PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust Reports Fourth Quarter 2014 Results

Loading...
Loading...
MOORPARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust PMT today reported net income of $26.5 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2014, on net investment income of $53.1 million. PMT previously announced a cash dividend for the fourth quarter of 2014 of $0.61 per common share of beneficial interest, which was declared on December 10, 2014 and paid on January 16, 2015.

Fourth Quarter 2014 Highlights

Financial results:

  • Diluted earnings per common share of $0.34, down 51 percent from the prior quarter
  • Net income of $26.5 million, down 52 percent from the prior quarter
  • Net investment income of $53.1 million, down 50 percent from the prior quarter
  • Book value per share of $21.18, down from $21.42 at September 30, 2014
  • Return on average equity of 7 percent, down from 14 percent for the prior quarter1

Investment activities and correspondent production results:

  • Acquired a pool of nonperforming loans totaling $331 million in unpaid principal
    balance (UPB)
  • Mortgage servicing rights (MSR) and excess servicing spread (ESS) investments, related to $63 billion in UPB, grew to $549 million at December 31, 2014
    • Added $32 million in new MSR investments resulting from correspondent production activities
    • Invested $17 million in ESS on mini-bulk and flow acquisitions of Agency MSRs acquired by PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. (PFSI) relating to $2.3 billion in UPB

Investment activity after the fourth quarter:

  • Acquired a pool of nonperforming whole loans totaling $310 million in UPB
  • Expected to enter into agreements with PFSI relating to the acquisition of approximately $175 million in ESS from Agency MSRs totaling $21 billion in UPB that PFSI is expected to acquire2

Full-Year 2014 Highlights

  • Net income of $194.5 million, down 3 percent from the prior year
  • Net investment income of $356.7 million, down 12 percent from the prior year
  • Diluted earnings per common share of $2.47, down 17 percent from the prior year; weighted average shares outstanding increased 18 percent from the prior year
  • Return on average equity of 13 percent3, down from 17 percent from the prior year
  • Total mortgage assets reached $4.4 billion, up 12 percent from December 31, 2013, with new investments in distressed whole loans, MSRs, and ESS

"During the fourth quarter and in recent weeks we have entered into significant new investments in nonperforming loans and excess servicing spread that we expect will deliver strong contributions to PMT's returns going forward," said Stanford L. Kurland, PMT's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "PMT's diversified investment portfolio continues to generate strong cash flows which are consistent with our current dividend level, despite fourth quarter earnings that were adversely affected by reduced gains in our distressed loan portfolio largely resulting from home prices lower than previously forecast."

PMT earned $11.9 million in pretax income for the quarter ended December 31, 2014, a 79 percent decline from the third quarter.

The following table presents the contribution of PMT's Investment Activities and Correspondent Production segments to pretax income:

  Quarter ended December 31, 2014
Investment   Correspondent  
Activities Lending Total
Net investment income: (in thousands)
Net gain on mortgage loans acquired for sale $ - $ 5,945 $ 5,945
Net gain on investments 15,700 - 15,700
Net interest income
Interest income 36,174 7,074 43,248
Interest expense   18,226     3,703   21,929  
17,948 3,371 21,319
Net loan servicing fees 11,181 - 11,181
Other investment (loss) income   (6,011 )   4,925   (1,086 )
  38,818     14,241   53,059  
Expenses:
Loan Fulfillment, Servicing and Management fees

payable to PennyMac Financial Services, Inc

19,554 12,185 31,739
Other   8,270     1,110   9,380  
  27,824     13,295   41,119  
Pretax income $ 10,994   $ 946 $ 11,940  
 

Investment Activities Segment

The Investment Activities segment generated $11.0 million in pretax income on revenues of $38.8 million in the fourth quarter, compared to $55.1 million and $86.4 million, respectively, in the third quarter. Net gain on investments totaled $15.7 million in the fourth quarter, a 78 percent decline from the third quarter. Net gain on investments includes valuation gains on distressed loans of $20.7 million and gains on MBS of $3.4 million, partially offset by valuation losses on mortgage loans held by variable interest entity of $5.4 million and losses on ESS of $3.0 million. Losses on ESS largely resulted from the reduction in mortgage rates during the quarter and expectations of increased prepayment speeds in the future. In future periods as prepayments related to the ESS occur, PMT should benefit from recapture income. The recapture benefit payable to PMT for activity during the quarter was $1.3 million.

Net interest income earned on PMT's investments in distressed loans, ESS, MBS and mortgage loans held by variable interest entity increased by $2.8 million to $17.9 million, driven by $14.1 million of capitalized interest from loan modification activity during the quarter. Capitalized interest from loan modifications during a period increases interest income and tends to reduce the loan valuation. Net loan servicing fees were $11.2 million, up from $10.5 million in the third quarter, driven by higher servicing fee revenue from a growing investment in MSRs in addition to hedge gains which partially offset the MSR valuation loss and impairment resulting from lower mortgage rates. Other investment losses were $6.0 million, versus losses of $9.6 million in the third quarter due to a reduction in costs related to real estate acquired in the settlement of loans. Segment expenses were $27.8 million in the fourth quarter, down 11 percent from the prior quarter driven by lower expenses associated with the administration and sale of distressed loans and a decline in incentive fees paid to PFSI resulting from PMT's reduced financial performance for the fourth quarter.

Distressed Mortgage Investments

PMT's distressed mortgage loan portfolio generated realized and unrealized gains totaling $20.7 million in the fourth quarter, compared to $81.3 million in the third quarter. Of the gains in the fourth quarter, $3.2 million was realized through payoffs in which collections on the loan balances were at levels higher than their recorded fair values.

The following schedule details the realized and unrealized gains on mortgage loans:

  Quarters ended
December 31, 2014   September 30, 2014
(in thousands)
Valuation changes:
Performing loans $ 4,831 $ 23,255
Nonperforming loans   12,653   51,913
17,484 75,168
Payoffs 3,191 5,866
Sales   -   262
$ 20,675 $ 81,296
 

In the fourth quarter, the portfolios of performing and nonperforming loans increased in value by $4.8 million and $12.7 million, respectively. During the quarter, valuation gains were adversely impacted by a decrease in current home price levels versus prior forecasts and lowered expectation for future price appreciation. Furthermore, seasonally lower reperformance and other resolution activities also contributed to the decline in valuation gains compared to the prior quarter.

Mortgage Servicing Rights

PMT's MSR portfolio, which is subserviced by PFSI, grew to $34.3 billion in UPB compared to $32.3 billion in the third quarter. Servicing fee revenue of $23.0 million was reduced by amortization, impairment and fair value losses totaling $19.8 million, partially offset by $8.0 million of hedge gains, resulting in net loan servicing revenue of $11.2 million, up from $10.5 million in the third quarter.

The following schedule details the net loan servicing fees:

Quarter ended
December 31, 2014   September 30, 2014
(in thousands)
Net loan servicing fees
Servicing fees (1) $ 23,020 $ 20,300
Effect of MSRs:
Carried at lower of amortized cost or fair value
Amortization (8,741 ) (8,109 )
(Provision for) reversal of impairment (2,890 ) 602
Carried at fair value - change in fair value (8,204 ) (1,606 )
Gains (losses) on hedging derivatives   7,996     (654 )
  (11,839 )   (9,767 )
Net loan servicing fees $ 11,181   $ 10,533  
 

(1) Includes contractually specified servicing revenue

 

Correspondent Production Segment

PMT acquires newly originated mortgage loans from third-party correspondent sellers and typically sells or securitizes the loans, resulting in current-period income and an ongoing investment in MSRs. For the quarter ended December 31, 2014, PMT's Correspondent Production segment generated pretax income of $0.9 million, versus pretax income of $2.8 million in the third quarter. Revenues totaled $14.2 million, down 29 percent from the third quarter, driven by a decrease in conventional conforming and jumbo interest rate lock commitments (IRLCs) during the quarter.

In its correspondent activities in the fourth quarter, PMT acquired $7.3 billion in UPB of loans and issued IRLCs totaling $7.5 billion, compared to $8.1 billion and $8.4 billion, respectively, in the third quarter. Of the correspondent acquisitions, conventional conforming and jumbo volumes totaled $2.9 billion, and government insured or guaranteed volumes totaled $4.4 billion compared to $3.7 billion and $4.4 billion, respectively, in the third quarter. The decrease in conventional acquisitions was driven by a competitive environment and a seasonal decline in the purchase money market which represents a significant portion of PMT's volumes.

Net gain on mortgage loans acquired for sale totaled $5.9 million in the fourth quarter compared to $9.5 million last quarter. Segment revenues in the fourth quarter also included $4.9 million of loan origination fees and net interest income of $3.4 million.

The following schedule details the net gain on mortgage loans acquired for sale:

Quarter ended
December 31, 2014   September 30, 2014
(in thousands)
Net gain on mortgage loans acquired for sale
Receipt of MSRs in loan sale transactions $ 32,104 $ 39,613
Provision for representation and warranties (1,130 ) (1,359 )
Cash investment (1) (21,606 ) (28,178 )
Fair value changes of pipeline, inventory and hedges   (3,423 )   (567 )
$ 5,945   $ 9,509  
 

(1) Net of cash hedge expense

 

Segment expenses decreased 23 percent quarter-over-quarter to $13.3 million, primarily due to lower loan fulfillment fee expense resulting from the decrease in loan acquisition volumes and a lower weighted average fulfillment fee rate during the quarter. The weighted average fulfillment fee rate in the fourth quarter was 41 basis points, compared to 42 basis points in the prior quarter.

Management Fees and Taxes

Management fees decreased by 12 percent from the third quarter to $8.4 million, driven by the lower incentive fees resulting from PMT's reduced financial performance in the fourth quarter.

PMT recognized an income tax benefit of $14.6 million in the fourth quarter, versus income taxes of $3.0 million in the third quarter. The tax benefit primarily resulted from a loss in the taxable REIT subsidiary and an improvement in that entity's estimated tax rate.

Mr. Kurland concluded, "PMT continues to grow and diversify its investments. We continued to make new investments and prudently increased our use of leverage, which enhances returns to shareholders. PMT is investing in assets such as MSRs and ESS, which are well positioned in today's low interest rate environment, and we see considerable opportunity for PMT to continue making attractive investments in mortgage-related assets as the U.S. economy strengthens."

Management's slide presentation will be available in the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at www.pennymac-REIT.com beginning at 1:30 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time) on Wednesday, February 4, 2015.

About PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust

PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust is a mortgage real estate investment trust (REIT) that invests primarily in residential mortgage loans and mortgage-related assets. PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "PMT" and is externally managed by PNMAC Capital Management, LLC, an indirect subsidiary of PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. Additional information about PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust is available at www.PennyMac-REIT.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, regarding management's beliefs, estimates, projections and assumptions with respect to, among other things, the Company's financial results, future operations, business plans and investment strategies, as well as industry and market conditions, all of which are subject to change. Words like "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "promise," "plan," and other expressions or words of similar meanings, as well as future or conditional verbs such as "will," "would," "should," "could," or "may" are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Actual results and operations for any future period may vary materially from those projected herein and from past results discussed herein. Factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated include, but are not limited to: changes in our investment objectives or investment or operational strategies; volatility in our industry, the debt or equity markets, the general economy or the residential finance and real estate markets; changes in general business, economic, market, employment and political conditions or in consumer confidence; declines in residential real estate or significant changes in U.S. housing prices or activity in the U.S. housing market; availability of, and level of competition for, attractive risk-adjusted investment opportunities in residential mortgage loans and mortgage-related assets that satisfy our investment objectives; concentration of credit risks to which we are exposed; the degree and nature of our competition; our dependence on our manager and servicer, potential conflicts of interest with such entities, and the performance of such entities; availability, terms and deployment of short-term and long-term capital; unanticipated increases or volatility in financing and other costs; the performance, financial condition and liquidity of borrowers; incomplete or inaccurate information or documentation provided by customers or counterparties, or adverse changes in the financial condition of our customers and counterparties; the quality and enforceability of the collateral documentation evidencing our ownership and rights in the assets in which we invest; increased rates of delinquency, default and/or decreased recovery rates on our investments; increased prepayments of the mortgages and other loans underlying our mortgage-backed securities and other investments; the degree to which our hedging strategies may protect us from interest rate volatility; our failure to maintain appropriate internal controls over financial reporting; our ability to comply with various federal, state and local laws and regulations that govern our business; changes in legislation or regulations or the occurrence of other events that impact the business, operations or prospects of government agencies, mortgage lenders and/or publicly-traded companies; the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or CFPB, and enforcement of its rules; changes in government support of homeownership; changes in government or government-sponsored home affordability programs; changes in governmental regulations, accounting treatment, tax rates and similar matters (including changes to laws governing the taxation of real estate investment trusts, or REITs; limitations imposed on our business and our ability to satisfy complex rules for us to qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes and qualify for an exclusion from the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the ability of certain of our subsidiaries to qualify as REITs or as taxable REIT subsidiaries for U.S. federal income tax purposes and our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to operate effectively within the limitations imposed by these rules; and the effect of public opinion on our reputation. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement and should consider all of the uncertainties and risks described above, as well as those more fully discussed in reports and other documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or any other information contained herein, and the statements made in this press release are current as of the date of this release only.

1 Return on average equity is calculated based on annualized quarterly net income as a percentage of monthly average shareholders' equity during the period.
2 The MSR acquisitions by PFSI and the Company's purchase of excess servicing spread are subject to the negotiation and execution of definitive documentation, continuing due diligence and customary closing conditions, including required regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that the committed amounts will ultimately be acquired or that the transactions will be completed at all.
3 Return on average equity is calculated based on annualized quarterly net income as a percentage of monthly average shareholders' equity during the period.

PENNYMAC MORTGAGE INVESTMENT TRUST AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

   
December 31, 2014 September 30, 2014 December 31, 2013
(in thousands except share data)
ASSETS
Cash $ 76,386 $ 46,487 $ 27,411
Short-term investments 139,900 37,452 92,398
Mortgage-backed securities at fair value pledged to secure securities
sold under agreements to repurchase 307,363 267,885 197,401
Mortgage loans acquired for sale at fair value 637,722 688,850 458,137
Mortgage loans at fair value 2,726,952 2,561,911 2,600,317
Mortgage loans under forward purchase agreements at fair value - - 218,128
Excess servicing spread purchased from PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. 191,166 187,368 138,723
Derivative assets 11,107 10,344 7,976
Real estate acquired in settlement of loans 303,228 275,185 138,942
Real estate acquired in settlement of loans under forward purchase agreements - - 9,138
Mortgage servicing rights 357,780 345,848 290,572
Servicing advances 79,878 59,325 59,573
Due from PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. 6,621 4,311 6,009
Other assets   66,193   119,847   66,192
Total assets $ 4,904,296 $ 4,604,813 $ 4,310,917
LIABILITIES
Assets sold under agreements to repurchase $ 2,750,366 $ 2,416,686 $ 2,039,605
Borrowings under forward purchase agreements - - 226,580
Asset-backed secured financing of the variable interest entity at fair value 165,920 166,841 165,415
Exchangeable senior notes 250,000 250,000 250,000
Derivative liabilities 2,430 1,889 1,961
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 67,806 80,493 71,561
Due to PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. 23,943 21,420 18,636
Income taxes payable 51,417 66,208 59,935
Liability for losses under representations and warrants   14,242   13,235   10,110
Total liabilities   3,326,124   3,016,772   2,843,803
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common shares of beneficial interest—authorized, 500,000,000 common shares of
$0.01 par value; issued and outstanding 74,510,159, 74,139,570, and 70,458,082 common shares 745 741 705
Additional paid-in capital 1,479,699 1,470,189 1,384,468
Retained earnings   97,728   117,111   81,941
Total shareholders' equity   1,578,172   1,588,041   1,467,114
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 4,904,296 $ 4,604,813 $ 4,310,917
 

PENNYMAC MORTGAGE INVESTMENT TRUST AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

     
Quarter Ended
December 31, 2014 September 30, 2014 December 31, 2013
(in thousands, except per share data)
Investment Income
Net gain on mortgage loans acquired for sale $ 5,945 $ 9,509 $ 13,921
Loan origination fees 4,897 6,447 2,981
Net interest income:
Interest income 43,248 41,236 43,912
Interest expense   21,929     22,020     20,345  
  21,319     19,216     23,567  
Net gain on investments 15,700 70,390 47,858
Net loan servicing fees 11,181 10,533 12,229
Results of real estate acquired in settlement of loans (8,552 ) (11,926 ) (6,014 )
Other   2,569     2,361     1,545  
Net investment income   53,059     106,530     96,087  
Expenses
Expenses payable to PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.:
Loan fulfillment fees 11,887 15,497 11,087
Loan servicing fees (1) 11,426 12,325 12,162
Management fees 8,426 9,623 8,924
Professional services 2,031 1,927 2,501
Compensation 1,660 1,843 2,095
Other   5,689     7,384     4,589  
Total expenses   41,119     48,599     41,358  
Income before provision for income taxes 11,940 57,931 54,729
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes   (14,571 )   2,982     2,033  
Net income $ 26,511   $ 54,949   $ 52,696  
 
Earnings per share
Basic $ 0.35 $ 0.74 $ 0.74
Diluted $ 0.34 $ 0.69 $ 0.69
Weighted-average shares outstanding
Basic 74,211 74,140 70,456
Diluted 82,996 82,832 79,214

(1) Servicing expenses include both special servicing for PMT's distressed portfolio and subservicing for its mortgage servicing rights.

 

PENNYMAC MORTGAGE INVESTMENT TRUST AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

 
Year Ended
December 31, 2014   December 31, 2013   December 31, 2012
(in thousands, except per share data)
Investment Income
Net gain on mortgage loans acquired for sale $ 35,647 $ 98,669 $ 147,675
Loan origination fees 18,184 17,765 10,545
Net interest income:
Interest income 172,348 122,862 72,441
Interest expense   85,589     65,222     31,642  
  86,759     57,640     40,799  
Net gain on investments 201,809 207,758 103,649
Net loan servicing fees 37,893 32,791 (754 )
Results of real estate acquired in settlement of loans (32,451 ) (13,491 ) 1,368
Other   8,900     4,386     244  
Net investment income   356,741     405,518     303,526  
Expenses
Expenses payable to PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.:
Loan fulfillment fees 48,719 79,712 62,906
Loan servicing fees (1) 52,522 39,413 18,608
Management fees 35,035 32,410 12,436
Professional services 8,380 8,373 6,053
Compensation 8,328 7,914 7,144
Other   24,293     23,061     9,557  
Total expenses   177,277     190,883     116,704  
Income before provision for income taxes 179,464 214,635 186,822
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes   (15,080 )   14,445     48,573  
Net income $ 194,544   $ 200,190   $ 138,249  
 

Earnings per share

Basic $ 2.62 $ 3.13 $ 3.14
Diluted $ 2.47 $ 2.96 $ 3.14
Weighted-average shares outstanding
Basic 73,495 63,426 43,553
Diluted 82,211 69,448 43,876

(1) Servicing expenses include both special servicing for PMT's distressed portfolio and subservicing for its mortgage servicing rights.

PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust
Investors and Media
Christopher Oltmann, (818) 224-7028

Loading...
Loading...
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
Posted In: Press Releases
Benzinga simplifies the market for smarter investing

Trade confidently with insights and alerts from analyst ratings, free reports and breaking news that affects the stocks you care about.

Join Now: Free!

Loading...