Arbor Realty Trust Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Results and Declares Dividend of $0.30 per Share

Fourth Quarter Highlights:

• GAAP net income of $0.07 per diluted common share
• Distributable earnings¹ of $0.19, or $0.22 per diluted common share, excluding $5.1 million of net realized losses from the resolution of certain legacy assets previously reserved for
• Declares cash dividend on common stock of $0.30 per share
• Agency loan originations of $1.63 billion
• Structured loan originations of $1.10 billion, our strongest quarter in over three years
• Issued $400.0 million of 8.50% senior unsecured notes due 2028
• Unwound CLO 16 with $482.1 million of outstanding notes generating ~$90 million of liquidity
• Foreclosed on six loans totaling $139.0 million and sold three real estate owned properties totaling $77.6 million
• Repurchased $20.0 million of stock at an average price of $7.40 per share, or 64% of book value, between December 2025 and February 2026

Full Year Highlights:

• GAAP net income of $0.56 per diluted common share
• Distributable earnings¹ of $1.07, or $1.17 per diluted common share, excluding $22.6 million of net realized losses from the resolution of certain legacy assets previously reserved for
• Agency servicing portfolio of ~$36.20 billion on growth of 8% from loan originations of $5.07 billion
• Structured portfolio of $12.11 billion on growth of 7% from loan originations of $3.52 billion
• Recognized significant cash gains totaling $56.0 million from an equity investment
• Continued success from our industry-leading securitization platform:
  • Closed our first build-to-rent collateralized securitization vehicle totaling $801.9 million with improved terms over our warehouse lines
  • Closed a $1.05 billion collateralized securitization vehicle with initial pricing of 1.82% over SOFR and leverage of 89%
• Generated significant liquidity through improvements to the right side of our balance sheet:
  • Issued $900.0 million of senior unsecured notes to repay $557.5 million of unsecured debt and add ~$340 million of liquidity
  • Unwound three CLO vehicles, financing assets with a new $1.15 billion repurchase facility and existing lines, enhancing leverage, reducing pricing and generating ~$170 million of liquidity

UNIONDALE, N.Y., Feb. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:ABR), today announced financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2025. Arbor reported net income for the quarter of $14.6 million, or $0.07 per diluted common share, compared to net income of $59.8 million, or $0.32 per diluted common share for the quarter ended December 31, 2024. Net income for the year was $107.4 million, or $0.56 per diluted common share, compared to $223.3 million, or $1.18 per diluted common share for the year ended December 31, 2024. Distributable earnings for the quarter was $41.2 million, or $0.19 per diluted common share, compared to $81.6 million, or $0.40 per diluted common share for the quarter ended December 31, 2024. Distributable earnings for the year was $223.6 million, or $1.07 per diluted common share, compared to $358.0 million, or $1.74 per diluted common share for the year ended December 31, 2024.¹

Agency Business

Loan Origination Platform

	Agency Loan Volume (in thousands)
	Quarter Ended						Year Ended
	December 31, 2025			September 30, 2025			December 31, 2025			December 31, 2024
Fannie Mae	$	1,068,889		$	872,753		$	2,982,659		$	2,374,040
Freddie Mac		493,294			1,103,120			1,924,773			1,770,976
FHA		62,104			—			78,145			146,507
SFR - Fixed Rate		3,857			7,242			43,762			27,314
Private Label		—			—			44,925			151,936
Total Originations	$	1,628,144		$	1,983,115		$	5,074,264		$	4,470,773
Total Loan Sales	$	1,539,801		$	2,026,815		$	5,104,490		$	4,609,686
Total Loan Commitments	$	1,602,180		$	2,003,538		$	5,103,885		$	4,443,972

For the quarter ended December 31, 2025, the Agency Business generated revenues of $81.0 million, compared to $81.1 million for the third quarter of 2025. Gain on sales, including fee-based services, net on the Agency business was $20.9 million for the quarter, reflecting a margin of 1.36%, compared to $23.3 million and 1.15% for the third quarter of 2025. Income from mortgage servicing rights was $19.9 million for the quarter, reflecting a rate of 1.24% as a percentage of loan commitments, compared to $15.5 million and 0.78% for the third quarter of 2025.

At December 31, 2025, loans held-for-sale was $409.1 million, with financing associated with these loans totaling $390.4 million.

Fee-Based Servicing Portfolio

The Company's fee-based servicing portfolio totaled $36.20 billion at December 31, 2025. Servicing revenue, net was $26.9 million for the quarter and consisted of servicing revenue of $45.1 million, net of amortization of mortgage servicing rights totaling $18.2 million.

	Fee-Based Servicing Portfolio ($ in thousands)
	December 31, 2025							September 30, 2025							December 31, 2024
	UPB			Wtd. Avg. Fee (bps)		Wtd. Avg. Life (years)		UPB			Wtd. Avg. Fee (bps)		Wtd. Avg. Life (years)		UPB			Wtd. Avg. Fee (bps)		Wtd. Avg. Life (years)
Fannie Mae	$	24,085,960		44.7		5.5		$	23,468,256		45.3		5.7		$	22,730,056		46.4		6.4
Freddie Mac		7,455,088		18.3		5.9			7,090,516		19.1		6.2			6,077,020		21.5		6.8
Private Label		2,558,048		18.7		4.5			2,561,736		18.7		4.8			2,605,980		18.7		5.5
FHA		1,549,483		13.9		19.1			1,492,536		14.0		19.1			1,506,948		14.1		19.2
Bridge		277,738		10.4		2.2			277,935		10.4		2.3			278,494		10.4		3.0
SFR-Fixed Rate		277,490		20.0		4.0			279,650		20.0		4.1			271,859		20.1		4.4
Total	$	36,203,807		35.6		6.1		$	35,170,629		36.2		6.3		$	33,470,357		37.8		6.9

Loans sold under the Fannie Mae program contain an obligation to partially guarantee the performance of the loan ("loss-sharing obligations") and includes $35.7 million for the fair value of the guarantee obligation undertaken at December 31, 2025. The Company recorded a $9.7 million net provision for loss sharing associated with CECL for the fourth quarter of 2025. At December 31, 2025, the Company's total CECL allowance for loss-sharing obligations was $61.9 million, representing 0.26% of the Fannie Mae servicing portfolio.

Structured Business

Portfolio and Investment Activity

	Structured Portfolio Activity ($ in thousands)
	Quarter Ended												Year Ended
	December 31, 2025						September 30, 2025						December 31, 2025						December 31, 2024
	UPB			%			UPB			%			UPB			%			UPB			%
Bridge:
SFR	$	668,059		61	%		$	391,768		41	%		$	1,947,107		55	%		$	869,141		61	%
Multifamily		336,945		30	%			375,950		39	%			1,183,945		34	%			444,635		31	%
Land		—		—				—		—				—		—				10,350		1	%
		1,005,004		91	%			767,718		80	%			3,131,052		89	%			1,324,126		93	%
Construction - Multifamily		61,206		6	%			87,742		9	%			242,844		7	%			4,368		—
Mezzanine / Preferred Equity		36,922		3	%			101,281		11	%			149,642		4	%			97,305		7	%
Total Originations	$	1,103,132		100	%		$	956,741		100	%		$	3,523,538		100	%		$	1,425,799		100	%
Number of Loans Originated		29						30						98						170
Commitments:
SFR	$	245,750					$	25,300					$	665,834					$	1,438,841
Construction - Multifamily		62,000						143,500						470,500						101,000
Total Commitments	$	307,750					$	168,800					$	1,136,334					$	1,539,841
Loan Runoff	$	537,519					$	734,209					$	2,213,378					$	2,691,583

	Structured Portfolio ($ in thousands)
	December 31, 2025						September 30, 2025						December 31, 2024
	UPB			%			UPB			%			UPB			%
Bridge:
Multifamily	$	8,143,114		67	%		$	8,109,058		69	%		$	8,725,429		76	%
SFR		3,184,910		26	%			2,766,284		24	%			1,993,890		18	%
Other		43,734		<1%				164,505		1	%			173,787		2	%
		11,371,758		94	%			11,039,847		94	%			10,893,106		96	%
Mezzanine/Preferred Equity		492,330		4	%			481,102		4	%			404,401		3	%
Construction - Multifamily		249,019		2	%			187,813		2	%			4,367		<1%
SFR Permanent		—		—				—		—				3,082		<1%
Total Portfolio	$	12,113,107		100	%		$	11,708,762		100	%		$	11,304,956		100	%

At December 31, 2025, the loan and investment portfolio's unpaid principal balance ("UPB"), excluding loan loss reserves, was $12.11 billion, with a weighted average current interest pay rate of 6.49%, compared to $11.71 billion and 6.64% at September 30, 2025. Including certain fees earned and costs associated with the loan and investment portfolio, the weighted average current interest pay rate was 7.08% at December 31, 2025, compared to 7.27% at September 30, 2025. The decrease in pay rate was largely due to an decrease in the SOFR rate in the fourth quarter of 2025.

The average balance of the Company's loan and investment portfolio during the fourth quarter of 2025, excluding loan loss reserves, was $11.84 billion with a weighted average yield of 7.38%, compared to $11.76 billion and 6.95% for the third quarter of 2025. The increase in the weighted average yield was primarily due to an $18 million one-time reversal of accrued interest on previously modified loans, along with additional delinquencies and rate modifications, in the third quarter of 2025, partially offset by a decrease in the SOFR rate in the fourth quarter of 2025.

During the fourth quarter of 2025, the Company recorded a $6.5 million reversal of provision for loan losses associated with CECL. At December 31, 2025, the Company's total allowance for loan losses was $146.0 million, compared to $246.3 million at September 30, 2025. The decrease in the allowance was primarily due to the resolution of a portfolio of legacy loans with a total UPB of $127.9 million and a previously recorded reserve of $77.9 million, resulting in a $68.9 million charge-off and a $9.0 million provision reversal. In addition, the Company recorded $20.5 million of impairments on real estate owned with a carry value of $158.2 million.

The Company had twenty-six non-performing loans with a UPB of $569.1 million, before related loan loss reserves of $10.2 million, compared to twenty-five loans with a UPB of $566.1 million, before loan loss reserves of $22.9 million at September 30, 2025.

In addition, at December 31, 2025, the Company had three non-accrual loans with a UPB of $48.3 million (before a related loan loss reserves of $10.7 million) that were less than 60 days past due, compared to eight non-accrual loans with a total UPB of $183.1 million (before related loan loss reserves of $15.3 million) at September 30, 2025.

During the fourth quarter of 2025, the Company modified seven loans to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty with a total UPB of $251.1 million, the vast majority of which had borrowers investing additional capital to recapitalize their deals. Five of these loans with a total UPB of $131.2 million contained interest rates based on pricing over SOFR ranging from 3.35% to 4.15% and were modified to provide temporary rate relief through a pay and accrual feature. At December 31, 2025, these modified loans had a weighted average pay rate of 5.52% and a weighted average accrual rate of 1.69%. In addition, of the total modified loans for the fourth quarter, one loan with a UPB of $12.0 million was non-performing at September 30, 2025, and is now current in accordance with its modified terms.

Financing Activity

The balance of debt that finances the Company's loan and investment portfolio at December 31, 2025 was $10.46 billion with a weighted average interest rate including fees of 6.45% as compared to $9.49 billion and a rate of 6.72% at September 30, 2025. The decrease in the weighted average interest rate was primarily due to a decline in the SOFR rate during the fourth quarter of 2025.

The average balance of debt that finances the Company's loan and investment portfolio for the fourth quarter of 2025 was $10.09 billion, as compared to $9.96 billion for the third quarter of 2025. The average cost of borrowings for the fourth quarter of 2025 was 6.81%, compared to 7.02% for the third quarter of 2025. The decrease in average cost was primarily due to an decrease in the SOFR rate in the fourth quarter of 2025.

The Company issued $400 million of its 8.50% senior unsecured notes due December 2028 through a private offering. The Company is using the net proceeds of this offering to pay down debt and for general corporate purposes.

Dividend

The Company announced today that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.30 per share of common stock for the quarter ended December 31, 2025. The dividend is payable on March 24, 2026 to common stockholders of record on March 10, 2026.

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 www.arbor.com in the investor relations section of the Company's website, or you can access the call telephonically at least ten minutes prior to the conference call. The dial-in numbers are (800) 267-6316 for domestic callers and (203) 518-9783 for international callers. Please use participant passcode ABRQ425 when prompted by the operator.

A telephonic replay of the call will be available until March 6, 2026. The replay dial-in numbers are (800) 839-1192 for domestic callers and (402) 220-0402 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, single-family rental (SFR) portfolios, 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 leading Fannie Mae DUS® lender and Freddie Mac Optigo® Seller/Servicer, and an approved FHA Multifamily Accelerated Processing (MAP) lender. Arbor's product platform also includes bridge, CMBS, mezzanine and preferred equity loans. 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, 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, 2025 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.

Notes

1. 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 the last two pages of this release.

Contact:	Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. Investor Relations 516-506-4200 [email protected]

ARBOR REALTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Consolidated Statements of Income ($ in thousands—except share and per share data)
	Quarter Ended December 31,								Year Ended December 31,
		2025				2024				2025				2024
	(Unaudited)				(Unaudited)
Interest income	$	236,011			$	262,871			$	940,008			$	1,167,872
Interest expense		180,272				180,002				701,836				804,615
Net interest income		55,739				82,869				238,172				363,257
Other revenue:
Gain on sales, including fee-based services, net		20,891				22,180				70,669				74,932
Mortgage servicing rights		19,933				13,344				54,532				51,272
Servicing revenue, net		26,925				33,319				109,617				125,896
Property operating income		7,319				2,705				21,347				7,226
(Loss) gain on derivative instruments, net		(155	)			(3,833	)			1,259				(8,543	)
Other income, net		2,743				1,129				14,801				8,083
Total other revenue		77,656				68,844				272,225				258,866
Other expenses:
Employee compensation and benefits		42,759				46,283				174,145				181,694
Selling and administrative		14,937				15,034				59,805				54,931
Property operating expenses		10,408				2,446				27,980				7,394
Depreciation and amortization		8,267				2,617				23,214				9,555
Impairment loss on real estate owned		20,500				—				20,500				—
Provision for loss sharing, net		10,001				3,996				24,259				11,782
Provision for credit losses, net		(5,077	)			3,641				42,696				68,543
Total other expenses		101,795				74,017				372,599				333,899
Income before extinguishment of debt, (loss) gain on real estate, income (loss) from equity affiliates, and income taxes		31,600				77,696				137,798				288,224
Loss on extinguishment of debt		(601	)			—				(2,919	)			(412	)
(Loss) gain on real estate		(4,338	)			—				(9,151	)			3,813
Income (loss) from equity affiliates		3,656				(1,616	)			50,880				5,772
Provision for income taxes		(4,196	)			(752	)			(18,779	)			(13,478	)
Net income		26,121				75,328				157,829				283,919
Preferred stock dividends		10,342				10,342				41,369				41,369
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest		1,204				5,160				9,033				19,278
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$	14,575			$	59,826			$	107,427			$	223,272
Basic earnings per common share	$	0.07			$	0.32			$	0.56			$	1.18
Diluted earnings per common share	$	0.07			$	0.32			$	0.56			$	1.18
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic		195,708,401				188,924,182				192,956,154				188,701,149
Diluted		212,479,888				205,759,307				209,733,331				205,526,610
Dividends declared per common share	$	0.30			$	0.43			$	1.20			$	1.72

ARBOR REALTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Consolidated Balance Sheets ($ in thousands—except share and per share data)
	December 31, 2025				December 31, 2024
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	482,875			$	503,803
Restricted cash		67,347				156,376
Loans and investments, net (allowance for credit losses of $145,971 and $238,967)		11,934,248				11,033,997
Loans held-for-sale, net		409,081				435,759
Capitalized mortgage servicing rights, net		340,842				368,678
Securities held-to-maturity, net (allowance for credit losses of $17,013 and $10,846)		156,087				157,154
Investments in equity affiliates		57,966				76,312
Real estate owned, net		498,938				176,543
Due from related party		6,534				12,792
Goodwill and other intangible assets		86,553				88,119
Other assets		454,432				481,448
Total assets	$	14,494,903			$	13,490,981
Liabilities and Equity:
Credit and repurchase facilities	$	5,149,651			$	3,559,490
Securitized debt		3,468,258				4,622,489
Senior unsecured notes		2,029,078				1,236,147
Convertible senior unsecured notes		—				285,853
Junior subordinated notes to subsidiary trust issuing preferred securities		145,497				144,686
Notes payable - real estate owned		222,965				74,897
Due to related party		501				4,474
Due to borrowers		33,451				47,627
Allowance for loss-sharing obligations		97,579				83,150
Other liabilities		280,770				280,198
Total liabilities		11,427,750				10,339,011
Equity:
Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, cumulative, redeemable, $0.01 par value: 100,000,000 shares authorized, shares issued and outstanding by period:		633,683				633,684
Special voting preferred - 16,169,858 and 16,293,589 shares
6.375% Series D - 9,200,000 shares
6.25% Series E - 5,750,000 shares
6.25% Series F - 11,342,000 shares
Common stock, $0.01 par value: 500,000,000 shares authorized - 195,491,855 and 189,259,435 shares issued and outstanding		1,955				1,893
Additional paid-in capital		2,454,312				2,375,469
(Accumulated deficit) retained earnings		(136,597	)			13,039
Total Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. stockholders' equity		2,953,353				3,024,085
Noncontrolling interest		113,800				127,885
Total equity		3,067,153				3,151,970
Total liabilities and equity	$	14,494,903			$	13,490,981

ARBOR REALTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Statement of Income Segment Information - (Unaudited) (in thousands)
	Quarter Ended December 31, 2025
	Structured Business				Agency Business				Other(1)				Consolidated
Interest income	$	222,612			$	13,399			$	—			$	236,011
Interest expense		173,046				7,226				—				180,272
Net interest income		49,566				6,173				—				55,739
Other revenue:
Gain on sales, including fee-based services, net		—				20,891				—				20,891
Mortgage servicing rights		—				19,933				—				19,933
Servicing revenue		—				45,093				—				45,093
Amortization of MSRs		—				(18,168	)			—				(18,168	)
Property operating income		7,319				—				—				7,319
Loss on derivative instruments, net		—				(155	)			—				(155	)
Other income (loss), net		2,757				(14	)			—				2,743
Total other revenue		10,076				67,580				—				77,656
Other expenses:
Employee compensation and benefits		15,598				27,161				—				42,759
Selling and administrative		7,426				7,511				—				14,937
Property operating expenses		10,408				—				—				10,408
Depreciation and amortization		7,876				391				—				8,267
Impairment loss on real estate owned		20,500				—				—				20,500
Provision for loss sharing, net		—				10,001				—				10,001
Provision for credit losses, net		(6,477	)			1,400				—				(5,077	)
Total other expenses		55,331				46,464				—				101,795
Income before extinguishment of debt, loss on real estate, income from equity affiliates and income taxes		4,311				27,289				—				31,600
Loss on extinguishment of debt		(601	)			—				—				(601	)
Loss on real estate		(4,338	)			—				—				(4,338	)
Income from equity affiliates		3,656				—				—				3,656
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes		317				(4,513	)			—				(4,196	)
Net income		3,345				22,776				—				26,121
Preferred stock dividends		10,342				—				—				10,342
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest		—				—				1,204				1,204
Net (loss) income attributable to common stockholders	$	(6,997	)		$	22,776			$	(1,204	)		$	14,575

_{(1)  Includes income allocated to the noncontrolling interest holders not allocated to the two reportable segments.}

ARBOR REALTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Balance Sheet Segment Information - (Unaudited) (in thousands)
	December 31, 2025
	Structured Business			Agency Business			Consolidated
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	124,141		$	358,734		$	482,875
Restricted cash		35,258			32,089			67,347
Loans and investments, net		11,934,248			—			11,934,248
Loans held-for-sale, net		—			409,081			409,081
Capitalized mortgage servicing rights, net		—			340,842			340,842
Securities held-to-maturity, net		—			156,087			156,087
Investments in equity affiliates		57,966			—			57,966
Real estate owned, net		498,938			—			498,938
Goodwill and other intangible assets		12,500			74,053			86,553
Other assets and due from related party		382,735			78,231			460,966
Total assets	$	13,045,786		$	1,449,117		$	14,494,903
Liabilities:
Debt obligations	$	10,625,053		$	390,396		$	11,015,449
Allowance for loss-sharing obligations		—			97,579			97,579
Other liabilities and due to related party		241,873			72,849			314,722
Total liabilities	$	10,866,926		$	560,824		$	11,427,750

ARBOR REALTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Reconciliation of Distributable Earnings to GAAP Net Income - (Unaudited) ($ in thousands—except share and per share data)
	Quarter Ended December 31,								Year Ended December 31,
		2025				2024				2025				2024
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$	14,575			$	59,826			$	107,427			$	223,272
Adjustments:
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest		1,204				5,160				9,033				19,278
Income from mortgage servicing rights		(19,933	)			(13,344	)			(54,532	)			(51,272	)
Deferred tax provision (benefit)		7,305				(2,691	)			3,773				(11,613	)
Amortization and write-offs of MSRs		21,517				20,194				81,113				76,922
Depreciation and amortization		8,977				3,238				26,217				12,040
Loss on extinguishment of debt		601				—				2,919				412
Provision for credit losses, net		(17,701	)			2,199				9,872				65,537
(Gain) loss on derivative instruments, net		(118	)			4,535				(3,379	)			9,212
Loss on real estate		22,303				—				27,338				—
Stock-based compensation		2,505				2,485				13,789				14,232
Distributable earnings (1)	$	41,235			$	81,602			$	223,570			$	358,020
Diluted distributable earnings per share (1)	$	0.19			$	0.40			$	1.07			$	1.74
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (1) (2)		212,479,888				205,759,307				209,733,331				205,526,610

_{(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.}

_{(2) The diluted weighted average shares outstanding exclude the potential shares issuable upon conversion and settlement of the Company's convertible senior notes principal balance.}

The Company is presenting distributable earnings because management believes it is an important supplemental measure of the Company's operating performance and is useful to investors, analysts and other parties in the evaluation of REITs and their ability to provide dividends to stockholders. Dividends are one of the principal reasons investors invest in REITs. To maintain REIT status, REITs are required to distribute at least 90% of their REIT-taxable income. The Company considers distributable earnings in determining its quarterly dividend and believes that, over time, distributable earnings is a useful indicator of the Company's dividends per share.

The Company defines distributable 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 MSRs, amortization and write-offs of MSRs, gains/losses on derivative instruments primarily associated with Private Label loans not yet sold and securitized, changes in fair value of GSE-related derivatives that temporarily flow through earnings, deferred tax provision (benefit), CECL provisions for credit losses (adjusted for realized losses as described below) and gains/losses on the receipt of real estate from the settlement of loans (prior to the sale of the real estate). The Company also adds back one-time charges such as acquisition costs and one-time gains/losses on the early extinguishment of debt and redemption of preferred stock.

The Company reduces distributable earnings for realized losses in the period management determines that a loan is deemed nonrecoverable in whole or in part. Loans are deemed nonrecoverable upon the earlier of: (1) when the loan receivable is settled (i.e., when the loan is repaid, or in the case of foreclosure, when the underlying asset is sold); or (2) when management determines that it is nearly certain that all amounts due will not be collected. The realized loss amount is equal to the difference between the cash received, or expected to be received, and the book value of the asset.

Distributable earnings is not intended to be an indication of the Company's cash flows 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 distributable earnings may be different from the calculations used by other companies and, therefore, comparability may be limited.