EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 826675
Filing Year: 2024
Filename: 826675_10-K_2024_0000826675-24-000011.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
COMPANY OVERVIEW
Dynex Capital, Inc. commenced operations in 1988 and is an internally managed mortgage real estate investment trust (“REIT”), which invests in mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”). We finance our investments principally with repurchase agreements. Our objective is to provide attractive risk-adjusted returns to our shareholders over the long term that are reflective of a leveraged, high quality fixed income portfolio with a focus on capital preservation. We seek to provide returns to our shareholders primarily through the payment of regular dividends and through capital appreciation of our investments.
As of December 31, 2023, we were primarily invested in Agency MBS, of which over 96% are residential MBS (“Agency RMBS”). Less than 4% of our investment portfolio as of December 31, 2023 was comprised of Agency commercial MBS (“Agency CMBS”) and Agency and non-Agency CMBS interest-only (“CMBS IO”) securities. Agency MBS have an implicit guaranty of principal payment by an agency of the U.S. government or a U.S. government-sponsored entity (“GSE”) such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Non-Agency MBS are issued by non-governmental enterprises and do not have a guaranty of principal or interest payments.
INVESTMENT STRATEGY
Our investment strategy and the allocation of our capital to a particular sector or investment is driven by a “top-down” framework that focuses on the risk management, scenario analysis, and expected risk-adjusted returns of any investment. Key points of this framework include the following:
•understanding macroeconomic factors, global monetary and fiscal policies, and possible evolving outcomes;
•understanding the regulatory environment, competition for assets, and terms and availability of financing;
•investment analysis including understanding absolute returns, relative and risk-adjusted returns, and supply/demand metrics in various mortgage asset classes;
•financing and hedging analysis including sensitivity analysis on credit, interest rate volatility, liquidity, and market value risk; and
•managing performance and inherent portfolio risks, including but not limited to interest rate, credit, prepayment, and liquidity risks.
In allocating our capital and executing our strategy, we seek to balance the risks of owning specific types of investments with the earnings opportunity on the investment. Though the majority of our current investment portfolio is in fixed-rate Agency RMBS, we have allocated capital at various times over the last decade to a variety of other investments including adjustable-rate Agency RMBS, fixed-rate Agency CMBS, investment grade and unrated non-Agency RMBS and CMBS, Agency and non-Agency CMBS IO, and residual interests in securitized mortgage loans. Our investments in non-Agency MBS are generally higher quality senior or mezzanine classes
(typically rated 'A' or better by one or more of the nationally recognized statistical rating organizations) because they are typically more liquid (i.e., they are more easily converted into cash either through sales or pledges as collateral for repurchase agreement borrowings) and have less exposure to credit losses than lower-rated non-Agency MBS. We regularly review our existing operations to determine whether our investment strategy or business model should change, including through capital reallocation, changing our targeted investments as well as hedging instruments, and shifting our risk position.
From time to time, we analyze and evaluate potential business opportunities that we identify or are presented to us, including possible partnerships, mergers, acquisitions, or divestiture transactions that might maximize value for our shareholders. Pursuing such an opportunity or transaction could require us to issue additional equity or debt securities.
The performance of our investment portfolio will depend on many factors including, but not limited to, interest rates, trends of interest rates, the steepness of interest rate curves, prepayment rates on our investments, demand for our investments, yield spreads for fixed income securities, general market liquidity, economic and global political conditions, and the credit performance of our investments. In addition, our business model may be impacted by other factors such as the condition of the overall credit markets, which could impact the availability and costs of financing. See “Factors that Affect Our Results of Operations and Financial Condition” below, Item 1A of Part I, “Risk Factors”, and Item 7A of Part II, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further discussion.
RMBS. As of December 31, 2023, the majority of our investments were Agency-issued pass-through RMBS collateralized primarily by pools of fixed-rate single-family mortgage loans. Monthly payments of principal and interest made by the individual borrowers on the mortgage loans underlying the pools are "passed through" to the security holders, after deducting GSE or U.S. Government agency guarantee and servicer fees. Mortgage pass-through certificates generally distribute cash flows from the underlying collateral on a pro-rata basis among the security holders. Security holders also receive guarantor advances of principal and interest for delinquent loans in the mortgage pools.
We also purchase to-be-announced securities (“TBAs” or “TBA securities”) as a means of investing in non-specified fixed-rate Agency RMBS, and from time to time, we may also sell TBA securities as a means of economically hedging our book value exposure to Agency RMBS. A TBA security is a forward contract (“TBA contract”) for the purchase (“long position”) or sale (“short position”) of a fixed-rate Agency MBS at a predetermined price with certain principal and interest terms and certain types of collateral. The actual Agency securities to be delivered are not identified until approximately two days before the settlement date. We hold long and short positions in TBA securities by executing a series of transactions, commonly referred to as “dollar roll” transactions, which effectively delay the settlement of a forward purchase (or sale) of a non-specified Agency RMBS by entering into an offsetting TBA position, net settling the paired-off positions in cash, and simultaneously entering into an identical TBA long (or short) position with a later settlement date. TBAs purchased or sold for a forward settlement date are generally priced at a discount relative to TBAs settling in the current month. This price difference, often referred to as “drop income”, represents the economic equivalent of net interest income (interest income less implied financing cost) on the underlying Agency security from trade date to settlement date. We account for all TBAs (whether net long or net short positions, or collectively “TBA dollar roll positions”) as derivative instruments because we cannot assert that it is probable at inception and throughout the term of an individual TBA transaction that its settlement will result in physical delivery of the underlying Agency RMBS, or that the individual TBA transaction will settle in the shortest period possible.
CMBS. Our CMBS investments, which comprised less than 2% of our investment portfolio as of December 31, 2023, were fixed-rate Agency-issued securities backed by multifamily housing loans. The loans underlying CMBS are generally fixed-rate with scheduled principal payments generally assuming a 30-year amortization period, but typically requiring balloon payments on average approximately 10 years from origination. These loans typically have some form of prepayment protection provisions (such as prepayment lock-out) or prepayment compensation provisions (such as yield maintenance or prepayment penalty), which provide us compensation if underlying loans prepay prior to us earning our expected return on our investment. Yield
maintenance and prepayment penalty requirements are intended to create an economic disincentive for the loans to prepay, which we believe makes CMBS less costly to hedge relative to RMBS.
CMBS IO. CMBS IO are interest-only securities issued as part of a CMBS securitization and represent the right to receive a portion of the monthly interest payments (but not principal cash flows) on the unpaid principal balance of the underlying pool of commercial mortgage loans. We invest in both Agency-issued and non-Agency issued CMBS IO, which comprised less than 3% of our investment portfolio as of December 31, 2023. The loans collateralizing Agency-issued CMBS IO pools are similar in composition to the pools of loans that collateralize CMBS as discussed above. Non-Agency issued CMBS IO are backed by loans secured by a number of different property types including multifamily, office buildings, hospitality, and retail, among others. Since CMBS IO securities have no principal associated with them, the interest payments received are based on the unpaid principal balance of the underlying pool of mortgage loans, which is often referred to as the notional amount. Yields on CMBS IO securities are dependent upon the performance of the underlying loans. Similar to CMBS described above, the Company receives prepayment compensation as most loans in these securities have some form of prepayment protection from early repayment; however, there are no prepayment protections if the loan defaults and is partially or wholly repaid earlier because of loss mitigation actions taken by the underlying loan servicer. Because Agency CMBS IO generally contain higher credit quality loans, they have a lower risk of default than non-Agency CMBS IO. The majority of our CMBS IO investments are investment grade-rated with the majority rated ‘AAA’ by at least one of the nationally recognized statistical rating organizations. In addition, our non-Agency CMBS IO are well seasoned with a weighted average life remaining of less than two years.
FINANCING STRATEGY
We employ leverage to enhance the returns on our invested capital by pledging our investments as collateral for borrowings, primarily through the use of repurchase agreements. The amount of leverage we utilize is contingent on various factors such as prevailing economic, political and financial market conditions; the actual and anticipated liquidity and price volatility of our assets; the gap between the duration of our investments, financings, and hedges; the availability and cost of financing our assets; our opinion of the credit worthiness of financing counterparties; the health of the U.S. residential mortgage and housing markets; our outlook for the level, slope and volatility of interest rates; the credit quality of the loans underlying our investments; the rating assigned to securities; and our outlook for asset spreads. Repurchase agreements generally have original terms to maturity of overnight to six months, though in some instances we may enter into longer-dated maturities depending on market conditions. We pay interest on our repurchase agreement borrowings at a rate determined by a spread to certain short-term interest rates and fixed for the term of the borrowing. Borrowings under uncommitted repurchase agreements are renewable at the discretion of our lenders and do not contain guaranteed roll-over terms.
Repurchase agreement financing is provided principally by major financial institutions and broker-dealers acting as financial intermediaries for short-term cash investors including money market funds and securities lenders. Repurchase agreement financing exposes us to counterparty risk to such financial intermediaries, principally related to the excess of our collateral pledged over the amount borrowed. We seek to mitigate this risk by spreading our borrowings across a diverse set of repurchase agreement lenders. As of December 31, 2023, we did not have more than 10% of equity at risk with any of our repurchase agreement counterparties. Please refer to "Risk Factors-Risks Related to Our Financing and Hedging Activities" in Item 1A of Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information regarding significant risks related to repurchase agreement financing.
HEDGING STRATEGY
We use derivative instruments to economically hedge our exposure to adverse changes in interest rates resulting from our ownership of primarily fixed-rate investments financed with short-term repurchase agreements. Changes in interest rates can impact net interest income, the market value of our investments, and therefore, our book value per common share. In a period of rising interest rates, our earnings and cash flow may be negatively impacted by borrowing costs increasing faster than interest income from our assets, and our book value may decline as a result of declining market values of our MBS.
Our hedging strategy is dynamic and is based on our assessment of U.S. and global economic conditions and monetary policies. We frequently adjust our hedging portfolio based on our expectation of future interest rates, including the absolute level of rates and the slope of the yield curve versus market expectations. In conducting our hedging activities, we intend to comply with REIT and tax limitations on our hedging instruments, which could limit our activities and the instruments that we may use. We also intend to enter into derivative contracts only through a futures commission merchant or with counterparties that we believe have a strong credit rating to mitigate the risk of counterparty default or insolvency.
OPERATING POLICIES AND RISK MANAGEMENT
We invest our capital and manage our risk according to our “Investment Policy” and “Investment Risk Policy,” which are approved by our Board of Directors. These policies set forth investment and risk limitations as they relate to the Company's investment activities and set parameters for the Company's investment and capital allocation decisions. These policies also place limits on certain risks to which we are exposed, such as interest rate risk, prepayment risk, earnings at risk, liquidity risk, and shareholders’ equity at risk from changes in fair value of our investment securities, and also set forth limits for the Company’s overall leverage.
Our Investment Policy currently limits our investment in non-Agency MBS that are rated BBB+ or lower at the time of purchase by any of the nationally recognized statistical ratings organizations to $250 million in market value and limits our shareholders’ equity at risk with respect to such investments to a maximum of $50 million. We also conduct our own independent evaluation of the credit risk on any non-Agency MBS, such that we do not rely solely on the security’s credit rating. Our Investment Risk Policy requires us to perform a variety of stress tests to model the effect of adverse market conditions on our investment portfolio value and our liquidity.
Within the overall limits established by these policies, our investment and capital allocation decisions depend on prevailing market conditions and other factors and may change over time in response to opportunities available in different economic and capital market environments. Our Board of Directors may also adjust the Company’s Investment Policy and Investment Risk Policy from time to time based on macroeconomic expectations, market conditions, and risk tolerances among other factors.
In addition to the policies described above, we manage our operations and investments to comply with various REIT limitations (as discussed further below in “Operating and Regulatory Structure”) and to avoid qualifying as an investment company as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the "1940 Act") or as a commodity pool operator under the Commodity Exchange Act.
Factors that Affect Our Results of Operations and Financial Condition
Our financial performance is largely driven by the performance of our investment portfolio and related financing and hedging activity and may be impacted by a number of factors such as the absolute level of interest rates, the relative slope of interest rate curves, changes in interest rates and market expectations of future interest rates, actual and estimated future prepayment rates on our investments, supply of and competition for investments, the influence of economic conditions on the credit performance of our investments, and market required yields as reflected by market spreads. All of the above factors are influenced by market forces beyond our control such as macroeconomic and geopolitical conditions, market volatility, Federal Reserve policy, U.S. fiscal and regulatory policy, and foreign central bank and government policy. In addition, our business may be impacted by changes in regulatory requirements, including requirements to avoid qualifying as an investment company pursuant to the 1940 Act, and REIT requirements.
Our business model is also impacted by the availability and cost of financing and the state of the overall credit markets. Reductions or limitations in the availability of financing for our investments could significantly impact our business or force us to sell assets, potentially at losses. Disruptions in the repurchase agreement market may also directly impact our availability and cost of financing. Repurchase agreement lending by larger U.S. domiciled banks has declined in recent years due to increased regulation and changes to regulatory capital
requirements. Their repurchase market participation has been replaced by smaller independent broker dealers that are generally less regulated and by U.S. domiciled broker dealer subsidiaries of foreign financial institutions.
Please refer to Part I, Item 1A, "Risk Factors" as well as Part II, Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and Item 7A, "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk" of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional discussions of factors that have the potential to impact our results of operations and financial condition, including current events such as recent shifts in the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy and market trends.
ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE INITIATIVES
We believe that environmental, social, and corporate governance ("ESG") practices and initiatives are important in sustaining and growing the Company. Our ESG practices seek to create value by improving the environment and the lives of our employees, shareholders, business partners, and the community. We continually search for opportunities in pursuit of the long-term success of our business and to enhance the communities where we operate through corporate giving, employee volunteering, human capital development, and environmental sustainability programs.
Our Board of Directors has formal oversight of our ESG strategies, policies, activities, and communications, including for purposes of risk management. We have adopted the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (“SASB”) Conceptual Framework, and we have made available on our website disclosures in accordance with the Financials Sector standards of the SASB.
In addition to the discussion below, details regarding our ESG practices and initiatives will be available in our 2024 Proxy Statement, including details on how we reduce our carbon footprint, our code of business conduct and ethics, and other governance commitments.
Human Capital Strategy
The Company views its employees as its most important asset and as the key to managing a successful business for the benefit of all of our stakeholders. Our human capital strategy is designed to create an environment where our employees can grow professionally and contribute to the success of the Company. We believe a supportive, collaborative, engaging and equitable culture is key to attracting and retaining skilled, experienced and talented employees as well as fostering the development of the Company’s next generation of leaders.
As of December 31, 2023, we had 22 full and part-time employees with an average tenure of 12.8 years, and our voluntary turnover rate was 0% for the three years ended December 31, 2023. None of our employees are covered by any collective bargaining agreements, and we are not aware of any union organizing activity relating to our employees.
Diversity and Inclusion
We promote diversity within our workforce and believe diversity extends beyond gender, race, ethnicity, age and sexual orientation to include different perspectives, skills, and experiences and socioeconomic backgrounds. We hire based on qualifications and evaluate, recognize, reward and promote employees based on performance without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, stereotypes or assumptions based thereon. In addition, equity is fundamental to our philosophy of fair and equitable treatment. We regularly review and analyze our compensation practices and engage in ongoing efforts to ensure pay equity within all levels of employment. We strive to maintain a corporate culture that is welcoming, inclusive, and respectful to all.
As of December 31, 2023, 50% of our employees were women or self-identified minorities.
Health, Safety, and Wellness
The Company strives to offer its employees a healthy work-life balance and an open environment in which they are encouraged to offer thoughts and opinions. Employees have a wide selection of resources available to help protect their health, well-being, and financial security, including an on-site gym, coverage of a substantial portion of their health insurance, and a competitive 401(k) company match. We provide our employees with access to flexible, comprehensive and convenient medical coverage intended to meet their needs and the needs of their families. In addition to standard medical coverage, we offer employees dental and vision coverage, health savings and flexible spending accounts, paid time off, employee assistance programs, voluntary short-term and long-term disability insurance, term life insurance, and other benefits. In addition, we have historically offered flexible working arrangements to accommodate the individual needs of our employees.
Employee Development
Recognizing the vital role that human capital management serves in the long-term success of the Company, we have initiated a Human Capital Strategy Planning process, which is overseen by our Board of Directors, to formalize the process for management and development of employees. In addition to talent management and development initiatives, the Human Capital Strategy Planning process has included the following:
•development of organizational core values and a plan to integrate these values into a variety of human
capital processes and practices;
•offering of a personal development program for all employees;
•formal process for determining current and future human capital requirements;
•implementation of improved performance measures designed to better determine individual and team developmental needs.
COMPETITION
In purchasing investments and obtaining financing, we compete with other mortgage REITs, broker-dealers and investment banking firms, GSEs, mutual funds, banks, hedge funds, mortgage bankers, insurance companies, governmental bodies, including the Federal Reserve, and other entities, many of which may have greater financial resources and a lower cost of capital than we do. Increased competition in the market may reduce the available supply of investments and may drive prices of investments to levels which would negatively impact our ability to earn an acceptable amount of income from these investments. Competition can also reduce the availability of borrowing capacity at our repurchase agreement counterparties as such capacity is not unlimited.
OPERATING AND REGULATORY STRUCTURE
Real Estate Investment Trust Requirements
As a REIT, we are required to abide by certain requirements for qualification as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Tax Code”). To retain our REIT status, the REIT rules generally require that we invest primarily in real estate-related assets, that our activities be passive rather than active, and that we distribute annually to our shareholders amounts equal to at least 90% of our REIT taxable income, after certain deductions. Dividend distributions to our shareholders in excess of REIT taxable income are considered to be a return of capital to the shareholder.
We use the calendar year for financial reporting in accordance with GAAP as well as for tax purposes. Income determined under GAAP differs from income determined under U.S. federal income tax rules primarily because of temporary differences in income and expense recognition. The primary differences between our GAAP net income and our taxable income are (i) unrealized gains and losses are recognized in net income for GAAP purposes but are excluded from taxable income until realized; (ii) realized gains and losses on derivatives that are designated as tax hedges which are recognized in net income for GAAP purposes but are deferred and amortized for tax purposes over the original periods hedged by those derivatives (e.g., ten-years for a short position on a ten-year
U.S. Treasury futures position); and (iii) permanent differences due to limitations on the deductibility of certain GAAP expenses from taxable income. The Company estimates its REIT taxable income for the year ended December 31, 2023 is $40.5 million, which includes $80.5 million related to amortization of net deferred tax hedge gains.
The following table provides the projected amortization of our net deferred tax hedge gains as of December 31, 2023 that will be recognized as taxable income over the periods indicated, though recognition of deferred tax hedge gains and losses may be accelerated if the underlying instrument originally hedged is terminated or paid off:
Period of Recognition for Remaining Hedge Gains, Net December 31, 2023
($ in thousands)
First quarter 2024
$ 25,717
Second quarter 2024
25,657
Third quarter 2024
25,731
Fourth quarter 2024
25,828
Fiscal year 2025
104,115
Fiscal year 2026 and thereafter
654,776
$ 861,824
As of December 31, 2023, we also had $590.8 million of capital loss carryforwards, the majority of which expire by 2028, and $8.1 million of net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards, which were all generated prior to January 1, 2018 and will expire over the next 2 years if not used.
The following table summarizes our dividends declared per share and their related tax characterization for the periods indicated:
Tax Characterization Total Dividends Declared Per Share
Ordinary Capital Gain Return of Capital
Common dividends declared:
Year ended December 31, 2023
$ 0.74112 $ - $ 0.81888 $ 1.56000
Year ended December 31, 2022 $ 0.86186 $ - $ 0.69814 $ 1.56000
Preferred Series C dividends declared:
Year ended December 31, 2023
$ 1.72500 $ - $ - $ 1.72500
Year ended December 31, 2022 $ 1.72500 $ - $ - $ 1.72500
Qualification as a REIT
Qualification as a REIT requires that we satisfy a variety of tests relating to our income, assets, distributions and ownership. The significant tests are summarized below.
Sources of Income. To continue qualifying as a REIT, we must satisfy two distinct tests with respect to the sources of our income: the “75% income test” and the “95% income test.” The 75% income test requires that we derive at least 75% of our gross income (excluding gross income from prohibited transactions) from certain real estate-related sources. In order to satisfy the 95% income test, 95% of our gross income for the taxable year must consist of either income that qualifies under the 75% income test or certain other types of passive income such as interest and dividends. Our primary source of income is interest on obligations secured by mortgages on real property.
If we fail to meet either the 75% income test or the 95% income test, or both, in a taxable year, we might nonetheless continue to qualify as a REIT, if our failure was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect and the nature and amounts of our items of gross income were properly disclosed to the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”). However, in such a case we would be required to pay a tax equal to 100% of any excess non-qualifying income.
Nature and Diversification of Assets. At the end of each calendar quarter, we must meet multiple asset tests. Under the “75% asset test,” at least 75% of the value of our total assets must represent cash or cash items (including receivables), government securities or real estate assets. Under the “10% asset test,” we may not own more than 10% of the outstanding voting power or value of securities of any single non-governmental issuer, provided such securities do not qualify under the 75% asset test or relate to taxable REIT subsidiaries. Under the “5% asset test,” ownership of any stocks or securities that do not qualify under the 75% asset test must be limited, in respect of any single non-governmental issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of our total assets (excluding ownership of any taxable REIT subsidiaries). Taxable REIT subsidiaries may not exceed 20% of the value of our total assets.
If we inadvertently fail to satisfy one or more of the asset tests at the end of a calendar quarter, such failure would not cause us to lose our REIT status, provided that (i) we satisfied all of the asset tests at the close of the preceding calendar quarter and (ii) the discrepancy between the values of our assets and the standards imposed by the asset tests either did not exist immediately after the acquisition of any particular asset or was not wholly or partially caused by such an acquisition. If the condition described in clause (ii) of the preceding sentence was not satisfied, we still could avoid disqualification by eliminating any discrepancy within 30 days after the close of the calendar quarter in which it arose.
Ownership. In order to maintain our REIT status, we must not be deemed to be closely held and must have more than 100 shareholders. The closely held prohibition requires that not more than 50% of the value of our outstanding shares be owned by five or fewer persons at any time during the last half of our taxable year. The "more than 100 shareholders" rule requires that we have at least 100 shareholders for 335 days of a twelve-month taxable year. If we failed to satisfy the ownership requirements, we would be subject to fines and be required to take curative action to meet the ownership requirements in order to maintain our REIT status.
Exemption from Regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940
We conduct our operations under the exemption provided under Section 3(c)(5)(C) of the 1940 Act, a provision available to companies primarily engaged in the business of purchasing and otherwise acquiring mortgages and other liens on and interests in real estate. According to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) staff no-action letters, companies relying on this exemption must ensure that at least 55% of their assets are mortgage loans and other qualifying assets, and at least 80% of their assets are real estate-related. The 1940 Act requires that we and each of our subsidiaries evaluate our qualification for exemption under the 1940 Act. Our subsidiaries rely either on Section 3(c)(5)(C) of the 1940 Act or other sections that provide exemptions from registering under the 1940 Act, including Sections 3(a)(1)(C) and 3(c)(7). Under the 1940 Act, an investment company is required to register with the SEC and is subject to extensive restrictive and potentially adverse regulations relating to, among other things, operating methods, management, capital structure, leverage, dividends, and transactions with affiliates. We believe that we are operating our business in accordance with the exemption requirements of Section 3(c)(5)(C) of the 1940 Act. Please refer to Item 1A, "Risk Factors" of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further discussion.
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
We are subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and its rules and regulations. The Exchange Act requires us to file reports, proxy statements, and other information with the SEC. These materials may be obtained electronically by accessing the SEC’s home page at www.sec.gov.
Our website can be found at www.dynexcapital.com. Our annual reports on Form 10-K, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, our current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports, filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, are made available free of charge through our website as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC.
Our Code of Conduct is available on our website, along with our Audit Committee Charter, our Whistleblower Policy, our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter, our Compensation Committee Charter, and our latest ESG disclosures under the SASB framework. We will post on our website amendments to the Code of Conduct or waivers from its provisions, if any, which are applicable to any of our directors or executive officers in accordance with the requirements of the SEC or the NYSE.
The information on our website is not a part of, nor is it incorporated by reference, into this report. Further, our references to the URLs for these websites are intended to be inactive textual references only.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
The following is a discussion of the risk factors that we believe are material to our business. These are factors which, individually or in the aggregate, we think could cause our actual results to differ significantly from anticipated or historical results. In addition to understanding the key risks described below, investors should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all risk factors, and consequently, the following is not a complete discussion of all potential risks or uncertainties. Additionally, investors should not interpret the disclosure of a risk to imply that the risk has not already materialized.
RISKS RELATED TO OUR INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES
Declines in the market value of our investments could negatively impact our comprehensive income, book value per common share, dividends, and liquidity.
Our investments fluctuate in value due to a number of factors including, among others, market volatility, geopolitical events and changes in credit spreads, spot and forward interest rates, and actual and anticipated prepayments. Our investments may also fluctuate in value due to increased or reduced demand for the types of investments we own. The level of demand may be impacted by, among other things, interest rates, capital flows, economic conditions, and government policies and actions, such as purchases and sales by the Federal Reserve.
Changes in credit spreads represent the market’s valuation of the perceived riskiness of assets relative to risk-free rates. Credit spreads change based on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, macroeconomic and systemic changes, factors specific to a particular security such as prepayment performance or credit performance, market psychology, and Federal Reserve monetary policies. When credit spreads widen, the market value of our investments will decline because market participants typically require additional yield to hold riskier assets.
In addition, the market value of most of our investments will typically decrease as interest rates rise, as seen during fiscal year 2023. If market values decrease significantly, we may experience a material reduction in our liquidity if we are forced to sell assets at losses in order to meet margin calls from our lenders, to repay or renew repurchase agreements at maturity, or otherwise to maintain our liquidity. A material reduction in our liquidity could lead to a reduction of the dividend or potentially the payment of the dividend in Company stock subject to the Tax Code.
Interest rate fluctuations could negatively impact our net interest income, comprehensive income, book value per common share, dividends, and liquidity.
Interest rate fluctuations impact us in multiple ways. During periods of rising rates, particularly interest rate increases that occur with increases to the targeted U.S. Federal Funds Rate (“Federal Funds Rate”), we may experience a decline in our net interest income because our borrowing rates may increase faster than our investments mature or the coupons on our investments reset. Since 2022, the Federal Reserve has been increasing the targeted range for the Federal Funds Rate in an effort to slow inflation, which has resulted in a significant increase to our
repurchase agreement financing costs. Any further increases in the Federal Funds Rate and market anticipation of the same, are likely to cause our borrowing costs to increase further, negatively impacting our net interest income, dividend, and book value per common share.
Interest rate increases may also negatively affect the market value of our securities, and if we do not adequately hedge against such increases, we will experience declines in comprehensive income, book value per common share, and liquidity. Since our investment portfolio consists substantially of fixed rate instruments, rising interest rates will reduce the market value of our MBS as market participants will in turn demand higher yielding assets. Reductions in the market value of our MBS typically result in margin calls from our lenders, which impacts our liquidity. Furthermore, an increasing interest rate environment may expose us to extension risk because prepayments on the loans underlying our MBS are likely to decline, which may reduce our ability to reinvest into higher yielding assets.
Conversely, declining interest rates may expose us to prepayment risk to the extent that prepayments increase on investments we own at a premium to their par value. We amortize the premiums we pay for a security using the effective interest method, so as prepayments increase, the amortization expense of any remaining premium we paid for an investment will also increase, and thereby result in a decline in net interest income. If market participants factor in potentially faster prepayment rates, we may also experience declines in the market value of higher coupon MBS.
It can be difficult to predict the impact on interest rates of unexpected and uncertain domestic and global political and economic events, such as trade conflicts, international politics, global monetary policy and the impact of economic or other sanctions; however, events such as these may have adverse impacts on, among other things, the U.S. economy, financial markets, the cost of borrowing, the value of the assets we hold, and the financial strength of counterparties with whom we transact business.
We invest in TBA securities and execute TBA dollar roll transactions. It could be uneconomical to roll our TBA contracts or we may be unable to meet margin calls on our TBA contracts.
Under certain market conditions, Agency RMBS purchased (or sold) for forward settlement under a TBA contract may be priced at a premium to Agency RMBS for settlement in the current month. For example, changes to prepay expectations on Agency RMBS as well as changes to the Federal Reserve’s reinvestment policy on Agency RMBS have adversely impacted the TBA dollar roll market. Under such conditions, we may not be able to roll our TBA positions prior to the settlement date, which could cause us to accept physical delivery of the security (or in the case of a short position, force us to deliver one of our Agency RMBS), which would mean using cash to pay off any amounts outstanding under a repurchase agreement collateralized by that security. We may not have sufficient funds or alternative financing sources available to settle such obligations. In addition, pursuant to the margin provisions established by the Mortgage-Backed Securities Division (“MBSD”) of the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, we are subject to margin calls on our TBA contracts and our trading counterparties may require us to post additional margin above the levels established by the MBSD. Negative income on TBA dollar roll transactions, failure to procure adequate financing to settle our obligations, or failure to meet margin calls under our TBA contracts could result in default or force us to sell assets under adverse market conditions, and thereby adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Volatile market conditions for mortgages and mortgage-related assets as well as the broader financial markets can result in a significant contraction in liquidity for mortgages and mortgage-related assets, which may adversely affect the value of the assets in which we invest.
Significant adverse changes in financial market conditions can result in a deleveraging of the global financial system and the forced sale of large quantities of mortgage-related and other financial assets. Concerns over economic recession, inflation, subdued growth expectations, interest rate increases, policy priorities of the U.S. government, trade wars, unemployment, the availability and cost of financing, or the mortgage market and a declining real estate market may contribute to increased volatility and diminished expectations for the economy and markets, as experienced in 2023. Additionally, concern over geopolitical issues may also contribute to prolonged market volatility and instability. For example, the conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and those in the Middle East have led to disruption, instability and volatility in global markets and industries.
Increased volatility and deterioration in the markets for mortgages and mortgage-related assets as well as the broader financial markets may adversely affect the performance and market value of our investments. When these conditions exist, institutions from which we seek financing for our investments may tighten their lending standards, increase margin calls or become insolvent, which could make it more difficult for us to obtain financing on favorable terms or at all. Our profitability and financial condition including our liquidity may be adversely affected if we are unable to obtain cost-effective financing for our investments.
Changes in monetary policy implemented by the Federal Reserve, including its recent increases in the targeted Federal Funds Rate and its reduction of purchases of longer-term Treasury securities and fixed-rate Agency MBS have caused interest rates to rise and the yield curve to invert which has negatively impacted, and may continue to impact, the market value of our investments, borrowing costs, and our ability to earn net interest income.
In an effort to tame rising inflation levels, the Federal Reserve has been aggressively increasing the Federal Funds Rate since the first quarter of 2022, ending the fourth quarter of 2023 with a target range of 5.25%-5.50%. In addition, the Federal Reserve’s quantitative tightening policies have included decreasing the pace of its large-scale purchases of Agency RMBS and U.S. Treasuries, creating excess supply in the market. The combination of these actions have resulted in an increase in interest rates and an inversion of the yield curve, negatively impacting the market value of our investments since the fourth quarter of 2021 through 2023. The increase in the Federal Funds Rate has also significantly increased our borrowing costs, which is likely to remain elevated into 2024 as the Federal Reserve seeks to bring inflation down to better align with its target levels. It is difficult to earn net interest income while the yield curve is inverted and it is uncertain when or if the yield curve will steepen.
We invest in MBS that are traded in over-the-counter (“OTC”) markets which are less liquid and have less price transparency than assets traded on securities exchanges. Owning securities that are traded in OTC markets may increase our liquidity risk, particularly in a volatile market environment, because our assets may be more difficult to borrow against or sell in a prompt manner and on terms acceptable to us which may result in losses upon sale of these assets.
Turbulent market conditions may significantly and negatively impact the liquidity and market value of MBS. During periods of severe economic stress, a market may not exist for certain of our investments at any price, particularly non-Agency MBS which are typically more difficult to value, less liquid, and experience greater price volatility than Agency MBS. If the MBS market were to experience a severe or extended period of illiquidity, lenders may refuse to accept MBS as collateral for repurchase agreement financing, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. A sudden reduction in the liquidity of our investments could limit our ability to finance or could make it difficult to sell investments if the need arises. If we are required to liquidate all or a portion of our portfolio quickly, we may realize significantly less than the fair value at which we have previously recorded our investments.
Changes in prepayment rates on the mortgage loans underlying our investments may subject us to reinvestment risk and adversely affect our interest income, the market value of our investments, and our liquidity.
We are subject to reinvestment risk as a result of the prepayment, repayment, and sales of our investments. In order to maintain our investment portfolio size and our earnings, we need to reinvest capital received from these events into new interest-earning assets or TBA securities, and if market yields on new investments are lower, our interest income will decline. In addition, based on market conditions, our leverage, and our liquidity profile, we may decide to not reinvest the cash flows we receive from our investment portfolio even when attractive reinvestment opportunities are available, or we may decide to reinvest in assets with lower yield but greater liquidity. If we retain capital or pay dividends to return capital to shareholders rather than reinvest capital, or if we invest capital in lower yielding assets for liquidity reasons, the size of our investment portfolio and the amount of income generated by our investment portfolio will likely decline.
RMBS have no prepayment protection while CMBS and CMBS IO have voluntary prepayment protection in the form of a prepayment lock-out on the loan for an initial period or by yield maintenance or prepayment penalty provisions, which serve as full or partial compensation for future lost interest income on the loan, although, we may not be able to reinvest the proceeds into a similar yielding asset. Compensation for voluntary prepayment on CMBS IO securities may not be sufficient to compensate us for the loss of interest as a result of the prepayment. We have
no protection from involuntary prepayments. The impact of involuntary prepayments on CMBS IO is particularly acute because the investment consists entirely of premium. An increase in involuntary prepayments will result in the loss of investment premiums at an accelerated rate which could materially reduce our interest income and dividend. Involuntary prepayments typically increase in periods of economic slowdown or stress, and actions taken as a result by the GSEs and federal, state and local governments. Defaults in loans underlying our CMBS IO, particularly loans in non-Agency CMBS IO securities collateralized by income producing properties such as retail shopping centers, office buildings, multifamily apartments and hotels, may increase as a result of economic weakness.
Prepayments on Agency CMBS, which are often collateralized by a single loan, could result in margin calls by lenders in excess of our available liquidity, particularly for larger balance investments. Typically, there is a 20-day delay between the announcement of prepayments and the receipt of the cash from the prepayment; however, the repurchase agreement lender may initiate a margin call when the prepayment is announced. If we do not have liquidity available to cover the margin call at that time, we may be in default under the repurchase agreement until we receive the cash from the prepayment. Alternatively, we could be forced to sell assets quickly and on terms unfavorable to us to meet the margin call.
We may be subject to risks associated with inadequate or untimely services from third-party service providers, which may negatively impact our results of operations. We also rely on corporate trustees to act on behalf of us and other holders of securities in enforcing our rights.
Loans underlying our non-Agency MBS receive primary and special servicing from third-party service providers, who control all aspects of loan collection, loss mitigation, default management and ultimate resolution of a defaulted loan. Though the servicer has a fiduciary obligation to act in the best interest of the securitization trust, we have no contractual rights with the third-party servicer and significant latitude exists with respect to certain of its servicing activities. If a third-party servicer fails to perform its duties under the securitization documents, this may result in a material increase in delinquencies or losses to the securities. As a result, the value of the securities may be impacted, and we may incur losses on our investment.
In addition, we are exposed to risk to the extent that a third-party servicer becomes insolvent or unable to perform its obligations under the agreements governing the outstanding securities. U.S. bankruptcy laws may also relieve the servicer from its obligations to make advance payments of amounts due from loan borrowers or limit its obligation to the extent that is does not expect to recover the advances due to the deteriorating credit of the delinquent loans. While we expect that the GSEs will transfer the servicing or otherwise make the investors in Agency MBS whole, for non-Agency MBS, financial difficulties with the servicer could lead to a material increase in delinquencies or losses to the securities. As a result, the value of the securities may be impacted, and we may incur losses on our investment.
Under the terms of most securities we hold, we do not have the right to enforce remedies against the issuer of the security directly, but instead must rely on a corporate trustee to act on behalf of us and other security holders. Should a trustee not be required to take action under the terms of the securities, or fail to take action, we could experience losses.
Provisions requiring yield maintenance charges, prepayment penalties, defeasance, or lock-outs in CMBS IO securities may not be enforceable.
Provisions in loan documents for mortgages in CMBS IO securities in which we invest requiring yield maintenance charges, prepayment penalties, defeasance, or lock-out periods may not be enforceable in some states and under federal bankruptcy law. Provisions in the loan documents requiring yield maintenance charges and prepayment penalties may also be interpreted as constituting the collection of interest for usury purposes. Accordingly, we cannot be assured that the obligation of a borrower to pay any yield maintenance charge or prepayment penalty under a loan document in a CMBS IO security will be enforceable. Also, we cannot be assured that foreclosure proceeds under a loan document in a CMBS IO security will be sufficient to pay an enforceable yield maintenance charge. If yield maintenance charges and prepayment penalties are not collected, or if a lock-out period is not enforced, we may incur losses to write-down the value of the CMBS IO security for the present value of the amounts not collected.
We invest in securities guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac which are currently under conservatorship by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”). Potential changes to the federal conservatorship of Fannie
Mae and Freddie Mac or to the laws and regulations affecting the support that the GSEs receive from the U.S. government may adversely affect the availability, pricing, liquidity, market value, and financing of our assets.
As conservator, the FHFA has assumed all the powers of the shareholders, directors and officers of the GSEs with the goal of preserving and conserving their assets. At various times since implementation of the conservatorship, Congress has considered structural changes to the GSEs, including proposals that could lead to the release of the GSEs from conservatorship. Looming recession concerns and market volatility have raised concerns at the FHFA that the GSEs may need additional capital in order to meet their obligations as guarantors on trillions of dollars of MBS. The market value of Agency MBS today is highly dependent on the continued support of the GSEs by the U.S. government. If such support is modified or withdrawn, if the U.S. Treasury fails to inject new capital as needed, or if the GSEs are released from conservatorship, the market value of Agency MBS may significantly decline, making it difficult for us to obtain repurchase agreement financing or forcing us to sell assets at substantial losses. Furthermore, any policy changes to the relationship between the GSEs and the U.S. government may create market uncertainty and have the effect of reducing the actual or perceived credit quality of securities issued by the GSEs. It may also interrupt the cash flow received by investors on the underlying MBS. Finally, reforms to the GSEs could also negatively impact our ability to comply with the provisions of the 1940 Act (see further discussion below regarding the 1940 Act).
Credit ratings assigned to debt securities by the credit rating agencies may not accurately reflect the risks associated with those securities. Changes in credit ratings for securities we own or for similar securities might negatively impact the market value of these securities.
Rating agencies rate securities based upon their assessment of the safety of the receipt of principal and interest payments on the securities. Rating agencies do not consider the risks of fluctuations in fair value or other factors that may influence the value of securities and, therefore, the assigned credit rating may not fully reflect the true risks of an investment in securities. Also, rating agencies may fail to make timely adjustments to credit ratings based on available data or changes in economic outlook or may otherwise fail to make changes in credit ratings in response to subsequent events, so the credit quality of our investments may be better or worse than the ratings indicate. We attempt to reduce the impact of the risk that a credit rating may not accurately reflect the risks associated with a particular debt security by not relying solely on credit ratings as the indicator of the quality of an investment. We make our acquisition decisions after factoring in other information that we have obtained about the loans underlying the security and the credit subordination structure of the security. Despite these efforts, our assessment of the quality of an investment may also prove to be inaccurate and we may incur credit losses in excess of our initial expectations.
Credit rating agencies may change their methods of evaluating credit risk and determining ratings on securities backed by real estate loans and securities. These changes may occur quickly and often. The market’s ability to understand and absorb these changes, and the impact to the securitization market in general, are difficult to predict. Such changes may have a negative impact on the value of securities that we own.
RISKS RELATED TO OUR FINANCING AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES
Our use of leverage, primarily through repurchase agreements, to enhance shareholder returns increases the risk of volatility in our results and could lead to material decreases in comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity, dividends, and liquidity.
Leverage increases returns on our invested capital if we earn a greater return on investments than our cost of borrowing but decreases returns if borrowing costs increase and we have not adequately hedged against such an increase. Further, using leverage magnifies the potential losses to shareholders’ equity and book value per common share if our investments’ fair market value declines, net of associated hedges.
Our ability to fund our operations, meet financial obligations, and finance targeted asset acquisitions may be impacted by an inability to secure and maintain our financing through repurchase agreements or other borrowings with our counterparties. For example, lenders may respond to adverse market conditions by changing the terms of such financings in a manner that makes it more difficult for us to renew or replace on a continuous basis our maturing short-term repurchase agreement borrowings. Furthermore, we may have to dispose of assets at
significantly depressed prices, which could result in significant losses, or we may be forced to curtail our asset purchases if certain events occur including if we:
•are unable to renew or otherwise access new funds under our existing financing arrangements;
•are unable to arrange for new financing on acceptable terms;
•default on our financial covenants contained in our financing arrangements; or
•become subject to larger haircuts under our financing arrangements requiring us to post additional collateral.
In addition, if the Federal Reserve revises capital requirements for lenders, the economy may slow or reduce capital market liquidity. As a result, our lenders may be required to significantly increase the cost of the financing that they provide to us, or the amounts of collateral they require as a condition to providing us with financing. At various times, our lenders have revised and may continue to revise, their eligibility requirements for the types of assets that they are willing to finance or the terms of such financing arrangements, including increased haircuts and requiring additional cash collateral, based on, among other factors, the regulatory environment and a lender’s management of actual and perceived risk. Moreover, the amount of financing we receive under our financing agreements will be directly related to our lenders’ valuation of the assets subject to such agreements.
Typically, the master repurchase agreements that govern our borrowings grant the lender the absolute right, at its sole discretion, to reevaluate the fair market value of the assets subject to such repurchase agreements at any time. These valuations may be different from the values that we ascribe to these assets and may be influenced by recent asset sales at distressed levels by forced sellers. If a lender determines that the value of the assets has decreased, the lender has the right to initiate a margin call, which requires us to transfer additional assets to the lender to collateralize the existing borrowing or to repay a portion of the outstanding borrowings. We would also be required to post additional collateral if haircuts increase under a repurchase agreement. Furthermore, if we move financing from one counterparty to another with larger haircut requirements, we would have to repay more cash to settle the original borrowing than we could borrow from the new counterparty. In these situations, we may be forced to sell assets at significantly depressed prices to meet the margin calls and to maintain adequate liquidity, which may cause significant losses. Significant margin calls may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition, business, liquidity, and ability to make distributions to our shareholders, and could cause the value of our capital stock to decline.
Our ability to access leverage in the conduct of our operations is impacted by certain factors that are beyond our control and are difficult to predict, which could lead to sudden and material adverse effects on our results of operations, financial condition, business, liquidity, and ability to make distributions to shareholders, and could force us to sell assets at significantly depressed prices to maintain adequate liquidity. Market dislocations could limit our ability to access funding or access funding on terms that we believe are attractive, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.
For more information about our operating policies regarding our use of leverage, please see “Liquidity and Capital Resources” within Part II, Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Our repurchase agreements and agreements governing certain derivative instruments may contain financial and nonfinancial covenants. Our inability to meet these covenants could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
In connection with certain of our repurchase agreements and derivative instruments, we are required to maintain certain financial and non-financial covenants. As of December 31, 2023, our most restrictive financial covenants require that the declines in our shareholders’ equity are no greater than 25% in any quarter and 35% in any year. In addition, virtually all of our repurchase agreements and derivative agreements require us to maintain our status as a REIT and to be exempted from the provisions of the 1940 Act. Compliance with these covenants depends on market factors and the strength of our business and operating results. Various risks, uncertainties and events beyond our control, including significant fluctuations in interest rates, market volatility and changes in market conditions, may affect our ability to comply with these covenants. Failure to comply with these covenants could result in an event of default, termination of an agreement, acceleration of all amounts owed under an agreement, and may give the counterparty the right to exercise available remedies under the repurchase agreement, such as the sale
of the asset subject to repurchase at the time of default, unless we were able to negotiate a waiver in connection with any such default. Any such waiver may be conditioned on an amendment to the underlying agreement and any related guaranty agreement on terms that may be unfavorable to us. If we are unable to negotiate a covenant waiver, or replace or refinance our assets under a new repurchase agreement on favorable terms or at all, our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows may be adversely affected. Further, certain of our repurchase agreements and derivative instruments have cross-default, cross-acceleration or similar provisions, such that if we were to violate a covenant under one agreement, that violation could lead to defaults, accelerations, or other adverse events under other agreements, as well.
Our use of hedging strategies to mitigate our interest rate risk may not be effective and may adversely affect our net income, comprehensive income, liquidity, and book value per common share.
We use a variety of derivative instruments to help mitigate increased financing costs and volatility in the market value of our investments from adverse changes in interest rates. Our hedging activity will vary in scope based on, among other things, our forecast of future interest rates, our investment portfolio construction and objectives, the actual and implied level and volatility of interest rates, and sources and terms of financing used. No hedging strategy can completely insulate us from the interest rate risk to which we are exposed. Interest rate hedging may fail to protect or could adversely affect our results of operations, book value and liquidity because, among other things:
•the performance of instruments used to hedge may not completely correlate with the performance of the assets or liabilities being hedged;
•available hedging instruments may not correspond directly with the interest rate risk from which we seek protection;
•the duration of the hedge may not match the duration of the related asset or liability given management’s expectation of future changes in interest rates or a result of the inaccuracies of models in forecasting cash flows on the asset being hedged;
•the value of derivatives used for hedging will be adjusted from time to time in accordance with GAAP to reflect changes in fair value and downward adjustments will reduce our earnings, shareholders’ equity, and book value;
•the amount of income that a REIT may earn from hedging transactions (other than through taxable REIT subsidiaries) to offset interest rate losses may be limited by U.S. federal income tax provisions governing REITs;
•interest rate hedging can be relatively expensive, particularly during periods of volatile interest rates;
•the credit quality of the party owing money on the hedge may be downgraded to such an extent that it impairs our ability to sell or assign our side of the hedging transaction; and
•the party owing money in the hedging transaction may default on its obligation to pay.
Our hedging instruments can be traded on an exchange or administered through a clearing house or under bilateral agreements between us and a counterparty. Bilateral agreements expose us to increased counterparty risk, and we may be at risk of loss of any collateral held by a hedging counterparty if the counterparty becomes insolvent or files for bankruptcy.
Clearing facilities or exchanges may increase the margin requirements we are required to post when entering into derivative instruments, which may negatively impact our ability to hedge and our liquidity.
We are required to post margin when entering into a hedging instrument that is traded on an exchange or administered through a clearing house. The amount of margin is set for each derivative by the exchange or clearinghouse. In prior periods, exchanges have required additional margin in response to events having, or expected to have, adverse economic consequences. Future adverse economic developments or market uncertainty, such as the Federal Reserve’s interest rate increases since 2022 and any proposed new reporting requirements by self-regulatory authorities and Congress, may result in increased margin requirements for our hedging instruments, which may have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
If a lender to us in a repurchase transaction defaults on its obligation to resell the underlying security back to us at the end of the transaction term, or if we default on our obligations under a repurchase agreement, we will incur losses.
Repurchase agreement transactions are legally structured as the sale of a security to a lender in return for cash from the lender. These transactions are accounted for as financing agreements because the lenders are obligated to resell the same securities back to us at the end of the transaction term. Because the cash we receive from the lender when we initially sell the securities to the lender is less than the value of those securities, if the lender defaults on its obligation to resell the same securities back to us, we would incur a loss on the transaction equal to the difference between the value of the securities sold and the amount borrowed from the lender including accrued interest. The lender may default on its obligation to resell if it experiences financial difficulty or if the lender has re-hypothecated the security to another party who fails to transfer the security back to the lender. Additionally, if we default on one of our obligations under a repurchase agreement, the lender can terminate the transaction, sell the underlying collateral and cease entering into any other repurchase transactions with us. Any losses we incur on our repurchase transactions could adversely affect our earnings and reduce our ability to pay dividends to our shareholders.
In the event of our bankruptcy or that of one or more of our third-party lenders, under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, assets pledged as collateral under repurchase agreements may not be recoverable by us. We may incur losses equal to the excess of the collateral pledged over the amount of the associated repurchase agreement borrowing.
In the event that one of our lenders under a repurchase agreement files for bankruptcy, it may be difficult for us to recover our assets pledged as collateral to such lender. In addition, if we ever file for bankruptcy, lenders under our repurchase agreements may be able to avoid the automatic stay provisions of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and take possession of and liquidate our collateral under our repurchase agreements without delay. In the event that either we or one of our lenders file for bankruptcy, we may incur losses in amounts equal to the excess of our collateral pledged over the amount of repurchase agreement borrowing due to the lender.
RISKS RELATED TO OUR QUALIFICATION AS A REIT AND TAX RELATED OR OTHER REGULATORY MATTERS
If we fail to properly conduct our operations, we may not qualify for exemption under the 1940 Act, which may reduce our flexibility and limit our ability to pursue certain opportunities.
We seek to conduct our operations to avoid falling under the definition of an investment company pursuant to the 1940 Act. Specifically, we seek to conduct our operations to comply with Section 3(c)(5)(C) of the 1940 Act, which provides an exemption to companies primarily engaged in the business of purchasing or otherwise acquiring mortgages and other liens on and interests in real estate. According to SEC staff no-action letters, companies relying on this exemption must ensure that at least 55% of their assets are mortgage loans and other qualifying assets, and at least 80% of their assets are real estate-related. The 1940 Act requires that we and each of our subsidiaries evaluate our qualification for exemption under the 1940 Act. We believe that we are operating our business in accordance with the exemption requirements of Section 3(c)(5)(C) of the 1940 Act. Likewise, our subsidiaries will rely either on Section 3(c)(5)(C) of the 1940 Act or other sections of the 1940 Act that provide exemptions from registration thereunder, including Sections 3(a)(1)(C) and 3(c)(7).
Under the 1940 Act, an investment company is required to register with the SEC and is subject to extensive regulations relating to, among other things, operating methods, management, capital structure, leverage, dividends, and transactions with affiliates. If we are classified as an investment company, our ability to use leverage and conduct business as we do today would be substantially impaired. This would severely impact our profitability and ability to pay dividends to our shareholders.
In order to maintain REIT distribution requirements, we may be forced to increase our dividend distributions which could cause us to liquidate attractive assets or incur debt on unfavorable terms. If we are unable to generate the required cash for a cash dividend distribution, we may be forced to declare a dividend that is payable, at least in part, in the form of common stock, in which case shareholders may be required to pay income taxes in excess of the cash dividends received.
To qualify as a REIT and avoid certain taxes, we must generally distribute at least 90% of our taxable income annually to our stockholders, subject to certain adjustments and excluding any net capital gain. To the extent that we satisfy this 90% distribution requirement, but distribute less than 100% of our taxable income, including our
net capital gain, we will be subject to federal corporate income tax on our undistributed taxable income. In addition, if we fail to meet certain other thresholds for distribution of our taxable income, we may be subject to a non-deductible 4% excise tax. While we have not established a minimum dividend payment level, we aim to distribute sufficient dividends to our shareholders to satisfy the 90% distribution requirement and avoid the corporate income tax and the non-deductible 4% excise tax.
If we do not have the funds available to meet our REIT distribution requirements or to avoid corporate and excise taxes, we could be forced to use unattractive options to generate the necessary cash, such as, for example, selling assets at distressed prices, borrowing on unfavorable terms, distributing amounts that would otherwise be invested or used to repay debt, or paying dividends in the form of common stock. Taxable shareholders receiving common stock will be required to include in income, as a dividend, the full value of such stock, to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings for federal income tax purposes. As a result, a U.S. stockholder may be required to pay income taxes with respect to such dividends in excess of the cash dividends received.
As of December 31, 2023, we have $861.8 million of deferred tax hedge gains which were recognized in GAAP net income (loss) during 2023 and prior periods. Our projected amortization of these deferred tax hedge gains into taxable income for 2024 is currently estimated to be $102.9 million, though this amount is subject to change based on a number of factors, particularly given the degree of uncertainty about the trajectory of interest rates. It is possible that our REIT distribution requirements may exceed the net cash we generate from our operations during 2024.
We have not established a minimum dividend payment level and we may not have the ability to pay dividends in the future. Furthermore, our monthly dividend strategy could attract shareholders that are especially sensitive to the level and frequency of the dividend. If we were to reduce the dividend or change back to a quarterly payment cycle, our share price could materially decline.
We currently intend to pay regular dividends to our common shareholders and to make distributions to our shareholders in amounts such that all or substantially all of our taxable income, subject to certain adjustments including utilization of our NOL, is distributed. However, we have not established a minimum dividend payment level, and the amount of our dividend is subject to fluctuation. Our ability to pay dividends may be adversely affected by the risk factors described herein. All distributions will be made at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend on our GAAP and tax earnings, our financial condition, the requirements for REIT qualification and such other factors as our Board of Directors may deem relevant from time to time. We may not be able to make distributions, or our Board of Directors may change our dividend policy in the future. To the extent that we decide to pay dividends in excess of our current and accumulated tax earnings and profits, such distributions would generally be considered a return of capital for federal income tax purposes. A return of capital reduces the basis of a shareholder’s investment in our common stock to the extent of such basis and is treated as capital gain thereafter.
Our strategy of paying a monthly dividend is designed in part to attract retail shareholders that invest in stocks which pay a monthly dividend. The ownership of our stock may become overly concentrated in shareholders who only invest in monthly dividend paying stocks. These shareholders may be more sensitive to reductions in the dividend or a change in the payment cycle and our share price could materially decline if we were to reduce the dividend or change the payment cycle of our dividend.
Qualifying as a REIT involves highly technical and complex provisions of the Tax Code, and a technical or inadvertent violation could jeopardize our REIT qualification. Maintaining our REIT status may reduce our flexibility to manage our operations.
Qualification as a REIT involves the application of highly technical and complex Tax Code provisions for which only limited judicial and administrative authorities exist. Even a technical or inadvertent violation could jeopardize our REIT qualification. Our qualification as a REIT will depend on our satisfaction of certain asset, income, organizational, distribution, shareholder ownership and other requirements on a continuing basis. Our operations and use of leverage also subject us to interpretations of the Tax Code, and any violations of the relevant requirements under the Tax Code could cause us to lose our REIT status or to pay significant penalties and interest. In addition, our ability to satisfy the requirements to qualify as a REIT depends in part on the actions of third parties
over which we have no control or only limited influence, including in cases where we own an equity interest in an entity that is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Maintaining our REIT status may limit flexibility in managing our operations. For instance:
•Compliance with the REIT requirements may limit the type or extent of investment or hedging activities.
•Our ability to own non-real estate related assets and earn non-real estate related income is limited. Our ability to own equity interests in other entities is limited. If we fail to comply with these limits, we may be forced to liquidate attractive assets on short notice on unfavorable terms in order to maintain our REIT status.
•Our ability to invest in taxable subsidiaries is limited under the REIT rules. Maintaining compliance with this limitation could require us to constrain the growth of future taxable REIT affiliates.
•Notwithstanding our NOL carryforward, meeting minimum REIT dividend distribution requirements could reduce our liquidity. Earning non-cash REIT taxable income could necessitate our selling assets, incurring debt, or raising new equity in order to fund dividend distributions.
•Stock ownership tests may limit our ability to raise significant amounts of equity capital from one source.
If we do not qualify as a REIT or fail to remain qualified as a REIT, we may be subject to tax as a regular corporation and could face a tax liability, which would reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to our shareholders. We would also violate debt covenants in certain repurchase and derivative agreements which may put us in default on these agreements.
We intend to operate in a manner that will allow us to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. Our ability to satisfy the asset tests depends upon our analysis of the characterization and fair market values of our assets, some of which are not susceptible to a precise determination, and for which we will not obtain independent appraisals. Our compliance with the REIT income and quarterly asset requirements also depends upon our ability to successfully manage the composition of our income and assets on an ongoing basis.
If we were to fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, we would be subject to federal income tax, after consideration of any remaining NOL carryforward but not considering any dividends paid to our shareholders during the respective tax year. The resulting corporate tax liability could be material. Unless we were entitled to relief under certain Tax Code provisions, we also would be disqualified from taxation as a REIT until the fifth taxable year following the year for which we failed to qualify as a REIT. If we were to lose our REIT status, our lenders would have the right to terminate any repurchase agreement borrowings and derivative contracts outstanding at that time. This would further stress our liquidity position, reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to our shareholders and could further exacerbate the adverse impacts on the value of our common stock described above.
Dividends payable by REITs do not qualify for the reduced tax rates available for some dividends.
The maximum tax rate applicable to “qualified dividend income” payable to U.S. shareholders that are taxed at individual rates is lower than corresponding maximum ordinary income tax rates. Dividends payable by REITs, however, are generally not eligible for the reduced rates on qualified dividend income. Rather, under the current law, qualified REIT dividends constitute “qualified business income” and thus a 20% deduction is available to individual taxpayers with respect to such dividends, resulting in a 29.6% maximum federal tax rate (plus the 3.8% surtax on net investment income, if applicable) for individual U.S. shareholders. Additionally, without further legislative action, the 20% deduction applicable to qualified REIT dividends will expire on January 1, 2026. The more favorable rates applicable to regular corporate qualified dividends could cause investors who are taxed at individual rates to perceive investments in REITs to be relatively less attractive than equity investments in non-REIT entities that pay dividends, which could adversely affect the value of the shares of REITs, including our common stock.
Legislative or other actions affecting REITs could materially and adversely affect us and our shareholders.
The rules dealing with U.S. federal income taxation are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process and by the IRS and the U.S. Treasury. We cannot predict how changes in the tax laws might affect us or our shareholders. New legislation, U.S. Treasury regulations, administrative interpretations or court decisions could significantly and negatively affect our ability to qualify as a REIT or the U.S. federal income tax consequences of such qualification.
Uncertainty exists with respect to the treatment of our TBAs for purposes of the REIT asset and income tests.
There is no direct authority with respect to the qualification of TBAs as real estate assets or U.S. government securities for purposes of the 75% asset test or the qualification of income or gains from dispositions of TBAs as gains from the sale of real property or other qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test. However, we treat our TBAs as qualifying assets for purposes of the REIT 75% asset test, and we treat income and gains from our TBAs as qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test, based on an opinion of a nationally recognized accounting and tax services firm, substantially to the effect that (i) for purposes of the REIT asset tests, our ownership of a TBA should more likely than not be treated as ownership of the underlying Agency RMBS, and (ii) for purposes of the 75% REIT gross income test, any gain recognized by us in connection with the settlement of our TBAs should more likely than not be treated as gain from the sale or disposition of the underlying Agency RMBS. Tax opinions are not binding on the IRS, and no assurance can be given that the IRS will not successfully challenge the conclusions set forth in such opinions. In addition, we must emphasize that the opinion is based on various assumptions relating to our TBAs and is conditioned upon fact-based representations and covenants made by our management regarding our TBAs. No assurance can be given that the IRS would not assert that such assets or income are not qualifying assets or income. If the IRS were to successfully challenge the opinion, we could be subject to a penalty tax or we could fail to remain qualified as a REIT if a sufficient portion of our assets consists of TBAs or a sufficient portion of our income consists of income or gains from the disposition of TBAs.
For REIT qualification purposes, we treat repurchase agreement transactions as financing of the investments pledged as collateral. If the IRS disagrees with this treatment, our ability to qualify as a REIT could be adversely affected.
Repurchase agreement financing arrangements are structured legally as a sale and repurchase whereby we sell certain of our investments to a counterparty and simultaneously enter into an agreement to repurchase these securities at a later date in exchange for a purchase price. Economically, these agreements are financings which are secured by the investments sold pursuant thereto. We believe that we would be treated for REIT asset and income test purposes as the owner of the securities that are the subject of any such sale and repurchase agreement, notwithstanding that such agreement may legally transfer record ownership of the securities to the counterparty during the term of the agreement. It is possible, however, that the IRS could assert that we did not own the securities during the term of the sale and repurchase agreement, in which case we could fail to qualify as a REIT.
Even if we remain qualified as a REIT, we may face other tax liabilities that reduce our cash flow and our profitability.
Even if we remain qualified for taxation as a REIT, we may be subject to certain federal, state and local taxes on our income and assets, including taxes on any undistributed income, tax on income from certain activities conducted as a result of a foreclosure or considered prohibited transactions under the Tax Code, and state or local income taxes. Any of these taxes would decrease cash available for distribution to our shareholders. In addition, in order to meet the REIT qualification requirements, or to avert the imposition of a 100% tax that applies to certain gains derived by a REIT from prohibited transactions, we may hold some of our assets through a taxable REIT subsidiary (“TRS”) or other subsidiary corporations that will be subject to corporate-level income tax at regular rates to the extent that such TRS does not have an NOL carryforward. Any of these taxes would decrease cash available for distribution to our shareholders.
Recognition of excess inclusion income by us could have adverse consequences to us or our shareholders.
Certain of our securities have historically generated excess inclusion income and may continue to do so in the future. Certain categories of shareholders, such as foreign shareholders eligible for treaty or other benefits, shareholders with NOLs, and certain tax-exempt shareholders that are subject to unrelated business income tax, could be subject to increased taxes on a portion of their dividend income from us that is attributable to excess inclusion income. In addition, to the extent that our stock is owned by tax-exempt “disqualified organizations,” such as certain government-related entities and charitable remainder trusts that are not subject to tax on unrelated business income, we may incur a corporate level tax on a portion of our income. In that case, we may reduce the amount of our distributions to any disqualified organization whose stock ownership gave rise to the tax.
The stock ownership limit imposed by the Tax Code for REITs and our Restated Articles of Incorporation (“Articles of Incorporation”) may restrict our business combination opportunities. The stock ownership limitation may also result in reduced liquidity of our stock and may result in losses to an acquiring shareholder.
To qualify as a REIT under the Tax Code, not more than 50% in value of our outstanding stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Tax Code to include certain entities) at any time during the last half of each taxable year. Our Articles of Incorporation, with certain exceptions, authorize our Board of Directors to take the actions that are necessary and desirable to qualify as a REIT. Pursuant to our Articles of Incorporation, no person may beneficially or constructively own more than 9.8% of our capital stock (including our common and preferred stocks). Our Board of Directors may grant an exemption from this 9.8% stock ownership limitation, in its sole discretion, subject to such conditions, representations and undertakings as it determines to be reasonably necessary.
Our Articles of Incorporation’s constructive ownership rules are complex and may cause the outstanding stock owned by a group of related individuals or entities to be deemed as constructively owned by one individual. As a result, the acquisition of less than 9.8% of the outstanding stock by an individual or entity could cause that individual or entity to own constructively in excess of the ownership limit. Our Board of Directors has the right to refuse to transfer any shares of our capital stock in a transaction that would result in ownership in excess of the ownership limit. In addition, we have the right to redeem shares of our capital stock held in excess of the ownership limit.
The ownership limits contained in our Articles of Incorporation are intended to assist us in complying with tax law requirements and to minimize administrative burdens. However, these ownership limits might also delay or prevent a transaction or a change in our control that might be in the best interest of our shareholders.
The stock ownership limit imposed by the Tax Code for REITs and our Articles of Incorporation may impair the ability of holders to convert shares of our outstanding preferred stock into shares of our common stock upon a change of control.
The terms of our outstanding preferred stock provide that, upon occurrence of a change of control (as defined in the Articles of Incorporation), each holder of our outstanding preferred stock may have the right to convert, in conjunction with a change in control, all or part of such outstanding preferred stock held by such holder into a number of shares of our common stock per share of outstanding preferred stock based on the formulas set forth in our Articles of Incorporation. However, the stock ownership restrictions in our Articles of Incorporation also restrict ownership of shares of our outstanding preferred stock. As a result, no holder of outstanding preferred stock will be entitled to convert such stock into our common stock to the extent that receipt of our common stock would cause the holder to exceed the ownership limitations contained in our Articles of Incorporation, endanger the tax status of one or more real estate mortgage investment conduits in which we may have an interest, or result in the imposition of a direct or indirect penalty tax on us. These provisions may limit the ability of a holder of outstanding preferred stock to convert shares of preferred stock into our common stock upon a change of control, which could adversely affect the market price of shares of our outstanding preferred stock.
If we fail to abide by certain Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) rules and regulations, we may be subject to enforcement action by the CFTC.
The Dodd-Frank Act established a comprehensive new regulatory framework for derivative contracts commonly referred to as “swaps.” As a result, any investment fund that trades in swaps or other derivatives may be considered a “commodity pool,” which would cause its operators (in some cases, the fund’s directors) to be regulated as commodity pool operators (“CPO”). On December 7, 2012, the CFTC’s Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary Oversight (the “Division”) issued no-action relief from CPO registration to mortgage REITs that use CFTC-regulated products (“commodity interests”) and that satisfy certain enumerated criteria. Pursuant to the no-action letter, the Division will not recommend that the CFTC take enforcement action against a mortgage REIT if its operator fails to register as a CPO, provided that the mortgage REIT (i) submits a claim to take advantage of the relief and (ii) the mortgage REIT: (a) limits the initial margin and premiums required to establish its commodity interest positions to no greater than 5% of the fair market value of the mortgage REIT’s total assets; (b) limits the net income derived annually from its commodity interest positions, excluding the income from commodity interest positions that are “qualifying hedging transactions,” to less than 5% of its annual gross income; (c) does not market
interests in the mortgage REIT to the public as interests in a commodity pool or otherwise in a vehicle for trading in the commodity futures, commodity options or swaps markets; and (d) either: (1) identified itself as a “mortgage REIT” in Item G of its last U.S. income tax return on Form 1120-REIT; or (2) if it has not yet filed its first U.S. income tax return on Form 1120-REIT, it discloses to its shareholders that it intends to identify itself as a “mortgage REIT” in its first U.S. income tax return on Form 1120-REIT.
We believe that we have complied with all of the requirements set forth above as of December 31, 2023. If we fail to satisfy the criteria set forth above, or if the criteria change, we may become subject to CFTC regulation or enforcement action, the consequences of which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
OTHER RISK FACTORS RELATED TO OUR BUSINESS
We rely on a third-party service provider for critical operational and trade functions and on other third parties for information and communication systems, and problems in the use, access, or performance of these systems, including as a result of any cybersecurity incident, could increase our costs and significantly disrupt our ability to operate our business, which may have a significant adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.
Certain critical functions of our business relating to our trading and borrowing activities, including MBS trading and repurchase agreement borrowing activities, are operated and managed by a third-party service provider. This service and related technologies may become unavailable due to a variety of reasons, including outages, interruptions, or other failure to perform. The risk of operational failure or constraints of this third-party service could cause us to default on contractual obligations, fail to meet margin calls, or otherwise experience breaches or disruptions to our critical business relationships, which could have a significant adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
Additionally, any failure or interruption of our operational and trading systems or communication or information systems, caused by a cybersecurity breach of our networks or systems, or the third-party service providers’ networks or systems, could cause delays or other problems in our trading or borrowing activities or lead to unauthorized trading activity, any of which may have a significant adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations. Geopolitical tensions or conflicts may further heighten the risk of cybersecurity attacks. A disruption or breach could also lead to the unauthorized access, release, misuse, loss or destruction of confidential information, including the personal or confidential information of our employees or third parties, which could lead to regulatory fines, increased expenses due to the costs of remediating a breach, reputational harm, and fewer third parties willing to do business with us.
Computer malware, viruses, computer hacking, and phishing attacks have become more prevalent and may occur on our or our third-party service providers’ systems. We have no control over our third-party service providers’ systems, and any cybersecurity breach of their network or systems could compromise our operations. Even with all reasonable security efforts, not every system or network breach can be prevented or even detected. Furthermore, because the vast majority of our employees are working remotely from their homes, there is an increased risk of disruption to our operations because our employees’ residential networks and infrastructure may not be as secure as our office environment. We may face increased costs as we (i) continue to evolve our cybersecurity defenses in order to contend with evolving risks, (ii) monitor our systems for cyber-attacks and security threats, and (iii) seek to determine the extent of our losses in the event of a cybersecurity breach. The costs and losses associated with preventing cybersecurity breaches are difficult to predict and quantify and could have a significant adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. We rely heavily on the financial, accounting, risk management and other data processing systems provided by our third-party service providers, and any failure to maintain performance, reliability and security of these systems and our other technical infrastructure could have a significant adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations. Furthermore, we have no control over the cybersecurity systems used by our third-party service providers, and such third-party service providers may have limited indemnification obligations to us.
We may change our investment strategy, operating policies, dividend policy, and/or asset allocations without shareholder consent and/or in a manner in which shareholders, analysts, and capital markets may not agree with us.
A change in our investment strategy or asset allocation may materially change our exposure to interest rate and/or credit risk, default risk and real estate market fluctuations. These changes could have a material impact on our ability to continue to pay a dividend at a level that we had previously paid before the change in strategy. Furthermore, if any change in investment strategy, asset allocation, operating or dividend policy is perceived negatively by the markets or analysts covering our stock, our stock price may decline. Part of our investment strategy includes deciding whether to reinvest payments received on our existing investment portfolio. Based on market conditions, our leverage, and our liquidity profile, we may decide to not reinvest the cash flows we receive from our investment portfolio. If we retain, rather than reinvest these cash flows, the size of our investment portfolio and the amount of net interest income generated by our investment portfolio will likely decline. In addition, if the assets we acquire in the future earn lower yields than the assets we currently own, our reported earnings per share will likely decline over time as the older assets pay down or are sold.
We may be subject to risks associated with artificial intelligence (“AI”) and machine learning technology.
Recent technological advances in AI and machine learning technology may pose risks to us. In the future, we may utilize machine learning to leverage new technology and create efficiencies or opportunities. Our use of AI could give rise to legal or regulatory action, create liabilities, or materially harm our business. While we aim to develop and use AI and machine learning technology responsibly and attempt to mitigate ethical and legal issues presented by its use, we may ultimately be unsuccessful in identifying or resolving issues before they arise. Further, as the technology is rapidly evolving, costs and obligations could be imposed on us to comply with new regulations.
We also could be exposed to the risks of machine learning technology if third-party service providers or any counterparties, whether or not known to us, also use machine learning technology in their business activities. We will not be in a position to control the use of such technology in third-party products or services. Use by third-party service providers could give rise to issues pertaining to data privacy, data protection, and intellectual property considerations.
Share repurchases of our common stock or Series C Preferred Stock may negatively impact our compliance with covenants in our financing agreements and regulatory requirements (including maintaining exclusions from the requirements of the 1940 Act and qualification as a REIT). Any compliance failures associated with share repurchases could have a material negative effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Share repurchases also may negatively impact our ability to invest in our target assets in the future.
Our Board of Directors has approved a share repurchase program which permits the Company to repurchase shares of its common stock at any time or from time-to-time at management’s discretion. Certain of our financing agreements have financial covenants that may be impacted by our share repurchases. Furthermore, if we fund share repurchases by selling our investments, the allocation of our investment portfolio for purposes of maintaining an exclusion from the requirements of the 1940 Act could be impacted as well as our ability to comply with income and asset tests required to qualify as a REIT. In addition, our decision to repurchase shares under the Program could adversely affect our competitive position, and could negatively impact our ability in the future to invest in assets that have a greater potential return than our share repurchases.
Our profitability may be impacted by climate-related events and increasing regulatory requirements.
The effects of climate change could affect our profitability and adversely impact the value of the real estate assets securing our investments. Changing market dynamics, global policy developments and the increasing frequency and impact of extreme weather events on critical infrastructure could have the potential to disrupt our business and the business of our third-party providers.
Climate change and regulations intended to control its impact may affect the value of our investments and result in higher compliance and energy costs which would impact the broader economy. There can be no assurance that climate change will not have a material adverse effect on our assets, operations or business.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
The Company does not own or lease any physical properties that are material to its business, financial condition or results of operations.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
To the Company’s knowledge, there are no pending or threatened legal proceedings, which, in management’s opinion, individually or in the aggregate, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations or financial condition.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
None.
PART II.

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS, AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Our common stock is traded on the NYSE under the trading symbol “DX”. The common stock was held by approximately 349 holders of record as of February 20, 2024. On that date, the closing price of our common stock on the NYSE was $12.35 per share. The Company currently pays a monthly dividend on its common stock, and declared and paid cash dividends of $1.56 per common share for the year ending December 31, 2023. Please refer to “Operating and Regulatory Structure” contained within Part 1, Item I, “Business” for disclosure regarding the tax characterization of these dividends.
Our ability to pay dividends may be adversely affected by the risk factors described in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors.” All distributions will be made at the discretion of our Board of Directors who will consider the Company’s taxable income, the REIT distribution requirements of the Tax Code, financial performance measures, and maintaining compliance with dividend requirements of the Series C Preferred Stock, and such other factors our Board of Directors may deem relevant from time to time.
The following graph is a five-year comparison of shareholders’ cumulative total return, assuming $100 invested at the close of trading on December 31, 2018 with reinvestment of all dividends, in each of: (i) our common stock, (ii) the stocks included in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (“S & P 500”); (iii) the stocks included in the S&P 500 Financials Index; and (iv) the stocks included in the FTSE NAREIT Mortgage REIT Index.
Cumulative Total Stockholder Returns as of December 31,
Index (1)
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Dynex Capital, Inc. Common Stock $ 100.00 $ 111.15 $ 130.06 $ 133.02 $ 112.59 $ 126.13
S&P 500 Index $ 100.00 $ 131.47 $ 155.65 $ 200.29 $ 163.98 $ 207.04
S&P 500 Financials Index $ 100.00 $ 132.09 $ 129.77 $ 175.02 $ 156.52 $ 175.46
FTSE NAREIT mREIT Index $ 100.00 $ 121.27 $ 98.69 $ 114.05 $ 84.00 $ 96.76
(1) Source: Bloomberg
The historical information set forth above is not necessarily indicative of future performance. Accordingly, we do not make or endorse any predictions as to future share performance.
The Company’s Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to $60 million of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock and up to $30 million of the Company’s Series C Preferred Stock through March 31, 2024. Subject to applicable securities laws and the terms of the Series C Preferred Stock designation, which is contained in our Articles of Incorporation, future repurchases of common stock will be made at times and in amounts as the Company deems appropriate, provided that the repurchase price per share is less than the Company's estimate of the current net book value of a share of common stock. Repurchases may be suspended or discontinued at any time. The Company did not repurchase any shares during the three months ended December 31, 2023.
The Company has an at-the-market agreement ("ATM") whereby the Company may offer and sell through its sales agents up to approximately 36.1 million shares of common stock. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company issued 3,329,802 shares of its common stock through its ATM program at an aggregate value of $42.6 million, net of $0.5 million in broker commissions, of which 482,673 shares were issued during the fourth quarter of 2023 at an aggregate value of $5.9 million, net of $0.1 million in broker commissions.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
ITEM 6. [Reserved]

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and the related notes included in Item 8, "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors including, but not limited to, those disclosed in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and in other documents filed with the SEC and otherwise publicly disclosed. Please refer to “Forward-Looking Statements” contained within this Item 7 for additional information. This discussion also contains non-GAAP financial measures, which are discussed in the section “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”
For a complete description of our business including our operating policies, investment philosophy and strategy, financing and hedging strategies, and other important information, please refer to Item 1 of Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW
The focus in early 2023 was the rate of inflation and whether the increases in the Federal Funds Target Rate (“Fed Funds rate”), which started in 2022, would be sufficient to tamp down inflation or if more increases would be needed in 2023. The Federal Reserve continued its path of rate increases in early 2023, prompting interest rates across the yield curve to rise. In early March, the U.S. market experienced a regional bank crisis driven by the combination of unhedged low coupon securities and downgrades which spurred large scale and rapid movement of customer deposits. Given the severe liquidity issues caused by the loss of deposits, several institutions either failed and were seized or were taken over by larger more solvent institutions. Interest rates temporarily fell post regional bank crisis before refocusing on inflation and rising throughout most of the year as the Federal Reserve signaled the need for higher interest rates and messaged a need for “higher for longer” U.S. Federal Reserve policy. In the fourth quarter of 2023, many economic forecasts for 2024 predicted rate cuts, and as a result, interest rates fell going into year end. Despite a very volatile 2023 that experienced over a 170 basis point change in the 10-year U.S. Treasury rate from peak to trough, the rate closed out 2023 virtually unchanged from the end of 2022.
Global unrest continues in many parts of the world. The Russia and Ukraine war is ongoing and the attack on Israel by Hamas has created unrest in that region. The economic benefit of the reopening of China post Covid-19
restrictions did not materialize in 2023, and many are looking to the region to determine what steps China may take to stimulate its economy and work with trade partners on a global basis.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning created much enthusiasm for investors and entrepreneurs looking to leverage and seize the opportunity. This was tempered by regulators who fear unintended consequences and ethical dilemmas based on incorrect results and data bias. The debates over these issues will continue into the future.
Market Data
The charts below show the range of U.S. Treasury rates for the past twelve months and information regarding market spreads as of and for the periods indicated:
Market Spreads as of:
Change in Spreads
YTD
Investment Type: December 31, 2023 September 30, 2023 June 30, 2023 March 31, 2023 December 31, 2022
Agency RMBS: (1)
2.0% coupon 76 84 67 79 62 14
2.5% coupon 78 88 72 79 68 10
3.0% coupon 79 88 74 78 70 9
3.5% coupon 75 87 73 75 72 3
4.0% coupon 74 87 73 74 62 12
4.5% coupon 73 84 71 79 60 13
5.0% coupon 69 86 75 70 53 16
5.5% coupon 66 87 76 68 50 16
6.0% coupon 60 87 74 60 57 3
Agency DUS (Agency CMBS)(2)
76 80 72 78 74 2
Freddie K AAA IO (Agency CMBS IO)(2)
180 185 175 210 235 (55)
AAA CMBS IO (Non-Agency CMBS IO)(2)
225 275 301 350 315 (90)
(1)Option adjusted spreads (“OAS”) are based on Company estimates using third-party models and market data. OAS shown for prior periods may differ from previous disclosures because.the Company regularly updates the third-party model used.
(2)Data represents the spread to swap rate on newly issued securities and is sourced from J.P. Morgan.
Summary of Results
The following table provides details about the changes in our financial position during the year ended December 31, 2023:
Net Change in Fair Value Components of Comprehensive Income
Common Book Value Rollforward Per Common Share
Balance as of December 31, 2022 (1)
$ 789,828 $ 14.73
Net interest expense
$ (7,931)
G & A and other operating expenses (32,879)
Preferred stock dividends (7,694)
Changes in fair value:
MBS and loans $ 90,429
TBAs (22,063)
U.S. Treasury futures (12,430)
Put options on U.S. Treasury futures
1,588
Total net change in fair value 57,524
Comprehensive income to common shareholders
9,020 0.16
Capital transactions:
Net proceeds from stock issuance (2)
46,951 (0.02)
Common dividends declared (86,564) (1.56)
Balance as of December 31, 2023 (1)
$ 759,235 $ 13.31
(1)Amounts represent total shareholders' equity less the aggregate liquidation preference of the Company's
preferred stock, in thousands and on a per common share basis.
(2)Net proceeds from stock issuance include $42.6 million from common stock ATM program and $4.3 million from share-based compensation grants, net of amortization. The amount shown for “per common share” includes the impact of the increase in the number of common shares outstanding.
In all market environments, we seek to pay a consistent dividend and preserve book value for our shareholders. This year, we remained focused on minimizing the impact of volatile interest rates and spreads by actively managing leverage and liquidity. To minimize the loss in fair value of our investments from higher interest rates, we continuously monitored and adjusted our hedge position throughout the year as macroeconomic views and market factors changed. Spread tightening experienced late in the fourth quarter of 2023 favorably impacted the fair value of our investment portfolio because we purchased $3.6 billion in Agency RMBS during 2023 when spreads were wider relative to December 31, 2023. As a result, the net gains on our investment portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2023 exceeded net losses on our interest rate hedges. Comprehensive income to common shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $9.0 million, or $0.16 per common share. Total economic return to our common shareholders of $0.14 per common share, or 1.0% of beginning book value, consisted of a decline in book value of $(1.42) offset by dividends declared of $1.56.
Realized gains and losses on interest rate hedges are recognized in GAAP net income (loss) in the same reporting period in which the derivative instrument matures or is terminated, but are not included in our earnings available for distribution ("EAD"), a non-GAAP measure, during any reporting period. On a tax basis, realized gains and losses on derivative instruments designated for tax purposes as interest rate hedges are amortized into our REIT taxable income over the original periods hedged by those derivatives. Our estimated REIT taxable income for the year ended December 31, 2023 includes an estimated benefit of approximately $80.5 million, or $1.47 per average common share outstanding, from the amortization of accumulated deferred tax hedge gains, which were estimated to be $861.8 million as of December 31, 2023 compared to $695.2 million as of December 31, 2022. This benefit will be distributable to common shareholders as part of our taxable ordinary income in future periods. Additional information regarding the estimated impact of deferred tax hedge amortization on our estimated REIT taxable income is discussed in “Liquidity and Capital Resources” within this Item 7.
Current Outlook
Global growth expectations are muted as we enter 2024. Chinese officials appear likely to increase fiscal and monetary policy in early 2024, as the consensus forecast for GDP growth is below the pre-pandemic trend. From South Korea to Australia, economies in the region are trending for sub-trend growth. Inflation pressures in Asia remain more muted than in the rest of the world, and we believe European growth will continue to slow. Inflation in most of the Eurozone is trending lower, and most forecasts suggest price pressures will continue to ease throughout 2024.
U.S. growth expectations are subdued, with the median of Federal Reserve officials’ expectations for 2024 real GDP growth at just 1.4%. Except for the economic downturn in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, 1.4% would be the slowest pace of real GDP growth since the Global Financial Crisis in 2009. As we started 2024, market expectations for inflation were in the range of 2.0-2.5%. That said, growth and inflation are running higher than those forecasted in late 2023, which suggests that GDP growth could be higher than the Federal Reserve officials’ expectations for 2024.
Financial conditions eased dramatically in late 2023 and that has continued in the first few weeks of 2024. Futures markets are expecting easier monetary policy in 2024 and even into 2025, with as much as 150 basis points of Fed Funds rate cuts. This could be seen largely as an adjustment. The real level of the Fed Funds policy rate is historically high. Even considering a modest upside risk to consensus inflation forecasts, the Federal Reserve’s target appears to have room to adjust rates lower. However, the extent and timing of the cuts remain debatable. Growth and inflation could surprise to the upside in the first half of 2024, allowing the Federal Reserve to act less than markets suggested. Moreover, the presidential election in November could be a factor with the Federal Reserve not wanting to be seen as politically motivated.
Early in 2024, certain representatives of the Federal Reserve suggested they could consider reducing their quantitative tightening measures, a term used for the plan to shrink the Fed’s balance sheet. If the steady pace of declines in the Federal Reserve’s holdings of U.S. Treasuries and Agency MBS slows or even stops, the availability of U.S. dollar liquidity and financial conditions could improve.
Overall, yields on fixed-income spread products tightened relative to U.S. Treasuries in December 2023 as investors tried to get ahead of the January tightening typically experienced in prior years. Investors may expect lower interest-rate volatility amid less monetary tightening and possibly even easing in 2024. That would likely offer a tailwind for risky assets, especially Agency MBS, which repriced significantly in the previous two years on the expectation of declining Federal Reserve holdings. Corporate bond yields remain tighter relative to MBS, suggesting MBS could retain a bid even if corporate bonds were finally repriced for the risk of higher credit losses in a recession scenario.
Historically, yield curves have steepened as the Federal Reserve starts to ease policy. Trend models started to suggest a new steepening trend in late 2023 and early 2024. A steeper yield curve has usually proven positive for mortgages. Moreover, investors owning leveraged MBS positions could benefit from hedging in longer maturity U.S. Treasuries as the curve steepens.
Risks to the outlook remain high as we enter 2024. The ongoing war in Ukraine and the war between Hamas and the state of Israel highlight the risk of human conflict. The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence technologies has introduced multi-layered risks for 2024. Capital investment could boost developed world economies, while security risks could overwhelm emerging economies and even developed ones. Fiscal imbalances, especially in those critical to the global financial system like the U.S., will likely continue to grow in 2024. These risks remain top of mind for 2024.
Despite these risks, our outlook for 2024 is a positive one. We expect monetary policy to be less restrictive this year with lower interest rate volatility. Yield spreads relative to U.S. Treasuries should remain wider than when the Federal Reserve was more active in its purchases of MBS. Still, the spreads of MBS offer attractive leveraged returns for long-term holders. Moreover, we expect tactical opportunities to increase amid moderate spread volatility in 2024. We will likely have opportunities to actively manage our coupon exposure as markets re-price for the new liquidity environment. Finally, we see the potential for opportunities to re-introduce compelling yield opportunities in CMBS and other segments of the RMBS market.
FINANCIAL CONDITION
Investment Portfolio
Our investment portfolio (including TBAs) as of December 31, 2023 increased 27% compared to December 31, 2022. The increase during the year ended December 31, 2023 was due to our strategy of deploying capital during periods of wider spreads into higher coupon Agency RMBS with higher forward returns relative to the investments held as of December 31, 2022. We purchased Agency RMBS with a cost basis of $3.6 billion during the year ended December 31, 2023.
The following charts compare the composition of our MBS portfolio including TBA securities as of the dates indicated:
We frequently change the coupon distribution in our Agency RMBS and TBA portfolios in order to minimize losses due to spread volatility. We expect spreads will remain volatile and range-bound in the intermediate term while the Federal Reserve continues reducing MBS from its balance sheet. Longer term, as investors return to the MBS market and demand improves, we expect the fair value of our investment portfolio to increase and our book value to trend higher.
The following tables compare our fixed-rate Agency RMBS investments, including TBA dollar roll positions, as of the dates indicated:
December 31, 2023
Par/Notional Amortized Cost/
Implied Cost
Basis (1)(3)
Fair
Value (2)(3)
Weighted Average
Coupon Loan Age
(in months)(4)
3 Month
CPR (4)(5)
Estimated Duration (6)
Market Yield (7)
30-year fixed-rate: ($s in thousands)
2.0% $ 708,528 $ 720,611 $ 586,361 39 4.4 % 6.81 4.60 %
2.5% 608,580 632,343 525,018 40 4.5 % 6.62 4.59 %
4.0% 354,382 354,965 339,212 34 5.5 % 5.65 4.67 %
4.5% 1,383,019 1,350,697 1,348,108 15 5.0 % 5.08 4.88 %
5.0% 2,070,473 2,035,088 2,057,309 9 4.7 % 4.24 5.10 %
5.5% 897,520 900,218 907,524 8 5.0 % 3.58 5.29 %
TBA 4.0% 262,000 240,641 248,040 n/a n/a 5.89 4.72 %
TBA 4.5% 223,000 210,940 216,415 n/a n/a 4.75 4.92 %
TBA 5.0% 518,000 490,466 512,982 n/a n/a 3.98 5.15 %
TBA 5.5% 200,000 191,926 201,047 n/a n/a 2.81 5.36 %
TBA 6.0%
200,000 193,369 203,219 n/a n/a 2.15 5.37 %
Total $ 7,425,502 $ 7,321,264 $ 7,145,235 17 4.8 % 4.72 4.98 %
December 31, 2022
Par/Notional Amortized Cost/
Implied Cost
Basis (1)(3)
Fair
Value (2)(3)
Weighted Average
Coupon Loan Age
(in months)(4)
3 Month
CPR (4)(5)
Estimated Duration (6)
Market Yield (7)
30-year fixed-rate: ($s in thousands)
2.0% $ 1,193,344 $ 1,210,065 $ 982,387 23 5.2 % 7.14 4.53 %
2.5% 659,181 685,838 566,525 28 5.9 % 6.67 4.59 %
4.0% 325,726 329,725 309,940 25 7.2 % 5.56 4.75 %
4.5% 803,043 799,786 782,319 4 4.4 % 5.02 4.89 %
5.0% 123,204 125,460 121,707 4 7.2 % 3.99 5.19 %
TBA 4.0% 1,539,000 1,454,263 1,447,286 n/a n/a 5.47 4.80 %
TBA 4.5% 380,000 371,173 366,759 n/a n/a 4.79 4.99 %
TBA 5.0% 950,000 947,484 937,523 n/a n/a 4.24 5.20 %
Total $ 5,973,498 $ 5,923,794 $ 5,514,446 18 5.4 % 5.54 4.83 %
(1)Implied cost basis of TBAs represents the forward price to be paid for the underlying Agency MBS.
(2)Fair value of TBAs is the implied market value of the underlying Agency security as of the end of the period.
(3)TBAs are included on the consolidated balance sheet within “derivative assets/liabilities” at their net carrying value which is the difference between their implied market value and implied cost basis. Please refer to Note 5 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
(4)TBAs are excluded from this calculation as they do not have a defined weighted-average loan balance or age until mortgages have been assigned to the pool.
(5)Constant prepayment rate (“CPR”) represents the 3-month CPR of Agency RMBS held as of date indicated.
(6)Duration measures the sensitivity of a security's price to the change in interest rates and represents the percent change in price of a security for a 100-basis point increase in interest rates. We calculate duration using third-party financial models and empirical data. Different models and methodologies can produce different estimates of duration for the same securities.
(7)Represents the weighted average market yield projected using cash flows generated off the forward curve based on market prices as of the date indicated and assuming zero volatility.
Less than 4% of our MBS portfolio as of December 31, 2023 is comprised of Agency CMBS, Agency CMBS IO, and non-Agency CMBS IO. Our Agency CMBS and Agency CMBS IO are backed by loans collateralized by multifamily properties, which have performed well for the last decade versus other sectors of the commercial real estate market. Our Agency CMBS IO are Class X1 from Freddie Mac Series K deals from which interest continues to be advanced even in the event of an underlying default up until liquidation. According to Freddie Mac, 99.8% of the loans in K-deals are current as of November 2023. Our non-Agency CMBS IO were all originated prior to 2018 with a weighted average remaining life of less than 2 years. The underlying loans for the non-Agency CMBS IO securities are collateralized by a number of different property types including: 28% retail, 25% office, 15% multifamily, 12% hotel and 20% all other real estate categories. In the current macroeconomic environment, we are not actively purchasing CMBS or CMBS IO as current risk versus reward remains unattractive relative to Agency RMBS.
The following table provides certain information regarding our CMBS and CMBS IO as of the dates indicated:
December 31, 2023
($s in thousands)
Amortized Cost Fair Value WAVG Life Remaining (1)
WAVG Market Yield (2)
Agency CMBS $ 121,799 $ 115,595 4.1 4.74 %
Agency CMBS IO 140,824 133,302 5.9 5.19 %
Non-Agency CMBS IO 26,490 26,416 1.1 13.32 %
Total $ 289,113 $ 275,313
December 31, 2022
($s in thousands)
Amortized Cost Fair Value WAVG Life Remaining (1)
WAVG Market Yield (2)
Agency CMBS $ 132,333 $ 124,690 4.8 4.50 %
Agency CMBS IO 179,734 168,147 6.3 5.32 %
Non-Agency CMBS IO 59,107 56,839 2.1 8.54 %
Total $ 371,174 $ 349,676
(1) Represents the weighted average life remaining in years based on contractual cash flows as of the dates indicated.
(2) Represents the weighted average market yield projected using cash flows generated off the forward curve based on market prices as of the dates indicated and assuming zero volatility.
Repurchase Agreements
We have not experienced any difficulty in securing financing with any of our counterparties, and our repurchase agreement counterparties have not indicated any concerns regarding leverage or credit. Please refer to Note 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained within this Annual Report on Form 10-K as well as “Results of Operations” and “Liquidity and Capital Resources” contained within this Item 7 for additional information relating to our repurchase agreement borrowings.
Derivative Assets and Liabilities
The table below discloses details on the Company's interest rate hedges held as of December 31, 2023 compared to hedging portfolio held as of December 31, 2022:
Notional Amount Long (Short)
December 31, 2023 December 31, 2022
($s in thousands)
30-year U.S. Treasury futures $ (700,000) $ -
10-year U.S. Treasury futures (4,180,000) (4,180,000)
5-year U.S. Treasury futures - (740,000)
Put options on 10-year U.S. Treasury futures - 250,000
Please refer to Note 5 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for details on our interest rate hedging instruments as well as “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” in Item 7A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Year Ended December 31, 2023 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2022
Net Interest Income (Expense)
Net interest income and net interest spread declined for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to year ended December 31, 2022 due to higher borrowing costs resulting from the Federal Reserve’s increases in the Fed Funds rate during 2023. The increase in our borrowing costs has been partially offset by an increase in our average balance of investments with higher yields and our increased investment in cash equivalents. The following table presents information about our interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and their performance for the periods indicated:
Year Ended
December 31,
2023 2022
($s in thousands) Interest Income/Expense Average Balance (1)(2)
Effective Yield/
Cost of
Funds (3)(4)
Interest Income/Expense Average Balance (1)(2)
Effective Yield/
Cost of
Funds (3)(4)
Agency RMBS $ 177,695 $ 4,621,304 3.85 % $ 62,942 $ 2,871,291 2.19 %
Agency CMBS 3,713 124,157 2.96 % 3,592 162,538 2.17 %
CMBS IO (5)
9,666 202,261 4.78 % 15,555 267,984 5.80 %
Non-Agency MBS and other investments 128 2,377 5.28 % 350 4,072 8.55 %
MBS and loans $ 191,202 $ 4,950,099 3.86 % $ 82,439 $ 3,305,885 2.49 %
Cash equivalents 16,315 4,256
Total interest income $ 207,517 $ 86,695
Repurchase agreement financing (215,448) 4,034,561 (5.27) % (43,612) 2,603,712 (1.65) %
Net interest (expense) income/net interest spread $ (7,931) (1.41) % $ 43,083 0.84 %
(1)Average balance for assets is calculated as a simple average of the daily amortized cost and excludes securities pending settlement if applicable.
(2)Average balance for liabilities is calculated as a simple average of the daily borrowings outstanding during the period.
(3)Effective yield is calculated by dividing interest income by the average balance of asset type outstanding during the reporting period. Unscheduled adjustments to premium/discount amortization/accretion, such as for prepayment compensation, are not annualized in this calculation.
(4)Cost of funds is calculated by dividing annualized interest expense by the total average balance of borrowings outstanding during the period with an assumption of 360 days in a year.
(5)Includes Agency and non-Agency issued securities.
Gains (Losses) on Investments and Derivative Instruments
As shown in the graph in Executive Overview, the 10-year U.S. Treasury rate ranged from a low of 3.31% in April 2023 to a high of 4.99% in October 2023, yet ended the year where it started at 3.88%. Credit spreads, which were wider for the majority of 2023, also tightened during the fourth quarter of 2023. We purchased $3.6 billion of Agency RMBS throughout the year when credit spreads were wider relative to December 31, 2023. As a
result, the fair value of our investment portfolio including TBA securities increased a net $68.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. These gains were partially offset by net losses on our interest rate hedges of $(10.8) million for the year ended December 31, 2023.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, our interest rate hedges mitigated the impact of higher interest rates on the fair value of our investment portfolio; however, we experienced spread widening across all of our asset classes throughout 2022. As a result, the decline in the fair value of our investments including TBA securities exceeded the gains from our interest rate hedges by $54.2 million.
The following tables provide details on realized and unrealized gains and losses within our investment and interest rate hedging portfolios for the periods indicated:
Year Ended
December 31, 2023
($s in thousands) Realized Gain (Loss) Recognized in Net Income Unrealized Gain (Loss) Recognized in Net Income Unrealized Gain (Loss) Recognized in OCI Total Change in Fair Value
Investment portfolio:
Agency RMBS $ (74,916) $ 141,263 $ 16,343 $ 82,690
Agency CMBS - 96 1,342 1,438
CMBS IO - 1,111 5,148 6,259
Other non-Agency and loans - 31 10 41
Subtotal (74,916) 142,501 22,843 90,428
TBA securities (1)
(97,777) 75,713 - (22,064)
Net (loss) gain on investments $ (172,693) $ 218,214 $ 22,843 $ 68,364
Interest rate hedging portfolio:
U.S. Treasury futures $ 234,015 $ (246,445) $ - $ (12,430)
Put options on U.S. Treasury futures
3,645 (2,056) - 1,589
Net gain (loss) on interest rate hedges $ 237,660 $ (248,501) $ - $ (10,841)
Total net gain (loss)
$ 64,967 $ (30,287) $ 22,843 $ 57,523
Year Ended
December 31, 2022
($s in thousands) Realized Gain (Loss) Recognized in Net Income Unrealized Gain (Loss) Recognized in Net Income Unrealized Gain (Loss) Recognized in OCI Total Change in Fair Value
Investment portfolio:
Agency RMBS $ (89,067) $ (208,129) $ (152,734) $ (449,930)
Agency CMBS - $ (1,169) $ (14,110) (15,279)
CMBS IO - (3,924) (21,153) (25,077)
Other non-Agency and loans - 200 (78) 122
Subtotal (89,067) (213,022) (188,075) (490,164)
TBA securities (1)
(309,527) (26,120) - (335,647)
Net loss on investments $ (398,594) $ (239,142) $ (188,075) $ (825,811)
Interest rate hedging portfolio:
U.S. Treasury futures $ 642,281 $ 82,066 $ - $ 724,347
Interest rate swaptions 50,940 (3,202) - 47,738
Put options on U.S. Treasury futures
(2,487) 2,056 - (431)
Net gain on interest rate hedges $ 690,734 $ 80,920 $ - $ 771,654
Total net gain (loss) $ 292,140 $ (158,222) $ (188,075) $ (54,157)
1)Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on TBA securities are recorded within “gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net” on the Company’s consolidated statements of comprehensive income.
Operating Expenses
Operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2023 decreased $1.0 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2022 primarily due to lower consulting and legal expenses.
Year Ended December 31, 2022 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2021
Please refer to “Results of Operations” within Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 for a discussion of the results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to the year ended December 31, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In evaluating the Company’s financial and operating performance, management considers book value per common share, total economic return (loss) to common shareholders, and other operating results presented in accordance with GAAP as well as certain non-GAAP financial measures, which include the following: EAD to common shareholders (including per common share), adjusted net interest income and the related metric adjusted net interest spread. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures may be useful to investors because they are viewed by management as a measure of the investment portfolio’s return based on the effective yield of its investments, net of financing costs and, with respect to EAD, net of other normal recurring operating income/expenses. Drop income generated by TBA dollar roll positions, which is included in "gain (loss) on derivatives instruments, net" on the Company's consolidated statements of comprehensive income, is included in these non-GAAP financial measures because management views drop income as the economic equivalent of net interest
income (interest income less implied financing cost) on the underlying Agency security from trade date to settlement date. However, these non-GAAP financial measures are not a substitute for GAAP earnings and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other REITs because they may not be calculated in the same manner. Furthermore, though EAD is one of several factors our management considers in determining the appropriate level of distributions to common shareholders, it should not be utilized in isolation, and it is not an accurate indication of the Company’s REIT taxable income or its distribution requirements in accordance with the Tax Code.
Reconciliations of EAD to common shareholders and adjusted net interest income to the related GAAP financial measures are provided below.
Year Ended
Reconciliations of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures: December 31, 2023 December 31, 2022
($s in thousands except per share data)
Comprehensive income (loss) to common shareholders
$ 9,020 $ (52,608)
Less:
Change in fair value of investments (1)
(90,429) 490,164
Change in fair value of derivative instruments, net (2)
28,808 (393,401)
EAD to common shareholders $ (52,601) $ 44,155
Average common shares outstanding 54,809,462 42,491,433
EAD per common share $ (0.96) $ 1.04
Net interest expense
$ (7,931) $ 43,083
TBA drop (loss) income (3)
(4,097) 42,606
Adjusted net interest (expense) income $ (12,028) $ 85,689
Total operating expenses
(32,879) (33,840)
Preferred stock dividends (7,694) (7,694)
EAD to common shareholders $ (52,601) $ 44,155
(1)Amount includes realized and unrealized gains and losses due to changes in the fair value of the Company’s MBS.
(2)Amount includes unrealized gains and losses from changes in fair value of derivatives (including TBAs accounted for as derivative instruments) and realized gains and losses on terminated derivatives and excludes TBA drop loss.
(3)TBA drop income is calculated by multiplying the notional amount of the TBA dollar roll positions by the difference in price between two TBA securities with the same terms but different settlement dates.
We primarily use U.S. Treasury futures to hedge the impact of increasing interest rates on our borrowing costs and the fair value of our investments. In the past, we used interest rate swaps to hedge interest rate risk and included the net periodic interest benefit/cost of those instruments in each of the non-GAAP measures mentioned above. Management is using U.S. Treasury futures instead of interest rate swaps because U.S. Treasury futures generally have lower margin requirements and offer more liquidity and flexibility in the current volatile interest rate environment. The Company’s realized gains on its U.S. Treasury futures as well as other interest rate hedges are included in GAAP earnings in the same reporting period in which the derivative instrument matures or is terminated, but are not included in EAD or adjusted net interest income during any reporting period. Furthermore, because the majority of the U.S. Treasury futures and other derivative instruments are designated as hedges for tax purposes, the realized gains are not distributable to our shareholders until amortized into REIT taxable income over the period originally hedged. Additional information regarding the expected impact of deferred tax hedge amortization on our estimated REIT taxable income is discussed in “Executive Overview” and “Liquidity and Capital Resources.”
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Our primary sources of liquidity include borrowings under repurchase arrangements and monthly principal and interest payments we receive on our investments. Additional sources may also include proceeds from the sale of
investments, equity offerings, and net payments received from counterparties for derivative instruments. We use our liquidity to purchase investments, to pay amounts due on our repurchase agreement borrowings, and to pay our operating expenses and dividends on our common and preferred stock. We also use our liquidity to meet margin requirements for our repurchase agreements and derivative transactions, including TBA contracts, under the terms of the related agreements. We may also periodically use liquidity to repurchase shares of the Company’s stock.
Our liquidity fluctuates based on our investment activities, our leverage, capital raising activities, and changes in the fair value of our investments and derivative instruments. Our measurement of liquidity includes unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and unencumbered Agency MBS, which are recognized as assets on our consolidated balance sheet. We also include in our measure of liquidity the fair value of noncash collateral pledged to us by our counterparties, which we typically receive when the fair value of our pledged collateral exceeds our current margin requirement. Though the fair value of this noncash collateral is not recorded on our consolidated balance sheet, we include this amount in our liquidity measure because we have the right repledge the noncash collateral pledged to us by our counterparties. Our liquidity as of December 31, 2023 was $453.6 million, which consisted of unrestricted cash of $119.6 million, unencumbered Agency MBS with a fair value of $157.6 million, and noncash collateral received from our counterparties, which consisted of U.S. Treasuries and Agency RMBS, with a fair value of $176.3 million. The decline in our liquidity, which was $632.3 million as of December 31, 2022, is primarily due to our use of cash to partially finance investment purchases during the year ended December 31, 2023 and to cover dividends declared in excess of cash provided by operating activities.
We continuously monitor our liquidity, especially with potential risk events on the horizon, such as uncertainty regarding Federal Reserve policy decisions, frequent potential for a government shutdown, the impact on global markets stemming from global central bank policies, and the wars between Russia and Ukraine and between Israel and Hamas. We continuously assess the adequacy of our liquidity under various scenarios based on changes in the fair value of our investments and derivative instruments due to market factors such as changes in the absolute level of interest rates and the shape of the yield curve, credit spreads, lender haircuts, and prepayment speeds, which in turn have an impact on derivative margin requirements. In performing these analyses, we will also consider the current state of the fixed income markets and the repurchase agreement markets in order to determine if market forces such as supply-demand imbalances or structural changes to these markets could change the liquidity of MBS or the availability of financing. We also communicate frequently with our counterparties. We have not experienced any material changes in the terms of our repurchase agreements with our counterparties, and they have not indicated to us any concerns regarding access to liquidity.
Our perception of the liquidity of our investments and market conditions significantly influences our targeted leverage. In general, our leverage will increase if we view the risk-reward opportunity of higher leverage on our capital outweighs the risk to our liquidity and book value. Our leverage, which we calculate using total liabilities plus the cost basis of TBA long positions, was 7.8 times shareholders’ equity as of December 31, 2023. We include the cost basis of our TBA securities in evaluating our leverage because it is possible under certain market conditions that it may be uneconomical for us to roll a TBA long position into future months, which may result in us having to take physical delivery of the underlying securities and use cash or other financing sources to fund our total purchase commitment. Leverage based on repurchase agreement amounts outstanding was 6.2 times shareholders’ equity as of December 31, 2023.
Our repurchase agreement borrowings are principally uncommitted with terms renewable at the discretion of our lenders and generally have original terms to maturity of overnight to six months, though in some instances we may enter into longer-dated maturities depending on market conditions. We seek to maintain unused capacity under our existing repurchase agreement credit lines with multiple counterparties, which helps protect us in the event of a counterparty's failure to renew existing repurchase agreements. As part of our continuous evaluation of counterparty risk, we maintain our highest counterparty exposures with broker dealer subsidiaries of regulated financial institutions or primary dealers.
The amount outstanding for our repurchase agreement borrowings will typically fluctuate in any given period as it is dependent upon a number of factors, but particularly the extent to which we are active in buying and selling securities, including the volume of activity in TBA dollar roll transactions versus buying specified pools. The following table presents information regarding the balances of our repurchase agreement borrowings as of and for the periods indicated:
Repurchase Agreements
($s in thousands) Balance Outstanding As of
Quarter End Average Balance Outstanding For the Quarter Ended Maximum Balance Outstanding During the Quarter Ended
December 31, 2023 $ 5,381,104 $ 5,168,821 $ 5,381,354
September 30, 2023 5,002,230 4,773,435 5,037,440
June 30, 2023 4,201,901 3,447,406 4,203,788
March 31, 2023 2,937,124 2,713,481 2,959,263
December 31, 2022 2,644,405 2,727,274 3,072,483
September 30, 2022 2,991,876 2,398,268 3,082,138
June 30, 2022 2,202,648 2,486,217 2,949,918
March 31, 2022 2,952,802 2,806,212 2,973,475
December 31, 2021 2,849,916 2,701,191 2,873,523
September 30, 2021 2,527,065 2,529,023 2,590,185
June 30, 2021 2,321,043 2,155,200 2,415,037
March 31, 2021 2,032,089 2,158,121 2,437,163
December 31, 2020 2,437,163 2,500,639 2,594,683
For our repurchase agreement borrowings, we are required to post and maintain margin to the lender (i.e., collateral in excess of the repurchase agreement borrowing) in order to support the amount of the financing. This excess collateral is often referred to as a “haircut” and is intended to provide the lender protection against fluctuations in fair value of the collateral and/or the failure by us to repay the borrowing at maturity. Lenders have the right to change haircut requirements at maturity of the repurchase agreement and may change their haircuts based on market conditions and the perceived riskiness of the collateral pledged. If the fair value of the collateral falls below the amount required by the lender, the lender has the right to demand additional margin, or collateral.. These demands are referred to as “margin calls,” and if we fail to meet any margin call, our lenders have the right to terminate the repurchase agreement and sell any collateral pledged. The weighted average haircut for our borrowings as of December 31, 2023 was consistent with prior periods, which has typically averaged less than 5% for borrowings collateralized with Agency RMBS and CMBS and between 12-16% for borrowings collateralized with CMBS IO.
The collateral we post in excess of our repurchase agreement borrowing with any counterparty is also typically referred to by us as “equity at risk,” which represents the potential loss to the Company if the counterparty is unable or unwilling to return collateral securing the repurchase agreement borrowing at its maturity. The counterparties with whom we have the greatest amounts of equity at risk may vary significantly during any given period due to the short-term and generally uncommitted nature of the repurchase agreement borrowings. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had amounts outstanding under 28 different repurchase agreements and did not have more than 10% of equity at risk with any counterparty or group of related counterparties.
We have various financial and operating covenants in certain of our repurchase agreements, which we monitor and evaluate on an ongoing basis for compliance as well as for impacts these customary covenants may have on our operating and financing flexibility. Currently, we do not believe we are subject to any covenants that materially restrict our financing flexibility. We were in full compliance with our debt covenants as of December 31, 2023, and we are not aware of circumstances which could potentially result in our non-compliance in the foreseeable future.
Derivative Instruments
Derivative instruments we enter into may require us to post initial margin at inception and daily variation margin based on subsequent changes in their fair value. Daily variation margin requirements also entitle us to
receive collateral from our counterparties if the value of amounts owed to us under the derivative agreement exceeds the minimum margin requirement. The collateral posted as margin by us is typically in the form of cash. As of December 31, 2023, we had cash collateral posted to our counterparties of $118.2 million under these agreements.
Collateral requirements for interest rate derivative instruments are typically governed by the central clearing exchange and the associated futures commission merchant, which may establish margin requirements in excess of the clearing exchange. Collateral requirements for our TBA contracts are governed by the Mortgage-Backed Securities Division ("MBSD") of the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation and, if applicable, by our third-party brokerage agreements, which may establish margin levels in excess of the MBSD. Our TBA contracts, which are subject to master securities forward transaction agreements published by the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association as well as supplemental terms and conditions with each counterparty, generally provide that valuations for our TBA contracts and any pledged collateral are to be obtained from a generally recognized source agreed to by both parties. However, in certain circumstances, our counterparties have the sole discretion to determine the value of the TBA contract and any pledged collateral. In such instances, our counterparties are required to act in good faith in making determinations of value. In the event of a margin call, we must generally provide additional collateral on the same business day.
Dividends
As a REIT, we are required to distribute to our shareholders amounts equal to at least 90% of our REIT taxable income for each taxable year after certain deductions. When declaring dividends, our Board of Directors considers the Company’s taxable income, the REIT distribution requirements of the Tax Code, financial performance measures, and maintaining compliance with dividend requirements of the Series C Preferred Stock, along with other factors that the Board of Directors may deem relevant from time to time.
Currently, we are primarily using U.S. Treasury futures to hedge the impact of increasing interest rates on our financing costs and fair value of our investments. Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on these derivative instruments are included in GAAP earnings in the same reporting period in which the derivative instrument matures or is terminated by the Company, but are not included in EAD to common shareholders during any reporting period. Furthermore, because we designate the majority of our derivative instruments as interest rate hedges for tax purposes, realized gains and losses recognized in GAAP net income are generally not recognized in REIT taxable income until future periods. Due to the significant increase in interest rates over the past two years, our net deferred tax hedge gain has increased substantially to $861.8 million as of December 31, 2023. The amortization of our net deferred tax hedge gain will be amortized into REIT taxable income over several years. We expect our taxable income for 2023 will include $80.5 million related to amortization of net deferred tax hedge gains, and our taxable income for 2024 is currently projected to include approximately $102.9 million from amortization of deferred tax hedge gains. As of December 31, 2023, we also had $590.8 million in capital loss carryforwards, the majority of which expire by 2028, and NOL carryforwards of $8.1 million, which will expire over the next 2 years. Due to these amounts and other temporary and permanent differences between GAAP net income and REIT taxable income coupled with the degree of uncertainty about the trajectory of interest rates, we cannot reasonably estimate how much the deferred tax hedge gains to be recognized will impact our dividend declarations during 2024 or in any given year.
We generally fund our dividend distributions through our cash flows from operations. If we make dividend distributions in excess of our operating cash flows during the period, whether for purposes of meeting our REIT distribution requirements or other reasons, those distributions are generally funded either through our existing cash balances or through the return of principal from our investments (either through repayment or sale). Please refer to "Operating and Regulatory Structure" within Part I, Item 1, "Business" as well as Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of our 2022 Form 10-K for additional important information regarding dividends declared on our taxable income.
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
There were no accounting pronouncements issued during the year ended December 31, 2023 that are expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations. Please refer to Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained within Part I, Item 1 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based in large part upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of our consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. We base these estimates and judgments on historical experience and assumptions believed to be reasonable under current facts and circumstances. Actual results, however, may differ from the estimated amounts we have recorded.
The following discussion provides information on our critical accounting policies that require management's most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, and which may result in materially different results under different assumptions and conditions. Please also refer to Note 1 of our Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included within Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information related to significant accounting policies.
Fair Value Measurements. Our Agency MBS, as well as a majority of our non-Agency MBS, are substantially similar to securities that either are actively traded or have been recently traded in their respective market. Pricing services and brokers have access to observable market information through trading desks and various information services. MBS prices are based on prices we receive from third-party pricing services and broker quotes. To determine each security's valuation, the pricing service uses either a market approach or income approach, both of which rely on observable market data. The market approach uses prices and other relevant information that is generated by market transactions of identical or similar securities, while the income approach uses valuation techniques to convert estimated future cash flows to a discounted present value. Management reviews the assumptions and inputs utilized in the valuation techniques. Examples of these observable inputs and assumptions include market interest rates, credit spreads, cash flows and projected prepayment speeds, among other things.
In addition, management reviews the prices received for each security by comparing those prices to actual purchase and sale transactions, our internally modeled prices that are calculated based on observable market rates and credit spreads, and the prices that our borrowing counterparties use in financing our securities. If the price of a security is obtained from quoted prices for similar instruments or model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable, the security is classified as a level 2 security. The security is classified as a level 3 security if the inputs are unobservable, resulting in an estimate of fair value based primarily on management's judgment. Please refer to Note 6 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained within Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information on fair value measurements.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain written statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K that are not historical facts constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Statements in this report addressing expectations, assumptions, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, future events, developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future, and future operating results, capital management, and dividend policy are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based upon management’s beliefs, assumptions, and expectations as of the date of this report regarding future events and operating performance, taking into account all information currently available to us, and are applicable only as of the date of this report. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by use of words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “plan,” “may,” “will,” “intend,” “should,” “could” or similar expressions. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements, which are not historical facts and may be based on projections, assumptions, expectations, and anticipated events that do not materialize. Except as required by law, we are not obligated to, and do not intend to, update or revise any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
Forward-looking statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K may include, but are not limited to statements about:
•Our business and investment strategy including our ability to generate acceptable risk-adjusted returns and our target investment allocations, and our views on the future performance of MBS and other investments;
•Our views on the macroeconomic environment, monetary and fiscal policy, and conditions in the investment, credit, interest rate and derivatives markets;
•Our views on inflation, market interest rates and market spreads;
•Our views on the effect of actual or proposed actions of the Federal Reserve or other central banks with respect to monetary policy (including the targeted Fed Funds rate), and the potential impact of these actions on interest rates, borrowing costs, inflation or unemployment;
•The effect of regulatory initiatives of the Federal Reserve, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, other financial regulators, and other central banks;
•Our financing strategy including our target leverage ratios, our use of TBA dollar roll transactions, and anticipated trends in financing costs including TBA dollar roll transaction costs, and our hedging strategy including changes to the derivative instruments to which we are a party, and changes to government regulation of hedging instruments and our use of these instruments;
•Our investment portfolio composition and target investments;
•Our investment portfolio performance, including the fair value, yields, and forecasted prepayment speeds of our investments;
•Our liquidity and ability to access financing, and the anticipated availability and cost of financing;
•Our capital stock activity including the impact of stock issuances and repurchases;
•The amount, timing, and funding of future dividends;
•Our use of our tax NOL carryforward and other tax loss carryforwards;
•Future competition for, and availability of, investments, financing and capital;
•Estimates of future interest expenses, including related to the Company’s repurchase agreements and derivative instruments;
•The status and effect of legislative reforms and regulatory rule-making or review processes, and the status of reform efforts and other business developments in the repurchase agreement financing market;
•Market, industry and economic trends, and how these trends and related economic data may impact the behavior of market participants and financial regulators;
•The impact of recent bank failures, potential new regulations and the potential for other bank failures this year:
•The impact of debt ceiling negotiations on interest rates, spreads, the U.S. Treasury market as well as the impact more broadly on fixed income and equity markets:
•Uncertainties regarding the war between Russia and the Ukraine or Israel and Hamas and the related impacts on macroeconomic conditions, including, among other things, interest rates;
•The financial position and credit worthiness of the depository institutions in which the Company’s MBS and cash deposits are held;
•The impact of applicable tax and accounting requirements on us including our tax treatment of derivative instruments such as TBAs, interest rate swaps, options and futures;
•Our future compliance with covenants in our master repurchase agreements, ISDA agreements, and debt covenants in our other contractual agreements;
•Our reliance on a single service provider of our trading, portfolio management, risk reporting and accounting services systems;
•The implementation in a timely and cost-effective manner of our operating platform, which includes trading, portfolio management, risk reporting, and accounting services systems, and the anticipated benefits thereof; and
•Possible future effects of the COVID-19 pandemic or any global health crisis.
Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from historical results or from any results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Not all of these risks and other factors are known to us. New risks and uncertainties arise over time, and it is not possible to predict those events or how they may affect us. The projections, assumptions, expectations or beliefs upon which the forward-looking statements are based can also change as a result of these risks or other factors. If such a risk or other factor materializes in future periods, our business,
financial condition, liquidity and results of operations may vary materially from those expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements.
While it is not possible to identify all factors that may cause actual results to differ from historical results or from any results expressed or implied by forward-looking statements, or that may cause our projections, assumptions, expectations or beliefs to change, some of those factors include the following:
•the risks and uncertainties referenced in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, especially those incorporated by reference into Part II, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,”;
•our ability to find suitable reinvestment opportunities;
•changes in domestic economic conditions;
•geopolitical events, such as terrorism, war or other military conflict, including increased uncertainty regarding the war between Russia and the Ukraine and the related impact on macroeconomic conditions as a result of such conflict;
•changes in interest rates and credit spreads, including the repricing of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities;
•our investment portfolio performance particularly as it relates to cash flow, prepayment rates and credit performance;
•the impact on markets and asset prices from changes in the Federal Reserve’s policies regarding the purchases of Agency RMBS, Agency CMBS, and U.S. Treasuries;
•actual or anticipated changes in Federal Reserve monetary policy or the monetary policy of other central banks;
•adverse reactions in U.S. financial markets related to actions of foreign central banks or the economic performance of foreign economies including in particular China, Japan, the European Union, and the United Kingdom;
•uncertainty concerning the long-term fiscal health and stability of the United States;
•the cost and availability of financing, including the future availability of financing due to changes to regulation of, and capital requirements imposed upon, financial institutions;
•the cost and availability of new equity capital;
•changes in our leverage and use of leverage;
•changes to our investment strategy, operating policies, dividend policy or asset allocations;
•the quality of performance of third-party service providers, including our sole third-party service provider for our critical operations and trade functions;
•the loss or unavailability of our third-party service provider’s service and technology that supports critical functions of our business related to our trading and borrowing activities due to outages, interruptions, or other failures;
•the level of defaults by borrowers on loans underlying MBS;
•changes in our industry;
•increased competition;
•changes in government regulations affecting our business;
•changes or volatility in the repurchase agreement financing markets and other credit markets;
•changes to the market for derivative instruments, including changes to margin requirements on derivative instruments;
•uncertainty regarding continued government support of the U.S. financial system and U.S. housing and real estate markets, or to reform the U.S. housing finance system including the resolution of the conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac;
•the composition of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve;
•the political environment in the U.S.;
•systems failures or cybersecurity incidents; and
•exposure to current and future claims and litigation.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Market risk is the exposure to losses resulting from changes in market factors. Our business strategy exposes us to a variety of market risks, including interest rate, spread, prepayment, credit, liquidity, and reinvestment risks. These risks can and do cause fluctuations in our liquidity, comprehensive income and book value as discussed below.
Interest Rate Risk
Investing in interest-rate sensitive investments such as MBS and TBA securities subjects us to interest rate risk. Interest rate risk results from investing in securities that have a fixed coupon or a floating coupon that may not immediately adjust for changes in interest rates. Interest rate risk also results from the mismatch between the duration of our assets versus the duration of our liabilities and hedges. The amount of the impact will depend on the composition of our portfolio, our hedging strategy, the effectiveness of our hedging instruments as well as the magnitude and the duration of the change in interest rates.
We manage interest rate risk within tolerances set by our Board of Directors. We use interest rate hedging instruments to mitigate the impact of changing interest rates on the market value of our assets and on our interest expense from repurchase agreements used to finance our investments. Our hedging methods are based on many factors, including, but not limited to, our estimates with regard to future interest rates and expected levels of prepayments of our assets. If prepayments are slower or faster than assumed, the maturity of our investments will also differ from our expectations, which could reduce the effectiveness of our hedging strategies and may cause losses that adversely affect our cash flow. Estimates of prepayment speeds can vary significantly by investor for the same security, and therefore estimates of security and portfolio duration can vary significantly between market participants.
We continuously monitor market conditions, economic conditions, interest rates and other market activity and frequently adjust the composition of our investments and hedges throughout any given period. As such, the projections for changes in market value provided below are limited in usefulness because the modeling assumes no changes to the composition of our investment portfolio or hedging instruments as of the dates indicated. Changes in types of our investments, the returns earned on these investments, future interest rates, credit spreads, the shape of the yield curve, the availability of financing, and/or the mix of our investments and financings including derivative instruments may cause actual results to differ significantly from the modeled results shown in the tables below. There can be no assurance that assumed events used to model the results shown below will occur, or that other events will not occur, that will affect the outcomes; therefore, the modeled results shown in the tables below and all related disclosures constitute forward-looking statements.
Management considers changes in the shape of the interest rate curves in assessing and managing portfolio interest rate risk on the market value of its investments and common equity. Because interest rates do not typically move in a parallel fashion from period to period (as can be seen by the graph for U.S. Treasury rates in Item 7, “Executive Overview”), the tables below show the projected sensitivity of the market value of our financial instruments and the percentage change in shareholders’ equity assuming instantaneous parallel shifts and non-parallel shifts in market interest rates.
December 31, 2023
Parallel Decrease in Interest Rates of Parallel Increase in Interest Rates of
100 Basis Points 50 Basis Points 50 Basis Points 100 Basis Points
Type of
Instrument (1)
% of Market Value % of Common Equity % of Market Value % of Common Equity % of Market Value % of Common Equity % of Market Value % of Common Equity
RMBS 3.5 % 33.8 % 1.8 % 17.9 % (2.0) % (19.4) % (4.1) % (39.6) %
CMBS - % 0.4 % - % 0.2 % - % (0.2) % - % (0.4) %
CMBS IO 0.1 % 0.5 % - % 0.3 % - % (0.3) % (0.1) % (0.5) %
TBAs 0.6 % 5.9 % 0.3 % 3.3 % (0.4) % (4.0) % (0.9) % (8.5) %
Interest rate hedges (5.3) % (51.6) % (2.6) % (25.3) % 2.5 % 24.6 % 5.0 % 48.7 %
Total (1.1) % (11.0) % (0.4) % (3.6) % 0.1 % 0.8 % - % (0.3) %
December 31, 2022
Parallel Decrease in Interest Rates of Parallel Increase in Interest Rates of
100 Basis Points 50 Basis Points 50 Basis Points 100 Basis Points
Type of
Instrument (1)
% of Market Value % of Common Equity % of Market Value % of Common Equity % of Market Value % of Common Equity % of Market Value % of Common Equity
RMBS 2.8 % 20.9 % 1.4 % 10.6 % (1.4) % (10.6) % (2.8) % (21.0) %
CMBS 0.1 % 0.5 % - % 0.3 % - % (0.3) % (0.1) % (0.5) %
CMBS IO 0.1 % 0.7 % - % 0.4 % - % (0.4) % (0.1) % (0.7) %
TBAs 2.0 % 15.2 % 1.1 % 8.2 % (1.2) % (9.1) % (2.5) % (18.9) %
Interest rate hedges (5.6) % (41.3) % (2.8) % (20.5) % 2.7 % 20.2 % 5.4 % 40.1 %
Total (0.6) % (4.0) % (0.3) % (1.0) % 0.1 % (0.2) % (0.1) % (1.0) %
Non-Parallel Shifts December 31, 2023 December 31, 2022
Basis Point Change in
2-year UST Basis Point Change in
10-year UST % of Market Value (1)
% of Common
Equity % of Market Value (1)
% of Common
Equity
+25 0 - % (0.2) % 0.2 % 1.7 %
+25 +50 0.1 % 1.4 % (0.1) % (1.0) %
+50 +25 - % (0.5) % 0.1 % 0.6 %
+50 +100 0.1 % 0.8 % (0.4) % (2.9) %
0 -25 (0.2) % (2.0) % 0.1 % 0.4 %
-10 -50 (0.5) % (4.7) % - % 0.1 %
-25 -75 (0.9) % (8.8) % (0.2) % (1.4) %
(1)Includes changes in market value of our investments and derivative instruments, including TBA securities, but excludes changes in market value of our financings which are not carried at fair value on our balance sheet due to their short-term maturities. The projections for market value do not assume any change in credit spreads.
Our investment portfolio as of December 31, 2023 was 27% larger compared to December 31, 2022, and the composition of our investment portfolio also changed significantly since December 31, 2022. As of December 31, 2023, we held a larger percentage of higher coupon assets purchased at a discount relative to the investment portfolio as of December 31, 2022, which contained a larger percentage of lower coupon assets owned at a premium
relative to December 31, 2023. Our investment portfolio of higher coupons as of December 31, 2023 exposed us to greater duration variability. We adjusted our hedge position to longer duration hedges in order to benefit our book value in the event of a steeper yield curve, as shown in the non-parallel scenarios presented above. However, in the event that rates on the back end of the curve continue to fall, the decline in fair value of our interest rate hedges, particularly the 30-year U.S. Treasury futures, would outpace the increase in fair value of our investments (assuming no subsequent changes to our investments or hedges as of December 31, 2023). In addition, if longer-term interest rates were to continue to fall, we are likely to experience an increase in prepayments on our higher coupon assets, and we would potentially need to reinvest those proceeds into lower yielding assets.
As of December 31, 2022, our interest rate hedges were positioned to protect book value losses if the yield curve flattened or inverted further.
Spread Risk
Spread risk is the risk of loss from an increase in the market spread between the yield on an investment versus its benchmark index. Changes in market spreads represent the market's valuation of the perceived riskiness of an asset relative to risk-free rates. Widening spreads reduce the market value of our investments as market participants require additional yield to hold riskier assets. Market spreads could change based on macroeconomic or systemic factors as well as the factors specific to a particular security such as prepayment performance or credit performance. Other factors that could impact credit spreads include technical issues such as supply and demand for a particular type of security or Federal Reserve monetary policy. We do not hedge spread risk given the complexity of hedging credit spreads and in our opinion, the lack of liquid instruments available to use as hedges.
Fluctuations in spreads typically vary based on the type of investment. Sensitivity to changes in market spreads is derived from models that are dependent on various assumptions, and actual changes in market value in response to changes in market spreads could differ materially from the projected sensitivity if actual conditions differ from these assumptions.
The table below shows the projected sensitivity of the market value of our investments given the indicated change in market spreads as of the dates indicated:
December 31, 2023 December 31, 2022
Percentage Change in Percentage Change in
Basis Point Change in Market Spreads Market Value of Investments (1)
% of Common
Equity Market Value of Investments (1)
% of Common
Equity
+20/+50 (2)
(1.1) % (10.8) % (1.2) % (9.1) %
+10 (0.5) % (5.4) % (0.6) % (4.5) %
-10 0.5 % 5.4 % 0.6 % 4.5 %
-20/-50 (2)
1.1 % 10.8 % 1.2 % 9.1 %
(1) Includes changes in market value of our MBS investments, including TBA securities.
(2) Assumes a 20-basis point shift in Agency and non-Agency RMBS and CMBS and a 50-basis point shift in Agency
and non-Agency CMBS IO.
Prepayment Risk
Prepayment risk is the risk of an early, unscheduled return of principal on an investment. We are subject to prepayment risk from premiums paid on investments, which are amortized as a reduction in interest income using the effective interest method under GAAP. Our comprehensive income and book value per common share may also be negatively impacted by prepayments if the fair value of the investment materially exceeds the par balance of the underlying security. Principal prepayments on our investments are influenced by changes in market interest rates and a variety of economic, geographic, government policy and other factors beyond our control, including GSE policy with respect to loan forbearance and delinquent loan buy-outs.
We seek to manage our prepayment risk on our MBS by diversifying our investments and investing in securities which either contain loans for which the underlying borrowers have some disincentive to refinance or have some sort of prepayment prohibition or yield maintenance as is the case with CMBS and CMBS IO. Loans underlying our CMBS and CMBS IO securities typically have some form of prepayment protection provisions (such as prepayment lock-outs) or prepayment compensation provisions (such as yield maintenance or prepayment penalties). Because CMBS IO consist of rights to interest on the underlying commercial mortgage loan pools and do not have rights to principal payments on the underlying loans, prepayment risk on these securities is particularly acute without these prepayment protection provisions. There are no prepayment protections if the loan defaults and is partially or wholly repaid earlier as a result of loss mitigation actions taken by the underlying loan servicer.
Our prepayment risk as of December 31, 2023 has declined relative to December 31, 2022 and prior periods as the majority of our MBS portfolio consists of securities owned near or below par and prepayment speeds have declined in the current higher interest rate environment. However, if higher yielding investments prepay at a faster rate than anticipated, we may be unable to reinvest the repayments at comparable yields. Our net interest income may be negatively impacted if the proceeds from prepayments are reinvested into assets with lower yields. In an increasing interest rate environment, lower yielding assets with a fixed rate may extend or prepay slower than anticipated. Because we finance our investments with short-term repurchase agreement financing, we may be required to finance our investments at a higher interest rate without the ability to reinvest principal into higher yielding securities. As a result of rising financing costs, our net interest income could fall.
Credit Risk
Credit risk is the risk that we will not receive all contractual amounts due on investments that we own due to default by the borrower or due to a deficiency in proceeds from the liquidation of the collateral securing the obligation. Credit losses on loans could result in lower or negative yields on our investments.
Agency RMBS and Agency CMBS have credit risk to the extent that Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac fails to remit payments on the MBS for which they have issued a guaranty of payment. Given the improved financial performance and conservatorship of these entities and the continued support of the U.S. government, we believe this risk is low.
Agency and non-Agency CMBS IO represent the right to excess interest (and not principal) on the underlying loans. These securities are exposed to the loss of investment basis in the event a loan collateralizing the security liquidates without paying yield maintenance or prepayment penalty. This will typically occur when the underlying loan is in default and proceeds from the disposition of the loan collateral are insufficient to pay the prepayment consideration. To mitigate credit risk of investing in CMBS IO, we invest in primarily AAA-rated securities that are stripped off senior tranches, which means we receive the highest payment priority and are the last to absorb losses in the event of a shortfall in cash flows. Our Agency CMBS IO are Class X1 from Freddie Mac Series K deals from which interest continues to be advanced even in the event of an underlying default up until liquidation, which is the triggering event that disrupts the Agency CMBS IO cash flow. For non-Agency CMBS IO, the servicer and master servicer will determine if interest will continue to be advanced upon default of a loan based on their estimate of liquidation proceeds. Senior non-Agency CMBS IO may benefit from changes in contractual cash flows, including modifications or loan extensions as the senior classes can remain outstanding beyond the original maturity date.
In addition, bilateral agreements expose us to increased credit risk related to our counterparties, and we may be at risk of loss of any collateral held by a repurchase or derivative counterparty if the counterparty becomes insolvent or files for bankruptcy.
Liquidity Risk
We have liquidity risk principally from the use of recourse repurchase agreements to finance our ownership of securities. Our repurchase agreements are renewable at the discretion of our lenders and do not contain guaranteed roll-over terms. If we fail to repay the lender at maturity, the lender has the right to immediately sell the collateral and pursue us for any shortfall if the sales proceeds are inadequate to cover the repurchase agreement financing. In addition, declines in the market value of our investments pledged as collateral for repurchase agreement borrowings and for our derivative instruments may result in counterparties initiating margin calls for additional collateral.
Our use of TBA long positions as a means of investing in and financing Agency RMBS also exposes us to liquidity risk in the event that we are unable to roll or terminate our TBA contracts prior to their settlement date. If we are unable to roll or terminate our TBA long positions, we could be required to take physical delivery of the underlying securities and settle our obligations for cash, which could negatively impact our liquidity position or force us to sell assets under adverse conditions if financing is not available to us on acceptable terms.
For further information, including how we attempt to mitigate liquidity risk and monitor our liquidity position, and in particular, during the current macroeconomic environment, please refer to “Liquidity and Capital Resources” within Item 7 of this 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Reinvestment Risk
We are subject to reinvestment risk as a result of the prepayment, repayment and sales of our investments. In order to maintain our investment portfolio size and our earnings, we need to reinvest capital received from these events into new interest-earning assets or TBA securities, and if market yields on new investments are lower or if financing costs are higher, our net interest income will decline. In addition, based on market conditions, our leverage, and our liquidity profile, we may decide to not reinvest the cash flows we receive from our investment portfolio even when attractive reinvestment opportunities are available, or we may decide to reinvest in assets with lower yield but greater liquidity. If we retain capital or pay dividends to return capital to shareholders rather than reinvest capital, or if we invest capital in lower yielding assets for liquidity reasons, the size of our investment portfolio and the amount of income generated by our investment portfolio will likely decline.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Our consolidated financial statements and the related notes, together with the Reports of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm thereon, are set forth beginning on page of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.

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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management evaluated, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e), as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal
financial officer concluded that, as of December 31, 2023, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the three months ended December 31, 2023 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act. Because of inherent limitations, a system of internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate due to a change in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Our management evaluated, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting using the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”) (2013) in “Internal Control-Integrated Framework.” Based on that evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.
The Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023 has been audited by BDO USA, P.C., the independent registered public accounting firm that also audited the Company’s consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The attestation report of BDO USA, P.C. on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting appears on page herein.

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan
During the three months ended December 31, 2023, none of the Company’s directors or Section 16 officers adopted or terminated any “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangements” or any “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangements” (in each case, as defined in Item 408 of Regulation S-K).

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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The information required by Item 10 will be included in our definitive proxy statement for use in connection with our 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (“2024 Proxy Statement”) and is incorporated herein by reference.
Our Board has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (“Code of Conduct”) that applies to all of our directors and employees. We have posted a copy of our Code of Conduct on our website at www.dynexcapital.com. We intend to satisfy the disclosure requirements under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K regarding amendments to, or waivers from, the Code of Conduct by posting such information on our website. We are not including the information contained on our website as part of, or incorporating it by reference into, this Annual Report.

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required by Item 11 will be included in the 2024 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The following table sets forth information as of December 31, 2023 with respect to our equity compensation plans under which shares of our common stock are authorized for issuance.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
Number of Securities to Be Issued upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights (1)
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights (2)
Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Shareholders:
2020 Stock and Incentive Plan 1,117,619 $ - 863,259
Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Shareholders - - -
Total 1,117,619 $ - 863,259
(1) Amount shown reflects the maximum number of shares that may be issued upon future vesting of restricted stock units if time-based service conditions are met and performance-based stock units if maximum performance goals are achieved.
(2) The outstanding stock awards and units issued by the Company for share-based compensation do not have an exercise price.
The remaining information required by Item 12 will be included in the 2024 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The information required by Item 13 will be included in the 2024 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The information required by Item 14 will be included in the 2024 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
PART IV.

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a)(1) and (a)(2) Financial Statements and Schedules:
1. and 2. Financial Statements and Schedules: The information required by this section of Item 15 is set forth in the Consolidated Financial Statements and Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm beginning at page of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The index to the Financial Statements is set forth at page of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
(a)(3) Documents filed as part of this report:
Exhibit No. Description
3.1 Restated Articles of Incorporation, effective May 14, 2021 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Dynex's Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 18, 2021).
3.1.1 Articles of Amendment of the Restated Articles of Incorporation, effective May 18, 2023 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1.1 to Dynex’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2023).
3.2 Amended and Restated Bylaws, effective as of May 11, 2021 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Dynex’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 12, 2021).
4.1 Specimen of Common Stock Certificate (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Dynex's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2019).
4.2 Specimen of 6.900% Series C Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock Certificate (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to Dynex's Registration Statement on Form 8-A12B filed February 18, 2020).
4.3
Description of the Registrant's Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to Dynex’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021).
10.1*
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement for Smriti L. Popenoe, dated as of October 27, 2023 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Dynex’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 30, 2023).
10.2*
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement for Byron L. Boston, dated as of October 27, 2023 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Dynex’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 30, 2023).
10.3* Employment Agreement by and between Dynex Capital, Inc. and Robert S. Colligan, dated as of July 18, 2022 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Dynex’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 18, 2022).
10.4
Statement of Policy Regarding Trading in Company Securities (filed herewith).
10.5
Dynex Capital, Inc. Executive Clawback Policy (filed herewith).
10.18* Non-employee directors’ annual compensation for Dynex Capital, Inc. (filed herewith).
10.35 Distribution Agreement, dated June 29, 2018, among J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, JMP Securities LLC, and Dynex Capital, Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.35 to Dynex’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 29, 2018).
10.35.1 Amendment No. 1 to Distribution Agreement, dated May 31, 2019, among J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, JMP Securities LLC, JonesTrading Institutional Services LLC, and Dynex Capital, Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Dynex’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 31, 2019).
Exhibit No. Description
10.35.2 Amendment No. 2, dated August 3, 2021, to the Distribution Agreement by and among Dynex Capital, Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, JMP Securities LLC, JonesTrading Institutional Services LLC and BTIG, LLC (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Dynex’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 3, 2021).
10.35.3 Amendment No. 3, dated June 3, 2022, to the Distribution Agreement by and among Dynex Capital, Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, JMP Securities LLC, JonesTrading Institutional Services LLC and BTIG, LLC (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Dynex’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 3, 2022).
10.35.4
Amendment No. 4 to the Distribution Agreement, dated February 10, 2023, by and among Dynex Capital, Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, JMP Securities LLC, JonesTrading Institutional Services LLC and BTIG, LLC (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Dynex’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 10, 2023).
10.40* Dynex Capital, Inc. Annual Cash Incentive Plan, amended and restated effective as of January 1, 2021 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.40 to Dynex’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021).
10.41* Dynex Capital, Inc. 2020 Stock and Incentive Plan, effective June 9, 2020 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.41 to Dynex’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 9, 2020).
10.41.1* Form of Restricted Stock Agreement for Non-Employee Directors (approved May 11, 2021) under the Dynex Capital, Inc. 2020 Stock and Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.41.1 to Dynex’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021).
10.41.2* Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for Executive Officers (for awards on or after May 26, 2021) under the Dynex Capital, Inc. 2020 Stock and Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.41.2 to Dynex’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021).
10.41.3* Form of Performance Unit Award Agreement for Executive Officers (for awards on or after May 26, 2021) under the Dynex Capital, Inc. 2020 Stock and Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.41.3 to Dynex’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021).
10.41.4 Form of Performance Unit Award Agreement for Executive Officers (for awards on or after February 23, 2022) under the Dynex Capital, Inc. 2020 Stock and Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.41.4 to Dynex’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021).
10.41.5 Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for Executive Officers (for awards on or after February 23, 2022) under the Dynex Capital, Inc. 2020 Stock and Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.41.5 to Dynex’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021).
21.1 List of consolidated entities of Dynex Capital, Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 21.1 to Dynex’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020).
23.1 Consent of BDO USA, P.C. (filed herewith).
31.1 Certification of principal executive officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).
31.2 Certification of principal financial officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).
32.1 Certification of principal executive officer and principal financial officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).
101 The following materials from Dynex Capital, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, formatted in iXBRL (Inline Extensible Business Reporting Language), filed herewith: (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity, (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (v) Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Exhibit No. Description
104 The cover page from Dynex Capital, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, formatted in iXBRL (Inline Extensible Business Reporting Language) (included with Exhibit 101).
* Denotes a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.