Company Website: http://www.ellingtonfinancial.com/
OLD GREENWICH, Conn. -- (Business Wire)

Ellington Financial Inc. (NYSE: EFC) ("we") today reported financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2026.

Highlights

• Net income attributable to common stockholders of $40.4 million, or $0.31 per common share, including unallocated Corporate/Other income and expense items.
  • $61.1 million, or $0.47 per common share, from the investment portfolio segment.
  • $12.5 million, or $0.10 per common share, from the Longbridge segment.
• Adjusted Distributable Earnings¹ of $58.0 million, or $0.45 per common share, including incentive fee expense of $0.9 million, or $0.01 per common share, and other unallocated Corporate/Other income and expense items.
  • $77.6 million, or $0.60 per common share, from the investment portfolio segment.
  • $8.6 million, or $0.07 per common share, from the Longbridge segment.
• Book value per common share of $13.53 as of September 30, 2026, including the effects of dividends of $0.39 per common share for the quarter.
• Recourse debt-to-equity ratio² of 2.2:1 as of September 30, 2026. Including all recourse and non-recourse borrowings, which primarily consist of securitization-related liabilities, debt-to-equity ratio of 9.4:1².
  • 25% of total recourse borrowings² are long-term and non-mark-to-market.
  • 17% of total recourse borrowings² are unsecured.
  • Weighted average remaining term of repo borrowings² is 8.9 months.
• Total unencumbered assets³ of $1.92 billion, consisting of cash and cash equivalents of $269.5 million and other unencumbered assets of $1.66 billion as of September 30, 2026.
• Issued 2,496,140 common shares under the ATM program at an average price of $13.61 per share, during the quarter. Subsequent to quarter end, repurchased 329,045 shares at an average price of $11.44 per share.⁴
• Issued $150 million of 7.375% senior unsecured notes due 2030 in an add-on offering, bringing the series to $550 million outstanding.

Third Quarter 2026 Results

“Ellington Financial delivered strong results in a challenging market. Despite rising interest rates, and widening yield spreads late in the quarter, we generated GAAP net income of $0.31 per share and an annualized economic return of 9.4%, preserved book value per share, and produced adjusted distributable earnings in excess of our dividends,” said Laurence Penn, Chief Executive Officer and President.

“We benefited from meaningful contributions from retained tranches from non-QM and Agency-eligible securitizations, commercial mortgage bridge loans, and corporate credit. Our loan originator investments, particularly LendSure, delivered standout results. Longbridge also contributed positively, as higher origination volumes and hedging gains outweighed narrower origination margins and lower proprietary securitization gains. Credit performance remained strong across the portfolio, and our interest rate hedges and credit hedges successfully cushioned the impact of late-quarter volatility.

“In September, we issued $150 million of senior unsecured notes at a yield spread over Treasuries that was approximately 70 basis points tighter than last year’s issuance, supported by strong institutional demand. The offering proved well timed, providing additional dry powder ahead of the late-quarter market selloff and advancing our long-term strategy to reduce reliance on secured, mark-to-market financing. Prior to the offering, Moody’s changed our rating outlook to Positive, citing our stronger funding profile, solid earnings, and improving asset quality.

“Our ample liquidity, together with proceeds from the notes offering and capital released through securitizations, supported meaningful growth in our loan portfolios. Our residential loan portal continues to attract a broader seller base, connecting us with 57 sellers and generating $1.6 billion in loan purchases during the quarter, which complemented loan flow from Longbridge and other channels. We also completed our acquisition of a controlling interest in Statebridge, a diversified loan servicer, which should enable us to apply our data and workout expertise more directly to delinquent loans and REO, with the goal of further improving loss mitigation and enhancing recoveries throughout the credit cycle.

“In July and August, we raised common equity at book value under our ATM program. Then, we repurchased common stock accretively over several days following quarter end, after our common stock price had dropped to approximately 85% of our most recently reported book value per share. The opportunity was brief, limiting our repurchases to just under $4 million. Under normal market conditions, should similarly accretive repurchase opportunities arise again, we would expect to take advantage of them.

“Looking ahead, our diversified business model and proprietary sourcing channels, together with our flexible balance sheet and disciplined risk management, should position us well to capitalize on the attractive investment opportunities that we see developing in the wake of the recent spikes in interest rates and volatility.”

Financial Results

Investment Portfolio Segment

The investment portfolio segment generated net income attributable to common stockholders of $61.1 million in the third quarter.

The total adjusted long portfolio⁵ increased by 4.5% sequentially, to $4.70 billion as of September 30, 2026. The increase was driven by net purchases of residential transition loans, closed-end second lien loans, Agency-eligible residential mortgage loans, prime jumbo residential mortgage loans, commercial mortgage bridge loans, and a larger portfolio of retained RMBS. These increases were partially offset by the impact of continued securitization activity and a smaller Agency RMBS portfolio.

Key Highlights⁶:

• Net interest income remained robust, while net gains on hedges more than offset net realized and unrealized losses. Earnings from unconsolidated entities also contributed to the positive results.
• Strong performance across several strategies, led by retained tranches from securitizations of non-QM and Agency-eligible loans, commercial mortgage bridge loans, and equity investments in loan originators, particularly LendSure. Additional positive contributions from retained tranches of closed-end second lien loan securitizations, non-Agency RMBS, CLOs, and corporate debt and equity.
• These contributions were partially offset by negative results in warehoused non-QM whole loans, residential transition loan retained tranches, CMBS, and residential and commercial REO.
• Strong credit performance across our loan businesses, with sequentially lower 90-day delinquency rates and continued low life-to-date realized loan losses.

During the quarter, the net interest margin⁷ on our investment portfolio increased to 3.55% from 3.36%, as higher asset yields were only partially offset by higher funding costs. We also benefited from modestly higher positive carry on our interest rate swaps, with our weighted average receive rate continuing to exceed our weighted average pay rate.

During the quarter, we acquired a controlling interest in Statebridge Company, LLC ("Statebridge"), a diversified loan servicer. As of September 30, 2026, Statebridge serviced approximately 14,700 loans with an aggregate unpaid principal balance ("UPB") of $1.9 billion, nearly all for third-party clients, comprising approximately 3,500 non-QM and RTL loans with $1.1 billion of UPB, approximately 4,900 qualifying-mortgage loans with $0.6 billion of UPB, and approximately 6,300 consumer installment and commercial mortgage loans with $0.2 billion of UPB.

Longbridge Segment

The Longbridge segment reported net income attributable to common stockholders of $12.5 million, compared with $30.2 million in the second quarter. Adjusted Distributable Earnings were $8.6 million, compared with $28.9 million in the second quarter. The sequential decline primarily reflected narrower origination margins and reduced proprietary reverse mortgage securitization gains.

Longbridge originated $676.3 million of loans during the quarter, up 36% year over year, contributing to a 59% sequential increase in the net Longbridge portfolio⁵ to $1.0 billion as of September 30, 2026. Much of this increase was reversed upon the October settlement of a proprietary reverse mortgage loan securitization that priced in September.

Key Highlights⁶:

• Positive contribution from originations, driven by sequentially higher origination volumes and net gains from a proprietary reverse mortgage loan securitization priced during the quarter, partially offset by origination margin compression amid higher interest rates.
• Positive contribution from servicing, reflecting strong tail securitization executions, steady base servicing net income, and gains on MSR-related hedges, partially offset by a mark-to-market loss on the HMBS MSR.
• Significant net gains on "enterprise" interest-rate hedges intended to mitigate the potential impact of higher interest rates on origination profits.
• Net unrealized loss on the retained tranches of consolidated proprietary reverse mortgage loan securitization trusts, driven by revised home price projections.
• Achieved a quarterly record HMBS market share of 31%, ranking as the second-largest issuer in the market, according to Bloomberg.

Corporate/Other Summary

The net loss in Corporate/Other narrowed quarter over quarter, primarily driven by a smaller combined net loss on our unsecured debt and interest rate hedges. Higher interest rates during the third quarter resulted in losses on the fixed receiver interest rate swaps used to hedge the fixed payments on our unsecured notes and preferred equity. These losses exceeded the net gains on our unsecured notes.

Our unsecured notes generated mark-to-market gains as a result of higher interest rates, although this was partially offset by credit spread tightening on our existing notes, reflecting the tighter pricing achieved on our September add-on offering. Related debt issuance costs were fully expensed at issuance. We also recorded a realized loss on the par redemption of our 6% senior notes, which were carried at a discount to par. Finally, results reflected a higher income tax expense.

Investment Portfolio⁽¹⁾

The following table summarizes our long investment portfolio holdings as of September 30, 2026 and June 30, 2026:

Longbridge Portfolio

Longbridge originates reverse mortgage loans, including (i) home equity conversion mortgage loans, or "HECMs," which are insured by the FHA, and (ii) "proprietary reverse mortgage loans," which are not FHA-insured. HECMs are eligible for inclusion in GNMA-guaranteed HECM-backed MBS, or "HMBS." Upon securitization, the HECMs remain on our balance sheet under GAAP. We have securitized certain proprietary reverse mortgage loans originated by Longbridge and have retained certain related securitization tranches in compliance with credit risk retention rules. Longbridge has typically retained the MSRs associated with the loans it has originated. Longbridge also originates home equity lines of credit, or "HELOCs," designed for homeowners aged 62 or older.

The following table summarizes loan-related assets⁽¹⁾ in the Longbridge segment as of September 30, 2026 and June 30, 2026:

The following table summarizes Longbridge's origination volumes by product and channel for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2026 and June 30, 2026:

In accordance with U.S. GAAP, HECM loans remain on our balance sheet after securitization. The carrying value of the HMBS assets net of the HMBS liabilities, approximates the value of the HMBS MSR. The following table presents a rollforward of the HMBS MSR for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2026 and June 30, 2026:

The following table presents the net profit (loss) related to the HMBS MSR, as discussed above, for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2026 and June 30, 2026:

The following table presents a rollforward of our purchased MSRs and MSRs retained on certain proprietary reverse mortgage loans, which are reported on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as Mortgage servicing rights, at fair value, for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2026 and June 30, 2026:

The following table presents the net profit (loss) on our MSRs, as discussed above, for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2026 and June 30, 2026:

Financing

Key Highlights:

• Issued $150 million of 7.375% senior unsecured notes due 2030 in an add-on offering, bringing the series to $550 million outstanding.
• Repaid $37.75 million of 6% unsecured notes, which matured on August 1, 2026.
• Recourse Debt-to-Equity Ratio, excluding borrowings collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities and adjusted for unsettled purchases and sales, increased to 2.2:1 as of September 30, 2026 from 1.9:1 as of June 30, 2026. This increase reflected the net increase in unsecured notes outstanding, as well as an increase in warehouse borrowings for loans awaiting securitization. The effect of higher recourse borrowings on the ratio was partially offset by securitization activity and higher total equity.
• Overall Debt-to-Equity Ratio, excluding borrowings collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities and adjusted for unsettled purchases and sales, increased to 9.4:1 as of September 30, 2026 from 9.2:1 as of June 30, 2026.

The following table summarizes our outstanding borrowings and debt-to-equity ratios as of September 30, 2026 and June 30, 2026:

Operating Results

The following table summarizes our operating results by segment for the three-month period ended September 30, 2026:

The following table summarizes our operating results by segment for the three-month period ended June 30, 2026:

About Ellington Financial

Ellington Financial invests in a diverse array of financial assets, including residential and commercial mortgage loans and mortgage-backed securities, reverse mortgage loans, mortgage servicing rights and related investments, consumer loans, asset-backed securities, collateralized loan obligations, non-mortgage and mortgage-related derivatives, debt and equity investments in loan origination companies, and other strategic investments. Ellington Financial is externally managed and advised by Ellington Financial Management LLC, an affiliate of Ellington Management Group, L.L.C.

Conference Call

We will host a conference call at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, November 5, 2026, to discuss our financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2026. To register for the conference call, please complete the online registration form at https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BI2a62bf3c77984c0dbf708160a1dddf96. International participants should use the same link. Upon registering, you will receive the appropriate dial-in information and a unique PIN to join the conference call, along with an email confirmation containing these details.

The conference call will be webcast live and can be accessed at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/95kxph84. Please allow at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call to register, download, and install any necessary audio software. A replay of the conference call will be available shortly after the call and archived on the Company's website at www.ellingtonfinancial.com. In connection with the release of these financial results, we also posted an investor presentation, that will accompany the conference call, on our website at www.ellingtonfinancial.com under "For Investors—Presentations."

A replay of the conference call will be available on demand shortly after the conclusion of the call at , and will also be archived on our web site at www.ellingtonfinancial.com under “For Investors.”

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ from our beliefs, expectations, estimates, and projections and, consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Forward-looking statements are not historical in nature and can be identified by words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "project," "plan," "continue," "intend," "should," "would," "could," "goal," "objective," "will," "may," "seek" or similar expressions or their negative forms, or by references to strategy, plans, or intentions. Forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and expectations of our future operations, business strategies, performance, financial condition, liquidity and prospects, taking into account information currently available to us. These beliefs, assumptions, and expectations are subject to risks and uncertainties and can change as a result of many possible events or factors, not all of which are known to us. If a change occurs, our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and strategies may vary materially from those expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements. The following factors are examples of those that could cause actual results to vary from our forward-looking statements: changes in interest rates and the market value of our investments, market volatility, changes in mortgage default rates and prepayment rates, our ability to borrow to finance our assets, changes in government regulations affecting our business, our ability to maintain our exclusion from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, our ability to maintain our qualification as a real estate investment trust, or "REIT," and other changes in market conditions and economic trends, such as changes to fiscal or monetary policy, heightened inflation, slower growth or recession, and currency fluctuations. Furthermore, forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including, among other things, those described under Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, which can be accessed through our website at www.ellingtonfinancial.com or at the SEC's website (www.sec.gov). Other risks, uncertainties, and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected may be described from time to time in reports we file with the SEC, including reports on Forms 10-Q, 10-K and 8-K. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

This release and the information contained herein do not constitute an offer of any securities or solicitation of an offer to purchase securities.

Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to Adjusted Distributable Earnings

We calculate Adjusted Distributable Earnings as U.S. GAAP net income (loss) as adjusted for: (i) realized and unrealized gain (loss) on securities and loans, REO, mortgage servicing rights, financial derivatives (excluding periodic settlements on interest rate swaps), any borrowings carried at fair value, and foreign currency transactions; (ii) Catch-up Amortization Adjustment (as defined below); (iii) non-cash equity compensation expense; (iv) provision for income taxes; (v) certain non-capitalized transaction costs; and (vi) other income or loss items that are of a non-recurring nature. For certain investments in unconsolidated entities, we include the relevant components of net operating income in Adjusted Distributable Earnings. The Catch-up Amortization Adjustment is a quarterly adjustment to premium amortization or discount accretion triggered by changes in actual and projected prepayments on our Agency RMBS (accompanied by a corresponding offsetting adjustment to realized and unrealized gains and losses). The adjustment is calculated as of the beginning of each quarter based on our then-current assumptions about cashflows and prepayments, and can vary significantly from quarter to quarter. Non-capitalized transaction costs include expenses, generally professional fees, incurred in connection with the acquisition of an investment or issuance of long-term debt. We also include in Adjusted Distributable Earnings, for all loans that we originate through Longbridge, any realized and unrealized gains (losses) on such loans up to the point of loan sale or securitization, net of sale or securitization costs; and any realized and unrealized gains (losses) on HECM buyout loans and REO related to Longbridge's servicing activities.

Beginning with the three-month period ended September 30, 2026, Adjusted Distributable Earnings is presented net of incentive fee expense. Adjusted Distributable Earnings presented for prior periods has been conformed to the current-period presentation.

Adjusted Distributable Earnings is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure. We believe that the presentation of Adjusted Distributable Earnings provides information useful to investors, because: (i) we believe that it is a useful indicator of both current and projected long-term financial performance, in that it excludes the impact of certain current-period earnings components that we believe are less useful in forecasting long-term performance and dividend-paying ability; (ii) we use it to evaluate the effective net yield provided (a) by our investment portfolio, after the effects of financial leverage, and (b) by Longbridge, to reflect the earnings from its reverse mortgage origination and servicing operations; and (iii) we believe that presenting Adjusted Distributable Earnings assists investors in measuring and evaluating our operating performance, and comparing our operating performance to that of our residential mortgage REIT and mortgage originator peers. Please note, however, that: (I) our calculation of Adjusted Distributable Earnings may differ from the calculation of similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures by our peers, with the result that these non-GAAP financial measures might not be directly comparable; and (II) Adjusted Distributable Earnings excludes certain items that may impact the amount of cash that is actually available for distribution.

In addition, because Adjusted Distributable Earnings is an incomplete measure of our financial results and differs from net income (loss) computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP, it should be considered supplementary to, and not as a substitute for, net income (loss) computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

Furthermore, Adjusted Distributable Earnings is different from REIT taxable income. As a result, 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 our qualification as a REIT, is not based on whether we distributed 90% of our Adjusted Distributable Earnings.

In setting our dividends, our Board of Directors considers our earnings, liquidity, financial condition, REIT distribution requirements, and financial covenants, along with other factors that the Board of Directors may deem relevant from time to time.

The following table reconciles, for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2026 and June 30, 2026, our Adjusted Distributable Earnings to the line on our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations entitled Net Income (Loss), which we believe is the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure:

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Contacts:

Investors:
Ellington Financial
Investor Relations
(203) 409-3575
info@ellingtonfinancial.com

Or

Media:
Amanda Shpiner/Grace Cartwright
Gasthalter & Co.
for Ellington Financial
(212) 257-4170
ellington@gasthalter.com

Source: Ellington Financial Inc.