v3.26.1
Note 5 - Derivative and Other Hedging Instruments
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2026
Notes to Financial Statements  
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Text Block]

NOTE 5. DERIVATIVE AND OTHER HEDGING INSTRUMENTS

 

The table below summarizes fair value information about the Company’s derivative and other hedging instruments assets and liabilities as of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025.

 

(in thousands)

         

Derivative and Other Hedging Instruments

Balance Sheet Location

 

June 30, 2026

  

December 31, 2025

 

Assets

         

Interest rate swaps

Derivative assets, at fair value

 $11,520  $8,238 

Payer swaptions

Derivative assets, at fair value

  3,542   - 

TBA securities

Derivative assets, at fair value

  -   1,015 

Total derivative assets, at fair value

 $15,062  $9,253 
          

Liabilities

         

TBA securities

Derivative liabilities, at fair value

 $4,723  $1,846 

Total derivative liabilities, at fair value

 $4,723  $1,846 
          

Margin Balances Posted to (from) Counterparties

         

Futures contracts

Restricted cash

 $4,140  $5,131 

Interest rate swaps

Restricted cash

  9,479   - 

TBA securities (including margin paid on unsettled trades)

Restricted cash

  5,949   2,394 

TBA securities (including margin received on unsettled trades)

Other liabilities

  (2,020)  (360)

Swaption margin

Other liabilities

  (1,120)  - 

Total margin balances on derivative contracts

 $16,428  $7,165 

 

T-Note and SOFR futures are cash and securities settled futures contracts on their respective underlying or delivery eligible underlying U.S. Treasury security, with gains and losses credited or charged to the Company’s cash accounts on a daily basis. A minimum balance, or “margin,” is required to be maintained in the account on a daily basis. The tables below present information related to the Company’s T-Note and SOFR futures positions at June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025.

 

($ in thousands)

                
  

June 30, 2026

 
  

Average

  

Weighted

  

Weighted

     
  

Contract

  

Average

  

Average

     
  

Notional

  

Entry

  

Effective

  

Open

 

Expiration Year

 

Amount

  

Rate

  

Rate

  

Equity(1)

 

U.S. Treasury Note Futures Contracts (Short Positions)(2)

                

September 2026 10-year T-Note futures (Sep 2026 - Sep 2036 Hedge Period)

 $188,600   4.46%  4.31% $(1,773)

September 2026 10-year Ultra futures (Sep 2026 - Sep 2036 Hedge Period)

  60,000   4.62%  4.43%  (954)

SOFR Futures Contracts (Short Positions)

                

September 2026 3-Month SOFR futures (Jun 2026 - Sep 2026 Hedge Period)

 $97,500   3.38%  3.70% $316 

December 2026 3-Month SOFR futures (Sep 2026 - Dec 2026 Hedge Period)

  97,500   3.27%  3.92%  630 

March 2027 3-Month SOFR futures (Dec 2026 - Mar 2027 Hedge Period)

  97,500   3.22%  4.04%  802 

June 2027 3-Month SOFR futures (Mar 2027 - Jun 2027 Hedge Period)

  97,500   3.21%  4.08%  851 

ERIS SOFR Swap Futures Contracts (Short Positions)(3)

                

September 2026 5-Year Term, 3.75% fixed rate, (Sep 2026 - Sep 2031 Hedge Period)

 $10,000   4.01%  3.91% $(38)

 

($ in thousands)

                
  

December 31, 2025

 
  

Average

  

Weighted

  

Weighted

     
  

Contract

  

Average

  

Average

     
  

Notional

  

Entry

  

Effective

  

Open

 

Expiration Year

 

Amount

  

Rate

  

Rate

  

Equity(1)

 

U.S. Treasury Note Futures Contracts (Short Positions)(2)

                

March 2026 5-year T-Note futures (Mar 2026 - Mar 2031 Hedge Period)

 $122,500   3.65%  3.65% $10 

March 2026 10-year T-Note futures (Mar 2026 - Mar 2036 Hedge Period)

  90,000   3.79%  3.91%  739 

March 2026 10-year Ultra futures (Mar 2026 - Mar 2036 Hedge Period)

  60,000   4.03%  4.14%  575 

SOFR Futures Contracts (Short Positions)

                

March 2026 3-Month SOFR futures (Dec 2025 - Mar 2026 Hedge Period)

 $97,500   3.73%  3.69% $(44)

June 2026 3-Month SOFR futures (Mar 2026 - Jun 2026 Hedge Period)

  97,500   3.55%  3.52%  (33)

September 2026 3-Month SOFR futures (Jun 2026 - Sep 2026 Hedge Period)

  97,500   3.38%  3.31%  (66)

December 2026 3-Month SOFR futures (Sep 2026 - Dec 2026 Hedge Period)

  97,500   3.27%  3.16%  (111)

March 2027 3-Month SOFR futures (Dec 2026 - Mar 2027 Hedge Period)

  97,500   3.22%  3.11%  (105)

June 2027 3-Month SOFR futures (Mar 2027 - Jun 2027 Hedge Period)

  97,500   3.21%  3.11%  (90)

ERIS SOFR Swap Futures Contracts (Short Positions)(3)

                

March 2026 5-Year Term, 3.75% fixed rate (Mar 2026 - Mar 2031 Hedge Period)

 $10,000   3.48%  3.45% $(13)

 

(1)

Open equity represents the cumulative gains (losses) recorded on open futures positions from inception.

(2)

5-Year T-Note futures contracts were valued at a price $109.30 of at  December 31, 2025. The contract values of the short positions were $133.9 million at  December 31, 2025. 10-Year T-Note futures contracts were valued at a price of $109.89 at  June 30, 2026 and $112.44 at  December 31, 2025. The contract values of the short positions were $207.3 million and $101.2 million at  June 30, 2026 and  December 31, 2025, respectively. 10-Year Ultra futures contracts were valued at a price of $112.47 at  June 30, 2026 and $115.02 at  December 31, 2025. The contract values of the short positions were $67.5 million and $69.0 million at  June 30, 2026 and  December 31, 2025, respectively.

(3)

ERIS swap futures are exchange traded futures that replicate the cash flows of an underlying swap position.

 

Under its interest rate swap agreements, the Company typically pays a fixed rate and receives a floating rate ("payer swaps") based on an index, such as SOFR. The floating rate the Company receives under its swap agreements has the effect of offsetting the repricing characteristics of its repurchase agreements and cash flows on such liabilities. The Company is typically required to post margin on its interest rate swap agreements. The table below presents information related to the Company’s interest rate swap positions at June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025.

 

($ in thousands)

                
      

Average

         
      

Fixed

  

Average

  

Average

 
  

Notional

  

Pay

  

Receive

  

Maturity

 
  

Amount

  

Rate

  

Rate

  

(Years)

 

June 30, 2026

                

Expiration > 1 to ≤ 5 years

 $5,292,800   3.46%  3.68%  3.0 

Expiration > 5 years

  2,521,400   3.92%  3.68%  8.0 
  $7,814,200   3.61%  3.68%  4.6 

December 31, 2025

                

Expiration > 1 to ≤ 5 years

 $4,162,500   3.38%  3.87%  3.2 

Expiration > 5 years

  1,695,800   3.87%  3.87%  7.1 
  $5,858,300   3.53%  3.87%  4.3 

 

Our interest rate swaps are centrally cleared through two registered commodities exchanges, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange ("CME") and the London Clearing House (“LCH”). The clearing exchanges require that we post an "initial margin" amount determined by the exchanges. Initial margin is intended to be set at a level sufficient to protect the exchange against potential losses that could arise during the period required to close out or hedge the interest rate swap positions following a participant default. The amount is determined using risk-based models that consider potential market movements over a multi-day liquidation period and is subject to adjustment based on changes in market volatility, portfolio composition, liquidity, concentration and other factors. We also exchange daily settlements of "variation margin" based upon changes in fair value, as measured by the exchanges. Pursuant to rules governing central clearing activities, we recognize variation margin settlements as a direct reduction of the carrying value of the interest rate swap asset or liability. 

 

The table below presents information related to the Company’s payer swaption positions as of June 30, 2026. The Company did not have any open swaption positions as of December 31, 2025.

 

($ in thousands)

                         
  

Option

  

Underlying Swap

 
          

Weighted

           

Weighted

 
          

Average

      

Average

 

Adjustable

 

Average

 
      

Fair

  

Months to

  

Notional

  

Fixed

 

Rate

 

Term

 
  

Cost

  

Value

  

Expiration

  

Amount

  

Rate

 

Index

 

(Years)

 

June 30, 2026

                         

Payer Swaption (long position)

 $7,124  $5,633   5.0  $1,000,000   4.11%

SOFR

  5.0 

Payer Swaption (short position)

  (3,024)  (2,091)  5.0   1,000,000   4.51%

SOFR

  5.0 

Total

 $4,100  $3,542      $2,000,000          

 

We purchase interest rate swaptions to help mitigate the potential impact of larger, more rapid changes in interest rates on the performance of our investment portfolio. Interest rate swaptions provide us the option to enter into an interest rate swap agreement for a predetermined notional amount, stated term and pay and receive interest rates in the future. Our interest rate swaption agreements are not subject to central clearing. The difference between the premium paid and the fair value of the swaption is reported in gain (loss) on derivative and other hedging instruments in our statements of comprehensive income (loss). If a swaption expires unexercised, the realized loss on the swaption would be equal to the premium paid. If we sell or exercise a swaption, the realized gain or loss on the swaption would be equal to the difference between the cash or the fair value of the underlying interest rate swap and the premium paid.

 

The following table summarizes the Company’s contracts to purchase and sell TBA securities as of  June 30, 2026 and  December 31, 2025.

 

($ in thousands)

                
  

Notional

             
  

Amount

          

Net

 
  

Long

  

Cost

  

Market

  

Carrying

 
  

(Short)(1)

  

Basis(2)

  

Value(3)

  

Value(4)

 
June 30, 2026                

30-Year TBA securities:

                
5.0% $(145,000) $(141,270) $(142,689) $(1,419)
5.5%  (449,900)  (448,564)  (451,868)  (3,304)

Total

 $(594,900) $(589,834) $(594,557) $(4,723)

December 31, 2025

                
15-Year TBA securities:                
4.5% $250,000  $249,998  $250,186  $188 
30-Year TBA securities:                
3.0%  -   (343)  -   343 
3.5%  -   34   -   (34)
4.0%  -   (215)  -   215 
5.0%  -   218   -   (218)
5.5%  (275,000)  (277,696)  (278,996)  (1,300)
6.5%  (155,000)  (161,103)  (161,127)  (24)

Total

 $(180,000) $(189,107) $(189,937) $(830)

 

(1)

Notional amount represents the par value (or principal balance) of the underlying Agency RMBS.

(2)

Cost basis represents the forward price to be paid (received) for the underlying Agency RMBS.

(3)

Market value represents the current market value of the TBA securities (or of the underlying Agency RMBS) as of period-end.

(4)

Net carrying value represents the difference between the market value and the cost basis of the TBA securities as of period-end and is reported in derivative assets (liabilities) at fair value in the balance sheets.

 

Gain (Loss) From Derivative and Other Hedging Instruments, Net

 

The table below presents the effect of the Company’s derivative and other hedging instruments on the statements of comprehensive income (loss) for the six and three months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025.

 

(in thousands)

                
  

Six Months Ended June 30,

  

Three Months Ended June 30,

 
  

2026

  

2025

  

2026

  

2025

 

Interest rate futures contracts (short position)

 $8,659  $(23,630) $4,222  $(8,688)

Interest rate swaps

  104,355   (100,251)  63,353   (37,408)

Payer swaptions (short positions)

  932   -   932   - 

Payer swaptions (long positions)

  (1,490)  -   (1,490)  - 

TBA securities (short positions)

  (3,033)  (4,636)  (3,228)  (7,662)

TBA securities (long positions)

  930   572   (347)  472 

U.S. Treasury securities (short positions)

  (1,645)  -   (1,042)  - 

Total

 $108,708  $(127,945) $62,400  $(53,286)

 

Credit Risk-Related Contingent Features

 

The use of derivatives and other hedging instruments creates exposure to credit risk relating to potential losses that could be recognized in the event that the counterparties to these instruments fail to perform their obligations under the contracts. The Company attempts to minimize this risk by limiting its counterparties for instruments which are not centrally cleared on a registered exchange to major financial institutions with acceptable credit ratings and monitoring positions with individual counterparties. In addition, the Company may be required to pledge assets as collateral for its derivatives, whose amounts vary over time based on the market value, notional amount and remaining term of the derivative contract. In the event of a default by a counterparty, the Company may not receive payments provided for under the terms of its derivative agreements and may have difficulty obtaining its assets pledged as collateral for its derivatives. The cash and cash equivalents pledged as collateral for the Company's derivative instruments are included in restricted cash on its balance sheets.

 

It is the Company's policy not to offset assets and liabilities associated with open derivative contracts. However, CME and LCH rules characterize variation margin transfers as settlement payments, as opposed to adjustments to collateral. As a result, derivative assets and liabilities associated with centrally cleared derivatives for which the CME or LCH serves as the central clearing party are presented as if these derivatives had been settled as of the reporting date.