News Details

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust (NYSE: PMT) today reported net income of $28.7 million, or $0.40 per common share on a diluted basis, for the first quarter of 2017, on net investment income of $64.5 million. PMT previously announced a cash dividend for the first quarter of 2017 of $0.47 per common share of beneficial interest, which was declared on March 27, 2017, and paid on April 27, 2017.

First Quarter 2017 Highlights

Financial results:

• Diluted earnings per common share of $0.40, down 9 percent from the prior quarter
• Net income of $28.7 million, down 8 percent from the prior quarter
• Net investment income of $64.5 million, down 6 percent from the prior quarter
• Book value per common share of $20.14, down from $20.26 at December 31, 2016
• Return on average common equity of 8 percent, down from 9 percent for the prior quarter¹

Investment activities and correspondent production results:

• Continued investment in GSE credit risk transfer (CRT) and mortgage servicing rights (MSRs) resulting from PMT’s correspondent production business
  • CRT deliveries totaled $1.8 billion in unpaid principal balance (UPB), which will result in approximately $64 million of new CRT investments once the aggregation period is complete, $16 million of which had been invested at quarter end
  • Added $59 million in new MSR investments
• Continued progress in liquidation and sales of the distressed loan portfolio
  • Cash proceeds from the liquidation and pay down of distressed mortgage loans and real estate acquired upon settlement of loans (REO) were $89 million
  • Completed the previously announced sale of $89 million in UPB of performing loans
• Correspondent production related to conventional conforming loans totaled $4.6 billion in UPB, down 38 percent from the prior quarter; conventional conforming interest rate lock commitments (IRLCs) totaled $5.2 billion in UPB, down 25 percent from the prior quarter
• Issued 4.6 million of 8.125 percent Series A Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares, for gross proceeds of $115 million
  • Net proceeds are being used to fund PMT’s business and investment activities, pay down indebtedness, repurchase outstanding common shares pursuant to PMT’s share repurchase program, and for other general corporate purposes
• Repurchased approximately 139,000 of PMT’s common shares at a cost of $2.3 million

“PMT’s investments delivered mixed results in a challenging market environment during the first quarter,” said President and Chief Executive Officer David Spector. “Our earnings were driven by significant gains in our unique GSE credit risk transfer investments, as well as strong contributions from our correspondent production segment. Results from our distressed loan investments showed modest improvement from the prior quarter, but returns remained below our expectations. Our interest rate sensitive strategies also underperformed, primarily due to volatility in the quarter that increased the expense of our interest rate hedges. We believe that this quarter’s results validate our plan to transition PMT’s balance sheet to correspondent-related investments such as CRT and mortgage servicing rights.”

The following table presents the contributions of PMT’s segments, consisting of Credit Sensitive Strategies, Interest Rate Sensitive Strategies, Correspondent Production and Corporate.

Credit Sensitive Strategies Segment

The Credit Sensitive Strategies segment includes results from distressed mortgage loans, CRT, non-Agency subordinated bonds and multifamily commercial real estate investments. Pretax income for the segment was $19.4 million on revenues of $25.8 million, compared with pretax income of $6.3 million on revenues of $14.2 million in the prior quarter.

Net gain on investments was $22.0 million, an increase of 144 percent from $9.0 million in the prior quarter.

PMT’s distressed mortgage loan portfolio generated realized and unrealized gains totaling $3.2 million, compared with realized and unrealized losses of $1.0 million in the prior quarter. Fair value gains on the performing loans in the distressed portfolio were $6.0 million while fair value losses on nonperforming loans were $3.2 million.

The schedule below details the realized and unrealized gains (losses) on distressed mortgage loans:

Overall, the performance of the distressed mortgage loan portfolio improved compared with the prior quarter, primarily driven by performing mortgage loans which benefitted from a strong market for these assets. Valuation gains also received a modest benefit from actual and forecasted home prices that were better than prior forecasts. These positive impacts were partially offset by greater than expected recidivism of previously performing loans.

Net gain on CRT investments was $18.6 million compared with a gain of $10.4 million in the prior quarter. These gains resulted from higher income on a larger investment position and market-driven value changes related to credit spread tightening. At quarter end, PMT’s investments in CRT totaled $464 million compared with $450 million at December 31, 2016.

Net interest income for the segment totaled $6.0 million, down 44 percent from the prior quarter. Interest income totaled $20.3 million, a 23 percent decline from the prior quarter. Interest income included $9.9 million of capitalized interest from loan modifications, which declined from $22.0 million in the prior quarter, driven by a reduction in modification activity. Capitalized interest increases interest income and reduces loan valuation gains. Interest expense totaled $14.3 million, down 9 percent from the prior quarter.

Other investment losses were $2.3 million, compared with a $5.4 million loss in the prior quarter. The quarter-over-quarter decline was primarily due to trailing recoveries on previously sold REO. At quarter end, PMT’s inventory of REO properties totaled $224.8 million, down from $274.0 million at December 31, 2016.

Segment expenses were $6.4 million, a 19 percent decrease from $7.9 million in the prior quarter. The decline was driven by lower loan liquidation fees relative to the prior quarter.

Interest Rate Sensitive Strategies Segment

The Interest Rate Sensitive Strategies segment includes results from investments in MSRs, excess servicing spread (ESS), Agency mortgage-backed securities (MBS), non-Agency senior MBS and interest rate hedges. The segment includes investments that have offsetting exposures to changes in interest rates. Interest Rate Sensitive Strategies generated pretax income of $0.7 million on revenues of $7.6 million, compared with pretax income of $5.4 million on revenues of $11.9 million in the prior quarter.

The results in the Interest Rate Sensitive Strategies segment consist of net gain/loss on investments, net interest income and net loan servicing fees, as well as the associated expenses.

The net loss on investments was $5.3 million, consisting of $0.3 million of gains on mortgage loans held by a variable interest entity, net of the related asset-backed secured funding; $4.1 million of losses on hedging derivatives; $1.4 million of losses on ESS; and $0.1 million of losses on MBS.

Net interest income for the segment was $1.1 million, a 31 percent increase from the prior quarter. Interest income totaled $16.1 million, an 11 percent increase from the prior quarter. Interest expense totaled $15.0 million, a 10 percent increase from the prior quarter.

Net mortgage loan servicing fees were $11.7 million, up from $7.8 million in the prior quarter. Net loan servicing fees included $38.5 million in servicing fees, reduced by $17.9 million of amortization and realization of MSR cash flows. Net loan servicing fees also included $1.5 million of impairment reversal for MSRs carried at the lower of amortized cost or fair value, a $2.0 million valuation loss on MSRs carried at fair value and $8.7 million of related hedging losses. Net loan servicing fees also included $0.3 million of MSR recapture income. PMT’s hedging activities are intended to manage its net exposure across all interest rate-sensitive strategies, which include MSRs, ESS and MBS.

The following schedule details net loan servicing fees:

PMT’s MSR portfolio, which is subserviced by PFSI, grew to $59.6 billion in UPB compared with $56.3 billion at December 31, 2016.

Significant volatility during the first quarter drove increased hedge costs, and inconsistent movements of the swaps, Treasury, and mortgage markets led to mismatches between asset and hedge performance. Furthermore, while the fair value of our MSR investments benefitted from lower expected prepayment activity, valuation gains for the portion carried at fair value were offset by the realization of cash flows. The loss on our ESS investments primarily resulted from higher than projected prepayment activity during the quarter, somewhat offset by recapture income totaling $1.6 million payable to PMT for prepayment activity during the quarter. When prepayment of a loan underlying PMT’s ESS results from a refinancing by PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE: PFSI), PMT generally benefits from recapture income.

Segment expenses were $6.8 million, a 4 percent increase from $6.5 million in the prior quarter, and reflect a larger servicing portfolio.

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 ongoing investments in MSRs and GSE credit risk transfers related to a portion of its production. PMT’s Correspondent Production segment generated pretax income of $12.5 million versus $12.9 million in the prior quarter.

Through its correspondent production activities, PMT acquired $13.9 billion in UPB of loans and issued IRLCs totaling $14.5 billion in the first quarter, compared with $20.0 billion and $19.2 billion, respectively, in the prior quarter. Of the correspondent acquisitions, conventional conforming acquisitions totaled $4.6 billion, and government-insured or guaranteed acquisitions totaled $9.3 billion, compared with $7.5 billion and $12.5 billion, respectively, in the prior quarter.

Segment revenues were $30.8 million, a 28 percent decrease from the prior quarter, driven by a decline in net gain on mortgage loans. Net gain on mortgage loans acquired for sale in the quarter declined 19 percent from the prior quarter, driven by a 25 percent quarter-over-quarter decline in conventional lock volume and lower margins. The quarter-over-quarter performance reflects increased competition in a smaller market due to the significant decline in refinancing activity from higher mortgage rates and to a seasonally slow purchase-money market. Net gain on mortgage loans acquired for sale this quarter also included a $4.6 million benefit from a reduction in the estimate of the liability for representations and warranties.

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

Segment expenses were $18.3 million, down 38 percent from $29.8 million in the prior quarter, driven by lower volume-based fulfillment fee expense. The weighted average fulfillment fee rate in the first quarter was 36 basis points, unchanged from the prior quarter.

Corporate Segment

The Corporate segment includes interest income from certain cash and short-term investments, management fees and corporate expenses.

Segment revenues were $326,000, a 62 percent increase from $201,000 in the prior quarter, driven by an increase in interest income due to higher cash balances in the first quarter.

Management fees were $5.0 million, down 1 percent compared with $5.1 million in the prior quarter. There were no incentive fees due for the first quarter.

Other segment expenses were $5.4 million compared with $5.8 million in the prior quarter.

Taxes

PMT recorded an income tax benefit of $6.1 million compared with a $17.3 million benefit in the prior quarter. The income tax benefit was primarily driven by the underperformance of the distressed loans and REO held in the taxable REIT subsidiary.

“We have made significant progress transitioning capital to attractive opportunities in our correspondent production-related investments and away from distressed loan investments, which now represent one-third of PMT’s equity,” concluded Executive Chairman Stanford L. Kurland. “As we anticipated, higher interest rates during the quarter resulted in a mortgage market that is normalizing from the elevated margins and volumes seen in 2016. We have seen improvement in April due to a decline in interest rates and a pickup in home-buying activity that we expect to extend through the spring and summer homebuying season. PMT remains well-positioned to access investment opportunities that result from our correspondent production activities. We believe that these strategies have the potential to produce earnings in line with our dividend level.”

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 Daylight Time) on Thursday May 4, 2017.

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.

¹ Return on average common equity is calculated based on annualized quarterly net income attributable to common shareholders as a percentage of monthly average common equity during the period.

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, including any new lines of business or new products and services that may subject us to additional risks; volatility in our industry, the debt or equity markets, the general economy or the real estate finance and real estate markets specifically; events or circumstances which undermine confidence in the financial markets or otherwise have a broad impact on financial markets; changes in general business, economic, market, employment and political conditions, or in consumer confidence and spending habits from those expected; declines in real estate or significant changes in U.S. housing prices or activity in the U.S. housing market; the availability of, and level of competition for, attractive risk-adjusted investment opportunities in mortgage loans and mortgage-related assets that satisfy our investment objectives; the inherent difficulty in winning bids to acquire distressed loans or correspondent loans, and our success in doing so; the concentration of credit risks to which we are exposed; the degree and nature of our competition; the availability, terms and deployment of short-term and long-term capital; the adequacy of our cash reserves and working capital; our ability to maintain the desired relationship between our financing and the interest rates and maturities of our assets; the timing and amount of cash flows, if any, from our investments; unanticipated increases or volatility in financing and other costs, including a rise in interest rates; 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; changes in the number of investor repurchases or indemnifications and our ability to obtain indemnification or demand repurchase from our correspondent sellers; 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 or relating to our mortgage servicing rights, excess servicing spread and other investments; the degree to which our hedging strategies may or may not protect us from interest rate volatility; the effect of the accuracy of or changes in the estimates we make about uncertainties, contingencies and asset and liability valuations when measuring and reporting upon our financial condition and results of operations; changes in regulations or the occurrence of other events that impact the business, operation or prospects of government sponsored enterprises; changes in government support of homeownership; changes in governmental regulations, accounting treatment, tax rates and similar matters; our ability to satisfy complex rules in order to qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes; and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders in the future. 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.

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PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust
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Stephen Hagey, (805) 530-5817
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Source: PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust