Western Asset Mortgage Capital Corporation Announces Third Quarter 2017 Results

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Conference Call and Webcast Scheduled for Tomorrow, Wednesday, November 8, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time/8:00 a.m. Pacific Time

PASADENA, Calif., Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Western Asset Mortgage Capital Corporation (the "Company" or "WMC") WMC today reported its results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017.

THIRD QUARTER 2017 HIGHLIGHTS

  • $0.31 per share common dividend declared.
  • GAAP net income of $22.8 million, or $0.54 per basic and diluted share.
  • Core earnings plus drop income of $13.5 million, or $0.32 per basic and diluted share.1,2
  • 2.21% annualized net interest margin on our investment portfolio.1,4
  • Constant prepayment rate ("CPR") on the Company's Agency RMBS portfolio of 11.2% for the quarter.
  • $10.88 per share net book value as of September 30, 2017, net of third quarter common dividend.
  • Economic return on book value was 5.2%1,3 for the quarter.
  • 7.3x leverage as of September 30, 2017.

1

Non – GAAP measure.

2

Drop income is income derived from the use of 'to-be-announced' forward contract ("TBA") dollar roll transactions which is a component of our gain (loss) on derivative instruments on our consolidated statements of operations, but is not included in core earnings. There was no drop income for the three months ended September 30, 2017.

3

Economic return is calculated by taking the sum of: (i) the total dividends declared; and (ii) the change in book value during the period and dividing by the beginning book value.

4

Includes interest-only securities accounted for as derivatives, total return swap and the cost of interest rate swaps.

MANAGEMENT COMMENTARY

"I am very pleased to report that we delivered another solid performance in the third quarter, generating  an economic return on book value of 5.2%, bringing our economic return for the first nine months of 2017 to 15.0%," said Jennifer Murphy, Chief Executive Officer of the Company. "In addition, core earnings plus drop income was $0.32 per share, consistent with the second quarter, as we continued to benefit from our repositioned portfolio, our simplified hedge book and lower operating expenses. Our third quarter dividend remained stable at $0.31 per share for the sixth consecutive quarter, which reflects our commitment to our long-term goal of generating a strong total return for our shareholders through attractive dividends derived from sustainable core earnings and potential appreciation in the value of our portfolio. Finally, we are pleased to have recently completed a $115 million offering of 6.75% convertible senior notes due in 2022. We believe that this financing will enable us to acquire additional target investments and increase the earnings power of our portfolio."

Anup Agarwal, Chief Investment Officer of the Company, commented, "Our strong performance, for the first nine months of 2017, is a result of a shift in our asset composition and our ongoing focus on achieving operating efficiencies. During the quarter, our portfolio experienced spread tightening across the majority of its positions, which helped support the increase in book value to $10.88 or 2.3%, at September 30, 2017. In addition, we continued to benefit from our reconfigured hedge book, which further reduced our effective borrowing costs during the quarter, despite the increase in the Federal Funds rate in late June."

"Our current expectations are for a continuing moderate pace of economic growth and an improving global backdrop combined with a low inflation environment, both in the U.S. and abroad. We believe that our strategy of investing in a diversified portfolio in a number of sub-sectors of the mortgage market, including Agency CMBS, Agency RMBS and credit-sensitive investments continues to be appropriate, and in our opinion, positions us well to continue to generate attractive risk-adjusted total economic returns for our shareholders," Mr. Agarwal concluded.

OPERATING RESULTS

The below table reflects a summary of our operating results:



For the Three Months Ended

GAAP Results


September 30, 2017


June 30, 2017


March 31, 2017








Net Interest Income


$

18,565



$

19,648



$

19,693


Other Income (Loss):







Realized gain (loss) on sale of investments, net


1,830



(2,488)



21,258


Other than temporary impairment


(7,225)



(6,579)



(6,097)


Unrealized gain (loss), net


5,249



35,017



(5,140)


Gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net


7,217



(18,555)



(4,697)


Other, net


216



222



403


Other Income (loss)


7,287



7,617



5,727


Total Expenses


4,240



4,466



4,866


Income (loss) before income taxes


21,612



22,799



20,554


Income tax provision (benefit)


(1,155)



2,115



312


Net income (loss)


$

22,767



$

20,684



$

20,242









Net income (loss) per Common Share – Basic/Diluted


$

0.54



$

0.49



$

0.48


Non-GAAP Results







Core earnings plus drop income(1)


$

13,511



$

13,290



$

10,281


Core earnings plus drop income per Common Share – Basic/Diluted


0.32



0.32



0.25


Weighted average yield(2)


4.00

%


4.13

%


4.39

%

Effective cost of funds(3)


1.99

%


2.17

%


2.81

%

Annualized net interest margin(2)(3)


2.21

%


2.25

%


2.01

%

Annualized CPR on Agency RMBS


11.2

%


9.9

%


10.5

%



(1)

For a reconciliation of GAAP Income to Core earnings, please refer to the Reconciliation of Core Earnings at the end of this press release.

(2)

Includes interest-only securities accounted for as derivatives, foreign currency swaps and total return swaps.

(3)

Includes the net amount paid, including accrued amounts for interest rate swaps and premium amortization for MAC interest rate swaps during the periods.

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION

As of September 30, 2017, the Company owned an aggregate investment portfolio totaling $4.0 billion. The following table sets forth additional information regarding the Company's portfolio as of September 30, 2017 (dollars in thousands):


Net Weighted
Average Coupon


Principal
Balance


Amortized Cost


Carrying Value(4)

Agency








20-Year mortgage









3.5

%


$

31,291



$

32,772



$

32,782



4.0

%


118,679



124,994



126,496



3.9

%


149,970



157,766



159,278


30-Year mortgage

















3.0

%


23,788



23,899



23,899



4.0

%


245,220



260,210



260,658



4.5

%


192,641



206,769



210,982



5.0

%


43,066



48,104



48,104



5.5

%


1,872



2,198



2,073



6.0

%


2,152



2,400



2,480



4.2

%


508,739



543,580



548,196


40-Year mortgage

3.5

%


374,844



385,906



387,095










Agency RMBS IOs and IIOs(1)

3.0

%


N/A



15,416



16,037


Agency RMBS IOs and IIOs accounted for as derivatives (1)(2)

2.9

%


N/A



N/A



11,219



3.0

%


N/A



15,416



27,256










Agency CMBS

2.9

%


2,087,948



2,090,095



2,103,185


Agency CMBS Interest-Only Strips(1)

3.2

%


N/A





30


Agency CMBS IOs and IIOs accounted for as derivatives (1)(2)

0.5

%


N/A



N/A



6,016



2.7

%


2,087,948



2,090,095



2,109,231


Subtotal Agency

3.1

%


3,121,501



3,192,763



3,231,056










Non-Agency RMBS

3.1

%


81,504



58,440



64,362


Non-Agency CMBS

4.8

%


376,215



290,023



278,511


Subtotal Non-Agency

4.5

%


457,719



348,463



342,873










Other securities(3)

7.3

%


92,302



115,845



122,651


Subtotal MBS and Other securities

3.3

%


3,671,522



3,657,071



3,696,580


Whole-Loans








Residential Whole-Loans

4.5

%


187,521



187,778



191,439


Residential Bridge Loans

10.0

%


54,716



54,912



54,912


Securitized commercial loan(5)

9.0

%


24,941



24,941



24,952


Subtotal Whole-Loans

6.1

%


267,178



267,631



271,303


Total Portfolio

3.5

%


$

3,938,700



$

3,924,702



$

3,967,883




(1)

IOs and IIOs have no principal balances and bear interest based on a notional balance.  The notional balance is used solely to determine interest distributions on interest-only class of securities.  At September 30, 2017, the notional balance for Agency RMBS IOs and IIOs, Agency RMBS IOs and IIOs accounted for as derivatives, Agency CMBS IOs and IIOs and Agency CMBS IOs and IIOs accounted for as derivatives was $166.2 million, $131.8 million, $5.3 million and $193.8 million, respectively.

(2)

Interest on these securities is reported as a component of "Gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net" in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

(3)

Other securities include residual interests in asset-backed securities which have no principal balance and an amortized cost of approximately $23.4 million.

(4)

All investments are carried at their fair value with the exception of the residential bridge loans, which are carried at their amortized cost.

(5)

The $24.9 million securitized commercial loan is from a consolidated variable interest entity in which the Company owns a $14.0 million first loss position in a CMBS Securitized Trust.

PORTFOLIO FINANCING AND HEDGING

Financing

At September 30, 2017, the Company financed its portfolio with $3.3 billion of borrowings under master repurchase agreements with 17 of its 27 approved counterparties, bearing fixed interest rates with maturities of six months or less. The following table sets forth additional information regarding the Company's portfolio financing as of September 30, 2017 (dollars in thousands):

Repurchase Agreements


Balance


Weighted Average
Interest Rate (end of
period)


Weighted Average
Remaining Maturity
(days)

Agency RMBS


$

792,520



1.39

%


61

Agency CMBS


2,019,010



1.39

%


32

Non-Agency RMBS


48,443



2.85

%


41

Non-Agency CMBS


192,015



2.96

%


36

Whole-Loans(1)


163,560



3.46

%


6

Residential Bridge Loans


51,074



4.29

%


59

Other Securities


69,634



3.36

%


22

Total


$

3,336,256



1.69

%


38



(1)

Whole-Loans includes the repurchase agreements for Residential Whole-Loans and Securitized Commercial Loans.

Hedging

At September 30, 2017 the Company had $1.5 billion notional value of pay-fixed interest rate swaps, excluding forward starting swaps of $1.6 billion (approximately 7.0 months forward), which have variable maturities between October 2, 2017 and April 27, 2037.

The following tables summarize the average fixed pay rate, average receive rate and average maturity for the Company's interest rate swaps as of September 30, 2017:

(dollars in thousands)










Remaining Term to Maturity


Notional
Value


Average

Fixed Pay

Rate


Average
Floating
Receive Rate


Average

Maturity

(Years)

Forward
Starting

1 year or less


$

105,900



0.8

%


1.3

%


0.1

%

Greater than 1 year and less than 3 years


600,000



1.6

%


1.3

%


2.1

%

Greater than 3 years and less than 5 years


690,000



2.0

%


1.3

%


4.6

%

Greater than 5 years


1,682,300



2.5

%


0.1

%


10.7

95.3

%

Total


$

3,078,200



2.2

%


0.6

%


7.3

52.1

%











DIVIDEND

On September 21, 2017, the Company declared a regular cash dividend of $0.31 per share for each common share. Since its inception in May 2012, the Company has declared and paid total dividends of $14.99 per share in a combination of cash and stock.

CONFERENCE CALL

The Company will host a conference call with a live webcast tomorrow, November 8th, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time/8:00 a.m. Pacific Time, to discuss financial results for the third quarter 2017.

Individuals interested in participating in the conference call may do so by dialing (866) 235-9914 from the United States, or (412) 902-4115 from outside the United States and referencing "Western Asset Mortgage Capital Corporation." Those interested in listening to the conference call live via the Internet may do so by visiting the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at www.westernassetmcc.com.

The Company is enabling investors to pre-register for the earnings conference call so that they can expedite their entry into the call and avoid the need to wait for a live operator. In order to pre-register for the call, investors can visit http://dpregister.com/10113416 and enter in their contact information. Investors will then be issued a personalized phone number and pin to dial into the live conference call. Individuals can pre-register any time prior to the start of the conference call tomorrow.

A telephone replay will be available through November 22, 2017 by dialing (877) 344-7529 from the United States, or (412) 317-0088 from outside the United States, and entering conference ID 10113416. A webcast replay will be available for 90 days.

ABOUT WESTERN ASSET MORTGAGE CAPITAL CORPORATION

Western Asset Mortgage Capital Corporation is a real estate investment trust that invests in, acquires and manages a diverse portfolio assets consisting of Agency CMBS, Agency RMBS, Non-Agency CMBS, Non-Agency RMBS, Residential and Commercial Whole-Loans, Bridge Loans and other financial assets. The Company's investment strategy may change, subject to the Company's stated investment guidelines, and is based on its manager Western Asset Management Company's perspective of which mix of portfolio assets it believes provides the Company with the best risk-reward opportunities at any given time. The Company is externally managed and advised by Western Asset Management Company, an investment advisor registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Legg Mason, Inc. Please visit the Company's website at www.westernassetmcc.com

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements."  Operating results are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, without limitation, changes in interest rates; changes in the yield curve; changes in prepayment rates; the availability and terms of financing; general economic conditions; market conditions; conditions in the market for mortgage related investments; legislative and regulatory changes that could adversely affect the business of the Company; and other factors, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2016 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.

USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION

In addition to the results presented in accordance with GAAP, this release includes certain non-GAAP financial information, including core earnings, core earnings per share, drop income and drop income per share and certain financial metrics derived from non-GAAP information, such as weighted average yield, including IO securities; weighted average effective cost of financing, including swaps; weighted average net interest spread, including IO securities and swaps, which constitute non-GAAP financial measures within the meaning of Regulation G promulgated by the SEC. We believe that these measures presented in this release, when considered together with GAAP financial measures, provide information that is useful to investors in understanding our borrowing costs and net interest income, as viewed by us.  An analysis of any non-GAAP financial measure should be made in conjunction with results presented in accordance with GAAP.

-Financial Tables to Follow-

 

Western Asset Mortgage Capital Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands—except share and per share data)

(Unaudited)




September 30, 2017


December 31, 2016

Assets:





Cash and cash equivalents


$

36,669



$

46,172


Mortgage-backed securities and other securities, at fair value ($3,397,699 and $2,261,430 pledged as collateral, at fair value, respectively)


3,696,580



2,576,517


Residential Whole-Loans, at fair value ($191,439 and $192,136 pledged as collateral, at fair value, respectively)


191,439



192,136


Residential Bridge Loans ($54,912 and $0 pledged as collateral, respectively)


54,912




Securitized commercial loan, at fair value


24,952



24,225


Investment related receivable


9,551



33,600


Accrued interest receivable


13,025



18,812


Due from counterparties


88,932



243,585


Derivative assets, at fair value


5,011



20,571


Other assets


4,134



398


Total Assets (1)


$

4,125,205



$

3,156,016







Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:





Liabilities:





Borrowings under repurchase agreements, net


$

3,336,256



$

2,155,644


Securitized debt, at fair value


10,979



10,659


Accrued interest payable


4,859



16,041


Investment related payables


296,317



341,458


Due to counterparties


2,320



740


Derivative liability, at fair value


986



182,158


Accounts payable and accrued expenses


2,588



3,255


Payable to affiliate


1,920



2,584


Dividend payable


12,995



12,995


Total Liabilities (2)


3,669,220



2,725,534







Commitments and contingencies










Stockholders' Equity:





Common stock: $0.01 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized, 41,919,801 shares issued and outstanding, respectively


419



419


Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized and no shares outstanding





Additional paid-in capital


765,898



765,042


Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)


(310,332)



(334,979)


Total Stockholders' Equity


455,985



430,482


Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity


$

4,125,205



$

3,156,016


 

Western Asset Mortgage Capital Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Continued)

(in thousands—except share and per share data)

(Unaudited)




September 30, 2017


December 31, 2016

(1) Assets of consolidated VIEs included in the total assets above:





Residential Whole-Loans, at fair value ($191,439 and $192,136 pledged as collateral, at fair value, respectively)


$

191,439



$

192,136


Residential Bridge Loans ($54,912 and $0 pledged as collateral, respectively)


54,912




Securitized commercial loan, at fair value


24,952



24,225


Investment related receivable


7,178



1,241


Accrued interest receivable


2,529



1,622


Total assets of consolidated VIEs


$

281,010



$

219,224







(2) Liabilities of consolidated VIEs included in the total liabilities above:





Securitized debt, at fair value


$

10,979



$

10,659


Accrued interest payable


82



85


Accounts payable and accrued expenses


157



2


Total liabilities of consolidated VIEs


$

11,218



$

10,746


 

Western Asset Mortgage Capital Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)

(in thousands—except share and per share data)




Three months ended



September 30, 2017


June 30, 2017


March 31, 2017

Net Interest Income







Interest income


$

30,928



$

30,055



$

28,430


Interest expense


12,363



10,407



8,737


Net Interest Income


18,565



19,648



19,693









Other Income (Loss)







Realized gain (loss) on sale of investments, net


1,830



(2,488)



21,258


Other than temporary impairment


(7,225)



(6,579)



(6,097)


Unrealized gain (loss), net


5,249



35,017



(5,140)


Gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net


7,217



(18,555)



(4,697)


Other, net


216



222



403


Other Income (Loss)


7,287



7,617



5,727









Expenses







Management fee to affiliate


1,853



1,830



2,476


Other operating expenses


702



736



417


General and administrative expenses:







  Compensation expense


660



664



740


  Professional fees


781



832



888


  Other general and administrative expenses


244



404



345


Total general and administrative expenses


1,685



1,900



1,973


Total Expenses


4,240



4,466



4,866









Income before income taxes


21,612



22,799



20,554


Income tax provision (benefit)


(1,155)



2,115



312


Net income


$

22,767



$

20,684



$

20,242









Net income per Common Share – Basic


$

0.54



$

0.49



$

0.48


Net income per Common Share – Diluted


$

0.54



$

0.49



$

0.48


Dividends Declared per Share of Common Stock


$

0.31



$

0.31



$

0.31


 

Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Non-GAAP Core Earnings

(in thousands—except share and per share data)

(Unaudited)


The table below reconciles Net Income to Core Earnings for the three months ended September 30, June 30 and March 31, 2017:




Three months ended

(dollars in thousands)


September 30, 2017


June 30, 2017


March 31, 2017

Net Income


$

22,767



$

20,684



$

20,242


Income tax provision (benefit)


(1,155)



2,115



312


Income before income taxes


21,612



22,799



20,554









Adjustments:







Investments:







Unrealized (gain) loss on investments and securitized debt


(5,249)



(35,017)



5,140


Other than temporary impairment


7,225



6,579



6,097


Realized (gain) loss on sale of investments, net


(1,830)



2,488



(21,258)


Realized (gain) loss on foreign currency transactions


(1)



1



1









Derivative Instruments:







Net realized (gain) loss on derivatives


(9,062)



175,512



(801)


Unrealized (gain) loss on derivatives


598



(160,002)



(851)









Non-cash stock-based compensation


218



215



362


Total adjustments


(8,101)



(10,224)



(11,310)


Core Earnings


$

13,511



$

12,575



$

9,244


Basic Core Earnings per Common Share and Participating Securities


$

0.32



$

0.30



$

0.22


Diluted Core Earnings per Common Share and Participating Securities


$

0.32



$

0.30



$

0.22


Basic weighted average common shares and participating securities


41,992,381



41,979,854



41,973,170


Diluted weighted average common shares and participating securities


41,992,381



41,979,854



41,973,170


 

Reconciliation of Interest Income and Effective Cost of Funds

(dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)


The following table reconciles total interest income to adjusted interest income which includes interest income on Agency and Non-Agency Interest-Only Strips classified as derivatives (Non-GAAP financial measure) for the three months ended September 30, June 30 and March 31, 2017:




Three months ended

(dollars in thousands)


September 30, 2017


June 30, 2017


March 31, 2017

Coupon interest income


$

31,223



$

30,270



$

29,915


Premium amortization, discount accretion and amortization of basis, net


(295)



(215)



(1,485)


Interest income


30,928



30,055



28,430


Contractual interest income, net of amortization of basis on Agency and Non-Agency Interest-Only Strips, classified as derivatives(1):







Coupon interest income


1,816



2,372



2,041


Amortization of basis


(1,486)



(2,004)



(1,565)


Contractual interest income, net on Total return swaps(1)


95



143



231


Subtotal


425



511



707


Total adjusted interest income


$

31,353



$

30,566



$

29,137




(1)

Reported in "Gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net" in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

The following table reconciles the Effective Cost of Funds (Non-GAAP financial measure) with interest expense for three months ended September 30, June 30 and March 31, 2017:




Three months ended



September 30, 2017


June 30, 2017


March 31, 2017

 (dollars in thousands)


Reconciliation


Cost of Funds/Effective
Borrowing Costs


Reconciliation


Cost of Funds/Effective
Borrowing Costs


Reconciliation


Cost of Funds/Effective
Borrowing Costs

Interest expense


$

12,363



1.75

%


$

10,407



1.62

%


$

8,737



1.55

%

Net interest paid - interest rate swaps


1,672



0.24

%


3,556



0.55

%


7,056



1.26

%

Effective Borrowing Costs


$

14,035



1.99

%


$

13,963



2.17

%


$

15,793



2.81

%

Weighted average repurchase borrowings


$

2,797,062





$

2,582,946





$

2,280,026

















 

 

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/western-asset-mortgage-capital-corporation-announces-third-quarter-2017-results-300551292.html

SOURCE Western Asset Mortgage Capital Corporation

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