The FOMC Meeting Will Be the Biggest Event This Week
Ginnie Mae and the to-be-announced market
The Fannie Mae TBA (to-be-announced) market represents the usual conforming loan, the plain Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac 30-year mortgage. When a mortgage banker makes a VA (Veterans Affairs) or FHA (Federal Housing Authority) loan, that loan is securitized and put into a Ginnie Mae TBA.
The biggest difference between a Fannie Mae MBS (mortgage-backed security) and a Ginnie Mae MBS is that Ginnies have an explicit guarantee from the federal government. Fannies don’t have a guarantee—just a “wink-wink, nudge-nudge” guarantee. As a result, a Ginnie Mae MBS trades at a premium compared to a Fannie Mae TBA.
Ginnie Mae TBAs fall 3 ticks
The ten-year bond yield, which you can trade through the iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT), rose by 5 basis points for the week ending October 23. Ginnie Mae TBAs fell by 3 ticks to go out at 104 27/32, although they closed higher than Fannie Mae TBAs, which fell by 1 tick to go out at 104 13/32 .
Mortgage REITs are big users of TBAs because they can increase or decrease exposure very quickly. While older MBS issues can become illiquid, there’s always a large liquid market in TBAs.
Implications for mortgage REITs
Mortgage REITs such as Annaly Capital Management (NLY), MFA Financial (MFA), and American Capital Agency (AGNC) are big holders of Ginnie Mae TBAs.
In the fourth quarter, American Capital Agency moved down aggressively in coupon in its TBA portfolio. This move accounts for some of the underperformance of the higher-coupon TBAs. The rate of prepayments is driving these trades. Non-agency REITs such as Two Harbors Investment (TWO) aren’t big TBA holders.
Investors interested in trading in the mortgage REIT sector through an ETF can look at the iShares Mortgage Real Estate Capped ETF (REM).
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