Last Wednesday I added some shares to our portfolios–but forgot to note it here. I did add it to my ‘laundry list’ of holdings.
I added the Chimera Investment 8% Fixed to Floating preferred (CIM-D) which is now floating at a coupon of around 10.6%. The issue has been floating since April at 3 month SOFR plus 5.379%–obviously a tasty yield right now I paid $25.02 last Wednesday and the shares went ex today for 64 cents and shares are now trading at $24.68. I could have picked up a little yield by buying CIM-B which has a current yield of near 11% as it is at 3 month SOFR plus 5.791%. My choice was made simply because if they were to make a call it would be the CIM-B issue first (who knows for sure).
This is my 3rd position in the mortgage REIT space which still composes around 8% of invested money. I have a position in Annaly 6.95% FTF preferred (NLY-F) which now it trading in the close to 9.80% area. Also I have the Rithm 7.125% FTF (RITM-B) which is now trading with a yield around 11%.
I watch these high yield issues kind of closely–any pricing over $26 could bring a swap into another issue as the lower rates go the more likely a ‘call’ will occur.
Has anyone heard when they intend to call RITM-B?
rjz, in their Q2 conference call (July 31st), they addressed their intentions re RITM-A and -B. I didn’t see any update since then (e.g. no mention of them in the Q3 conference call).
Here’s what they said in the Q2 conference call:
Stephen Laws
Thanks. And lastly, I think the Series A and B for us float this quarter or back half of the year. Any thoughts to taking those out or how you think about managing your — that part of the capital stack in the coming months?
Michael Nierenberg
Sure. So one of the things when you look at our business overall, whether it be at the mortgage company, whether it be at the bond portfolio, the mortgage company, for example, could have — just using rough math, $10 billion to $15 billion of escrow deposits. If the Fed cuts rates, SOFR is 5.33, we get paid for SOFR or SOFR plus a fee on our deposits that we have with the large banks. So if you think about it this way, those are floating rate. I think $400 million is resetting now. But at some point, we’ll take those out, quite frankly. But for now, I think they’ll likely stay there as the markets — as the yield curve steepens and the Fed cuts rates, we’ll either do an exchange offer or come back to market to take those out over time. But the point is, if you look at the broad business model and how we think about duration and how we think about hedging, this is just one piece of the overall pie.
Thanks for the info, mbg. Looks like our RITM-B will continue to get the current ~10.3% for at least a little while… no objection from me.
Interestingly all three of these are found in my portfolio and have been solid performers. All three have fat payments which I am enjoying while they last.
Good for you DJ. I am always too conservative and forgo tasty yields–I’m doing a bit better, but remain fairly conservative.
Tim – I am also considering Chimera pfds, specifically CIM-D 7.75% fixed until
9/30/25, then SOFR plus 4.743. I would be too late for the next dividend, leaving three until reset. These and future dividends will be less than CIM-B and D, offset by appearing to be the least likely to be called and offering a better cost basis. This evaluation is more “gut” than technical. I am in early learning mode and appreciate all that your site offers.
Good morning, HTM. Welcome to the III team.
You meant CIM-C, not CIM-D.
Chimera Investment Corp. 7.75% Series C Fixed/Float Cumul Redeem Preferred
Ticker Symbol: CIM-C CUSIP: 16934Q505