PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust Reports First Quarter 2017 Results

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.--()--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.

 
Quarter ended March 31, 2017

Credit Sensitive Strategies

  Interest Rate Sensitive Strategies   Correspondent Production   Corporate   Consolidated
(in thousands)
Net investment income:
Net gain on mortgage loans acquired for sale $ 14 $ - $ 19,011 $ - $ 19,025
Net gain (loss) on investments
Mortgage loans at fair value 3,216 - - - 3,216
Mortgage loans held by variable interest entity net of asset-backed secured financing - 292 - - 292
Mortgage-backed securities 191 (51 ) - - 140
CRT Agreements 18,587 - - - 18,587
Hedging derivatives - (4,144 ) - - (4,144 )
Excess servicing spread investments   -     (1,370 )   -     -     (1,370 )
21,994 (5,273 ) - - 16,721
Net mortgage loan servicing fees 14 11,738 - - 11,752
 
Net interest income
Interest income 20,321 16,102 11,357 320 48,100
Interest expense   (14,272 )   (15,006 )   (7,901 )   -     (37,179 )
6,049 1,096 3,456 320 10,921
Other (loss) income   (2,268 )   -     8,317     6     6,055  
  25,803     7,561     30,784     326     64,474  
Expenses:

Mortgage loan fulfillment and servicing fees payable to PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.

4,348 6,133 16,575 - 27,056
Management fees payable to PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. - - - 5,008 5,008
Other   2,028     684     1,737     5,353     9,802  
  6,376     6,817     18,312     10,361     41,866  
Pretax income (loss)   19,427     744     12,472     (10,035 )   22,608  
 

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:

  Quarter ended
March 31, 2017   December 31, 2016   March 31, 2016
(in thousands)
Valuation changes:  
Performing loans $ 5,970 $ (619 ) $ 4,884
Nonperforming loans   (3,169 )   (1,451 )   7,965  
2,801 (2,070 ) 12,849
Gain on payoffs 415 174 1,548
Gain (loss) on sale   -     860     (2 )
$ 3,216   $ (1,036 ) $ 14,395  
 

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:

  Quarter ended
March 31, 2017   December 31, 2016   March 31, 2016
(in thousands)
From nonaffiliates
Servicing fees(1) $ 38,505 $ 37,079 $ 28,872
Effect of MSRs:
Carried at lower of amortized cost or fair value
Amortization and realization of cashflows (17,858 ) (17,927 ) (14,287 )
Reversal of (provision for) impairment 1,504 41,607 (17,706 )
Carried at fair value - change in fair value (1,993 ) 7,034 (11,415 )
(Losses) gains on hedging derivatives   (8,698 )   (60,734 )   29,960  
(27,045 ) (30,020 ) (13,448 )
From PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.
MSR recapture fee receivable from PFSI   292     724     130  
Net mortgage loan servicing fees $ 11,752   $ 7,783   $ 15,554  

(1) Includes contractually specified servicing and ancillary 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:

  Quarter ended
March 31, 2017   December 31, 2016   March 31, 2016
(in thousands)
Net gain on mortgage loans acquired for sale:
Receipt of MSRs in loan sale transactions $ 58,688 $ 101,186 $ 36,162
Provision for representation and warranties (673 ) (510 ) (571 )
Reduction in the estimate of the liability for

representations and warranties

4,576 - 1,724
Cash investment (1) (37,248 ) (63,938 ) (35,596 )
Fair value changes of pipeline, inventory and hedges   (6,318 )   (13,429 )   13,330  
$ 19,025   $ 23,309   $ 15,049  
(1) Includes cash hedge expense
 

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.

     
PENNYMAC MORTGAGE INVESTMENT TRUST AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
 
March 31, 2017 December 31, 2016 March 31, 2016
(in thousands except share information)
ASSETS
Cash $ 120,049 $ 34,476 $ 66,972
Short-term investments 19,883 122,088 47,500
Mortgage-backed securities at fair value 1,089,610 865,061 364,439
Mortgage loans acquired for sale at fair value 1,278,441 1,673,112 1,339,633
Mortgage loans at fair value 1,583,356 1,721,741 2,496,778
Excess servicing spread purchased from PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. 277,484 288,669 321,976
Derivative assets 41,213 33,709 18,462
Real estate acquired in settlement of loans 224,831 274,069 327,212
Real estate held for investment 35,537 29,324 12,758
Mortgage servicing rights 696,970 656,567 455,097
Servicing advances 70,332 76,950 76,881
Deposits securing credit risk transfer agreements 463,836 450,059 213,536
Due from PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. 10,916 7,091 6,531
Other assets   90,488     124,586     72,665
Total assets $ 6,002,946   $ 6,357,502   $ 5,820,440
LIABILITIES
Assets sold under agreements to repurchase $ 3,500,190 $ 3,784,001 $ 3,245,014
Mortgage loan participation and sale agreements 72,975 25,917 62,400
Notes payable 100,088 275,106 206,191
Asset-backed financing of a variable interest entity at fair value 340,365 353,898 344,693
Exchangeable senior notes 246,357 246,089 245,307
Note payable to PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. 150,000 150,000 150,000
Interest-only security payable at fair value 4,601 4,114 675
Derivative liabilities 5,352 9,573 13,488
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 80,219 107,758 71,932
Due to PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. 20,756 16,416 17,647
Income taxes payable 12,006 18,166 29,878
Liability for losses under representations and warranties   11,447     15,350     18,712
Total liabilities   4,544,356     5,006,388     4,405,937
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
8.125% Series A fixed-to floating rate redeemable cumulative preferred shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share, 4,600,000 shares issued and outstanding, $115,000,000 aggregate liquidation preference 46 - -
Common shares of beneficial interest—authorized, 500,000,000 common shares of $0.01 par value; issued and outstanding 66,711,052, 66,697,286, and 68,687,094 common shares, respectively 667 667 687
Additional paid-in capital 1,487,517 1,377,171 1,406,350
(Accumulated deficit) retained earnings   (29,640 )   (26,724 )   7,466
Total shareholders' equity   1,458,590     1,351,114     1,414,503
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 6,002,946   $ 6,357,502   $ 5,820,440
 
   

PENNYMAC MORTGAGE INVESTMENT TRUST AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)

 
Quarter ended
March 31, 2017  

December 31, 2016

March 31, 2016
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Net investment income
Net gain on mortgage loans acquired for sale
From nonaffiliates $ 16,624 $ 20,314 $ 13,487
From PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.   2,401     2,995     1,562  
19,025 23,309 15,049
Mortgage loan origination fees 8,290 13,889 6,901
Net gain (loss) on investments:
From nonaffiliates 18,091 (6,601 ) 13,729
From PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.   (1,370 )   18,881     (17,627 )
16,721 12,280 (3,898 )
Net mortgage loan servicing fees
From nonaffiliates 11,460 7,059 15,424
From PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.   292     724     130  
11,752 7,783 15,554
Interest income:
From nonaffiliates 43,453 52,810 47,351
From PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.   4,647     5,046     7,015  
48,100 57,856 54,366
Interest expense:
To nonaffiliates 35,374 38,809 30,402
To PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.   1,805     2,032     1,602  
37,179 40,841 32,004
Net interest income 10,921 17,015 22,362
Results of real estate acquired in settlement of loans (4,246 ) (7,232 ) (6,036 )
Other   2,011     1,884     2,284  
Net investment income   64,474     68,928     52,216  
Expenses
Earned by PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.:
Mortgage loan fulfillment fees 16,570 27,164 12,935
Mortgage loan servicing fees(1) 10,486 11,696 11,453
Management fees 5,008 5,081 5,352
Compensation 1,892 1,381 1,289
Mortgage loan origination 1,512 2,228 1,121
Professional services 1,453 1,979 2,293
Mortgage loan collection and liquidation 354 727 2,214
Other   4,591     4,807     4,515  
Total expenses 41,866 55,063 41,172
Income before benefit from income taxes 22,608 13,865 11,044
Benefit from income taxes   (6,129 )   (17,309 )   (3,452 )
Net income 28,737 31,174 14,496
Dividends on preferred stock   571          
Net income attributable to common shareholders $ 28,166   $ 31,174   $ 14,496  
Earnings per common share
Basic $ 0.42 $ 0.46 $ 0.20
Diluted $ 0.40 $ 0.44 $ 0.20
Weighted-average common shares outstanding
Basic 66,719 67,368 71,884
Diluted 75,186 75,181 71,884
Dividends declared per common share $ 0.47 $ 0.47 $ 0.47
(1)   Mortgage loan servicing fees expense includes both special servicing for PMT’s distressed portfolio and subservicing for its mortgage servicing rights

Contacts

PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust
Media
Stephen Hagey, (805) 530-5817
or
Investors
Christopher Oltmann, (818) 224-7028

Contacts

PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust
Media
Stephen Hagey, (805) 530-5817
or
Investors
Christopher Oltmann, (818) 224-7028