NLY-PF — Annaly Capital Management, Inc.
NYSE
Q2 2026 Earnings Call Summary
July 22, 2026
Summary of Annaly Capital Management Q2 2026 Earnings Call
1. Key Financial Results and Metrics
- Earnings Available for Distribution (EAD): $0.79 per share, exceeding the newly increased quarterly dividend of $0.75, marking the ninth consecutive quarter of EAD exceeding dividends.
- Economic Return: 5.5% for Q2 2026, bringing the year-to-date economic return to 6.9%.
- Book Value per Share: Increased by 1.7% to $20.15.
- Economic Leverage: Remained conservative at 5.6x, down from 5.7x in the prior quarter.
- Net Interest Margin: Increased to 1.76%, with net interest spread improving to 1.5%.
- Cash and Unencumbered Assets: $5.5 billion in cash and unencumbered Agency MBS, with total assets available for financing at $9.6 billion.
2. Strategic Updates and Business Highlights
- Agency Portfolio: Grew by approximately $3 billion to $95 billion, increasing capital allocation to 57%. The portfolio strategy included a rotation towards higher coupon MBS.
- Residential Credit: Portfolio value stable at $10.4 billion, with record loan purchases of $7.1 billion in Q2. Annaly remains the largest issuer of Expanded Credit mortgages.
- Mortgage Servicing Rights (MSR): Portfolio value stable at $4.1 billion; the company is shifting towards higher average loan balance MSRs to enhance return profiles.
- Capital Raising: Raised approximately $450 million through an ATM program, supporting growth across Residential Credit and MSR businesses.
3. Forward Guidance and Outlook
- Investment Strategy: Expect to deploy new capital across Agency and Residential Credit sectors, with a focus on maintaining a balanced approach to risk-adjusted returns.
- Market Conditions: Anticipate continued opportunities in a favorable fixed income and housing finance environment, despite geopolitical uncertainties and rising interest rates.
- Dividend Sustainability: Management expressed confidence in the ability to cover the increased dividend over the foreseeable future, with a focus on maintaining earnings power.
4. Bad News, Challenges, or Points of Concern
- Geopolitical Risks: Ongoing geopolitical tensions, particularly related to the Middle East, could impact market conditions and investor sentiment.
- Interest Rate Environment: Rising interest rates and potential Fed hikes may pose challenges, particularly in managing portfolio exposure and prepayment risks.
- Operational Costs: The OpEx-to-equity ratio increased to 1.4%, indicating rising operational expenses, which may need to be monitored for future quarters.
5. Notable Q&A Insights
- Dividend Coverage: Management reassured investors about the sustainability of the dividend, indicating that the economic returns from the portfolio are sufficient to cover it.
- Capital Allocation: There is a strategic preference for deploying capital into Residential Credit due to its attractive risk-adjusted returns, while also maintaining strong positions in Agency and MSR sectors.
- Sourcing Loans: Annaly's established relationships and operational efficiencies provide a competitive edge in sourcing loans, despite industry challenges in volume and pricing.
- Market Dynamics: The GSEs' participation in the Agency market has been constructive, helping stabilize mortgage spreads and providing a favorable investment environment.
This summary encapsulates the key points from the earnings call, highlighting both the strengths and challenges faced by Annaly Capital Management in Q2 2026.
