.

12


By RMBS Type
March 31, 2017:
($ in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross Unrealized
 
 
 
Weighted Average
 
Current Principal
 
Unamortized Premium (Discount)
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Gains
 
Losses
 
Fair Value
 
Coupon
 
Yield
 
Life
(Years)(1)
Agency RMBS:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
15-year fixed rate mortgages
$
129,244

 
$
6,046

 
$
135,290

 
$
303

 
$
(770
)
 
$
134,823

 
3.38%
 
2.25%
 
4.67
20-year fixed rate mortgages
10,045

 
773

 
10,818

 
7

 
(147
)
 
10,678

 
4.00%
 
2.60%
 
6.23
30-year fixed rate mortgages
916,405

 
60,057

 
976,462

 
1,924

 
(12,239
)
 
966,147

 
3.98%
 
2.98%
 
8.25
Adjustable rate mortgages
28,521

 
1,772

 
30,293

 
38

 
(571
)
 
29,760

 
3.86%
 
2.61%
 
4.71
Reverse mortgages
55,668

 
5,112

 
60,780

 
138

 
(791
)
 
60,127

 
4.53%
 
2.67%
 
5.57
Interest only securities
 n/a
 
 n/a
 
12,256

 
1,277

 
(991
)
 
12,542

 
4.01%
 
8.98%
 
3.26
Total Agency RMBS
1,139,883

 
73,760

 
1,225,899

 
3,687

 
(15,509
)
 
1,214,077

 
3.94%
 
2.93%
 
7.23
Non-Agency RMBS
20,486

 
(6,310
)
 
14,176

 
2,000

 
(177
)
 
15,999

 
3.03%
 
8.52%
 
6.93
Total RMBS
$
1,160,369

 
$
67,450

 
$
1,240,075

 
$
5,687

 
$
(15,686
)
 
$
1,230,076

 
3.93%
 
3.00%
 
7.22
(1)
Average lives of RMBS are generally shorter than stated contractual maturities. Average lives are affected by the contractual maturities of the underlying mortgages, scheduled periodic payments of principal, and unscheduled prepayments of principal.
December 31, 2016:
($ in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross Unrealized
 
 
 
Weighted Average
 
Current Principal
 
Unamortized Premium (Discount)
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Gains
 
Losses
 
Fair Value
 
Coupon
 
Yield
 
Life
(Years)(1)
Agency RMBS:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
15-year fixed rate mortgages
$
141,829

 
$
7,044

 
$
148,873

 
$
405

 
$
(915
)
 
$
148,363

 
3.41%
 
2.19%
 
4.75
20-year fixed rate mortgages
10,488

 
787

 
11,275

 
25

 
(115
)
 
11,185

 
4.00%
 
2.51%
 
6.33
30-year fixed rate mortgages
888,976

 
59,181

 
948,157

 
3,158

 
(10,858
)
 
940,457

 
3.99%
 
2.81%
 
8.34
Adjustable rate mortgages
31,656

 
1,570

 
33,226

 
121

 
(209
)
 
33,138

 
3.84%
 
2.37%
 
4.63
Reverse mortgages
57,411

 
5,703

 
63,114

 
100

 
(1,156
)
 
62,058

 
4.51%
 
2.61%
 
6.07
Interest only securities
 n/a
 
 n/a
 
11,841

 
1,465

 
(959
)
 
12,347

 
3.97%
 
2.75%
 
3.11
Total Agency RMBS
1,130,360

 
74,285

 
1,216,486

 
5,274

 
(14,212
)
 
1,207,548

 
3.94%
 
2.71%
 
7.24
Non-Agency RMBS
27,794

 
(9,526
)
 
18,268

 
1,550

 
(372
)
 
19,446

 
2.93%
 
7.82%
 
7.01
Total RMBS
$
1,158,154

 
$
64,759

 
$
1,234,754

 
$
6,824

 
$
(14,584
)
 
$
1,226,994

 
3.92%
 
2.78%
 
7.24
(1)
Average lives of RMBS are generally shorter than stated contractual maturities. Average lives are affected by the contractual maturities of the underlying mortgages, scheduled periodic payments of principal, and unscheduled prepayments of principal.

13


By Estimated Weighted Average Life
As of March 31, 2017:
($ in thousands)
 
Agency RMBS
 
Agency Interest Only Securities
 
Non-Agency RMBS
Estimated Weighted Average Life(1)
 
Fair
Value
 
Amortized Cost
 
Weighted Average Coupon
 
Fair Value
 
Amortized Cost
 
Weighted Average Coupon
 
Fair Value
 
Amortized Cost
 
Weighted Average Coupon
Less than three years
 
$
14,405

 
$
14,436

 
4.57
%
 
$
3,185

 
$
3,820

 
3.48
%
 
$
—

 
$
—

 
—
%
Greater than three years and less than seven years
 
279,303

 
280,741

 
3.89
%
 
9,357

 
8,436

 
4.46
%
 
10,358

 
10,033

 
3.94
%
Greater than seven years and less than eleven years
 
901,268

 
911,659

 
3.94
%
 
—

 
—

 
—
%
 
5,641

 
4,143

 
1.59
%
Greater than eleven years
 
6,559

 
6,807

 
4.12
%
 
—

 
—

 
—
%
 
—

 
—

 
—
%
Total
 
$
1,201,535

 
$
1,213,643

 
3.94
%
 
$
12,542

 
$
12,256

 
4.01
%
 
$
15,999

 
$
14,176

 
3.03
%
(1)
Average lives of RMBS are generally shorter than stated contractual maturities.
As of December 31, 2016:
($ in thousands)
 
Agency RMBS
 
Agency Interest Only Securities
 
Non-Agency RMBS
Estimated Weighted Average Life(1)
 
Fair
Value
 
Amortized Cost
 
Weighted Average Coupon
 
Fair Value
 
Amortized Cost
 
Weighted Average Coupon
 
Fair Value
 
Amortized Cost
 
Weighted Average Coupon
Less than three years
 
$
15,009

 
$
14,956

 
4.43
%
 
$
3,748

 
$
4,289

 
3.56
%
 
$
—

 
$
—

 
—
%
Greater than three years and less than seven years
 
286,517

 
286,984

 
3.87
%
 
8,599

 
7,552

 
4.39
%
 
11,316

 
11,314

 
3.90
%
Greater than seven years and less than eleven years
 
890,277

 
899,220

 
3.96
%
 
—

 
—

 
—
%
 
8,130

 
6,954

 
1.95
%
Greater than eleven years
 
3,398

 
3,485

 
4.00
%
 
—

 
—

 
—
%
 
—

 
—

 
—
%
Total
 
$
1,195,201

 
$
1,204,645

 
3.94
%
 
$
12,347

 
$
11,841

 
3.97
%
 
$
19,446

 
$
18,268

 
2.93
%
(1)
Average lives of RMBS are generally shorter than stated contractual maturities.
The following table reflects the components of interest income on the Company's RMBS for the three month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016:
 
 
Three Month Period Ended
March 31, 2017
 
Three Month Period Ended
March 31, 2016
($ in thousands)
 
Coupon Interest
 
Net Amortization
 
Interest
Income
 
Coupon Interest
 
Net Amortization
 
Interest
Income
Agency RMBS
 
$
12,579

 
$
(755
)
 
$
11,824

 
$
11,144

 
$
(2,194
)
 
$
8,950

Non-Agency RMBS
 
253

 
101

 
354

 
276

 
343

 
619

Total
 
$
12,832

 
$
(654
)
 
$
12,178

 
$
11,420

 
$
(1,851
)
 
$
9,569

For the three month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 the Catch-up Premium Amortization Adjustment made to net amortization was $2.6 million and $0.3 million, respectively.

14


4. Valuation
The following tables present the Company's financial instruments measured at fair value on:
March 31, 2017:
(In thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Description
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgage-backed securities, at fair value:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Agency RMBS:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
15-year fixed rate mortgages
 
$
—

 
$
134,823

 
$
—

 
$
134,823

20-year fixed rate mortgages
 
—

 
10,678

 
—

 
10,678

30-year fixed rate mortgages
 
—

 
966,147

 
—

 
966,147

Adjustable rate mortgages
 
—

 
29,760

 
—

 
29,760

Reverse mortgages
 
—

 
60,127

 
—

 
60,127

Interest only securities
 
—

 
—

 
12,542

 
12,542

Non-Agency RMBS
 
—

 
13,497

 
2,502

 
15,999

Mortgage-backed securities, at fair value
 
—

 
1,215,032

 
15,044

 
1,230,076

Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TBAs
 
—

 
582

 
—

 
582

Interest rate swaps
 
—

 
4,880

 
—

 
4,880

Futures
 
2

 
—

 
—

 
2

Total financial derivatives–assets, at fair value
 
2

 
5,462

 
—

 
5,464

Total mortgage-backed securities and financial derivatives–assets, at fair value
 
$
2

 
$
1,220,494

 
$
15,044

 
$
1,235,540

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Treasury securities sold short, at fair value
 
$
—

 
$
(79,454
)
 
$
—

 
$
(79,454
)
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TBAs
 
—

 
(2,433
)
 
—

 
(2,433
)
Interest rate swaps
 
—

 
(1,115
)
 
—

 
(1,115
)
Futures
 
(24
)
 
—

 
—

 
(24
)
Total financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value
 
(24
)
 
(3,548
)
 
—

 
(3,572
)
Total U.S. Treasury securities sold short and financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value
 
$
(24
)
 
$
(83,002
)
 
$
—

 
$
(83,026
)

15


December 31, 2016:
(In thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Description
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgage-backed securities, at fair value:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Agency RMBS:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
15-year fixed rate mortgages
 
$
—

 
$
148,363

 
$
—

 
$
148,363

20-year fixed rate mortgages
 
—

 
11,185

 
—

 
11,185

30-year fixed rate mortgages
 
—

 
940,457

 
—

 
940,457

Adjustable rate mortgages
 
—

 
33,138

 
—

 
33,138

Reverse mortgages
 
—

 
62,058

 
—

 
62,058

Interest only securities
 
—

 
—

 
12,347

 
12,347

Non-Agency RMBS
 
—

 
12,948

 
6,498

 
19,446

Mortgage-backed securities, at fair value
 
—

 
1,208,149

 
18,845

 
1,226,994

Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TBAs
 
—

 
1,045

 
—

 
1,045

Interest rate swaps
 
—

 
4,891

 
—

 
4,891

Futures
 
72

 
—

 
—

 
72

Total financial derivatives–assets, at fair value
 
72

 
5,936

 
—

 
6,008

Total mortgage-backed securities and financial derivatives–assets, at fair value
 
$
72

 
$
1,214,085

 
$
18,845

 
$
1,233,002

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Treasury securities sold short, at fair value
 
$
—

 
$
(74,194
)
 
$
—

 
$
(74,194
)
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TBAs
 
—

 
(554
)
 
—

 
(554
)
Interest rate swaps
 
—

 
(1,421
)
 
—

 
(1,421
)
Total financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value
 
—

 
(1,975
)
 
—

 
(1,975
)
Total U.S. Treasury securities sold short and financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value
 
$
—

 
$
(76,169
)
 
$
—

 
$
(76,169
)
The following tables present additional information about the Company's investments which are measured at fair value for which the Company has utilized Level 3 inputs to determine fair value:
Three month period ended March 31, 2017:
(In thousands)
Non-Agency RMBS
 
Agency RMBS
Beginning balance as of December 31, 2016
$
6,498

 
$
12,347

Purchases
—

 
1,287

Proceeds from sales
(2,850
)
 
—

Principal repayments
(167
)
 
—

(Amortization)/accretion, net
44

 
(835
)
Net realized gains (losses)
163

 
(37
)
Change in net unrealized gains (losses)
332

 
(220
)
Transfers:
 
 
 
Transfers into level 3
1,819

 
—

Transfers out of level 3
(3,337
)
 
—

Ending balance as of March 31, 2017
$
2,502

 
$
12,542

All amounts of net realized and changes in net unrealized gains (losses) in the table above are reflected in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations. The table above incorporates changes in net unrealized gains (losses) for both Level 3 financial instruments held by the Company at March 31, 2017, as well as Level 3 financial instruments disposed of

16


by the Company during the three month period ended March 31, 2017. For Level 3 financial instruments held by the Company as of March 31, 2017, change in net unrealized gains (losses) of $0.2 million and $(0.2) million, for the three month period ended March 31, 2017 relate to non-Agency RMBS and Agency RMBS, respectively.
During the three month period ended March 31, 2017, the Company transferred $3.3 million of non-Agency RMBS from Level 3 to Level 2. These assets were transferred from Level 3 to Level 2 based on an increased volume of observed trading of these and/or similar assets. This increase in observed trading activity has led to greater price transparency for these assets, thereby making a Level 2 designation appropriate in the Company's view. However, changes in the volume of observable inputs for these assets, such as a decrease in the volume of observed trading, could impact price transparency, and thereby cause a change in the level designation for these assets in future periods.
During the three month period ended March 31, 2017, the Company transferred $1.8 million of non-Agency RMBS from Level 2 to Level 3. Since December 31, 2016, these securities have exhibited indications of a reduced level of price transparency. Examples of such indications include wider spreads and/or higher delinquencies relative to similar securities and a reduction in observable transactions or executable quotes involving these and similar securities. Changes in these indications could impact price transparency, and thereby cause a change in the level designation in future periods.
Three month period ended March 31, 2016:
(In thousands)
Non-Agency RMBS
 
Agency RMBS
Beginning balance as of December 31, 2015
$
4,020

 
$
7,758

Purchases
—

 
861

Proceeds from sales
—

 
—

Principal repayments
(351
)
 
—

(Amortization)/accretion, net
109

 
(691
)
Net realized gains (losses)
—

 
—

Change in net unrealized gains (losses)
214

 
(997
)
Transfers:
 
 
 
Transfers into level 3
—

 
—

Transfers out of level 3
(1,848
)
 
—

Ending balance as of March 31, 2016
$
2,144

 
$
6,931

All amounts of net realized and changes in net unrealized gains (losses) in the table above are reflected in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations. The table above incorporates changes in net unrealized gains (losses) for both Level 3 financial instruments held by the Company as of March 31, 2016, as well as Level 3 financial instruments disposed of by the Company during the three month period ended March 31, 2016. For Level 3 financial instruments held by the Company as of March 31, 2016, change in net unrealized gains (losses) of $49 thousand and $(1.0) million, for the three month period ended March 31, 2016 relate to non-Agency RMBS and Agency RMBS, respectively.
During the three month period ended March 31, 2016, the Company transferred $1.8 million of non-Agency RMBS from Level 3 to Level 2. These assets were transferred from Level 3 to Level 2 based on an increased volume of observed trading of these and/or similar assets. This increase in observed trading activity has led to greater price transparency for these assets, thereby making a Level 2 designation appropriate in the Company's view. However, changes in the volume of observable inputs for these assets, such as a decrease in the volume of observed trading, could impact price transparency, and thereby cause a change in the level designation for these assets in future periods.
There were no transfers of financial instruments between Levels 1 and 2 of the fair value hierarchy during the three month periods ended March 31, 2017 or 2016.

17


The following tables identify the significant unobservable inputs that affect the valuation of the Company's Level 3 assets and liabilities as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016:
March 31, 2017:
 
 
Range
 
 
Description
 
Fair Value
 
Valuation Technique
 
Significant
Unobservable Input
 
Min
 
Max
 
Weighted Average(1)
 
 
(In thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-Agency RMBS
 
$
2,502

 
Discounted Cash Flows
 
Yield
 
8.1
%
 
26.2
%
 
13.1
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Projected Collateral Prepayments
 
44.0
%
 
48.2
%
 
45.1
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Projected Collateral Losses
 
1.2
%
 
4.1
%
 
3.3
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Projected Collateral Recoveries
 
4.2
%
 
12.4
%
 
10.2
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Projected Collateral Scheduled Amortization
 
39.5
%
 
46.5
%
 
41.4
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
100.0
%
Agency RMBS–Interest Only Securities
 
9,918

 
Market quotes
 
Non-Binding Third-Party Valuation
 
$
3.76

 
$
20.94

 
$
15.20

Agency RMBS–Interest Only Securities
 
2,624

 
Option Adjusted Spread ("OAS")
 
LIBOR OAS (2)
 
87

 
1,287

 
700

 
 
 
 
 
 
Projected Collateral Prepayments
 
50.2
%
 
84.0
%
 
66.8
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Projected Collateral Scheduled Amortization
 
16.0
%
 
49.8
%
 
33.2
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
100.0
%
(1)
Averages are weighted based on the fair value of the related instrument.
(2)
Shown in basis points.
December 31, 2016:
 
 
Range
 
 
Description
 
Fair Value
 
Valuation Technique
 
Significant
Unobservable Input
 
Min
 
Max
 
Weighted Average(1)
 
 
(In thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-Agency RMBS
 
$
652

 
Discounted Cash Flows
 
Yield
 
30.6
%
 
30.6
%
 
30.6
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Projected Collateral Prepayments
 
49.0
%
 
49.0
%
 
49.0
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Projected Collateral Losses
 
1.0
%
 
1.0
%
 
1.0
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Projected Collateral Recoveries
 
3.3
%
 
3.3
%
 
3.3
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Projected Collateral Scheduled Amortization
 
46.7
%
 
46.7
%
 
46.7
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
100.0
%
Non-Agency RMBS
 
5,846

 
Market quotes
 
Non-Binding Third-Party Valuation
 
$
46.40

 
$
63.29

 
$
56.49

Agency RMBS–Interest Only Securities
 
8,784

 
Market quotes
 
Non-Binding Third-Party Valuation
 
$
3.94

 
$
21.56

 
$
13.96

Agency RMBS–Interest Only Securities
 
3,563

 
Option Adjusted Spread ("OAS")
 
LIBOR OAS(2)
 
103

 
1,147

 
468

 
 
 
 
 
 
Projected Collateral Prepayments
 
51.1
%
 
85.4
%
 
70.9
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Projected Collateral Scheduled Amortization
 
14.6
%
 
48.9
%
 
29.1
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
100.0
%
(1)
Averages are weighted based on the fair value of the related instrument.
(2)
Shown in basis points.

18


Third-party non-binding valuations are validated by comparing such valuations to internally generated prices based on the Company's models and to recent trading activity in the same or similar instruments. For those instruments valued using discounted cash flows, collateral prepayments, losses, recoveries, and scheduled amortization are projected over the remaining life of the collateral and expressed as a percentage of the collateral's current principal balance. For those assets valued using the LIBOR Option Adjusted Spread, or "OAS," valuation methodology, cash flows are projected using the Company's models over multiple interest rate scenarios, and these projected cash flows are then discounted using the LIBOR rates implied by each interest rate scenario. The LIBOR OAS of an asset is then computed as the unique constant yield spread that, when added to all LIBOR rates in each interest rate scenario generated by the model, will equate (a) the expected present value of the projected asset cash flows over all model scenarios to (b) the actual current market price of the asset. LIBOR OAS is therefore model-dependent. Generally speaking, LIBOR OAS measures the additional yield spread over LIBOR that an asset provides at its current market price after taking into account any interest rate options embedded in the asset.
Material changes in any of the inputs above in isolation could result in a significant change to reported fair value measurements. Fair value measurements are impacted by the interrelationships of these inputs. For example, a higher expectation of collateral prepayments will generally result in a lower expectation of collateral losses. Conversely, higher losses will generally result in lower prepayments.
The following table summarizes the estimated fair value of all other financial instruments not included in the disclosures above as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016:
 
 
March 31, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
(In thousands)
 
Fair Value
 
Carrying Value
 
Fair Value
 
Carrying Value
Other financial instruments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
37,509

 
$
37,509

 
$
33,504

 
$
33,504

Due from brokers
 
27,205

 
27,205

 
49,518

 
49,518

Reverse repurchase agreements
 
80,133

 
80,133

 
75,012

 
75,012

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Repurchase agreements
 
1,178,285

 
1,178,285

 
1,197,973

 
1,197,973

Due to brokers
 
1,031

 
1,031

 
1,055

 
1,055

Cash and cash equivalents includes cash held in an interest bearing overnight account for which fair value equals the carrying value and cash held in money market accounts which are liquid in nature and for which fair value equals the carrying value; such assets are considered Level 1 assets. Due from brokers and Due to brokers include collateral transferred to or received from counterparties, along with receivables and payables for open and/or closed derivative positions. These receivables and payables are short term in nature and any collateral transferred consists primarily of cash; fair value of these items approximates carrying value and such items are considered Level 1 assets and liabilities. The Company's repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are carried at cost, which approximates fair value due to their short term nature. Repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements are classified as Level 2 assets and liabilities based on the adequacy of the collateral and their short term nature.
5. Financial Derivatives
The Company is exposed to certain risks arising from both its business operations and economic conditions. Specifically, the Company's primary source of financing is repurchase agreements and the Company enters into financial derivative and other instruments to manage exposure to variable cash flows on portions of its borrowings under those repurchase agreements. Since the interest rates on repurchase agreements typically change with market interest rates such as LIBOR, the Company is exposed to constantly changing interest rates, which accordingly affects cash flows associated with the Company's borrowings. To mitigate the effect of changes in these interest rates and their related cash flows, the Company may enter into a variety of derivative contracts, including interest rate swaps, swaptions, and TBAs. Additionally, from time to time, the Company may use short positions in U.S. Treasury securities to mitigate its interest rate risk.

19


The following table details the fair value of the Company's holdings of financial derivatives as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016:
 
 
March 31, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
 
 
(In thousands)
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value:
 
 
 
 
TBA securities purchase contracts
 
$
537

 
$
96

TBA securities sale contracts
 
45

 
949

Fixed payer interest rate swaps
 
4,318

 
4,198

Fixed receiver interest rate swaps
 
562

 
693

Futures
 
2

 
72

Total financial derivatives–assets, at fair value
 
5,464

 
6,008

Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value:
 
 
 
 
TBA securities purchase contracts
 
(3
)
 
—

TBA securities sale contracts
 
(2,430
)
 
(554
)
Fixed payer interest rate swaps
 
(1,115
)
 
(1,421
)
Futures
 
(24
)
 
—

Total financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value
 
(3,572
)
 
(1,975
)
Total
 
$
1,892

 
$
4,033

Interest Rate Swaps
The following tables provide information about the Company's fixed payer interest rate swaps as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016:
March 31, 2017:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted Average
Maturity
 
Notional Amount
 
Fair Value
 
Pay Rate
 
Receive Rate
 
Remaining Years to Maturity
 
 
(In thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
2017
 
$
74,750

 
$
(87
)
 
1.21
%
 
1.06
%
 
0.34
2018
 
65,990

 
368

 
0.97

 
1.05

 
1.18
2019
 
4,200

 
72

 
0.96

 
1.04

 
2.36
2020
 
79,500

 
439

 
1.48

 
1.00

 
3.07
2021
 
14,400

 
59

 
1.81

 
1.08

 
4.67
2022
 
13,044

 
173

 
1.75

 
1.04

 
5.44
2023
 
54,200

 
450

 
1.93

 
1.04

 
6.22
2024
 
8,900

 
73

 
1.99

 
1.00

 
7.01
2025
 
15,322

 
223

 
2.04

 
1.01

 
7.88
2026
 
40,885

 
2,460

 
1.63

 
1.05

 
9.46
2043
 
12,380

 
(1,027
)
 
2.99

 
1.04

 
26.13
Total
 
$
383,571

 
$
3,203

 
1.52
%
 
1.04
%
 
4.50

20


December 31, 2016:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted Average
Maturity
 
Notional Amount
 
Fair Value
 
Pay Rate
 
Receive Rate
 
Remaining Years to Maturity
 
 
(In thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
2017
 
$
74,750

 
$
(258
)
 
1.21
%
 
0.92
%
 
0.59
2018
 
65,990

 
193

 
0.97

 
0.89

 
1.43
2019
 
4,200

 
57

 
0.96

 
0.88

 
2.60
2020
 
79,500

 
554

 
1.48

 
0.89

 
3.32
2021
 
19,300

 
99

 
1.83

 
0.93

 
4.92
2022
 
13,044

 
172

 
1.75

 
0.89

 
5.68
2023
 
54,200

 
514

 
1.93

 
0.89

 
6.47
2024
 
8,900

 
87

 
1.99

 
0.85

 
7.26
2025
 
15,322

 
123

 
2.04

 
0.89

 
8.13
2026
 
46,435

 
2,306

 
1.72

 
0.91

 
9.74
2043
 
12,380

 
(1,070
)
 
2.99

 
0.89

 
26.38
Total
 
$
394,021

 
$
2,777

 
1.53
%
 
0.90
%
 
4.82
The following tables provide information about the Company's fixed receiver interest rate swaps as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.
March 31, 2017:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted Average
Maturity
 
Notional Amount
 
Fair Value
 
Pay Rate
 
Receive Rate
 
Remaining Years to Maturity
 
 
(In thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
2025
 
$
9,700

 
$
562

 
1.02
%
 
3.00
%
 
8.30
Total
 
$
9,700

 
$
562

 
1.02
%
 
3.00
%
 
8.30
December 31, 2016:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted Average
Maturity
 
Notional Amount
 
Fair Value
 
Pay Rate
 
Receive Rate
 
Remaining Years to Maturity
 
 
(In thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
2025
 
$
9,700

 
$
693

 
0.88
%
 
3.00
%
 
8.54
Total
 
$
9,700

 
$
693

 
0.88
%
 
3.00
%
 
8.54
Futures
The following table provides information about the Company's short positions in futures as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.
March 31, 2017:
Description
 
Notional Amount
 
Fair Value
 
Remaining Months to Expiration
($ in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Treasury Futures
 
$
(25,800
)
 
$
(24
)
 
2.73
Eurodollar Futures
 
(6,000
)
 
2

 
4.18

21


December 31, 2016:
Description
 
Notional Amount
 
Fair Value
 
Remaining Months to Expiration
($ in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Treasury Futures
 
$
(26,700
)
 
$
71

 
2.70
Eurodollar Futures
 
(9,000
)
 
1

 
5.59
TBAs
The Company transacts in the forward settling TBA market. Pursuant to these TBA transactions, the Company agrees to purchase or sell, for future delivery, Agency RMBS with certain principal and interest terms and certain types of underlying collateral, but the particular Agency RMBS to be delivered is not identified until shortly before the TBA settlement date. TBAs are liquid and have quoted market prices and represent the most actively traded class of MBS. The Company primarily uses TBAs to mitigate interest rate risk, typically in the form of short positions. However, from time to time the Company also invests in TBAs as a means of acquiring additional exposure to Agency RMBS, or for speculative purposes, including holding long positions. Overall, the Company typically holds a net short position.
The Company does not generally take delivery of TBAs; rather, it settles the associated receivable and payable with its trading counterparties on a net basis. Transactions with the same counterparty for the same TBA that result in a reduction of the position are treated as extinguished.
As of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company had outstanding contracts to purchase ("long positions") and sell ("short positions") TBA securities as follows:
 
 
March 31, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
TBA Securities
 
Notional Amount(1)
 
Cost
Basis(2)
 
Market Value(3)
 
Net Carrying Value(4)
 
Notional Amount (1)
 
Cost
Basis(2)
 
Market Value(3)
 
Net Carrying Value(4)
(In thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Purchase contracts:
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets
 
$
137,022

 
$
140,723

 
$
141,260

 
$
537

 
$
49,138

 
$
49,774

 
$
49,870

 
$
96

Liabilities
 
3,000

 
2,977

 
2,974

 
(3
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
 
140,022


143,700


144,234


534


49,138

 
49,774

 
49,870

 
96

Sale contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets
 
(64,000
)
 
(65,370
)
 
(65,325
)
 
45

 
(281,655
)
 
(298,807
)
 
(297,858
)
 
949

Liabilities
 
(520,580
)
 
(541,766
)
 
(544,196
)
 
(2,430
)
 
(183,381
)
 
(189,694
)
 
(190,248
)
 
(554
)
 
 
(584,580
)

(607,136
)

(609,521
)

(2,385
)

(465,036
)
 
(488,501
)
 
(488,106
)
 
395

Total TBA securities, net
 
$
(444,558
)
 
$
(463,436
)
 
$
(465,287
)
 
$
(1,851
)
 
$
(415,898
)
 
$
(438,727
)
 
$
(438,236
)
 
$
491

(1)
Notional amount represents the principal balance of the underlying Agency RMBS.
(2)
Cost basis represents the forward price to be paid (received) for the underlying Agency RMBS.
(3)
Market value represents the current market value of the underlying Agency RMBS (on a forward delivery basis) as of period end.
(4)
Net carrying value represents the difference between the market value of the TBA contract as of period end and the cost basis and is reported in Financial derivatives-assets at fair value and Financial derivatives-liabilities at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
The tables below details the average notional values of the Company's financial derivatives, using absolute value of month end notional values, for the three month period ended March 31, 2017 and the year ended December 31, 2016:
Derivative Type
 
Three Month
Period Ended
March 31, 2017
 
Year Ended
December 31, 2016
 
 
(In thousands)
Interest rate swaps
 
$
397,424

 
$
451,847

TBAs
 
594,014

 
488,075

Futures
 
34,500

 
22,085


22


Gains and losses on the Company's financial derivatives for the three month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 are summarized in the tables below:
 
 
Three Month Period Ended March 31, 2017
Derivative Type
 
Net Realized Gains (Losses) on Periodic Settlements of Interest Rate Swaps
 
Net Realized Gains (Losses) Other Than Periodic Settlements of Interest Rate Swaps
 
Net Realized Gains (Losses) on Financial Derivatives
 
Change in Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Accrued Periodic Settlements of Interest Rate Swaps
 
Change in Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) Other Than on Accrued Periodic Settlements of Interest Rate Swaps
 
Change in Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Financial Derivatives
(In thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps
 
$
(15
)
 
$
(29
)
 
$
(44
)
 
$
(462
)
 
$
756

 
$
294

TBAs
 
 
 
1,831

 
1,831

 
 
 
(2,342
)
 
(2,342
)
Futures
 
 
 
(134
)
 
(134
)
 
 
 
(94
)
 
(94
)
Total
 
$
(15
)
 
$
1,668

 
$
1,653

 
$
(462
)
 
$
(1,680
)
 
$
(2,142
)
 
 
Three Month Period Ended March 31, 2016
Derivative Type
 
Net Realized Gains (Losses) on Periodic Settlements of Interest Rate Swaps
 
Net Realized Gains (Losses) Other Than Periodic Settlements of Interest Rate Swaps
 
Net Realized Gains (Losses) on Financial Derivatives
 
Change in Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Accrued Periodic Settlements of Interest Rate Swaps
 
Change in Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) Other Than on Accrued Periodic Settlements of Interest Rate Swaps
 
Change in Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Financial Derivatives
(In thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps
 
$
(672
)
 
$
(1,226
)
 
$
(1,898
)
 
$
(726
)
 
$
(12,543
)
 
$
(13,269
)
TBAs
 
 
 
(2,099
)
 
(2,099
)
 
 
 
(844
)
 
(844
)
Futures
 
 
 
$
1

 
$
1

 
 
 
$
(22
)
 
$
(22
)
Total
 
$
(672
)
 
$
(3,324
)
 
$
(3,996
)
 
$
(726
)
 
$
(13,409
)
 
$
(14,135
)
As of March 31, 2017, the Company also held short positions in U.S. Treasury securities, with a principal amount of $83.0 million and a fair value of $79.5 million. As of December 31, 2016, the Company also held short positions in U.S. Treasury securities, with a principal amount of $78.6 million and a fair value of $74.2 million. Such securities are included on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet under the caption U.S. Treasury securities sold short, at fair value.
6. Borrowings under Repurchase Agreements
The Company enters into repurchase agreements. A repurchase agreement involves the sale of an asset to a counterparty together with a simultaneous agreement to repurchase the transferred asset or similar asset from such counterparty at a future date. The Company accounts for its repurchase agreements as collateralized borrowings, with the transferred assets effectively serving as collateral for the related borrowing. The Company's repurchase agreements typically range in term from 30 to 180 days. The principal economic terms of each repurchase agreement—such as loan amount, interest rate, and maturity date—are typically negotiated on a transaction-by-transaction basis. Other terms and conditions, such as relating to events of default, are typically governed under the Company's master repurchase agreements. Absent an event of default, the Company maintains beneficial ownership of the transferred securities during the term of the repurchase agreement and receives the related principal and interest payments. Interest rates on these borrowings are generally fixed based on prevailing rates corresponding to the terms of the borrowings, and interest is paid at the termination of the repurchase agreement at which time the Company may enter into a new repurchase agreement at prevailing market rates with the same counterparty, repay that counterparty and possibly negotiate financing terms with a different counterparty, or choose to no longer finance the related asset. In response to a decline in the fair value of the transferred securities, whether as a result of changes in market conditions, security paydowns, or other factors, repurchase agreement counterparties will typically make a margin call, whereby the Company will be required to post additional securities and/or cash as collateral with the counterparty in order to re-establish the agreed-upon collateralization requirements. In the event of increases in fair value of the transferred securities, the Company generally can require the counterparty to post collateral with it in the form of cash or securities. The Company is generally permitted to sell or re-pledge any securities posted by the counterparty as collateral; however, upon termination of the repurchase agreement, or other circumstance in which the counterparty is no longer required to post such margin, the Company must return to the counterparty the same security that had been posted. The contractual amount (loan amount) of the Company's repurchase agreements approximates fair value, based on the short-term nature of the debt and the adequacy of the collateral.

23


At any given time, the Company seeks to have its outstanding borrowings under repurchase agreements with several different counterparties in order to reduce the exposure to any single counterparty. As of each of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company had outstanding borrowings under repurchase agreements with thirteen counterparties.
The following table details the Company's outstanding borrowings under repurchase agreements as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016:
 
 
March 31, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
Weighted Average
 
 
 
Weighted Average
Remaining Days to Maturity
 
Borrowings Outstanding
 
Interest Rate
 
Remaining Days to Maturity
 
Borrowings Outstanding
 
Interest Rate
 
Remaining Days to Maturity
 
 
(In thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
30 days or less
 
$
514,438

 
0.92
%
 
14
 
$
545,817

 
0.80
%
 
19
31-60 days
 
207,068

 
0.91

 
43
 
304,398

 
0.91

 
45
61-90 days
 
300,979

 
1.06

 
76
 
299,081

 
0.98

 
74
91-120 days
 
13,738

 
1.04

 
105
 
1,050

 
0.88

 
109
121-150 days
 
136,635

 
0.99

 
137
 
12,428

 
0.97

 
135
151-180 days
 
5,427

 
1.15

 
168
 
35,199

 
1.05

 
164
Total
 
$
1,178,285

 
0.96
%
 
51
 
$
1,197,973

 
0.88
%
 
45
Repurchase agreements involving underlying investments that the Company sold prior to period end, for settlement following period end, are shown using their original maturity dates even though such repurchase agreements may be expected to be terminated early upon settlement of the sale of the underlying investment.
As of both March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the fair value of RMBS transferred as collateral under outstanding borrowings under repurchase agreements was $1.2 billion. Collateral transferred under outstanding borrowings as of March 31, 2017 includes RMBS in the amount of $79.2 million that were sold prior to period end but for which such sale had not yet settled. Collateral transferred under outstanding borrowings as of December 31, 2016 includes RMBS in the amount of $33.5 million that were sold prior to year end but for which such sale had not yet settled. In addition the Company posted net cash collateral of $20.1 million and additional securities with a fair value of $0.5 million as of March 31, 2017 as a result of margin calls from various counterparties. The Company posted net cash collateral of $42.2 million and additional securities with a fair value of $0.5 million as of December 31, 2016 as a result of margin calls from various counterparties.
Amount at risk represents the excess, if any, for each counterparty of the fair value of collateral held by such counterparty over the amounts outstanding under repurchase agreements. The following table reflects counterparties for which the amounts at risk relating to our repurchase agreements was greater than 10% of shareholders' equity as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.
March 31, 2017:
Counterparty
 
Amount at Risk(1)
 
Weighted Average Remaining Days to Maturity
 
Percentage of Shareholders' Equity
 
 
(In thousands)
 
 
 
 
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
 
$
14,115

 
59
 
10.1
%
(1)
Amounts at risk exclude, in aggregate, $0.6 million of net accrued interest, defined as accrued interest on securities held as collateral less interest payable on cash borrowed.
December 31, 2016:
Counterparty
 
Amount at Risk(1)
 
Weighted Average Remaining Days to Maturity
 
Percentage of Shareholders' Equity
 
 
(In thousands)
 
 
 
 
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
 
$
15,077

 
58
 
10.6
%
(1)
Amounts at risk exclude, in aggregate, $0.6 million of net accrued interest, defined as accrued interest on securities held as collateral less interest payable on cash borrowed.

24


7. Offsetting of Assets and Liabilities
The Company records financial instruments at fair value as described in Note 2. All financial instruments are recorded on a gross basis on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. In connection with its financial derivatives, repurchase agreements, and related trading agreements, the Company and its counterparties are required to pledge collateral. Cash or other collateral is exchanged as required with each of the Company's counterparties in connection with open derivative positions and repurchase agreements.
The following tables present information about certain assets and liabilities representing financial instruments as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016. The Company has not previously entered into master netting agreements with any of its counterparties. Certain of the Company's repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements and financial derivative transactions are governed by underlying agreements that generally provide a right of offset in the event of default or in the event of a bankruptcy of either party to the transaction.
March 31, 2017:
Description
 
Amount of Assets (Liabilities) Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheet(1)
 
Financial Instruments Available for Offset
 
Financial Instruments Transferred or Pledged as Collateral(2)(3)
 
Cash Collateral (Received) Pledged(2)(3)
 
Net Amount
(In thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial derivatives–assets
 
$
5,464

 
$
(1,865
)
 
$
—

 
$
(79
)
 
$
3,520

Reverse repurchase agreements
 
80,133

 
(80,133
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial derivatives–liabilities
 
(3,572
)
 
1,865

 
—

 
1,216

 
(491
)
Repurchase agreements
 
(1,178,285
)
 
80,133

 
1,078,032

 
20,120

 
—

(1)
In the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet, all balances associated with the repurchase agreements and financial derivatives are presented on a gross basis.
(2)
For the purpose of this presentation, for each row the total amount of financial instruments transferred or pledged and cash collateral (received) or pledged may not exceed the applicable gross amount of assets or (liabilities) as presented here. Therefore, the Company has reduced the amount of financial instruments transferred or pledged as collateral related to the Company's repurchase agreements and cash collateral pledged on the Company's financial derivative assets and liabilities. Total financial instruments transferred or pledged as collateral on the Company's repurchase agreements as of March 31, 2017 were $1.23 billion. As of March 31, 2017 total cash collateral on financial derivative assets and liabilities excludes $1.7 million and $3.5 million, respectively of net excess cash collateral.
(3)
When collateral is pledged to or pledged by a counterparty, it is often pledged or posted with respect to all positions with such counterparty, and in such cases such collateral cannot be specifically identified as relating to a specific asset or liability. As a result, in preparing the above table, the Company has made assumptions in allocating pledged or posted collateral among the various rows.
December 31, 2016:
Description
 
Amount of Assets (Liabilities) Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheet(1)
 
Financial Instruments Available for Offset
 
Financial Instruments Transferred or Pledged as Collateral(2)(3)
 
Cash Collateral (Received) Pledged(2)(3)
 
Net Amount
(In thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial derivatives–assets
 
$
6,008

 
$
(1,346
)
 
$
—

 
$
(50
)
 
$
4,612

Reverse repurchase agreements
 
75,012

 
(75,012
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial derivatives–liabilities
 
(1,975
)
 
1,346

 
—

 
555

 
(74
)
Repurchase agreements
 
(1,197,973
)
 
75,012

 
1,080,786

 
42,175

 
—

(1)
In the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet, all balances associated with the repurchase agreements and financial derivatives are presented on a gross basis.
(2)
For the purpose of this presentation, for each row the total amount of financial instruments transferred or pledged and cash collateral (received) or pledged may not exceed the applicable gross amount of assets or (liabilities) as presented here. Therefore the Company has reduced the amount of financial instruments transferred or pledged as collateral related to the Company's repurchase agreements and cash collateral pledged on the Company's financial derivative assets and liabilities. Total financial instruments transferred or pledged as collateral on the Company's repurchase agreements as of December

25


31, 2016 were $1.22 billion. As of December 31, 2016 total cash collateral on financial derivative assets and liabilities excludes $4.6 million and $0.1 million, respectively of net excess cash collateral.
(3)
When collateral is pledged to or pledged by a counterparty, it is often pledged or posted with respect to all positions with such counterparty, and in such cases such collateral cannot be specifically identified as relating to a specific asset or liability. As a result, in preparing the above table, the Company has made assumptions in allocating pledged or posted collateral among the various rows.
8. Earnings Per Share
Basic earnings per share, or "EPS," is calculated by dividing net income (loss) for the period by the weighted average of the Company's common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS takes into account the effect of outstanding dilutive instruments, such as share options and warrants, if any, and uses the average share price for the period in determining the number of incremental shares that are to be added to the weighted average number of shares outstanding. As of March 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company did not have any dilutive instruments outstanding.
The following table presents a reconciliation of the earnings/(losses) and shares used in calculating basic EPS for the three month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016:
(In thousands except for share amounts)
 
Three Month
Period Ended
March 31, 2017
 
Three Month
Period Ended
March 31, 2016
Numerator:
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss)
 
$
2,052

 
$
(239
)
Denominator:
 
 
 
 
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding
 
9,130,897

 
9,121,198

Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share
 
$
0.22

 
$
(0.03
)
9. Related Party Transactions
Management Agreement
The Company is party to the Management Agreement, which provides for an initial term through September 24, 2017, and which will be renewed automatically each year thereafter for an additional one-year period, subject to certain termination rights. The Company is externally managed and advised by the Manager. Pursuant to the terms of the Management Agreement, the Manager provides the Company with its management team, including its officers, and appropriate support personnel. The Company does not have any employees. The Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Company.
The Manager receives an annual management fee in an amount equal to 1.50% per annum of shareholders' equity (as defined in the Management Agreement) as of the end of each fiscal quarter (before deductions for any management fee with respect to such fiscal period). The management fee is payable quarterly in arrears. For both of the three month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, the total management fee incurred was $0.5 million.
Services Agreement
The Manager and EMG are parties to a services agreement, pursuant to which EMG is required to provide to the Manager sufficient personnel, services, and resources to enable the Manager to carry out its obligations and responsibilities under the Management Agreement. The Company is a named third-party beneficiary to the services agreement and, as a result, has, as a non-exclusive remedy, a direct right of action against EMG in the event of any breach by the Manager of any of its duties, obligations, or agreements under the Management Agreement that arise out of or result from any breach by EMG of its obligations under the services agreement. The services agreement will terminate upon the termination of the Management Agreement. Pursuant to the services agreement, the Manager makes certain payments to EMG in connection with the services provided. The Manager and EMG have overlapping ownership and are under common control.
Expense Reimbursement
Under the terms of the Management Agreement, the Company is required to reimburse the Manager for operating expenses related to the Company that are incurred by the Manager, including expenses relating to legal, accounting, due diligence, other services, and all other costs and expenses. The Company's reimbursement obligation is not subject to any dollar limitation. Expenses will be reimbursed in cash within 60 days following delivery of the expense statement by the Manager; provided, however, that such reimbursement may be offset by the Manager against amounts due to the Company from the Manager. The Company will not reimburse the Manager for the salaries and other compensation of the Manager's personnel except that the Company will be responsible for expenses incurred by the Manager in employing certain dedicated or partially dedicated personnel as further described below.

26


The Company reimburses the Manager for the allocable share of the compensation, including, without limitation, wages, salaries, and employee benefits paid or reimbursed, as approved by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Trustees, to certain dedicated or partially dedicated personnel who spend all or a portion of their time managing the Company's affairs, based upon the percentage of time devoted by such personnel to the Company's affairs. In their capacities as officers or personnel of the Manager or its affiliates, such personnel will devote such portion of their time to the Company's affairs as is necessary to enable the Company to operate its business.
For the three month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 the Company reimbursed the Manager $0.4 million and $0.9 million, respectively, for previously incurred operating and compensation expenses.
Termination Fee
The Management Agreement requires the Company to pay a termination fee to the Manager in the event of (1) the Company's termination or non-renewal of the Management Agreement without cause or (2) the Manager's termination of the Management Agreement upon a default by the Company in the performance of any material term of the Management Agreement. Such termination fee will be equal to 5% of Shareholders' Equity, as defined in the Management Agreement as of the month-end preceding the date of the notice of termination or non-renewal of the Management Agreement.
Registration Rights Agreement
The Company is a party to a registration rights agreement with an affiliate of EMG and with the Blackstone Tactical Opportunities Funds (the "Blackstone Funds") pursuant to which the Company has granted its initial investors and each of their permitted transferees and other holders of the Company's "registrable common shares" (as such term is defined in the registration rights agreement) who become parties to the registration rights agreement with certain demand and/or piggy-back registration and shelf takedown rights.
10. Capital
The Company has authorized 500,000,000 common shares, $0.01 par value per share, and 100,000,000 preferred shares, $0.01 par value per share. The Board of Trustees may authorize the issuance of additional shares of either class. As of both March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, there were 9,130,897 common shares outstanding. No preferred shares have been issued.
During the three month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, the Board of Directors authorized dividends totaling $0.40 per share and $0.45 per share, respectively. Total dividends declared during the three month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 were $3.7 million, and $4.1 million, respectively.
Detailed below is a roll forward of the Company's common shares outstanding for the three month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016:
 
 
Three Month Period Ended March 31, 2017
 
Three Month Period Ended March 31, 2016
Common Shares Outstanding
(12/31/2016 and 12/31/2015, respectively)
 
9,130,897

 
9,135,103

Share Activity:
 
 
 
 
Shares repurchased
 
—

 
(17,920
)
Common Shares Outstanding
(3/31/2017 and 3/31/2016, respectively)
 
9,130,897

 
9,117,183

Unvested restricted shares outstanding
(3/31/2017 and 3/31/2016, respectively)
 
16,395

 
15,390


27

The below table provides details on the Company's restricted shares granted pursuant to share award agreements which are unvested at March 31, 2017:
Grant Recipient
 
Number of Restricted Shares Granted
 
Grant Date
 
Vesting Date(1)
Independent trustees:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
9,856

 
September 13, 2016
 
September 12, 2017
Partially dedicated employees:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2,302

 
December 13, 2016
 
December 13, 2017
 
 
1,556

 
December 13, 2016
 
December 13, 2018
 
 
2,359

 
December 15, 2015
 
December 15, 2017
 
 
322

 
December 15, 2015
 
December 31, 2017
(1)
Date at which such restricted shares will vest and become non-forfeitable.
As of March 31, 2017, there were 229,001 shares available for future issuance under the Company's 2013 Equity Incentive Plan.
On August 13, 2013, the Company's Board of Trustees approved the adoption of a $10 million share repurchase program. The program, which is open-ended in duration, allows the Company to make repurchases from time to time on the open market or in negotiated transactions, including through Rule 10b5-1 plans. Repurchases are at the Company's discretion, subject to applicable law, share availability, price and the Company's financial performance, among other considerations. During the three month period ended March 31, 2017, the Company did not purchase any of its common shares. From inception of the share repurchase program through March 31, 2017, the Company has purchased 47,481 of its common shares at an aggregate cost of $0.6 million, and an average price per share of $12.03.
Distribution Policy
The timing and frequency of distributions will be determined by the Board of Trustees based upon a variety of factors deemed relevant by the Company's trustees, including restrictions under applicable law, capital requirements of the Company, and the REIT requirements of the Code. Distributions to shareholders generally will be taxable as ordinary income, although a portion of such distributions may be designated as long-term capital gain or qualified dividend income, or may constitute a return of capital. The Company will furnish annually to each shareholder a statement setting forth distributions paid or deemed paid during the preceding year and their U.S. federal income tax treatment.
It is the intention of the Company to distribute at least 100% of its taxable income, after application of available tax attributes, within the time limits prescribed by the Internal Revenue Code, which may extend into the subsequent taxable year.
11. Commitments and Contingencies
From time to time, the Company may become involved in various claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company provides current directors and officers with a limited indemnification against liabilities arising in connection with the performance of their duties to the Company.
In the normal course of business the Company may also enter into contracts that contain a variety of representations, warranties, and general indemnifications. The Company's maximum exposure under these arrangements, including future claims that may be made against the Company that have not yet occurred, is unknown. The Company has not incurred any costs to defend lawsuits or settle claims related to these indemnification agreements. The Company has no liabilities recorded for these agreements as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 and management is not aware of any significant contingencies at March 31, 2017.

28

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, except where the context suggests otherwise, "EARN," "we," "us," and "our" refer to Ellington Residential Mortgage REIT and its subsidiaries, our "Manager" refers to Ellington Residential Mortgage Management LLC, our external manager, and "Ellington" refers to Ellington Management Group, L.L.C. and its affiliated investment advisory firms.
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
When used in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, in future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") or in press releases or other written or oral communications, statements which are not historical in nature, including those containing words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "project," "plan," "continue," "intend," "should," "would," "could," "goal," "objective," "will," "may," "seek" or similar expressions, are intended to identify "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the "Securities Act," and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and, as such, may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and assumptions.
Forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions, and expectations of our future performance, taking into account all information currently available to us. These beliefs, assumptions and expectations are subject to risks and uncertainties and can change as a result of many possible events or factors, not all of which are known to us. If a change occurs, our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations may vary materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements. The following factors are examples of those that could cause actual results to vary from our forward-looking statements: changes in interest rates and the market value of our securities; our use and dependence on leverage; the impact of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac being placed into conservatorship and related events, including the lack of certainty as to the future roles and structures of these entities and changes to legislation and regulations affecting these entities; market volatility; changes in the prepayment rates on the mortgage loans underlying the securities we own and intend to acquire; changes in rates of default and/or recovery rates on our non-agency assets; our ability to borrow to finance our assets and the costs of such borrowings; changes in government regulations affecting our business; our ability to maintain our exclusion from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"); and risks associated with investing in real estate related assets, including changes in business conditions and the general economy. These and other risks, uncertainties and factors, including the risk factors described under Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 as filed with the SEC, could cause our actual results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements we make. All forward-looking statements 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 us. Except as required by law, we are not obligated to, and do not intend to, update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Executive Summary
We are a Maryland real estate investment trust, or "REIT," formed in August 2012 that specializes in acquiring, investing in, and managing residential mortgage- and real estate-related assets. Our primary objective is to generate attractive current yields and risk-adjusted total returns for our shareholders by making investments that we believe compensate us appropriately for the risks associated with them. We seek to attain this objective by constructing and actively managing a portfolio comprised primarily of residential mortgage-backed securities, or "RMBS," for which the principal and interest payments are guaranteed by a U.S. government agency or a U.S. government-sponsored entity, or "Agency RMBS," and, to a lesser extent, RMBS that do not carry such guarantees, or "non-Agency RMBS," such as RMBS backed by prime jumbo, Alternative A-paper, manufactured housing, and subprime residential mortgage loans. We also may opportunistically acquire and manage other types of residential mortgage-related and real estate-related asset classes, such as residential mortgage loans, and mortgage servicing rights, or "MSRs." We believe that being able to combine Agency RMBS with non-Agency RMBS and other residential mortgage- and real estate-related asset classes enables us to balance a range of mortgage-related risks.
We were formed through an initial strategic venture among affiliates of Ellington, an investment management firm and registered investment adviser with a 22-year history of investing in a broad spectrum of MBS and related derivatives, with an emphasis on the RMBS market, and the Blackstone Tactical Opportunity Funds, or the "Blackstone Funds." As of March 31, 2017, the Blackstone Funds owned approximately 29% of our outstanding common shares.
We are externally managed and advised by our Manager, an affiliate of Ellington.
We use leverage in our Agency RMBS strategy and, while we have not done so meaningfully to date, we may use leverage in our non-Agency RMBS strategy as well, although we expect such leverage to be lower. We have financed our purchases of Agency RMBS exclusively through repurchase agreements, which we account for as collateralized borrowings. As

29

of March 31, 2017, we had outstanding borrowings under repurchase agreements in the amount of $1.2 billion with thirteen counterparties.
We have elected to be taxed as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, we generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income taxes on our taxable income that we distribute currently to our shareholders as long as we maintain our qualification as a REIT. We intend to conduct our operations so that neither we nor any of our subsidiaries is required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act.
As of March 31, 2017, our book value per share was $15.35 as compared to $15.52 as of December 31, 2016.
Trends and Recent Market Developments
Key trends and recent market developments for the MBS market include the following:
•
U.S. Federal Reserve and U.S. Monetary Policy—In March 2017, the U.S. Federal Reserve, or "Federal Reserve," raised its target range for the federal funds rate by 0.25%, but maintained its existing policy of reinvesting principal payments from its U.S. Treasury security and Agency RMBS holdings. However, minutes from the March Federal Open Market Committee, or "FOMC," meeting indicated that it may change its reinvestment policy later this year;
•
Housing and Mortgage Market Statistics—Data released by S&P Dow Jones Indices for its S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Indices for February showed a continuation of mid-single-digit home price appreciation nationally; meanwhile, mortgage rates declined over the course of the quarter, with the Freddie Mac survey 30-year mortgage rate falling 18 basis points to end the quarter at 4.14%;
•
Prepayment Rate Trends—Prepayment rates remained low in the first quarter, with the majority of Agency mortgages no longer economically refinanceable;
•
Portfolio Overview and Outlook—Agency RMBS yield spreads widened over the course of the quarter, driven primarily by more hawkish indications from the Federal Reserve. Fixed-income credit spreads continued to tighten during the early part of the first quarter, but began widening in early March following intermeeting commentary.
Federal Reserve and U.S. Monetary Policy
On March 15, 2017, the FOMC announced that it would raise the target range for the federal funds rate by 0.25%, to 0.75%–1.00%. This marked the first back-to-back quarterly increases in the target range for the federal funds rate since 2006. In its March statement following the meeting, the FOMC indicated that economic activity has continued to expand at a moderate pace, and that solid job gains have contributed to a strengthening in the labor market. The FOMC also stated that inflation has increased in recent quarters and has moved closer to their two percent longer-run objective, although market-based measures of inflation compensation remain low. The FOMC reiterated that it expects that with gradual adjustments in the stance of monetary policy, the expansion of economic activity will continue at a moderate pace, labor market conditions will strengthen somewhat further, and inflation should stabilize around two percent over the medium term. Additionally, the FOMC indicated that it expects economic conditions to evolve in such a way that only gradual increases in the federal funds rate will be warranted, and that the federal funds rate is likely to remain, for some time, below prevailing longer run levels.
Over the course of the first quarter, the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield decreased by 5 basis points, from 2.44% as of December 30, 2016 to 2.39% as of March 31, 2017. Commentary from Federal Reserve officials over the intermeeting period between the February and March FOMC meetings contributed to increased market expectations of a decision to raise the target range for the federal funds rate at the March meeting. The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield increased 15 basis points during the two weeks prior to the March FOMC meeting, as investors reacted to comments made by Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen and other FOMC members, who all but assured investors that interest rates would be increased at the March FOMC meeting. After the meeting, assets rallied across markets, as the Federal Reserve left 2017–2018 guidance for additional target range increases unchanged from their December projections.
Finally, minutes from the March FOMC meeting indicated that a change to the Federal Reserve's reinvestment policy is likely later this year. While the Federal Reserve indicated that it expects to continue its reinvesting policy "until normalization of the level of the federal funds rate is well under way," uncertainty around when that condition would be satisfied weighed on asset valuations during the first quarter. The current pace of monthly reinvestments under this program is approximately $23 billion, and provides significant market support. A discontinuation of the program could have a meaningfully negative impact to prices. The FOMC minutes also showed that many participants emphasized that reducing the size of the balance sheet should be conducted in a passive and predictive manner.

30

Housing and Labor Market Statistics
Data released by S&P Dow Jones Indices for its S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Indices for February 2017 showed that, on average, home prices posted a 5.9% year-over-year increase for its 20-City Composite and a 5.2% year-over-year increase for its 10-City Composite, after seasonal adjustments. We believe that near-term home price trends are more likely to be driven by fundamental factors such as economic growth, mortgage rates, and affordability, rather than by technical factors such as foreclosure inventory.
On April 7, 2017, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, or "BLS," reported that, in March 2017, the U.S. unemployment rate was 4.5%, down from 5.0% a year earlier. The unemployment rate of 4.5% was the lowest level since May 2007 and represents a level generally considered consistent with an economy operating at or near full employment. In light of the drop in the labor force participation rate since the financial crisis, another, perhaps more relevant, measure of labor market conditions is employment growth. The BLS also reported that non-farm payrolls rose by 98,000 in March 2017, which was the weakest figure since last May, but suggests that the labor market is returning to a more sustainable pace of growth following large job gains in January and February. Over the past three months, job gains have averaged 178,000 per month.
Prepayment Rate Trends
As shown in the chart below, prepayment rates for non-specified pools have declined since year end. During the first quarter, the majority of Agency mortgages were no longer economically refinanceable. Prepayment rates for low loan balance specified pools increased slightly in the quarter.
 
 
 
 
Prepayment Rates
Description
 
Vintage
 
Collateral
 
Balance
 
Loan-to-Value
 
FICO
 
Dec 2016
 
Jan 2017
 
Feb 2017
 
Mar 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
(In billions)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FNMA 30-Year 3.5%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2014
 
Non-Specified
 
43.7
 
78

 
760

 
25.1
 
14.1
 
9.7
 
11.9
 
 
2014
 
Low Loan Balance
 
0.5
 
69

 
756

 
8.2
 
7.0
 
6.3
 
10.9
FNMA 30-Year 4.0%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2014
 
Non-Specified
 
47.7
 
80

 
741

 
29.3
 
19.6
 
14.2
 
17.0
 
 
2014
 
Low Loan Balance
 
2.6
 
73

 
740

 
11.5
 
9.6
 
8.8
 
11.9
Source: J.P. Morgan
The Mortgage Bankers Association's Refinance Index, which measures refinancing application volumes on a weekly basis, increased 12.4% in the first quarter, as shown in the chart below. The index rebounded from a multi-year low reached on December 23, 2016, but throughout the quarter was still meaningfully lower than a multi-year high reached on July 8, 2016.
 
 
As of
 
 
March 31,
2017
 
December 31, 2016
 
September 30, 2016
 
June 30,
2016
 
March 31,
2016
MBA Refinance Index
 
1,271.9

 
1,132.0

 
2,380.1

 
2,136.4

 
1,784.7

Source: Mortgage Bankers Association
Portfolio Overview and Outlook
General Market Overview
For most of the first quarter, both interest rate volatility and overall market volatility were low, but many measures of volatility increased towards the end of the quarter. The yield curve flattened over the course of the quarter as market participants ratcheted back their post-election expectations of economic growth and inflation in the U.S. economy. The 2-year U.S. Treasury yield rose 6 basis points to end the quarter at 1.25%, whereas the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield fell 5 basis points to 2.39%. Notably, global monetary policy has begun to diverge, as an interest rate hiking cycle is underway in the U.S. while the monetary policies of other major economies, including Europe and Japan, continue to be highly accommodative.
Fixed-income credit spreads continued to tighten during the early part of the first quarter, but began widening in early March following intermeeting commentary from several Federal Reserve governors, who expressed support for an imminent increase in the federal funds rate (which did in fact come to pass at the March 15th FOMC meeting), and who suggested that

31

tapering of the reinvestment program could begin later this year. These more hawkish indications from the Federal Reserve were the primary driver of the widening in Agency RMBS yield spreads over the course of the quarter. Meanwhile, non-Agency RMBS yield spreads remained flat to slightly tighter in March despite the movements in the broader credit markets, reflecting continued excellent fundamental and technical support in this sector.
Mortgage rates declined over the course of the first quarter, with the Freddie Mac survey 30-year mortgage rate falling 18 basis points to end the quarter at 4.14%. Similar to the fourth quarter, prepayment speeds remained low, with the majority of Agency mortgages no longer economically refinanceable. The Mortgage Bankers Association Refinance Index increased 12.4% in the first quarter, but remained well below the previously elevated levels of mid-2016.
We believe that several factors could put additional upward pressure on interest rates in the near term, including a tightening of Federal Reserve monetary policy in response to employment and economic growth in the United States. The risk of rising interest rates reinforces the importance of our ability, subject to our qualifying and maintaining our qualification as a REIT, to hedge interest rate risk in both our Agency RMBS and non-Agency MBS portfolios using a variety of instruments, including TBAs and interest rate swaps.
Agency
As of March 31, 2017, the value of our long Agency bond portfolio was $1.214 billion, as compared to $1.208 billion as of December 31, 2016.
Our Agency RMBS portfolio consisted principally of "specified pools." Specified pools are fixed rate Agency pools consisting of mortgages with special characteristics, such as mortgages with low loan balances, mortgages backed by investor properties, mortgages originated through the government-sponsored MHA refinancing programs, and mortgages with various other characteristics.
During the first quarter, both realized and implied volatility remained low, but yield spreads for Agency RMBS widened. Agency RMBS investors are becoming increasingly focused on the timing and mechanism of the Federal Reserve's discontinuation of its current policy of reinvesting principal payments from its Agency RMBS holdings. While the Federal Reserve has indicated that it expects to continue its reinvesting policy "until normalization of the level of the federal funds rate is well under way," uncertainty around when that condition would be satisfied weighed on asset valuations during the first quarter. Despite the anticipated reduced support from the Federal Reserve, we do not expect that Agency RMBS yield spreads will widen substantially, as they did during the 2013 "Taper Tantrum," largely because the investor base for Agency RMBS has changed substantially since then. Agency RMBS ownership has largely shifted away from investors such as the GSEs, certain money managers, and mortgage REITs whose activities, including delta-hedging and utilization of high degrees of leverage, tend to amplify price swings during periods of high volatility.
During the first quarter, mortgage rates remained relatively elevated from their pre-election levels, and prepayment rates declined, as many borrowers did have not an economic incentive to refinance their mortgages. The lower day count of the first quarter and the impact of winter seasonality were also factors contributing to the overall decline in prepayments. Since the generic pools that underlie TBAs tend to be more prepayment-sensitive than specified pools, the favorable decline in overall prepayment rates helped TBAs outperform specified pools over the course of the first quarter. This dampened our results for the first quarter, given that TBA short positions are a major component of our interest rate hedging portfolio.
Pay-ups on our specified pools decreased slightly quarter over quarter. Pay-ups are price premiums for specified pools relative to their TBA counterparts. Average pay-ups on our specified pools decreased to 0.68% as of March 31, 2017, from 0.70% as of December 31, 2016. Notwithstanding the slight decline of the first quarter, we believe that the evolving landscape, including the Federal Reserve's eventual withdrawal from the TBA market, may provide substantial support to pay-ups. In addition, technological advances in the mortgage origination and servicing industry have tended to have a much greater impact on non-specified pools as compared to specified pools. We believe that this trend will continue, ultimately driving greater investor demand for specified pools relative to TBAs.
For the quarter ended March 31, 2017, we had total net realized and unrealized losses of $(5.4) million, or $(0.59) per share, on our aggregate Agency RMBS portfolio. Slightly lower asset valuations during the period led to the modest net losses. During the quarter we continued to hedge interest rate risk, primarily through the use of interest rate swaps and short positions in TBAs, and to a lesser extent, short positions in U.S. Treasury securities. For the quarter, we had total net realized and unrealized losses of $(1.2) million, or $(0.13) per share, on our interest rate hedging portfolio. Within our hedging portfolio, our interest rate swaps generated net gains as swap rates increased across the yield curve, but those gains were offset by losses on our short positions in TBAs, U.S. Treasury securities, and futures. During the quarter, TBA roll prices increased and longer maturity U.S. Treasury yields declined, most notably in March, thereby leading to losses. In our hedging portfolio, the relative

32

proportion (based on 10-year equivalents2) of TBA short positions increased quarter over quarter relative to interest rate swaps. We believe that it is important to be able to hedge our Agency RMBS portfolio using a variety of instruments, including TBAs.
1"10-year equivalents" for a group of positions represent the amount of 10-year U.S. Treasury securities that would experience a similar change in market value under a standard parallel move in interest rates.
We actively traded our Agency RMBS portfolio during the quarter in order to capitalize on sector rotation opportunities. Our portfolio turnover for the quarter was 21% (as measured by sales and excluding paydowns), and we had net realized losses of $(2.5) million, excluding hedges. Our portfolio selection continues to be informed by mortgage industry trends—including significant enhancements in technology that are helping streamline the origination process—and we note that refinancing capacity remains high, with employment in the mortgage industry near a post-financial crisis high.
During the first quarter, we continued to focus our Agency RMBS purchasing activity primarily on specified pools, particularly those with higher coupons. The weighted average coupon on our fixed rate specified pools was 3.9%, unchanged from the prior quarter. Even though we net purchased assets during the first quarter in our Agency RMBS portfolio, the slight decline in asset prices caused the total market value of our Agency RMBS portfolio as of March 31, 2017 to remain relatively unchanged, at $1.2 billion, as compared to December 31, 2016. Our Agency RMBS portfolio continues to include a small allocation to Agency IOs, and similar to the fourth quarter of 2016, we increased our holdings of those during the first quarter. Some of the IOs that we purchased were backed by seasoned Ginnie Mae pools that have demonstrated some level of "burnout." Burnout often occurs after periods of high prepayments, when the mix of loans remaining in an RMBS pool becomes more concentrated in loans that tend to prepay more slowly; burnout can reflect a variety of factors, including the behavior of individual borrowers and overall trends in the mortgage banking industry. Our Agency IOs not only contribute to our portfolio in the form of their yields, but they also inherently serve as portfolio market value hedges in a rising interest rate environment.
We expect to continue to target specified pools that, based on our prepayment projections, should: (1) generate attractive yields relative to other Agency RMBS and U.S. Treasury securities, (2) have less prepayment sensitivity to government policy shocks, and/or (3) create opportunities for trading gains once the market recognizes their value, which for newer pools may come only after several months, when actual prepayment experience can be observed. We believe that our research team, proprietary prepayment models, and extensive databases remain essential tools in our implementation of this strategy.
The following table summarizes prepayment rates for our portfolio of fixed rate specified pools (excluding those backed by reverse mortgages) for the three month periods ended March 31, 2017, December, 31, 2016, September 30, 2016, June 30, 2016, and March 31, 2016.
 
 
Three Month Period Ended
 
 
March 31,
2017
 
December 31, 2016
 
September 30, 2016
 
June 30,
2016
 
March 31,
2016
Three Month Constant Prepayment Rates(1)
 
12.7
%
 
15.6
%
 
14.1
%
 
10.1
%
 
7.1
%
(1)
Excludes Agency fixed rate RMBS without any prepayment history.

33

The following table provides details about the composition of our portfolio of fixed rate specified pools (excluding those backed by reverse mortgages) as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.
 
 
 
March 31, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
 
Coupon
 
Current Principal
 
Fair Value
 
Weighted
Average Loan
Age (Months)
 
Current Principal
 
Fair Value
 
Weighted
Average Loan
Age (Months)
 
 
 
(In thousands)
 
 
 
(In thousands)
 
 
Fixed rate Agency RMBS:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
15-year fixed rate mortgages:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.00

 
$
40,994

 
$
42,144

 
20

 
$
35,199

 
$
36,201

 
20

 
3.50

 
78,797

 
82,633

 
25

 
97,018

 
101,868

 
21

 
4.00

 
9,453

 
10,046

 
32

 
9,612

 
10,294

 
30

Total 15-year fixed rate mortgages
 
 
129,244

 
134,823

 
24

 
141,829

 
148,363

 
22

20-year fixed rate mortgages
4.00

 
10,045

 
10,678

 
21

 
10,488

 
11,185

 
18

30-year fixed rate mortgages:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.50

 
1,597

 
1,548

 
5

 
1,607

 
1,562

 
2

 
3.00

 
13,277

 
13,241

 
21

 
16,000

 
15,970

 
29

 
3.50

 
278,198

 
286,718

 
19

 
255,122

 
263,743

 
18

 
4.00

 
398,766

 
421,328

 
18

 
391,677

 
415,251

 
17

 
4.50

 
178,097

 
192,282

 
25

 
173,689

 
188,083

 
22

 
5.00

 
44,159

 
48,437

 
39

 
48,324

 
52,981

 
35

 
5.50

 
1,461

 
1,620

 
122

 
1,670

 
1,854

 
119

 
6.00

 
850

 
973

 
126

 
887

 
1,013

 
123

Total 30-year fixed rate mortgages
 
 
916,405

 
966,147

 
21

 
888,976

 
940,457

 
20

Total fixed rate Agency RMBS
 
 
$
1,055,694

 
$
1,111,648

 
21

 
$
1,041,293

 
$
1,100,005

 
20

Our net Agency premium as a percentage of the fair value of our specified pool holdings is one metric that we use to measure the overall prepayment risk of our specified pool portfolio. Net Agency premium represents the total premium (excess of market value over outstanding principal balance) on our specified pool holdings less the total premium on related net short TBA positions. The lower our net Agency premium, the less we believe that our specified pool portfolio is exposed to market-wide increases in Agency RMBS prepayments. As of March 31, 2017, our net Agency premium as a percentage of fair value of our specified pool holdings was approximately 3.4%, as compared to 3.6%, as of December 31, 2016. Excluding TBA positions used to hedge our specified pool holdings, our Agency premium as a percentage of fair value was approximately 5.1% and 5.4% as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. Our Agency premium percentage and net Agency premium percentage may fluctuate from period to period based on a variety of factors, including market factors such as interest rates and mortgage rates, and, in the case of our net Agency premium percentage, based on the degree to which we hedge prepayment risk with short TBAs. We believe that our focus on purchasing pools with specific prepayment characteristics provides a measure of protection against prepayments.
We believe that our adaptive and active style of portfolio management is well suited to the current MBS market environment, which continues to be shaped by heightened prepayment risk, shifting central bank and government policies, regulatory changes, and developing technologies.
Non-Agency
As of March 31, 2017, our investment in non-Agency RMBS was $16.0 million as compared to $19.4 million as of December 31, 2016.

34

Our non-Agency RMBS performed well in the first quarter, driven by net carry and realized and unrealized gains. As the case has been for some time, the fundamentals underlying non-Agency RMBS, led by a stable housing market, continue to be strong. On a quarter-over-quarter basis, our non-Agency RMBS portfolio decreased in size, as we sold securities that we believed had become fully valued. To the extent that more attractive entry points develop in non-Agency RMBS, we may increase our capital allocation to this sector.
Financing
Over the course of the quarter our cost of repo financing increased as LIBOR increased. Our average borrowing cost for the three month period ended March 31, 2017 was 0.94% as compared to 0.81% for the three month period ended December 31, 2016.
While large banks still dominate the repo market, non-bank firms, not subject to the same regulations as banks, are becoming more active in providing repo financing. The vast majority of our outstanding repo financing is still provided by banks and bank affiliates; however, in limited amounts, we have also entered into repo agreements with non-bank dealers. In general, we continue to see strong appetite and competitive terms from both types of lenders.
Our debt-to-equity ratio was to 8.4:1 as of March 31, 2017 as compared to 8.5:1 as of December 31, 2016. Adjusted for unsettled security purchases and sales, our debt-to-equity ratio was 8.2:1 as of March 31, 2017 and 8.3:1 as of December 31, 2016. Our leverage ratio may fluctuate period over period based on portfolio management decisions, market conditions, and the timing of security purchase and sale transactions.
Critical Accounting Policies
Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, or "U.S. GAAP." Entities in which we have a controlling financial interest, through ownership of the majority of the entities' voting equity interests, or through other contractual right that give us control, are consolidated by us. All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated.
Certain of our critical accounting policies require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. We believe that all of the decisions and assessments upon which our consolidated financial statements are based were reasonable at the time made based upon information available to us at that time. We rely on our Manager and Ellington's experience and analysis of historical and current market data in order to arrive at what we believe to be reasonable estimates. See Note 2 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a complete discussion of our significant accounting policies. We have identified our most critical accounting policies to be the following:
Valuation: For financial instruments that are traded in an "active market," the best measure of fair value is the quoted market price. However, many of our financial instruments are not traded in an active market. Therefore, management generally uses third-party valuations when available. If third-party valuations are not available, management uses other valuation techniques, such as the discounted cash flow methodology. Summary descriptions, for the various categories of financial instruments, of the valuation methodologies management uses in determining fair value of our financial instruments are detailed in Note 2 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements. Management utilizes such methodologies to assign a good faith fair value (the estimated price that, in an orderly transaction at the valuation date, would be received to sell an asset, or paid to transfer a liability, as the case may be) to each such financial instrument.
See the notes to our consolidated financial statements for more information on valuation techniques used by management in the valuation of our assets and liabilities.
Accounting for Securities: Investments in mortgage-backed securities are recorded on trade date. We have chosen to make a fair value election pursuant to ASC 825-10, Financial Instruments, for our mortgage-backed securities portfolio. Electing the fair value option allows us to record changes in fair value in our Consolidated Statement of Operations, which, in our view, more appropriately reflects the results of our operations for a particular reporting period as all securities activities will be recorded in a similar manner. As such, the mortgage-backed securities are recorded at fair value on our Consolidated Balance Sheet and the period change in fair value is recorded in current period earnings on our Consolidated Statement of Operations as a component of Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on securities.
Realized gains or losses on sales of mortgage-backed securities are included in Net realized gains (losses) on securities on the Consolidated Statement of Operations, and are recorded at the time of disposition. The cost of positions sold is calculated based on identified cost. Principal write-offs are generally treated as realized losses.

35

Interest Income: Coupon interest income on investment securities is accrued based on the outstanding principal balance and the current coupon rate on each security. We amortize purchase premiums and accrete purchase discounts on our fixed income investments using the effective interest method.
Our accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums on securities for U.S. federal and other tax purposes is likely to differ from the accounting treatment under U.S. GAAP of these items as described above.
See the Note 2 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements for more information on the assumptions and methods that we use to amortize purchase premiums and accrete purchase discounts.
Income Taxes: We made an election to be taxed as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a REIT, we generally are not subject to corporate-level federal and state income tax on net income we distribute to our shareholders. To qualify as a REIT, we must meet a number of organizational and operational requirements, including a requirement to distribute at least 90% of our taxable income to our shareholders. Even if we qualify as a REIT, we may be subject to certain federal, state, local and foreign taxes on our income and property and to federal income and excise taxes on our undistributed taxable income. If the Company fails to qualify as a REIT, and does not qualify for certain statutory relief provisions, it will be subject to U.S. federal, state, and local income taxes and may be precluded from qualifying as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year in which the Company fails to qualify as a REIT.
We follow the authoritative guidance on accounting for and disclosure of uncertainty on tax positions, which requires management to determine whether a tax position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by the applicable taxing authority, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. For uncertain tax positions, the tax benefit to be recognized is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company did not have any unrecognized tax benefits resulting from tax positions related to the current period or to 2016, 2015, 2014, or 2013 (its open tax years). In the normal course of business, we may be subject to examination by federal, state, local, and foreign jurisdictions, where applicable, for the current period, 2016, 2015, 2014, and 2013 (our open tax years). We may take positions with respect to certain tax issues which depend on legal interpretation of facts or applicable tax regulations. Should the relevant tax regulators successfully challenge any such positions; we might be found to have a tax liability that has not been recorded in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. Also, management's conclusions regarding the authoritative guidance may be subject to review and adjustment at a later date based on changing tax laws, regulations, and interpretations thereof. There were no amounts accrued for penalties or interest as of or during the periods presented in the consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Refer to the notes to our consolidated financial statements for a description of relevant recent accounting pronouncements.

36

Financial Condition
Investment portfolio
The following tables summarize our mortgage-backed securities portfolio of as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016:
 
March 31, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
(In thousands)
Current Principal
 
Fair Value
 
Average Price(1)
 
Cost
 
Average Cost(1)
 
Current Principal
 
Fair Value
 
Average Price(1)
 
Cost
 
Average Cost(1)
Agency RMBS(2)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
15-year fixed rate mortgages
$
129,244

 
$
134,823

 
$
104.32

 
$
135,290

 
$
104.68

 
$
141,829

 
$
148,363

 
$
104.61

 
$
148,873

 
$
104.97

20-year fixed rate mortgages
10,045

 
10,678

 
106.30

 
10,818

 
107.70

 
10,488

 
11,185

 
106.65

 
11,275

 
107.50

30-year fixed rate mortgages
916,405

 
966,147

 
105.43

 
976,462

 
106.55

 
888,976

 
940,457

 
105.79

 
948,157

 
106.66

ARMs
28,521

 
29,760

 
104.34

 
30,293

 
106.21

 
31,656

 
33,138

 
104.68

 
33,226

 
104.96

Reverse mortgages
55,668

 
60,127

 
108.01

 
60,780

 
109.18

 
57,411

 
62,058

 
108.09

 
63,114

 
109.93

Total Agency RMBS
1,139,883

 
1,201,535

 
105.41

 
1,213,643

 
106.47

 
1,130,360

 
1,195,201

 
105.74

 
1,204,645

 
106.57

Non-Agency RMBS
20,486

 
15,999

 
78.10

 
14,176

 
69.20

 
27,794

 
19,446

 
69.96

 
18,268

 
65.73

Total RMBS(2)
1,160,369

 
1,217,534

 
104.93

 
1,227,819

 
105.81

 
1,158,154

 
1,214,647

 
104.88

 
1,222,913

 
105.59

Agency IOs
 n/a
 
12,542

 
n/a
 
12,256

 
n/a
 
 n/a
 
12,347

 
n/a
 
11,841

 
n/a
Total mortgage-backed securities
 
 
1,230,076

 
 
 
1,240,075

 
 
 
 
 
1,226,994

 
 
 
1,234,754

 
 
U.S. Treasury securities sold short
(82,989)
 
(79,454
)
 
95.74

 
(80,616
)
 
97.14

 
(78,589)
 
(74,194
)
 
94.41

 
(75,465
)
 
96.02

Reverse repurchase agreements
80,133
 
80,133

 
100.00

 
80,133

 
100.00

 
75,012
 
75,012

 
100.00

 
75,012

 
100.00

Total
 
 
$
1,230,755

 
 
 
$
1,239,592

 
 
 
 
 
$
1,227,812

 
 
 
$
1,234,301

 
 
(1)
Represents the dollar amount (not shown in thousands) per $100 of current principal of the price or cost for the security.
(2)
Excludes Agency IOs.
The vast majority of our capital is allocated to our Agency RMBS strategy, which includes investments in Agency pools and Agency CMOs. Within this strategy, we generally target Agency RMBS pools that, taking into account their particular composition and based on our prepayment projections: (1) should generate attractive yields relative to other Agency RMBS and U.S. Treasury securities, (2) should have less prepayment sensitivity to government policy shocks and/or (3) should create opportunities for trading gains once the market recognizes their value, which for newer pools may come only after several months when actual prepayment experience can be observed. As of both March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, investments in non-Agency RMBS constituted a relatively small portion of our total investments.
Our most prevalent method of financing RMBS is through short-term repurchase agreements, which generally have maturities of 180 days or less. The weighted average lives of the RMBS that we own are generally much longer. Consequently, the weighted average term of our repurchase agreement financings will almost always be substantially shorter than the expected average maturity of our RMBS. This mismatch in maturities, together with the uncertainty of RMBS prepayments, and other potential changes in timing and/or amount of cash flows on our RMBS assets, creates the risk that changes in interest rates will cause our financing costs with respect to our RMBS to increase relative to the income on our RMBS over the term of our investments.

37

Financial Derivatives
The following table summarizes our portfolio of financial derivative holdings as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016:
(In thousands)
 
March 31, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value:
 
 
 
 
TBA securities purchase contracts
 
$
537

 
$
96

TBA securities sale contracts
 
45

 
949

Fixed payer interest rate swaps
 
4,318

 
4,198

Fixed receiver interest rate swaps
 
562

 
693

Futures
 
2

 
72

Total financial derivatives–assets, at fair value
 
5,464

 
6,008

Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value:
 
 
 
 
TBA securities purchase contracts
 
(3
)
 
—

TBA securities sale contracts
 
(2,430
)
 
(554
)
Fixed payer interest rate swaps
 
(1,115
)
 
(1,421
)
Futures
 
(24
)
 
—

Total financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value
 
(3,572
)
 
(1,975
)
Total
 
$
1,892

 
$
4,033

Pursuant to our hedging program, we engage in a variety of interest rate hedging activities that are designed to reduce the interest rate risk with respect to the liabilities incurred to acquire or hold RMBS. These interest rate hedges generally seek to reduce the interest rate sensitivity of our liabilities or, in other words, reduce the volatility of our financing cost over time attributable to interest rate changes. Our interest rate hedging transactions may include:
•Interest rate swaps (a contract exchanging a variable rate for a fixed rate, or vice versa);
•Interest rate swaptions (options to enter into interest rate swaps at a future date);
•TBA forward contracts on Agency pass-through certificates;
•Short sales of U.S. Treasury securities;
•Eurodollar and U.S. Treasury futures; and
•Other derivatives.
We generally enter into these transactions to offset the potential adverse effects of rising interest rates on short-term repurchase agreements. Our repurchase agreements generally have maturities of up to 180 days and carry interest rates that are determined by reference to LIBOR or correlated benchmark rates for those same periods. As each then-existing fixed rate repo borrowing matures, it will generally be replaced with a new fixed rate repo borrowing based on market interest rates established at that future date.
In the case of interest rate swaps, most of our agreements are structured such that we receive payments based on a variable interest rate and make payments based on a fixed interest rate. The variable interest rate on which payments are received is generally calculated based on various reset mechanisms for LIBOR. To the extent that our future repo borrowing costs continue to be highly correlated with LIBOR, our swap agreements help to reduce the variability of our overall repo borrowing costs, thus reducing risk to the extent we hold fixed rate assets that are financed with repo borrowings.
In the case of TBAs, most of our positions are short TBA positions with a negative duration, meaning that as interest rates rise, the value of the short position increases, so these positions serve as a hedge against increases in interest rates. In the event that interest rates rise, the increase in value of the short TBA position serves to offset corollary increases in our current and/or future borrowing costs under our repurchase agreements. While we primarily use TBAs to hedge interest rate risk, from time to time we also hold net long positions in certain TBA securities as a means of acquiring exposure to Agency RMBS. Our ability to engage in TBA transactions may be limited by our intention to remain qualified as a REIT.
As of March 31, 2017, as part of our interest rate hedging program, we also held short positions in U.S. Treasury securities, with a total principal amount of $83.0 million and a fair value of $79.5 million. As of December 31, 2016, we also held short positions in U.S. Treasury securities, with a total principal amount of $78.6 million and a fair value of $74.2 million.

38

The composition and relative mix of instruments we use to hedge various risks may vary from period to period given the amount of our liabilities outstanding or anticipated to be entered into, the overall market environment and our view as to which instruments best enable us to execute our hedging goals.
Leverage
The following table summarizes our outstanding liabilities under repurchase agreements as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016. We had no other borrowings outstanding.
 
 
March 31, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
Weighted Average
 
 
 
Weighted Average
Remaining Days to Maturity
 
Borrowings Outstanding
 
Interest Rate
 
Remaining Days to Maturity
 
Borrowings Outstanding
 
Interest Rate
 
Remaining Days to Maturity
 
 
(In thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
30 days or less
 
$
514,438

 
0.92
%
 
14
 
$
545,817

 
0.80
%
 
19
31-60 days
 
207,068

 
0.91

 
43
 
304,398

 
0.91

 
45
61-90 days
 
300,979

 
1.06

 
76
 
299,081

 
0.98

 
74
91-120 days
 
13,738

 
1.04

 
105
 
1,050

 
0.88

 
109
121-150 days
 
136,635

 
0.99

 
137
 
12,428

 
0.97

 
135
151-180 days
 
5,427

 
1.15

 
168
 
35,199

 
1.05

 
164
Total
 
$
1,178,285

 
0.96
%
 
51
 
$
1,197,973

 
0.88
%
 
45
We finance our assets with what we believe to be a prudent amount of leverage, which will vary from time to time based upon the particular characteristics of our portfolio, availability of financing, and market conditions. Because our strategy is flexible, dynamic, and opportunistic, our overall leverage will vary over time. As of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, our total debt-to-equity ratio was 8.4 to 1 and 8.5 to 1, respectively. Collateral transferred with respect to our outstanding repo borrowings as of both March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 had an aggregate fair value of $1.2 billion. Adjusted for unsettled security purchases and sales, our debt-to-equity ratio was 8.2 to 1 and 8.3 to 1 as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. Our leverage ratio may fluctuate period over period based on portfolio management decisions, market conditions, and the timing of security purchase and sale transactions.
Shareholders' Equity
As of March 31, 2017, our shareholders' equity decreased to $140.1 million from $141.7 million as of December 31, 2016. This decrease principally consisted of dividends declared of $3.7 million, partially offset by net income of $2.1 million. As of March 31, 2017, our book value per share was $15.35 as compared to $15.52 as of December 31, 2016.

39

Results of Operations for the Three Month Periods Ended March 31, 2017 and 2016
The following table summarizes our results of operations for the three month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016:
(In thousands except for per share amounts)
 
Three Month Period Ended
March 31, 2017
 
Three Month Period Ended
March 31, 2016
Net Interest Income
 
 
 
 
Net interest income
 
$
9,150

 
$
7,600

Expenses
 
 
 
 
Management fees
 
527

 
528

Other operating expenses
 
745

 
823

Total expenses
 
1,272

 
1,351

Other Income (Loss)
 
 
 
 
Net realized and change in net unrealized gains (losses) on securities
 
(5,337
)
 
11,643

Net realized and change in net unrealized gains (losses) on financial derivatives
 
(489
)
 
(18,131
)
Total Other Income (Loss)
 
(5,826
)
 
(6,488
)
Net Income (Loss)
 
$
2,052

 
$
(239
)
Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share
 
$
0.22

 
$
(0.03
)
Core Earnings
Core Earnings consists of net income (loss), excluding realized and change in net unrealized gains and (losses) on securities and financial derivatives, and, if applicable, items of income or loss that are of a non-recurring nature. Core Earnings includes net realized and change in net unrealized gains (losses) associated with payments and accruals of periodic payments on interest rate swaps. Our interest income is subject to fluctuations based on adjustments to premium amortization as a result of changes in prepayments of our Agency RMBS (accompanied by a corresponding offsetting adjustment to realized and unrealized gains and losses). We refer to this adjustment as a "Catch-up Premium Amortization Adjustment." Adjusted Core Earnings represents Core Earnings excluding the effect of the Catch-up Premium Amortization Adjustment on interest income. Core Earnings and Adjusted Core Earnings are supplemental non-GAAP financial measures. We believe that Core Earnings and Adjusted Core Earnings provide information useful to investors because they are metrics that we use to assess our performance and to evaluate the effective net yield provided by the portfolio. Moreover, one of our objectives is to generate income from the net interest margin on the portfolio, and Core Earnings and Adjusted Core Earnings are used to help measure the extent to which this objective is being achieved. However, because Core Earnings and Adjusted Core Earnings are incomplete measures of our financial results and differ from net income (loss) computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP, they should be considered as supplementary to, and not as substitutes for, net income (loss) computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

40

The table below reconciles Core Earnings and Adjusted Core Earnings for the years ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 to the line, Net Income (Loss), on our Consolidated Statement of Operations, which we believe is the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure:
(In thousands except for share amounts)
 
Three Month Period Ended
March 31, 2017
 
Three Month Period Ended
March 31, 2016
Net Income (Loss)
 
$
2,052

 
$
(239
)
Less:
 
 
 
 
Net realized gains (losses) on securities
 
(2,990
)
 
3,010

Net realized losses on financial derivatives, excluding periodic payments(1)
 
1,668

 
(3,324
)
Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on securities
 
(2,347
)
 
8,633

Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on financial derivatives, excluding accrued periodic payments(2)
 
(1,680
)
 
(13,409
)
Subtotal
 
(5,349
)
 
(5,090
)
Core Earnings
 
$
7,401

 
$
4,851

Catch-up Premium Amortization Adjustment
 
2,584

 
258

Adjusted Core Earnings
 
4,817

 
4,593

Weighted Average Shares Outstanding
 
9,130,897

 
9,121,198

Core Earnings Per Share
 
$
0.81

 
$
0.53

Adjusted Core Earnings Per Share
 
$
0.53

 
$
0.50

(1)
For the three month period ended March 31, 2017, represents Net realized gains (losses) on financial derivatives of $1,653 less Net realized gains (losses) on periodic settlements of interest rate swaps of $(15). For the three month period ended March 31, 2016, represents Net realized gains (losses) on financial derivatives of $(3,996) less Net realized gains (losses) on periodic settlements of interest rate swaps of $(672).
(2)
For the three month period ended March 31, 2017, represents Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on financial derivatives of $(2,142) less Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on accrued periodic settlements of interest rate swaps of $(462). For the three month period ended March 31, 2016, represents Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on financial derivatives of $(14,135) less Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on accrued periodic settlements of interest rate swaps of $(726).
Results of Operations for the Three Month Periods Ended March 31, 2017 and 2016
Net Income (Loss)
The increase in net income for the three month period ended March 31, 2017 as compared to the three month period ended March 31, 2016 was principally due to an increase in net interest income and a decline in combined net realized and unrealized losses on securities and financial derivatives for the three month period ended March 31, 2017. A larger, higher-yielding portfolio led to the increase in net interest income for the three month period ended March 31, 2017, and the three month period ended March 31, 2016 was marked by periods of significant volatility in interest rates which led to net realized and unrealized losses on our financial derivatives. For the three month period ended March 31, 2017, interest rate volatility was significantly lower as compared to the same period of 2016.
Interest Income
Our portfolio as of each of March 31, 2017 and 2016 consisted primarily of Agency RMBS, and to a lesser extent, non-Agency RMBS. Before interest expense, we earned approximately $12.2 million and $9.6 million in interest income on these securities for the three month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The period-over-period increase in interest income resulted from higher average holdings on our Agency RMBS and higher average yields on both our Agency and non-Agency RMBS. Some of the variability in our interest income and portfolio yields is due to Catch-up Premium Amortization Adjustment. The adjustment is calculated as of the beginning of each quarter based on our then assumptions about cashflows and prepayments, and can vary significantly from quarter to quarter. For the first quarter of 2017, we had a positive Catch-up Premium Amortization Adjustment of approximately $2.6 million, which increased our interest income. Excluding the Catch-up Premium Amortization Adjustment, the weighted average yield of our portfolio was 2.99% for the first quarter of 2017. By comparison, for the first quarter of 2016 the Catch-up Premium Amortization Adjustment increased interest income by only approximately $0.3 million. Excluding this Catch-up Premium Amortization Adjustment, the weighted average yield on our portfolio for the first quarter of 2016 would have been 3.04%.

41

The following table details our interest income, average holdings of interest-earning assets, and weighted average yield based on amortized cost for the three month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016:
 
Non-Agency(1)
 
Agency(1)
 
Total(1)
(In thousands)
Interest Income
 
Average Holdings
 
Yield
 
Interest Income
 
Average Holdings
 
Yield
 
Interest Income
 
Average Holdings
 
Yield
Three month period ended March 31, 2017
$
354

 
$
15,912

 
8.89
%
 
$
11,824

 
$
1,267,777

 
3.73
%
 
$
12,178

 
$
1,283,689

 
3.79
%
Three month period ended March 31, 2016
$
619

 
$
28,450

 
8.71
%
 
$
8,950

 
$
1,196,060

 
2.99
%
 
$
9,569

 
$
1,224,510

 
3.13
%
(1)
Amounts exclude interest income on cash and cash equivalents (including when posted as margin) and long U.S. Treasury securities.
Interest Expense
For each of the three month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, the majority of interest expense that we incurred was related to our repo borrowings, which we use to finance our assets. We also incur interest expense in connection with our short positions in U.S. Treasury securities. Our total interest expense for the three month period ended March 31, 2017 was $3.2 million, of which $2.8 million represented interest expense on our repo borrowings and approximately $0.4 million represented interest expense related primarily to our short positions in U.S. Treasury securities. Our total interest expense for the three month period ended March 31, 2016 was $2.1 million, of which $1.8 million represented interest expense on our repo borrowings and approximately $0.3 million represented interest expense related primarily to our short positions in U.S. Treasury securities. The period-over-period increase in our total interest expense resulted mainly from higher rates on our repo borrowings. Our average outstanding repo borrowings for the three month period ended March 31, 2017 was $1.19 billion, resulting in an average cost of funds of 0.94%. Our average outstanding repo borrowings for the three month period ended March 31, 2016 was $1.14 billion, resulting in an average cost of funds of 0.62%.
The following table shows information related to our average cost of funds for the three month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016.
($ in thousands)
 
Average Borrowed Funds
 
Interest Expense
 
Average Cost of Funds
 
Average One-Month LIBOR
 
Average Six-Month LIBOR
Three Month Period Ended March 31, 2017
 
$
1,194,321

 
$
2,782

 
0.94
%
 
0.83
%
 
1.37
%
Three Month Period Ended March 31, 2016
 
$
1,142,352

 
$
1,762

 
0.62
%
 
0.43
%
 
0.88
%
As an alternative cost of funds measure, we add to our repo interest cost the net periodic amounts paid or payable by us on our interest rate swaps and the interest expense we incur on our short positions in U.S. Treasury securities, and express the total as an annualized percentage of our average outstanding borrowings. The total of our net periodic expense paid or payable under our interest rate swaps and our interest expense on our short positions in U.S. Treasury securities was $0.9 million for the three month period ended March 31, 2017, or 0.29% of our average outstanding repo borrowings, on an annualized basis, thereby resulting in an average cost of funds including interest rate swaps and short positions in U.S. Treasury securities of 1.23%. The total of our net periodic expense paid or payable under our interest rate swaps was $1.7 million for the three month period ended March 31, 2016, or 0.59% of our average outstanding borrowings, on an annualized basis, thereby resulting in an average cost of funds including interest rate swaps of 1.21%. This metric does not take into account other instruments that we use to hedge interest rate risk, such as TBAs, swaptions, and futures.
Management Fees
For both of the three month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, our management fee expense was approximately $0.5 million.
Other Operating Expenses
Other operating expenses, as presented above, include professional fees, compensation expense, and various other expenses incurred in connection with the operation of our business. Other operating expenses for the three month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 were approximately $0.7 million and $0.8 million, respectively. Our expense ratio, which represents our management fees and other operating expenses as a percentage of our average shareholders' equity, was 3.6% for the three month period ended March 31, 2017, as compared to 3.8% for the three month period ended March 31, 2016. The decrease in our expense ratio was primarily due to a decrease in professional fees as well as a decrease in various other operating expenses

42

including insurance and administrative expenses for the three month period ended March 31, 2017 as compared to the three month period ended March 31, 2016.
Other Income (Loss)
Other income (loss) consists of net realized and net change in unrealized gain (losses) on securities and financial derivatives. For the three month period ended March 31, 2017, other loss was $(5.8) million, and consisted of net realized and change in net unrealized losses of $(0.5) million on our financial derivatives and approximately $(5.3) million on our securities, primarily our Agency RMBS. The three month period ended March 31, 2017 included slight declines in asset valuations, mainly on our Agency RMBS as yield spreads widened. For the three month period ended March 31, 2017, as measured by sales and excluding paydowns, we turned over approximately 21% of our Agency RMBS portfolio and, as a result, we generated net realized losses of $(2.5) million on our Agency RMBS portfolio. During the period, we took advantage of the slight drop in pay-ups for specified pools by rotating a portion of our portfolio into what we believe are higher quality specified pools at attractive valuations. Within our hedging portfolio, our interest rate swaps generated net gains as swap rates increased across the yield curve, but those gains were offset by losses on our short positions in TBAs, U.S. Treasury securities, and futures. During the quarter, TBA roll prices increased and longer maturity U.S. Treasury yields declined, most notably in March, thereby leading to losses. Additionally, as we use short TBAs as a major component of our interest rate hedging portfolio, the relative underperformance of specified pools in comparison to TBAs dampened our results for the first quarter.
Other income (loss) for the three month period ended March 31, 2016 was $(6.5) million and consisted of net realized and change in net unrealized losses of $(18.1) million on our financial derivatives partially offset by net realized and change in net unrealized gains of approximately $11.6 million on our securities, primarily our Agency RMBS. Sharply lower interest rates during the period led to losses on our interest rate hedges.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity refers to our ability to meet our cash needs, including repaying our borrowings, funding and maintaining RMBS and other assets, paying dividends, and other general business needs. Our short-term (one year or less) and long-term liquidity requirements include acquisition costs for assets we acquire, payment of our management fee, compliance with margin requirements under our repurchase agreements, TBA and other financial derivative contracts, repayment of repurchase agreement borrowings to the extent we are unable or unwilling to extend our repurchase agreements, the payment of dividends, and payment of our general operating expenses. Our capital resources primarily include cash on hand, cash flow from our investments (including monthly principal and interest payments received on our RMBS and proceeds from the sale of RMBS), borrowings under repurchase agreements, and proceeds from equity offerings. We expect that these sources of funds will be sufficient to meet our short-term and long-term liquidity needs.
We borrow funds in the form of repurchase agreements. The terms of these borrowings under our Master Repurchase Agreements, or "MRAs," generally conform to the terms in the standard master repurchase agreement as published by the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association as to repayment and margin requirements. In addition, each lender may require that we include supplemental terms and conditions to the standard master repurchase agreement. Typical supplemental terms and conditions include the addition of or changes to provisions relating to margin calls, net asset value requirements, cross default provisions, certain key person events, changes in corporate structure, and requirements that all controversies related to the repurchase agreement be litigated in a particular jurisdiction. These provisions may differ for each of our lenders.
As of each of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we had $1.2 billion, outstanding under our repurchase agreements. As of March 31, 2017, our outstanding repurchase agreements were with thirteen counterparties.

43

Amount at risk represents the excess, if any, for each counterparty of the fair value of collateral held by such counterparty over the amounts outstanding under repurchase agreements. The following table reflects counterparties for which the amounts at risk relating to our repurchase agreements was greater than 5% of shareholders' equity as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.
March 31, 2017:
Counterparty
 
Amount at Risk(1)
 
Weighted Average Remaining Days to Maturity
 
Percentage of Shareholders' Equity
 
 
(In thousands)
 
 
 
 
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
 
$
14,115

 
59
 
10.1
%
RBC Capital Markets LLC
 
13,857

 
94
 
9.9
%
Deutsche Bank Securities
 
11,146

 
27
 
8.0
%
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
 
8,447

 
21
 
6.0
%
(1)
Amounts at risk exclude, in aggregate, $1.6 million of net accrued interest, defined as accrued interest on securities held as collateral less interest payable on cash borrowed.
December 31, 2016:
Counterparty
 
Amount at Risk(1)
 
Weighted Average Remaining Days to Maturity
 
Percentage of Shareholders' Equity
 
 
(In thousands)
 
 
 
 
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
 
$
15,077

 
58
 
10.6
%
Deutsche Bank Securities
 
11,778

 
36
 
8.3
%
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
 
11,533

 
38
 
8.1
%
RBC Capital Markets LLC
 
11,506

 
34
 
8.1
%
(1)
Amounts at risk exclude, in aggregate, $1.6 million of net accrued interest, defined as accrued interest on securities held as collateral less interest payable on cash borrowed.
The amounts borrowed under our repurchase agreements are generally subject to the application of "haircuts." A haircut is the percentage discount that a repo lender applies to the market value of an asset serving as collateral for a repo borrowing, for the purpose of determining whether such repo borrowing is adequately collateralized. As of both March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the weighted average contractual haircut applicable to the assets that serve as collateral for our outstanding repo borrowings was 4.8%.

44

The following table details total outstanding borrowings, average outstanding borrowings, and the maximum outstanding borrowings at any month end for each quarter under repurchase agreements for the past twelve quarters.
Quarter Ended
 
Borrowings
Outstanding at
Quarter End
 
Average
Borrowings Outstanding
 
Maximum Borrowings Outstanding at Any Month End
 
 
(In thousands)
March 31, 2017
 
$
1,178,285

 
$
1,194,321

 
$
1,199,860

December 31, 2016
 
1,197,973

 
1,170,091

 
1,197,973

September 30, 2016
 
1,158,962

 
1,138,439

 
1,158,962

June 30, 2016
 
1,205,987

 
1,132,184

 
1,205,987

March 31, 2016
 
1,133,841

 
1,142,501

 
1,175,531

December 31, 2015
 
1,222,719

 
1,228,964

 
1,286,274

September 30, 2015
 
1,225,905

 
1,242,650

 
1,248,604

June 30, 2015
 
1,264,479

 
1,247,617

 
1,269,551

March 31, 2015
 
1,211,110

 
1,239,167

 
1,255,568

December 31, 2014
 
1,323,080

 
1,275,874

 
1,323,080

September 30, 2014
 
1,233,333

 
1,251,296

 
1,275,122

June 30, 2014
 
1,285,593

 
1,239,899

 
1,285,593

We held cash and cash equivalents of approximately $37.5 million and $33.5 million as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.
We may declare dividends based on, among other things, our earnings, our financial condition, the REIT qualification requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, our working capital needs and new opportunities. The declaration of dividends to our shareholders and the amount of such dividends are at the discretion of our Board of Trustees. The following table sets forth the dividend distributions authorized by the Board of Trustees for the periods indicated below:
Three Month Period Ended March 31, 2017
 
Dividend
Per Share
 
Dividend Amount
 
Declaration Date
 
Record Date
 
Payment Date
 
 
 
(In thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
First Quarter
$
0.40

 
$
3,652

 
March 6, 2017
 
March 31, 2017
 
April 25, 2017
Three Month Period Ended March 31, 2016
 
Dividend
Per Share
 
Dividend Amount
 
Declaration Date
 
Record Date
 
Payment Date
 
 
 
(In thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
First Quarter
$
0.45

 
$
4,103

 
March 8, 2016
 
March 31, 2016
 
April 25, 2016
For the three month period ended March 31, 2017, our operating activities provided net cash of $30.6 million and our investing activities used net cash of $3.3 million. Our repo activity used to finance our purchase of securities (including repayments, in conjunction with the sales of securities, of amounts borrowed under our repurchase agreements) used net cash of $19.7 million. Thus our operating and investing activities, when combined with our net repo financing activities, provided net cash of $7.7 million. We used $3.7 million to pay dividends. As a result of these activities, there was an increase in our cash holdings of $4.0 million from $33.5 million as of December 31, 2016 to $37.5 million as of March 31, 2017.
For the three month period ended March 31, 2016, our operating activities provided net cash of $10.8 million and our investing activities provided net cash of $83.4 million. Our repo activity used to finance our purchase of securities (including repayments, in conjunction with the sales of securities, of amounts borrowed under our repurchase agreements) used net cash of $88.9 million. Thus our operating and investing activities, when combined with our net repo financing activities, provided net cash of $5.4 million for the three month period ended March 31, 2016. We used $4.1 million to pay dividends and $0.2 million for the repurchase of common shares. As a result of these activities, there was an increase in our cash holdings of $1.1 million from $40.2 million as of December 31, 2015 to $41.2 million as of March 31, 2016.

45

On August 13, 2013, our Board of Trustees approved the adoption of a $10 million share repurchase program. The program, which is open-ended in duration, allows us to make repurchases from time to time on the open market or in negotiated transactions. Repurchases are at our discretion, subject to applicable law, share availability, price and our financial performance, among other considerations. During the three month period ended March 31, 2017, we did not purchase any of our common shares.
Based on our current portfolio, amount of free cash on hand, debt-to-equity ratio and current and anticipated availability of credit, we believe that our capital resources will be sufficient to enable us to meet anticipated short-term and long-term liquidity requirements.
We are not required by our investment guidelines to maintain any specific debt-to-equity ratio, and we believe that the appropriate leverage for the particular assets we hold depends on the credit quality and risk of those assets, as well as the general availability and terms of stable and reliable financing for those assets.
Contractual Obligations and Commitments
We are a party to a management agreement with our Manager. Pursuant to that agreement, our Manager is entitled to receive a management fee based on shareholders' equity, reimbursement of certain expenses and, in certain circumstances, a termination fee. Such fees and expenses do not have fixed and determinable payments. For a description of the management agreement provisions, see Note 9 to our consolidated financial statements.
We enter into repurchase agreements with third-party broker-dealers whereby we sell securities to such broker-dealers at agreed-upon purchase prices at the initiation of the repurchase agreements and agree to repurchase such securities at predetermined repurchase prices and termination dates, thus providing the broker-dealers with an implied interest rate on the funds initially transferred to us by the broker-dealers. We may enter into reverse repurchase agreements with third-party broker-dealers whereby we purchase securities under agreements to resell at an agreed-upon price and date. In general, we most often will enter into reverse repurchase agreement transactions in order to effectively borrow securities that we can then deliver to counterparties to whom we have made short sales of the same securities. The implied interest rates on the repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements we enter into are based upon competitive market rates at the time of initiation. Repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements that are conducted with the same counterparty may be reported on a net basis if they meet the requirements of ASC 210-20, Balance Sheet, Offsetting. As of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, there were no repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements reported on a net basis on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
As of March 31, 2017 we had $1.2 billion of outstanding borrowings with thirteen counterparties.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of March 31, 2017, we did not have any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes. Further, we have not guaranteed any obligations of unconsolidated entities nor do we have any commitment or intent to provide funding to any such entities. As such, we are not materially exposed to any market, credit, liquidity, or financing risk that could arise if we had engaged in such relationships.
Inflation
Virtually all of our assets and liabilities are interest rate-sensitive in nature. As a result, interest rates and other factors influence our performance far more so than does inflation. Changes in interest rates do not necessarily correlate with inflation rates or changes in inflation rates. Our activities and balance sheet are measured with reference to historical cost and/or fair market value without considering inflation.

46

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
The primary components of our market risk are related to interest rate risk, prepayment risk, and credit risk. We seek to actively manage these and other risks and to acquire and hold assets that we believe justify bearing those risks, and to maintain capital levels consistent with those risks.
Interest Rate Risk
Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors, including governmental monetary and tax policies, domestic and international economic and political considerations, and other factors beyond our control. We are subject to interest rate risk in connection with most of our assets and liabilities. For some securities in our portfolio, the coupon interest rates on, and therefore also the values of, such securities are highly sensitive to interest rate movements, such as inverse floating rate RMBS, which benefit from falling interest rates. Our repurchase agreements generally have maturities of up to 180 days and carry interest rates that are determined by reference to LIBOR or similar short-term benchmark rates for those same periods. Whenever one of our fixed rate repo borrowings matures, it will generally be replaced with a new fixed rate repo borrowing based on market interest rates prevailing at such time. Subject to qualifying and maintaining our qualification as a REIT and our exclusion from registration under the Investment Company Act, we opportunistically hedge our interest rate risk by entering into interest rate swaps, TBAs, U.S. Treasury securities, Eurodollar and U.S. Treasury futures, and other instruments. In general, such hedging instruments are used to offset the large majority of the interest rate risk we estimate to arise from our repurchase agreement indebtedness generally associated with our Agency RMBS positions. Hedging instruments may also be used to offset a portion of the interest rate risk arising from our repurchase agreement liabilities associated with non-Agency RMBS positions, if any.
In addition to measuring and mitigating the risk related to changes in interest rates with respect to the generally shorter-term liabilities we incur to acquire and hold generally longer-lived RMBS, we also monitor the effect of changes in interest rates on the discounted present value of our portfolio of assets and liabilities. The following sensitivity analysis table shows the estimated impact on the fair value of our portfolio segregated by certain identified categories as of March 31, 2017, assuming a static portfolio and immediate and parallel shifts in interest rates from current levels as indicated below.
(In thousands)
 
Estimated Change for a Decrease in Interest Rates by
 
Estimated Change for an Increase in Interest Rates by
 
 
50 Basis Points
 
100 Basis Points
 
50 Basis Points
 
100 Basis Points
Category of Instruments
 
Market Value
 
% of Total Equity
 
Market Value
 
% of Total Equity
 
Market Value
 
% of Total Equity
 
Market Value
 
% of Total Equity
Agency RMBS, excluding TBAs
 
$
19,372

 
13.83
 %
 
$
32,639

 
23.29
 %
 
$
(25,474
)
 
(18.18
)%
 
$
(57,053
)
 
(40.72
)%
TBAs
 
(8,009
)
 
(5.72
)%
 
(13,101
)
 
(9.35
)%
 
10,925

 
7.80
 %
 
24,767

 
17.67
 %
Non-Agency RMBS
 
223

 
0.16
 %
 
448

 
0.32
 %
 
(221
)
 
(0.16
)%
 
(441
)
 
(0.31
)%
U.S. Treasury Securities, Interest Rate Swaps, and Futures
 
(11,953
)
 
(8.53
)%
 
(24,440
)
 
(17.44
)%
 
11,419

 
8.15
 %
 
22,305

 
15.92
 %
Repurchase and Reverse Repurchase Agreements
 
(825
)
 
(0.59
)%
 
(1,604
)
 
(1.14
)%
 
824

 
0.59
 %
 
1,649

 
1.18
 %
Total
 
$
(1,192
)
 
(0.85
)%
 
$
(6,058
)
 
(4.32
)%
 
$
(2,527
)
 
(1.80
)%
 
$
(8,773
)
 
(6.26
)%
Our analysis of interest rate risk is derived from Ellington's proprietary models as well as third-party information and analytics. Many assumptions have been made in connection with the calculations set forth in the table above and, as such, there can be no assurance that assumed events will occur or that other events will not occur that would affect the outcomes. For example, for each hypothetical immediate shift in interest rates, assumptions have been made as to the response of mortgage prepayment rates, the shape of the yield curve, and market volatilities of interest rates; each of the foregoing factors can significantly and adversely affect the fair value of our interest rate sensitive instruments.
The above analysis utilizes assumptions and estimates based on management's judgment and experience, and relies on financial models, which are inherently imperfect; in fact, different models can produce different results for the same securities. While the table above reflects the estimated impacts of immediate parallel interest rate increases and decreases on specific categories of instruments in our portfolio, we intend to actively trade many of the instruments in our portfolio and intend to diversify our portfolio to reflect a portfolio comprised primarily of Agency RMBS, and, to a lesser extent, non-Agency RMBS and mortgage-related assets. Therefore, our current or future portfolios may have risks that differ significantly from those of our

47

March 31, 2017 portfolio estimated above. Moreover, the impact of changing interest rates on fair value can change significantly when interest rates change by a greater amount than the hypothetical shifts assumed above. Furthermore, our portfolio is subject to many risks other than interest rate risks, and these additional risks may or may not be correlated with changes in interest rates. For all of the foregoing reasons and others, the table above is for illustrative purposes only and actual changes in interest rates would likely cause changes in the actual fair value of our portfolio that would differ from those presented above, and such differences might be significant and adverse. See "Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements."
Prepayment Risk
Prepayment risk is the risk of change, whether an increase or a decrease, in the rate at which principal is returned in respect to mortgage loans underlying RMBS, including both through voluntary prepayments and through liquidations due to defaults and foreclosures. This rate of prepayment is affected by a variety of factors, including the prevailing level of interest rates as well as economic, demographic, tax, social, legal, and other factors. Changes in prepayment rates will have varying effects on the different types of securities in our portfolio, and we attempt to take these effects into account in making asset management decisions. Additionally, increases in prepayment rates may cause us to experience losses on our investment in interest-only securities, or "IOs," and inverse interest only securities, or "IIOs," as these securities are extremely sensitive to prepayment rates. Finally, prepayment rates, besides being subject to interest rates and borrower behavior, are also substantially affected by government policy and regulation.
Credit Risk
We are subject to credit risk in connection with our assets, especially our non-Agency RMBS. Credit losses on real estate loans underlying our non-Agency RMBS can occur for many reasons, including, but not limited to, poor origination practices, fraud, faulty appraisals, documentation errors, poor underwriting, legal errors, poor servicing practices, weak economic conditions, decline in the value of homes, special hazards, earthquakes and other natural events, over-leveraging of the borrower on the property, reduction in market rents and occupancies and poor property management services in the case of rented homes, changes in legal protections for lenders, reduction in personal income, job loss, and personal events such as divorce or health problems. Property values are subject to volatility and may be affected adversely by a number of factors, including, but not limited to, national, regional, and local economic conditions (which may be adversely affected by industry slowdowns and other factors), local real estate conditions (such as an oversupply of housing), changes or continued weakness in specific industry segments, construction quality, age and design, demographic factors, and retroactive changes to building or similar codes. For mortgage-related instruments, the two primary components of credit risk are default risk and severity risk.
Default Risk
Default risk is the risk that borrowers will fail to make principal and interest payments on their mortgage loans. Subject to qualifying and maintaining our qualification as a REIT and our exclusion from registration under the Investment Company Act, we may selectively attempt to mitigate our default risk by, among other things, opportunistically entering into credit default swaps and total return swaps. These instruments can reference various RMBS indices, corporate bond indices, or corporate entities, such as publicly traded REITs. We also rely on third-party mortgage servicers to mitigate our default risk, but such third-party mortgage servicers may have little or no economic incentive to mitigate loan default rates.
Severity Risk
Severity risk is the risk of loss upon a borrower default on a mortgage loan underlying our RMBS. Severity risk includes the risk of loss of value of the property underlying the mortgage loan as well as the risk of loss associated with taking over the property, including foreclosure costs. We rely on third-party mortgage servicers to mitigate our severity risk, but such third-party mortgage servicers may have little or no economic incentive to mitigate loan loss severities. Such mitigation efforts may include loan modification programs and prompt foreclosure and property liquidation following a default.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. An evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange

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Act) as of March 31, 2017. Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2017.
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the three month period ended March 31, 2017 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
Neither we nor Ellington nor its affiliates (including our Manager) are currently subject to any legal proceedings that we or our Manager consider material. Nevertheless, we and Ellington and its affiliates operate in highly regulated markets that currently are under intense regulatory scrutiny, and Ellington and its affiliates have received, and we expect in the future that we and they may receive, inquiries and requests for documents and information from various federal, state and foreign regulators. For example, in January 2017, an affiliate of Ellington received a subpoena from the SEC requesting documents, communications, and other information relating primarily to a loan originator and the loans originated by such originator, such affiliate's analyses of such loans, the purchases and securitizations of such loans by such affiliate and by certain third parties, and the servicing of such loans. Ellington’s affiliate has responded to the subpoena and intends to continue to cooperate with any further requests. Ellington has advised us that, at the present time, it is not aware that any material legal proceeding against us or Ellington or its affiliates is contemplated in connection with any such inquiries or requests. We and Ellington cannot provide any assurance that these or any future such inquiries and requests will not result in further investigation of or the initiation of a proceeding against us or Ellington or its affiliates or that, if any such investigation or proceeding were to arise, it would not materially adversely affect us. For a discussion of certain risks to which we or Ellington or its affiliates could be exposed as a result of inquiries or requests for documents and information received by us or Ellington or its affiliates, see "Risk Factors—We or Ellington or its affiliates may be subject to regulatory inquiries or proceedings" included in Part 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
For information regarding factors that could affect our results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity, see the risk factors discussed under "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. There have been no material changes from these previously disclosed risk factors. See also "Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements," included in Part I, Item 2 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Item 6. Exhibits 
Exhibit
 
Description
31.1
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
 
31.2
 
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
 
32.1*
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
 
32.2*
 
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
 
101
 
The following financial information from Ellington Residential Mortgage REIT's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three month period ended March 31, 2017, formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Balance Sheet, (ii) Consolidated Statement of Operations, (iii) Consolidated Statement of Shareholders' Equity, (iv) Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows and (v) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
*
Furnished herewith. These certifications are not deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
ELLINGTON RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE REIT
Date:
May 5, 2017
 
By:
/s/ LAURENCE PENN
 
 
 
 
Laurence Penn
Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ELLINGTON RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE REIT
Date:
May 5, 2017
 
By:
/s/ LISA MUMFORD
 
 
 
 
Lisa Mumford
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)



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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
 
Description
31.1
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
 
31.2
 
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
 
32.1*
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
 
32.2*
 
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
 
101
 
The following financial information from Ellington Residential Mortgage REIT's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three month period ended March 31, 2017, formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Balance Sheet, (ii) Consolidated Statement of Operations, (iii) Consolidated Statement of Shareholders' Equity, (iv) Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows and (v) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
*
Furnished herewith. These certifications are not deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

51