News Details

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust (NYSE: PMT) today reported net income attributable to common shareholders of $26.4 million, or $0.38 per common share on a diluted basis, for the second quarter of 2017, on net investment income of $84.0 million. PMT previously announced a cash dividend for the second quarter of 2017 of $0.47 per common share of beneficial interest, which was declared on June 27, 2017 and paid on July 27, 2017.

Second Quarter 2017 Highlights

Financial results:

• Diluted earnings per common share of $0.38, down 5 percent from the prior quarter
• Net income attributable to common shareholders of $26.4 million, down 6 percent from the prior quarter
• Net investment income of $84.0 million, up 30 percent from the prior quarter
• Book value per common share of $20.04, down from $20.14 at March 31, 2017
• Return on average common equity of 8 percent, essentially unchanged from 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
  • Correspondent production related to conventional conforming loans totaled $5.9 billion in UPB, up 28 percent from the prior quarter
  • CRT deliveries totaled $3.8 billion in unpaid principal balance (UPB), which will result in approximately $132 million of new CRT investments once the aggregation period is complete
  • Added $66 million in new MSR investments
• Focus on liquidation and sales of the remaining distressed mortgage loan portfolio; successfully reduced PMT's equity allocation for distressed mortgage loans to 31% of total equity, down from 50 percent a year ago²
  • Cash proceeds from the liquidation and pay down of distressed mortgage loans and real estate acquired upon settlement of loans (REO) were $71 million
  • Entered into an agreement to sell $149 million in UPB of performing loans from the distressed portfolio³
  • Assessing opportunities to access the market for bulk sales of performing and nonperforming loans from the distressed loan portfolio

Notable activity after quarter end

• Issued 7.8 million preferred shares for gross proceeds of $195 million⁴

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.
² Management’s internal allocation of equity. Amounts as of quarter end.
³ This transaction is subject to continuing due diligence and customary closing conditions. There can be no assurance regarding the size of the transaction or that the transaction will be completed at all.
⁴ 8.00% Series B Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable preferred shares. Includes 800,000 shares from the exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option.

“PMT continues to make solid progress in growing its credit risk transfer and mortgage servicing rights investments and in liquidating its distressed loan investments,” said President and CEO David Spector. “Our second quarter results were driven by strong contributions from our credit risk transfer investments and from correspondent production, where we experienced significant growth in volumes. The market volatility in interest rates, which declined overall during the quarter, contributed to challenges in managing our interest rate sensitive investments which include MSRs and ESS. Our strategy is to continue transitioning PMT’s assets to correspondent-related investments such as CRT and MSRs and to assess opportunities to sell performing and non-performing loans from our distressed portfolio.”

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 commercial real estate investments. Pretax income for the segment was $30.4 million on revenues of $40.2 million, compared with pretax income of $19.4 million on revenues of $25.8 million in the prior quarter.

Net gain on investments was $34.1 million, an increase of 55 percent from $22.0 million in the prior quarter.

PMT’s distressed mortgage loan portfolio generated realized and unrealized gains totaling $1.0 million, compared with realized and unrealized gains of $3.2 million in the prior quarter. Fair value gains on the performing loans in the distressed portfolio were $15.5 million while fair value losses on nonperforming loans were $15.8 million.

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

The performing loan portfolio benefitted from a strong market for portfolios with similar attributes. The nonperforming loan portfolio was adversely impacted by home price indications that were below prior forecasts and increased uncertainty regarding the realization of cash flows on the remaining population of loans.

Net gain on CRT investments was $32.9 million compared with a gain of $18.6 million in the prior quarter. These gains resulted from higher income on a larger investment position and market-driven value changes related to tight credit spreads. At quarter end, PMT’s deposits in CRT totaled $503 million, compared with $464 million at March 31, 2017.

Net interest income for the segment totaled $6.9 million, up 15 percent from the prior quarter. Interest income totaled $20.7 million, a 2 percent increase from the prior quarter, which included $10.8 million of capitalized interest from loan modifications, up from $9.9 million in the prior quarter. Capitalized interest increases interest income and reduces loan valuation gains. Interest expense totaled $13.8 million, down 3 percent from the prior quarter driven by a smaller distressed mortgage loan portfolio.

Other investment losses were $1.1 million, compared with a $2.3 million loss in the prior quarter. At quarter end, PMT’s inventory of REO properties totaled $207.0 million, down from $224.8 million at March 31, 2017.

Segment expenses were $9.7 million, a 52 percent increase from $6.4 million in the prior quarter. Other expenses in the first quarter included gains realized on previously sold REO.

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 $5.4 million on revenues of $12.1 million, compared with pretax income of $0.7 million on revenues of $7.6 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 $6.5 million, consisting of $3.8 million of gains on MBS and $0.5 million of gains on mortgage loans held by a variable interest entity, net of the related asset-backed secured funding; $4.9 million of losses on hedging derivatives; and $5.9 million of net losses on ESS.

Net interest income for the segment was $3.0 million, compared to $1.1 million in the prior quarter. Interest income totaled $18.7 million, a 16 percent increase from the prior quarter, driven by higher placement fees on MSR-related escrow deposits. Interest expense totaled $15.7 million, a 4 percent increase from the prior quarter due to higher short-term borrowing costs.

Net mortgage loan servicing fees were $15.7 million, up from $11.7 million in the prior quarter. Net loan servicing fees included $41.1 million in servicing fees, reduced by $19.5 million of amortization and realization of MSR cash flows. Net loan servicing fees also included a $4.1 million impairment provision for MSRs carried at the lower of amortized cost or fair value, a $4.4 million valuation loss on MSRs carried at fair value and $2.4 million of related hedging gains, and $0.2 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 a subsidiary of PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE: PFSI), grew to $63.3 billion in UPB compared with $59.6 billion at March 31, 2017.

MSR and ESS valuation losses primarily resulted from higher projected prepayment activity due to a decline in mortgage rates during the quarter. ESS valuation losses are net of recapture income totaling $1.4 million from PFSI for prepayment activity during the quarter. When prepayment of a loan underlying PMT’s ESS results from a refinancing by PFSI, PMT generally benefits from recapture income.

Segment expenses were $6.7 million, a 1 percent decrease from $6.8 million in the prior quarter.

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 CRT related to a portion of its production. PMT’s Correspondent Production segment generated pretax income of $8.1 million versus $12.5 million in the prior quarter.

Through its correspondent production activities, PMT acquired $16.3 billion in UPB of loans and issued IRLCs totaling $18.2 billion in the second quarter, compared with $13.9 billion and $14.5 billion, respectively, in the prior quarter. Of the correspondent acquisitions, conventional conforming acquisitions totaled $5.9 billion, and government-insured or guaranteed acquisitions totaled $10.4 billion, compared with $4.6 billion and $9.3 billion, respectively, in the prior quarter.

Segment revenues were $31.5 million, a 2 percent increase from the prior quarter. Net gain on mortgage loans acquired for sale in the quarter declined 10 percent from the prior quarter, driven by a 35 percent quarter-over-quarter increase in conventional lock volumes, partially offset by tighter margins reflecting highly competitive market conditions. Additionally, net gain on mortgage loans acquired for sale in the prior quarter included a $4.6 million benefit from a reduction in the estimate of the liability for representations and warranties as compared to a reduction of $1.3 million in the second quarter.

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

Segment expenses were $23.4 million, up 28 percent from $18.3 million in the prior quarter, driven by an increase in volume-based fulfillment fee expense. The weighted average fulfillment fee rate in the second quarter was 36 basis points, unchanged from the prior quarter.

Corporate Segment

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

Segment revenues were $155,000, a decrease from $326,000 in the prior quarter.

Management fees, which include incentive fees, were $5.6 million, up 13 percent compared with $5.0 million in the prior quarter. Incentive fees were $304,000 in the second quarter, compared to none in the prior quarter.

Other segment expenses were $6.6 million compared with $5.4 million in the prior quarter, driven by a 19 percent increase in professional services expense, primarily related to financing and distressed asset transaction activities.

Taxes

PMT recorded an income tax expense of $3.0 million compared with a $6.1 million benefit in the prior quarter.

“PMT continues to focus on CRT and MSR investments that result from our correspondent production business,” concluded Executive Chairman Stanford L. Kurland. “Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac recently announced structural improvements to their credit risk transfer programs which we expect will benefit PMT’s future CRT investments. We are pleased with our capital progress, highlighted by our successful raise of new preferred equity after quarter-end. The ability to finance mortgage servicing rights has also improved markedly with attractive transactions recently in the market. These are exciting developments that we believe will enhance the attractiveness of PMT’s core strategies and earnings potential going forward."

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, August 3, 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.

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.

(1) Mortgage loan servicing fees expense includes both special servicing for PMT’s distressed portfolio and subservicing for its mortgage servicing rights

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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