NLY-PF — Annaly Capital Management, Inc.
NYSE
Q1 2026 Earnings Call Summary
April 22, 2026
Summary of Annaly Capital Management Earnings Call (Q1 2026)
1. Key Financial Results and Metrics
- Economic Return: 1.5% for Q1 2026.
- Earnings Available for Distribution (EAD): $0.76 per share, a $0.02 increase from the previous quarter.
- Book Value per Share: Decreased by 1.9% to $19.82.
- Leverage: Remained conservative at 5.7x.
- Net Interest Margin: Improved by 2 basis points to 1.71%.
- Repo Rate: Average repo rate improved to 3.9%.
- Capital Raised: Approximately $510 million through ATM, primarily allocated to residential credit and mortgage servicing rights (MSR).
2. Strategic Updates and Business Highlights
- Portfolio Performance: Strong performance across diversified housing finance strategies despite market volatility.
- Agency Portfolio: Ended Q1 with a market value of $92 billion, representing 56% of the firm's capital. Capital was dynamically reallocated away from Agency into residential credit and MSR due to changing valuations.
- Residential Credit: Portfolio increased to $10.3 billion, now 23% of total capital. Strong growth in whole loan correspondent channel, with $6.7 billion in acquisitions.
- MSR Portfolio: Increased to $4.2 billion, now 21% of total capital. Annaly was the second-largest buyer of conventional MSR in Q1.
- Securitization Activity: Settled 8 securitizations for $4.7 billion, with a total of 12 transactions priced year-to-date.
3. Forward Guidance and Outlook
- Market Positioning: Each investment strategy is well-positioned to deliver attractive risk-adjusted returns through the remainder of the year.
- Agency Spreads: Expected to offer new money returns in the mid-teens, supported by favorable market technicals.
- Growth in Residential Credit: Anticipated continued strong growth with a focus on asset selection and credit quality.
- MSR Acquisition: Plans to further add MSR through flow acquisition channels, leveraging relationships with large originators.
4. Bad News, Challenges, or Points of Concern
- Geopolitical Risks: The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has introduced energy price shocks, potentially impacting U.S. economic performance.
- Market Volatility: Increased volatility in bond markets and treasury yields due to geopolitical tensions and inflation concerns.
- Declining Metrics: The book value decline was attributed to widening Agency spreads and costs associated with dynamic hedging.
- Competitive Pressures: Non-banks continue to dominate the mortgage origination market, limiting banks' ability to compete effectively.
5. Notable Q&A Insights
- Bank Capital Rules: Changes in bank capital regulations may lead to banks retaining more mortgages, which could positively affect mortgage market technicals.
- Capital Allocation Strategy: Long-term allocation goals remain 50% Agency, 30% Residential Credit, and 20% MSR, with flexibility to pivot based on market conditions.
- Investor Appetite: Despite rising pressures on consumers from inflation, investor appetite for non-QM remains stable, with consistent performance in Annaly's portfolio.
- Hedging Strategy: A shift towards increased use of swaps for hedging is anticipated, given evolving market conditions and correlations.
Overall, Annaly Capital Management demonstrated resilience in a challenging market environment, with strategic capital allocation and a diversified portfolio positioning the company for continued growth despite external pressures.
