Chimera Investment Corp (CIM) Q4 2024 Earnings Call Highlights: Navigating Challenges with ...

GuruFocus.com
13 Feb
  • GAAP Net Loss (Q4 2024): $168.3 million or $2.07 per share.
  • GAAP Net Income (Full Year 2024): $90.3 million or $1.10 per share.
  • GAAP Book Value (End of Q4 2024): $19.72 per share.
  • Economic Return on GAAP Book Value (Q4 2024): Negative 10.1%.
  • Economic Return on GAAP Book Value (Full Year 2024): Positive 4.4%.
  • Earnings Available for Distribution (Q4 2024): $30.4 million or $0.37 per share.
  • Earnings Available for Distribution (Full Year 2024): $121 million or $1.48 per share.
  • Economic Net Interest Income (Q4 2024): $69.2 million.
  • Yield on Average Interest-Earning Assets (Q4 2024): 6%.
  • Average Cost of Funds (Q4 2024): 4.5%.
  • Net Interest Spread (Q4 2024): 1.5%.
  • Total Leverage (Q4 2024): 4:1.
  • Recourse Leverage (Q4 2024): 1.2:1.
  • Total Cash and Unencumbered Assets (End of 2024): $610 million.
  • Quarterly Dividend Increase (2024): 12%.
  • Transaction Expenses Increase (Q4 2024): $4.7 million, primarily due to Palisades acquisition.
  • Warning! GuruFocus has detected 5 Warning Signs with CIM.

Release Date: February 12, 2025

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

  • Chimera Investment Corp (NYSE:CIM) increased its quarterly dividend by 12% in 2024, reflecting confidence in its financial health.
  • The acquisition of the Palisades Group is expected to provide a new fee-based source of income and enhance earnings.
  • Chimera Investment Corp (NYSE:CIM) managed to secure a new larger financing facility with better terms, reducing the rate by over 400 basis points.
  • The company reported strong residential credit performance in 2024, driven by low defaults and rising home prices.
  • Chimera Investment Corp (NYSE:CIM) plans to diversify its portfolio and increase liquidity, aiming for more stable dividends and protection during market volatility.

Negative Points

  • Chimera Investment Corp (NYSE:CIM) reported a GAAP net loss of $168.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2024.
  • The economic return on GAAP book value was negative 10.1% for the fourth quarter, indicating challenges in maintaining value.
  • The housing market faced challenges with declining home sales and unevenness due to interest rates and affordability issues.
  • Book value volatility was noted due to changes in interest rates and credit spreads, impacting the company's financial stability.
  • The company faced increased expenses in the fourth quarter, primarily related to the Palisades acquisition.

Q & A Highlights

Q: Can you talk about incremental ROEs and what you see as the normalized ROE, given the current rate environment? A: Jack Macdowell, Chief Investment Officer, stated that their target return on invested assets is in the mid-teens area. They are focusing on areas like MSRs and RTLs that meet these return targets. The timeline for achieving a double-digit net ROE depends on market conditions and the ability to reinvest into higher-yielding assets.

Q: Can you discuss the book value roll forward this quarter and the drivers of the change? A: Jack Macdowell explained that the book value change was driven by the steepening of the yield curve in December, which had a disproportionate impact on the value of loans relative to securitized debt. This was seen as an anomaly, with the overall change in value for the year being minimal.

Q: Can you talk about the potential to add MSR and other hedges to dampen book value volatility? A: Jack Macdowell mentioned that their strategy focuses on buying residential loans and securitizing them in nonrecourse term financing structures. They accept book value volatility but see MSRs as a portfolio construction element to stabilize book value without diluting earnings.

Q: Did you receive a margin call during the quarter due to the increase in interest rates, and how much liquidity was posted? A: Phillip Kardis, CEO, confirmed that they received some margin calls, but they were immaterial and not significant.

Q: Can you elaborate on the types of MSRs you are considering and the capital allocation for this asset class? A: Jack Macdowell stated that they are focused on making purposeful allocations within the portfolio, including MSRs. They are looking at both current and lower coupon MSRs for their relative value and duration offset benefits, but the exact capital allocation will depend on market conditions.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.

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