UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 23, 2022
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) | ||||||||||||
(Address and zip code of principal executive offices)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (203 ) 698-1200
Not Applicable
(Former Name or Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) | |||||
| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) | |||||
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) | |||||
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) | |||||
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of Each Class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered | ||||||||||||
6.250% Series B Fixed-Rate Reset Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | ||||||||||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
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. ¨
| Item 2.02. | Results of Operations and Financial Condition. | ||||
The information in this Item 2.02 and the disclosure incorporated by reference in Item 7.01 with respect to Exhibit 99.1 attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K are being furnished by Ellington Financial Inc. (the "Company") pursuant to Item 7.01 of Form 8-K in satisfaction of the public disclosure requirements of Regulation FD and Item 2.02 of Form 8-K, insofar as they disclose historical information regarding the Company's results of operations or financial condition for the quarter ended December 31, 2021.
On February 23, 2022, the Company issued a press release announcing its financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2021. A copy of the press release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
In accordance with General Instructions B.2 and B.6 of Form 8-K, the information included in Item 2.02 and the disclosure incorporated by reference in Item 7.01 shall not be deemed "filed" for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing made by the Company under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.
| Item 7.01. | Regulation FD Disclosure. | ||||
The disclosure contained in Items 2.02 is incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 9.01. | Financial Statements and Exhibits. | ||||
(d) Exhibits. The following exhibits are being furnished herewith this Current Report on Form 8-K.
| 99.1 | |||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) | ||||
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| ELLINGTON FINANCIAL INC. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Date: | February 23, 2022 | By: | /s/ JR Herlihy | |||||||||||||||||
| JR Herlihy | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||||||||||||||
Exhibit 99.1
Ellington Financial Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter 2021 Results
OLD GREENWICH, Connecticut—February 23, 2022
Ellington Financial Inc. (NYSE: EFC) (the "Company") today reported financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2021.
Highlights
•Net income of $34.3 million, or $0.61 per common share.
•Core Earnings1 of $24.9 million, or $0.44 per share.
•Book value per common share as of December 31, 2021 of $18.39, including the effects of dividends of $0.45 per common share for the quarter.
•Credit strategy gross income of $51.8 million for the quarter, or $0.91 per share.
•Agency strategy gross loss of $(1.4) million for the quarter, or $(0.03) per share.
•Dividend yield of 10.5% based on the February 22, 2022 closing stock price of $17.15 per share, and monthly dividend of $0.15 per common share declared on February 7, 2022.
•Debt-to-equity ratio of 2.7:1 and recourse debt-to-equity ratio of 2.0:12 as of December 31, 2021.
•Cash and cash equivalents of $92.7 million as of December 31, 2021, in addition to other unencumbered assets of $808.1 million.
•Issued 5.75 million shares of common stock and 4.80 million shares of Series B preferred stock, increasing our total equity by $219.4 million, or approximately 20%.
Fourth Quarter 2021 Results
"Ellington Financial closed out 2021 strong, generating net income of $0.61 per share and core earnings of $0.44 per share in the fourth quarter. For the full year, we delivered an economic return of nearly 14% and a total return to shareholders of 26%, following our profitable 2020," said Laurence Penn, Chief Executive Officer and President of Ellington Financial.
"Our credit portfolio grew by 22% during the quarter, to $2.1 billion, which is a notable increase of 43% from just two years ago, prior to the onset of the COVID pandemic. Most of the growth this past quarter, as well as over the past two years, is a direct result of the loan origination businesses that we have successfully cultivated across the non-QM, commercial mortgage, residential transition, reverse mortgage, and consumer sectors. Our originator relationships allow us to dynamically adjust both the acquisition volume and the underwriting criteria of our loan investments, which has enabled our loan portfolios to become among our largest, highest-yielding, and best-performing strategies. Meanwhile, the profits generated by our strategic equity investments in loan originators have been a strong tailwind for our earnings and book value.
"LendSure, our non-QM loan originator affiliate, set another record for origination volume and profitability in the fourth quarter, capping a tremendous year. With this increased loan flow from LendSure, we were able to close during the quarter on our third non-QM loan securitization of the year, and our ninth overall. In addition, our reverse mortgage originator affiliate Longbridge bounced back and delivered a strong fourth quarter, while our smaller originator affiliates posted solid results as well. We completed the acquisition of three more equity stakes in loan originators during the quarter, including our first in the commercial mortgage space. We also had excellent performance during the quarter in our short-duration loan portfolios, including residential transition loans, commercial mortgage bridge loans, and consumer loans. Meanwhile, our non-Agency RMBS and CMBS strategies also contributed significantly to our results. Finally, in what was a challenging quarter for Agency RMBS, our Agency strategy only generated modest losses.
"Another important highlight of the fourth quarter was the issuance of our Series B preferred equity, which along with our upgraded Series A preferred equity, achieved the first NAIC-1 rating in our sector. I believe that this result rightly reflects Ellington Financial's long track record of book value stability, disciplined and dynamic hedging, effective risk management, and prudent leverage across market cycles. These principles are as important now as ever, as we see volatility pick up with quantitative tightening underway."
1 Core Earnings is a non-GAAP financial measure. See "Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to Core Earnings" below for an explanation regarding the calculation of Core Earnings.
2 Excludes repo borrowings at certain unconsolidated entities that are recourse to us. Including such borrowings, the Company's debt-to-equity ratio based on total recourse borrowings was 2.0:1 as of December 31, 2021.
1
Financial Results
The Company's total long credit portfolio3 continued to grow in the fourth quarter, increasing by 22% sequentially to $2.065 billion as of December 31, 2021, as the Company deployed the proceeds from its common equity and preferred equity offerings completed during the quarter. The majority of the growth occurred in the Company’s non-QM, residential transition, and small balance commercial mortgage loan strategies. In addition, the Company’s investments in loan origination entities appreciated and expanded, and its holdings of CMBS, consumer loans, and Non-Agency RMBS increased. The Company's long Agency RMBS portfolio also increased during the quarter, by 10% to $1.697 billion as of December 31, 2021.
The Company's overall debt-to-equity ratio, adjusted for unsettled purchases and sales, decreased modestly to 2.8:1 as of December 31, 2021, as compared to 2.9:1 as of September 30, 2021, as increased borrowings related to the larger portfolio were more than offset by an increase in total equity. The proportion of recourse borrowings did increase slightly, however, and the Company's recourse debt-to-equity ratio, adjusted for unsettled purchases and sales, increased to 2.0:1 as of December 31, 2021, as compared to 1.9:1 as of September 30, 2021.
During the fourth quarter, the Company's credit strategy generated total gross income of $51.8 million, or $0.91 per share, and its Agency strategy generated a small gross loss of $(1.4) million or $(0.03) per share.
Higher net interest income4 quarter over quarter, combined with the sustained strong performance of the loan originators in which the Company holds strategic investments, drove results for the credit strategy in the fourth quarter. The increase in net interest income was primarily due to larger small balance commercial mortgage, residential transition, non-QM, and consumer loan portfolios. The Company also had strong contributions from its non-Agency RMBS and CMBS strategies.
Meanwhile, LendSure posted record profitability and origination volume for both the fourth quarter and the full year, while Longbridge finished a strong year with solid fourth quarter results. The sustained earnings and volume growth of LendSure and Longbridge has resulted in substantial appreciation of the Company's equity investments in those loan originators.
During the fourth quarter, short-term interest rates rose sharply, actual and implied volatility increased, and the yield curve flattened as the Federal Reserve signaled that interest rate increases could be imminent. The Federal Reserve also began the tapering of its asset purchases in November, and then accelerated the pace of that tapering starting in December. In response to these developments, most Agency RMBS underperformed U.S. Treasury securities during the quarter, with higher-coupon specified pools and other shorter-duration RMBS particularly underperforming in light of the flattening of the yield curve. Net realized and unrealized losses on the Company’s Agency portfolio exceeded net interest income and net realized and unrealized gains on its interest rate hedges, and so the Agency strategy generated a small loss for the quarter.
Pay-ups on the Company's existing specified pool investments declined modestly during the quarter, while its new purchases during the quarter consisted of pools with lower pay-ups. As a result, the average pay-ups on the Company's specified pools declined to 0.82% as of December 31, 2021, as compared to 1.04% as of September 30, 2021. Pay-ups are price premiums for specified pools relative to their TBA counterparts.
During the fourth quarter, the Company continued to hedge interest rate risk, primarily through the use of interest rate swaps, and short positions in TBAs, U.S. Treasury securities, and futures. Additionally, the Company continued to maintain a long TBA portfolio concentrated in lower coupons.
3 Includes REO at the lower of cost or fair value. Excludes hedges and other derivative positions, as well as tranches of the Company's consolidated non-QM securitization trusts that were sold to third parties, but that are consolidated for U.S. GAAP reporting purposes. Including such tranches, the Company's total long credit portfolio was $3.026 billion as of December 31, 2021.
4 Excludes any interest income and interest expense items from Interest rate hedges, net and Credit hedges and other activities, net.
2
The following tables summarize the Company's investment portfolio holdings as of December 31, 2021 and September 30, 2021:
Credit Portfolio(1)
| December 31, 2021 | September 30, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | Fair Value | % | Fair Value | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dollar Denominated: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CLOs(2) | $ | 60,903 | 2.0 | % | $ | 65,678 | 2.6 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| CMBS | 25,643 | 0.8 | % | 13,604 | 0.5 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Commercial mortgage loans and REO(4)(5) | 387,165 | 12.8 | % | 325,733 | 12.9 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Consumer loans and ABS backed by consumer loans(2) | 153,124 | 5.1 | % | 138,568 | 5.5 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Corporate debt and equity and corporate loans | 20,128 | 0.7 | % | 26,373 | 1.0 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Debt and equity investments in loan origination entities(3) | 141,315 | 4.7 | % | 106,406 | 4.2 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-Agency RMBS | 191,728 | 6.3 | % | 168,044 | 6.6 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Residential mortgage loans and REO(4) | 2,017,219 | 66.6 | % | 1,658,879 | 65.5 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-Dollar Denominated: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CLOs(2) | 3,092 | 0.1 | % | 3,746 | 0.1 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Consumer loans and ABS backed by consumer loans | 213 | — | % | 101 | — | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Corporate debt and equity | 13 | — | % | 14 | — | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
RMBS(6) | 25,846 | 0.9 | % | 26,960 | 1.1 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Long Credit Portfolio | $ | 3,026,389 | 100.0 | % | $ | 2,534,106 | 100.0 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Less: Non-retained tranches of consolidated securitization trusts | 961,495 | 845,754 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Long Credit Portfolio excluding non-retained tranches of consolidated securitization trusts | $ | 2,064,894 | $ | 1,688,352 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)This information does not include U.S. Treasury securities, securities sold short, or financial derivatives.
(2)Includes equity investments in securitization-related vehicles.
(3)Includes a corporate loan to a loan origination entity in which the Company holds an equity investment.
(4)In accordance with U.S. GAAP, REO is not considered a financial instrument and as a result is included at the lower of cost or fair value.
(5)Includes equity investments in unconsolidated entities holding small balance commercial mortgage loans and REO.
(6)Includes an equity investment in an unconsolidated entity holding European RMBS.
Agency RMBS Portfolio
| December 31, 2021 | September 30, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | Fair Value | % | Fair Value | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Long Agency RMBS: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fixed Rate | $ | 1,600,862 | 94.3 | % | $ | 1,424,516 | 92.7 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Floating Rate | 9,456 | 0.6 | % | 10,880 | 0.7 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Reverse Mortgages | 53,010 | 3.1 | % | 63,534 | 4.1 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| IOs | 33,288 | 2.0 | % | 38,077 | 2.5 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Long Agency RMBS | $ | 1,696,616 | 100.0 | % | $ | 1,537,007 | 100.0 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
The following table summarizes the Company's outstanding borrowings and debt-to-equity ratios as of December 31, 2021 and September 30, 2021.
| December 31, 2021 | September 30, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Outstanding Borrowings(1) | Debt-to-Equity Ratio(2) | Outstanding Borrowings(1) | Debt-to-Equity Ratio(2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Recourse borrowings(3)(4) | $ | 2,606,381 | 2.0:1 | $ | 2,023,821 | 1.8:1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Non-recourse borrowings(4) | 1,030,172 | 0.7:1 | 1,131,302 | 1.1:1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Borrowings | $ | 3,636,553 | 2.7:1 | $ | 3,155,123 | 2.9:1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Equity | $ | 1,323,556 | $ | 1,095,270 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Recourse borrowings net of unsettled purchases and sales | 2.0:1 | 1.9:1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total borrowings net of unsettled purchases and sales | 2.8:1 | 2.9:1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)Includes borrowings under repurchase agreements, other secured borrowings, other secured borrowings, at fair value, and Senior notes, at par.
3
(2)Overall debt-to-equity ratio is computed by dividing outstanding borrowings by total equity. The debt-to-equity ratio does not account for liabilities other than debt financings.
(3)Excludes repo borrowings at certain unconsolidated entities that are recourse to the Company. Including such borrowings, the Company's debt-to-equity ratio based on total recourse borrowings is 2.0:1 and 1.9:1 as of December 31, 2021 and September 30, 2021, respectively.
(4)All of the Company's non-recourse borrowings are secured by collateral. In the event of default under a non-recourse borrowing, the lender has a claim against the collateral but not any of the other assets held by the Company or its consolidated subsidiaries. In the event of default under a recourse borrowing, the lender's claim is not limited to the collateral (if any).
The following table summarizes the Company's operating results for the three-month periods ended December 31, 2021 and September 30, 2021 and the year ended December 31, 2021:
| Three-Month Period Ended December 31, 2021 | Per Share | Three-Month Period Ended September 30, 2021 | Per Share | Year Ended December 31, 2021 | Per Share | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands, except per share amounts) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Credit: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest income and other income(1) | $ | 41,647 | $ | 0.73 | $ | 36,337 | $ | 0.72 | $ | 148,783 | $ | 3.02 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Realized gain (loss), net | (497) | (0.01) | 7,826 | 0.15 | 13,526 | 0.27 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized gain (loss), net | (18,604) | (0.32) | (2,528) | (0.05) | 9,234 | 0.19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest rate hedges, net(2) | 3,903 | 0.07 | 309 | 0.01 | 4,737 | 0.10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Credit hedges and other activities, net(3) | 10,495 | 0.18 | 1,074 | 0.02 | 13,956 | 0.28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense(4) | (9,521) | (0.17) | (9,065) | (0.18) | (38,386) | (0.78) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other investment related expenses | (5,979) | (0.10) | (2,879) | (0.06) | (18,544) | (0.38) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Earnings (losses) from investments in unconsolidated entities | 30,318 | 0.53 | 2,549 | 0.05 | 58,104 | 1.18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Credit profit (loss) | 51,762 | 0.91 | 33,623 | 0.66 | 191,410 | 3.88 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Agency RMBS: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest income | 10,527 | 0.18 | 5,246 | 0.10 | 33,853 | 0.69 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Realized gain (loss), net | (1,116) | (0.02) | (1,151) | (0.02) | (6,247) | (0.13) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized gain (loss), net | (17,242) | (0.30) | 242 | 0.00 | (41,789) | (0.85) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest rate hedges and other activities, net(2) | 7,347 | 0.13 | (1,762) | (0.03) | 17,031 | 0.35 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense(4) | (958) | (0.02) | (866) | (0.02) | (3,702) | (0.08) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Agency RMBS profit (loss) | (1,442) | (0.03) | 1,709 | 0.03 | (854) | (0.02) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Credit and Agency RMBS profit (loss) | 50,320 | 0.88 | 35,332 | 0.69 | 190,556 | 3.86 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other interest income (expense), net | (13) | — | 8 | — | 41 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income tax (expense) benefit | 4 | — | 2,009 | 0.04 | (3,144) | (0.06) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other expenses | (8,215) | (0.14) | (8,113) | (0.16) | (31,239) | (0.63) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) (before incentive fee) | 42,096 | 0.74 | 29,236 | 0.57 | 156,214 | 3.17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Incentive fee | (3,246) | (0.06) | (5,255) | (0.10) | (15,658) | (0.32) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | 38,850 | $ | 0.68 | $ | 23,981 | $ | 0.47 | $ | 140,556 | $ | 2.85 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Less: Dividends on preferred stock | 2,295 | 0.04 | 1,941 | 0.04 | 8,117 | 0.16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Less: Net income (loss) attributable to non-participating non-controlling interests | 1,864 | 0.03 | 1,195 | 0.02 | 5,310 | 0.11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders and participating non-controlling interests | 34,691 | 0.61 | 20,845 | 0.41 | 127,129 | 2.58 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Less: Net income (loss) attributable to participating non-controlling interests | 420 | 281 | 1,783 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders | $ | 34,271 | $ | 0.61 | $ | 20,564 | $ | 0.41 | $ | 125,346 | $ | 2.58 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weighted average shares of common stock and convertible units(5) outstanding | 57,263 | 50,533 | 49,215 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding | 56,569 | 49,853 | 48,535 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)Other income primarily consists of rental income on real estate owned and loan origination fees.
(2)Includes U.S. Treasury securities, if applicable.
(3)Other activities include certain equity and other trading strategies and related hedges, and net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on foreign currency.
4
(4)Includes allocable portion of interest expense on the Company's Senior notes.
(5)Convertible units include Operating Partnership units attributable to participating non-controlling interests.
About Ellington Financial
Ellington Financial invests in a diverse array of financial assets, including residential and commercial mortgage loans, residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities, consumer loans and asset-backed securities backed by consumer loans, collateralized loan obligations, non-mortgage and mortgage-related derivatives, equity investments in loan origination companies, and other strategic investments. Ellington Financial is externally managed and advised by Ellington Financial Management LLC, an affiliate of Ellington Management Group, L.L.C.
Conference Call
The Company will host a conference call at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, February 24, 2022, to discuss its financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2021. To participate in the event by telephone, please dial (877) 876-9173 at least 10 minutes prior to the start time and reference the conference ID EFCQ421. International callers should dial (785) 424-1667 and reference the same conference ID. The conference call will also be webcast live over the Internet and can be accessed via the "For Our Shareholders" section of the Company's web site at www.ellingtonfinancial.com. To listen to the live webcast, please visit www.ellingtonfinancial.com at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call to register, download, and install necessary audio software. In connection with the release of these financial results, the Company also posted an investor presentation, that will accompany the conference call, on its website at www.ellingtonfinancial.com under "For Our Shareholders—Presentations."
A dial-in replay of the conference call will be available on Thursday, February 24, 2022, at approximately 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time through Thursday, March 3, 2022 at approximately 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. To access this replay, please dial (800) 839-9301. International callers should dial (402) 220-6081. A replay of the conference call will also be archived on the Company's web site at www.ellingtonfinancial.com.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from the Company's beliefs, expectations, estimates, and projections and, consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Forward-looking statements are not historical in nature and can be identified by words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "project," "plan," "continue," "intend," "should," "would," "could," "goal," "objective," "will," "may," "seek," or similar expressions or their negative forms, or by references to strategy, plans, or intentions. Examples of forward-looking statements in this press release include without limitation management's beliefs regarding the current economic and investment environment and the Company's ability to implement its investment and hedging strategies, performance of the Company's investment and hedging strategies, the Company's exposure to prepayment risk in its Agency portfolio, and statements regarding the drivers of the Company's returns. The Company's results can fluctuate from month to month and from quarter to quarter depending on a variety of factors, some of which are beyond the Company's control and/or are difficult to predict, including, without limitation, changes in interest rates and the market value of the Company's investments, changes in mortgage default rates and prepayment rates, the Company's ability to borrow to finance its assets, changes in government regulations affecting the Company's business, the Company's ability to maintain its exclusion from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940; the Company's ability to qualify and maintain its qualification as a real estate investment trust, or "REIT"; and other changes in market conditions and economic trends, including changes resulting from the ongoing spread and economic effects of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and associated responses to the pandemic. Furthermore, forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including, among other things, those described under Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, which can be accessed through the Company's website at www.ellingtonfinancial.com or at the SEC's website (www.sec.gov). Other risks, uncertainties, and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or implied may be described from time to time in reports the Company's files with the SEC, including reports on Forms 10-Q, 10-K and 8-K. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
5
ELLINGTON FINANCIAL INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)
| Three-Month Period Ended | Year Ended December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | September 30, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands, except per share amounts) | |||||||||||||||||
| NET INTEREST INCOME | |||||||||||||||||
| Interest income | $ | 49,390 | $ | 40,146 | $ | 175,505 | |||||||||||
| Interest expense | (10,918) | (10,604) | (44,030) | ||||||||||||||
| Total net interest income | 38,472 | 29,542 | 131,475 | ||||||||||||||
| Other Income (Loss) | |||||||||||||||||
| Realized gains (losses) on securities and loans, net | (3,609) | 6,359 | 5,017 | ||||||||||||||
| Realized gains (losses) on financial derivatives, net | 7,064 | (1,782) | 11,502 | ||||||||||||||
| Realized gains (losses) on real estate owned, net | 1,774 | (50) | 1,711 | ||||||||||||||
| Unrealized gains (losses) on securities and loans, net | (35,809) | (3,212) | (30,802) | ||||||||||||||
| Unrealized gains (losses) on financial derivatives, net | 4,171 | 1,155 | 10,355 | ||||||||||||||
| Unrealized gains (losses) on real estate owned, net | 176 | 672 | (1,259) | ||||||||||||||
| Other, net | 13,729 | 2,986 | 23,038 | ||||||||||||||
| Total other income (loss) | (12,504) | 6,128 | 19,562 | ||||||||||||||
| EXPENSES | |||||||||||||||||
| Base management fee to affiliate (Net of fee rebates of $1,809, $395, and $2,593, respectively) | 3,115 | 3,675 | 13,422 | ||||||||||||||
| Incentive fee to affiliate | 3,246 | 5,255 | 15,658 | ||||||||||||||
| Investment related expenses: | |||||||||||||||||
| Servicing expense | 1,280 | 1,182 | 4,422 | ||||||||||||||
Debt issuance costs related to Other secured borrowings, at fair value | 1,586 | — | 5,290 | ||||||||||||||
| Other | 3,113 | 1,697 | 8,832 | ||||||||||||||
| Professional fees | 1,979 | 1,202 | 5,416 | ||||||||||||||
| Compensation expense | 1,357 | 1,554 | 5,743 | ||||||||||||||
| Other expenses | 1,764 | 1,682 | 6,658 | ||||||||||||||
| Total expenses | 17,440 | 16,247 | 65,441 | ||||||||||||||
Net Income (Loss) before Income Tax Expense (Benefit) and Earnings from Investments in Unconsolidated Entities | 8,528 | 19,423 | 85,596 | ||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) | (4) | (2,009) | 3,144 | ||||||||||||||
| Earnings (losses) from investments in unconsolidated entities | 30,318 | 2,549 | 58,104 | ||||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | 38,850 | 23,981 | 140,556 | ||||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Non-Controlling Interests | 2,284 | 1,476 | 7,093 | ||||||||||||||
| Dividends on Preferred Stock | 2,295 | 1,941 | 8,117 | ||||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Common Stockholders | $ | 34,271 | $ | 20,564 | $ | 125,346 | |||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) per Common Share: | |||||||||||||||||
| Basic and Diluted | $ | 0.61 | $ | 0.41 | $ | 2.58 | |||||||||||
| Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding | 56,569 | 49,853 | 48,535 | ||||||||||||||
Weighted average shares of common stock and convertible units outstanding | 57,263 | 50,533 | 49,215 | ||||||||||||||
6
ELLINGTON FINANCIAL INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
(UNAUDITED)
| As of | |||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands, except share amounts) | December 31, 2021 | September 30, 2021 | December 31, 2020(1) | ||||||||||||||
| ASSETS | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 92,661 | $ | 103,617 | $ | 111,647 | |||||||||||
| Restricted cash | 175 | 175 | 175 | ||||||||||||||
| Securities, at fair value | 2,087,360 | 1,895,563 | 1,514,185 | ||||||||||||||
| Loans, at fair value | 2,415,321 | 1,996,529 | 1,453,480 | ||||||||||||||
| Investments in unconsolidated entities, at fair value | 195,643 | 142,019 | 141,620 | ||||||||||||||
| Real estate owned | 24,681 | 37,002 | 23,598 | ||||||||||||||
| Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value | 18,894 | 15,976 | 15,479 | ||||||||||||||
| Reverse repurchase agreements | 123,250 | 38,062 | 38,640 | ||||||||||||||
| Due from brokers | 93,549 | 89,983 | 63,147 | ||||||||||||||
| Investment related receivables | 122,175 | 97,721 | 49,317 | ||||||||||||||
| Other assets | 3,710 | 3,608 | 2,575 | ||||||||||||||
| Total Assets | $ | 5,177,419 | $ | 4,420,255 | $ | 3,413,863 | |||||||||||
| LIABILITIES | |||||||||||||||||
| Securities sold short, at fair value | $ | 120,525 | $ | 30,294 | $ | 38,642 | |||||||||||
| Repurchase agreements | 2,469,763 | 2,105,836 | 1,496,931 | ||||||||||||||
| Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value | 12,298 | 14,119 | 24,553 | ||||||||||||||
| Due to brokers | 2,233 | 2,560 | 5,059 | ||||||||||||||
| Investment related payables | 39,048 | 82,295 | 4,754 | ||||||||||||||
| Other secured borrowings | 96,622 | 90,981 | 51,062 | ||||||||||||||
| Other secured borrowings, at fair value | 984,168 | 872,306 | 754,921 | ||||||||||||||
| Senior notes, net | 85,802 | 85,759 | 85,561 | ||||||||||||||
| Base management fee payable to affiliate | 3,115 | 3,675 | 3,178 | ||||||||||||||
| Incentive fee payable to affiliate | 3,246 | 5,255 | — | ||||||||||||||
| Dividend payable | 10,375 | 9,149 | 5,738 | ||||||||||||||
| Interest payable | 4,570 | 1,813 | 3,233 | ||||||||||||||
| Accrued expenses and other liabilities | 22,098 | 20,943 | 18,659 | ||||||||||||||
| Total Liabilities | 3,853,863 | 3,324,985 | 2,492,291 | ||||||||||||||
| EQUITY | |||||||||||||||||
Preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, 100,000,000 shares authorized; 9,400,000, 4,600,000, and 4,600,000 shares issued and outstanding, and $235,000, $115,000, and $115,000 aggregate liquidation preference, respectively) | 226,939 | 111,034 | 111,034 | ||||||||||||||
Common stock, par value $0.001 per share, 100,000,000 shares authorized; (57,458,169, 51,677,667, and 43,781,684 shares issued and outstanding, respectively) | 58 | 52 | 44 | ||||||||||||||
| Additional paid-in-capital | 1,161,603 | 1,057,939 | 915,658 | ||||||||||||||
| Retained earnings (accumulated deficit) | (97,279) | (105,699) | (141,521) | ||||||||||||||
| Total Stockholders' Equity | 1,291,321 | 1,063,326 | 885,215 | ||||||||||||||
| Non-controlling interests | 32,235 | 31,944 | 36,357 | ||||||||||||||
| Total Equity | 1,323,556 | 1,095,270 | 921,572 | ||||||||||||||
| TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | $ | 5,177,419 | $ | 4,420,255 | $ | 3,413,863 | |||||||||||
| SUPPLEMENTAL PER SHARE INFORMATION: | |||||||||||||||||
Book Value Per Common Share(2) | $ | 18.39 | $ | 18.35 | $ | 17.59 | |||||||||||
(1)Derived from audited financial statements as of December 31, 2020.
(2)Based on total stockholders' equity less the aggregate liquidation preference of the Company's preferred stock outstanding.
7
Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to Core Earnings
The Company calculates Core Earnings as U.S. GAAP net income (loss) as adjusted for: (i) realized and unrealized gain (loss) on securities and loans, REO, financial derivatives (excluding periodic settlements on interest rate swaps), other secured borrowings, at fair value, and foreign currency transactions; (ii) incentive fee to affiliate; (iii) Catch-up Premium Amortization Adjustment (as defined below); (iv) non-cash equity compensation expense; (v) provision for income taxes; and (vi) certain other income or loss items that are of a non-recurring nature. For certain investments in unconsolidated entities, the Company includes the relevant components of net operating income in Core Earnings. The Catch-up Premium Amortization Adjustment is a quarterly adjustment to premium amortization triggered by changes in actual and projected prepayments on the Company's Agency RMBS (accompanied by a corresponding offsetting adjustment to realized and unrealized gains and losses). The adjustment is calculated as of the beginning of each quarter based on the Company's then-current assumptions about cashflows and prepayments, and can vary significantly from quarter to quarter.
Core Earnings is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure. The Company believes that the presentation of Core Earnings provides a consistent measure of operating performance by excluding the impact of gains and losses and other adjustments listed above from operating results. The Company believes that Core Earnings provides information useful to investors because it is a metric that the Company uses to assess its performance and to evaluate the effective net yield provided by its portfolio. In addition, the Company believes that presenting Core Earnings enables its investors to measure, evaluate, and compare its operating performance to that of its peers. However, because Core Earnings is an incomplete measure of the Company's financial results and differs from net income (loss) computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP, it should be considered supplementary to, and not as a substitute for, net income (loss) computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
The following table reconciles, for the three-month periods ended December 31, 2021 and September 30, 2021 and the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company's Core Earnings to the line on the Company's Consolidated Statement of Operations entitled Net Income (Loss), which the Company believes is the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure:
| Three-Month Period Ended | Year Ended December 31, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands, except per share amounts) | December 31, 2021 | September 30, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | $ | 38,850 | $ | 23,981 | $ | 140,556 | ||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) | (4) | (2,009) | 3,144 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) before income tax expense | 38,846 | 21,972 | 143,700 | |||||||||||||||||
| Adjustments: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Realized (gains) losses on securities and loans, net | 3,609 | (6,359) | (5,017) | |||||||||||||||||
| Realized (gains) losses on financial derivatives, net | (7,064) | 1,782 | (11,502) | |||||||||||||||||
| Realized (gains) losses on real estate owned, net | (1,774) | 50 | (1,711) | |||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized (gains) losses on securities and loans, net | 35,809 | 3,212 | 30,802 | |||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized (gains) losses on financial derivatives, net | (4,171) | (1,155) | (10,355) | |||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized (gains) losses on real estate owned, net | (176) | (672) | 1,259 | |||||||||||||||||
Other realized and unrealized (gains) losses, net(1) | (10,727) | (1,133) | (14,628) | |||||||||||||||||
| Net realized gains (losses) on periodic settlements of interest rate swaps | (470) | (1,069) | (2,277) | |||||||||||||||||
| Net unrealized gains (losses) on accrued periodic settlements of interest rate swaps | (716) | 252 | (763) | |||||||||||||||||
| Incentive fee to affiliate | 3,246 | 5,255 | 15,658 | |||||||||||||||||
| Non-cash equity compensation expense | 254 | 244 | 971 | |||||||||||||||||
| Negative (positive) component of interest income represented by Catch-up Premium Amortization Adjustment | (1,250) | 2,944 | (1,260) | |||||||||||||||||
| Debt issuance costs related to Other secured borrowings, at fair value | 1,586 | — | 5,290 | |||||||||||||||||
| Non-recurring expenses | 1,176 | 471 | 1,894 | |||||||||||||||||
(Earnings) losses from investments in unconsolidated entities(2) | (28,563) | 647 | (48,406) | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Core Earnings | $ | 29,615 | $ | 26,441 | $ | 103,655 | ||||||||||||||
| Dividends on preferred stock | 2,295 | 1,941 | 8,117 | |||||||||||||||||
| Core Earnings attributable to non-controlling interests | 2,421 | 1,544 | 6,621 | |||||||||||||||||
| Core Earnings Attributable to Common Stockholders | $ | 24,899 | $ | 22,956 | $ | 88,917 | ||||||||||||||
| Core Earnings Attributable to Common Stockholders, per share | $ | 0.44 | $ | 0.46 | $ | 1.83 | ||||||||||||||
(1)Includes realized and unrealized gains (losses) on foreign currency and unrealized gain (loss) on other secured borrowings, at fair value, included in Other, net, on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations.
(2)Adjustment represents, for certain investments in unconsolidated entities, the net realized and unrealized gains and losses of the underlying investments of such entities.
8