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Financial Derivatives

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

The Company is exposed to certain risks arising from both its business operations and economic conditions. The Company manages certain risks associated with its investments and borrowings, including interest rate, credit, liquidity, and foreign exchange rate risk primarily by managing the amount, sources, and duration of its investments and borrowings, and through the use of derivative financial instruments. The Company's derivative financial instruments are used to manage differences in the amount, timing, and duration of its known or expected cash receipts and its known or expected cash payments principally related to its investments and borrowings.

The following table details the fair value of the Company's holdings of financial derivatives as of December 31, 2020 and 2019:


	December 31, 2020		December 31, 2019
(In thousands)
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value:
TBA securities purchase contracts	$	961	$	90
TBA securities sale contracts	1		506
Fixed payer interest rate swaps	125		3,914
Fixed receiver interest rate swaps	8,394		1,554
Credit default swaps on asset-backed securities	347		993
Credit default swaps on asset-backed indices	2,184		3,319
Credit default swaps on corporate bonds	—		2
Credit default swaps on corporate bond indices	3,420		5,599
Total return swaps	9		620
Futures	2		148
Forwards	—		43
Warrants	36		—
Total financial derivatives–assets, at fair value	15,479		16,788
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value:
TBA securities sale contracts	$	(925)	$	(1,012)
Fixed payer interest rate swaps	(15,109)		(8,513)
Fixed receiver interest rate swaps	(65)		(206)
Credit default swaps on asset-backed indices	(130)		(250)
Credit default swaps on corporate bonds	(747)		(1,693)
Credit default swaps on corporate bond indices	(6,438)		(14,524)
Total return swaps	(484)		(1,209)
Futures	(376)		(45)
Forwards	(279)		(169)
Total financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value	(24,553)		(27,621)
Total	$	(9,074)	$	(10,833)

Interest Rate Swaps

The following tables provide information about the Company's fixed payer interest rate swaps as of December 31, 2020 and 2019:

December 31, 2020:


					Weighted Average
Maturity	Notional Amount		Fair Value		Pay Rate		Receive Rate		Remaining Years to Maturity
	(In thousands)
2021	$	17,500	$	(231)	2.75	%	0.24	%	0.22
2022	96,533		(1,535)		1.19		0.22		1.14
2023	146,012		(4,770)		1.50		0.23		2.42
2025	66,503		(1,034)		0.73		0.21		4.75
2026	11,216		(458)		1.23		0.25		5.50
2027	9,732		60		0.49		0.24		6.48
2028	16,644		(2,169)		2.39		0.24		7.32
2029	22,744		(2,289)		1.94		0.23		8.61
2030	13,015		(369)		1.13		0.22		9.29
2035	500		15		0.78		0.09		14.81
2036	1,100		(47)		1.45		0.25		15.13
2040	500		20		0.90		0.09		19.82
2049	5,796		(2,208)		2.89		0.23		28.02
2050	500		31		0.98		0.09		29.82
Total	$	408,295	$	(14,984)	1.39	%	0.23	%	3.82

December 31, 2019:


					Weighted Average
Maturity	Notional Amount(1)		Fair Value(1)		Pay Rate(2)(3)		Receive Rate(2)		Remaining Years to Maturity(4)
	(In thousands)
2020	$	68,607	$	(234)	1.74	%	1.93	%	0.24
2021	268,929		(419)		1.73		1.95		1.64
2022	31,350		9		1.65		1.93		2.14
2023	101,012		(1,265)		2.06		1.91		3.29
2024	13,000		99		1.56		1.89		4.90
2025	12,800		(24)		n/a		n/a		5.22
2026	59,902		1,946		1.24		1.94		6.50
2028	32,942		(1,634)		2.40		1.93		8.34
2029	136,838		(2,018)		2.02		1.96		9.61
2030	685		(32)		2.38		1.90		10.90
2036	1,100		87		1.45		1.94		16.14
2049	5,796		(1,114)		2.89		2.09		29.03
Total	$	732,961	$	(4,599)	1.83	%	1.94	%	4.31

(1)Includes forward-starting interest rate swaps with a notional amount of $20.9 million and fair value of $(41) thousand.

(2)Excludes forward-starting interest rate swaps.

(3)Including forward-starting interest rate swaps the total weighted average pay rate was 1.83%.

(4)Includes forward-starting interest rate swaps, all of which start within six months of period end.

The following tables provide information about the Company's fixed receiver interest rate swaps as of December 31, 2020 and 2019:

December 31, 2020:


					Weighted Average
Maturity	Notional Amount		Fair Value		Pay Rate		Receive Rate		Remaining Years to Maturity
	(In thousands)
2021	$	12,950	$	205	0.24	%	1.75	%	0.71
2022	103,974		1,413		0.22		1.07		1.48
2023	48,657		2,209		0.24		2.00		2.26
2024	86,342		4,567		0.22		1.65		3.73
2035	500		(14)		0.09		0.74		14.81
2040	500		(20)		0.09		0.84		19.82
2050	500		(31)		0.09		0.90		29.82
Total	$	253,423	$	8,329	0.22	%	1.48	%	2.48

December 31, 2019:


					Weighted Average
Maturity	Notional Amount		Fair Value		Pay Rate		Receive Rate		Remaining Years to Maturity
	(In thousands)
2021	$	181,950	$	(49)	1.89	%	1.67	%	1.84
2022	53,974		441		1.91		1.85		2.17
2023	48,657		709		1.92		2.00		3.26
2024	11,342		306		2.09		2.33		4.23
2029	9,800		(59)		1.91		1.78		9.77
Total	$	305,723	$	1,348	1.91	%	1.78	%	2.47

Credit Default Swaps

The following table provides information about the Company's credit default swaps as of December 31, 2020 and 2019:


	As of
	December 31, 2020					December 31, 2019
Type(1)	Notional		Fair Value		Weighted Average Remaining Term (Years)	Notional		Fair Value		Weighted Average Remaining Term (Years)
($ in thousands)
Asset:
Long:
Credit default swaps on asset-backed indices	$	395	$	5	16.99	$	695	$	10	23.80
Credit default swaps on corporate bonds	—		—		—	430		2		0.47
Credit default swaps on corporate bond indices	67,779		3,296		2.52	130,707		5,547		2.42
Short:
Credit default swaps on asset-backed securities	(957)		347		14.70	(2,640)		993		15.63
Credit default swaps on asset-backed indices	(12,888)		2,179		39.61	(63,515)		3,309		38.40
Credit default swaps on corporate bond indices	(2,173)		124		2.97	(1,997)		52		3.97
Liability:
Long:
Credit default swaps on asset-backed indices	479		(130)		32.36	344		(145)		29.35
Short:
Credit default swaps on asset-backed indices	(1)		—		29.00	(4,501)		(105)		40.31
Credit default swaps on corporate bonds	(8,400)		(747)		4.17	(10,800)		(1,693)		3.92
Credit default swaps on corporate bond indices	(110,624)		(6,438)		2.78	(250,088)		(14,524)		2.51
	$	(66,390)	$	(1,364)	10.25	$	(201,365)	$	(6,554)	14.88

(1)Long notional represents contracts where the Company has written protection and short notional represents contracts where the Company has purchased protection.

Futures

The following table provides information about the Company's long and short positions in futures as of December 31, 2020 and 2019:


	As of
	December 31, 2020					December 31, 2019
Description	Notional Amount		Fair Value		Remaining Months to Expiration	Notional Amount		Fair Value		Remaining Months to Expiration
	(In thousands)					(In thousands)
Assets:
Short Contracts:
U.S. Treasury futures	$	(300)	$	2	2.70	$	—	$	—	—
Liabilities:
Long Contracts:
U.S. Treasury futures	1,900		(9)		2.70	—		—		—
Short Contracts:
U.S. Treasury futures	(178,200)		(367)		2.94	(16,000)		148		2.77
Eurodollar futures	—		—		—	(14,000)		(45)		4.05
Total, net	$	(176,600)	$	(374)	2.94	$	(30,000)	$	103	3.37

Warrants

The following table provides information about the Company's warrants contracts to purchase shares as of December 31, 2020 and 2019:


	December 31, 2020				As of December, 31, 2019
Description	Number of Shares Underlying Warrant	Fair Value		Remaining Years to Expiration	Number of Shares Underlying Warrant	Fair Value		Remaining Years to Expiration
	(In thousands)				(In thousands)
Warrants	1,897	$	36	2.40	1,515	$	—	2.82

TBAs

The Company transacts in the forward settling TBA market. Pursuant to these TBA transactions, the Company agrees to purchase or sell, for future delivery, Agency RMBS with certain principal and interest terms and certain types of underlying collateral, but the particular Agency RMBS to be delivered is not identified until shortly before the TBA settlement date. TBAs are generally liquid, have quoted market prices, and represent the most actively traded class of MBS. The Company uses TBAs to mitigate interest rate risk, usually by taking short positions. The Company also invests in TBAs as a means of acquiring additional exposure to Agency RMBS, or for investment purposes, including holding long positions.

The Company does not generally take delivery of TBAs; rather, it settles the associated receivable and payable with its trading counterparties on a net basis. Transactions with the same counterparty for the same TBA that result in a reduction of the position are treated as extinguished.

As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company had outstanding TBA purchase and sale contracts as follows:


	December 31, 2020								December 31, 2019
TBA Securities	Notional Amount(1)		Cost Basis(2)		Market Value(3)		Net Carrying Value(4)		Notional Amount(1)		Cost Basis(2)		Market Value(3)		Net Carrying Value(4)
(In thousands)
Purchase contracts:
Assets	$	149,990	$	155,008	$	155,969	$	961	$	40,100	$	40,585	$	40,675	$	90
Liabilities	—		—		—		—		—		—		—		—
	149,990		155,008		155,969		961		40,100		40,585		40,675		90
Sale contracts:
Assets	(4,400)		(4,765)		(4,764)		1		(319,981)		(332,080)		(331,574)		506
Liabilities	(499,667)		(531,034)		(531,959)		(925)		(773,749)		(806,568)		(807,580)		(1,012)
	(504,067)		(535,799)		(536,723)		(924)		(1,093,730)		(1,138,648)		(1,139,154)		(506)
Total TBA securities, net	$	(354,077)	$	(380,791)	$	(380,754)	$	37	$	(1,053,630)	$	(1,098,063)	$	(1,098,479)	$	(416)

(1)Notional amount represents the principal balance of the underlying Agency RMBS.

(2)Cost basis represents the forward price to be paid (received) for the underlying Agency RMBS.

(3)Market value represents the current market value of the underlying Agency RMBS (on a forward delivery basis) as of period end.

(4)Net carrying value represents the difference between the market value of the TBA contract as of period end and the cost basis, and is reported in Financial derivatives-assets, at fair value and Financial derivatives-liabilities, at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Gains and losses on the Company's derivative contracts for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 are summarized in the tables below:

Year Ended December 31, 2020:


Derivative Type	Primary Risk Exposure	Net Realized Gains (Losses) on Periodic Settlements of Interest Rate Swaps		Net Realized Gains (Losses) on Financial Derivatives Other Than Periodic Settlements of Interest Rate Swaps(1)		Net Realized Gains (Losses) on Financial Derivatives(1)		Change in Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Accrued Periodic Settlements of Interest Rate Swaps		Change in Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Financial Derivatives Other Than on Accrued Periodic Settlements of Interest Rate Swaps(2)		Change in Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Financial Derivatives(2)
(In thousands)
Interest rate swaps	Interest Rate	$	(2,038)	$	(17,060)	$	(19,098)	$	219	$	(6,597)	$	(6,378)
Credit default swaps on asset-backed securities	Credit			(5,452)		(5,452)				5,402		5,402
Credit default swaps on asset-backed indices	Credit			6,486		6,486				2,691		2,691
Credit default swaps on corporate bond indices	Credit			1,502		1,502				(712)		(712)
Credit default swaps on corporate bonds	Credit			285		285				486		486
Total return swaps	Credit			(2,057)		(2,057)				114		114
TBAs	Interest Rate			(4,624)		(4,624)				454		454
Futures	Interest Rate			(7,447)		(7,447)				(477)		(477)
Forwards	Currency			(1,004)		(1,004)				(153)		(153)
Warrants	Equity Market/Credit			—		—				(377)		(377)
Options	Credit			(100)		(100)				—		—
Total		$	(2,038)	$	(29,471)	$	(31,509)	$	219	$	831	$	1,050

(1)Includes realized gain/(loss) on transactions involving foreign-currency-denominated financial derivatives in the amount of $12 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2020, which is included on the Consolidated Statement of Operations in Other, net.

(2)Includes foreign currency remeasurement on financial derivatives in the amount of $61 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2020, which is included on the Consolidated Statement of Operations in Other, net.

Year Ended December 31, 2019:


Derivative Type	Primary Risk Exposure	Net Realized Gains (Losses) on Periodic Settlements of Interest Rate Swaps		Net Realized Gains (Losses) on Financial Derivatives Other Than Periodic Settlements of Interest Rate Swaps(1)		Net Realized Gains (Losses) on Financial Derivatives(1)		Change in Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Accrued Periodic Settlements of Interest Rate Swaps		Change in Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Financial Derivatives Other Than on Accrued Periodic Settlements of Interest Rate Swaps(2)		Change in Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Financial Derivatives(2)
(In thousands)
Interest rate swaps	Interest Rate	$	1,695	$	(876)	$	819	$	(764)	$	(5,778)	$	(6,542)
Credit default swaps on asset-backed securities	Credit			528		528				(479)		(479)
Credit default swaps on asset-backed indices	Credit			(1,883)		(1,883)				(1,848)		(1,848)
Credit default swaps on corporate bond indices	Credit			(5,262)		(5,262)				(1,364)		(1,364)
Credit default swaps on corporate bonds	Credit			(708)		(708)				1,007		1,007
Total return swaps	Equity Market/Credit			(1,460)		(1,460)				(584)		(584)
TBAs	Interest Rate			(15,755)		(15,755)				4,026		4,026
Futures	Interest Rate/Currency			(7,924)		(7,924)				458		458
Forwards	Currency			813		813				(12)		(12)
Options	Interest Rate			(35)		(35)				1		1
Total		$	1,695	$	(32,562)	$	(30,867)	$	(764)	$	(4,573)	$	(5,337)

(1)Includes realized gain/(loss) on transactions involving foreign-currency-denominated financial derivatives in the amount of $45 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2019, which is included on the Consolidated Statement of Operations in Other, net.

(2)Includes foreign currency remeasurement on financial derivatives in the amount of $1 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2019, which is included on the Consolidated Statement of Operations in Other, net.

The table below details the average notional values of the Company's financial derivatives, using absolute value of month end notional values, for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019:


Derivative Type	Year Ended December 31, 2020		Year Ended December 31, 2019
(In thousands)
Interest rate swaps	$	1,009,110	$	731,941
TBAs	713,634		973,331
Credit default swaps	277,990		399,316
Total return swaps	6,975		39,434
Futures	149,538		167,708
Options	1,500		19,825
Forwards	26,413		30,930
Warrants	1,570		2,222

From time to time the Company enters into credit derivative contracts for which the Company sells credit protection ("written credit derivatives"). As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, all of the Company's open written credit derivatives were credit default swaps on either mortgage/asset-backed indices (ABX and CMBX indices) or corporate bond indices (CDX), collectively referred to as credit indices, or on individual corporate bonds, for which the Company receives periodic payments at fixed rates from credit protection buyers, and is obligated to make payments to the credit protection buyer upon the occurrence of a "credit event" with respect to underlying reference assets.

Written credit derivatives held by the Company at December 31, 2020 and 2019 are summarized below:


Credit Derivatives	December 31, 2020		December 31, 2019
(In thousands)
Fair Value of Written Credit Derivatives, Net	$	3,171	$	5,414
Fair Value of Purchased Credit Derivatives Offsetting Written Credit Derivatives with Third Parties (1)	—		(3,248)
Notional Value of Written Credit Derivatives (2)	68,653		132,176
Notional Value of Purchased Credit Derivatives Offsetting Written Credit Derivatives with Third Parties (1)	—		(81,637)

(1)Offsetting transactions with third parties include purchased credit derivatives which have the same reference obligation.

(2)The notional value is the maximum amount that a seller of credit protection would be obligated to pay, and a buyer of credit protection would receive, upon occurrence of a "credit event." Movements in the value of credit default swap transactions may require the Company or the counterparty to post or receive collateral. Amounts due or owed under credit derivative contracts with an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, or "ISDA," counterparty may be offset against amounts due or owed on other credit derivative contracts with the same ISDA counterparty. As a result, the notional value of written credit derivatives involving a particular underlying reference asset or index has been reduced (but not below zero) by the notional value of any contracts where the Company has purchased credit protection on the same reference asset or index with the same ISDA counterparty.

A credit default swap on a credit index or a corporate bond typically terminates at the stated maturity date in the case of corporate indices or bonds, or, in the case of ABX and CMBX indices, the date that all of the reference assets underlying the index are paid off in full, retired, or otherwise cease to exist. Implied credit spreads may be used to determine the market value of such contracts and are reflective of the cost of buying/selling credit protection. Higher spreads would indicate a greater likelihood that a seller will be obligated to perform (i.e., make protection payments) under the contract. In situations where the credit quality of the underlying reference assets has deteriorated, the percentage of notional values that would be paid up front to enter into a new such contract ("points up front") is frequently used as an indication of credit risk. Credit protection sellers entering the market in such situations would expect to be paid points up front corresponding to the approximate fair value of the contract. For the Company's written credit derivatives that were outstanding at December 31, 2020 and 2019, implied credit spreads on such contracts ranged between 40.0 and 274.8 basis points and 10.9 and 440.0 basis points, respectively. Excluded from these spread ranges are contracts outstanding for which the individual spread is greater than 2,000 basis points. The Company believes that these contracts would be quoted based on estimated points up front. The total fair value of contracts with individual implied credit spreads in excess of 2,000 basis points was $(0.1) million as of both December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019. Estimated points up front on these contracts as of December 31, 2020 ranged between 56.2 and 85.2 and as of December 31, 2019 estimated points up front on these contracts was 57.0. Total net up-front payments (paid) or received relating to written credit derivatives outstanding at December 31, 2020 and 2019 were $(2.0) million and $(3.3) million, respectively.

Financial Derivatives

Gains and losses on the Company's derivative contracts for the year ended December 31, 2018 are summarized in the table below:


		Year Ended December 31, 2018
Derivative Type	Primary Risk Exposure	Net Realized Gain/(Loss)(1)		Change in Net Unrealized Gain/(Loss)(2)
(In thousands)
Credit default swaps on asset-backed securities	Credit	$	(687)	$	715
Credit default swaps on asset-backed indices	Credit	(2,293)		2,013
Credit default swaps on corporate bond indices	Credit	(1,983)		3,540
Credit default swaps on corporate bonds	Credit	2,993		(2,648)
Total return swaps	Equity Market/Credit	3,844		(5)
Interest rate swaps	Interest Rate	(985)		3,648
Futures	Interest Rate/Currency	162		108
Forwards	Currency	923		359
Options	Interest Rate/ Equity Market	(63)		77
Total		$	1,911	$	7,807

(1)Includes gain/(loss) on foreign currency transactions on derivatives in the amount of $0.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, which is included on the Consolidated Statement of Operations in Realized gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions.

(2)Includes foreign currency translation on derivatives in the amount of $0.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, which is included on the Consolidated Statement of Operations in Change in net unrealized gain (loss) on foreign currency translation.

The table below details the average notional values of the Company's financial derivatives, using absolute value of month end notional values, for the year ended December 31, 2018:


Derivative Type	Year Ended December 31, 2018
	(In thousands)
Interest rate swaps	$	1,059,756
Credit default swaps	566,805
Total return swaps	53,603
Futures	201,295
Options	99,891
Forwards	45,522

From time to time the Company enters into credit derivative contracts for which the Company sells credit protection ("written credit derivatives"). As of December 31, 2018 all of the Company's open written credit derivatives were credit default swaps on either mortgage/asset-backed indices (ABX and CMBX indices) or corporate bond indices (CDX), collectively referred to as credit indices, or on individual corporate bonds, for which the Company receives periodic payments at fixed rates from credit protection buyers, and is obligated to make payments to the credit protection buyer upon the occurrence of a "credit event" with respect to underlying reference assets.

Written credit derivatives held by the Company at December 31, 2018 are summarized below:


Credit Derivatives	December 31, 2018
(In thousands)
Fair Value of Written Credit Derivatives, Net	$	(4,339)
Fair Value of Purchased Credit Derivatives Offsetting Written Credit Derivatives with Third Parties(1)	(284)
Notional Value of Written Credit Derivatives (2)	98,586
Notional Value of Purchased Credit Derivatives Offsetting Written Credit Derivatives with Third Parties (1)	(41,134)

(1)Offsetting transactions with third parties include purchased credit derivatives which have the same reference obligation.

A credit default swap on a credit index or a corporate bond typically terminates at the stated maturity date in the case of corporate indices or bonds, or, in the case of ABX and CMBX indices, the date that all of the reference assets underlying the index are paid off in full, retired, or otherwise cease to exist. Implied credit spreads may be used to determine the market value of such contracts and are reflective of the cost of buying/selling credit protection. Higher spreads would indicate a greater likelihood that a seller will be obligated to perform (i.e., make protection payments) under the contract. In situations where the credit quality of the underlying reference assets has deteriorated, the percentage of notional values that would be paid up front to enter into a new such contract ("points up front") is frequently used as an indication of credit risk. Credit protection sellers entering the market in such situations would expect to be paid points up front corresponding to the approximate fair value of the contract. For the Company's written credit derivatives that were outstanding at December 31, 2018, implied credit spreads on such contracts ranged between 42.6 and 815.1 basis points. Excluded from this spread range are contracts outstanding for which the individual spread is greater than 2,000 basis points. The Company believes that these contracts would be quoted based on estimated points up front. The total fair value of contracts with individual implied credit spreads in excess of 2,000 basis points was $(1.0) million as of December 31, 2018. Estimated points up front on these contracts as of December 31, 2018 ranged between 36.9 and 75.2 points. Total net up-front payments (paid) or received relating to written credit derivatives outstanding at December 31, 2018 were $(2.0) million.