CHIMERA INVESTMENT CORPORATION REPORTS 4TH QUARTER 2023 EARNINGS

Rhea-AI Summary

Chimera Investment Corporation (CIM) reported strong financial results for Q4 and full year 2023 with GAAP net income of $0.05 per diluted common share in Q4 and $0.23 for the full year. Earnings available for distribution were $0.13 per diluted common share in Q4 and $0.51 for the full year. The company reduced its recourse debt by $1.0 billion in 2023 and acquired high-yielding assets to benefit shareholders. CIM is a REIT primarily engaged in investing in mortgage assets.

Positive

• Strong financial performance in Q4 and full year 2023 with GAAP net income of $0.05 per diluted common share in Q4 and $0.23 for the full year.
• Earnings available for distribution were $0.13 per diluted common share in Q4 and $0.51 for the full year.
• Recourse debt reduced by $1.0 billion in 2023, and high-yielding assets acquired to benefit shareholders.
• Chimera Investment Corporation is a REIT focused on investing in mortgage assets.

Negative

• None.

Insights

Financial Analyst

The disclosed financial results of Chimera Investment Corporation for both the fourth quarter and full year of 2023 reveal a modest GAAP net income and a more substantial figure for earnings available for distribution. The reduction of recourse debt by $1.0 billion and re-leveraging of securitizations to acquire new assets are strategic moves that indicate a focus on long-term shareholder value. However, the decline in total assets and the increase in provision for credit losses suggest potential concerns about asset quality and credit risk management.

The GAAP book value of $6.75 per common share is a critical indicator for investors, as it provides a snapshot of the company's net asset value. It's important to note the decrease in GAAP book value from the previous year, which could reflect valuation adjustments in the company's mortgage-backed securities portfolio or other assets.

Investors should closely monitor the company's ability to maintain its dividend payouts, especially given the fluctuating earnings available for distribution figures. The interest rate environment and its impact on the company's cost of funds and net interest income will also be a key factor to watch, given the company's exposure to mortgage-backed securities and reliance on leverage.

Market Research Analyst

Chimera Investment Corporation's strategy of lowering recourse debt and acquiring high-yielding assets during 2023 is an approach that aligns with broader industry trends where REITs are striving for balance sheet optimization. The shift in portfolio composition, with a focus on loans held for investment and Non-Agency RMBS, reflects a targeted effort to navigate the current economic landscape marked by interest rate volatility. This strategic positioning may offer competitive advantages but also exposes the company to market-specific risks.

Investors may find the company's leveraging strategy and capital market activities to be of particular interest, as these are indicative of management's confidence in their operational model and the broader real estate finance market. The reduction in Agency MBS holdings and the increase in loans held for investment suggest a pivot towards more controlled, potentially higher-yielding investments. This could be a response to the flat yield curve and the search for spread in a competitive market.

Real Estate Investment Trust Analyst

As a REIT, Chimera Investment Corporation's focus on mortgage assets requires an in-depth understanding of the current real estate and credit markets. The reported increase in the provision for credit losses and the decrease in the fair value of Non-Agency RMBS could be reflective of underlying market conditions and warrant careful analysis of the credit quality of assets within the portfolio. The company's ability to manage and mitigate these risks is crucial for sustaining investor confidence and ensuring compliance with REIT regulations regarding asset diversification and income generation.

The deleveraging noted in the report, while reducing potential risk exposure, may also impact the company's ability to generate income through financial leverage, a common strategy employed by REITs. This change in leverage, coupled with the diversification of the mortgage asset portfolio, may affect the company's overall yield and should be evaluated against sector performance and risk-adjusted returns.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Chimera Investment Corporation (NYSE:CIM) today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2023.

Financial Highlights:

• 4TH QUARTER GAAP NET INCOME OF $0.05 PER DILUTED COMMON SHARE
• 4TH QUARTER EARNINGS AVAILABLE FOR DISTRIBUTION⁽¹⁾ OF $0.13 PER DILUTED COMMON SHARE
• FULL YEAR GAAP NET INCOME OF $52 MILLION, OR $0.23 PER DILUTED COMMON SHARE
• FULL YEAR EARNINGS AVAILABLE FOR DISTRIBUTION⁽¹⁾ OF $119 MILLION, OR $0.51 PER DILUTED COMMON SHARE
• GAAP BOOK VALUE OF $6.75 PER COMMON SHARE

“During 2023, we lowered our recourse debt by $1.0 billion and took advantage of our ability to re-lever our existing securitizations and to access the capital markets to acquire new assets,” said Phillip J. Kardis, CEO. “We believe that lowering our recourse debt and acquiring high-yielding assets will benefit our shareholders over the long run.”

^{(1) Earnings available for distribution per adjusted diluted common share is a non-GAAP measure. See additional discussion on page 6.}

Other Information
Chimera Investment Corporation is a publicly traded real estate investment trust, or REIT, that is primarily engaged in the business of investing directly or indirectly through its subsidiaries, on a leveraged basis, in a diversified portfolio of mortgage assets, including residential mortgage loans, Non-Agency RMBS, Agency CMBS, Agency RMBS, and other real estate related securities.

CHIMERA INVESTMENT CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
(dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)
(Unaudited)
		December 31, 2023				December 31, 2022
Cash and cash equivalents		$	221,684			$	264,600
Non-Agency RMBS, at fair value (net of allowance for credit losses of $19 million and $7 million, respectively)			1,043,806				1,147,481
Agency MBS, at fair value			102,484				430,944
Loans held for investment, at fair value			11,397,046				11,359,236
Accrued interest receivable			76,960				61,768
Other assets			87,018				133,866
Derivatives, at fair value			—				4,096
Total assets (1)		$	12,928,998			$	13,401,991
Liabilities:
Secured financing agreements ($3.6 billion and $4.7 billion pledged as collateral, respectively, and includes $350 million and $374 million at fair value, respectively)		$	2,432,115			$	3,434,765
Securitized debt, collateralized by Non-Agency RMBS ($249 million and $276 million pledged as collateral, respectively)			75,012				78,542
Securitized debt at fair value, collateralized by Loans held for investment ($10.7 billion and $10.0 billion pledged as collateral, respectively)			7,601,881				7,100,742
Payable for investments purchased			158,892				9,282
Accrued interest payable			38,272				30,696
Dividends payable			54,552				64,545
Accounts payable and other liabilities			9,355				16,616
Total liabilities (1)		$	10,370,079			$	10,735,188
Stockholders' Equity:
Preferred Stock, par value of $0.01 per share, 100,000,000 shares authorized:
8.00% Series A cumulative redeemable: 5,800,000 shares issued and outstanding, respectively ($145,000 liquidation preference)		$	58			$	58
8.00% Series B cumulative redeemable: 13,000,000 shares issued and outstanding, respectively ($325,000 liquidation preference)			130				130
7.75% Series C cumulative redeemable: 10,400,000 shares issued and outstanding, respectively ($260,000 liquidation preference)			104				104
8.00% Series D cumulative redeemable: 8,000,000 shares issued and outstanding, respectively ($200,000 liquidation preference)			80				80
Common stock: par value $0.01 per share; 500,000,000 shares authorized, 241,360,656 and 231,824,192 shares issued and outstanding, respectively			2,414				2,318
Additional paid-in-capital			4,368,520				4,318,388
Accumulated other comprehensive income			185,668				229,345
Cumulative earnings			4,165,046				4,038,942
Cumulative distributions to stockholders			(6,163,101	)			(5,922,562	)
Total stockholders' equity		$	2,558,919			$	2,666,803
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity		$	12,928,998			$	13,401,991
(1) The Company's consolidated statements of financial condition include assets of consolidated variable interest entities, or VIEs, that can only be used to settle obligations and liabilities of the VIE for which creditors do not have recourse to the primary beneficiary (Chimera Investment Corporation). As of December 31, 2023, and December 31, 2022, total assets of consolidated VIEs were $10,501,840 and $10,199,266, respectively, and total liabilities of consolidated VIEs were $7,349,109 and $6,772,125, respectively.

Net Income (Loss)
(dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)
(unaudited)
		For the Year Ended
		December 31, 2023				December 31, 2022				December 31, 2021
Net interest income:
Interest income (1)		$	772,904			$	773,121			$	937,546
Interest expense (2)			509,541				333,293				326,628
Net interest income			263,363				439,828				610,918
Increase (decrease) in provision for credit losses			11,371				7,037				33
Other investment gains (losses):
Net unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives			(6,411	)			(1,482	)			—
Realized gains (losses) on derivatives			(40,957	)			(561	)			—
Periodic interest cost of swaps, net			17,167				(1,752	)			—
Net gains (losses) on derivatives			(30,201	)			(3,795	)			—
Net unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value			34,373				(736,899	)			437,357
Net realized gains (losses) on sales of investments			(31,234	)			(76,473	)			45,313
Gains (losses) on extinguishment of debt			3,875				(2,897	)			(283,556	)
Other investment gains (losses)			1,091				(1,866	)			—
Total other gains (losses)			(22,096	)			(821,930	)			199,114
Other expenses:
Compensation and benefits			30,570				49,378				46,823
General and administrative expenses			25,117				22,651				22,246
Servicing and asset manager fees			32,624				36,005				36,555
Transaction expenses			15,379				16,146				29,856
Total other expenses			103,690				124,180				135,480
Income (loss) before income taxes			126,206				(513,319	)			674,519
Income taxes			102				(253	)			4,405
Net income (loss)		$	126,104			$	(513,066	)		$	670,114
Dividends on preferred stock			73,750				73,765				73,764
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders		$	52,354			$	(586,831	)		$	596,350
Net income (loss) per share available to common shareholders:
Basic		$	0.23			$	(2.51	)		$	2.55
Diluted		$	0.23			$	(2.51	)		$	2.44
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic			230,057,356				233,938,745				233,770,474
Diluted			232,617,866				233,938,745				245,496,926
(1) Includes interest income of consolidated VIEs of $593,384, $551,253, and $586,580 for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.
(2) Includes interest expense of consolidated VIEs of $282,542, $197,823, and $203,135 for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.

CHIMERA INVESTMENT CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)
(Unaudited)
		For the Year Ended
		December 31, 2023				December 31, 2022				December 31, 2021
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income (loss)		$	126,104			$	(513,066	)		$	670,114
Other comprehensive income:
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net			(44,990	)			(175,709	)			(115,926	)
Reclassification adjustment for net realized losses (gains) included in net income			1,313				—				(37,116	)
Other comprehensive income (loss)		$	(43,677	)		$	(175,709	)		$	(153,042	)
Comprehensive income (loss) before preferred stock dividends		$	82,427			$	(688,775	)		$	517,072
Dividends on preferred stock		$	73,750			$	73,765			$	73,764
Comprehensive income (loss) available to common stock shareholders		$	8,677			$	(762,540	)		$	443,308

Earnings available for distribution

Earnings available for distribution is a non-GAAP measure and is defined as GAAP net income excluding unrealized gains or losses on financial instruments carried at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in earnings, realized gains or losses on the sales of investments, gains or losses on the extinguishment of debt, changes in the provision for credit losses, other gains or losses on equity investments, and transaction expenses incurred. Transaction expenses are primarily comprised of costs only incurred at the time of execution of our securitizations and certain structured secured financing agreements and include costs such as underwriting fees, legal fees, diligence fees, bank fees and other similar transaction related expenses. These costs are all incurred prior to or at the execution of the transaction and do not recur. Recurring expenses, such as servicing fees, custodial fees, trustee fees and other similar ongoing fees are not excluded from earnings available for distribution. We believe that excluding these costs is useful to investors as it is generally consistent with our peer groups treatment of these costs in their non-GAAP measures presentation, mitigates period to period comparability issues tied to the timing of securitization and structured finance transactions, and is consistent with the accounting for the deferral of debt issue costs prior to the fair value election option made by us. In addition, we believe it is important for investors to review this metric which is consistent with how management internally evaluates the performance of the Company. Stock compensation expense charges incurred on awards to retirement eligible employees is reflected as an expense over a vesting period (generally 36 months) rather than reported as an immediate expense.

Earnings available for distribution is the Economic net interest income, as defined previously, reduced by compensation and benefits expenses (adjusted for awards to retirement eligible employees), general and administrative expenses, servicing and asset manager fees, income tax benefits or expenses incurred during the period, as well as the preferred dividend charges.

We view Earnings available for distribution as one measure of our investment portfolio's ability to generate income for distribution to common stockholders. Earnings available for distribution is one of the metrics, but not the exclusive metric, that our Board of Directors uses to determine the amount, if any, of dividends on our common stock. Other metrics that our Board of Directors may consider when determining the amount, if any, of dividends on our common stock include (among others) REIT taxable income, dividend yield, book value, cash generated from the portfolio, reinvestment opportunities and other cash needs. In addition, Earnings available for distribution is different than REIT taxable income and the determination of whether we have met the requirement to distribute at least 90% of our annual REIT taxable income (subject to certain adjustments) to our stockholders in order to maintain qualification as a REIT is not based on Earnings available for distribution. Therefore, Earnings available for distribution should not be considered as an indication of our REIT taxable income, a guaranty of our ability to pay dividends, or as a proxy for the amount of dividends we may pay. We believe Earnings available for distribution as described above helps us and investors evaluate our financial performance period over period without the impact of certain transactions. Therefore, Earnings available for distribution should not be viewed in isolation and is not a substitute for net income or net income per basic share computed in accordance with GAAP. In addition, our methodology for calculating Earnings available for distribution may differ from the methodologies employed by other REITs to calculate the same or similar supplemental performance measures, and accordingly, our Earnings available for distribution may not be comparable to the Earnings available for distribution reported by other REITs.

The following table provides GAAP measures of net income and net income per diluted share available to common stockholders for the periods presented and details with respect to reconciling the line items to Earnings available for distribution and related per average diluted common share amounts. Earnings available for distribution is presented on an adjusted dilutive shares basis.

		For the Quarters Ended
		December 31, 2023				September 30, 2023				June 30, 2023				March 31, 2023				December 31, 2022
		(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
GAAP Net income (loss) available to common stockholders		$	12,104			$	(16,268	)		$	17,586			$	38,928			$	78,716
Adjustments:
Net unrealized (gains) losses on financial instruments at fair value			(6,815	)			43,988				(6,954	)			(64,592	)			(112,026	)
Net realized (gains) losses on sales of investments			3,752				460				21,758				5,264				39,443
(Gains) losses on extinguishment of debt			2,473				—				(4,039	)			(2,309	)			—
Increase (decrease) in provision for credit losses			2,330				3,217				2,762				3,062				3,834
Net unrealized (gains) losses on derivatives			15,871				(17	)			(17,994	)			8,551				10,171
Realized gains (losses) on derivatives			—				—				6,822				34,134				561
Transaction expenses			425				90				8,456				6,409				3,274
Stock Compensation expense for retirement eligible awards			(391	)			(392	)			(388	)			2,141				(309	)
Other investment (gains) losses			986				(2,381	)			421				(117	)			2,383
Earnings available for distribution		$	30,735			$	28,697			$	28,430			$	31,471			$	26,047
GAAP net income (loss) per diluted common share		$	0.05			$	(0.07	)		$	0.08			$	0.17			$	0.34
Earnings available for distribution per adjusted diluted common share		$	0.13			$	0.13			$	0.12			$	0.13			$	0.11

The following tables provide a summary of the Company’s MBS portfolio at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

		December 31, 2023
		Principal or Notional Value at Period-End (dollars in thousands)			Weighted Average Amortized Cost Basis			Weighted Average Fair Value		Weighted Average Coupon			Weighted Average Yield at Period- End (1)
Non-Agency RMBS
Senior		$	1,073,632		$	45.69		62.98		5.7	%		17.3	%
Subordinated			583,049			50.92		47.49		3.3	%		6.7	%
Interest-only			2,874,680			5.49		3.16		0.5	%		4.2	%
Agency RMBS
Interest-only			392,284			4.90		3.83		0.1	%		5.7	%
Agency CMBS
Project loans			86,572			101.44		91.46		4.0	%		3.8	%
Interest-only			478,239			1.62		1.73		0.5	%		8.2	%
(1) Bond Equivalent Yield at period end.

		December 31, 2022
		Principal or Notional Value at Period-End (dollars in thousands)			Weighted Average Amortized Cost Basis			Weighted Average Fair Value			Weighted Average Coupon			Weighted Average Yield at Period- End (1)
Non-Agency RMBS
Senior		$	1,153,458		$	46.09		$	66.05		5.3	%		16.4	%
Subordinated			439,591			68.60			65.27		4.2	%		6.8	%
Interest-only			3,286,545			4.95			3.01		0.6	%		5.3	%
Agency RMBS
Interest-only			409,940			4.58			3.70		0.9	%		5.0	%
Agency CMBS
Project loans			302,685			101.85			95.62		4.3	%		4.1	%
Interest-only			2,669,396			5.23			4.73		0.7	%		3.4	%
(1) Bond Equivalent Yield at period end.

At December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the secured financing agreements collateralized by MBS and Loans held for investment had the following remaining maturities and borrowing rates.

		December 31, 2023								December 31, 2022
		(dollars in thousands)
		Principal			Weighted Average Borrowing Rates			Range of Borrowing Rates		Principal (1)			Weighted Average Borrowing Rates			Range of Borrowing Rates
Overnight		$	—		N/A			N/A		$	—		N/A			NA
1 to 29 days		$	272,490		7.35	%		6.30% - 8.22%		$	493,918		4.66	%		3.63% - 6.16%
30 to 59 days			495,636		6.68	%		5.58% - 7.87%			762,768		6.14	%		4.60% - 7.34%
60 to 89 days			305,426		7.17	%		5.93% - 7.85%			225,497		6.04	%		4.70% - 7.12%
90 to 119 days			54,376		7.46	%		6.59% - 7.80%			43,180		6.54	%		5.50% - 6.70%
120 to 180 days			105,727		7.09	%		6.72% - 7.80%			401,638		5.88	%		5.57% - 6.92%
180 days to 1 year			39,620		7.06	%		6.66% - 7.39%			402,283		6.06	%		5.63% - 6.64%
1 to 2 years			808,601		9.36	%		8.36% - 12.50%			251,286		13.98	%		13.98% - 13.98%
2 to 3 years			—		—	%		0.00% - 0.00%			480,022		8.07	%		8.07% - 8.07%
Greater than 3 years			362,215		5.11	%		5.10% - 7.15%			382,839		5.14	%		5.10% - 6.07%
Total		$	2,444,091		7.51	%				$	3,443,431		6.61	%
(1) The outstanding balance for secured financing agreements in the table above is net of $1 million of deferred financing cost as of December 31, 2022.

The following table summarizes certain characteristics of our portfolio at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

		December 31, 2023		December 31, 2022
GAAP Leverage at period-end		4.0:1		4.0:1
GAAP Leverage at period-end (recourse)		1.0:1		1.3:1

		December 31, 2023			December 31, 2022			December 31, 2023			December 31, 2022
Portfolio Composition		Amortized Cost						Fair Value
Non-Agency RMBS		7.5	%		7.5	%		8.3	%		8.9	%
Senior		4.0	%		4.0	%		5.4	%		5.9	%
Subordinated		2.3	%		2.3	%		2.2	%		2.2	%
Interest-only		1.2	%		1.2	%		0.7	%		0.8	%
Agency RMBS		0.2	%		0.1	%		0.1	%		0.1	%
Interest-only		0.2	%		0.1	%		0.1	%		0.1	%
Agency CMBS		0.7	%		3.3	%		0.7	%		3.2	%
Project loans		0.6	%		2.3	%		0.6	%		2.2	%
Interest-only		0.1	%		1.0	%		0.1	%		1.0	%
Loans held for investment		91.6	%		89.1	%		90.9	%		87.8	%
Fixed-rate percentage of portfolio		96.5	%		96.5	%		95.9	%		95.6	%
Adjustable-rate percentage of portfolio		3.5	%		3.5	%		4.1	%		4.4	%

Economic Net Interest Income

Our Economic net interest income is a non-GAAP financial measure that equals GAAP net interest income adjusted for net periodic interest cost of interest rate swaps and excludes interest earned on cash. For the purpose of computing economic net interest income and ratios relating to cost of funds measures throughout this section, interest expense includes net payments on our interest rate swaps, which is presented as a part of Net gains (losses) on derivatives in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. Interest rate swaps are used to manage the increase in interest paid on secured financing agreements in a rising rate environment. Presenting the net contractual interest payments on interest rate swaps with the interest paid on interest-bearing liabilities reflects our total contractual interest payments. We believe this presentation is useful to investors because it depicts the economic value of our investment strategy by showing all components of interest expense and net interest income of our investment portfolio. However, Economic net interest income should not be viewed in isolation and is not a substitute for net interest income computed in accordance with GAAP. Where indicated, interest expense, adjusting for any interest earned on cash, is referred to as Economic interest expense. Where indicated, net interest income reflecting net periodic interest cost of interest rate swaps and any interest earned on cash, is referred to as Economic net interest income.

The following table reconciles the Economic net interest income to GAAP net interest income and Economic interest expense to GAAP interest expense for the periods presented.

		GAAP Interest Income			GAAP Interest Expense			Periodic Interest Cost of Interest Rate Swaps				Economic Interest Expense			GAAP Net Interest Income			Periodic Interest Cost of Interest Rate Swaps				Other (1)				Economic Net Interest Income
For the Year Ended December 31, 2023		$	772,904		$	509,541		$	(17,167	)		$	492,374		$	263,363		$	17,167			$	(9,871	)		$	270,659
For the Year Ended December 31, 2022		$	773,121		$	333,293		$	1,752			$	335,045		$	439,828		$	(1,752	)		$	(2,505	)		$	435,571
For the Year Ended December 31, 2021		$	937,546		$	326,628		$	—			$	324,354		$	610,918		$	—			$	2,208			$	613,126
For the Quarter Ended December 31, 2023		$	191,204		$	126,553		$	(5,296	)		$	121,257		$	64,651		$	5,296			$	(1,651	)		$	68,296
For the Quarter Ended September 30, 2023		$	195,591		$	132,193		$	(4,894	)		$	127,299		$	63,398		$	4,894			$	(2,301	)		$	65,991
For the Quarter Ended June 30, 2023		$	196,859		$	131,181		$	(4,159	)		$	127,022		$	65,678		$	4,159			$	(2,884	)		$	66,953
For the Quarter Ended March 31, 2023		$	189,250		$	119,615		$	(2,819	)		$	116,796		$	69,635		$	2,819			$	(3,035	)		$	69,419
(1) Primarily interest income on cash and cash equivalents and interest expense on Long-term debt.

The table below shows our average earning assets held, interest earned on assets, yield on average interest earning assets, average debt balance, economic interest expense, economic average cost of funds, economic net interest income, and net interest rate spread for the periods presented.

		For the Quarter Ended
		December 31, 2023									September 30, 2023									December 31, 2022
		(dollars in thousands)									(dollars in thousands)									(dollars in thousands)
		Average Balance			Interest			Average Yield/Cost			Average Balance			Interest			Average Yield/Cost			Average Balance			Interest			Average Yield/Cost
Assets:
Interest-earning assets (1):
Agency RMBS		$	19,136		$	303		6.3	%		$	18,990		$	234		4.9	%		$	31,542		$	346		4.4	%
Agency CMBS			105,270			1,138		4.3	%			124,094			1,701		5.5	%			441,421			4,291		3.9	%
Non-Agency RMBS			950,366			29,611		12.5	%			961,257			28,826		12.0	%			1,013,693			29,304		11.6	%
Loans held for investment			11,882,662			158,501		5.3	%			12,188,221			162,530		5.3	%			12,075,239			151,478		5.0	%
Total		$	12,957,434		$	189,553		5.9	%		$	13,292,562		$	193,290		5.8	%		$	13,561,895		$	185,419		5.5	%
Liabilities and stockholders' equity:
Interest-bearing liabilities (2):
Secured financing agreements collateralized by:
Agency RMBS		$	—		$	—		—	%		$	—		$	—		—	%		$	4,547		$	46		4.0	%
Agency CMBS			75,847			1,071		5.6	%			90,205			1,200		5.3	%			358,914			3,464		3.9	%
Non-Agency RMBS			710,550			13,561		7.6	%			742,579			17,769		9.6	%			788,795			13,275		6.7	%
Loans held for investment			1,761,188			30,298		6.9	%			1,832,445			29,896		6.5	%			1,971,144			33,776		6.9	%
Securitized debt			8,422,017			76,327		3.6	%			8,663,773			78,434		3.6	%			8,056,913			57,959		2.9	%
Total		$	10,969,602		$	121,257		4.4	%		$	11,329,002		$	127,299		4.5	%		$	11,180,313		$	108,520		3.9	%
Economic net interest income/net interest rate spread					$	68,296		1.5	%					$	65,991		1.3	%					$	76,899		1.6	%
Net interest-earning assets/net interest margin		$	1,987,832					2.1	%		$	1,963,560					2.0	%		$	2,381,582					2.3	%
Ratio of interest-earning assets to interest bearing liabilities			1.18									1.17									1.21
(1) Interest-earning assets at amortized cost
(2) Interest includes periodic net interest cost on swaps

The table below shows our Net Income and Economic net interest income as a percentage of average stockholders' equity and Earnings available for distribution as a percentage of average common stockholders' equity. Return on average equity is defined as our GAAP net income (loss) as a percentage of average equity. Average equity is defined as the average of our beginning and ending stockholders' equity balance for the period reported. Economic Net Interest Income and Earnings available for distribution are non-GAAP measures as defined in previous sections.

		Return on Average Equity			Economic Net Interest Income/Average Equity			Earnings available for distribution/Average Common Equity
		(Ratios have been annualized)
For the Year Ended December 31, 2023		4.87	%		10.45	%		7.19	%
For the Year Ended December 31, 2022		(16.69	)%		14.17	%		11.96	%
For the Year Ended December 31, 2021		18.05	%		16.52	%		15.42	%
For the Quarter Ended December 31, 2023		4.84	%		10.81	%		7.70	%
For the Quarter Ended September 30, 2023		0.34	%		10.40	%		7.14	%
For the Quarter Ended June 30, 2023		5.51	%		10.24	%		6.75	%
For the Quarter Ended March 31, 2023		8.63	%		10.45	%		7.28	%

The following table presents changes to Accretable Discount (net of premiums) as it pertains to our Non-Agency RMBS portfolio, excluding premiums on interest-only investments, during the previous five quarters.

		For the Quarters Ended
		(dollars in thousands)
Accretable Discount (Net of Premiums)		December 31, 2023				September 30, 2023				June 30, 2023				March 31, 2023				December 31, 2022
Balance, beginning of period		$	147,252			$	145,322			$	157,253			$	176,635			$	207,812
Accretion of discount			(12,840	)			(9,022	)			(10,620	)			(11,663	)			(11,128	)
Purchases			—				(9	)			—				—				—
Sales			—				—				—				—				(17,935	)
Elimination in consolidation			—				—				—				—				—
Transfers from/(to) credit reserve, net			5,325				10,961				(1,311	)			(7,719	)			(2,114	)
Balance, end of period		$	139,737			$	147,252			$	145,322			$	157,253			$	176,635

Disclaimer

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ from expectations, estimates and projections and, consequently, readers should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as “expect,” “target,” “assume,” “estimate,” “project,” “budget,” “forecast,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “believe,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected results, including, among other things, those described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, under the caption “Risk Factors.” Factors that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to: our business and investment strategy; our ability to accurately forecast the payment of future dividends on our common and preferred stock, and the amount of such dividends; our ability to determine accurately the fair market value of our assets; availability of investment opportunities in real estate-related and other securities, including our valuation of potential opportunities that may arise as a result of current and future market dislocations; effect of a pandemic or other national or international crisis on real estate market, financial markets and our Company, including the impact on the value, availability, financing and liquidity of mortgage assets; changes in the value of our investments, including negative changes resulting in margin calls related to the financing of our assets; changes in interest rates and mortgage prepayment rates; prepayments of the mortgage and other loans underlying our mortgage-backed securities, or RMBS, or other asset-backed securities, or ABS; rates of default, delinquencies or decreased recovery rates on our investments; general volatility of the securities markets in which we invest; our ability to maintain existing financing arrangements and our ability to obtain future financing arrangements; our ability to effect our strategy to securitize residential mortgage loans; our ability to consummate proposed transactions; interest rate mismatches between our investments and our borrowings used to finance such purchases; effects of interest rate caps on our adjustable-rate investments; the degree to which our hedging strategies may or may not protect us from interest rate volatility; the impact of and changes to various government programs; impact of and changes in governmental regulations, tax law and rates, accounting guidance, and similar matters; market trends in our industry, interest rates, the debt securities markets or the general economy; estimates relating to our ability to make distributions to our stockholders in the future; our understanding of our competition; availability of qualified personnel; our ability to maintain our classification as a real estate investment trust, or, REIT, for U.S. federal income tax purposes; our ability to maintain our exemption from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or 1940 Act; our expectations regarding materiality or significance; and the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Chimera does not undertake or accept any obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Additional information concerning these and other risk factors is contained in Chimera’s most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning Chimera or matters attributable to Chimera or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above.

Readers are advised that the financial information in this press release is based on Company data available at the time of this presentation and, in certain circumstances, may not have been audited by the Company’s independent auditors.

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Source: Chimera Investment Corporation

FAQ

What was Chimera Investment Corporation's GAAP net income per diluted common share for Q4 2023?

Chimera Investment Corporation reported a GAAP net income of $0.05 per diluted common share for Q4 2023.

What was the Earnings available for distribution per diluted common share for the full year 2023?

The Earnings available for distribution per diluted common share for the full year 2023 was $0.51.

How much did Chimera Investment Corporation lower its recourse debt by in 2023?

Chimera Investment Corporation lowered its recourse debt by $1.0 billion in 2023.

What type of assets does Chimera Investment Corporation primarily invest in?

Chimera Investment Corporation is primarily engaged in investing in mortgage assets.

What is Chimera Investment Corporation's ticker symbol?

Chimera Investment Corporation's ticker symbol is CIM.