Mortgage-Backed and Credit Risk Transfer Securities | Mortgage-Backed and Credit Risk Transfer Securities During the first half of 2020, we experienced unprecedented market conditions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and sold a substantial portion of our MBS and GSE CRT portfolio to generate liquidity and reduce leverage. We resumed investing in Agency RMBS in July 2020. The following tables summarize our MBS portfolio by asset type at December 31, 2022 and 2021. December 31, 2022 $ in thousands Principal/ Notional Unamortized Amortized Unrealized Fair Period- (1) 30 year fixed-rate Agency RMBS 4,722,768 (115,365) 4,607,403 54,334 4,661,737 5.26 % Agency-CMO (2) 619,069 (536,376) 82,693 2,263 84,956 9.09 % Non-Agency CMBS 38,652 (1,472) 37,180 (393) 36,787 8.35 % Non-Agency RMBS (3)(4)(5) 307,016 (299,012) 8,004 409 8,413 8.33 % Total 5,687,505 (952,225) 4,735,280 56,613 4,791,893 5.35 % (1) Period-end weighted average yield is based on amortized cost as of December 31, 2022 and incorporates future prepayment and loss assumptions. (2) All Agency collateralized mortgage obligations (“Agency-CMO”) are interest-only securities (“Agency IO”). (3) Non-Agency RMBS is 68.6% fixed rate, 30.6% variable rate and 0.8% floating rate based on fair value. Coupon payments on variable rate investments are based upon changes in the underlying hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (“ARM”) loan coupons, while coupon payments on floating rate investments are based upon a spread to a reference index. (4) Of the total discount in non-Agency RMBS, $2.1 million is non-accretable calculated using the principal/notional balance and based on estimated future cash flows of the securities. (5) Non-Agency RMBS includes interest-only securities (“non-Agency IO”) which represent 97.1% of principal/notional balance, 41.6% of amortized cost and 35.3% of fair value. December 31, 2021 $ in thousands Principal/ Notional Unamortized Amortized Unrealized Fair Value Period- end Weighted Average Yield (1) 30 year fixed-rate Agency RMBS 7,514,229 246,183 7,760,412 (58,889) 7,701,523 2.07 % Agency-CMO (2) 235,216 (203,180) 32,036 (1,279) 30,757 6.47 % Non-Agency CMBS 61,427 (3,096) 58,331 4,578 62,909 8.63 % Non-Agency RMBS (3)(4)(5) 392,543 (383,591) 8,952 118 9,070 5.26 % Total 8,203,415 (343,684) 7,859,731 (55,472) 7,804,259 2.14 % (1) Period-end weighted average yield is based on amortized cost as of December 31, 2021 and incorporates future prepayment and loss assumptions. (2) All Agency-CMO are Agency IO. (3) Non-Agency RMBS is 63.5% fixed rate, 35.6% variable rate and 0.9% floating rate based on fair value. Coupon payments on variable rate investments are based upon changes in the underlying hybrid ARM loan coupons, while coupon payments on floating rate investments are based upon a spread to a reference index. (4) Of the total discount in non-Agency RMBS, $2.1 million is non-accretable calculated using the principal/notional balance and based on estimated future cash flows of the securities. (5) Non-Agency RMBS includes non-Agency IO which represent 97.7% of principal/notional balance, 44.8% of amortized cost and 19.9% of fair value. The following table presents the fair value of our available-for-sale securities and securities accounted for under the fair value option by asset type as of December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021. We have elected the fair value option for all of our RMBS interest-only securities and our MBS purchased on or after September 1, 2016. As of December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, approximately 99% of our MBS are accounted for under the fair value option. December 31, 2022 December 31, 2021 $ in thousands Available-for-sale Securities Securities under Fair Value Option Total Available-for-sale Securities Securities under Fair Value Option Total 30 year fixed-rate Agency RMBS — 4,661,737 4,661,737 — 7,701,523 7,701,523 Agency-CMO — 84,956 84,956 — 30,757 30,757 Non-Agency CMBS 36,787 — 36,787 62,909 — 62,909 Non-Agency RMBS 5,667 2,746 8,413 7,288 1,782 9,070 Total 42,454 4,749,439 4,791,893 70,197 7,734,062 7,804,259 The components of the carrying value of our MBS portfolio at December 31, 2022 and 2021 are presented below. Accrued interest receivable on our MBS portfolio, which is recorded within investment related receivable on our consolidated balance sheets, was $21.3 million at December 31, 2022 (December 31, 2021: $16.6 million). December 31, 2022 December 31, 2021 $ in thousands MBS Interest-Only Securities Total MBS Interest-Only Securities Total Principal/notional balance 4,770,175 917,330 5,687,505 7,584,812 618,603 8,203,415 Unamortized premium 5,195 — 5,195 250,771 — 250,771 Unamortized discount (126,112) (831,308) (957,420) (11,902) (582,553) (594,455) Gross unrealized gains (1) 62,245 4,605 66,850 8,754 109 8,863 Gross unrealized losses (1) (7,535) (2,702) (10,237) (60,741) (3,594) (64,335) Fair value 4,703,968 87,925 4,791,893 7,771,694 32,565 7,804,259 (1) Gross unrealized gains and losses includes gains (losses) recognized in net income for securities accounted for under the fair value option as well as gains (losses) for available-for-sale securities which are recognized as adjustments to other comprehensive income. Realization occurs upon sale or settlement of such securities. Further detail on the components of our total gains (losses) on investments, net for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 is provided below within this Note 4. The following table summarizes our MBS portfolio according to estimated weighted average life classifications as of December 31, 2022 and 2021. $ in thousands December 31, 2022 December 31, 2021 Less than one year 26,593 23,150 Greater than one year and less than five years 10,194 891,510 Greater than or equal to five years 4,755,106 6,889,599 Total 4,791,893 7,804,259 The following tables present the estimated fair value and gross unrealized losses of our MBS by length of time that such securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at December 31, 2022 and 2021. December 31, 2022 Less than 12 Months 12 Months or More Total $ in thousands Fair Unrealized Number of Securities Fair Unrealized Number of Securities Fair Unrealized Number of Securities 30 year fixed-rate Agency RMBS (1) 929,292 (7,060) 7 — — — 929,292 (7,060) 7 Agency-CMO (1) 25,417 (1,645) 6 2,934 (496) 1 28,351 (2,141) 7 Non-Agency CMBS (2) 26,592 (439) 2 — — — 26,592 (439) 2 Non-Agency RMBS (3) 349 (36) 2 1,411 (561) 9 1,760 (597) 11 Total 981,650 (9,180) 17 4,345 (1,057) 10 985,995 (10,237) 27 (1) Fair value option has been elected for all Agency securities in an unrealized loss position. (2) Unrealized losses on non-Agency CMBS are included in accumulated other comprehensive income. These losses are not reflected in an allowance for credit losses based on a comparison of discounted expected cash flows to current amortized cost basis. (3) Includes non-Agency IO with fair value of $1.4 million for which the fair value option has been elected. Such securities have unrealized losses of $561,000. December 31, 2021 Less than 12 Months 12 Months or More Total $ in thousands Fair Unrealized Number of Securities Fair Unrealized Number of Securities Fair Unrealized Number of Securities 30 year fixed-rate Agency RMBS (1) 6,838,999 (60,741) 54 — — — 6,838,999 (60,741) 54 Agency-CMO (1) 21,810 (1,389) 5 — — — 21,810 (1,389) 5 Non-Agency RMBS (2) 767 (1,132) 5 1,042 (1,073) 9 1,809 (2,205) 14 Total 6,861,576 (63,262) 64 1,042 (1,073) 9 6,862,618 (64,335) 73 (1) Fair value option has been elected for all Agency securities in an unrealized loss position. (2) Includes non-Agency IO with a fair value of $1.7 million for which the fair value option has been elected. Such securities have unrealized losses of $2.1 million. The remaining $136,000 of unrealized losses on non-Agency RMBS are included in accumulated other comprehensive income. These losses are not reflected in an allowance for credit losses based on a comparison of discounted expected cash flows to current amortized cost basis. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, we did not have an allowance for credit losses recorded on our consolidated balance sheet. The following table presents a roll-forward of our allowance for credit losses. $ in thousands Years Ended December 31, 2021 2020 Beginning allowance for credit losses (1,768) — Additions to the allowance for credit losses on securities for which credit losses were not previously recorded — (1,768) Decreases in the allowance for credit losses on securities that had an allowance recorded in a previous period 1,768 — Ending allowance for credit losses — (1,768) The following table summarizes the components of our total gain (loss) on investments, net for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020. Years Ended December 31, $ in thousands 2022 2021 2020 Gross realized gains on sale of MBS and GSE CRT 5,348 3,297 656,915 Gross realized losses on sale of MBS and GSE CRT (1,169,258) (284,521) (1,020,696) Impairment of investments the Company intends to sell or more likely than not will be required to sell before recovery of amortized cost basis and other impairments — — (101,138) Net unrealized gains (losses) on MBS and GSE CRT accounted for under the fair value option 118,365 (85,702) (492,047) Net unrealized gains (losses) on commercial loan 404 417 (1,164) Net realized gains (losses) on U.S. Treasury securities (34,198) — — Realized loss on loan participation interest — — (3,808) Total gain (loss) on investments, net (1,079,339) (366,509) (961,938) The following tables present components of interest income recognized on our mortgage-backed and other securities portfolio for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020. GSE CRT interest income excludes coupon interest associated with embedded derivatives not accounted for under the fair value option of $6.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 that was recorded as realized and unrealized credit derivative income (loss), net. For the Year ended December 31, 2022 $ in thousands Coupon Net (Premium Interest Agency RMBS 191,898 (6,755) 185,143 Non-Agency CMBS 2,366 1,624 3,990 Non-Agency RMBS 1,223 (552) 671 U.S. Treasury Securities 1,773 (41) 1,732 Other 1,030 — 1,030 Total 198,290 (5,724) 192,566 For the Year ended December 31, 2021 $ in thousands Coupon Net (Premium Amortization)/Discount Accretion Interest Agency RMBS 201,694 (41,881) 159,813 Non-Agency CMBS 3,841 2,695 6,536 Non-Agency RMBS 1,950 (1,264) 686 Other 21 — 21 Total 207,506 (40,450) 167,056 For the Year ended December 31, 2020 $ in thousands Coupon Net (Premium Amortization)/Discount Accretion Interest Agency RMBS 161,845 (32,737) 129,108 Agency CMBS 35,822 (1,744) 34,078 Non-Agency CMBS 76,068 14,721 90,789 Non-Agency RMBS 13,895 1,107 15,002 GSE CRT 10,232 (2,560) 7,672 Other 751 — 751 Total 298,613 (21,213) 277,400 |