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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): May 7, 2024

ELLINGTON FINANCIAL INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware001-3456926-0489289
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
(Commission File Number)(IRS Employer Identification No.)
53 Forest Avenue
Old Greenwich, CT 06870
(Address and zip code of principal executive offices)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (203698-1200
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 ClassTrading Symbol(s)Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share
EFC
The New York Stock Exchange
6.750% Series A Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
EFC PR A
The New York Stock Exchange
6.250% Series B Fixed-Rate Reset
Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
EFC PR BThe New York Stock Exchange
8.625% Series C Fixed-Rate Reset
Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
EFC PR CThe New York Stock Exchange
7.00% Series D Cumulative Perpetual Redeemable Preferred StockEFC PRDThe New York Stock Exchange
8.250% Series E Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preferred StockEFC PREThe New York Stock Exchange
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 March 31, 2024.
On May 7, 2024, the Company issued a press release announcing its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. 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 Item 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: May 7, 2024 By: /s/ JR Herlihy
   JR Herlihy
   Chief Financial Officer



Document
Exhibit 99.1
Ellington Financial Inc. Reports First Quarter 2024 Results
OLD GREENWICH, Connecticut—May 7, 2024
Ellington Financial Inc. (NYSE: EFC) ("we," "us," or "our") today reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2024.
Highlights
Net income attributable to common stockholders of $26.9 million, or $0.32 per common share.1
$43.0 million, or $0.51 per common share, from the investment portfolio.
$40.9 million, or $0.48 per common share, from the credit strategy.
$2.1 million, or $0.03 per common share, from the Agency strategy.
$8.7 million, or $0.10 per common share, from Longbridge.
Adjusted Distributable Earnings2 of $23.7 million, or $0.28 per common share.
Book value per common share as of March 31, 2024 of $13.69, including the effects of dividends of $0.43 per common share for the quarter.
Dividend yield of 13.3% based on the May 6, 2024 closing stock price of $11.71 per share, and monthly dividend of $0.13 per common share declared on May 7, 2024.
Recourse debt-to-equity ratio3 of 1.8:1 as of March 31, 2024, adjusted for unsettled purchases and sales. Including all non-recourse borrowings, which primarily consist of securitization-related liabilities, debt-to-equity ratio of 8.3:14.
Cash and cash equivalents of $187.5 million as of March 31, 2024, in addition to other unencumbered assets of $544.5 million.
First Quarter 2024 Results
"Steady performance from our non-QM and residential transition loan businesses, together with strong returns from our secondary CLO, CMBS, and non-Agency RMBS portfolios, drove Ellington Financial's first quarter results," said Laurence Penn, Chief Executive Officer and President.
"We continue to focus on deploying the uninvested capital we held at year end following the closing of the Arlington merger. Our credit portfolio grew sequentially during the first quarter, driven by an expanding RTL portfolio and opportunistic CLO purchases. We also grew our commercial mortgage bridge loan portfolio, after five consecutive quarters of payoffs exceeding new originations in that portfolio. With borrowers finally more realistic about commercial real estate property valuations, we are seeing strong origination flow from our affiliate Sheridan, which has also sourced two NPLs for us so far in 2024.
"We also achieved some key portfolio objectives during the quarter. First, we successfully completed our inaugural securitization of proprietary reverse mortgage loans from Longbridge, thereby converting repo financing into term, non-mark-to-market financing at attractive terms. We expect that this securitization marks the beginning of an ongoing program for our proprietary reverse mortgage business, similar to the program we have established in our non-QM businesses. Second, we continued to cull lower-yielding securities from our portfolio, selling Agency and non-Agency RMBS and CMBS in order to free up capital for higher yielding opportunities. The culling of these securities, which are generally financed with higher leverage, drove down our overall leverage ratios, despite the capital deployment mentioned above.
"Following quarter-end, we completed our first non-QM securitization of the year, taking advantage of the tightest yield spreads we've seen in the past two years, and booking a significant gain as a result.
"We continue to work hard to get more fully invested in our higher-yielding strategies, drive origination profits at Longbridge, and work through the few sub-performing loans in our commercial bridge loan portfolio, as we build back up Adjusted Distributable Earnings. We continue to be patient on deployment, balancing the dual goals of growing earnings in the near term while preserving dry powder to capitalize on opportunistic situations as they arise."
1 Includes $(24.8) million of preferred dividends accrued and certain corporate/other income and expense items not attributed to either the investment portfolio or Longbridge segments.
2 Adjusted Distributable Earnings is a non-GAAP financial measure. See "Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to Adjusted Distributable Earnings" below for an explanation regarding the calculation of Adjusted Distributable Earnings.
3 Excludes U.S. Treasury securities and repo borrowings at certain unconsolidated entities that are recourse to us. Including such borrowings, our debt-to-equity ratio, adjusted for unsettled purchases and sales, based on total recourse borrowings was 2.0:1 as of March 31, 2024.
4 Excludes U.S. Treasury securities and repo borrowings at certain unconsolidated entities.
1


Financial Results
Investment Portfolio Summary
Our investment portfolio generated net income attributable to common stockholders of $43.0 million, consisting of $40.9 million from the credit strategy and $2.1 million from the Agency strategy.
Credit Performance
Our total long credit portfolio, excluding non-retained tranches of consolidated non-QM securitization trusts, increased to $2.80 billion as of March 31, 2024, from $2.74 billion as of December 31, 2023. The increase was driven primarily by larger residential transition loan and commercial mortgage bridge loan portfolios, where net originations exceeded principal paydowns, and net purchases of corporate CLOs. A portion of the increase was offset by a smaller non-QM loan portfolio, where principal paydowns and loan sales exceeded net originations, and net sales of non-Agency RMBS and CMBS.
Strong net interest income5 and net gains on non-Agency RMBS, interest rate hedges, and investments in loan originators drove the positive results in the credit strategy in the first quarter. These gains were partially offset by net losses on credit hedges, negative operating income on certain commercial non-performing mortgage loans and REO, and net losses on residential REO liquidations. We also had a net loss on the Great Ajax common shares we had purchased in connection with last year's terminated merger, which was partially offset by a net gain on the fixed payer interest rate swap hedges that we hold against those shares.
In addition, we saw a further uptick in delinquencies in our residential and commercial mortgage loan portfolios, and while those portfolios continue to experience low levels of realized credit losses and strong overall credit performance, we are monitoring developments closely and diligently working out a handful of non-performing commercial mortgage assets. Loans in non-accrual status, as well as negative operating income on certain REOs, continued to weigh on our Adjusted Distributable Earnings during the quarter.
During the quarter, the net interest margin6 on our credit portfolio increased to 2.86% from 2.66%, driven by higher asset yields, partially offset by a higher cost of funds. We continued to benefit from positive carry on our interest rate swap hedges, where we overall receive a higher floating rate and pay a lower fixed rate.
Agency Performance
Our total long Agency RMBS portfolio decreased by 22% quarter over quarter to $662.6 million, driven by net sales, principal repayments, and net realized and unrealized losses.
Despite lower interest rate volatility during the quarter, Agency RMBS lagged a broader rally in credit as market consensus for the timing of the first Federal Reserve rate cut was pushed back. This drove interest rates higher across the yield curve and pressured yield spreads on Agency RMBS, particularly in February and particularly for lower coupons. While Agency yield spreads did recover meaningfully in March, driven by lower volatility and capital inflows, overall for the quarter Agency RMBS generated a modestly negative excess return to U.S. Treasuries. Despite the negative excess return, our Agency portfolio was profitable for the quarter, as net gains on our interest rate hedges exceeded net realized and unrealized losses on our pools and negative net interest income.
Average pay-ups on our specified pools increased to 0.89% as of March 31, 2024, as compared to 0.84% as of December 31, 2023.
During the quarter, the asset yields on our Agency RMBS increased while our borrowing costs were roughly unchanged. At the same time, we continued to benefit from positive carry on our interest rate swap hedges, where we overall receive a higher floating rate and pay a lower fixed rate, and the impact of this benefit increased quarter over quarter. As a result, the net interest margin5 on our Agency RMBS, excluding the Catch-up Amortization Adjustment, increased to 1.50% from 0.69% quarter over quarter.
Longbridge Summary
Our Longbridge portfolio generated net income attributable to common stockholders of $8.7 million for the first quarter, driven by positive results from servicing and net gains on interest rate hedges. In originations, improved gain-on-sale margins in HECM, driven by tighter HECM yield spreads, were mostly offset by a decline in overall origination volumes. Tighter HECM
5 Excludes any interest income and interest expense items from interest rate hedges, net credit hedges and other activities, net.
6 Net interest margin represents the weighted average asset yield less the weighted average secured financing cost of funds on such assets. It also includes the effect of actual and accrued periodic payments on interest rate swaps used to hedge the assets.
2


yield spreads also led to net gains on the HMBS MSR Equivalent7, as well as improved execution on tail securitizations, which contributed to the positive results from servicing. Partially offsetting these gains were net losses on proprietary loans.
Our Longbridge portfolio, excluding non-retained tranches of a consolidated securitization trust, decreased by 20% sequentially to $441.0 million as of March 31, 2024, driven primarily by the successful completion of our inaugural proprietary reverse mortgage loan securitization.
Corporate/Other Summary
Our results for the quarter also reflect a net loss, driven by the increase in interest rates, on the fixed receiver interest rate swaps that we use to hedge the fixed payments on both our unsecured long-term debt and our preferred equity, partially offset by a net gain on our senior notes, also driven by the increase in interest rates.
Credit Portfolio(1)
The following table summarizes our credit portfolio holdings as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
March 31, 2024December 31, 2023
($ in thousands)Fair Value%Fair Value%
Dollar denominated:
CLOs(2)
$59,243 1.4 %$33,920 0.8 %
CMBS22,393 0.5 %45,432 1.1 %
Commercial mortgage loans and REO(3)(4)
366,320 8.7 %330,296 7.9 %
Consumer loans and ABS backed by consumer loans(2)
83,194 2.0 %83,130 2.0 %
Other loans and ABS(5)
19,674 0.5 %10,314 0.3 %
Corporate debt and equity and corporate loans31,140 0.8 %29,720 0.7 %
Debt and equity investments in loan origination-related entities(6)
35,967 0.9 %38,528 0.9 %
Non-Agency RMBS210,132 5.0 %253,522 6.1 %
Non-QM loans and retained non-QM RMBS(7)
1,989,390 47.3 %2,037,914 48.9 %
Residential transition loans and other residential mortgage loans and REO(3)
1,199,246 28.5 %1,113,816 26.8 %
Forward MSR-related investments
160,009 3.8 %163,336 3.9 %
Non-Dollar denominated:
CLOs(2)
5,496 0.1 %4,234 0.1 %
Corporate debt and equity185 — %189 — %
RMBS(8)
20,423 0.5 %19,674 0.5 %
Total long credit portfolio$4,202,812 100.0 %$4,164,025 100.0 %
Less: Non-retained tranches of consolidated securitization trusts1,407,035 1,424,804 
Total long credit portfolio excluding non-retained tranches of consolidated securitization trusts$2,795,777 $2,739,221 
(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)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.
(4)Includes equity investments in unconsolidated entities holding commercial mortgage loans and REO.
(5)Includes equity investment in an unconsolidated entity which purchases certain other loans for eventual securitization.
(6)Includes corporate loans to certain loan origination entities in which we hold an equity investment.
(7)Retained non-QM RMBS represents RMBS issued by non-consolidated Ellington-sponsored non-QM loan securitization trusts, and interests in entities holding such RMBS.
(8)Includes an equity investment in an unconsolidated entity holding European RMBS.
7 HMBS assets are consolidated for GAAP reporting purposes, and HMBS-related obligations are accounted for on the balance sheet as secured borrowings. The fair value of HMBS assets less the fair value of the HMBS-related obligations approximate fair value of the HMBS MSR Equivalent.
3


Agency RMBS Portfolio
The following table(1) summarizes our Agency RMBS portfolio holdings as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
March 31, 2024December 31, 2023
($ in thousands)Fair Value%Fair Value%
Long Agency RMBS:
Fixed rate$609,806 92.0 %$798,211 93.5 %
Floating rate5,043 0.8 %5,130 0.6 %
Reverse mortgages36,912 5.6 %37,171 4.4 %
IOs10,811 1.6 %12,712 1.5 %
Total long Agency RMBS$662,572 100.0 %$853,224 100.0 %
(1)This information does not include U.S. Treasury securities, securities sold short, or financial derivatives.
Longbridge Portfolio
Longbridge originates reverse mortgage loans, including home equity conversion mortgage loans, or "HECMs," which are insured by the FHA and which are eligible for inclusion in GNMA-guaranteed HECM-backed MBS, or "HMBS." Upon securitization, the HECMs remain on our balance sheet under GAAP, and Longbridge retains the mortgage servicing rights associated with the HMBS, or the "HMBS MSR Equivalent." Longbridge also originates "proprietary reverse mortgage loans," which are not insured by the FHA, and Longbridge has typically retained the associated MSRs. We have securitized some of the proprietary reverse mortgage loans originated by Longbridge, and we have retained certain of the securitization tranches in compliance with credit risk retention rules. The following table(1) summarizes loan-related assets in the Longbridge segment as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
March 31, 2024December 31, 2023
(In thousands)
HMBS assets(2)
$8,713,835 $8,511,682 
Less: HMBS liabilities(8,619,463)(8,423,235)
HMBS MSR Equivalent94,372 88,447 
Unsecuritized HECM loans(3)
111,617 102,553 
Proprietary reverse mortgage loans(4)
365,372 329,575 
Reverse MSRs29,889 29,580 
Unsecuritized REO2,228 2,219 
Total603,478 552,374 
Less: Non-retained tranches of consolidated securitization trust(162,482)— 
Total, excluding non-retained tranches of consolidated securitization trust$440,996 $552,374 
(1)This information does not include financial derivatives or loan commitments.
(2)Includes HECM loans, related REO, and claims or other receivables.
(3)As of March 31, 2024, includes $9.3 million of active HECM buyout loans, $9.4 million of inactive HECM buyout loans, and $4.5 million of other inactive HECM loans. As of December 31, 2023, includes $6.9 million of active HECM buyout loans, $10.2 million of inactive HECM buyout loans, and $4.9 million of other inactive HECM loans.
(4)Includes $184.9 million of securitized proprietary reverse mortgage loans and $4.7 million of cash held in a securitization reserve fund.
The following table summarizes Longbridge's origination volumes by channel for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
($ In thousands)March 31, 2024December 31, 2023
ChannelUnits
New Loan Origination Volume(1)
% of New Loan Origination VolumeUnits
New Loan Origination Volume(1)
% of New Loan Origination Volume
Retail381 $51,639 25 %363 $47,868 18 %
Wholesale and correspondent983 153,246 75 %1,223 214,314 82 %
Total1,364 $204,885 100 %1,586 $262,182 100 %
(1)Represents initial borrowed amounts on reverse mortgage loans.
4


Financing
Our recourse debt-to-equity ratio3 decreased to 1.8:1 at March 31, 2024 from 2.0:1 at December 31, 2023. The decline was primarily driven by an increase in shareholders' equity, a decline in borrowings on our smaller Agency RMBS portfolio, and a decrease in recourse borrowings related to the securitization of proprietary reverse mortgage loans in March; such securitization financing is consolidated non-recourse debt. Our overall debt-to-equity ratio4 also decreased during the quarter, to 8.3:1 as of March 31, 2024, as compared to 8.4:1 as of December 31, 2023.
The following table summarizes our outstanding borrowings and debt-to-equity ratios as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
March 31, 2024December 31, 2023
Outstanding Borrowings(1)
Debt-to-Equity Ratio(2)
Outstanding Borrowings(1)
Debt-to-Equity Ratio(2)
(In thousands)(In thousands)
Recourse borrowings(3)(4)
$2,996,346 1.9:1$3,510,945 2.3:1
Non-recourse borrowings(4)
10,188,612 6.6:19,847,903 6.4:1
Total Borrowings$13,184,958 8.5:1$13,358,848 8.7:1
Total Equity$1,553,156 $1,535,612 
Recourse borrowings excluding U.S. Treasury securities, adjusted for unsettled purchases and sales
1.8:12.0:1
Total borrowings excluding U.S. Treasury securities, adjusted for unsettled purchases and sales
8.3:18.4:1
(1)Includes borrowings under repurchase agreements, other secured borrowings, other secured borrowings, at fair value, and unsecured debt, at par.
(2)Recourse and overall debt-to-equity ratios are computed by dividing outstanding recourse and overall borrowings, respectively, by total equity. Debt-to-equity ratios do not account for liabilities other than debt financings.
(3)Excludes repo borrowings at certain unconsolidated entities that are recourse to us. Including such borrowings, our debt-to-equity ratio based on total recourse borrowings is 2.0:1 and 2.4:1 as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.
(4)All of our 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 us or our consolidated subsidiaries. In the event of default under a recourse borrowing, the lender's claim is not limited to the collateral (if any).
5


The following table summarizes our operating results by strategy for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024:
Investment PortfolioLongbridgeCorporate/OtherTotalPer Share
(In thousands except per share amounts)CreditAgencyInvestment Portfolio Subtotal
Interest income and other income (1)
$84,269 $7,069 $91,338 $12,132 $1,877 $105,347 $1.24 
Interest expense(43,121)(9,763)(52,884)(8,558)(4,597)(66,039)(0.77)
Realized gain (loss), net(6,379)(12,154)(18,533)— — (18,533)(0.22)
Unrealized gain (loss), net3,466 797 4,263 (8,356)1,829 (2,264)(0.03)
Net change from reverse mortgage loans and HMBS obligations— — — 27,515 — 27,515 0.32 
Earnings in unconsolidated entities2,226 — 2,226 — — 2,226 0.03 
Interest rate hedges and other activity, net(2)
8,259 16,123 24,382 15,712 (5,538)34,556 0.41 
Credit hedges and other activities, net(3)
(4,449)— (4,449)(592)— (5,041)(0.06)
Income tax (expense) benefit— — — — (61)(61)— 
Investment related expenses(2,973)— (2,973)(10,263)— (13,236)(0.16)
Other expenses(170)— (170)(18,836)(11,413)(30,419)(0.36)
Net income (loss) 41,128 2,072 43,200 8,754 (17,903)34,051 0.40 
Dividends on preferred stock— — — — (6,654)(6,654)(0.08)
Net (income) loss attributable to non-participating non-controlling interests(185)— (185)(38)(4)(227)— 
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders and participating non-controlling interests40,943 2,072 43,015 8,716 (24,561)27,170 0.32 
Net (income) loss attributable to participating non-controlling interests— — — — (255)(255)— 
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders$40,943 $2,072 $43,015 $8,716 $(24,816)$26,915 $0.32 
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders per share of common stock$0.48 $0.03 $0.51 $0.10 $(0.29)$0.32 
Weighted average shares of common stock and convertible units(4) outstanding
85,269 
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding84,468 
(1)Other income primarily consists of rental income on real estate owned, loan origination fees, and servicing income.
(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)Convertible units include Operating Partnership units attributable to participating non-controlling interests.
6


The following table summarizes our operating results by strategy for the three-month period ended December 31, 2023:
Investment PortfolioLongbridgeCorporate/OtherTotalPer Share
(In thousands except per share amounts)CreditAgencyInvestment Portfolio Subtotal
Interest income and other income (1)
$74,769 $11,580 $86,349 $10,930 $1,996 $99,275 $1.38 
Interest expense(43,503)(12,923)(56,426)(7,819)(3,454)(67,699)(0.94)
Realized gain (loss), net(2)
(19,064)(11,075)(30,139)(27)28,175 (1,991)(0.03)
Unrealized gain (loss), net28,364 57,043 85,407 15,661 (5,604)95,464 1.32 
Net change from reverse mortgage loans and HMBS obligations— — — 28,903 — 28,903 0.40 
Earnings in unconsolidated entities2,547 — 2,547 — — 2,547 0.04 
Interest rate hedges and other activity, net(3)
(20,238)(30,067)(50,305)(25,684)9,730 (66,259)(0.92)
Credit hedges and other activities, net(4)
(4,525)— (4,525)— 1,463 (3,062)(0.04)
Income tax (expense) benefit— — — — (129)(129)— 
Investment related expenses(3,169)— (3,169)(6,386)— (9,555)(0.13)
Other expenses(5)
(1,877)— (1,877)(18,940)(37,352)(58,169)(0.81)
Net income (loss)13,304 14,558 27,862 (3,362)(5,175)19,325 0.27 
Dividends on preferred stock— — — — (6,104)(6,104)(0.08)
Net (income) loss attributable to non-participating non-controlling interests(586)— (586)(5)(585)(0.01)
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders and participating non-controlling interests12,718 14,558 27,276 (3,356)(11,284)12,636 0.18 
Net (income) loss attributable to participating non-controlling interests— — — — (139)(139)— 
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders$12,718 $14,558 $27,276 $(3,356)$(11,423)$12,497 $0.18 
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders per share of common stock$0.18 $0.20 $0.38 $(0.04)$(0.16)$0.18 
Weighted average shares of common stock and convertible units(6) outstanding
72,136 
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding71,338 
(1)Other income primarily consists of rental income on real estate owned, loan origination fees, and servicing income.
(2)In Corporate/Other, represents the $28.2 million bargain purchase gain related to the Arlington Merger.
(3)Includes U.S. Treasury securities, if applicable.
(4)Other activities include certain equity and other trading strategies and related hedges, and net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on foreign currency.
(5)In Corporate/Other, includes Arlington merger-related expenses of $22.1 million.
(6)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 and mortgage-backed securities, reverse mortgage loans, mortgage servicing rights and related investments, consumer loans, asset-backed securities, collateralized loan obligations, non-mortgage and mortgage-related derivatives, debt and 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.
7


Conference Call
We will host a conference call at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, to discuss our financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. To participate in the event by telephone, please dial (800) 343-5419 at least 10 minutes prior to the start time and reference the conference ID EFCQ124. International callers should dial (203) 518-9731 and reference the same conference ID. The conference call will also be webcast live over the Internet and can be accessed via the "For Investors" section of our 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, we also posted an investor presentation, that will accompany the conference call, on our website at www.ellingtonfinancial.com under "For Investors—Presentations."
A dial-in replay of the conference call will be available on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at approximately 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time through Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at approximately 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. To access this replay, please dial (888) 562-0902. International callers should dial (402) 220-7344. A replay of the conference call will also be archived on our 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. Our actual results may differ from our 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. Forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and expectations of our future operations, business strategies, performance, financial condition, liquidity and prospects, taking into account 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, results of operations and strategies may vary materially from those expressed or implied 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 investments, market volatility, changes in mortgage default rates and prepayment rates, our ability to borrow to finance our assets, changes in government regulations affecting our business, our ability achieve the cost savings and efficiencies, operating efficiencies, synergies and other benefits, including the increased scale, and avoid potential business disruption from our recently completed merger with Arlington Asset Investment Corp., our ability to maintain our exclusion from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, our ability to maintain our qualification as a real estate investment trust, or "REIT," and other changes in market conditions and economic trends, such as changes to fiscal or monetary policy, heightened inflation, slower growth or recession, and currency fluctuations. Furthermore, forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including, among other things, those described under Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, which can be accessed through our 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 may be described from time to time in reports we file with the SEC, including reports on Forms 10-Q, 10-K and 8-K. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
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ELLINGTON FINANCIAL INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)
Three-Month Period Ended
March 31, 2024December 31, 2023
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
NET INTEREST INCOME
Interest income$101,520 $98,690 
Interest expense(70,464)(70,699)
Total net interest income31,056 27,991 
Other Income (Loss)
Realized gains (losses) on securities and loans, net(17,208)(22,475)
Realized gains (losses) on financial derivatives, net3,478 9,437 
Realized gains (losses) on real estate owned, net(1,372)(3,773)
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities and loans, net5,573 147,273 
Unrealized gains (losses) on financial derivatives, net30,365 (81,957)
Unrealized gains (losses) on real estate owned, net(679)2,710 
Unrealized gains (losses) on other secured borrowings, at fair value, net(12,524)(52,687)
Unrealized gains (losses) on unsecured borrowings, at fair value1,829 (1,954)
Net change from reverse mortgage loans, at fair value205,497 208,661 
Net change related to HMBS obligations, at fair value(177,982)(179,758)
Bargain purchase gain— 28,175 
Other, net7,508 2,988 
Total other income (loss)44,485 56,640 
EXPENSES
Base management fee to affiliate, net of rebates5,730 5,660 
Investment related expenses:
Servicing expense5,688 5,328 
Debt issuance costs related to Other secured borrowings, at fair value
3,113 — 
Other4,435 4,227 
Professional fees2,970 7,411 
Compensation and benefits14,643 33,173 
Other expenses7,076 11,925 
Total expenses43,655 67,724 
Net Income (Loss) before Income Tax Expense (Benefit) and Earnings from Investments in Unconsolidated Entities
31,886 16,907 
Income tax expense (benefit)61 129 
Earnings (losses) from investments in unconsolidated entities2,226 2,547 
Net Income (Loss)34,051 19,325 
Net Income (Loss) attributable to non-controlling interests482 724 
Dividends on preferred stock6,654 6,104 
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Common Stockholders$26,915 $12,497 
Net Income (Loss) per Common Share:
Basic and Diluted$0.32 $0.18 
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding84,468 71,338 
Weighted average shares of common stock and convertible units outstanding
85,269 72,136 
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ELLINGTON FINANCIAL INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(UNAUDITED)
As of
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)March 31, 2024
December 31, 2023(1)
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents$187,467 $228,927 
Restricted cash6,343 1,618 
Securities, at fair value1,328,848 1,518,377 
Loans, at fair value12,644,232 12,306,636 
Loan commitments, at fair value3,917 2,584 
Forward MSR-related investments, at fair value160,009 163,336 
Mortgage servicing rights, at fair value29,889 29,580 
Investments in unconsolidated entities, at fair value125,366 116,414 
Real estate owned19,999 22,085 
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value 150,343 143,996 
Reverse repurchase agreements183,607 173,145 
Due from brokers17,099 51,884 
Investment related receivables200,059 480,249 
Other assets75,422 77,099 
Total Assets$15,132,600 $15,315,930 
LIABILITIES
Securities sold short, at fair value$165,118 $154,303 
Repurchase agreements2,517,747 2,967,437 
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value 40,425 61,776 
Due to brokers62,646 62,442 
Investment related payables32,329 37,403 
Other secured borrowings180,918 245,827 
Other secured borrowings, at fair value1,569,149 1,424,668 
HMBS-related obligations, at fair value8,619,463 8,423,235 
Unsecured borrowings, at fair value270,936 272,765 
Base management fee payable to affiliate5,730 5,660 
Dividend payable 15,168 11,528 
Interest payable25,177 22,933 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities74,638 90,341 
Total Liabilities13,579,444 13,780,318 
EQUITY
Preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, 100,000,000 shares authorized; 14,757,222 and 14,757,222 shares issued and outstanding, and $368,931 and $368,931 aggregate liquidation preference, respectively355,551 355,551 
Common stock, par value $0.001 per share, 200,000,000, and 200,000,000 shares authorized, respectively; 85,056,648 and 83,000,488 shares issued and outstanding, respectively(2)
85 83 
Additional paid-in-capital1,540,857 1,514,797 
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)(363,034)(353,360)
Total Stockholders' Equity 1,533,459 1,517,071 
Non-controlling interests19,697 18,541 
Total Equity1,553,156 1,535,612 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY$15,132,600 $15,315,930 
SUPPLEMENTAL PER SHARE INFORMATION:
Book Value Per Common Share (3)
$13.69 $13.83 
(1)Derived from audited financial statements as of December 31, 2023.
(2)Common shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2024 include 2,103,725 shares of common stock issued under our ATM program and exclude 47,565 common shares repurchased during the quarter.
(3)Based on total stockholders' equity less the aggregate liquidation preference of our preferred stock outstanding.
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Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to Adjusted Distributable Earnings
We calculate Adjusted Distributable Earnings as U.S. GAAP net income (loss) as adjusted for: (i) realized and unrealized gain (loss) on securities and loans, REO, mortgage servicing rights, financial derivatives (excluding periodic settlements on interest rate swaps), any borrowings carried at fair value, and foreign currency transactions; (ii) incentive fee to affiliate; (iii) Catch-up Amortization Adjustment (as defined below); (iv) non-cash equity compensation expense; (v) provision for income taxes; (vi) certain non-capitalized transaction costs; and (vii) other income or loss items that are of a non-recurring nature. For certain investments in unconsolidated entities, we include the relevant components of net operating income in Adjusted Distributable Earnings. The Catch-up Amortization Adjustment is a quarterly adjustment to premium amortization or discount accretion triggered by changes in actual and projected prepayments on our 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 our then-current assumptions about cashflows and prepayments, and can vary significantly from quarter to quarter. Non-capitalized transaction costs include expenses, generally professional fees, incurred in connection with the acquisition of an investment or issuance of long-term debt. For the contribution to Adjusted Distributable Earnings from Longbridge, we adjust Longbridge's contribution to our net income in a similar manner, but we include in Adjusted Distributable Earnings certain realized and unrealized gains (losses) from Longbridge's origination business ("gain-on-sale income").
Adjusted Distributable Earnings is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure. We believe that the presentation of Adjusted Distributable Earnings provides information useful to investors, because: (i) we believe that it is a useful indicator of both current and projected long-term financial performance, in that it excludes the impact of certain current-period earnings components that we believe are less useful in forecasting long-term performance and dividend-paying ability; (ii) we use it to evaluate the effective net yield provided by our investment portfolio, after the effects of financial leverage and by Longbridge, to reflect the earnings from its reverse mortgage origination and servicing operations; and (iii) we believe that presenting Adjusted Distributable Earnings assists investors in measuring and evaluating our operating performance, and comparing our operating performance to that of our residential mortgage REIT and mortgage originator peers. Please note, however, that: (I) our calculation of Adjusted Distributable Earnings may differ from the calculation of similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures by our peers, with the result that these non-GAAP financial measures might not be directly comparable; and (II) Adjusted Distributable Earnings excludes certain items that may impact the amount of cash that is actually available for distribution.
In addition, because Adjusted Distributable Earnings is an incomplete measure of our 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.
Furthermore, Adjusted Distributable Earnings is different from REIT taxable income. As a result, the determination of whether we have met the requirement to distribute at least 90% of our annual REIT taxable income (subject to certain adjustments) to our stockholders, in order to maintain our qualification as a REIT, is not based on whether we distributed 90% of our Adjusted Distributable Earnings.
In setting our dividends, our Board of Directors considers our earnings, liquidity, financial condition, REIT distribution requirements, and financial covenants, along with other factors that the Board of Directors may deem relevant from time to time.
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The following table reconciles, for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, our Adjusted Distributable Earnings to the line on our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations entitled Net Income (Loss), which we believe is the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure:
Three-Month Period Ended
March 31, 2024December 31, 2023
(In thousands, except per share amounts)Investment PortfolioLongbridgeCorporate/OtherTotalInvestment PortfolioLongbridgeCorporate/OtherTotal
Net Income (Loss)$43,200 $8,754 $(17,903)$34,051 $27,862 $(3,362)$(5,175)$19,325 
Income tax expense (benefit)— — 61 61 — — 129 129 
Net income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit)43,200 8,754 (17,842)34,112 27,862 (3,362)(5,046)19,454 
Adjustments:
Realized (gains) losses, net(1)
29,254 — 1,620 30,874 22,001 — (2,166)19,835 
Unrealized (gains) losses, net(2)
(25,945)449 (106)(25,602)(7,904)— (6,210)(14,114)
Unrealized (gains) losses on reverse MSRs, net of hedging (gains) losses(3)
— (13,943)— (13,943)— 3,178 — 3,178 
Negative (positive) component of interest income represented by Catch-up Amortization Adjustment1,297 — — 1,297 (530)— — (530)
Non-capitalized transaction costs and other expense adjustments(4)
923 4,068 500 5,491 105 731 5,019 5,855 
Bargain purchase (gain) net of expenses related to the Arlington Merger(5)
— — — — — — (6,058)(6,058)
(Earnings) losses from investments in unconsolidated entities(2,226)— — (2,226)(2,547)— — (2,547)
Adjusted distributable earnings from investments in unconsolidated entities(6)
816 — — 816 429 — — 429 
Total Adjusted Distributable Earnings$47,319 $(672)$(15,828)$30,819 $39,416 $547 $(14,461)$25,502 
Dividends on preferred stock— — 6,654 6,654 — — 6,104 6,104 
Adjusted Distributable Earnings attributable to non-controlling interests216 (2)225 439 280 211 493 
Adjusted Distributable Earnings Attributable to Common Stockholders$47,103 $(670)$(22,707)$23,726 $39,136 $545 $(20,776)$18,905 
Adjusted Distributable Earnings Attributable to Common Stockholders, per share$0.56 $(0.01)$(0.27)$0.28 $0.55 $0.01 $(0.29)$0.27 
(1)Includes realized (gains) losses on securities and loans, REO, financial derivatives (excluding periodic settlements on interest rate swaps), and foreign currency transactions which are components of Other Income (Loss) on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations.
(2)Includes unrealized (gains) losses on securities and loans, REO, financial derivatives (excluding periodic settlements on interest rate swaps), borrowings carried at fair value, MSR-related investments, and foreign currency transactions which are components of Other Income (Loss) on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations.
(3)Represents net change in fair value of the HMBS MSR Equivalent and Reverse MSRs attributable to changes in market conditions and model assumptions. This adjustment also includes net (gains) losses on certain hedging instruments, which are components of realized and/or unrealized gains (losses) on financial derivatives, net on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations.
(4)For the three-month period ended March 31, 2024, includes $3.1 million of debt issuance costs related to the securitization of reverse mortgage loans, $0.9 million of non-capitalized transaction costs, $0.6 million of merger and other business transition-related expenses, $0.3 million of non-cash equity compensation expense, and $0.6 million of various other expenses. For the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, includes $4.9 million of expenses related to our previously announced merger with Great Ajax Corp. which was terminated in October 2023, $0.4 million of non-capitalized transaction costs, $0.3 million of non-cash equity compensation expense, and $0.3 million of various other expenses.
(5)For the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, represents the reversal of the bargain purchase gain of $28.2 million net of the reversal of expenses related to the Arlington Merger of $22.1 million.
(6)Includes net interest income and operating expenses for certain investments in unconsolidated entities.
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