Annaly Capital Management, Inc. Reports 3rd Quarter 2020 Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (NYSE: NLY) announced its financial results for Q3 2020. GAAP net income of $0.70 per average common share, up from $0.58 in the prior quarter. Core earnings of $0.32 per average common share, up 18.5% from the prior quarter. Book value per common share of $8.70, up 3.7% from the prior quarter. Declared quarterly common stock cash dividend of $0.22 per share.

Positive

• GAAP net income increased from the prior quarter
• Core earnings increased by 18.5% from the prior quarter
• Book value per common share increased by 3.7% from the prior quarter
• Declared quarterly common stock cash dividend of $0.22 per share

Negative

• None.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (NYSE: NLY) ("Annaly" or the "Company") today announced its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2020.

Financial Highlights

• GAAP net income of $0.70 per average common share for the quarter, up from $0.58 in the prior quarter
• Core earnings (excluding PAA) of $0.32 per average common share for the quarter, up 18.5% from the prior quarter
• GAAP return on average equity of 29.0% and core return on average equity (excluding PAA) of 13.8% for the quarter
• Book value per common share of $8.70, up 3.7% from the prior quarter
• Economic leverage of 6.2x, down from 6.4x in the prior quarter
• Declared quarterly common stock cash dividend of $0.22 per share
• Economic return of 6.3% for the third quarter

Business Highlights

Investment and Strategy

• Capital allocation to Agency increased to 80% of dedicated equity capital, which was largely driven by residential credit securitizations; highly liquid Agency portfolio relatively unchanged at $96.3 billion and 94% of Annaly's total assets⁽¹⁾
• Credit businesses remain conservatively positioned and are performing well on improving economic indicators; will look to be opportunistic amidst steady improvement in deal flow and sector activity
• Total loan loss reserves (CECL and specific) declined by $22 million largely driven by a stronger economic forecast compared to the prior quarter

Financing and Capital

• $8.8 billion of unencumbered assets, including cash and unencumbered Agency MBS of $6.9 billion
• Average GAAP cost of interest bearing liabilities and average economic cost of interest bearing liabilities declined 36 basis points to 0.60% and 0.93%, respectively
• Annaly Residential Credit Group completed two residential whole loan securitizations totaling $1.0 billion in the third quarter, bringing aggregate issuances to over $5.0 billion since the beginning of 2018⁽²⁾
• Repurchased $209 million of common stock year-to-date⁽³⁾

Corporate Responsibility & Governance

• Demonstrated improved cost efficiency metrics relative to the second quarter following the completion of the Internalization
• Published inaugural Corporate Responsibility Report subsequent to quarter end, highlighting Annaly's leadership across ESG practices and outlining future goals and commitments for Annaly's five key ESG areas
• Named first Head of Inclusion and established an Inclusion Support Committee of executives, which represents the latest in a series of steps to enhance Annaly’s diversity initiatives and generate stronger returns for our shareholders

"We are quite optimistic about the operating environment for our business - particularly for Agency MBS - due to low interest rate volatility, strong carry and the lowest financing costs we’ve seen in the last decade," stated David Finkelstein, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer. "We took advantage of the rebound in risk sentiment to further enhance our cost of capital and liquidity profile - completing two securitizations totaling $1 billion. Amidst this backdrop, Annaly delivered a strong 6.3% quarterly economic return to shareholders driven by an increase in book value through proactive management of our portfolio and generated core earnings $0.10 higher than the dividend. These solid results were derived with lower leverage, and with nearly $7 billion of highly liquid unencumbered assets, we are poised to take advantage of opportunities we see across our market-leading platform."

"Additionally, I am proud that we published our inaugural Corporate Responsibility Report earlier this month on the 23rd anniversary of Annaly's IPO. The report showcases Annaly's accomplishments across key areas of ESG related to corporate governance, responsible investments, human capital and inclusion initiatives. We believe continued progress in these endeavors is critical in order to support long-term performance."

(1)		Assets represent Annaly’s investments that are on balance sheet, net of securitized debt of consolidated VIEs, as well as investments that are off-balance sheet in which the Company has economic exposure. Assets include TBA purchase contracts (market value) of $21.1 billion and CMBX derivatives (market value) of $471.9 million and are shown net of securitized debt of consolidated VIEs of $6.0 billion.
(2)		Includes three residential whole loan securitizations totaling $1.1 billion in 2018, five residential whole loan securitizations totaling $2.1 billion in 2019 and four residential whole loan securitizations totaling $1.8 billion in 2020.
(3)		Share repurchases are under Annaly’s current authorized share repurchase program that expires in December 2020. Amounts exclude fees and commissions and include $34 million of repurchases that settled subsequent to quarter end.

Financial Performance

The following table summarizes certain key performance indicators as of and for the quarters ended September 30, 2020, June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019:

	September 30, 2020				June 30, 2020				September 30, 2019
Book value per common share	$	8.70			$	8.39			$	9.21
Economic leverage at period-end (1)	6.2:1				6.4:1				7.7:1
GAAP net income (loss) per average common share (2)	$	0.70			$	0.58			$	(0.54)
Annualized GAAP return (loss) on average equity	29.02		%		25.84		%		(19.32		%)
Net interest margin (3)	2.15		%		1.89		%		0.48		%
Average yield on interest earning assets (4)	2.70		%		2.77		%		2.89		%
Average GAAP cost of interest bearing liabilities (5)	0.60		%		0.96		%		2.58		%
Net interest spread	2.10		%		1.81		%		0.31		%
Non-GAAP metrics *
Core earnings (excluding PAA) per average common share (2)	$	0.32			$	0.27			$	0.21
Annualized core return on average equity (excluding PAA)	13.79		%		12.82		%		8.85		%
Net interest margin (excluding PAA) (3)	2.05		%		1.88		%		1.10		%
Average yield on interest earning assets (excluding PAA) (4)	2.86		%		3.01		%		3.26		%
Average economic cost of interest bearing liabilities (5)	0.93		%		1.29		%		2.28		%
Net interest spread (excluding PAA)	1.93		%		1.72		%		0.98		%

*		Represents a non-GAAP financial measure. Please refer to the "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section for additional information.
(1)		Computed as the sum of recourse debt, cost basis of to-be-announced ("TBA") and CMBX derivatives outstanding, and net forward purchases (sales) of investments divided by total equity. Recourse debt consists of repurchase agreements and other secured financing (excluding certain non-recourse credit facilities). Securitized debt, certain credit facilities (included within other secured financing) and mortgages payable are non-recourse to the Company and are excluded from this measure.
(2)		Net of dividends on preferred stock. The quarter ended September 30, 2019 excludes cumulative and undeclared dividends of $0.3 million on the Company's Series I Preferred Stock as of June 30, 2019.
(3)		Net interest margin represents interest income less interest expense divided by average Interest Earning Assets. Net interest margin (excluding PAA) represents the sum of interest income (excluding PAA) plus TBA dollar roll income and CMBX coupon income less interest expense and the net interest component of interest rate swaps divided by the sum of average Interest Earning Assets plus average outstanding TBA contract and CMBX balances. PAA represents the cumulative impact on prior periods, but not the current period, of quarter-over-quarter changes in estimated long-term prepayment speeds related to the Company’s Agency mortgage-backed securities.
(4)		Average yield on interest earning assets represents annualized interest income divided by average interest earning assets. Average interest earning assets reflects the average amortized cost of our investments during the period. Average yield on interest earning assets (excluding PAA) is calculated using annualized interest income (excluding PAA).
(5)		Average GAAP cost of interest bearing liabilities represents annualized interest expense divided by average interest bearing liabilities. Average interest bearing liabilities reflects the average balances during the period. Average economic cost of interest bearing liabilities represents annualized economic interest expense divided by average interest bearing liabilities. Economic interest expense is comprised of GAAP interest expense and the net interest component of interest rate swaps.

Other Information

This news release and our public documents to which we refer contain or incorporate by reference certain forward-looking statements which are based on various assumptions (some of which are beyond our control) and may be identified by reference to a future period or periods or by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as "may," "will," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "continue," or similar terms or variations on those terms or the negative of those terms. Actual results could differ materially from those set forth in forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, risks and uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including as related to adverse economic conditions on real estate-related assets and financing conditions; changes in interest rates; changes in the yield curve; changes in prepayment rates; the availability of mortgage-backed securities and other securities for purchase; the availability of financing and, if available, the terms of any financing; changes in the market value of our assets; changes in business conditions and the general economy; our ability to grow our commercial real estate business; our ability to grow our residential credit business; our ability to grow our middle market lending business; credit risks related to our investments in credit risk transfer securities, residential mortgage-backed securities and related residential mortgage credit assets, commercial real estate assets and corporate debt; risks related to investments in mortgage servicing rights; our ability to consummate any contemplated investment opportunities; changes in government regulations or policy affecting our business; our ability to maintain our qualification as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes; and our ability to maintain our exemption from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940. For a discussion of the risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We do not undertake, and specifically disclaim any obligation, to publicly release the result of any revisions which may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements, except as required by law.

Annaly is a leading diversified capital manager that invests in and finances residential and commercial assets. Annaly’s principal business objective is to generate net income for distribution to its stockholders and to optimize its returns through prudent management of its diversified investment strategies. Annaly is internally managed and has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust, or REIT, for federal income tax purposes. Additional information on the company can be found at www.annaly.com.

Annaly routinely posts important information for investors on the Company’s website, www.annaly.com. Annaly intends to use this webpage as a means of disclosing material, non-public information, for complying with the Company’s disclosure obligations under Regulation FD and to post and update investor presentations and similar materials on a regular basis. Annaly encourages investors, analysts, the media and others interested in Annaly to monitor the Company’s website, in addition to following Annaly’s press releases, SEC filings, public conference calls, presentations, webcasts and other information it posts from time to time on its website. To sign-up for email-notifications, please visit the "Investors" section of our website, www.annaly.com, then click on "Investor Resources" and select "Email Alerts" to complete the email notification form. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, the Company’s webpage is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this document.

The Company prepares a supplemental investor presentation and a financial summary for the benefit of its shareholders. Both the Third Quarter 2020 Investor Presentation and the Third Quarter 2020 Financial Summary can be found at the Company’s website (www.annaly.com) in the Investors section under Investor Presentations.

Conference Call

The Company will hold the third quarter 2020 earnings conference call on October 29, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Participants are encouraged to pre-register for the conference call to receive a unique PIN to gain immediate access to the call and bypass the live operator. Pre-registration may be completed by accessing the Pre-Registration link found on the homepage or "Investors" section of the Company's website at www.annaly.com, or by using the following link: https://dpregister.com/sreg/10148947/daee3e6ede.

Pre-registration may be completed at any time, including up to and after the call start time.

For participants who would like to join the call but have not pre-registered, access is available by dialing 844-735-3317 within the U.S., or 412-317-5703 internationally, and requesting the "Annaly Earnings Call."

There will also be an audio webcast of the call on www.annaly.com. A replay of the call will be available for one week following the conference call. The replay number is 877-344-7529 for domestic calls and 412-317-0088 for international calls and the conference passcode is 10148947. If you would like to be added to the e-mail distribution list, please visit www.annaly.com, click on Investors, then select Email Alerts and complete the email notification form.

Financial Statements

ANNALY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION (dollars in thousands, except per share data)
	September 30, 2020				June 30, 2020				December 31, 2019 (1)				December 31, 2019				September 30, 2019
	(unaudited)				(unaudited)								(unaudited)				(unaudited)
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,239,982			$	1,393,910			$	2,823,521			$	1,850,729			$	1,793,921
Securities	76,098,985				77,805,743				79,357,596				114,833,580				116,094,061
Loans, net	2,788,341				3,972,671				4,068,189				4,462,350				3,946,614
Mortgage servicing rights	207,985				227,400				280,558				378,078				386,051
Assets transferred or pledged to securitization vehicles	7,269,402				7,690,451				7,671,662				7,002,460				4,688,144
Real estate, net	790,597				746,067				751,738				725,638				725,508
Derivative assets	103,245				165,642				238,776				113,556				168,755
Receivable for unsettled trades	54,200				747,082				1,006,853				4,792				193,229
Principal and interest receivable	281,009				300,089				335,170				449,906				483,744
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	136,900				137,680				98,293				92,772				94,904
Other assets	221,765				271,918				284,918				381,220				381,189
Total assets	$	89,192,411			$	93,458,653			$	96,917,274			$	130,295,081			$	128,956,120
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Liabilities
Repurchase agreements	$	64,633,447			$	67,163,598			$	72,580,183			$	101,740,728			$	102,682,104
Other secured financing	861,373				1,538,996				1,805,428				4,455,700				4,466,030
Debt issued by securitization vehicles	6,027,576				6,458,130				6,364,949				5,622,801				3,856,082
Mortgages payable	507,934				508,565				484,762				485,005				485,657
Derivative liabilities	1,182,681				1,257,038				1,331,188				803,866				972,415
Payable for unsettled trades	1,176,001				2,122,735				923,552				463,387				245,626
Interest payable	155,338				180,943				261,304				476,335				565,797
Dividends payable	308,644				309,686				357,606				357,527				359,491
Other liabilities	144,745				121,359				100,772				93,388				99,214
Total liabilities	74,997,739				79,661,050				84,209,744				114,498,737				113,732,416
Stockholders’ equity
Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (2)	1,982,026				1,982,026				1,982,026				1,982,026				1,982,026
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share (3)	14,029				14,077				14,304				14,301				14,380
Additional paid-in capital	19,798,032				19,827,216				19,968,372				19,966,923				20,034,970
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	3,589,056				3,842,074				3,121,371				2,138,191				2,313,815
Accumulated deficit	(11,200,937)				(11,871,927)				(12,382,648)				(8,309,424)				(9,125,895)
Total stockholders’ equity	14,182,206				13,793,466				12,703,425				15,792,017				15,219,296
Noncontrolling interests	12,466				4,137				4,105				4,327				4,408
Total equity	14,194,672				13,797,603				12,707,530				15,796,344				15,223,704
Total liabilities and equity	$	89,192,411			$	93,458,653			$	96,917,274			$	130,295,081			$	128,956,120

(1)		Derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at December 31, 2019.
(2)		7.50% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock - Includes 18,400,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding.
		6.95% Series F Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock - Includes 28,800,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding.
		6.50% Series G Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock - Includes 19,550,000 shares authorized and 17,000,000 shares issued and outstanding.
		6.75% Series I Preferred Stock - Includes 18,400,000 shares authorized and 17,700,000 issued and outstanding.
(3)		Includes 2,914,850,000 shares authorized at September 30, 2020, June 30, 2020, March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 and September 30, 2019. Includes 1,402,928,317 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2020; 1,407,662,483 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2020; 1,430,424,398 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2020; 1,430,106,199 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2019; and 1,437,964,466 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2019.

ANNALY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (dollars in thousands, except per share data) (Unaudited)
	For the quarters ended
	September 30, 2020				June 30, 2020				March 31, 2020				December 31, 2019				September 30, 2019
Net interest income
Interest income	$	562,443			$	584,812			$	555,026			$	1,074,214			$	919,299
Interest expense	115,126				186,032				503,473				620,058				766,905
Net interest income	447,317				398,780				51,553				454,156				152,394
Realized and unrealized gains (losses)
Net interest component of interest rate swaps	(62,529)				(64,561)				(13,980)				45,221				88,466
Realized gains (losses) on termination or maturity of interest rate swaps	(427)				(1,521,732)				(397,561)				(4,615)				(682,602)
Unrealized gains (losses) on interest rate swaps	170,327				1,494,628				(2,827,723)				782,608				(326,309)
Subtotal	107,371				(91,665)				(3,239,264)				823,214				(920,445)
Net gains (losses) on disposal of investments and other	198,888				246,679				206,583				17,783				66,522
Net gains (losses) on other derivatives	169,316				170,916				206,426				(42,312)				(16,888)
Net unrealized gains (losses) on instruments measured at fair value through earnings	121,255				254,772				(730,160)				(5,636)				(1,091)
Loan loss provision	21,993				(68,751)				(99,326)				(7,362)				(3,504)
Subtotal	511,452				603,616				(416,477)				(37,527)				45,039
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses)	618,823				511,951				(3,655,741)				785,687				(875,406)
Other income (loss)	7,959				15,224				14,926				42,656				35,074
General and administrative expenses
Compensation and management fee	29,196				37,036				40,825				40,403				41,161
Other general and administrative expenses	19,636				30,630				36,804				32,948				24,977
Total general and administrative expenses	48,832				67,666				77,629				73,351				66,138
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,025,267				858,289				(3,666,891)				1,209,148				(754,076)
Income taxes	9,719				2,055				(26,702)				(594)				(6,907)
Net income (loss)	1,015,548				856,234				(3,640,189)				1,209,742				(747,169)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(126)				32				66				68				(110)
Net income (loss) attributable to Annaly	1,015,674				856,202				(3,640,255)				1,209,674				(747,059)
Dividends on preferred stock (1)	35,509				35,509				35,509				35,509				36,151
Net income (loss) available (related) to common stockholders	$	980,165			$	820,693			$	(3,675,764)			$	1,174,165			$	(783,210)
Net income (loss) per share available (related) to common stockholders
Basic	$	0.70			$	0.58			$	(2.57)			$	0.82			$	(0.54)
Diluted	$	0.70			$	0.58			$	(2.57)			$	0.82			$	(0.54)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding
Basic	1,404,202,695				1,423,909,112				1,430,994,319				1,431,079,108				1,453,359,211
Diluted	1,404,368,300				1,423,909,112				1,430,994,319				1,431,079,108				1,453,359,211
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Net income (loss)	$	1,015,548			$	856,234			$	(3,640,189)			$	1,209,742			$	(747,169)
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities	(140,671)				986,146				1,374,796				(153,192)				1,034,873
Reclassification adjustment for net (gains) losses included in net income (loss)	(112,347)				(265,443)				(391,616)				(22,432)				(86,061)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(253,018)				720,703				983,180				(175,624)				948,812
Comprehensive income (loss)	762,530				1,576,937				(2,657,009)				1,034,118				201,643
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(126)				32				66				68				(110)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Annaly	762,656				1,576,905				(2,657,075)				1,034,050				201,753
Dividends on preferred stock (1)	35,509				35,509				35,509				35,509				36,151
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to common stockholders	$	727,147			$	1,541,396			$	(2,692,584)			$	998,541			$	165,602

(1)

The quarter ended September 30, 2019 excludes cumulative and undeclared dividends of $0.3 million on the Company's Series I Preferred Stock as of June 30, 2019.

ANNALY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (dollars in thousands, except per share data)
	For the nine months ended
	September 30, 2020				September 30, 2019
Net interest income
Interest income	$	1,702,281			$	2,713,083
Interest expense	804,631				2,164,817
Net interest income	897,650				548,266
Realized and unrealized gains (losses)
Net interest component of interest rate swaps	(141,070)				306,154
Realized gains (losses) on termination or maturity of interest rate swaps	(1,919,720)				(1,438,349)
Unrealized gains (losses) on interest rate swaps	(1,162,768)				(1,992,884)
Subtotal	(3,223,558)				(3,125,079)
Net gains (losses) on disposal of investments	652,150				(65,727)
Net gains (losses) on other derivatives	546,658				(638,458)
Net unrealized gains (losses) on instruments measured at fair value through earnings	(354,133)				41,657
Loan loss provision	(146,084)				(9,207)
Subtotal	698,591				(671,735)
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses)	(2,524,967)				(3,796,814)
Other income (loss)	38,109				93,757
General and administrative expenses
Compensation and management fee	107,057				130,225
Other general and administrative expenses	87,070				98,058
Total general and administrative expenses	194,127				228,283
Income (loss) before income taxes	(1,783,335)				(3,383,074)
Income taxes	(14,928)				(10,241)
Net income (loss)	(1,768,407)				(3,372,833)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(28)				(294)
Net income (loss) attributable to Annaly	(1,768,379)				(3,372,539)
Dividends on preferred stock	106,527				101,067
Net income (loss) available (related) to common stockholders	$	(1,874,906)			$	(3,473,606)
Net income (loss) per share available (related) to common stockholders
Basic	$	(1.32)			$	(2.42)
Diluted	$	(1.32)			$	(2.42)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding
Basic	1,419,645,475				1,436,204,582
Diluted	1,419,645,475				1,436,204,582
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Net income (loss)	$	(1,768,407)			$	(3,372,833)
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities	2,220,271				4,289,054
Reclassification adjustment for net (gains) losses included in net income (loss)	(769,406)				4,626
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,450,865				4,293,680
Comprehensive income (loss)	(317,542)				920,847
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(28)				(294)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Annaly	(317,514)				921,141
Dividends on preferred stock	106,527				101,067
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to common stockholders	$	(424,041)			$	820,074

Key Financial Data

The following table presents key metrics of the Company’s portfolio, liabilities and hedging positions, and performance as of and for the quarters ended September 30, 2020, June 30, 2020, and September 30, 2019:

	September 30, 2020				June 30, 2020				September 30, 2019
Portfolio related metrics
Fixed-rate Residential Securities as a percentage of total Residential Securities	98		%		98		%		97		%
Adjustable-rate and floating-rate Residential Securities as a percentage of total Residential Securities	2		%		2		%		3		%
Weighted average experienced CPR for the period	22.9		%		19.5		%		14.6		%
Weighted average projected long-term CPR at period-end	17.1		%		18.0		%		16.3		%
Liabilities and hedging metrics
Weighted average days to maturity on repurchase agreements outstanding at period-end	72				74				45
Hedge ratio (1)	48		%		40		%		73		%
Weighted average pay rate on interest rate swaps at period-end (2)	0.91		%		1.01		%		1.88		%
Weighted average receive rate on interest rate swaps at period-end (2)	0.48		%		0.75		%		2.16		%
Weighted average net rate on interest rate swaps at period-end (2)	0.43		%		0.26		%		(0.28		%)
Leverage at period-end (3)	5.1:1				5.5:1				7.3:1
Economic leverage at period-end (4)	6.2:1				6.4:1				7.7:1
Capital ratio at period-end	13.6		%		13.0		%		11.2		%
Performance related metrics
Book value per common share	$	8.70			$	8.39			$	9.21
GAAP net income (loss) per average common share (5)	$	0.70			$	0.58			$	(0.54)
Annualized GAAP return (loss) on average equity	29.02		%		25.84		%		(19.32		%)
Net interest margin (6)	2.15		%		1.89		%		0.48		%
Average yield on interest earning assets (7)	2.70		%		2.77		%		2.89		%
Average GAAP cost of interest bearing liabilities (8)	0.60		%		0.96		%		2.58		%
Net interest spread	2.10		%		1.81		%		0.31		%
Dividend declared per common share	$	0.22			$	0.22			$	0.25
Annualized dividend yield (9)	12.36		%		13.41		%		11.36		%
Non-GAAP metrics *
Core earnings (excluding PAA) per average common share (5)	$	0.32			$	0.27			$	0.21
Annualized core return on average equity (excluding PAA)	13.79		%		12.82		%		8.85		%
Net interest margin (excluding PAA) (6)	2.05		%		1.88		%		1.10		%
Average yield on interest earning assets (excluding PAA) (7)	2.86		%		3.01		%		3.26		%
Average economic cost of interest bearing liabilities (8)	0.93		%		1.29		%		2.28		%
Net interest spread (excluding PAA)	1.93		%		1.72		%		0.98		%

*		Represents a non-GAAP financial measure. Please refer to the "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section for additional information.
(1)		Measures total notional balances of interest rate swaps, interest rate swaptions (excluding receiver swaptions) and futures relative to repurchase agreements, other secured financing and cost basis of TBA derivatives outstanding; excludes MSRs and the effects of term financing, both of which serve to reduce interest rate risk. Additionally, the hedge ratio does not take into consideration differences in duration between assets and liabilities.
(2)		Excludes forward starting swaps.
(3)		Debt consists of repurchase agreements, other secured financing, securitized debt and mortgages payable. Certain credit facilities (included within other secured financing), securitized debt and mortgages payable are non-recourse to the Company.
(4)		Computed as the sum of recourse debt, cost basis of TBA and CMBX derivatives outstanding, and net forward purchases (sales) of investments divided by total equity.
(5)		Net of dividends on preferred stock. The quarter ended September 30, 2019 excludes cumulative and undeclared dividends of $0.3 million on the Company's Series I Preferred Stock as of June 30, 2019.
(6)		Net interest margin represents interest income less interest expense divided by average interest earning assets. Net interest margin (excluding PAA) represents the sum of interest income (excluding PAA) plus TBA dollar roll income and CMBX coupon income less interest expense and the net interest component of interest rate swaps divided by the sum of average interest earning assets plus average TBA contract and CMBX balances.
(7)		Average yield on interest earning assets represents annualized interest income divided by average interest earning assets. Average interest earning assets reflects the average amortized cost of our investments during the period. Average yield on interest earning assets (excluding PAA) is calculated using annualized interest income (excluding PAA).
(8)		Average GAAP cost of interest bearing liabilities represents annualized interest expense divided by average interest bearing liabilities. Average interest bearing liabilities reflects the average balances during the period. Average economic cost of interest bearing liabilities represents annualized economic interest expense divided by average interest bearing liabilities. Economic interest expense is comprised of GAAP interest expense and the net interest component of interest rate swaps.
(9)		Based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock of $7.12, $6.56 and $8.80 at September 30, 2020, June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019, respectively.

The following table contains additional information on our residential and commercial investments as of the dates presented:

	For the quarters ended
	September 30, 2020				June 30, 2020				September 30, 2019
Agency mortgage-backed securities	$	74,915,167			$	76,761,800			$	114,462,524
Credit risk transfer securities	411,538				362,901				474,765
Non-agency mortgage-backed securities	717,602				619,840				1,015,921
Commercial mortgage-backed securities	54,678				61,202				140,851
Total securities	$	76,098,985			$	77,805,743			$	116,094,061
Residential mortgage loans	$	152,959			$	1,168,521			$	1,219,402
Commercial real estate debt and preferred equity	573,504				618,886				611,429
Corporate debt	2,061,878				2,185,264				2,115,783
Loans held for sale	—				—				—
Total loans, net	$	2,788,341			$	3,972,671			$	3,946,614
Mortgage servicing rights	$	207,985			$	227,400			$	386,051
Agency mortgage-backed securities transferred or pledged to securitization vehicles	$	623,650			$	1,832,708			$	—
Residential mortgage loans transferred or pledged to securitization vehicles	3,588,679				2,832,502				2,376,731
Commercial real estate debt investments transferred or pledged to securitization vehicles	2,174,118				2,150,623				2,311,413
Commercial real estate debt and preferred equity transferred or pledged to securitization vehicles	882,955				874,618				—
Assets transferred or pledged to securitization vehicles	$	7,269,402			$	7,690,451			$	4,688,144
Real estate, net	$	790,597			$	746,067			$	725,508
Total residential and commercial investments	$	87,155,310			$	90,442,332			$	125,840,378

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement its consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), the Company provides the following non-GAAP measures:

core earnings (excluding PAA);	economic interest expense;
core earnings (excluding PAA) attributable to common stockholders;	economic net interest income (excluding PAA);
core earnings (excluding PAA) per average common share;	average yield on interest earning assets (excluding PAA);
annualized core return on average equity (excluding PAA);	average economic cost of interest bearing liabilities;
interest income (excluding PAA);	net interest margin (excluding PAA); and
	net interest spread (excluding PAA).

These measures should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures computed in accordance with GAAP. While intended to offer a fuller understanding of the Company’s results and operations, non-GAAP financial measures also have limitations. For example, the Company may calculate its non-GAAP metrics, such as core earnings (excluding PAA), or the PAA, differently than its peers making comparative analysis difficult. Additionally, in the case of non-GAAP measures that exclude the PAA, the amount of amortization expense excluding the PAA is not necessarily representative of the amount of future periodic amortization nor is it indicative of the term over which the Company will amortize the remaining unamortized premium. Changes to actual and estimated prepayments will impact the timing and amount of premium amortization and, as such, both GAAP and non-GAAP results.

These non-GAAP measures provide additional detail to enhance investor understanding of the Company’s period-over-period operating performance and business trends, as well as for assessing the Company’s performance versus that of industry peers. Additional information pertaining to the Company’s use of these non-GAAP financial measures, including discussion of how each such measure may be useful to investors, and reconciliations to their most directly comparable GAAP results are provided below.

Core earnings (excluding PAA), core earnings (excluding PAA) attributable to common stockholders, core earnings (excluding PAA) per average common share and annualized core return on average equity (excluding PAA)

The Company's principal business objective is to generate net income for distribution to its stockholders and to preserve capital through prudent selection of investments and continuous management of its portfolio. The Company generates net income by earning a net interest spread on its investment portfolio, which is a function of interest income from its investment portfolio less financing, hedging and operating costs. Core earnings (excluding PAA), which is defined as the sum of (a) economic net interest income, (b) TBA dollar roll income and CMBX coupon income, (c) realized amortization of MSRs, (d) other income (loss) (excluding depreciation expense related to commercial real estate and amortization of intangibles, non-core income allocated to equity method investments and other non-core components of other income (loss)), (e) general and administrative expenses (excluding transaction expenses and non-recurring items), and (f) income taxes (excluding the income tax effect of non-core income (loss) items) and excludes (g) the premium amortization adjustment ("PAA") representing the cumulative impact on prior periods, but not the current period, of quarter-over-quarter changes in estimated long-term prepayment speeds related to the Company’s Agency mortgage-backed securities is used by the Company's management and, the Company believes, used by analysts and investors to measure its progress in achieving its principal business objective.

The Company seeks to fulfill this objective through a variety of factors including portfolio construction, the degree of market risk exposure and related hedge profile, and the use and forms of leverage, all while operating within the parameters of the Company's capital allocation policy and risk governance framework.

The Company believes these non-GAAP measures provide management and investors with additional details regarding the Company’s underlying operating results and investment portfolio trends by (i) making adjustments to account for the disparate reporting of changes in fair value where certain instruments are reflected in GAAP net income (loss) while others are reflected in other comprehensive income (loss) and (ii) by excluding certain unrealized, non-cash or episodic components of GAAP net income (loss) in order to provide additional transparency into the operating performance of the Company’s portfolio. Annualized core return on average equity (excluding PAA), which is calculated by dividing core earnings (excluding PAA) over average stockholders’ equity, provides investors with additional detail on the core earnings (excluding PAA) generated by the Company’s invested equity capital.

The following table presents a reconciliation of GAAP financial results to non-GAAP core earnings (excluding PAA) for the periods presented:

	For the quarters ended
	September 30, 2020				June 30, 2020				September 30, 2019
	(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
GAAP net income (loss)	$	1,015,548			$	856,234			$	(747,169)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(126)				32				(110)
Net income (loss) attributable to Annaly	1,015,674				856,202				(747,059)
Adjustments to exclude reported realized and unrealized (gains) losses
Realized (gains) losses on termination or maturity of interest rate swaps	427				1,521,732				682,602
Unrealized (gains) losses on interest rate swaps	(170,327)				(1,494,628)				326,309
Net (gains) losses on disposal of investments and other	(198,888)				(246,679)				(66,522)
Net (gains) losses on other derivatives	(169,316)				(170,916)				16,888
Net unrealized (gains) losses on instruments measured at fair value through earnings	(121,255)				(254,772)				1,091
Loan loss provision (1)	(21,818)				72,544				3,504
Other adjustments
Depreciation expense related to commercial real estate and amortization of intangibles	11,363				8,714				9,974
Non-core (income) loss allocated to equity method investments (2)	(1,151)				4,218				4,541
Transaction expenses and non-recurring items (3)	2,801				1,075				2,622
Income tax effect of non-core income (loss) items	13,890				3,353				(2,762)
TBA dollar roll income and CMBX coupon income (4)	114,092				97,524				15,554
MSR amortization (5)	(27,048)				(25,529)				(21,963)
Plus:
Premium amortization adjustment cost (benefit)	33,879				51,742				117,152
Core earnings (excluding PAA) *	482,323				424,580				341,931
Dividends on preferred stock	35,509				35,509				36,151
Core earnings (excluding PAA) attributable to common stockholders *	$	446,814			$	389,071			$	305,780
GAAP net income (loss) per average common share	$	0.70			$	0.58			$	(0.54)
Core earnings (excluding PAA) per average common share *	$	0.32			$	0.27			$	0.21
Annualized GAAP return (loss) on average equity	29.02		%		25.84		%		(19.32		%)
Annualized core return on average equity (excluding PAA) *	13.79		%		12.82		%		8.85		%

*		Represents a non-GAAP financial measure.
(1)		Includes $0.2 million and $3.8 million of loss provision on the Company’s unfunded loan commitments for the quarters ended September 30, 2020 and June 30, 2020, respectively, which is reported in Other income (loss) in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).
(2)		The Company excludes non-core (income) loss allocated to equity method investments, which represents the unrealized (gains) losses allocated to equity interests in a portfolio of MSR, which is a component of Other income (loss).
(3)		The quarters ended September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019 includes costs incurred in connection with securitizations of residential whole loans. The quarters ended June 30, 2020 include costs incurred in connection with the Internalization and costs incurred in connection with the CEO search process.
(4)		TBA dollar roll income and CMBX coupon income each represent a component of Net gains (losses) on other derivatives. CMBX coupon income totaled $1.5 million, $1.6 million and $1.5 million for the quarters ended September 30, 2020, June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019, respectively.
(5)		MSR amortization represents the portion of changes in fair value that is attributable to the realization of estimated cash flows on the Company’s MSR portfolio and is reported as a component of Net unrealized gains (losses) on instruments measured at fair value.

From time to time, the Company enters into TBA forward contracts as an alternate means of investing in and financing Agency mortgage-backed securities. A TBA contract is an agreement to purchase or sell, for future delivery, an Agency mortgage-backed security with a specified issuer, term and coupon. A TBA dollar roll represents a transaction where TBA contracts with the same terms but different settlement dates are simultaneously bought and sold. The TBA contract settling in the later month typically prices at a discount to the earlier month contract with the difference in price commonly referred to as the "drop". The drop is a reflection of the expected net interest income from an investment in similar Agency mortgage-backed securities, net of an implied financing cost, that would be foregone as a result of settling the contract in the later month rather than in the earlier month. The drop between the current settlement month price and the forward settlement month price occurs because in the TBA dollar roll market, the party providing the financing is the party that would retain all principal and interest payments accrued during the financing period. Accordingly, TBA dollar roll income generally represents the economic equivalent of the net interest income earned on the underlying Agency mortgage-backed security less an implied financing cost.

TBA dollar roll transactions are accounted for under GAAP as a series of derivatives transactions. The fair value of TBA derivatives is based on methods similar to those used to value Agency mortgage-backed securities. The Company records TBA derivatives at fair value on its Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition and recognizes periodic changes in fair value in Net gains (losses) on other derivatives in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss), which includes both unrealized and realized gains and losses on derivatives (excluding interest rate swaps).

TBA dollar roll income is calculated as the difference in price between two TBA contracts with the same terms but different settlement dates multiplied by the notional amount of the TBA contract. Although accounted for as derivatives, TBA dollar rolls capture the economic equivalent of net interest income, or carry, on the underlying Agency mortgage-backed security (interest income less an implied cost of financing). TBA dollar roll income is reported as a component of Net gains (losses) on other derivatives in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).

The CMBX index is a synthetic tradable index referencing a basket of 25 commercial mortgage-backed securities ("CMBS") of a particular rating and vintage. The CMBX index allows investors to take a long exposure (referred to as selling protection) or short exposure (referred to as buying protection) on the respective basket of CMBS securities and is structured as a "pay-as-you-go" contract whereby the protection buyer pays to the protection seller a standardized running coupon on the contracted notional amount. The Company reports income (expense) on CMBX positions in Net gains (losses) on other derivatives in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss). The coupon payments received or paid on CMBX positions are equivalent to interest income (expense) and therefore included in core earnings (excluding PAA).

Premium Amortization Expense

In accordance with GAAP, the Company amortizes or accretes premiums or discounts into interest income for its Agency mortgage-backed securities, excluding interest-only securities, multifamily and reverse mortgages, taking into account estimates of future principal prepayments in the calculation of the effective yield. The Company recalculates the effective yield as differences between anticipated and actual prepayments occur. Using third-party model and market information to project future cash flows and expected remaining lives of securities, the effective interest rate determined for each security is applied as if it had been in place from the date of the security’s acquisition. The amortized cost of the security is then adjusted to the amount that would have existed had the new effective yield been applied since the acquisition date. The adjustment to amortized cost is offset with a charge or credit to interest income. Changes in interest rates and other market factors will impact prepayment speed projections and the amount of premium amortization recognized in any given period.

The Company’s GAAP metrics include the unadjusted impact of amortization and accretion associated with this method. Certain of the Company’s non-GAAP metrics exclude the effect of the PAA, which quantifies the component of premium amortization representing the cumulative impact on prior periods, but not the current period, of quarter-over-quarter changes in estimated long-term CPR.

The following table illustrates the impact of the PAA on premium amortization expense for the Company’s Residential Securities portfolio and residential securities transferred or pledged to securitization vehicles, for the quarters ended September 30, 2020, June 30, 2020, and September 30, 2019:

	For the quarters ended
	September 30, 2020				June 30, 2020				September 30, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Premium amortization expense (accretion)	$	248,718			$	270,688			$	376,306
Less: PAA cost (benefit)	33,879				51,742				117,152
Premium amortization expense (excluding PAA)	$	214,839			$	218,946			$	259,154

Interest income (excluding PAA), economic interest expense and economic net interest income (excluding PAA)

Interest income (excluding PAA) represents interest income excluding the effect of the PAA, and serves as the basis for deriving average yield on interest earning assets (excluding PAA), net interest spread (excluding PAA) and net interest margin (excluding PAA), which are discussed below. The Company believes this measure provides management and investors with additional detail to enhance their understanding of the Company’s operating results and trends by excluding the component of premium amortization expense representing the cumulative impact on prior periods, but not the current period, of quarter-over-quarter changes in estimated long-term prepayment speeds related to the Company’s Agency mortgage-backed securities (other than interest-only securities, multifamily and reverse mortgages), which can obscure underlying trends in the performance of the portfolio.

Economic interest expense includes GAAP interest expense and the net interest component of interest rate swaps. The Company uses interest rate swaps to manage its exposure to changing interest rates on its repurchase agreements by economically hedging cash flows associated with these borrowings. Accordingly, adding the net interest component of interest rate swaps to interest expense, as computed in accordance with GAAP, reflects the total contractual interest expense and thus, provides investors with additional information about the cost of the Company's financing strategy. The Company may use market agreed coupon (“MAC”) interest rate swaps in which the Company may receive or make a payment at the time of entering into such interest rate swap to compensate for the off-market nature of such interest rate swap. In accordance with GAAP, upfront payments associated with MAC interest rate swaps are not reflected in the net interest component of interest rate swaps in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss). The Company did not enter into any MAC interest rate swaps during the quarter ended September 30, 2020.

Similarly, economic net interest income (excluding PAA), as computed below, provides investors with additional information to enhance their understanding of the net economics of our primary business operations.

	For the quarters ended
	September 30, 2020				June 30, 2020				September 30, 2019
Interest income (excluding PAA) reconciliation	(dollars in thousands)
GAAP interest income	$	562,443			$	584,812			$	919,299
Premium amortization adjustment	33,879				51,742				117,152
Interest income (excluding PAA) *	$	596,322			$	636,554			$	1,036,451
Economic interest expense reconciliation
GAAP interest expense	$	115,126			$	186,032			$	766,905
Add:
Net interest component of interest rate swaps	62,529				64,561				(88,466)
Economic interest expense *	$	177,655			$	250,593			$	678,439
Economic net interest income (excluding PAA) reconciliation
Interest income (excluding PAA) *	$	596,322			$	636,554			$	1,036,451
Less:
Economic interest expense *	177,655				250,593				678,439
Economic net interest income (excluding PAA) *	$	418,667			$	385,961			$	358,012
* Represents a non-GAAP financial measure.

Average yield on interest earning assets (excluding PAA), net interest spread (excluding PAA), net interest margin (excluding PAA) and average economic cost of interest bearing liabilities

Net interest spread (excluding PAA), which is the difference between the average yield on interest earning assets (excluding PAA) and the average economic cost of interest bearing liabilities, which represents annualized economic interest expense divided by average interest bearing liabilities, and net interest margin (excluding PAA), which is calculated as the sum of interest income (excluding PAA) plus TBA dollar roll income and CMBX coupon income less interest expense and the net interest component of interest rate swaps divided by the sum of average interest earning assets plus average TBA contract and CMBX balances, provide management with additional measures of the Company’s profitability that management relies upon in monitoring the performance of the business.

Disclosure of these measures, which are presented below, provides investors with additional detail regarding how management evaluates the Company’s performance.

	For the quarters ended
	September 30, 2020				June 30, 2020				September 30, 2019
Economic metrics (excluding PAA)	(dollars in thousands)
Average interest earning assets	$	83,286,119			$	84,471,839			$	127,207,668
Interest income (excluding PAA) *	$	596,322			$	636,554			$	1,036,451
Average yield on interest earning assets (excluding PAA) *	2.86		%		3.01		%		3.26		%
Average interest bearing liabilities	$	74,901,128			$	76,712,894			$	116,391,094
Economic interest expense *	$	177,655			$	250,593			$	678,439
Average economic cost of interest bearing liabilities *	0.93		%		1.29		%		2.28		%
Economic net interest income (excluding PAA) *	$	418,667			$	385,961			$	358,012
Net interest spread (excluding PAA) *	1.93		%		1.72		%		0.98		%
Interest income (excluding PAA) *	$	596,322			$	636,554			$	1,036,451
TBA dollar roll income and CMBX coupon income	114,092				97,524				15,554
Interest expense	(115,126)				(186,032)				(766,905)
Net interest component of interest rate swaps	(62,529)				(64,561)				88,466
Subtotal	$	532,759			$	483,485			$	373,566
Average interest earnings assets	$	83,286,119			$	84,471,839			$	127,207,668
Average TBA contract and CMBX balances	20,429,935				18,628,343				9,248,502
Subtotal	$	103,716,054			$	103,100,182			$	136,456,170
Net interest margin (excluding PAA) *	2.05		%		1.88		%		1.10		%
* Represents a non-GAAP financial measure.