Farmer Mac Reports 2019 Results

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation ((Farmer Mac, NYSE:AGM), the nation's secondary market provider that increases the availability and affordability of credit for the benefit of rural America, today announced its results for the fiscal quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.

Fourth Quarter 2019 Highlights

• Sequential net business volume growth of $185.6 million to total outstanding business volume of $21.1 billion, primarily driven by the Farm & Ranch line of business
• Net income attributable to common stockholders grew 49% year-over-year to $29.1 million, or $2.70 per diluted common share
• Core earnings, a non-GAAP measure, grew 20% year-over-year to $24.5 million, or $2.27 per diluted common share
• Net interest income grew 17% year-over-year to $49.4 million
• Net effective spread, a non-GAAP measure, increased 18% from the prior-year period to $46.0 million
• 90-day delinquencies were 0.78% of the $7.8 billion Farm & Ranch portfolio and 0.29% of total outstanding business volume as of December 31, 2019

Full Year 2019 Highlights

• Net business volume growth year-over-year of $1.4 billion to total outstanding business volume of $21.1 billion, primarily driven by the Rural Utilities and Farm & Ranch lines of business
• Net income attributable to common stockholders of $93.7 million, or $8.69 per diluted common share
• Core earnings grew 12% year-over-year to $93.7 million, or $8.70 per diluted common share
• Net interest income of $173.1 million, compared to $174.4 million for the prior year
• Net effective spread increased 12% from the prior year to $168.6 million

Subsequent to December 31, 2019

• On February 24, 2020, Farmer Mac's board of directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.80 per common share for first quarter 2020
• Reflects an increase of $0.10 per common share, or 14%, over the quarterly dividend payout in 2019

"We had an excellent fourth quarter 2019 from both a volume growth and core earnings standpoint, capping off a strong 2019 for Farmer Mac," said President and Chief Executive Officer Brad Nordholm. "Our growth and strong financial performance in 2019 can largely be attributed to closely aligning our business development efforts with our multi-year strategic plan.  Entering 2020, Farmer Mac continues to be in excellent financial condition as we strategically focus on the execution of our mission to increase access of financing to rural America by more opportunistically expanding our business volume and market share through utilizing new, innovative solutions to acquire and retain customers.  By executing upon our strategic plan with an increased emphasis on customer value and volume growth, we believe we will be well-positioned to further expand our bottom line, and successfully continue to execute upon our mission while delivering value for our shareholders."

Fourth Quarter 2019 Results

Business Volume

During fourth quarter 2019, Farmer Mac added $185.6 million net business volume growth.  This increase was driven by net growth of $383.2 million in Farm & Ranch, $52.4 million in USDA Guarantees, and $48.0 million in Rural Utilities. The net growth in these lines of business were partially offset by a net business volume decline in the Institutional Credit line of business of $298.0 million.

The Farm & Ranch line of business experienced net growth of $383.2 million during fourth quarter 2019 attributable to $602.8 million of new loans purchased (including the purchase of a pool of 34 dairy loans in the aggregate amount of $98.1 million) and $65.6 million of new LTSPCs, offset in part by loan repayments of $163.2 million and LTSPC repayments of $122.0 million.

Net growth in Farm & Ranch loan purchases of $439.6 million increased 162% from fourth quarter 2018 primarily due to customer retention initiatives and an increased focus on product innovation, structure, and competitiveness.

Our USDA Guarantees line of business experienced net growth of $52.4 million during fourth quarter 2019, as $143.6 million of new business volume was offset in part by $91.2 million of maturities and repayments.

Outstanding business volume in our Rural Utilities line of business increased by $48.0 million during fourth quarter 2019, primarily due to $58.5 million of new loans purchased, including a $10.0 million participation interest in a solar project financing.  This increase was offset by a $10.5 million net decrease in LTSPCs.

Our Institutional Credit line of business decreased by $298.0 million during fourth quarter 2019, due to the termination of a $300.0 million revolving floating rate AgVantage facility. 

Spreads

Net interest income for fourth quarter 2019 was $49.4 million, compared to $42.2 million in the prior year period.  The increase was primarily driven by net growth in outstanding business volume.  Net interest yield was 0.95% for fourth quarter 2019, as compared to 0.93% in fourth quarter 2018.

Net effective spread, a non-GAAP measure, for fourth quarter 2019 was $46.0 million, a $7.1 million increase from $38.9 million in the prior year period.  This increase was primarily attributable to growth in outstanding business volume, which increased net effective spread by approximately $4.5 million. In percentage terms, net effective spread was 0.95% for fourth quarter 2019 and 0.93% for fourth quarter 2018.

Earnings

Farmer Mac's net income attributable to common stockholders for fourth quarter 2019 were $29.1 million ($2.70 per diluted common share), a 49% increase from $19.6 million ($1.82 per diluted common share) in fourth quarter 2018.   The $9.5 million increase was driven by a $5.7 million after-tax increase in net interest income and a $5.6 million after-tax increase in the fair value of undesignated financial derivatives due to fluctuations in long-term interest rates. These were partially offset by a $2.1 million after-tax increase in the provision for loan losses.

Farmer Mac's non-GAAP core earnings for fourth quarter 2019 was $24.5 million ($2.27 per diluted common share), a 20% increase from $20.5 million ($1.90 per diluted common share) in fourth quarter 2018.  The $4.0 million year-over-year increase in core earnings was primarily due to a $5.6 million after-tax increase in net effective spread primarily resulting from an increase in outstanding business volume.  The increase to core earnings was partially offset by a $2.1 million after-tax increase in the provision for loan losses. 

Fiscal Year 2019 Results

Business Volume

Outstanding business volume was $21.1 billion as of December 31, 2019, which represents an increase of $1.4 billion from December 31, 2018 after taking into account all new business, maturities, and paydowns on existing assets.  This increase was driven by net growth of $688.5 million in Rural Utilities, $543.0 million in Farm & Ranch, $104.6 million in USDA Guarantees, and $57.4 million in Institutional Credit. 

The $688.5 million net growth in our Rural Utilities line of business during 2019 was primarily due to the purchase of a portfolio of participations in seasoned Rural Utilities loans in February of 2019 in the amount of $546.2 million.

The $543.0 million net increase in our Farm & Ranch line of business was comprised of a $688.2 million net increase in outstanding loan purchase volume, partially offset by a $145.3 million net decrease in loans under LTSPCs.  Net growth of 15.0% in Farm & Ranch loan purchases over the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 compared favorably to the 2.3% net growth of the overall agricultural mortgage loan market over the twelve months ended September 30, 2019 (based on an analysis of bank and Farm Credit System call report data).

Our USDA Guarantees line of business grew by $104.6 million in 2019.  This net portfolio growth was primarily due to product structure adjustments in the second half of 2019 to more effectively meet customer demands in an increasingly competitive environment and increased loan limits mandated by the 2018 Farm Bill.

Our Institutional Credit line of business increased by $57.4 million in 2019.  This increase was primarily driven by the purchase of a new $325.0 million AgVantage security in the rural utilities industry in first quarter 2019, offset by the termination of a $300.0 million revolving floating rate AgVantage facility in fourth quarter 2019.

Spreads

Net interest income was $173.1 million for 2019, compared to $174.4 million for 2018.  The overall net interest yield was 0.87% for 2019, compared to 0.96% for 2018.  The $1.3 million decrease in net interest income in 2019 compared to 2018 was due to a $12.8 million decrease in net fair value changes from fair value hedge accounting relationships and a $5.2 million increase in funding and liquidity costs.  These factors were partially offset by $15.1 million in net new business volume across all lines of business and the composition of existing Institutional Credit business volume and $1.6 million in various interest income fluctuations primarily related to prepayment activity.  The 9 basis point decrease was primarily attributable to a 6 basis point decrease in net fair value changes from fair value hedge accounting relationships and a 5 basis point increase in funding and liquidity costs, partially offset by a 1 basis point increase from business volume.

Net effective spread, a non-GAAP measure, increased 12% to $168.6 million in 2019, compared to $151.2 million in 2018.  This improvement was primarily due to a $14.2 million increase from net new business volume across all lines of business and the composition of existing Institutional Credit business volume, a $1.6 million increase in various interest income fluctuations primarily related to prepayment activity, and a $1.6 million decrease in non-GAAP funding costs.  In percentage terms, net effective spread was 0.91% for both 2019 and 2018 primarily because the narrower spreads on our liquidity investment securities in 2019 were approximately matched by the effect in 2018 of the prepayment and full amortization of an interest-only strip from our liquidity investment portfolio.

Earnings

Net income attributable to common stockholders for 2019 was $93.7 million ($8.69 per diluted common share), compared to $94.9 million ($8.83 per diluted common share) for 2018.  The difference was primarily due to a $2.5 million after-tax increase in the provision for loan losses, a $1.6 million after-tax increase in operating expenses, a $1.0 million after-tax decrease in net interest income, and a $0.8 million increase in preferred stock dividends.  These factors were partially offset by a $7.1 million after-tax increase in the fair value of undesignated financial derivatives due to fluctuations in long-term interest rates.

Non-GAAP core earnings for 2019 were $93.7 million ($8.70 per diluted common share), a 12% increase from $84.0 million ($7.82 per diluted common share) in 2018.  The year-over-year increase in core earnings was primarily due to a $13.8 million after-tax increase in net effective spread driven by higher business volume, partially offset by a $2.5 million after-tax increase in the provision for loan losses and a $1.6 million after-tax increase in operating expenses related to continued investments in technology and business infrastructure as well as increases in compensation and employee benefits expenses.

See "Use of Non-GAAP Measures" below for more information about core earnings, core earnings per share, and net effective spread and for reconciliations of the comparable GAAP measures to these non-GAAP measures.

Credit

As of December 31, 2019, Farmer Mac's allowance for losses was $12.6 million (0.16% of the Farm & Ranch portfolio), compared to $9.2 million (0.13% of the Farm & Ranch portfolio) as of December 31, 2018.  The increase was primarily due to a specific reserve on a single specialized poultry loan, a decrease in overall credit quality, and net portfolio growth.

As of December 31, 2019, Farmer Mac's substandard assets were $310.0 million (4.0% of the Farm & Ranch portfolio), compared to $232.7 million (3.2% of the Farm & Ranch portfolio) as of December 31, 2018.  The increase of $77.3 million in substandard assets during 2019 reflected an overall deterioration in the credit quality of the portfolio with more loans migrating into the substandard classification than migrating or paying off from the substandard classification. The percentage of substandard assets within the portfolio was at the historical average as of December 31, 2019.

As of December 31, 2019, Farmer Mac's 90-day delinquencies were $61.0 million (0.78% of the Farm & Ranch portfolio), compared to $26.9 million (0.37% of the Farm & Ranch portfolio) as of December 31, 2018.  Across all of Farmer Mac's lines of business, 90-day delinquencies represented 0.29% of total outstanding business volume as of December 31, 2019, compared to 0.14% as of December 31, 2018.  Farmer Mac's 90-day delinquency rate remained below its historical average of 1.0% of the Farm & Ranch portfolio as of December 31, 2019.

Capital

As of December 31, 2019, Farmer Mac's core capital level was $815.4 million, which was $196.7 million above the minimum capital level required by our statutory charter.  This compares to $727.6 million as of December 31, 2018, which was $182.6 million above the minimum capital requirement.  Farmer Mac's Tier 1 capital ratio was 12.9% as of December 31, 2019.  The increase in capital above the minimum capital level was due to the Board-authorized issuance of the Series D Preferred Stock in May 2019 and the increase in retained earnings partially offset by growth in our outstanding business volume and the redemption of the Series B Preferred Stock in June 2019.

Dividends

On February 24, 2020, Farmer Mac's board of directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.80 per share on all three classes of common stock – Class A voting common stock AGM, Class B voting common stock (not listed on any exchange), and Class C non-voting common stock AGM.  This quarterly dividend will be payable on March 31, 2020 to holders of record of common stock as of March 16, 2020.   This is the eighth consecutive year that Farmer Mac has increased its quarterly common stock dividend, and Farmer Mac believes that the most recent increase is supported by Farmer Mac's earnings potential and overall capital position.

Farmer Mac's board of directors also declared a dividend on each of Farmer Mac's three classes of preferred stock.  The quarterly dividend of $0.3672 per share of 5.875% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A AGM, $0.375 per share of 6.000% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series C AGM, and $0.35625 per share of 5.700% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series D AGM is for the period from but not including January 17, 2020 to and including April 17, 2020. The preferred dividends will be payable on April 17, 2020 to holders of record as of April 1, 2020.

Earnings Conference Call Information

The conference call to discuss Farmer Mac's 2019 financial results will be held beginning at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesday, February 25, 2020 and can be accessed by telephone or live webcast as follows:

Telephone (Domestic): (888) 346-2616
Telephone (International): (412) 902-4254
Webcast: https://www.farmermac.com/investors/events-presentations/  

When dialing in to the call, please ask for the "Farmer Mac Earnings Conference Call." The call can be heard live and will also be available for replay on Farmer Mac's website for two weeks following the conclusion of the call.

More complete information about Farmer Mac's performance for fourth quarter and full year 2019 is in Farmer Mac's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed today with the SEC.

Use of Non-GAAP Measures

In the accompanying analysis of its financial information, Farmer Mac uses the following non-GAAP measures: "core earnings," "core earnings per share," and "net effective spread." Farmer Mac uses these non-GAAP measures to measure corporate economic performance and develop financial plans because, in management's view, they are useful alternative measures in understanding Farmer Mac's economic performance, transaction economics, and business trends. The non-GAAP financial measures that Farmer Mac uses may not be comparable to similarly labeled non-GAAP financial measures disclosed by other companies. Farmer Mac's disclosure of these non-GAAP measures is intended to be supplemental in nature and is not meant to be considered in isolation from, as a substitute for, or as more important than, the related financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Core earnings and core earnings per share principally differ from net income attributable to common stockholders and earnings per common share, respectively, by excluding the effects of fair value fluctuations. These fluctuations are not expected to have a cumulative net impact on Farmer Mac's financial condition or results of operations reported in accordance with GAAP if the related financial instruments are held to maturity, as is expected.

Core earnings and core earnings per share also differ from net income attributable to common stockholders and earnings per common share, respectively, by excluding specified infrequent or unusual transactions that Farmer Mac believes are not indicative of future operating results and that may not reflect the trends and economic financial performance of Farmer Mac's core business.  For example, we have excluded from core earnings the loss on retirement of preferred stock and the re-measurement of the deferred tax asset.

Farmer Mac uses net effective spread to measure the net spread Farmer Mac earns between its interest-earning assets and the related net funding costs of these assets. Net effective spread differs from net interest income and net interest yield because it excludes: (1) the amortization of premiums and discounts on assets consolidated at fair value that are amortized as adjustments to yield in interest income over the contractual or estimated remaining lives of the underlying assets; (2) interest income and interest expense related to consolidated trusts with beneficial interests owned by third parties, which are presented on Farmer Mac's consolidated balance sheets as "Loans held for investment in consolidated trusts, at amortized cost"; and (3) the fair value changes of financial derivatives and the corresponding assets or liabilities designated in a fair value hedge accounting relationship. 

Net effective spread also principally differs from net interest income and net interest yield because it includes: (1) the accrual of income and expense related to the contractual amounts due on financial derivatives that are not designated in hedge accounting relationships ("undesignated financial derivatives"); and (2) the net effects of terminations or net settlements on financial derivatives.  More information about Farmer Mac's use of non-GAAP measures is available in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Results of Operations" in Farmer Mac's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed today with the SEC.

For a reconciliation of Farmer Mac's net income attributable to common stockholders to core earnings and of earnings per common share to core earnings per share, and net interest income and net interest yield to net effective spread, see "Reconciliations" below.

Forward-Looking Statements

Management's expectations for Farmer Mac's future necessarily involve assumptions and estimates and the evaluation of risks and uncertainties. Various factors or events, both known and unknown, could cause Farmer Mac's actual results to differ materially from the expectations as expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements in this release, including uncertainties about:

• the availability to Farmer Mac of debt and equity financing and, if available, the reasonableness of rates and terms;
• legislative or regulatory developments that could affect Farmer Mac, its sources of business, or the agricultural or rural utilities industries;
• fluctuations in the fair value of assets held by Farmer Mac and its subsidiaries;
• the level of lender interest in Farmer Mac's products and the secondary market provided by Farmer Mac;
• the general rate of growth in agricultural mortgage and rural utilities indebtedness;
• the effect of economic conditions and geopolitics on agricultural mortgage or rural utilities lending, borrower repayment capacity, or collateral values, including fluctuations in interest rates, changes in U.S. trade policies, fluctuations in export demand for U.S. agricultural products, and volatility in commodity prices;
• the degree to which Farmer Mac is exposed to interest rate risk resulting from fluctuations in Farmer Mac's borrowing costs relative to market indexes;
• developments in the financial markets, including possible investor, analyst, and rating agency reactions to events involving government-sponsored enterprises, including Farmer Mac;
• the effect of any changes in Farmer Mac's executive leadership; and
• other factors that could have a negative effect on agricultural mortgage lending or borrower repayment capacity, including the effects of weather and fluctuations in agricultural real estate values.

Other risk factors are discussed in "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item 1A in Farmer Mac's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. Considering these potential risks and uncertainties, no undue reliance should be placed on any forward-looking statements expressed in this release. The forward-looking statements contained in this release represent management's expectations as of the date of this release. Farmer Mac undertakes no obligation to release publicly the results of revisions to any forward-looking statements included in this release to reflect new information or any future events or circumstances, except as otherwise required by applicable law. The information in this release is not necessarily indicative of future results.

About Farmer Mac

Farmer Mac is a vital part of the agricultural credit markets and was created to increase access to and reduce the cost of credit for the benefit of American agricultural and rural communities. As the nation's secondary market for agricultural credit, we provide financial solutions to a broad spectrum of the agricultural community, including agricultural lenders, agribusinesses, and other institutions that can benefit from access to flexible, low-cost financing and risk management tools. Farmer Mac's customers benefit from our low cost of funds, low overhead costs, and high operational efficiency. For more than thirty years, Farmer Mac has been delivering the capital and commitment rural America deserves. More information about Farmer Mac (including the Annual Report on Form 10-K referenced above) is available on Farmer Mac's website at www.farmermac.com.