Arbor Realty Trust Reports Third Quarter 2020 Results and Increases Quarterly Dividend to $0.32 per Share

72 and core earnings of $0.50 per diluted common share1

  • Raised cash dividend on common stock to $0.32 per share, our second consecutive increase, representing a 6.7% increase year-to-date
  • Continued strong performance from our residential mortgage banking joint venture generating pretax income of $32.3 million
  • Agency Business

    • Grew our servicing portfolio to $22.56 billion, a 4.5% increase from 2Q20, and 12.5% year-to-date
    • GSE loan originations of $1.47 billion, a 10.1% increase from 3Q19
    • Segment income of $40.7 million

    Structured Business

    • Loan portfolio surpasses $5.00 billion on $291.8 million of loan originations
    • Segment income of $55.2 million

    UNIONDALE, N.Y., Oct. 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:ABR), today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2020. Arbor reported net income for the quarter of $82.0 million, or $0.72 per diluted common share, compared to net income of $34.0 million, or $0.35 per diluted common share for the quarter ended September 30, 2019. Core earnings for the quarter was $67.1 million, or $0.50 per diluted common share, compared to $43.1 million, or $0.37 per diluted common share for the quarter ended September 30, 2019.1

    “These outstanding third quarter results reflect the successful execution of our business strategy and the versatile operating platform we have developed. Arbor continues to be very well positioned to succeed in the current economic climate. Our business model gives us diversified opportunities for growth and has allowed us to outperform in the commercial mortgage REIT space,” said Ivan Kaufman, founder, chairman and CEO of Arbor Realty Trust.

    “Our continued momentum and excellent results have once again allowed us to increase our dividend to 32 cents a share – our second consecutive quarterly dividend increase. It is a true testament to the value of our franchise and the many diverse income streams we have created that we are able to succeed in any market cycle.”

    Agency Business

    Loan Origination Platform

    Agency Loan Volume (in thousands)
    Quarter Ended
    September 30,
    2020
    June 30,
    2020
    Originations:
    Fannie Mae$1,117,679$1,140,181
    Freddie Mac252,014135,720
    FHA100,34575,533
    Private Label5,84049,122
    Total Originations$1,475,878$1,400,556
    Total Loan Sales$1,219,462$1,992,889
    Total Loan Commitments$1,528,551$1,206,723

    For the quarter ended September 30, 2020, the Agency Business generated revenues (excluding gains and losses on derivative instruments) of $81.8 million, compared to $81.1 million for the second quarter of 2020. Gain on sales, including fee-based services, net was $19.9 million for the quarter, reflecting a margin of 1.63% on loan sales, compared to $26.4 million and 1.32% for the second quarter of 2020. Income from mortgage servicing rights was $42.4 million for the quarter, reflecting a rate of 2.77% as a percentage of loan commitments, compared to $32.4 million and 2.69% for the second quarter of 2020.

    At September 30, 2020, loans held-for-sale was $631.1 million which was primarily comprised of unpaid principal balances totaling $617.9 million, with financing associated with these loans totaling $567.6 million.

    Fee-Based Servicing Portfolio

    Our fee-based servicing portfolio totaled $22.56 billion at September 30, 2020, an increase of 4.5% from June 30, 2020, primarily the result of $1.48 billion of new agency loan originations, net of $490.4 million in portfolio runoff during the quarter. Servicing revenue, net was $13.3 million for the quarter and consisted of servicing revenue of $25.7 million, net of amortization of mortgage servicing rights totaling $12.4 million.

    Fee-Based Servicing Portfolio ($ in thousands)
    As of September 30, 2020As of June 30, 2020
    UPBWtd. Avg.
    Fee
    Wtd. Avg. Life
    (in years)
    UPBWtd. Avg.
    Fee
    Wtd. Avg. Life
    (in years)
    Fannie Mae$16,462,0410.516%8.4$15,672,9310.505%8.2
    Freddie Mac4,687,1970.288%10.44,560,3820.295%10.6
    FHA685,2630.171%20.4621,4870.154%19.6
    Private Label727,0630.200%9.4727,1320.200%9.5
    Total$22,561,5640.448%9.2$21,581,9320.441%9.1

    Loans sold under the Fannie Mae program contain an obligation to partially guarantee the performance of the loan (“loss-sharing obligations”), and includes $33.2 million for the fair value of the guarantee obligation undertaken at September 30, 2020. The Company recorded a $2.5 million reversal of provision for loss sharing associated with current expected credit losses, or “CECL,” for the third quarter of 2020. At September 30, 2020, the Company’s total CECL allowance for loss-sharing obligations was $38.0 million, representing 0.23% of the Fannie Mae servicing portfolio.

    Structured Business

    Portfolio and Investment Activity

    • Significant income generated by our residential mortgage banking joint venture
    • Originated 13 loans totaling $291.8 million, and consisted primarily of multifamily bridge loans totaling $235.1 million
    • Payoffs and pay downs on 15 loans totaling $206.0 million
    • Portfolio growth of $124.7 million, or 2.5%

    The Company recorded pretax income of $32.3 million from its significant joint venture investment in a residential mortgage banking business as a result of the continued historically low interest rate environment. Pretax income from this investment for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 totaled $56.1 million.

    At September 30, 2020, the loan and investment portfolio’s unpaid principal balance, excluding loan loss reserves, was $5.10 billion, with a weighted average current interest pay rate of 5.39%, compared to $4.97 billion and 5.57% at June 30, 2020. Including certain fees earned and costs associated with the loan and investment portfolio, the weighted average current interest pay rate was 5.93% at September 30, 2020, compared to 6.10% at June 30, 2020.

    The average balance of the Company’s loan and investment portfolio during the third quarter of 2020, excluding loan loss reserves, was $4.98 billion with a weighted average yield of 5.98%, compared to $4.81 billion and 6.16% for the second quarter of 2020. The decrease in average yield was primarily due to several factors including an increase in non-performing and modified loans, lower accelerated fees on loan payoffs and lower rates on originations when compared to runoff in the third quarter as compared to the second quarter.

    During the third quarter of 2020, the Company recorded a reversal of its provision for loan losses of $6.1 million as a result of its loan review process associated with CECL. At September 30, 2020, the Company’s total allowance for loan losses was $146.7 million. The Company had eight non-performing loans with a carrying value of $62.9 million, before related loan loss reserves of $9.1 million, compared to six loans with a carrying value of $60.5 million, before related loan loss reserves of $16.6 million as of June 30, 2020.

    Financing Activity

    The balance of debt that finances the Company’s loan and investment portfolio at September 30, 2020 was $4.52 billion with a weighted average interest rate including fees of 3.09% as compared to $4.54 billion and a rate of 3.14% at June 30, 2020. The average balance of debt that finances the Company’s loan and investment portfolio for the third quarter of 2020 was $4.59 billion, as compared to $4.53 billion for the second quarter of 2020. The average cost of borrowings for the third quarter of 2020 was 3.06%, compared to 3.26% for the second quarter of 2020. The decrease in average costs was primarily due to a decrease in LIBOR.

    The Company is subject to various financial covenants and restrictions under the terms of its collateralized securitization vehicles, financing facilities and unsecured debt. The Company believes it was in compliance with all financial covenants and restrictions as of September 30, 2020 and as of the most recent collateralized securitization vehicle determination dates in October 2020.

    Dividends

    The Company announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.32 per share of common stock for the quarter ended September 30, 2020, representing an increase of 6.7% year-to-date. The dividend is payable on November 30, 2020 to common stockholders of record on November 16, 2020. The ex-dividend date is November 13, 2020.

    The Company also announced today that its Board of Directors has declared cash dividends on the Company’s Series A, Series B and Series C cumulative redeemable preferred stock reflecting accrued dividends from September 1, 2020 through November 30, 2020. The dividends are payable on November 30, 2020 to preferred stockholders of record on November 15, 2020. The Company will pay total dividends of $0.515625, $0.484375 and $0.53125 per share on the Series A, Series B and Series C preferred stock, respectively.

    Earnings Conference Call

    The Company will host a conference call today at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. A live webcast and replay of the conference call will be available at http://www.arbor.com in the investor relations section of the Company’s website. Those without web access should access the call telephonically at least ten minutes prior to the conference call. The dial-in numbers are (877) 876-9176 for domestic callers and (785) 424-1670 for international callers. Please use participant passcode ABRQ320 when prompted by the operator.

    A telephonic replay of the call will be available until November 6, 2020. The replay dial-in numbers are (800) 839-5679 for domestic callers and (402) 220-2566 for international callers.

    About Arbor Realty Trust, Inc.

    Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:ABR) is a nationwide real estate investment trust and direct lender, providing loan origination and servicing for multifamily, seniors housing, healthcare and other diverse commercial real estate assets. Headquartered in New York, Arbor manages a multibillion-dollar servicing portfolio, specializing in government-sponsored enterprise products. Arbor is a Fannie Mae DUS® lender and Freddie Mac Optigo Seller/Servicer. Arbor’s product platform also includes CMBS, bridge, mezzanine and preferred equity lending. Rated by Standard and Poor’s and Fitch Ratings, Arbor is committed to building on its reputation for service, quality and customized solutions with an unparalleled dedication to providing our clients excellence over the entire life of a loan.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    Certain items in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Arbor can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Arbor’s expectations include, but are not limited to, changes in economic conditions generally, and the real estate markets specifically, in particular, due to the uncertainties created by the COVID-19 pandemic, continued ability to source new investments, changes in interest rates and/or credit spreads, and other risks detailed in Arbor’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and its other reports filed with the SEC. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Arbor expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Arbor’s expectations with regard thereto or change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

    1. Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    During the quarterly earnings conference call, the Company may discuss non-GAAP financial measures as defined by SEC Regulation G. In addition, the Company has used non-GAAP financial measures in this press release. A supplemental schedule of non-GAAP financial measures and the comparable GAAP financial measure can be found on page 11 of this release.

    Contacts:
    Arbor Realty Trust, Inc.
    Paul Elenio, Chief Financial Officer
    516-506-4422
    pelenio@arbor.com
    Investors:
    The Ruth Group
    Daniel Kontoh-Boateng/James Salierno
    646-536-7019/7028
    dboateng@theruthgroup.com
    jsalierno@theruthgroup.com
    Media:
    Bonnie Habyan
    Chief Marketing Officer
    516-506-4615
    bhabyan@arbor.com

    ARBOR REALTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    Consolidated Statements of Income – (Unaudited)
    ($ in thousands—except share and per share data)
    Quarter Ended
    September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
    September 30,
    2020201920202019
    Interest income$81,701$80,509$253,307$233,957
    Interest expense37,88848,064129,172138,213
    Net interest income43,81332,445124,13595,744
    Other revenue:
    Gain on sales, including fee-based services, net19,89521,29860,56651,897
    Mortgage servicing rights42,35729,91196,70862,852
    Servicing revenue, net13,34813,79040,15639,954
    Property operating income1,0332,2373,9768,187
    Loss on derivative instruments, net(753)(5,003)(58,852)(6,726)
    Other income, net1,0503253,4041,314
    Total other revenue76,93062,558145,958157,478
    Other expenses:
    Employee compensation and benefits32,96232,861101,65293,647
    Selling and administrative9,35610,88229,01331,122
    Property operating expenses1,3002,5634,7787,649
    Depreciation and amortization1,9221,8415,8305,663
    Impairment loss on real estate owned1,000
    Provision for loss sharing (net of recoveries)(2,227)73521,7061,557
    Provision for credit losses (net of recoveries)(7,586)59,510
    Total other expenses35,72748,882222,489140,638
    Income before extinguishment of debt, sale of real estate, equity affiliates, and income taxes
    85,01646,12147,604112,584
    Loss on extinguishment of debt(3,546)(128)
    Loss on sale of real estate(1,868)(1,868)
    Income from equity affiliates32,3583,71856,7589,133
    Provision for income taxes(17,785)(6,623)(15,493)(10,963)
    Net income97,72143,21683,455110,626
    Preferred stock dividends1,8881,8885,6655,665
    Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest13,8367,36311,01219,429
    Net income attributable to common stockholders$81,997$33,965$66,778$85,532
    Basic earnings per common share$0.72$0.36$0.60$0.95
    Diluted earnings per common share$0.72$0.35$0.59$0.93
    Weighted average shares outstanding:
    Basic113,766,44694,486,839111,775,43689,899,074
    Diluted133,997,087117,468,044132,401,315113,033,968
    Dividends declared per common share$0.31$0.29$0.91$0.84

    ARBOR REALTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    Consolidated Balance Sheets
    ($ in thousands—except share and per share data)
    September 30,December 31,
    20202019
    (Unaudited)
    Assets:
    Cash and cash equivalents$192,204$299,687
    Restricted cash110,263210,875
    Loans and investments, net (allowance for credit losses: $146,745 and $71,069, respectively)4,910,8724,189,960
    Loans held-for-sale, net631,138861,360
    Capitalized mortgage servicing rights, net335,235286,420
    Securities held-to-maturity, net (allowance for credit losses: $1,628 and $0, respectively)118,26088,699
    Investments in equity affiliates82,32241,800
    Real estate owned, net2,89413,220
    Due from related party23,81410,651
    Goodwill and other intangible assets106,716110,700
    Other assets175,500125,788
    Total assets$6,689,218$6,239,160
    Liabilities and Equity:
    Credit facilities and repurchase agreements$1,449,940$1,678,288
    Collateralized loan obligations2,516,0322,130,121
    Debt fund68,629
    Senior unsecured notes662,289319,799
    Convertible senior unsecured notes, net266,706284,152
    Junior subordinated notes to subsidiary trust issuing preferred securities141,470140,949
    Due to related party80213,100
    Due to borrowers76,30479,148
    Allowance for loss-sharing obligations71,16034,648
    Other liabilities181,279134,299
    Total liabilities5,365,9824,883,133
    Equity:
    Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. stockholders’ equity:
    Preferred stock, cumulative, redeemable, $0.01 par value: 100,000,000 shares authorized;special voting preferred shares; 17,632,371 and 20,369,265 shares issued andoutstanding, respectively; 8.25% Series A, $38,788 aggregate liquidation preference;1,551,500 shares issued and outstanding; 7.75% Series B, $31,500 aggregateliquidation preference; 1,260,000 shares issued and outstanding; 8.50% Series C,$22,500 aggregate liquidation preference; 900,000 shares issued and outstanding89,47289,501
    Common stock, $0.01 par value: 500,000,000 shares authorized; 115,930,351 and 109,706,214 shares issued and outstanding, respectively1,1591,097
    Additional paid-in capital1,222,9451,154,932
    Accumulated deficit(120,539)(60,920)
    Total Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. stockholders’ equity1,193,0371,184,610
    Noncontrolling interest130,199171,417
    Total equity1,323,2361,356,027
    Total liabilities and equity$6,689,218$6,239,160

    ARBOR REALTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    Statement of Income Segment Information – (Unaudited)
    (in thousands)
    Quarter Ended September 30, 2020
    Structured
    Business
    Agency
    Business
    Other /
    Eliminations (1)
    Consolidated
    Interest income$75,471$6,230$$81,701
    Interest expense35,2522,63637,888
    Net interest income40,2193,59443,813
    Other revenue:
    Gain on sales, including fee-based services, net19,89519,895
    Mortgage servicing rights42,35742,357
    Servicing revenue25,76425,764
    Amortization of MSRs(12,416)(12,416)
    Servicing revenue, net13,34813,348
    Property operating income1,0331,033
    Gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net118(871)(753)
    Other income, net1,0521,052
    Total other revenue2,20374,72976,932
    Other expenses:
    Employee compensation and benefits8,87424,08932,963
    Selling and administrative4,6654,6919,356
    Property operating expenses1,3001,300
    Depreciation and amortization5981,3241,922
    Provision for loss sharing (net of recoveries)(2,227)(2,227)
    Provision for credit losses (net of recoveries)(6,065)(1,521)(7,586)
    Total other expenses9,37226,35635,728
    Income before sale of real estate, equity affiliates, and income taxes33,05051,96785,017
    Loss on sale of real estate(1,868)(1,868)
    Income from equity affiliates32,35832,358
    Provision for income taxes(6,494)(11,292)(17,786)
    Net income57,04640,67597,721
    Preferred stock dividends1,8881,888
    Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest13,83613,836
    Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders$55,158$40,675$(13,836)$81,997
    (1) Includes certain income or expenses not allocated to the two reportable segments. Amount reflects income attributableto the noncontrolling interest holders.

    ARBOR REALTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    Balance Sheet Segment Information – (Unaudited)
    (in thousands)
    September 30, 2020
    Structured
    Business
    Agency
    Business
    Consolidated
    Assets:
    Cash and cash equivalents$103,655$88,549$192,204
    Restricted cash103,4126,851110,263
    Loans and investments, net4,910,8724,910,872
    Loans held-for-sale, net631,138631,138
    Capitalized mortgage servicing rights, net335,235335,235
    Securities held-to-maturity, net20,00098,260118,260
    Investments in equity affiliates82,32282,322
    Goodwill and other intangible assets12,50094,216106,716
    Other assets154,50947,699202,208
    Total assets$5,387,270$1,301,948$6,689,218
    Liabilities:
    Debt obligations$4,468,886$567,551$5,036,437
    Allowance for loss-sharing obligations71,16071,160
    Other liabilities194,28964,096258,385
    Total liabilities$4,663,175$702,807$5,365,982

    ARBOR REALTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    Supplemental Schedule of Non-GAAP Financial Measures – (Unaudited)
    Reconciliation of Core Earnings to GAAP Net Income (Loss)
    ($ in thousands—except share and per share data)
    Quarter Ended
    September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
    September 30,
    2020201920202019
    Net income attributable to common stockholders$81,997$33,965$66,778$85,532
    Adjustments:
    Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest13,8367,36311,01219,429
    Income from mortgage servicing rights(42,357)(29,911)(96,708)(62,852)
    Deferred tax provision (benefit)3,8532,223(5,172)(1,026)
    Amortization and write-offs of MSRs15,45618,90448,73952,558
    Depreciation and amortization2,8672,7898,7318,504
    Loss on extinguishment of debt3,546128
    Provision for credit losses, net(11,137)43179,1441,021
    Loss on derivative instruments, net7535,00344,1136,726
    Stock-based compensation1,8542,3167,2867,574
    Core earnings (1)$67,122$43,083$167,469$117,594
    Diluted core earnings per share (1)$0.50$0.37$1.26$1.04
    Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (1)133,997,087117,468,044132,401,315113,033,968
    (1) Amounts are attributable to common stockholders and OP Unit holders. The OP Units are redeemable for cash, or at the Company’s option for shares of the Company’s common stock on a one-for-one basis.
    Beginning in the first quarter of 2020, the Company is presenting core earnings as its non-GAAP financial measure in replacement of adjusted funds from operations (“AFFO”). Core earnings is comparable to our previous AFFO metric, revised to exclude provisions for credit losses (including CECL) related to our structured loan portfolio, securities held-to-maturity and loss-sharing obligations related to the Fannie Mae program. The Company is presenting core earnings because management believes it is important supplemental measure of the Company’s operating performance and is frequently used by peers, analysts, investors and other parties in the evaluation of REITs. Prior period amounts presented above have been conformed to reflect this change.
    The Company defines core earnings as net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders (computed in accordance with GAAP) adjusted for accounting items such as depreciation and amortization (adjusted for unconsolidated joint ventures), non-cash stock-based compensation expense, income from mortgage servicing rights (“MSRs”), amortization and write-offs of MSRs, gains and losses on derivative instruments primarily associated with private label loans that have not yet been sold and securitized, the tax impact on cumulative gains or losses on derivative instruments associated with private label loans that were sold during the periods presented, changes in fair value of GSE-related derivatives that temporarily flow through earnings, deferred tax (benefit) provision, CECL provisions for credit losses (excluding specifically reserved provisions for loss-sharing) and the amortization of the convertible senior notes conversion option. The Company also adds back one-time charges such as acquisition costs and one-time gains or losses on the early extinguishment of debt.
    Core earnings is not intended to be an indication of the Company’s cash flow from operating activities (determined in accordance with GAAP) or a measure of its liquidity, nor is it entirely indicative of funding the Company’s cash needs, including its ability to make cash distributions. The Company’s calculation of core earnings may be different from the calculations used by other companies and, therefore, comparability may be limited.

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