Mortgage-Backed Securities | Mortgage-Backed Securities The Company classifies its Non-Agency RMBS as senior, senior IO, subordinated, or subordinated IO. The Company also invests in residential, commercial and IO Agency MBS. Senior interests in Non-Agency RMBS are considered to be entitled to the first principal repayments in their pro-rata ownership interests at the acquisition date. The tables below present amortized cost, fair value and unrealized gain/losses of Company's MBS investments as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 . September 30, 2017 (dollars in thousands) Principal or Notional Value Total Premium Total Discount Amortized Cost Fair Value Gross Unrealized Gains Gross Unrealized Losses Net Unrealized Gain/(Loss) Non-Agency RMBS Senior $ 2,821,535 $ 224 $ (1,282,801 ) $ 1,538,958 $ 2,304,611 $ 765,653 $ — $ 765,653 Senior, interest-only 4,948,265 267,964 — 267,964 212,662 13,620 (68,922 ) (55,302 ) Subordinated 531,526 10,764 (188,169 ) 354,121 421,487 67,430 (64 ) 67,366 Subordinated, interest-only 256,286 12,968 — 12,968 11,588 860 (2,240 ) (1,380 ) Agency MBS Residential 2,316,838 128,388 — 2,445,226 2,428,112 7,606 (24,720 ) (17,114 ) Commercial 1,774,802 44,913 (4,732 ) 1,814,983 1,811,950 13,467 (16,500 ) (3,033 ) Interest-only 3,176,110 121,353 — 121,353 114,810 1,226 (7,769 ) (6,543 ) Total $ 15,825,362 $ 586,574 $ (1,475,702 ) $ 6,555,573 $ 7,305,220 $ 869,862 $ (120,215 ) $ 749,647 December 31, 2016 (dollars in thousands) Principal or Notional Value Total Premium Total Discount Amortized Cost Fair Value Gross Unrealized Gains Gross Unrealized Losses Net Unrealized Gain/(Loss) Non-Agency RMBS Senior $ 3,190,947 $ 231 $ (1,412,058 ) $ 1,779,120 $ 2,511,003 $ 732,133 $ (250 ) $ 731,883 Senior, interest-only 5,648,339 292,396 — 292,396 253,539 18,674 (57,531 ) (38,857 ) Subordinated 673,259 16,352 (212,734 ) 476,877 553,498 77,857 (1,236 ) 76,621 Subordinated, interest-only 266,927 13,878 — 13,878 12,024 — (1,854 ) (1,854 ) Agency MBS Residential 2,594,570 149,872 — 2,744,442 2,705,978 11,235 (49,699 ) (38,464 ) Commercial 1,331,543 37,782 (2,688 ) 1,366,637 1,316,975 175 (49,837 ) (49,662 ) Interest-only 3,356,491 152,175 — 152,175 144,800 1,893 (9,268 ) (7,375 ) Total $ 17,062,076 $ 662,686 $ (1,627,480 ) $ 6,825,525 $ 7,497,817 $ 841,967 $ (169,675 ) $ 672,292 The table below presents changes in accretable yield, or the excess of the security’s cash flows expected to be collected over the Company’s investment, solely as it pertains to the Company’s Non-Agency RMBS portfolio accounted for according to the provisions of ASC 310-30. For the Quarters Ended For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017 September 30, 2016 September 30, 2017 September 30, 2016 (dollars in thousands) (dollars in thousands) Balance at beginning of period $ 1,383,188 $ 1,714,592 $ 1,550,110 $ 1,742,744 Purchases 8,196 18,316 18,380 60,915 Yield income earned (66,042 ) (69,850 ) (202,618 ) (141,256 ) Reclassification (to) from non-accretable difference 53,884 (29,490 ) 15,777 (2,031 ) Sales and deconsolidation (17,755 ) (12,907 ) (20,178 ) (39,711 ) Balance at end of period $ 1,361,471 $ 1,620,661 $ 1,361,471 $ 1,620,661 The table below presents the outstanding principal balance and related amortized cost at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 as it pertains to the Company’s Non-Agency RMBS portfolio accounted for according to the provisions of ASC 310-30. For the Quarter Ended For the Year Ended September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016 (dollars in thousands) Outstanding principal balance: Beginning of period $ 2,910,151 $ 3,550,698 End of period $ 2,772,746 $ 3,138,265 Amortized cost: Beginning of period $ 1,546,656 $ 1,958,726 End of period $ 1,449,531 $ 1,695,079 The following tables present the gross unrealized losses and estimated fair value of the Company’s RMBS by length of time that such securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 . All securities in an unrealized loss position have been evaluated by the Company for OTTI as discussed in Note 2(d) of 2016, Form 10-K. September 30, 2017 (dollars in thousands) Unrealized Loss Position for Less than 12 Months Unrealized Loss Position for 12 Months or More Total Estimated Fair Value Unrealized Losses Number of Securities Estimated Fair Value Unrealized Losses Number of Securities Estimated Fair Value Unrealized Losses Number of Securities Non-Agency RMBS Senior $ — $ — — $ — $ — — $ — $ — — Senior, interest-only 82,130 (15,487 ) 54 73,232 (53,435 ) 93 155,362 (68,922 ) 147 Subordinated 5,353 (64 ) 7 — — 1 5,353 (64 ) 8 Subordinated, interest-only 574 (331 ) 2 4,220 (1,909 ) 2 4,794 (2,240 ) 4 Agency MBS Residential 1,932,140 (17,187 ) 95 234,050 (7,533 ) 11 2,166,190 (24,720 ) 106 Commercial 876,181 (15,291 ) 241 30,311 (1,209 ) 1 906,492 (16,500 ) 242 Interest-only 29,250 (1,003 ) 12 58,031 (6,766 ) 21 87,281 (7,769 ) 33 Total $ 2,925,628 $ (49,363 ) 411 $ 399,844 $ (70,852 ) 129 $ 3,325,472 $ (120,215 ) 540 December 31, 2016 (dollars in thousands) Unrealized Loss Position for Less than 12 Months Unrealized Loss Position for 12 Months or More Total Estimated Fair Value Unrealized Losses Number of Securities Estimated Fair Value Unrealized Losses Number of Securities Estimated Fair Value Unrealized Losses Number of Securities Non-Agency RMBS Senior $ 12,384 $ (250 ) 3 $ — $ — — $ 12,384 $ (250 ) 3 Senior, interest-only 96,399 (13,600 ) 62 78,516 (43,931 ) 86 174,915 (57,531 ) 148 Subordinated 56,015 (412 ) 7 2,826 (824 ) 4 58,841 (1,236 ) 11 Subordinated, interest-only 748 (230 ) 2 11,276 (1,624 ) 3 12,024 (1,854 ) 5 Agency MBS Residential 2,338,910 (48,084 ) 106 54,943 (1,615 ) 1 2,393,853 (49,699 ) 107 Commercial 1,247,923 (45,802 ) 646 51,733 (4,035 ) 46 1,299,656 (49,837 ) 692 Interest-only 63,506 (2,170 ) 20 52,963 (7,098 ) 16 116,469 (9,268 ) 36 Total $ 3,815,885 $ (110,548 ) 846 $ 252,257 $ (59,127 ) 156 $ 4,068,142 $ (169,675 ) 1002 At September 30, 2017 , the Company did not intend to sell any of its RMBS that were in an unrealized loss position, and it was not more likely than not that the Company would be required to sell these RMBS before recovery of their amortized cost basis, which may be at their maturity. With respect to RMBS held by consolidated VIEs, the ability of any entity to cause the sale by the VIE prior to the maturity of these RMBS is either expressly prohibited, not probable, or is limited to specified events of default, none of which have occurred as of September 30, 2017 . Gross unrealized losses on the Company’s Agency residential and commercial MBS (excluding Agency MBS which are reported at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in earnings) were $37 million and $100 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 , respectively. Given the inherent credit quality of Agency MBS, the Company does not consider any of the current impairments on its Agency MBS to be credit related. In evaluating whether it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell any impaired security before its anticipated recovery, which may be at their maturity, the Company considers the significance of each investment, the amount of impairment, the projected future performance of such impaired securities, as well as the Company’s current and anticipated leverage capacity and liquidity position. Based on these analyses, the Company determined that at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 , unrealized losses on its Agency MBS were temporary. Gross unrealized losses on the Company’s Non-Agency RMBS (excluding Non-Agency MBS which are reported at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in earnings) were $45 thousand and $485 thousand at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 , respectively. Based upon the most recent evaluation, the Company does not consider these unrealized losses to be indicative of OTTI and does not believe that these unrealized losses are credit related, but rather are due to other factors. The Company has reviewed its Non-Agency RMBS that are in an unrealized loss position to identify those securities with losses that are other-than-temporary based on an assessment of changes in cash flows expected to be collected for such RMBS, which considers recent bond performance and expected future performance of the underlying collateral. A summary of the OTTI included in earnings for the quarters and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 are presented below. For the Quarters Ended For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017 September 30, 2016 September 30, 2017 September 30, 2016 (dollars in thousands) Total other-than-temporary impairment losses $ (784 ) $ (993 ) $ (4,245 ) $ (8,555 ) Portion of loss recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) (10,684 ) (10,581 ) (39,431 ) (34,652 ) Net other-than-temporary credit impairment losses $ (11,468 ) $ (11,574 ) $ (43,676 ) $ (43,207 ) The following table presents a roll forward of the credit loss component of OTTI on the Company’s Non-Agency RMBS for which a portion of loss was previously recognized in OCI. The table delineates between those securities that are recognizing OTTI for the first time as opposed to those that have previously recognized OTTI. For the Quarters Ended For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017 September 30, 2016 September 30, 2017 September 30, 2016 (dollars in thousands) Cumulative credit loss beginning balance $ 571,639 $ 546,187 $ 556,485 $ 529,112 Additions: Other-than-temporary impairments not previously recognized — 6,184 12,399 17,137 Reductions for securities sold or deconsolidated during the period (4,965 ) (2,630 ) (12,405 ) (6,890 ) Increases related to other-than-temporary impairments on securities with previously recognized other-than-temporary impairments 11,468 5,390 29,302 26,069 Reductions for increases in cash flows expected to be collected over the remaining life of the securities (3,241 ) (1,494 ) (10,880 ) (11,791 ) Cumulative credit impairment loss ending balance $ 574,901 $ 553,637 $ 574,901 $ 553,637 Cash flows generated to determine net other-than-temporary credit impairment losses recognized in earnings are estimated using significant unobservable inputs. The significant inputs used to measure the component of OTTI recognized in earnings for the Company’s Non-Agency RMBS for the periods reported are summarized as follows: For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017 September 30, 2016 Loss Severity Weighted Average 67% 59% Range 28% - 89% 25% - 85% 60+ days delinquent Weighted Average 21% 21% Range 11% - 27% 0% - 40% Credit Enhancement (1) Weighted Average 15% 29% Range 0% - 50% 0% - 100% 3 Month CPR Weighted Average 13% 5% Range 2% - 24% 0% - 19% 12 Month CPR Weighted Average 13% 4% Range 4% - 19% 0% - 21% (1) Calculated as the combined credit enhancement to the Re-REMIC and underlying from each of their respective capital structures. The following tables present a summary of unrealized gains and losses at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 . IO MBS included in the tables below represent the right to receive a specified portion of the contractual interest cash flows of the underlying principal balance of specific securities. At September 30, 2017 , IO MBS had a net unrealized loss of $63 million and had an amortized cost of $402 million . At December 31, 2016 , IO MBS had a net unrealized loss of $48 million and had an amortized cost of $458 million . The fair value of IOs at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 was $339 million and $410 million , respectively. All changes in fair value of IOs are reflected in Net Income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. September 30, 2017 (dollars in thousands) Gross Unrealized Gain Included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Gross Unrealized Gain Included in Cumulative Earnings Total Gross Unrealized Gain Gross Unrealized Loss Included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Gross Unrealized Loss Included in Cumulative Earnings Total Gross Unrealized Loss Non-Agency RMBS Senior $ 765,653 $ — $ 765,653 $ — $ — $ — Senior, interest-only — 13,620 13,620 — (68,922 ) (68,922 ) Subordinated 63,348 4,082 67,430 (45 ) (19 ) (64 ) Subordinated, interest-only — 860 860 — (2,240 ) (2,240 ) Agency MBS Residential 7,606 — 7,606 (22,263 ) (2,457 ) (24,720 ) Commercial 13,339 128 13,467 (14,520 ) (1,980 ) (16,500 ) Interest-only — 1,226 1,226 — (7,769 ) (7,769 ) Total $ 849,946 $ 19,916 $ 869,862 $ (36,828 ) $ (83,387 ) $ (120,215 ) December 31, 2016 (dollars in thousands) Gross Unrealized Gain Included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Gross Unrealized Gain Included in Cumulative Earnings Total Gross Unrealized Gain Gross Unrealized Loss Included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Gross Unrealized Loss Included in Cumulative Earnings Total Gross Unrealized Loss Non-Agency RMBS Senior $ 732,133 $ — $ 732,133 $ (250 ) $ — $ (250 ) Senior, interest-only — 18,674 18,674 — (57,531 ) (57,531 ) Subordinated 74,584 3,273 77,857 (235 ) (1,001 ) (1,236 ) Subordinated, interest-only — — — — (1,854 ) (1,854 ) Agency MBS Residential 11,235 — 11,235 (49,699 ) — (49,699 ) Commercial 175 — 175 (49,837 ) — (49,837 ) Interest-only — 1,893 1,893 — (9,268 ) (9,268 ) Total $ 818,127 $ 23,840 $ 841,967 $ (100,021 ) $ (69,654 ) $ (169,675 ) Changes in prepayments, actual cash flows, and cash flows expected to be collected, among other items, are affected by the collateral characteristics of each asset class. The Company chooses assets for the portfolio after carefully evaluating each investment’s risk profile. The following tables provide a summary of the Company’s MBS portfolio at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 . September 30, 2017 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 $ 2,821,535 $ 54.54 $ 81.68 4.4 % 16.7 % Senior, interest-only 4,948,265 5.42 4.30 1.4 % 7.8 % Subordinated 531,526 66.62 79.30 4.1 % 9.2 % Subordinated, interest-only 256,286 5.06 4.52 1.0 % 8.4 % Agency MBS Residential pass-through 2,316,838 105.54 104.80 3.8 % 2.9 % Commercial pass-through 1,774,802 102.26 102.09 3.6 % 3.2 % Interest-only 3,176,110 3.82 3.61 0.7 % 3.5 % (1) Bond Equivalent Yield at period end. December 31, 2016 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 $ 3,190,947 $ 55.76 $ 78.69 4.3 % 15.5 % Senior, interest-only 5,648,339 5.18 4.49 1.5 % 11.7 % Subordinated 673,259 70.83 82.21 3.8 % 9.2 % Subordinated, interest-only 266,927 5.20 4.50 1.1 % 13.5 % Agency MBS Residential pass-through 2,594,570 105.78 104.29 3.9 % 3.0 % Commercial pass-through 1,331,543 102.64 98.91 3.6 % 2.9 % Interest-only 3,356,491 4.53 4.31 0.8 % 3.5 % (1) Bond Equivalent Yield at period end. The following table presents the weighted average credit rating of the Company’s Non-Agency RMBS portfolio at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 . September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016 AAA 0.3 % 0.3 % AA 0.3 % 0.3 % A 0.6 % 0.7 % BBB 0.4 % 0.7 % BB 2.9 % 3.0 % B 2.1 % 3.9 % Below B 62.4 % 67.2 % Not Rated 31.0 % 23.9 % Total 100.0 % 100.0 % Actual maturities of MBS are generally shorter than the stated contractual maturities. Actual maturities of the Company’s MBS are affected by the contractual lives of the underlying mortgages, periodic payments of principal and prepayments of principal. The following tables provide a summary of the fair value and amortized cost of the Company’s MBS at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 according to their estimated weighted-average life classifications. The weighted-average lives of the MBS in the tables below are based on lifetime expected prepayment rates using an industry prepayment model for the Agency MBS portfolio and the Company’s prepayment assumptions for the Non-Agency RMBS. The prepayment model considers current yield, forward yield, steepness of the interest rate curve, current mortgage rates, mortgage rates of the outstanding loan, loan age, margin, and volatility. September 30, 2017 (dollars in thousands) Weighted Average Life Less than one year Greater than one year and less than five years Greater than five years and less than ten years Greater than ten years Total Fair value Non-Agency RMBS Senior $ 5,611 $ 757,644 $ 881,904 $ 659,452 $ 2,304,611 Senior interest-only 113 55,264 72,087 85,198 212,662 Subordinated — 83,242 183,777 154,468 421,487 Subordinated interest-only — 133 11,455 — 11,588 Agency MBS Residential — 32,666 2,395,446 — 2,428,112 Commercial — 46,263 16,817 1,748,870 1,811,950 Interest-only — 82,985 27,122 4,703 114,810 Total fair value $ 5,724 $ 1,058,197 $ 3,588,608 $ 2,652,691 $ 7,305,220 Amortized cost Non-Agency RMBS Senior $ 5,457 $ 549,443 $ 563,522 $ 420,536 $ 1,538,958 Senior interest-only 1,301 78,615 91,461 96,587 267,964 Subordinated — 67,164 152,048 134,909 354,121 Subordinated interest-only — 152 12,816 — 12,968 Agency MBS Residential — 33,035 2,412,191 — 2,445,226 Commercial — 47,639 17,216 1,750,128 1,814,983 Interest-only — 87,733 29,200 4,420 121,353 Total amortized cost $ 6,758 $ 863,781 $ 3,278,454 $ 2,406,580 $ 6,555,573 December 31, 2016 (dollars in thousands) Weighted Average Life Less than one year Greater than one year and less than five years Greater than five years and less than ten years Greater than ten years Total Fair value Non-Agency RMBS Senior $ 25,612 $ 508,979 $ 1,267,000 $ 709,412 $ 2,511,003 Senior interest-only 417 37,796 115,780 99,546 253,539 Subordinated — 94,793 238,630 220,075 553,498 Subordinated interest-only — — 12,024 — 12,024 Agency MBS Residential — 429,869 2,276,109 — 2,705,978 Commercial — 47,354 16,833 1,252,788 1,316,975 Interest-only — 75,863 63,715 5,222 144,800 Total fair value $ 26,029 $ 1,194,654 $ 3,990,091 $ 2,287,043 $ 7,497,817 Amortized cost Non-Agency RMBS Senior $ 21,423 $ 403,250 $ 868,624 $ 485,823 $ 1,779,120 Senior interest-only 1,992 50,252 134,642 105,510 292,396 Subordinated — 76,287 195,538 205,052 476,877 Subordinated interest-only — — 13,878 — 13,878 Agency MBS Residential — 438,270 2,306,172 — 2,744,442 Commercial — 49,027 17,247 1,300,363 1,366,637 Interest-only — 77,598 69,333 5,244 152,175 Total amortized cost $ 23,415 $ 1,094,684 $ 3,605,434 $ 2,101,992 $ 6,825,525 The Non-Agency RMBS portfolio is subject to credit risk. The Non-Agency RMBS portfolio is primarily collateralized by Alt-A first lien mortgages. An Alt-A mortgage is a type of U.S. mortgage that, for various reasons, is considered riskier than A-paper, or prime, and less risky than subprime, the riskiest category. Alt-A interest rates, which are determined by credit risk, therefore tend to be between those of prime and subprime home loans. Typically, Alt-A mortgages are characterized by borrowers with less than full documentation, lower credit scores and higher loan-to-value ratios. At origination of the loan, Alt-A mortgage securities are defined as Non-Agency RMBS where (i) the underlying collateral has weighted average FICO scores between 680 and 720 or (ii) the FICO scores are greater than 720 and RMBS have 30% or less of the underlying collateral composed of full documentation loans. At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 , 69% and 68% of the Non-Agency RMBS collateral was classified as Alt-A, respectively. At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 , 11% and 14% of the Non-Agency RMBS collateral was classified as prime, respectively. The remaining Non-Agency RMBS collateral is classified as subprime. The Non-Agency RMBS in the Portfolio have the following collateral characteristics at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 . September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016 Weighted average maturity (years) 20.9 21.6 Weighted average amortized loan to value (1) 65.1 % 66.5 % Weighted average FICO (2) 674 675 Weighted average loan balance (in thousands) $ 320 $ 319 Weighted average percentage owner occupied 83.9 % 83.2 % Weighted average percentage single family residence 65.7 % 65.8 % Weighted average current credit enhancement 2.2 % 2.3 % Weighted average geographic concentration of top four states CA 32.0 % CA 32.1 % NY 8.4 % FL 8.1 % FL 8.2 % NY 7.9 % NJ 2.7 % NJ 2.7 % (1) Value represents appraised value of the collateral at the time of loan origination. (2) FICO as determined at the time of loan origination. The table below presents the origination year of the underlying loans related to the Company’s portfolio of Non-Agency RMBS at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 . Origination Year September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016 2003 and prior 3.6 % 3.6 % 2004 4.8 % 4.2 % 2005 19.7 % 20.2 % 2006 39.8 % 38.0 % 2007 29.6 % 31.3 % 2008 1.7 % 1.8 % 2009 and later 0.8 % 0.9 % Total 100.0 % 100.0 % Gross realized gains and losses are recorded in “Net realized gains (losses) on sales of investments” on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. The proceeds and gross realized gains and gross realized losses from sales of investments for the quarters and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 are as follows: For the Quarters Ended For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017 September 30, 2016 September 30, 2017 September 30, 2016 (dollars in thousands) Proceeds from sales $ 598,752 $ 58,036 $ 772,496 $ 2,697,239 Gross realized gains 6,902 3,622 17,468 16,798 Gross realized losses (6,901 ) (543 ) (7,759 ) (9,763 ) Net realized gain (loss) $ 1 $ 3,079 $ 9,709 $ 7,035 Included in the gross realized gains for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2017 in the table above are exchanges of securities with a fair value of $36 million and $63 million , respectively. The Company exchanged its investment in a re-remic security for the underlying collateral supporting the group related to the exchanged asset. These exchanges were treated as non-cash sales and purchases and resulted in a realized gain of $4 million and $9 million , respectively, reflected in earnings for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2017 . For the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the fair value of these exchanges of securities was $30 million and $47 million and resulted in a realized gain of $2 million and $1 million , respectively. |