Ellington Financial Inc (EFC) Q3 2024 Earnings Call Highlights: Strong Portfolio Growth and ...

In This Article:

  • Adjusted Distributable Earnings (ADE): $0.40 per share, a $0.07 increase from the second quarter.

  • Dividends: $0.39 per share for the quarter.

  • GAAP Net Income: $0.19 per share.

  • Longbridge Segment ADE Contribution: $0.12 per share.

  • Investment Portfolio Growth: Increased by 26% in non-QM, RTL, commercial mortgage bridge, HELOC, and closed-end second lien loan portfolios.

  • Leverage Ratio: Increased to 1.8 times from 1.6 times.

  • Agency Portfolio Reduction: Shrunk by 14% sequentially.

  • Cash and Unencumbered Assets: Totaled $765 million, nearly 50% of total equity.

  • Origination Volume at Longbridge: Increased by 16.5% sequentially.

  • Book Value Per Common Share: $13.66 at quarter end.

  • Total Economic Return: 0.9% non-annualized for Q3.

  • Total Long Credit Portfolio: Increased by 19% to $3.25 billion as of September 30.

  • Weighted Average Borrowing Rate: Decreased by 21 basis points to 6.77% at September 30.

  • Recourse Debt to Equity Ratio: Increased to 1.8:1 from 1.6:1.

Release Date: November 07, 2024

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

  • Ellington Financial Inc (NYSE:EFC) reported an increase in adjusted distributable earnings to $0.40 per share, covering the $0.39 dividend for the quarter.

  • The Longbridge segment showed significant improvement, contributing $0.12 per share to adjusted distributable earnings, driven by a successful proprietary reverse mortgage securitization.

  • EFC's investment portfolio expanded, with high-yielding loan portfolios increasing by 26%, supported by strong balance sheet utilization.

  • The company successfully executed multiple securitizations, including non-QM and proprietary reverse mortgage deals, achieving favorable financing terms.

  • EFC added new financing lines, enhancing its ability to replace higher-cost debt and improve earnings through cost-effective refinancing.

Negative Points

  • The Longbridge segment reported a GAAP net loss of $0.03 per share due to interest rate hedges, despite strong origination results.

  • EFC faced net losses on its consumer loan portfolio and a related equity investment, impacting overall earnings.

  • Operating expenses increased by 18% over the quarter, driven in part by one-time employee option redemptions at Longbridge.

  • The percentage of delinquent loans increased in the commercial mortgage loan portfolio, with some loans moving to 90+ day delinquencies.

  • EFC's overall leverage increased to 1.8 times from 1.6 times, raising concerns about potential risks associated with higher leverage.