Great Ajax Corp. Announces Results for the Quarter Ended December 31, 2021
Great Ajax Corp. (AJX) reported a net income of $7.4 million for Q4 2021, down from $9.3 million in Q3 2021. Basic EPS stood at $0.32, with a book value of $15.92 per share. Interest income reached $23.2 million, while net interest income was $14.2 million. The firm acquired $148.8 million in re-performing mortgage loans and ended Q4 with $1.1 billion in net mortgage loans. Cash collections totaled $86.6 million, and the company declared a special cash dividend of $0.10 per share, paid on January 25, 2022.
- Interest income increased to $23.2 million.
- Acquired $148.8 million in re-performing mortgage loans.
- Held $84.4 million in cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2021.
- Declared a special cash dividend of $0.10 per share.
- Net income decreased to $7.4 million from $9.3 million in Q3 2021.
- Book value per share declined from $16.00 to $15.92.
- Operating expenses increased due to loan servicing expenses and tax consulting fees.
Fourth Quarter Highlights
-
Interest income of
; net interest income of$23.2 million $14.2 million
-
Net income attributable to common stockholders of
$7.4 million
-
Basic earnings per common share (“EPS”) of
$0.32
-
Book value per common share of
at$15.92 December 31, 2021
-
Taxable income of
per common share$0.40
-
Formed one joint venture that acquired
in unpaid principal balance ("UPB") of mortgage loans with collateral values of$329.8 million and retained$716.7 million of varying classes of related securities issued by the joint venture to end the quarter with$55.3 million of investments in debt securities and beneficial interests$494.8 million
-
Purchased
of re-performing mortgage loans ("RPLs"), with UPB of$148.8 million at$149.5 million 54.1% of property value, of non-performing loans ("NPLs"), with UPB of$3.5 million at$3.3 million 56.5% of property value, and of small balance commercial loans ("SBC loans"), with UPB of$5.4 million at$5.3 million 43.7% of property value to end the quarter with in net mortgage loans$1.1 billion
-
Collected total cash of
from loan payments, sales of real estate owned properties ("REO") and collections from investments in debt securities and beneficial interests$86.6 million
-
Held
of cash and cash equivalents at$84.4 million December 31, 2021 ; average daily cash balance for the quarter was$79.3 million
-
As of
December 31, 2021 , approximately72.3% of portfolio based on UPB made at least 12 out of the last 12 payments
Selected Financial Results (Unaudited) ($ in thousands except per share amounts) |
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|
|
For the three months ended |
||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
Loan interest income(1,2) |
|
$ |
16,718 |
|
|
$ |
15,772 |
|
|
$ |
15,788 |
|
|
$ |
18,181 |
|
|
$ |
18,108 |
|
Earnings from debt securities and beneficial interests(2,4) |
|
$ |
6,447 |
|
|
$ |
7,126 |
|
|
$ |
6,994 |
|
|
$ |
5,937 |
|
|
$ |
6,243 |
|
Other interest income/(loss) |
|
$ |
81 |
|
|
$ |
156 |
|
|
$ |
266 |
|
|
$ |
(83 |
) |
|
$ |
407 |
|
Interest expense |
|
$ |
(8,999 |
) |
|
$ |
(8,609 |
) |
|
$ |
(8,830 |
) |
|
$ |
(10,304 |
) |
|
$ |
(10,837 |
) |
Net interest income(2,3) |
|
$ |
14,247 |
|
|
$ |
14,445 |
|
|
$ |
14,218 |
|
|
$ |
13,731 |
|
|
$ |
13,921 |
|
Net decrease in the net present value of expected credit losses(2,3) |
|
$ |
4,296 |
|
|
$ |
3,678 |
|
|
$ |
4,733 |
|
|
$ |
5,516 |
|
|
$ |
7,966 |
|
Other income and income from equity method investments |
|
$ |
854 |
|
|
$ |
868 |
|
|
$ |
843 |
|
|
$ |
519 |
|
|
$ |
618 |
|
Total revenue, net(1,5) |
|
$ |
19,397 |
|
|
$ |
18,991 |
|
|
$ |
19,794 |
|
|
$ |
19,766 |
|
|
$ |
22,505 |
|
Consolidated net income(1) |
|
$ |
9,279 |
|
|
$ |
10,684 |
|
|
$ |
11,170 |
|
|
$ |
10,642 |
|
|
$ |
14,402 |
|
Net income per basic share |
|
$ |
0.32 |
|
|
$ |
0.40 |
|
|
$ |
0.45 |
|
|
$ |
0.30 |
|
|
$ |
0.47 |
|
Average equity(1,6) |
|
$ |
500,760 |
|
|
$ |
493,687 |
|
|
$ |
498,990 |
|
|
$ |
508,319 |
|
|
$ |
509,628 |
|
Average total assets(1) |
|
$ |
1,696,144 |
|
|
$ |
1,669,965 |
|
|
$ |
1,600,337 |
|
|
$ |
1,674,301 |
|
|
$ |
1,654,579 |
|
Average daily cash balance(7,8) |
|
$ |
79,294 |
|
|
$ |
89,240 |
|
|
$ |
113,008 |
|
|
$ |
115,220 |
|
|
$ |
128,687 |
|
Average carrying value of RPLs(1) |
|
$ |
924,171 |
|
|
$ |
860,155 |
|
|
$ |
897,847 |
|
|
$ |
1,025,204 |
|
|
$ |
1,044,997 |
|
Average carrying value of NPLs(1) |
|
$ |
116,272 |
|
|
$ |
88,205 |
|
|
$ |
46,139 |
|
|
$ |
46,437 |
|
|
$ |
39,958 |
|
Average carrying value of SBC loans |
|
$ |
25,989 |
|
|
$ |
28,469 |
|
|
$ |
23,685 |
|
|
$ |
31,539 |
|
|
$ |
8,751 |
|
Average carrying value of debt securities and beneficial interests |
|
$ |
487,110 |
|
|
$ |
520,814 |
|
|
$ |
405,612 |
|
|
$ |
361,852 |
|
|
$ |
367,389 |
|
Average asset backed debt balance(1) |
|
$ |
1,089,104 |
|
|
$ |
1,044,125 |
|
|
$ |
992,122 |
|
|
$ |
1,088,936 |
|
|
$ |
1,025,717 |
|
____________________________________________________________
(1) |
At the beginning of the first quarter of 2021, we acquired all of our joint venture partner's interest in |
(2) |
All quarters have been updated to reflect the reclassification of loan and beneficial interest credit loss expense from Net increase in the net present value of cash flows to loan interest income and earnings from debt securities and beneficial interest lines, respectively. |
(3) |
Net decrease in the net present value of expected credit losses represents the net decrease to the allowance resulting from changes in actual and expected cash flows during the quarter. It represents the net increase of the present value of the expected cash flows in excess of contractual cash flows offset by any incremental provision expense on the Mortgage loan pools and Beneficial interests. The decrease is calculated at the pool level for Mortgage loans and at the security level for Beneficial interests. To the extent a pool or Beneficial interest has an associated allowance, the decrease in expected credit losses is recorded in the period in which the change occurs, otherwise it is recognized prospectively as an increase in yield. |
(4) |
Interest income on investment in debt securities and beneficial interests issued by our joint ventures is net of servicing fees. |
(5) |
Total revenue includes net interest income, income from equity method investments, gain or loss on sale of mortgage loans and other income. |
(6) |
Average equity includes the effect of an aggregate of |
(7) |
Average daily cash balance includes cash and cash equivalents, and excludes cash held in trust. |
(8) |
For the three months ended |
Our consolidated net income attributable to our common stockholders was
Our net interest income for the quarter ended
During the quarter ended
Our operating expenses increased during the quarter ended
We ended the quarter with a book value of
During the quarter, we acquired the remaining outstanding
Including the loans acquired through 2019-C, we purchased
On
We recorded
We collected
During the quarter ended
On
The following table provides an overview of our portfolio at
No. of loans |
|
|
5,941 |
|
|
Weighted average coupon |
|
|
4.33 |
% |
Total UPB(1) |
|
$ |
1,165,841 |
|
|
Weighted average LTV(5) |
|
|
63.7 |
% |
Interest-bearing balance |
|
$ |
1,069,407 |
|
|
Weighted average remaining term (months) |
|
|
295 |
|
Deferred balance(2) |
|
$ |
96,434 |
|
|
No. of first liens |
|
|
5,883 |
|
Market value of collateral(3) |
|
$ |
2,193,143 |
|
|
No. of second liens |
|
|
58 |
|
Original purchase price/total UPB |
|
|
82.0 |
% |
|
No. of REO held-for-sale |
|
|
31 |
|
Original purchase price/market value of collateral |
|
|
47.1 |
% |
|
Market value of REO held-for-sale(6) |
|
$ |
6,611 |
|
RPLs |
|
|
87.5 |
% |
|
Carrying value of debt securities and beneficial interests in trusts |
|
$ |
494,361 |
|
NPLs |
|
|
10.8 |
% |
|
Loans with 12 for 12 payments as an approximate percentage of UPB(7) |
|
|
72.3 |
% |
SBC loans(4) |
|
|
1.7 |
% |
|
Loans with 24 for 24 payments as an approximate percentage of UPB(8) |
|
|
63.9 |
% |
____________________________________________________________
(1) |
Our loan portfolio consists of fixed rate ( |
(2) | Amounts that have been deferred in connection with a loan modification on which interest does not accrue. These amounts generally become payable at maturity. |
(3) | As of the reporting date. |
(4) | SBC loans includes both purchased and originated loans. |
(5) |
UPB as of |
(6) | Market value of other REO is the estimated expected gross proceeds from the sale of the REO less estimated costs to sell, including repayment of servicer advances. |
(7) | Loans that have made at least 12 of the last 12 payments, or for which the full dollar amount to cover at least 12 payments has been made in the last 12 months. |
(8) | Loans that have made at least 24 of the last 24 payments, or for which the full dollar amount to cover at least 24 payments has been made in the last 24 months. |
Subsequent Events
Since quarter end, we have acquired two residential RPLs in two transactions from two different sellers. The purchase price of the RPLs was
We have agreed to acquire, subject to due diligence, 23 residential RPLs in five transactions, and 39 NPLs in three transactions, with aggregate UPB of
In
On
Conference Call
About
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Words such as “believes,” “intends,” “expects,” “projects,” “anticipates,” and “future” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to the inherent uncertainties in predicting future results and conditions, many of which are beyond the control of
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Dollars in thousands except per share amounts) |
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|
|
Three months ended |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
(unaudited) |
|
(unaudited) |
|
(unaudited) |
|
(unaudited) |
||||||||
INCOME: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Interest income |
|
$ |
23,246 |
|
|
$ |
23,054 |
|
|
$ |
23,048 |
|
|
$ |
24,035 |
|
Interest expense |
|
|
(8,999 |
) |
|
|
(8,609 |
) |
|
|
(8,830 |
) |
|
|
(10,304 |
) |
Net interest income |
|
|
14,247 |
|
|
|
14,445 |
|
|
|
14,218 |
|
|
|
13,731 |
|
Net decrease in the net present value of expected credit losses(1) |
|
|
4,296 |
|
|
|
3,678 |
|
|
|
4,733 |
|
|
|
5,516 |
|
Net interest income after the impact of changes in the net present value of expected credit losses |
|
|
18,543 |
|
|
|
18,123 |
|
|
|
18,951 |
|
|
|
19,247 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Income from equity method investments |
|
|
89 |
|
|
|
90 |
|
|
|
357 |
|
|
|
163 |
|
Other income |
|
|
765 |
|
|
|
778 |
|
|
|
486 |
|
|
|
356 |
|
Total revenue, net |
|
|
19,397 |
|
|
|
18,991 |
|
|
|
19,794 |
|
|
|
19,766 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
EXPENSE: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Related party expense - loan servicing fees |
|
|
2,158 |
|
|
|
1,743 |
|
|
|
1,699 |
|
|
|
1,833 |
|
Related party expense - management fee |
|
|
2,281 |
|
|
|
2,292 |
|
|
|
2,270 |
|
|
|
2,273 |
|
Professional fees |
|
|
1,011 |
|
|
|
526 |
|
|
|
763 |
|
|
|
640 |
|
Real estate operating expenses |
|
|
131 |
|
|
|
(76 |
) |
|
|
88 |
|
|
|
185 |
|
Fair value adjustment on put option liability |
|
|
2,824 |
|
|
|
2,493 |
|
|
|
2,201 |
|
|
|
1,944 |
|
Other expense |
|
|
1,315 |
|
|
|
1,227 |
|
|
|
1,375 |
|
|
|
1,304 |
|
Total expense |
|
|
9,720 |
|
|
|
8,205 |
|
|
|
8,396 |
|
|
|
8,179 |
|
Loss on debt extinguishment |
|
|
367 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
161 |
|
|
|
911 |
|
Income before provision for income tax |
|
|
9,310 |
|
|
|
10,786 |
|
|
|
11,237 |
|
|
|
10,676 |
|
Provision for income tax |
|
|
31 |
|
|
|
102 |
|
|
|
67 |
|
|
|
34 |
|
Consolidated net income |
|
|
9,279 |
|
|
|
10,684 |
|
|
|
11,170 |
|
|
|
10,642 |
|
Less: consolidated net (loss)/income attributable to non-controlling interests |
|
|
(33 |
) |
|
|
(578 |
) |
|
|
(1,158 |
) |
|
|
1,689 |
|
Consolidated net income attributable to Company |
|
|
9,312 |
|
|
|
11,262 |
|
|
|
12,328 |
|
|
|
8,953 |
|
Less: dividends on preferred stock |
|
|
1,950 |
|
|
|
1,949 |
|
|
|
1,950 |
|
|
|
1,949 |
|
Consolidated net income attributable to common stockholders |
|
$ |
7,362 |
|
|
$ |
9,313 |
|
|
$ |
10,378 |
|
|
$ |
7,004 |
|
Basic earnings per common share |
|
$ |
0.32 |
|
|
$ |
0.40 |
|
|
$ |
0.45 |
|
|
$ |
0.30 |
|
Diluted earnings per common share |
|
$ |
0.32 |
|
|
$ |
0.38 |
|
|
$ |
0.42 |
|
|
$ |
0.30 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Weighted average shares – basic |
|
|
22,905,267 |
|
|
|
22,862,429 |
|
|
|
22,825,804 |
|
|
|
22,816,978 |
|
Weighted average shares – diluted |
|
|
30,439,064 |
|
|
|
30,407,649 |
|
|
|
30,198,696 |
|
|
|
22,816,978 |
|
____________________________________________________________
(1) |
Net decrease in the net present value of expected credit losses represents the net decrease to the allowance resulting from changes in actual and expected cash flows during the quarters ended |
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Dollars in thousands except per share amounts) |
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|
|
|
|
|
||||
ASSETS |
|
|
|
|
||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
84,426 |
|
|
$ |
107,147 |
|
Cash held in trust |
|
|
3,100 |
|
|
|
188 |
|
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, net |
|
|
29,572 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Mortgage loans held-for-investment, net(1,2) |
|
|
1,080,434 |
|
|
|
1,119,372 |
|
Real estate owned properties, net(3) |
|
|
6,063 |
|
|
|
8,526 |
|
Investments in securities at fair value(4) |
|
|
355,178 |
|
|
|
273,834 |
|
Investments in beneficial interests(5) |
|
|
139,588 |
|
|
|
91,418 |
|
Receivable from servicer |
|
|
20,899 |
|
|
|
15,755 |
|
Investment in affiliates |
|
|
27,020 |
|
|
|
28,616 |
|
Prepaid expenses and other assets |
|
|
13,400 |
|
|
|
8,876 |
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
1,759,680 |
|
|
$ |
1,653,732 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY |
|
|
|
|
||||
Liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
||||
Secured borrowings, net(1,2,6) |
|
$ |
575,563 |
|
|
$ |
585,403 |
|
Borrowings under repurchase transactions |
|
|
546,054 |
|
|
|
421,132 |
|
Convertible senior notes, net(6) |
|
|
102,845 |
|
|
|
110,057 |
|
Management fee payable |
|
|
2,279 |
|
|
|
2,247 |
|
Put option liability |
|
|
23,667 |
|
|
|
14,205 |
|
Accrued expenses and other liabilities |
|
|
8,799 |
|
|
|
6,197 |
|
Total liabilities |
|
|
1,259,207 |
|
|
|
1,139,241 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Equity: |
|
|
|
|
||||
Preferred stock |
|
|
|
|
||||
Series A |
|
|
51,100 |
|
|
|
51,100 |
|
Series B |
|
|
64,044 |
|
|
|
64,044 |
|
Common stock |
|
|
233 |
|
|
|
231 |
|
Additional paid-in capital |
|
|
316,162 |
|
|
|
317,424 |
|
|
|
|
(1,691 |
) |
|
|
(1,159 |
) |
Retained earnings |
|
|
66,427 |
|
|
|
53,346 |
|
Accumulated other comprehensive income |
|
|
1,020 |
|
|
|
375 |
|
Equity attributable to stockholders |
|
|
497,295 |
|
|
|
485,361 |
|
Non-controlling interests(7) |
|
|
3,178 |
|
|
|
29,130 |
|
Total equity |
|
|
500,473 |
|
|
|
514,491 |
|
Total liabilities and equity |
|
$ |
1,759,680 |
|
|
$ |
1,653,732 |
|
____________________________________________________________
(1) |
Mortgage loans held-for-investment, net include |
(2) |
As of |
(3) |
Real estate owned properties, net, are presented net of valuation allowances of |
(4) |
As of |
(5) |
Investments in beneficial interests includes allowance for expected credit losses of |
(6) |
Secured borrowings, net are presented net of deferred issuance costs of |
(7) |
As of |
Appendix A - Earnings per share |
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The following table sets forth the components of basic and diluted EPS ($ in thousands, except per share): |
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|
Three months ended |
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|
|
Income (Numerator) |
|
Shares (Denominator) |
|
Per Share Amount |
|
Income (Numerator) |
|
Shares (Denominator) |
|
Per Share Amount |
|
Income (Numerator) |
|
Shares (Denominator) |
|
Per Share Amount |
|
Income (Numerator) |
|
Shares (Denominator) |
|
Per Share Amount |
||||||||||||
|
|
(unaudited) |
|
(unaudited) |
|
(unaudited) |
|
(unaudited) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Basic EPS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
Consolidated net income attributable to common stockholders |
|
$ |
7,362 |
|
|
22,905,267 |
|
|
|
$ |
9,313 |
|
|
22,862,429 |
|
|
|
$ |
10,378 |
|
|
22,825,804 |
|
|
|
$ |
7,004 |
|
|
22,816,978 |
|
|
||||
Allocation of earnings to participating restricted shares |
|
|
(79 |
) |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
(92 |
) |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
(78 |
) |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
(52 |
) |
|
— |
|
|
||||
Consolidated net income attributable to unrestricted common stockholders |
|
$ |
7,283 |
|
|
22,905,267 |
|
$ |
0.32 |
|
$ |
9,221 |
|
|
22,862,429 |
|
$ |
0.40 |
|
$ |
10,300 |
|
|
22,825,804 |
|
$ |
0.45 |
|
$ |
6,952 |
|
|
22,816,978 |
|
$ |
0.30 |
Effect of dilutive securities(1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
Restricted stock grants and manager and director fee shares(2) |
|
|
79 |
|
|
248,482 |
|
|
|
|
92 |
|
|
229,291 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
||||
Amortization of put option(3) |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
||||
Interest expense (add back) and assumed conversion of shares from convertible senior notes(4) |
|
|
2,229 |
|
|
7,285,315 |
|
|
|
|
2,237 |
|
|
7,315,929 |
|
|
|
|
2,255 |
|
|
7,372,892 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
||||
Diluted EPS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
Consolidated net income attributable to common stockholders and dilutive securities |
|
$ |
9,591 |
|
|
30,439,064 |
|
$ |
0.32 |
|
$ |
11,550 |
|
|
30,407,649 |
|
$ |
0.38 |
|
$ |
12,555 |
|
|
30,198,696 |
|
$ |
0.42 |
|
$ |
6,952 |
|
|
22,816,978 |
|
$ |
0.30 |
____________________________________________________________
(1) |
Our outstanding warrants for an additional 6,500,000 shares of common stock would have an anti-dilutive effect on diluted earnings per share for the three months ended |
|
(2) |
The effect of restricted stock grants and manager and director fee shares on our diluted EPS calculation for the three months ended |
|
(3) |
The effect of the amortization of put options on our diluted EPS calculation for the three months ended |
|
(4) |
The effect of interest expense and assumed conversion of shares from convertible senior notes on our diluted EPS calculation for the three months ended |
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220303005942/en/
Chief Executive Officer
Or
Chief Financial Officer
Mary.Doyle@aspencapital.com
503-444-4224
Source:
FAQ
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