Ellington Financial Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2025 Results

OLD GREENWICH, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ellington Financial Inc. (NYSE: EFC) ("we") today reported financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2025.

Highlights

• Net income attributable to common stockholders of $42.9 million, or $0.45 per common share.¹
  • $56.8 million, or $0.60 per common share, from the investment portfolio.
    • $57.8 million, or $0.61 per common share, from the credit strategy.
    • $(1.0) million, or $(0.01) per common share, from the Agency strategy.
  • $10.7 million, or $0.11 per common share, from Longbridge.
• Adjusted Distributable Earnings of $45.0 million, or $0.47 per common share.²
  • $53.8 million, or $0.56 per common share, from the investment portfolio.
  • $12.8 million, or $0.13 per common share, from Longbridge.
• Book value per common share as of June 30, 2025 of $13.49, including the effects of dividends of $0.39 per common share for the quarter.
• Dividend yield of 12.3% based on the August 6, 2025 closing stock price of $12.72 per share, and monthly dividend of $0.13 per common share declared on August 7, 2025.
• Recourse debt-to-equity ratio³ of 1.7:1 as of June 30, 2025. Including all recourse and non-recourse borrowings, which primarily consist of securitization-related liabilities, debt-to-equity ratio of 8.7:1⁴.
• Cash and cash equivalents of $211.0 million as of June 30, 2025, in addition to other unencumbered assets of $708.8 million.

Second Quarter 2025 Results

"Ellington Financial delivered a strong second quarter, with broad-based contributions from our diversified investment portfolio and loan origination platforms. We generated net income of $0.45 per share, equating to an annualized economic return of 13.8% for the quarter, with book value per share increasing quarter over quarter to $13.49. Meanwhile, our adjusted distributable earnings per share increased sharply by $0.08 to $0.47, significantly exceeding our $0.39 of dividends," said Laurence Penn, Chief Executive Officer and President.

"Our securitization momentum remains strong, as we completed six transactions during the quarter. The size of our investment portfolio was roughly unchanged sequentially, as opportunistic purchases particularly during the April selloff and growth in certain loan portfolios were offset by the impact of securitizations, tactical sales, and steady principal repayments from our short-term loan portfolios.

"Looking ahead, I believe we are well positioned to continue delivering strong earnings through ongoing portfolio expansion, a faster pace of securitizations—including four priced so far in the third quarter—and continued strong contributions from Longbridge. Longbridge generated a robust $0.13 per share of ADE in the second quarter, and its ADE contributions should be further supported by the recent launch of its HELOC For Seniors program. We are also committed to further strengthening our liability structure, not only through additional securitizations but also by strategically increasing unsecured borrowings over time."

Financial Results

Investment Portfolio Segment

The investment portfolio segment generated net income of $57.4 million in the second quarter, consisting of $58.4 million from the credit strategy and $(1.0) million from the Agency strategy.

Credit Performance

The total adjusted long credit portfolio⁵ increased by 1% to $3.32 billion as of June 30, 2025, compared to $3.30 billion as of March 31, 2025. Our portfolios of commercial mortgage bridge loans, non-QM loans, and non-Agency RMBS all expanded, driven by net purchases. These increases were largely offset by the impact of securitizations, tactical sales of home equity line of credit ("HELOC") and non-QM loans, and a smaller residential transition loan portfolio, with principal paydowns in that portfolio exceeding new purchases.

Key Highlights⁶:

• Overall positive performance driven by higher net interest income and net realized and unrealized gains from non-QM loans and retained tranches, closed-end second lien loans and retained tranches, and other loans and ABS.
• Positive results from equity investments in loan originators.
• Partially offsetting higher net interest income were net unrealized losses on forward MSR-related investments, as well as losses on commercial and residential REO.

During the quarter, the net interest margin⁷ on our credit portfolio increased to 3.11% from 2.90%, driven primarily by a lower cost of funds. We continued to benefit from positive carry on our interest rate swap hedges, where we overall receive a higher floating rate and pay a lower fixed rate.

Agency Performance

The long Agency RMBS portfolio increased by 5% quarter over quarter to $268.5 million as of June 30, 2025, compared to $256.1 million as of March 31, 2025, driven by net purchases.

Key Highlights⁶:

• Agency RMBS yield spreads widened in early April, driven in part by increased volatility due to tariff-related uncertainty. Yield spreads reversed course in May and June, tightening meaningfully, but still ended the quarter wider overall.
• Net losses on interest rate hedges drove the overall loss for the quarter.
• Pay-ups on our specified pools increased slightly to 0.71% as of June 30, 2025, from 0.69% as of March 31, 2025.

The net interest margin⁷ on our Agency portfolio (excluding the Catch-up Amortization Adjustment) decreased to 2.29% as of June 30, 2025 from 2.46% as of March 31, 2025, driven primarily by a higher cost of funds.

Longbridge Segment

The Longbridge segment reported net income of $10.7 million for the second quarter. The Longbridge portfolio (excluding non-retained tranches of consolidated securitization trusts) decreased by 1% sequentially to $545.6 million as of June 30, 2025, as the impact of a securitization of proprietary reverse mortgage loans completed during the quarter slightly exceeded the impact of new originations in that sector.

Key Highlights⁶:

• Positive contribution from originations, driven by higher origination volumes in both HECM and proprietary reverse loans, steady origination margins for both products, and net gains related to the proprietary reverse mortgage loan securitization.
• Positive contribution from servicing, including MSR-related income, strong tail securitization executions, and a net gain on the HMBS MSR Equivalent, driven primarily by tighter HMBS yield spreads.
• Net losses on interest rate hedges.

Corporate/Other Summary

Results for the quarter also reflect a decrease in incentive fees incurred partially offset by net unrealized loss on our unsecured borrowings and an increase in income tax expense.

¹ Represents $67.6 million of aggregate net income from the investment portfolio and Longbridge segments, less $24.6 million of preferred dividends accrued and certain corporate/other income and expense items not attributed to either the investment portfolio or Longbridge segments.
² Adjusted Distributable Earnings is a non-GAAP financial measure. See "Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to Adjusted Distributable Earnings" below for an explanation regarding the calculation of Adjusted Distributable Earnings. Represents $66.6 million of aggregate Adjusted Distributable Earnings from the investment portfolio and Longbridge segments, less $21.6 million of certain corporate/other items not attributed to either the investment portfolio or Longbridge segments.
³ Excludes U.S. Treasury securities and repo borrowings at certain unconsolidated entities that are recourse to us. Including such borrowings, our debt-to-equity ratio, adjusted for unsettled purchases and sales, based on total recourse borrowings was 1.9:1 as of June 30, 2025.
⁴ Excludes U.S. Treasury securities and repo borrowings at certain unconsolidated entities.
⁵ Excludes non-retained tranches of consolidated securitization trusts. The adjusted long credit portfolio also includes the proceeds from financings related to the MSRs underlying our Forward MSR-related investments. Forward MSR-related investments, at fair value are presented on our Consolidated Balance Sheet net of such financings; as of both June 30, 2025 and March 31, 2025, such borrowings were $93.5 million.
⁶ Sector-level results include associated financing costs and hedging gains/losses where applicable.
⁷ Net interest margin represents the weighted average asset yield less the weighted average secured financing cost of funds on such assets. It also includes the effect of actual and accrued periodic payments on interest rate swaps used to hedge the assets.

Credit Portfolio⁽¹⁾

The following table summarizes our credit portfolio holdings as of June 30, 2025 and March 31, 2025:

Agency RMBS Portfolio

The following table⁽¹⁾ summarizes our Agency RMBS portfolio holdings as of June 30, 2025 and March 31, 2025:

Longbridge Portfolio

Longbridge originates reverse mortgage loans, including home equity conversion mortgage loans, or "HECMs," which are insured by the FHA and which are eligible for inclusion in GNMA-guaranteed HECM-backed MBS, or "HMBS." Upon securitization, the HECMs remain on our balance sheet under GAAP, and Longbridge retains the mortgage servicing rights associated with the HMBS, or the "HMBS MSR Equivalent." Longbridge also originates "proprietary reverse mortgage loans," which are not insured by the FHA, and Longbridge has typically retained the associated MSRs. We have securitized some of the proprietary reverse mortgage loans originated by Longbridge, and we have retained certain of the securitization tranches in compliance with credit risk retention rules.

The following table summarizes loan-related assets⁽¹⁾ in the Longbridge segment as of June 30, 2025 and March 31, 2025:

The following table summarizes Longbridge's origination volumes by channel for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2025 and March 31, 2025:

Financing

Key Highlights:

• Recourse Debt-to-Equity Ratio³ (adjusted for unsettled trades): 1.7:1 as of both June 30, 2025 and March 31, 2025.
• Overall Debt-to-Equity Ratio⁴ (adjusted for unsettled trades): 8.7:1 as of both June 30, 2025 and March 31, 2025.

The following table summarizes our outstanding borrowings and debt-to-equity ratios as of June 30, 2025 and March 31, 2025:

Operating Results

The following table summarizes our operating results by strategy for the three-month period ended June 30, 2025:

The following table summarizes our operating results by strategy for the three-month period ended March 31, 2025:

About Ellington Financial

Ellington Financial invests in a diverse array of financial assets, including residential and commercial mortgage loans and mortgage-backed securities, reverse mortgage loans, mortgage servicing rights and related investments, consumer loans, asset-backed securities, collateralized loan obligations, non-mortgage and mortgage-related derivatives, debt and equity investments in loan origination companies, and other strategic investments. Ellington Financial is externally managed and advised by Ellington Financial Management LLC, an affiliate of Ellington Management Group, L.L.C.

Conference Call

We will host a conference call at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Friday, August 8, 2025, to discuss our financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2025. To participate in the event by telephone, please dial (800) 343-4136 at least 10 minutes prior to the start time and reference the conference ID EFCQ225. International callers should dial (203) 518-9843 and reference the same conference ID. The conference call will also be webcast live over the Internet and can be accessed via the "For Investors" section of our web site at www.ellingtonfinancial.com. To listen to the live webcast, please visit www.ellingtonfinancial.com at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call to register, download, and install necessary audio software. In connection with the release of these financial results, we also posted an investor presentation, that will accompany the conference call, on our website at www.ellingtonfinancial.com under "For Investors—Presentations."

A dial-in replay of the conference call will be available on Friday, August 8, 2025, at approximately 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time through Friday, August 15, 2025 at approximately 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. To access this replay, please dial (800) 934-4245. International callers should dial (402) 220-1173. A replay of the conference call will also be archived on our web site at www.ellingtonfinancial.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ from our beliefs, expectations, estimates, and projections and, consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Forward-looking statements are not historical in nature and can be identified by words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "project," "plan," "continue," "intend," "should," "would," "could," "goal," "objective," "will," "may," "seek" or similar expressions or their negative forms, or by references to strategy, plans, or intentions. Forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and expectations of our future operations, business strategies, performance, financial condition, liquidity and prospects, taking into account information currently available to us. These beliefs, assumptions, and expectations are subject to risks and uncertainties and can change as a result of many possible events or factors, not all of which are known to us. If a change occurs, our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and strategies may vary materially from those expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements. The following factors are examples of those that could cause actual results to vary from our forward-looking statements: changes in interest rates and the market value of our investments, market volatility, changes in mortgage default rates and prepayment rates, our ability to borrow to finance our assets, changes in government regulations affecting our business, our ability to maintain our exclusion from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, our ability to maintain our qualification as a real estate investment trust, or "REIT," and other changes in market conditions and economic trends, such as changes to fiscal or monetary policy, heightened inflation, slower growth or recession, and currency fluctuations. Furthermore, forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including, among other things, those described under Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, which can be accessed through our website at www.ellingtonfinancial.com or at the SEC's website (www.sec.gov). Other risks, uncertainties, and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected may be described from time to time in reports we file with the SEC, including reports on Forms 10-Q, 10-K and 8-K. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

This release and the information contained herein do not constitute an offer of any securities or solicitation of an offer to purchase securities.

Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to Adjusted Distributable Earnings

We calculate Adjusted Distributable Earnings as U.S. GAAP net income (loss) as adjusted for: (i) realized and unrealized gain (loss) on securities and loans, REO, mortgage servicing rights, financial derivatives (excluding periodic settlements on interest rate swaps), any borrowings carried at fair value, and foreign currency transactions; (ii) incentive fee to affiliate; (iii) Catch-up Amortization Adjustment (as defined below); (iv) non-cash equity compensation expense; (v) provision for income taxes; (vi) certain non-capitalized transaction costs; and (vii) other income or loss items that are of a non-recurring nature. For certain investments in unconsolidated entities, we include the relevant components of net operating income in Adjusted Distributable Earnings. The Catch-up Amortization Adjustment is a quarterly adjustment to premium amortization or discount accretion triggered by changes in actual and projected prepayments on our Agency RMBS (accompanied by a corresponding offsetting adjustment to realized and unrealized gains and losses). The adjustment is calculated as of the beginning of each quarter based on our then-current assumptions about cashflows and prepayments, and can vary significantly from quarter to quarter. Non-capitalized transaction costs include expenses, generally professional fees, incurred in connection with the acquisition of an investment or issuance of long-term debt. We also include in Adjusted Distributable Earnings, for all loans that we originate through Longbridge, any realized and unrealized gains (losses) on such loans up to the point of loan sale or securitization, net of sale or securitization costs.

Adjusted Distributable Earnings is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure. We believe that the presentation of Adjusted Distributable Earnings provides information useful to investors, because: (i) we believe that it is a useful indicator of both current and projected long-term financial performance, in that it excludes the impact of certain current-period earnings components that we believe are less useful in forecasting long-term performance and dividend-paying ability; (ii) we use it to evaluate the effective net yield provided by our investment portfolio, after the effects of financial leverage and by Longbridge, to reflect the earnings from its reverse mortgage origination and servicing operations; and (iii) we believe that presenting Adjusted Distributable Earnings assists investors in measuring and evaluating our operating performance, and comparing our operating performance to that of our residential mortgage REIT and mortgage originator peers. Please note, however, that: (I) our calculation of Adjusted Distributable Earnings may differ from the calculation of similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures by our peers, with the result that these non-GAAP financial measures might not be directly comparable; and (II) Adjusted Distributable Earnings excludes certain items that may impact the amount of cash that is actually available for distribution.

In addition, because Adjusted Distributable Earnings is an incomplete measure of our financial results and differs from net income (loss) computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP, it should be considered supplementary to, and not as a substitute for, net income (loss) computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

Furthermore, Adjusted Distributable Earnings is different from REIT taxable income. As a result, the determination of whether we have met the requirement to distribute at least 90% of our annual REIT taxable income (subject to certain adjustments) to our stockholders, in order to maintain our qualification as a REIT, is not based on whether we distributed 90% of our Adjusted Distributable Earnings.

In setting our dividends, our Board of Directors considers our earnings, liquidity, financial condition, REIT distribution requirements, and financial covenants, along with other factors that the Board of Directors may deem relevant from time to time.

The following table reconciles, for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2025 and March 31, 2025, our Adjusted Distributable Earnings to the line on our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations entitled Net Income (Loss), which we believe is the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure: