Corporate finance

Dynex Capital executives say they are preparing for future challenges from artificial intelligence's application to refinancing.

Industry economists and analysts were predicting single digit quarter-to-quarter gains, but a trio of large banks had an over 30% rise in mortgage volume.

Consensus estimates and BTIG analyst Douglas Harter's volume prediction both put Rocket ahead of UWM for the period, but by how much is where the two are different.

The Aspire business reported $2.1 billion of lock volume, up 32% from the first quarter, but total production at the REIT fell to $8 billion from $8.5 billion.

A dividend cut is what some feel likely to be next for UWM, in order to reduce leverage levels which are well above competitors Rocket and Pennymac

KBW now rates UWM as outperform, and BTIG calls the stock a buy, but both cite high leverage levels and industry macro trends depressing its stock price.

Chair Travis Hill said the Silicon Valley Bank failure showed banks can't always sell securities fast enough to cover deposit outflows, but acknowledged the "stigma problem" with discount window borrowing remains unsolved.

Rithm and UWM Holdings are the favorite names among publicly traded lenders, while BTIG adds coverage of Better Home & Finance at a buy rating.

On a year-over-year comparison, title underwriters produced 15% more premiums in the first quarter, as mortgage rates briefly fell under 6% in February.

Balance sheet reduction is a top priority of new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh. Achieving that goal means avoiding the kinds of disruptions that roiled the Treasury bond market in 2019, the last time the central bank embarked on quantitative tightening.

Zachary Carpenter, tapped to take over as Farmer Mac CEO in March 2027, will now take over the position on July 1, with Bradford Nordholm as CEO emeritus.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said banks earned stronger profits and expanded lending in the first quarter of 2026, but at the same time margins shrank and unrealized losses have been increasing.

The real estate investment trust, while reporting a first quarter net loss, benefitted from growth and stable margins in its three mortgage production units.

On a dollar basis, mortgage bankers earned $53 more on each origination versus the fourth quarter, while servicing net income was $64 higher comparatively.

The four major underwriters had an increase in first quarter open orders versus the end of 2025 in spite of data showing the number of units produced declined.

The blockchain-backed loan marketplace said it sees interest for purchase mortgages coming from existing partners after it reported a profitable start to 2026.

Although posting lower volume than in the fourth quarter, all six active underwriters remained profitable, even with borrowers facing economic turbulence.

Lender and servicer Loandepot, reeling from a larger loss in the first quarter, could use the potential funds to cover daily operations or repay debt.

Rocket Cos. fell just $200 million short of United Wholesale Mortgage in Q1, as servicing recapture from its massive MSR portfolio fueled $44.7B in closed loan volume.

The lender says it's willing to "cut costs deeper" if macroeconomic conditions hinder it from reaching a breakeven adjusted EBITDA goal later this year.