In This Article:
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GAAP Net Income: $14.6 million or $0.21 per share.
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Book Value: $14.76 per share as of December 31, 2024.
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Distributable Loss: Negative $14.7 million or negative $0.21 per share.
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Dividend: $0.25 per share, yielding 10%.
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Liquidity: $685 million available at the end of the fourth quarter.
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Fourth Quarter Repayments: Exceeded $450 million.
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Full Year Repayments: $1.5 billion, approximately 19% of the portfolio.
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Watch List Loans: 8% of the loan portfolio, down from 13% a year ago.
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Debt to Equity Ratio: 1.6 times.
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Total Leverage Ratio: 3.6 times.
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Share Repurchase: $10 million of KREF stock repurchased at an average price of $11.64.
Release Date: February 04, 2025
For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
Positive Points
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KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc (NYSE:KREF) reported a GAAP net income of $14.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2024.
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The company has decreased its watch list percentage from 13% in Q4 2023 to 8% in Q4 2024, indicating improved asset management.
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KREF has a strong liquidity position with $685 million available at the end of the fourth quarter.
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The company successfully closed two loans totaling $225 million in January 2025, indicating a robust pipeline.
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KREF's liability structure is a differentiator, with 79% of its financing being non-mark to market, providing stability in volatile markets.
Negative Points
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KREF reported a distributable loss of $14.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2024.
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The company anticipates further credit migration, indicating potential future challenges in the portfolio.
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There are still four watch list loans in the portfolio, representing 8% of the loan portfolio.
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The higher U.S. Treasury market may dampen some acquisition activity, potentially impacting future growth.
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KREF's debt to equity ratio is 1.6 times, and total leverage ratio is 3.6 times, which may limit flexibility in financial maneuvering.
Q & A Highlights
Q: How has the pace of loan repayments trended with the steepening of the yield curve, and what is the expectation for repayments in 2025? A: W. Patrick Mattson, President and COO, explained that while there was a significant acceleration in repayments during the fourth quarter, this was not primarily driven by interest rates but rather by loans reaching their business plans. He anticipates over $1 billion in repayments for 2025, likely occurring more in the middle to back end of the year.
Q: Do you expect originations to exceed repayments in the near term? A: Yes, Patrick Mattson confirmed that they expect originations to outpace repayments due to their current low leverage levels. They had a strong start in January with no repayments, indicating a trend towards increased originations.