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iShares FTSE NAREIT Mortgage REITs Index ETF

5/21/2013, 9:03 AM ET

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Friday, May 17, 8:27 AM "The issue isn't if the Fed exits, it's a question of whether they exit way earlier than expected," American Capital (AGNC) CIO Gary Kain tells Bloomberg, feeling his portfolio is better positioned now than in Q1, when higher rates took a chunk out of book value. The Fed will be "extremely slow" in its withdrawal, says KBW's Mike Widner. "That spells an environment that actually gets better for the mREITs (MORT, REM) before it gets worse." 14 Comments [Financials]
Thursday, May 16, 12:43 PM It's a nice bounce for the mortgage REITs (MORT +1.3%) today as a string of weak economic data leads to a big drop in Treasury yields, the 10-year off 6 bps to 1.88%. Leading gains is Western Asset Mortgage (WMC +3.3%) following yesterday's 8% post-earnings drubbing. CEO Jim Gavin took advantage, adding 12.8% to his stake by buying about $42K worth of stock at $19.96 each. Other movers include: (CMO +2.1%), (NLY +1.9%), (ARR +2.6%), (IVR +1.8%). 6 Comments [Financials, On the Move]
Wednesday, May 15, 10:05 AM The mortgage REIT sector (MORT -1%) continues under pressure, today led by Western Asset Mortgage (WMC -7.6%) as its book value blew up in Q1 thanks to portfolio losses. American Capital Agency (AGNC -1.5%) - which started the downturn when it reported losses 2 weeks ago - nears a 52-week low, Armour Residential (ARR -3.1%) hits one. One trader suggests Capstead Mortgage (CMO -1.4%) with a portfolio of mostly reset ARMs the least affected by rising rates. CYS Investments (CYS -0.7%) - trading at a 10% discount to book and also owning ARMs - is attractive as well. 18 Comments [Financials, Quick Ideas]
Monday, May 13, 12:43 PM The mortgage REITs are lit up bright red (MORT -1.9%), again led by American Capital Agency (AGNC -3.5%) and American Capital Mortgage (MTGE -3%), with Annaly (NLY -3.1%) not far behind. Yes, the 10-year Treasury yield is a 3 bps higher, but there's also rare action in Fed Funds futures, now pricing in a whopping 50 bps in rate hikes by this time 2016. AGNC presents at the JMP Conference at 2 ET. 39 Comments [Financials, On the Move]
Friday, May 10, 2:39 PM Gary Kain-led American Capital Agency (AGNC -2.8%) and American Capital Mortgage (MTGE -2%) lead the decline in an all-red mREIT sector (MORT -1%) today, with AGNC taking out its post-earnings low from last week. On the earnings call, Kain said upward pressure on rates had cooled to start Q2 and book value was headed higher, but markets may not be cooperating. The 10-year yield is up 8 bps today to a near 2-month high. Others: Annaly (NLY -1.2%), Invesco (IVR -1.2%), MFA (MFA -1.8%), Western Asset (WMC -1.3%). 12 Comments [Financials, On the Move]
Monday, May 6, 9:50 AM More sell-side on the mREITS (MORT): Maxim keeps a Buy with $33 PT on AGNC expecting the annual dividend to be maintained at $5/share thanks to $1.08 of undistributed taxable income in the kitty (KBW agrees). Jefferies is cautious, calling AGNC's Q1 tale an example of how even a well-run mREIT can run afoul. "Price and extension risk inherent in agency MBS (NLY, HTS, CYS, CMO, ANH, ARR, WMC) today are risks most investors underestimate." 10 Comments [Financials]
Friday, May 3, 12:42 PM "Loving (the) mREIT (MORT -2%) pullback," says Tom Akin, who - in addition to being CEO of Dynex Capital (DX) - runs an income-focused hedge fund. A longtime bull on Newcastle Investment (NCT -0.5%), Akin says if it drops below $5 post the New Residential spinoff, it's the one to buy. In when-issued trading, NCT is at $5.10 (NRZ's at $6.67). 14 Comments [Financials, Quick Ideas]
Thursday, May 2, 9:35 PM Two Harbors greases its way further into the lucrative specialty servicer business, purchasing a company which has approvals from Fannie, Freddie, and Ginnie to hold and manage mortgage servicing rights. TWO will discuss the purchase and its implications in greater detail at its Q1 earnings call on Wed. May 8 at 9 ET. Shares -2.6% AH as all the mREITs (MORT -2.2% AH) get whacked on the AGNC news. Comment! [Financials]
Thursday, April 18, 11:17 PM Mortgage REITs (MORT) catch the eye of D.C., with the Financial Stability Oversight Council reportedly set to cite the industry as a potential source of market vulnerability. The companies have seen assets quadruple to over $400B since 2009, but Annaly (NLY) CEO Wellington Denahan notes their capital bases have risen as well. A Two Harbors (TWO) presentation (page 8) shows mREITs are relatively small players in the MBS market. Maybe the Fed and the GSEs just don't like the competition. Annaly and American Capital (AGNC) are the 2 biggest mREITs, with Two Harbors a distant 3rd. 42 Comments [Financials]
Wednesday, April 17, 1:01 PM Often a spot to hide during big selloffs, mortgage REITs (MORT -2.3%) slide sharply as well, particularly the hybrids (exposed to credit risk through non-agency MBS holdings). IVR -2.3%, TWO -3.3%, DX -2.5%. The sector giants: NLY -2.2%, AGNC -1.3%. One trader reminds mREITs are small caps and the Russell 2000 (IWM -2.2%) has been particularly hard hit of late. The 10-15% yields offer a nice palliative. 2 Comments [Financials, On the Move]
Friday, April 5, 10:10 AM Outperforming today (and one wonders why they aren't green) are the mortgage REITs, as the weak jobs number sends bond yields lower, and - presumably - their book values higher. NLY -0.6%, AGNC -0.8%, ARR -0.5%. CIM, CYS, and JMI just poke into positive territory. MORT -0.9%. 10 Comments [Financials]
Thursday, March 28, 8:25 AM The explosion in assets at mREITs may pose risks, but not all of mortgage investors are created alike. Gary Kain's (AGNC) assembled an all-star team of his former Freddie Mac colleagues used to dealing with far larger amounts of assets, but "others have no business having a balance sheet that big," says Compass Point's Jason Stewart. Armour Residential (ARR) is "pushing the limit of what their infrastructure can support." 15 Comments [Financials]
Monday, March 25, 9:50 AM iShares Mortgage REIT Capped ETF (REM) announces quarterly distribution of $0.4329. 12-month yield of 11.24% (as of 02/28/2013). For shareholders of record Mar. 27. Payable Apr. 01. Ex-div date Mar. 25. Comment! [Dividends]
Friday, March 22, 1:05 PM The mREITs are back in favor after the Fed's QE∞ hit interest margins in Q4. A widening yield curve helps, but managements weren't powerless either. Share buybacks below book and altered business plans - Annaly's purchase of CreXus for one, others upping exposure to non-agency RMBS another - are sitting well with investors. Up 2.1% today, NLY is trading above book for the first time in a long time. 2 Comments [Financials, On the Move]
Tuesday, February 19, 10:50 AM A "strategic shift" is afoot at the mortgage REITs, says Wunderlich's Merrill Ross, as the gorilla in agency MBS (the Fed) has some looking at assets like commercial mortgages and private label securitizations. Exhibit A is Annaly's (NLY) purchase of CreXus (CXS). "It's like the Yankees saying they are going to diversity out of baseball," says Jefferies' wary Daniel Furtado. 11 Comments [Financials]
Friday, February 15, 3:46 PM Mortgage REIT Orchid Island Capital (ORC) trades at $14.70 after its IPO last night at $15. The experience is similar to other mREIT IPOs - priced at book value and then a selloff in the first day of trade. The company is an agency MBS investor managed by Bimini (BMNK.PK) - a formerly-listed, now OTC-traded mREIT. Comment! [Financials]