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Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Dynex Capital, Inc. (the “Company”) was incorporated in the Commonwealth of Virginia on December 18, 1987 and commenced operations in February 1988. The Company is an internally managed mortgage real estate investment trust, or mortgage REIT, which primarily earns income from investing on a leveraged basis in Agency mortgage-backed securities (“Agency MBS”) and in to-be-announced securities (“TBAs” or “TBA securities”). Agency MBS have a guaranty of principal and interest payments by a U.S. government-sponsored entity (“GSE”) such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which are in conservatorship and are currently supported by a senior preferred stock purchase agreement from the U.S. Treasury. As of December 31, 2023, the majority of the Company’s Agency MBS are secured by residential real property (“Agency RMBS”). The remainder of the Company’s investments are in Agency commercial MBS (“Agency CMBS”) and in both Agency and non-Agency CMBS interest-only (“CMBS IO”). Non-Agency MBS do not have a GSE guaranty of principal or interest payments.

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”).

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, amortization of premiums and discounts and fair value measurements of its investments, including TBA securities accounted for as derivative instruments. These items are discussed further below within this note to the consolidated financial statements. The Company believes the estimates and assumptions underlying the consolidated financial statements included herein are reasonable and supportable based on the information available as of December 31, 2023.

Consolidation and Variable Interest Entities

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. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The Company consolidates a VIE if the Company is determined to be the VIE’s primary beneficiary, which is defined as the party that has both: (i) the power to control the activities that most significantly impact the VIE’s financial performance and (ii) the right to receive benefits or absorb losses that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The Company reconsiders its evaluation of whether to consolidate a VIE on an ongoing basis, based on changes in the facts and circumstances pertaining to the VIE. Though the Company invests in Agency and non-Agency MBS which are generally considered to be interests in VIEs, the Company does not consolidate these entities because it does not meet the criteria to be deemed a primary beneficiary.

Income Taxes

The Company has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Tax Code”) and the corresponding provisions of state law. To qualify as a REIT, the Company must meet certain asset, income, ownership, and distribution tests. To meet these requirements, the Company’s main source of income is interest earned from obligations secured by mortgages on real property, and the Company must distribute at least 90% of its annual REIT taxable income to shareholders. The Company’s income will generally not be subject to federal income tax to the extent it 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 and 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

The Company calculates basic net income (loss) per common share by dividing net income (loss) to common shareholders for the period by weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding for that period. Please see Note 2 for the calculation of the Company’s basic and diluted net income (loss) per common share for the periods indicated.

The Company currently has unvested restricted stock, service-based restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and performance-based stock units (“PSUs”) issued and outstanding. Restricted stock awards are considered participating securities and therefore are included in the computation of basic net income per common share using the two-class method because holders of unvested shares of restricted stock are eligible to receive non-forfeitable dividends. Holders of RSUs and PSUs accrue forfeitable dividend equivalent rights over the period outstanding, receiving dividend payments only upon the settlement date if the requisite service-based and performance-based conditions have been achieved, as applicable. As such, RSUs and PSUs are excluded from the computation of basic net income per common share, but are included in the computation of diluted net income per common share unless the effect is to reduce a net loss or increase the net income per common share (also known as “anti-dilutive”). Upon vesting, restrictions on transfer expire on each share of restricted stock, RSU, and PSU, and each such share or unit becomes one unrestricted share of common stock and is included in the computation of basic net income per common share.

Because the Company’s 6.900% Series C Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (the “Series C Preferred Stock”) is redeemable at the Company’s option for cash only and convertible into shares of common stock only upon a change of control of the Company (and subject to other circumstances) as described in Article IIIC of the Company’s Restated Articles of Incorporation, the effect of those shares and their related dividends are excluded from the calculation of diluted net income per common share for the periods presented.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include unrestricted demand deposits at highly rated financial institutions and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. The Company’s cash balances fluctuate throughout the year and may exceed Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insured limits from time to time. Although the Company bears risk to amounts in excess of those insured by the FDIC, the Company believes the risk of loss is mitigated by the financial position, creditworthiness, and strength of the depository institutions in which those deposits are held.

Cash Collateral Posted To/By Counterparties

Cash collateral posted to/by counterparties represents amounts pledged/received to cover margin requirements related to the Company’s financing and derivative instruments. If the amount pledged to a counterparty exceeds the amount received from a counterparty, the net amount is recorded as an asset within “cash collateral

posted to counterparties”, and if the amount received from a counterparty exceeds the amount pledged to a counterparty, the net amount is recorded as a liability within “cash collateral posted by counterparties” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

The following table provides a reconciliation of “cash” and “cash posted to counterparties” reported on the Company's consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2023, that sum to the total of the same such amounts shown on the Company’s consolidated statement of cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2023:


($s in thousands)	December 31, 2023		December 31, 2022
Cash and cash equivalents	$	119,639	$	332,035
Cash collateral posted to counterparties	118,225		117,842
Total cash including cash posted to counterparties shown on consolidated statement of cash flows	$	237,864	$	449,877

Mortgage-Back Securities

Mortgage-Backed Securities

The Company’s MBS are recorded at fair value on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. Changes in fair value of MBS purchased prior to January 1, 2021 are designated as available-for-sale (“AFS”) with changes in fair value reported in other comprehensive income (“OCI”) as an unrealized gain (loss) until the security is sold or matures. Effective January 1, 2021, the Company elected the fair value option (“FVO”) for all MBS purchased on or after that date with changes in fair value reported in net income as “unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net” until the security is sold or matures. Management elected the fair value option so that GAAP net income will reflect the changes in fair value for its future purchases of MBS in a manner consistent with the presentation and timing of the changes in fair value of its derivative instruments. Upon the sale of an MBS, any unrealized gain or loss within OCI or net income is reclassified to “realized gain (loss) on sale of investments, net” within net income using the specific identification method.

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 IO securities) and the contractual terms. Premiums or discounts associated with the purchase of Agency MBS as well as any non-Agency MBS are amortized or accreted into interest income over the projected life of such securities using the effective interest method, and adjustments to premium amortization and discount accretion are made for actual cash payments. The Company’s projections of future cash payments are based on input received from external sources and internal models and may include assumptions about the amount and timing of loan prepayment rates, fluctuations in interest rates, credit losses, 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.

Determination of MBS Fair Value. The Company estimates the fair value of the majority of its MBS based upon prices obtained from a pricing service. These prices are assessed for reasonableness using broker quotes and other third party pricing services. Please refer to Note 6 for further discussion of MBS fair value measurements.

Allowance for Credit Losses. On at least a quarterly basis, the Company evaluates any MBS designated as AFS with a fair value less than its amortized cost for credit losses. If the difference between the present value of cash flows expected to be collected on the MBS is less than its amortized cost, the difference is recorded as an allowance for credit loss through net income up to and not exceeding the amount that the amortized cost exceeds current fair value. Subsequent changes in credit loss estimates are recognized in earnings in the period in which they occur. Because the majority of the Company’s investments are higher credit quality and most are guaranteed by a GSE, the Company is not likely to have an allowance for credit losses related to its MBS recorded on its consolidated balance sheet.

Interest accrued between payment dates on MBS is presented separately from the Company’s investment portfolio as “accrued interest receivable” on its consolidated balance sheet. The Company does not estimate an allowance for credit loss for its accrued interest receivable because the interest is generally received within 30 days and amounts not received when due are written off against interest income.

Repurchase Agreements

The Company’s repurchase agreements are used to finance its purchases of MBS and are accounted for as secured borrowings. The Company pledges its securities as collateral to secure a loan, which is equal to a specified percentage of the estimated fair value of the pledged collateral. The Company retains beneficial ownership of the pledged collateral, which is disclosed parenthetically on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. At the maturity of a repurchase agreement borrowing, 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. The repurchase facilities available to the Company are uncommitted with no guarantee of renewal.

Derivative Instruments

Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments, including gains and losses realized upon termination, maturity, or settlement, are recorded in “gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net” on the Company’s consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). Cash receipts and payments related to derivative instruments are classified in the investing activities section of the consolidated statements of cash flows in accordance with the underlying nature or purpose of the derivative transactions.

The Company’s short positions in U.S. Treasury futures contracts are valued based on exchange pricing with daily margin settlements. The margin requirement varies based on the market value of the open positions and the equity retained in the account. Any margin excess or deficit outstanding is recorded as a receivable or payable as of the date of the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The Company realizes gains or losses on these contracts upon expiration at an amount equal to the difference between the current fair value of the underlying asset and the contractual price of the futures contract.

The Company’s options on U.S. Treasury futures provide the Company the right, but not an obligation, to buy or sell U.S. Treasury futures at a predetermined notional amount and stated term in the future and are valued based on exchange pricing. The Company records the premium paid for the option contract as a derivative asset on its consolidated balance sheet and adjusts the balance for changes in fair value through “gain (loss) on derivative instruments” until the option is exercised or the contract expires. If the option contract expires unexercised, the realized loss is limited to the premium paid. If exercised, the realized gain or loss on the options is equal to the difference between the fair value of the underlying U.S. Treasury future and the premium paid for the option contract.

The Company may also purchase swaptions, which provide the Company the right, but not an obligation, to enter into an interest rate swap at a predetermined notional amount with a stated term and pay and receive rates in the future. The accounting for swaptions is similar to options on U.S. Treasury futures.

A TBA security is a forward contract (“TBA contract”) for the purchase (“long position”) or sale (“short position”) of a non-specified Agency MBS at a predetermined price with certain principal and interest terms and certain types of collateral, but the particular Agency securities to be delivered are not identified until shortly before the settlement date. The Company accounts for long and short positions in TBAs as derivative instruments because the Company cannot assert that it is probable at inception and throughout the term of an individual TBA transaction that its settlement will result in physical delivery of the underlying Agency RMBS or that the individual TBA transaction will settle in the shortest time period possible.

Please refer to Note 5 for additional information regarding the Company’s derivative instruments as well as Note 6 for information on how the fair value of these instruments is calculated.

Share-based Compensation

Share-Based Compensation

The Company’s 2020 Stock and Incentive Plan (the “2020 Plan”) reserves for issuance up to 2,300,000 common shares for eligible employees, non-employee directors, consultants, and advisors to the Company to be granted in the form of stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), stock appreciation rights, performance-based stock units (“PSUs”), and performance-based cash awards (collectively, “awards”). As of December 31, 2023, 863,259 common shares are available for issuance under the 2020 Plan.

The Company has issued restricted stock and RSUs, which are treated as equity awards and recorded at their fair value using the closing stock price on the grant date. Compensation expense is generally recognized over a service period specified within each award with a corresponding credit to shareholders’ equity using the straight-line method until the vesting date specified within each award or until the employee becomes eligible for retirement, if earlier than the vesting date. Compensation expense for subsequent equity awards to an employee who is retirement eligible is recognized immediately upon the grant date.

The Company also has PSUs issued and outstanding which contain Company performance-based and market performance-based conditions. PSUs subject to Company performance-based conditions are initially recognized as equity at their fair value which is measured using the closing stock price on the grant date multiplied by the number of units expected to vest based on an assessment of the probability of achievement of the Company performance-based conditions as of the grant date. The grant date fair value is recognized as expense using the straight-line method until the earlier of the vesting date specified within each award or the date the employee becomes eligible for retirement. Adjustments are made, if necessary, based on any change in probability of achievement which is re-assessed as of each reporting date and on at least a quarterly basis. PSUs subject to market performance-based conditions are recognized as equity at their grant date fair value determined through a Monte-Carlo simulation of the Company’s common stock total shareholder return (“TSR”) relative to the common stock TSR of the group of peer companies specified in the award agreement. Awards subject to market performance-based conditions are not assessed for probability of achievement and are not remeasured subsequent to issuance. The grant date fair value is recognized as expense using the straight-line method until the earlier of the vesting date specified within each award or the date the employee becomes eligible for retirement, even if the market performance-based conditions are not achieved.

The Company does not estimate forfeitures for any of its share-based compensation awards, but adjusts for actual forfeitures in the periods in which they occur. Because RSUs and PSUs have forfeitable dividend equivalent rights, which are paid in cash only upon settlement, any accrued dividend equivalent rights (“DERs”) on forfeited units are reversed with a corresponding credit to “Compensation and benefits.”

Please see Note 7 for additional information about the Company’s share-based compensation awards.

Contingencies

The Company did not have any pending lawsuits, claims, or other contingencies as of December 31, 2023 or December 31, 2022.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

The Company evaluates Accounting Standards Updates issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board on at least a quarterly basis to evaluate applicability and significance of any impact on its financial condition and results of operations. There were no accounting pronouncements issued during the year ended December 31, 2023, that are expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.