Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Organization

Dynex Capital, Inc., ("Company”) was incorporated in the Commonwealth of Virginia on December 18, 1987 and commenced operations in February 1988. The Company primarily earns income from investing on a leveraged basis in mortgage-backed securities ("MBS") that are issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or U.S. Government sponsored agencies ("Agency MBS") and MBS issued by others ("non-Agency MBS").

Basis of Presentation [Policy Text Block]

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements of Dynex Capital, Inc. and its subsidiaries (together, “Dynex” or, as appropriate, the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) the instructions to the Annual Report on Form 10-K and Article 3 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

Reclassifications [Text Block]

Reclassifications

Certain items in the prior periods' consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year's presentation. Because the Company's provision for loan loss was immaterial for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013, this amount is now included within "other income (expense), net" on the Company's consolidated statements of comprehensive income. These presentation changes have no effect on reported total assets, total liabilities, results of operations, or cash flow activities.

Consolidation [Policy Text Block]

Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and the accounts of its majority owned subsidiaries and variable interest entities ("VIE") for which it is the primary beneficiary. As a primary beneficiary, the Company has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE and a right to receive benefits or absorb losses of the entity that could be potentially significant to the VIE. The Company is required to reconsider its evaluation of whether to consolidate a VIE each reporting period, based upon changes in the facts and circumstances pertaining to the VIE. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The Company consolidates certain trusts through which it has securitized mortgage loans as a result of not meeting the sale criteria under GAAP at the time the financial assets were transferred to the trust. Additional information regarding the accounting policy for the Company's securitized mortgage loans is provided in Note 3.

Use of Estimates [Policy Text Block]

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements as well as the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reported period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The most significant estimates used by management include, but are not limited to, fair value measurements of its investments, other-than-temporary impairments, contingencies, and amortization of premiums and discounts. These items are discussed further below within this note to the consolidated financial statements.

Income Taxes [Policy Text Block]

Income Taxes

The Company has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust ("REIT") under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the corresponding provisions of state law. To qualify as a REIT, the Company must meet certain tests including investing in primarily real estate-related assets and the required distribution of at least 90% of its annual REIT taxable income to stockholders after consideration of its net operating loss ("NOL") carryforward and not including taxable income retained in its taxable subsidiaries. As a REIT, the Company generally will not be subject to federal income tax on the amount of its income or capital gains that is distributed as dividends to shareholders.

The Company assesses its tax positions for all open tax years and determines whether the Company has any material unrecognized liabilities in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 740. The Company records these liabilities, if any, to the extent they are deemed more likely than not to have been incurred.

Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share [Text Block]

Net Income Per Common Share

The Company did not have any potentially dilutive securities outstanding during the years ended December 31, 2015, December 31, 2014, or December 31, 2013.

Holders of unvested shares of the Company's issued and outstanding restricted common stock are eligible to receive non-forfeitable dividends. As such, these unvested shares are considered participating securities as per ASC Topic 260-10 and therefore are included in the computation of basic net income (loss) per share using the two-class method. Upon vesting, restrictions on transfer expire on each share of restricted stock, and each such share of restricted stock is converted to one equal share of common stock.

Because the Company's 8.50% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (the “Series A Preferred Stock”) and 7.625% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (the “Series B Preferred Stock”) are redeemable at the Company's option for cash only and may convert into shares of common stock only upon a change of control of the Company, the effect of those shares and their related dividends is excluded from the calculation of diluted net income (loss) per common share.

Cash and Cash Equivalents [Policy Text Block]

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.

Restricted Cash [Policy Text Block]

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash consists of cash the Company has pledged to cover initial and variation margin with its financing and derivative counterparties.

Mortgage-Backed Securities [Policy Text Block]

Mortgage-Backed Securities

The Company invests in Agency and non-Agency RMBS, CMBS and CMBS IO securities, all of which are designated as available-for-sale ("AFS"). All of the Company’s MBS are recorded at fair value on the consolidated balance sheet. Changes in unrealized gain (loss) on the Company's MBS are reported in other comprehensive income ("OCI") until each security is collected, disposed of, or determined to be other than temporarily impaired. Although the Company generally intends to hold its AFS securities until maturity, it may sell any of these securities as part of the overall management of its business. Upon the sale of an AFS security, any unrealized gain or loss is reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI") into net income as a realized "gain (loss) on sale of investments, net" using the specific identification method.

The Company’s MBS pledged as collateral against repurchase agreements and derivative instruments are included in MBS on the consolidated balance sheets with the fair value of the MBS pledged disclosed parenthetically.

Interest Income, Premium Amortization, and Discount Accretion. Interest income on MBS is accrued based on the outstanding principal balance (or notional balance in the case of interest-only, or "IO", securities) and their contractual terms. Premiums and discounts on Agency MBS as well as any non-Agency MBS rated 'AA' and higher at the time of purchase are amortized into interest income over the expected life of such securities using the effective yield method and adjustments to premium amortization are made for actual cash payments as well as changes in projected future cash payments. The Company's projections of future cash payments are based on input and analysis received from external sources and internal models, and includes assumptions about the amount and timing of credit losses, loan prepayment rates, fluctuations in interest rates, and other factors. On at least a quarterly basis, the Company reviews and makes any necessary adjustments to its cash flow projections and updates the yield recognized on these assets.

The Company holds certain non-Agency MBS that had credit ratings of less than 'AA' at the time of purchase or were not rated by any of the nationally recognized credit rating agencies. A portion of these non-Agency MBS were purchased at discounts to their par value, which management does not believe to be substantial. The discount is accreted into income over the security's expected life, which reflects management's estimate of the security's projected cash flows. Future changes in the timing of projected cash flows or differences arising between projected cash flows and actual cash flows received may result in a prospective change in the effective yield on those securities.

Determination of MBS Fair Value. The Company estimates the fair value of the majority of its MBS based upon prices obtained from third-party pricing services and broker quotes. The remainder of the Company's MBS are valued by discounting the estimated future cash flows derived from cash flow models that utilize information such as the security's coupon rate, estimated prepayment speeds, expected weighted average life, collateral composition, estimated future interest rates, expected losses, and credit enhancements as well as certain other relevant information. Refer to Note 8 for further discussion of MBS fair value measurements.

Other-than-Temporary Impairment. MBS is considered impaired when its fair value is less than its amortized cost. The Company evaluates all of its impaired MBS for other-than-temporary impairments ("OTTI") on at least a quarterly basis. An impairment is considered other-than-temporary if: (1) the Company intends to sell the MBS; (2) it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the MBS before its fair value recovers; or (3) the Company does not expect to recover the full amortized cost basis of the MBS. If either of the first two conditions is met, the entire amount of the impairment is recognized in earnings. If the impairment is solely due to the inability to fully recover the amortized cost basis, the security is further analyzed to quantify any credit loss, which is the difference between the present value of cash flows expected to be collected on the MBS and its amortized cost. The credit loss, if any, is then recognized in earnings, while the balance of impairment related to other factors is recognized in other comprehensive income.

Following the recognition of an OTTI through earnings, a new cost basis is established for the security. Any subsequent recoveries in fair value may be accreted back into the amortized cost basis of the MBS on a prospective basis through interest income. Please see Note 2 for additional information related to the Company's evaluation for OTTI.

Investment in Limited Partnership [Policy Text Block]

Investment in Limited Partnership

The Company is a limited partner with a less than 50% interest in a limited partnership for which it does not have substantive participating or kick-out rights that overcome the general partner's presumption of control. The Company accounts for its investment in this limited partnership using the equity method of accounting, which requires initially recording an investment in the equity of an investee at cost and subsequently adjusting the carrying amount of the investment to recognize the investor's share of the earnings or losses, capital contributions and distributions, and other changes in equity.

Secured Borrowings [Policy Text Block]

Secured Borrowings

Secured borrowings, including repurchase agreements and Federal Home Loan Bank (or "FHLB") advances, are accounted for as secured borrowings under which the Company pledges its securities as collateral to secure a loan, which is equal in value to a specified percentage of the estimated fair value of the pledged collateral. The Company retains beneficial ownership of the pledged collateral. At the maturity of a repurchase agreement, the Company is required to repay the loan and concurrently receives back its pledged collateral from the lender or, with the consent of the lender, the Company may renew the agreement at the then prevailing financing rate. A repurchase agreement lender may require the Company to pledge additional collateral in the event of a decline in the fair value of the collateral pledged. Repurchase agreement financing is recourse to the Company and the assets pledged. Most of the Company’s repurchase agreements are based on the September 1996 version of the Bond Market Association Master Repurchase Agreement, which generally provides that the lender, as buyer, is responsible for obtaining collateral valuations from a generally recognized source agreed to by both the Company and the lender, or, in an instance when such source is not available, the value determination is made by the lender.

The Company’s wholly-owned captive insurance subsidiary, Mackinaw Insurance Company, LLC (“Mackinaw”), has obtained advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis (“FHLBI”) under an advances, pledge and security agreement which includes collateral requirements similar to the Company’s repurchase agreement borrowings, including the FHLBI’s right to require additional pledges of collateral. The agreement also requires Mackinaw to observe the rules of FHLBI membership and is subject to the FHLBI’s credit policies. The FHLBI requires Mackinaw to pledge additional securities or cash as collateral for advances in the event the value of the collateral held by the FHLBI falls below specified levels and gives the FHLBI the right to demand additional collateral in certain circumstances. Please see Note 13 for important information related to the Company's FHLB advances.

Derivative Instruments [Policy Text Block]

Derivative Instruments

The Company's derivative instruments, which currently include interest rate swaps and Eurodollar futures, are accounted for at fair value and recognized accordingly as either derivative assets or derivative liabilities on the Company's consolidated balance sheet. All periodic interest costs and changes in fair value of derivative instruments, including gains and losses realized upon termination, are recorded in "gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net" on the Company's consolidated statement of comprehensive income. Please refer to Note 6 for additional information regarding the Company's accounting for its derivative instruments.

Effective June 30, 2013, the Company discontinued cash flow hedge accounting for derivative instruments which had previously been accounted for as cash flow hedges under ASC Topic 815. Activity up to and including June 30, 2013 for those agreements previously designated as cash flow hedges was recorded in accordance with cash flow hedge accounting as prescribed by ASC Topic 815, which states that the effective portion of the hedge relationship on an instrument designated as a cash flow hedge is reported in the current period's other comprehensive income while the ineffective portion is immediately reported as a component of the current period’s net income. The balance remaining in AOCI related to the de-designated cash flow hedges is amortized into the Company's net income as a portion of "interest expense" over the remaining life of the interest rate swap agreements. Subsequent to June 30, 2013, changes in the fair value of the Company's derivative instruments, plus periodic settlements, are recorded in the Company's net income as a portion of "gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net".

Although MBS have characteristics that meet the definition of a derivative instrument, ASC Topic 815 specifically excludes these instruments from its scope because they are accounted for as debt securities under ASC Topic 320.

Stock-based Compensation [Policy Text Block]

Share-Based Compensation

Pursuant to the Company’s 2009 Stock and Incentive Plan, the Company may grant share-based compensation to eligible employees, directors or consultants or advisers to the Company, including stock awards, stock options, stock appreciation rights, dividend equivalent rights, performance shares, and restricted stock units. The Company's restricted stock currently issued and outstanding under this plan may be settled only in shares of its common stock, and therefore are treated as equity awards with their fair value measured at the grant date and recognized as compensation cost over the requisite service period with a corresponding credit to shareholders' equity. The requisite service period is the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for an award, which is equivalent to the vesting period specified in the terms of the time-based restricted stock award. None of the Company's restricted stock awards have performance based conditions. The Company does not currently have any share-based compensation issued or outstanding other than restricted stock.

Contingencies [Policy Text Block]

Contingencies

In the normal course of business, there may be various lawsuits, claims, and other contingencies pending against the Company. On a quarterly basis, the Company evaluates whether to establish provisions for estimated losses from those matters in accordance with ASC Topic 450, which states that a liability is recognized for a contingent loss when: (a) the underlying causal event has occurred prior to the balance sheet date; (b) it is probable that a loss has been incurred; and (c) there is a reasonable basis for estimating that loss. A liability is not recognized for a contingent loss when it is only possible or remotely possible that a loss has been incurred, however, possible contingent losses shall be disclosed. If the contingent loss (or an additional loss in excess of any accrual) is at least a reasonable possibility and material, then the Company discloses a reasonable estimate of the possible loss or range of loss, if such reasonable estimate can be made. If the Company cannot make a reasonable estimate of the possible material loss, or range of loss, then that fact is disclosed.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Text Block]

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments-Overall (Subtopic 825-10); Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, which includes the following amendments:


•	equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting or those that result in consolidation of the investee) are to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income.


•	simplify the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values by requiring a qualitative assessment to identify impairment. When a qualitative assessment indicates that impairment exists, an entity is required to measure the investment at fair value.


•	the exit price notion is to be used by public business entities when measuring the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes.


•	separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset (i.e. securities or loans and receivables) on the balance sheet or the accompanying notes to the financial statements.


•	elimination of the requirement for public business entities to disclose the method(s) and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value that is required to be disclosed for financial instruments measure at amortized cost.


•	a requirement for the entity to present separately in OCI the portion of the total change in the fair value of a liability resulting from a change in the instrument-specific credit risk when the entity has elected to measure the liability at fair value in accordance with the fair value option for financial instruments.


•	clarification that an entity should evaluate the need for a valuation allowance on a deferred tax asset related to AFS securities in combination with the entity's other deferred tax assets.

ASU No. 2016-01 is effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. Management has evaluated this ASU, and its adoption is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.