Annaly Capital Management, Inc. Reports 4th Quarter 2016 Results - Annaly Capital Management (NYSE:NLY)

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Annaly Capital Management, Inc. NLY (the "Company" or "Annaly") today announced its financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2016.

"The fourth quarter of 2016 was yet another period of historically high market volatility with interest rate levels rising meaningfully and credit spreads contracting significantly," commented Kevin Keyes, Chief Executive Officer and President. "Once again, amidst this uncertainty, Annaly delivered stable core earnings and dividends producing an attractive return on equity for our shareholders. In addition, the effectiveness of our diversification and hedging strategies contributed to our book value for the quarter outperforming expected changes despite the pronounced sell-off in the fixed income markets.

"2016 was also a year of notable milestones for Annaly in which we continued to expand our four complementary business platforms into 25 investment options, completed the largest mortgage REIT acquisition in history and delivered a $0.30 per share dividend for the 13th consecutive quarter.

"Entering 2017, we are prepared for even more volatility and uncertainty. Importantly, considering the wide range of potential outcomes in the global macro-economies and marketplaces, we are confident our diversified model is uniquely positioned to take advantage of multiple investment opportunities."

Updated Disclosure of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement its consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), the Company provides non-GAAP financial measures to enhance investor understanding of the Company's period-over-period operating performance and business trends, as well as for assessing the Company's performance versus that of industry peers. Historically, the Company has defined "core earnings", a non-GAAP measure, as net income (loss) excluding gains or losses on disposals of investments and termination of interest rate swaps, unrealized gains or losses on interest rate swaps and investments measured at fair value through earnings, net gains and losses on trading assets, impairment losses, net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest, the premium amortization adjustment resulting from the quarter-over-quarter change in estimated long-term CPR ("PAA"), corporate acquisition related expenses and certain other non-recurring gains or losses, and inclusive of dollar roll income (a component of Net gains (losses) on trading assets) and realized amortization of mortgage servicing rights ("MSR") (a component of net unrealized gains (losses) on investments measured at fair value through earnings).

Based upon recent regulatory guidance and interpretations on the use of non-GAAP financial measures, beginning with the fourth quarter 2016, the Company will report core earnings metrics (revised) that include the PAA. In addition, this is the final quarter that the Company will report core earnings metrics (unrevised) that exclude the PAA. In future periods, the Company will not make an adjustment to GAAP net income (loss) to exclude the PAA. However, given its usefulness in evaluating the Company's financial performance, the Company will continue to separately disclose the PAA. Additionally, comparative prior period results reported in future periods will conform to the revised presentation.

The Company believes its non-GAAP financial measures are useful for management, investors, analysts, and other interested parties in evaluating the Company's performance but should not be viewed in isolation and are not a substitute for financial measurements computed in accordance with GAAP. Please refer to the "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section for additional information.

Financial Performance

The following table summarizes certain key performance indicators as of and for the quarters ended December 31, 2016, September 30, 2016, and December 31, 2015:

	December 31, 2016	September 30, 2016	December 31, 2015
Book value per common share	$11.16	$11.83	$11.73
Economic leverage at period-end ⁽¹⁾	6.4:1	6.1:1	6.0:1
GAAP net income (loss) per average common share	$1.79	$0.70	$0.69
Core earnings per average common share (unrevised - excluding PAA)* ⁽²⁾	$0.30	$0.29	$0.31
Less: PAA cost (benefit) per average common share	(0.23)	-	(0.02)
Core earnings per average common share (revised - including PAA)* ⁽²⁾	$0.53	$0.29	$0.33
Annualized return (loss) on average equity	57.23%	23.55%	22.15%
Annualized core return on average equity (unrevised - excluding PAA)*	10.13%	10.09%	10.30%
Annualized core return on average equity (revised - including PAA)*	17.53%	10.09%	10.89%
Net interest margin ⁽³⁾	2.49%	1.40%	1.80%
Core net interest margin (excluding PAA)*	1.53%	1.42%	1.71%
Net interest spread	2.28%	1.13%	1.47%
Core net interest spread (excluding PAA)*	1.15%	1.15%	1.37%
Average yield on interest earning assets	3.81%	2.70%	3.15%
Core average yield on interest earning assets (excluding PAA)*	2.68%	2.72%	3.05%

*		Represents a non-GAAP financial measure. Please refer to the ‘Non-GAAP Financial Measures' section for additional information.
(1)		Computed as the sum of recourse debt, TBA derivative notional outstanding and net forward purchases of investments divided by total equity. Recourse debt consists of repurchase agreements, other secured financing and Convertible Senior Notes. Securitized debt, participation sold and mortgages payable are non-recourse to the Company and are excluded from this measure.
(2)		The Company revised its definition of core earnings to include the PAA. Core earnings (unrevised) excluded the PAA. This is the final quarter that the Company will report core earnings metrics that exclude the PAA. Beginning with the fourth quarter 2016, core earnings (revised) is defined as net income (loss) excluding gains or losses on disposals of investments and termination of interest rate swaps, unrealized gains or losses on interest rate swaps and investments measured at fair value through earnings, net gains and losses on trading assets, impairment losses, net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest, corporate acquisition related expenses and certain other non-recurring gains or losses, and inclusive of dollar roll income (a component of Net gains (losses) on trading assets) and realized amortization of MSRs (a component of net unrealized gains (losses) on investments measured at fair value through earnings).
(3)		Represents the sum of the Company's annualized economic net interest income (inclusive of interest expense on interest rate swaps used to hedge cost of funds) plus TBA dollar roll income (less interest expense on swaps used to hedge dollar roll transactions) divided by the sum of its average interest earning assets plus average outstanding TBA derivative balances. Average interest earning assets reflects the average amortized cost of our investments during the period.

Among the financial highlights for the fourth quarter 2016 are the following:

GAAP net income of $1.8 billion, or $1.79 per average common share
Core earnings* (unrevised – excluding PAA) of $327.0 million, or $0.30 per average common share
Core earnings* (revised – including PAA) of $565.9 million, or $0.53 per average common share (inclusive of PAA benefit of $238.9 million, or $0.23 per average common share)
GAAP return on average equity of 57.23%, core return on average equity* (unrevised – excluding PAA) of 10.13%, core return on average equity* (revised – including PAA) of 17.53% (PAA related benefit of 7.40%)
Common dividend declared for the quarter ended December 31, 2016 of $0.30 per common share. The annualized dividend yield on the Company's common stock for the quarter ended December 31, 2016, based on the December 31, 2016 closing price of $9.97, was 12.04%

Among the business highlights for the year ended December 31, 2016 are the following:

Completed the largest mREIT acquisition in history with purchase of Hatteras Financial Corp.
Continued diversification strategy with expansion of investment options and targeted growth in select credit assets
Advanced funding strategy with dedicated financing facilities for credit businesses while also capitalizing on FHLB term funding
Further aligned management and shareholder interests by initiating employee stock ownership program

* Represents a non-GAAP financial measure. Please refer to the ‘Non-GAAP Financial Measures' section for additional information.

Amortization

In accordance with GAAP, the Company amortizes or accretes premiums or discounts into interest income for its Agency mortgage-backed securities, excluding interest-only securities, considering estimates of future principal prepayment in the calculation of the effective yield because they are probable and the timing and amount of prepayments can be reasonably estimated. The Company recalculates the effective yield as differences between anticipated and actual prepayments occur. Using third-party model and market information to project future cash flows and expected remaining lives of securities, the effective interest rate determined for each security is applied as if it had been in place from the date of the security's acquisition. The amortized cost of the investment is then adjusted to the amount that would have existed had the new effective yield been applied since the acquisition date. The adjustment to amortized cost is offset with a charge or credit to interest income. Changes in interest rates and other market factors will impact prepayment speed projections and the amount of premium amortization recognized in any given period.

The Company's GAAP metrics include the unadjusted impact of amortization and accretion associated with this method. The Company's non-GAAP measures previously excluded the effect of the PAA, however, beginning with the fourth quarter 2016, the Company revised its definition of core earnings such that no adjustment will be made to exclude the PAA. In addition, this is the final quarter that the Company will report core earnings metrics (unrevised) that exclude the PAA. However, given its usefulness in evaluating the Company's financial performance, the Company will continue to separately disclose the PAA.

The following table illustrates the impact of quarter-over-quarter changes to long-term CPR estimates on premium amortization expense for the Company's Residential Investment Securities portfolio for the quarters ended December 31, 2016, September 30, 2016, and December 31, 2015:

	For the quarters ended
	December 31, 2016			September 30, 2016			December 31, 2015
	(dollars in thousands)
Premium amortization expense	$	(19,812	)	$	213,241		$	159,720
Less: PAA cost (benefit)		(238,941	)		3,891			(18,072	)
Premium amortization expense exclusive of PAA	$	219,129		$	209,350		$	177,792


	For the quarters ended
	December 31, 2016			September 30, 2016			December 31, 2015
	(per average common share)
Premium amortization expense	$	(0.02	)	$	0.21		$	0.17
Less: PAA cost (benefit)		(0.23	)		-	⁽¹⁾		(0.02	)
Premium amortization expense exclusive of PAA	$	0.21		$	0.21		$	0.19

(1) Rounds to less than $0.01 per average common share.

Other Information

This news release and our public documents to which we refer contain or incorporate by reference certain forward-looking statements which are based on various assumptions (some of which are beyond our control) and may be identified by reference to a future period or periods or by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as "may," "will," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "continue," or similar terms or variations on those terms or the negative of those terms. Actual results could differ materially from those set forth in forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, changes in interest rates; changes in the yield curve; changes in prepayment rates; the availability of mortgage-backed securities and other securities for purchase; the availability of financing and, if available, the terms of any financings; changes in the market value of our assets; changes in business conditions and the general economy; our ability to grow our commercial business; our ability to grow our residential mortgage credit business; credit risks related to our investments in credit risk transfer securities, residential mortgage-backed securities and related residential mortgage credit assets, commercial real estate assets and corporate debt; risks related to investments in mortgage servicing rights and ownership of a servicer; our ability to consummate any contemplated investment opportunities; changes in government regulations affecting our business; our ability to maintain our qualification as a REIT; and our ability to maintain our exemption from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. For a discussion of the risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We do not undertake, and specifically disclaim any obligation, to publicly release the result of any revisions which may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements, except as required by law.

Annaly's principal business objectives are to generate net income for distribution to its shareholders from its investments and capital preservation. Annaly is a Maryland corporation that has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust ("REIT"). Annaly is managed and advised by Annaly Management Company LLC.

The Company prepares a supplemental investor presentation and a financial summary for the benefit of its shareholders. Both the Fourth Quarter 2016 Investor Presentation and the Fourth Quarter 2016 Financial Summary can be found at the Company's website (www.annaly.com) in the Investors section under Investor Presentations.

Conference Call

The Company will hold the fourth quarter 2016 earnings conference call on February 16, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The number to call is 888-317-6003 for domestic calls and 412-317-6061 for international calls. The conference passcode is 8442755. There will also be an audio webcast of the call on www.annaly.com. The replay of the call is available for one week following the conference call. The replay number is 877-344-7529 for domestic calls and 412-317-0088 for international calls and the conference passcode is 10100346. If you would like to be added to the e-mail distribution list, please visit www.annaly.com, click on Investors, then select Email Alerts and complete the email notification form.



ANNALY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)

	December 31,			September 30,			June 30,			March 31,			December 31,
		2016			2016			2016			2016			2015⁽¹⁾
	(Unaudited)			(Unaudited)			(Unaudited)			(Unaudited)
ASSETS

Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,539,746		$	2,382,188		$	2,735,250		$	2,416,136		$	1,769,258
Investments, at fair value:
Agency mortgage-backed securities		75,589,873			73,476,105			64,862,992			65,439,824			65,718,224
Agency debentures		-			-			-			157,035			152,038
Credit risk transfer securities		724,722			669,295			520,321			501,167			456,510
Non-Agency mortgage-backed securities		1,401,307			1,460,261			1,197,549			1,157,507			906,722
Residential mortgage loans ⁽²⁾		342,289			310,148			-			-			-
Mortgage servicing rights		652,216			492,169			-			-			-
Commercial real estate debt investments ⁽³⁾		4,321,739			4,319,077			4,361,972			4,401,725			2,911,828
Commercial real estate debt and preferred equity, held for investment ⁽⁴⁾		970,505			1,070,197			1,137,971			1,177,468			1,348,817
Commercial loans held for sale, net		114,425			144,275			164,175			278,600			278,600
Investments in commercial real estate		474,567			500,027			504,605			527,786			535,946
Corporate debt		773,274			716,831			669,612			639,481			488,508
Interest rate swaps, at fair value		68,194			113,253			146,285			93,312			19,642
Other derivatives, at fair value		171,266			87,921			137,490			77,449			22,066
Receivable for investments sold		51,461			493,839			697,943			2,220			121,625
Accrued interest and dividends receivable		270,400			260,583			227,225			232,180			231,336
Other assets		333,063			301,419			237,959			234,407			119,422
Goodwill		71,815			71,815			71,815			71,815			71,815
Intangible assets, net		34,184			39,903			43,306			35,853			38,536

Total assets	$	87,905,046		$	86,909,306		$	77,716,470		$	77,443,965		$	75,190,893

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Liabilities:
Repurchase agreements	$	65,215,810		$	61,784,121		$	53,868,385		$	54,448,141		$	56,230,860
Other secured financing		3,884,708			3,804,742			3,588,326			3,588,326			1,845,048
Securitized debt of consolidated VIEs ⁽⁵⁾		3,655,802			3,712,821			3,748,289			3,802,682			2,540,711
Participation sold		12,869			12,976			13,079			13,182			13,286
Mortgages payable		311,636			327,632			327,643			334,765			334,707
Interest rate swaps, at fair value		1,443,765			2,919,492			3,208,986			2,782,961			1,677,571
Other derivatives, at fair value		86,437			73,445			154,017			69,171			49,963
Dividends payable		305,674			269,111			277,479			277,456			280,779
Payable for investments purchased		65,041			454,237			746,090			250,612			107,115
Accrued interest payable		163,013			173,320			159,435			163,983			151,843
Accounts payable and other liabilities		184,319			115,606			62,868			54,679			53,088

Total liabilities		75,329,074			73,647,503			66,154,597			65,785,958			63,284,971

Stockholders' Equity:
7.875% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock: 7,412,500 authorized, issued and outstanding		177,088			177,088			177,088			177,088			177,088
7.625% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock 12,650,000 authorized, 12,000,000 issued and outstanding		290,514			290,514			290,514			290,514			290,514
7.50% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock: 18,400,000 authorized, issued and outstanding		445,457			445,457			445,457			445,457			445,457
7.625% Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock: 11,500,000 authorized, issued and outstanding		287,500			287,500			-			-			-
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share, 1,945,437,500, 1,945,437,500, 1,956,937,500, 1,956,937,500 and 1,956,937,500 authorized, 1,018,913,249, 1,018,857,866, 924,929,607, 924,853,133 and 935,929,561 issued and outstanding, respectively		10,189			10,189			9,249			9,249			9,359
Additional paid-in capital		15,579,342			15,578,677			14,575,426			14,573,760			14,675,768
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		(1,085,893	)		1,119,677			1,117,046			640,366			(377,596	)
Accumulated deficit		(3,136,017	)		(4,655,440	)		(5,061,565	)		(4,487,982	)		(3,324,616	)

Total stockholders' equity		12,568,180			13,253,662			11,553,215			11,648,452			11,895,974

Noncontrolling interest		7,792			8,141			8,658			9,555			9,948

Total equity		12,575,972			13,261,803			11,561,873			11,658,007			11,905,922

Total liabilities and equity	$	87,905,046		$	86,909,306		$	77,716,470		$	77,443,965		$	75,190,893

(1)		Derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at December 31, 2015.
(2)		Includes securitized mortgage loans of a consolidated VIE carried at fair value of $165.9 million and $176.7 million at December 31, 2016 and September 30, 2016, respectively.
(3)		Includes senior securitized commercial mortgage loans of consolidated VIEs with a carrying value of $3.9 billion, $4.0 billion, $4.0 billion, $4.0 billion and $2.6 billion at December 31, 2016, September 30, 2016, June 30, 2016, March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.
(4)		Includes senior securitized commercial mortgage loans of consolidated VIE with a carrying value of $0, $128.9 million, $187.2 million, $211.9 million and $262.7 million at December 31, 2016, September 30, 2016, June 30, 2016, March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.
(5)		Includes securitized debt of consolidated VIEs carried at fair value of $3.7 billion, $3.7 billion, $3.7 billion, $3.7 billion and $2.4 billion at December 31, 2016, September 30, 2016, June 30, 2016, March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.


ANNALY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)

	For the quarters ended
	December 31,			September 30,			June 30,			March 31,			December 31,
		2016			2016			2016			2016			2015
Net interest income:
Interest income	$	807,022		$	558,668		$	457,118		$	388,143		$	576,580
Interest expense		183,396			174,154			152,755			147,447			118,807
Net interest income		623,626			384,514			304,363			240,696			457,773

Realized and unrealized gains (losses):
Realized gains (losses) on interest rate swaps⁽¹⁾		(103,872	)		(124,572	)		(130,762	)		(147,475	)		(159,487	)
Realized gains (losses) on termination of interest rate swaps		(55,214	)		1,337			(60,064	)		-			-
Unrealized gains (losses) on interest rate swaps		1,430,668			256,462			(373,220	)		(1,031,720	)		463,126
Subtotal		1,271,582			133,227			(564,046	)		(1,179,195	)		303,639
Net gains (losses) on disposal of investments		7,782			14,447			12,535			(1,675	)		(7,259	)
Net gains (losses) on trading assets		(139,470	)		162,981			81,880			125,189			42,584
Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments measured at fair value through earnings		110,742			29,675			(54,154	)		128			(62,703	)
Bargain purchase gain		-			72,576			-			-			-
Subtotal		(20,946	)		279,679			40,261			123,642			(27,378	)
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses)		1,250,636			412,906			(523,785	)		(1,055,553	)		276,261

Other income (loss)		30,918			29,271			(9,930	)		(6,115	)		(10,447	)

General and administrative expenses:
Compensation and management fee		39,845			38,709			36,048			36,997			37,193
Other general and administrative expenses		15,608			59,028			13,173			10,948			10,643
Total general and administrative expenses		55,453			97,737			49,221			47,945			47,836

Income (loss) before income taxes		1,849,727			728,954			(278,573	)		(868,917	)		675,751

Income taxes		1,244			(1,926	)		(76	)		(837	)		6,085

Net income (loss)		1,848,483			730,880			(278,497	)		(868,080	)		669,666

Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest		(87	)		(336	)		(385	)		(162	)		(373	)

Net income (loss) attributable to Annaly		1,848,570			731,216			(278,112	)		(867,918	)		670,039

Dividends on preferred stock		23,473			22,803			17,992			17,992			17,992

Net income (loss) available (related) to common stockholders	$	1,825,097		$	708,413		$	(296,104	)	$	(885,910	)	$	652,047

Net income (loss) per share available (related) to common stockholders:
Basic	$	1.79		$	0.70		$	(0.32	)	$	(0.96	)	$	0.69
Diluted	$	1.79		$	0.70		$	(0.32	)	$	(0.96	)	$	0.69

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic		1,018,886,380			1,007,607,893			924,887,316			926,813,588			945,072,058
Diluted		1,019,251,111			1,007,963,406			924,887,316			926,813,588			945,326,098

Net income (loss)	$	1,848,483		$	730,880		$	(278,497	)	$	(868,080	)	$	669,666
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities		(2,206,288	)		18,237			483,930			1,017,707			(648,106	)
Reclassification adjustment for net (gains) losses included in net income (loss)		718			(15,606	)		(7,250	)		255			7,655
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(2,205,570	)		2,631			476,680			1,017,962			(640,451	)
Comprehensive income (loss)		(357,087	)		733,511			198,183			149,882			29,215
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest		(87	)		(336	)		(385	)		(162	)		(373	)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Annaly	$	(357,000	)	$	733,847		$	198,568		$	150,044		$	29,588

(1)		Interest expense related to the Company's interest rate swaps is recorded in Realized gains (losses) on interest rate swaps on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.


ANNALY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)

	For the years ended
	December 31,			December 31,
		2016			2015 ⁽¹⁾
	(Unaudited)
Net interest income:
Interest income	$	2,210,951		$	2,170,697
Interest expense		657,752			471,596
Net interest income		1,553,199			1,699,101

Realized and unrealized gains (losses):
Realized gains (losses) on interest rate swaps⁽²⁾		(506,681	)		(624,495	)
Realized gains (losses) on termination of interest rate swaps		(113,941	)		(226,462	)
Unrealized gains (losses) on interest rate swaps		282,190			(124,869	)
Subtotal		(338,432	)		(975,826	)
Net gains (losses) on disposal of investments		33,089			50,987
Net gains (losses) on trading assets		230,580			29,623
Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments measured at fair value through earnings		86,391			(103,169	)
Bargain purchase gain		72,576			-
Impairment of goodwill		-			(22,966	)
Subtotal		422,636			(45,525	)
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses)		84,204			(1,021,351	)

Other income (loss):
Investment advisory income		-			24,848
Dividend income from affiliate		-			8,636
Other income (loss)		44,144			(47,201	)
Total other income (loss)		44,144			(13,717	)

General and administrative expenses:
Compensation and management fee		151,599			150,286
Other general and administrative expenses		98,757			49,954
Total general and administrative expenses		250,356			200,240

Income (loss) before income taxes		1,431,191			463,793

Income taxes		(1,595	)		(1,954	)

Net income (loss)		1,432,786			465,747

Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest		(970	)		(809	)

Net income (loss) attributable to Annaly		1,433,756			466,556

Dividends on preferred stock		82,260			71,968

Net income (loss) available (related) to common stockholders	$	1,351,496		$	394,588

Net income (loss) per share available (related) to common stockholders:
Basic	$	1.39		$	0.42
Diluted	$	1.39		$	0.42

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic		969,787,583			947,062,099
Diluted		970,102,353			947,276,742

Net income (loss)	$	1,432,786		$	465,747
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities		(686,414	)		(531,952	)
Reclassification adjustment for net (gains) losses included in net income (loss)		(21,883	)		(50,527	)
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(708,297	)		(582,479	)
Comprehensive income (loss)		724,489			(116,732	)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest		(970	)		(809	)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Annaly	$	725,459		$	(115,923	)

(1)		Derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at December 31, 2015.
(2)		Interest expense related to the Company's interest rate swaps is recorded in Realized gains (losses) on interest rate swaps on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

Key Metrics

The following table presents key metrics of the Company's portfolio, liabilities and hedging positions, and performance as of and for the quarters ended December 31, 2016, September 30, 2016, and December 31, 2015:

	December 31, 2016	September 30, 2016	December 31, 2015
Portfolio Related Metrics:
Fixed-rate Residential Investment Securities as a percentage of total Residential Investment Securities	83%	81%	93%
Adjustable-rate and floating-rate Residential Investment Securities as a percentage of total Residential Investment Securities	17%	19%	7%
Weighted average experienced CPR for the period	15.6%	15.9%	9.7%
Weighted average projected long-term CPR at period end	10.1%	14.4%	8.8%

Liabilities and Hedging Metrics:
Weighted average days to maturity on repurchase agreements outstanding at period-end	96	128	151
Hedge ratio ⁽¹⁾	56%	52%	55%
Weighted average pay rate on interest rate swaps at period-end⁽²⁾	2.22%	2.25%	2.26%
Weighted average receive rate on interest rate swaps at period-end⁽²⁾	1.02%	0.88%	0.53%
Weighted average net rate on interest rate swaps at period-end⁽²⁾	1.20%	1.37%	1.73%
Leverage at period-end ⁽³⁾	5.8:1	5.3:1	5.1:1
Economic leverage at period-end ⁽⁴⁾	6.4:1	6.1:1	6.0:1
Capital ratio at period-end	13.1%	13.3%	13.7%

Performance Related Metrics:
Book value per common share	$11.16	$11.83	$11.73
GAAP net income (loss) per common share	$1.79	$0.70	$0.69
Core earnings per common share (unrevised - excluding PAA)^*	$0.30	$0.29	$0.31
Less: PAA cost (benefit)	(0.23)	-	(0.02)
Core earnings per common share (revised - including PAA)^*	$0.53	$0.29	$0.33
Annualized return (loss) on average equity	57.23%	23.55%	22.15%
Annualized core return on average equity (unrevised - excluding PAA)^*	10.13%	10.09%	10.30%
Annualized core return on average equity (revised - including PAA)^*	17.53%	10.09%	10.89%
Net interest margin	2.49%	1.40%	1.80%
Core net interest margin (excluding PAA)*	1.53%	1.42%	1.71%
Average yield on interest earning assets ⁽⁵⁾	3.81%	2.70%	3.15%
Core average yield on interest earning assets (excluding PAA)* ⁽⁶⁾	2.68%	2.72%	3.05%
Average cost of interest bearing liabilities ⁽⁶⁾	1.53%	1.57%	1.68%
Net interest spread	2.28%	1.13%	1.47%
Core net interest spread (excluding PAA)*	1.15%	1.15%	1.37%

*		Represents a non-GAAP financial measure. Please refer to the ‘Non-GAAP Financial Measures' section for additional information.
(1)		Measures total notional balances of interest rate swaps, interest rate swaptions and futures relative to repurchase agreements, other secured financing and TBA notional outstanding.
(2)		Excludes forward starting swaps.
(3)		Debt consists of repurchase agreements, other secured financing, Convertible Senior Notes, securitized debt, participation sold and mortgages payable. Securitized debt, participation sold and mortgages payable are non-recourse to the Company.
(4)		Computed as the sum of recourse debt, TBA derivative notional outstanding and net forward purchases of investments divided by total equity.
(5)		Average interest earning assets reflects the average amortized cost of our investments during the period.
(6)		Includes interest expense on interest rate swaps used to hedge cost of funds.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement its consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), the Company provides the following non-GAAP financial measures. These measures should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures computed in accordance with GAAP.

core earnings;
core earnings per average common share;
annualized core return on average equity;
core interest income (excluding PAA);
economic interest expense;
economic core net interest income (excluding PAA);
core average yield on interest earning assets (excluding PAA);
core net interest margin (excluding PAA); and
core net interest spread (excluding PAA).

These non-GAAP measures provide additional detail to enhance investor understanding of the Company's period-over-period operating performance and business trends, as well as for assessing the Company's performance versus that of industry peers. Additional information pertaining to the Company's use of these non-GAAP financial measures, including discussion of how each such measure is useful to investors, and reconciliations to their most directly comparable GAAP results are provided below.

Core earnings, core earnings per average common share and annualized core return on average equity

One of the Company's principal business objectives is to generate net income by earning a net interest spread on its investment portfolio, which is a function of the Company's interest income from its investment portfolio less financing, hedging and operating costs. Core earnings, which is comprised of interest income plus TBA dollar roll incomeⁱ, less financing and hedging costsⁱⁱ and general and administrative expenses, is used by management to measure its progress in achieving this objective.

Historically, the Company has defined "core earnings", a non-GAAP measure, as net income (loss) excluding gains or losses on disposals of investments and termination of interest rate swaps, unrealized gains or losses on interest rate swaps and investments measured at fair value through earnings, net gains and losses on trading assets, impairment losses, net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest, the premium amortization adjustment resulting from the quarter-over-quarter change in estimated long-term CPR ("PAA"), corporate acquisition related expenses and certain other non-recurring gains or losses, and inclusive of dollar roll income (a component of Net gains (losses) on trading assets) and realized amortization of mortgage servicing rights ("MSR") (a component of net unrealized gains (losses) on investments measured at fair value through earnings).

Beginning with the fourth quarter 2016, the Company will report core earnings metrics (revised) that include the PAA. In addition, this is the final quarter that the Company will report core earnings metrics (unrevised) that exclude the PAA. In future periods, the Company will not make an adjustment to GAAP net income (loss) to exclude the PAA.

The Company believes these measures provide management and investors with additional details regarding the Company's underlying operating results and investment portfolio trends by (i) making adjustments to account for the disparate reporting of changes in fair value where certain instruments are reflected in GAAP net income (loss) while others are reflected in other comprehensive income (loss), and (ii) by excluding certain unrealized, non-cash or episodic components of GAAP net income (loss) in order to provide additional transparency into the operating performance of the Company's portfolio. Annualized core return on average equity, which is calculated by dividing core earnings over average stockholders' equity, provides investors with additional detail on the core earnings generated by the Company's invested equity capital.

__________

ⁱ TBA dollar roll transactions are accounted for as derivatives, with gains and losses reflected as a component of Net gains (losses) on trading assets in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss). TBA dollar roll income represents the economic equivalent of interest income on the underlying security less the implied cost of financing.

ⁱⁱ The interest component of hedging costs are reported as realized gains (losses) on interest rate swaps in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).

The following table presents a reconciliation of GAAP financial results to non-GAAP core earnings for the periods presented.

	For the quarters ended
	December 31, 2016			September 30, 2016			December 31, 2015
	(dollars in thousands)
GAAP net income (loss)	$	1,848,483		$	730,880		$	669,666
Less:
Realized (gains) losses on termination of interest rate swaps		55,214			(1,337	)		-
Unrealized (gains) losses on interest rate swaps		(1,430,668	)		(256,462	)		(463,126	)
Net (gains) losses on disposal of investments		(7,782	)		(14,447	)		7,259
Net (gains) losses on trading assets		139,470			(162,981	)		(42,584	)
Net unrealized (gains) losses on investments measured at fair value through earnings		(110,742	)		(29,675	)		62,703
Bargain purchase gain		-			(72,576	)		-
Corporate acquisition related expenses ⁽¹⁾		-			46,724			-
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		87			336			373
Premium amortization adjustment cost (benefit)		(238,941	)		3,891			(18,072	)
Plus:
TBA dollar roll income ⁽²⁾		98,896			90,174			94,914
MSR amortization ⁽³⁾		(27,018	)		(21,634	)		-
Core earnings (unrevised - excluding PAA)*		326,999			312,893			311,133
Add back:
Premium amortization adjustment		238,941			(3,891	)		18,072
Core earnings (revised - including PAA)*	$	565,940		$	309,002		$	329,205

GAAP net income (loss) per average common share	$	1.79		$	0.70		$	0.69
Core earnings per average common share (unrevised - excluding PAA)*	$	0.30		$	0.29		$	0.31
Core earnings per average common share (revised - including PAA)*	$	0.53		$	0.29		$	0.33

Annualized GAAP return (loss) on average equity		57.23	%		23.55	%		22.15	%
Annualized core return on average equity (unrevised - excluding PAA)*		10.13	%		10.09	%		10.30	%
Annualized core return on average equity (revised - including PAA)*		17.53	%		10.09	%		10.89	%

	For the years ended
	December 31, 2016			December 31, 2015
	(dollars in thousands)
GAAP net income (loss)	$	1,432,786		$	465,747
Less:
Realized (gains) losses on termination of interest rate swaps		113,941			226,462
Unrealized (gains) losses on interest rate swaps		(282,190	)		124,869
Net (gains) losses on disposal of investments		(33,089	)		(50,987	)
Net (gains) losses on trading assets		(230,580	)		(29,623	)
Net unrealized (gains) losses on investments measured at fair value through earnings		(86,391	)		103,169
Bargain purchase gain		(72,576	)		-
Impairment of goodwill		-			22,966
Corporate acquisition related expenses ⁽¹⁾		48,887			-
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		970			809
Premium amortization adjustment cost (benefit)		18,941			73,365
Plus:
TBA dollar roll income ⁽²⁾		351,778			348,531
MSR amortization ⁽³⁾		(48,652	)		-
Core earnings (unrevised - excluding PAA)*		1,213,825			1,285,308
Add back:
Premium amortization adjustment		(18,941	)		(73,365	)
Core earnings (revised - including PAA)*	$	1,194,884		$	1,211,943

GAAP net income (loss) per average common share	$	1.39		$	0.42
Core earnings per average common share (unrevised - excluding PAA)*	$	1.17		$	1.28
Core earnings per average common share (revised - including PAA)*	$	1.15		$	1.20

Annualized GAAP return (loss) on average equity		11.75	%		3.73	%
Annualized core return on average equity (unrevised - excluding PAA)*		9.96	%		10.17	%
Annualized core return on average equity (revised - including PAA)*		9.81	%		9.59	%

*		Represents a non-GAAP financial measure.
(1)		Represents non-recurring transaction costs incurred in connection with the Company's acquisition of Hatteras Financial Corp.
(2)		Represents a component of Net gains (losses) on trading assets.
(3)		Represents the portion of changes in fair value that is attributable to the realization of estimated cash flows on the Company's MSR portfolio and is reported as a component of Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments measured at fair value.

Core interest income (excluding PAA), economic interest expense and economic core net interest income (excluding PAA)

Core interest income (excluding PAA) represents interest income excluding the effect of the PAA, and serves as the basis for deriving core average yield on interest bearing assets (excluding PAA), core net interest margin (excluding PAA) and core net interest spread (excluding PAA), which are discussed below. The Company believes this measure provides management and investors with additional detail to enhance their understanding of the Company's operating results and trends by excluding the component of premium amortization expense representing the cumulative effect of quarter-over-quarter changes in estimated long-term prepayment speeds related to the Company's Agency mortgage-backed securities (other than interest-only securities), which can obscure underlying trends in the performance of the portfolio.

Economic interest expense is comprised of interest expense, as computed in accordance with GAAP, plus interest expense on interest rate swaps used to hedge cost of funds, which is a component of Realized gains (losses) on interest rate swaps in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss). The Company uses interest rate swaps to manage its exposure to changing interest rates on its repurchase agreements by economically hedging cash flows associated with these borrowings. Accordingly, adding the contractual interest payments on interest rate swaps to interest expense, as computed in accordance with GAAP, reflects the total contractual interest expense and thus, provides investors with additional information about the cost of our financing strategy.

Similarly, economic core net interest income (excluding PAA), as computed below, provides investors with additional information to enhance their understanding of the net economics of our primary business operations.

	For the quarters ended
	December 31, 2016			September 30, 2016		December 31, 2015
	(dollars in thousands)
Core Interest Income Reconciliation
GAAP interest income	$	807,022		$	558,668	$	576,580
Premium amortization adjustment		(238,941	)		3,891		(18,072	)
Core interest income (excluding PAA)*	$	568,081		$	562,559	$	558,508

Economic Interest Expense Reconciliation
GAAP interest expense	$	183,396		$	174,154	$	118,807
Add:
Interest expense on interest rate swaps used to hedge cost of funds		92,841			103,100		135,267
Economic interest expense*	$	276,237		$	277,254	$	254,074

Economic Core Net Interest Income Reconciliation
Core interest income (excluding PAA)*	$	568,081		$	562,559	$	558,508
Less:
Economic interest expense*		276,237			277,254		254,074
Economic core net interest income (excluding PAA)*	$	291,844		$	285,305	$	304,434

* Represents a non-GAAP financial measure.

Core average yield on interest earnings assets (excluding PAA), core net interest margin (excluding PAA) and core net interest spread (excluding PAA)

Core net interest spread (excluding PAA), which is the difference between the core average yield on interest earning assets (excluding PAA) and the average cost of interest bearing liabilities, and core net interest margin (excluding PAA), which is calculated by dividing the economic core net interest income (excluding PAA) by average interest earning assets, provide management with additional measures of the Company's profitability that management relies upon in monitoring the performance of the business. Disclosure of these measures, which are presented below, provides investors with additional detail regarding how management evaluates the Company's performance.

	For the quarters ended
	December 31, 2016		September 30, 2016		December 31, 2015
Economic Core Metrics	(dollars in thousands)
Core interest income (excluding PAA)*	$	568,081	$	562,559	$	558,508
Average interest earning assets	$	84,799,222	$	82,695,270	$	73,178,965
Core average yield on interest earning assets (excluding PAA)*		2.68%		2.72%		3.05%
Economic interest expense*	$	276,237	$	277,254	$	254,074
Average interest bearing liabilities	$	72,032,600	$	70,809,712	$	60,516,996
Average cost of interest bearing liabilities		1.53%		1.57%		1.68%
Core net interest spread (excluding PAA)*		1.15%		1.15%		1.37%
Core net interest margin (excluding PAA)*		1.53%		1.42%		1.71%

* Represents a non-GAAP financial measure.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170215006276/en/

Annaly Capital Management, Inc.
Investor Relations
1-888-8Annaly
www.annaly.com

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