PRESS RELEASE, DATED 11/3/05
Published on November 3, 2005
MFA MORTGAGE INVESTMENTS, INC. 350 Park Avenue New York, New York 10022 |
PRESS RELEASE | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | ||
November 3, 2005 | NEW YORK METRO | ||
CONTACT: | MFA Investor Relations | NYSE: MFA | |
800-892-7547 | |||
www.mfa-reit.com |
MFA Mortgage Investments, Inc.
Announces Third Quarter 2005 Earnings Per Common Share of $0.05
MFA
Mortgage Investments, Inc. (NYSE:MFA) today reported net income of $6.3 million, or
$0.05 per share of common stock, for the third quarter ended September 30, 2005. On
October 3, 2005, MFA announced its third quarter dividend of $0.05 per share of common
stock. The dividend was paid on October 28, 2005 to stockholders of record as of
October 14, 2005.
Stewart
Zimmerman, MFAs Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President,
said, As previously indicated, increases in the target federal funds rate have
increased the cost of MFAs liabilities at a more rapid pace than the yield on its
assets, leading to a narrowing of spreads. The U.S. Federal Open Market Committee has
increased the target federal funds rate by 25 basis points at each of its last 12
meetings and their November 1, 2005 statement suggests that Fed officials anticipate
more tightening ahead. As a result of the Federal Reserves efforts to tighten
monetary policy and the fact that, in general, the yields on MFAs assets reset
annually, but only after an initial fixed rate period, we anticipate that MFA will
experience a period of reduced earnings over the next several quarters. In addition,
due to the flattening yield curve, cashout refinancing opportunities and the
availability of lower monthly payment interest-only mortgages, MFAs prepayment
rates continue to be at elevated levels, further impacting already narrowed spreads.
Mr.
Zimmerman continued, MFA continues to focus on high quality, higher coupon hybrid
and adjustable-rate MBS assets. MFA does not purchase fixed-rate assets and typically
utilizes less leverage than comparable companies. At September 30, 2005,
approximately 99% of MFAs assets consisted of MBS issued or guaranteed by an
agency of the U.S. government or a federally chartered corporation, other MBS rated
AAA by Standard & Poors Corporation, MBS-related receivables
and cash. In addition, over 99% of the MBS in MFAs portfolio are either
adjustable-rate or hybrids, which have an initial fixed interest rate for a specified
period of
time and,
thereafter, generally reset annually. The average coupon on MFAs
adjustable-rate and hybrid MBS was 4.55% as of September 30, 2005. Approximately 38% of
the MBS in MFAs portfolio have interest rates that contractually reprice
within the next 12 months. Additionally, approximately 36% of the MBS in MFAs
portfolio will contractually reprice after 12 months but within 36 months, and 26% will
contractually reprice after 36 months but within 60 months.
During
the third quarter of 2005, the gross yield on MFAs interest-earning assets was
approximately 4.52%, while the net yield on interest-earning assets was reduced to
3.31%, primarily due to the cost of premium amortization on MFAs MBS portfolio.
The portfolio spread, which is the difference between MFAs interest-earning asset
portfolio net yield of 3.31% and its 3.16% cost of funds, was 0.15% for the third
quarter of 2005. MFAs return on average common equity for the third quarter of
2005 was 2.78%. As of September 30, 2005, book value per share of common stock was
$7.04. The book value has since been reduced by the $0.05 per share dividend
declared on October 3, 2005 and by an approximate $0.25 per share decline in book
value as of October 31, 2005, reflecting the estimated decrease in the fair value of MFAs
portfolio, due to rising interest rates, since September 30, 2005.
On
August 11, 2005, MFA announced that it was implementing a stock repurchase program to
repurchase up to 4,000,000 shares of its outstanding common stock. Through October 31,
2005, MFA had repurchased 724,100 shares at a weighted average cost per share of $5.92.
MFA
primarily invests in hybrid and adjustable-rate MBS (collectively, ARM-MBS).
Due to the fact that MFAs assets have interest rates that generally reset
annually after their initial fixed terms, the coupon received on these assets will
adjust over time as interest rates change. In addition, ARM-MBS are expected to
prepay over time at a higher rate than fixed-rate MBS. We believe that homeowners with
hybrid and adjustable-rate mortgages are generally self-selected borrowers with
shorter time horizons who are expected to exhibit more rapid housing turnover levels. In
addition, we believe that prepayments on ARM-MBS accelerate significantly as the
coupon reset date approaches. The prepayment speed on MFAs MBS portfolio averaged
34.9% Constant Prepayment Rate (CPR) during the third quarter of 2005.
MFA
takes into account both coupon resets and expected prepayments when measuring
sensitivity of its ARM-MBS portfolio to changing interest rates. In measuring its
assets-to-borrowing repricing gap (the Repricing Gap), MFA measures the
difference between: (a) the weighted average months until coupon adjustment or
projected prepayment on its ARM-MBS portfolio; and (b) the months remaining on its
repurchase agreements applying the same projected prepayment rate and including the
impact of interest rate swap agreements. Assuming prepayments were 25% CPR, the
weighted average time to repricing or assumed prepayment for MFAs ARM-MBS
portfolio, as of September 30, 2005, was approximately 15.5 months and the average term
remaining on its repurchase agreements, including the impact of interest rate swaps,
was approximately 5.5 months, resulting in a Repricing Gap of approximately 10.0
months.
MFA
finances the acquisition of its MBS primarily through borrowing in the form of
repurchase agreements. At September 30, 2005, MFAs debt-to-equity ratio was
approximately 8.5x while its assets-to-equity ratio was approximately 9.7x.
MFA
seeks to generate income from investment on a leveraged basis in high-quality
ARM-MBS and other assets. At September 30, 2005, MFAs assets totaled
approximately $6.5 billion.
Stockholders
interested in participating in MFAs Discount Waiver, Direct Stock Purchase
and Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the Plan) or receiving a Plan prospectus
may do so by contacting Mellon Investor Services, the Plan administrator, at
1-866-249-2610 (toll free). For more information about the Plan, interested
stockholders may also go to the website established for the Plan at
http://www.melloninvestor.com or visit MFAs website at http://www.mfa-reit.com.
MFA
will hold a conference call on Thursday, November 3, 2005, at 10:00 a.m. (New York City
time) to discuss its third quarter 2005 financial results. The number to dial in order
to listen to the conference call is (800) 288-8976 in the U.S. and Canada.
International callers must dial (612) 332-0226. The replay will be available
through Thursday, November 10, 2005, at 11:59 p.m., and can be accessed by dialing
(800) 475-6701 in the U.S. and Canada or (320) 365-3844 internationally and entering
access code: 801689. The conference call will also be webcast over the internet and
can be accessed at http://www.mfa-reit.com through the appropriate link on MFAs
Investor Relations page or, alternatively, at http://www.ccbn.com. To listen to the
call over the internet, go to the applicable website at least 15 minutes before the
call to register and to download and install any needed audio software.
When used in
this press release or other written or oral communications, statements which are not
historical in nature, including those containing words such as anticipate, estimate, should, expect, believe, intend and
similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements within
the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and, as such, may involve known
and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These forward-looking
statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including, but not
limited to, those relating to: changes in interest rates and the market value of MFAs
MBS; changes in the prepayment rates on the mortgage loans securing MFAs MBS;
MFAs ability to use borrowings to finance its assets; changes in government
regulations affecting MFAs business; MFAs ability to maintain its
qualification as a REIT for federal income tax purposes; and risks associated with
investing in real estate assets, including changes in business conditions and the
general economy. These and other risks, uncertainties and factors, including those
described in reports that MFA files from time to time with the SEC, could cause MFAs
actual results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking
statements it makes. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are
made and MFA does not undertake, and specifically disclaims, any obligation to
update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances
occurring after the date of such statements.
MFA MORTGAGE
INVESTMENTS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
September 30, 2005 |
December 31, 2004 |
|||||||
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) | ||||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||
Assets: | ||||||||
Mortgage-backed securities | $ | 6,306,254 | $ | 6,777,574 | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents | 132,834 | 68,341 | ||||||
Accrued interest receivable | 25,753 | 26,428 | ||||||
Interest rate cap agreements | 2,134 | 1,245 | ||||||
Swap agreements | 2,991 | 321 | ||||||
Real estate investments | 29,564 | 30,017 | ||||||
Goodwill | 7,189 | 7,189 | ||||||
Receivable under Discount Waiver, Direct Stock Purchase and | ||||||||
Dividend Reinvestment Plan | -- | 985 | ||||||
Prepaid and other assets | 1,839 | 1,584 | ||||||
$ | 6,508,558 | $ | 6,913,684 | |||||
Liabilities: | ||||||||
Repurchase agreements | $ | 5,741,132 | $ | 6,113,032 | ||||
Accrued interest payable | 65,412 | 28,351 | ||||||
Mortgages payable on real estate | 22,602 | 22,686 | ||||||
Dividends payable | -- | 18,170 | ||||||
Accrued expenses and other liabilities | 5,934 | 2,611 | ||||||
5,835,080 | 6,184,850 | |||||||
Stockholders' Equity: | ||||||||
Preferred stock, $.01 par value; series A 8.50% cumulative redeemable; | ||||||||
5,000 shares authorized; 3,840 shares issued and | ||||||||
outstanding at September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004 ($96,000 | ||||||||
aggregate liquidation preference) | 38 | 38 | ||||||
Common stock, $.01 par value; 370,000 shares authorized; | ||||||||
82,063 and 82,017 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2005 | ||||||||
and December 31, 2004, respectively | 821 | 820 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital | 781,755 | 780,406 | ||||||
Accumulated deficit | (11,481 | ) | (17,330 | ) | ||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (97,655 | ) | (35,100 | ) | ||||
673,478 | 728,834 | |||||||
$ | 6,508,558 | $ | 6,913,684 | |||||
MFA MORTGAGE
INVESTMENTS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
Three Months Ended September 30, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||||||||
2005 | 2004 | 2005 | 2004 | |||||||||||
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) | ||||||||||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||
Interest Income: | ||||||||||||||
Mortgage-backed securities income | $ | 56,396 | $ | 42,210 | $ | 178,090 | $ | 120,954 | ||||||
Interest income on cash investments | 1,135 | 205 | 1,822 | 543 | ||||||||||
Total Interest Income | 57,531 | 42,415 | 179,912 | 121,497 | ||||||||||
Interest Expense | 49,060 | 21,959 | 135,334 | 57,052 | ||||||||||
Net Interest Income | 8,471 | 20,456 | 44,578 | 64,445 | ||||||||||
Other Income: | ||||||||||||||
Revenue from operations of real estate | 1,079 | 1,031 | 3,129 | 3,068 | ||||||||||
Gain on sale of securities | 10 | 371 | 10 | 371 | ||||||||||
Miscellaneous other income, net | 93 | 7 | 125 | 181 | ||||||||||
Total Other Income | 1,182 | 1,409 | 3,264 | 3,620 | ||||||||||
Operating and Other Expense: | ||||||||||||||
Compensation and benefits | 1,346 | 1,368 | 4,399 | 4,187 | ||||||||||
Real estate operating expense | 742 | 739 | 2,115 | 2,156 | ||||||||||
Mortgage interest on real estate | 423 | 426 | 1,260 | 1,273 | ||||||||||
Other general and administrative expense | 871 | 684 | 2,757 | 2,196 | ||||||||||
Total Operating and Other Expense | 3,382 | 3,217 | 10,531 | 9,812 | ||||||||||
Net Income | $ | 6,271 | $ | 18,648 | $ | 37,311 | $ | 58,253 | ||||||
Less: Preferred Stock Dividends | 2,040 | 1,062 | 6,120 | 1,818 | ||||||||||
Net Income Available to Common Stockholders | $ | 4,231 | $ | 17,586 | $ | 31,191 | $ | 56,435 | ||||||
Earnings Per Share of Common Stock: | ||||||||||||||
Earnings per share basic | $ | 0.05 | $ | 0.22 | $ | 0.38 | $ | 0.76 | ||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding basic | 82,342 | 78,607 | 82,324 | 74,591 | ||||||||||
Earnings per share diluted | $ | 0.05 | $ | 0.22 | $ | 0.38 | $ | 0.76 | ||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding diluted | 82,370 | 78,653 | 82,359 | 74,640 | ` |