Farmer Mac Reports First Quarter Financial Results

$16.2 Billion in Outstanding Business Volume; Core Earnings of $12.4 Million

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May 10, 2016, 08:00 ET

WASHINGTON, May 10, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (Farmer Mac; NYSE: AGM and AGM.A) today announced its results for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2016, which included $317 million in net new business volume growth that brought total outstanding business volume to $16.2 billion as of March 31, 2016. Farmer Mac's first quarter 2016 core earnings, a non-GAAP measure, were $12.4 million ($1.12 per diluted common share), compared to $13.1 million ($1.17 per diluted common share) in fourth quarter 2015 and $9.1 million ($0.80 per diluted common share) in first quarter 2015.

"Our financial results continue to be strong, and our credit quality remains good," said President and Chief Executive Officer Tim Buzby. "While certain segments of agriculture are facing their challenges, the overall business environment remains favorable for Farmer Mac. Our Institutional Credit business is growing nicely and we continue to expand our customer base for our AgVantage funding products, including a new Farm Equity AgVantage customer this quarter and more in the pipeline. Our Farm & Ranch loan purchase business is also making good strides, helped by our business development efforts as well as an increase in the demand for agricultural credit. As the agricultural economy continues to adjust to lower commodity prices and the West Coast drought, we expect credit quality to revert to more historic levels for Farmer Mac. However, we believe that this is a necessary and healthy adjustment for the market and that Farmer Mac is well positioned to deliver upon its mission as credit becomes somewhat tighter in agriculture. We believe that our financial outlook is strong and that we have good opportunities in front of us."

Earnings

Farmer Mac's net income attributable to common stockholders for first quarter 2016 was $10.3 million ($0.94 per diluted common share), compared to $1.8 million ($0.16 per diluted common share) for first quarter 2015. The increase in first quarter 2016 compared to first quarter 2015 was primarily attributable to the absence in first quarter 2016 of (1) an $8.1 million ($6.2 million after-tax) loss recorded in first quarter 2015 resulting from the write-off of deferred issuance costs upon the redemption of the Farmer Mac II LLC Preferred Stock on March 30, 2015 and (2) $3.5 million after-tax in dividend expense recorded during first quarter 2015 on the preferred stock. The increase was partially offset by the effects of unrealized fair value changes on financial derivatives and hedged assets, which was a $1.9 million after-tax loss in first quarter 2016, compared to a $0.6 million after-tax loss in first quarter 2015.

Core earnings in first quarter 2016 were $12.4 million ($1.12 per diluted common share), compared to $13.1 million ($1.17 per diluted common share) in fourth quarter 2015, and $9.1 million ($0.80 per diluted common share) in first quarter 2016. The $0.7 million sequential quarterly decrease in core earnings was primarily attributable to a $0.4 million after-tax increase in operating expenses. The increase in operating expenses was driven by higher stock compensation expense in first quarter 2016 resulting primarily from the annual vesting of stock-based awards and higher payroll taxes as well as higher general and administrative expenses driven by higher legal and consulting fees related to corporate strategic initiatives and general corporate matters. Farmer Mac also realized an increase in credit-related expenses of $0.1 million after-tax due to provisions to the allowance for losses in first quarter 2016 compared to releases in fourth quarter 2015. The year-over-year $3.3 million increase in core earnings was attributable to a $3.5 million after-tax decrease in preferred dividend expense resulting from the redemption of all outstanding shares of Farmer Mac II Preferred Stock in first quarter 2015, a $0.4 million after-tax increase in net effective spread, and an increase in guarantee fee income of $0.4 million after-tax. The increase was partially offset by (1) a $0.5 million after-tax increase in credit-related expenses due to provisions to the allowance for losses in first quarter 2016 compared to releases in first quarter 2015 and (2) a $0.5 million after-tax increase in operating expenses primarily due to legal fees, consulting fees, and information services expenses related to corporate strategic initiatives and general corporate matters.

See "Non-GAAP Earnings Measures" below for more information about core earnings and for a reconciliation of Farmer Mac's net income attributable to common stockholders to core earnings.

Business Volume Highlights

During first quarter 2016, Farmer Mac added $1.3 billion of new business volume, with AgVantage securities and Farm & Ranch loan purchases driving the volume growth. Specifically, Farmer Mac:

purchased $927.2 million of AgVantage securities, including $25.2 million in Farm Equity AgVantage securities;
purchased $198.5 million of newly originated Farm & Ranch loans;
purchased $95.3 million of USDA Securities;
added $68.0 million of Farm & Ranch loans under LTSPCs;
purchased $9.7 million of Rural Utilities loans; and
issued $3.6 million of Farmer Mac Guaranteed USDA Securities.

After $1.0 billion of maturities and principal paydowns on existing business during first quarter 2016, which included $589.8 million in scheduled maturities of AgVantage securities, Farmer Mac's outstanding business volume increased by $316.8 million from December 31, 2015 to $16.2 billion as of March 31, 2016. The increase in Farmer Mac's outstanding business volume was driven by portfolio growth in AgVantage securities, including the purchase of $250.0 million in AgVantage securities from the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation ("CFC") and purchases of $25.2 million under Farm Equity AgVantage facilities with agricultural real estate investment funds, including $9.7 million with a new counterparty. Farmer Mac's Farm & Ranch loan portfolio also grew this quarter despite the large amount of repayments resulting from the January 1 payment date on almost all loans in the portfolio.

Net Effective Spread

Farmer Mac's net effective spread was $29.9 million (82 basis points) in first quarter 2016, compared to $29.9 million (85 basis points) in fourth quarter 2015, and $29.3 million (86 basis points) in first quarter 2015. The decrease in percentage terms in first quarter 2016 compared to fourth quarter 2015 was primarily attributable to market increases in short-term LIBOR-based funding costs and a tighter spread on a large AgVantage security that was refinanced at a shorter maturity than the original security. In addition to the items previously mentioned, the decrease in net effective spread in percentage terms in first quarter 2016 compared to first quarter 2015 was also attributable to a decline in cash basis interest income received on non-accrual Farm & Ranch loans. The increase in dollar terms in first quarter 2016 compared to first quarter 2015 was primarily attributable to growth in outstanding business volume.

Credit Quality

Credit quality remained stable across Farmer Mac's four lines of business. In the Farm & Ranch portfolio, 90-day delinquencies were $34.7 million (0.61 percent of the Farm & Ranch portfolio) as of March 31, 2016, compared to $32.1 million (0.56 percent) as of December 31, 2015, and $32.1 million (0.60 percent) as of March 31, 2015. Farmer Mac expects that over time its 90-day delinquency rate will eventually revert closer to Farmer Mac's historical averages due to macroeconomic and other potential factors, but Farmer Mac has not yet seen an impact on its portfolio or a rise in delinquencies related to these factors. Farmer Mac's average 90-day delinquency rate for the Farm & Ranch line of business over the last fifteen years has been approximately one percent.

For Farmer Mac's other lines of business, there are currently no delinquent AgVantage securities or Rural Utilities loans held or underlying LTSPCs, and USDA Securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. As a result, across all of Farmer Mac's lines of business, 90-day delinquencies represented 0.21 percent of total business volume as of March 31, 2016, compared to 0.20 percent as of December 31, 2015, and 0.22 percent as of March 31, 2015.

The western part of the United States, and in particular California, continues to experience the effects of drought conditions. The persistence of drought conditions in the western states could have an adverse effect on Farmer Mac's delinquency rates or loss experience in the future; however, Farmer Mac has not observed any material effect on its portfolio from the drought through March 31, 2016. Farmer Mac continues to remain informed about the drought and its effects on the agricultural industries located in the western states and on Farmer Mac's Farm & Ranch portfolio through regular discussions with its loan servicers that service loans in drought-stricken areas, as well as customers and other lenders in the industry.

Lines of Business

Farmer Mac's operations consist of four lines of business – Farm & Ranch, USDA Guarantees, Rural Utilities, and Institutional Credit. Net effective spread by business segment for first quarter 2016 was $9.5 million (171 basis points) for Farm & Ranch, $4.3 million (91 basis points) for USDA Guarantees, $2.5 million (102 basis points) for Rural Utilities, and $11.1 million (80 basis points) for Institutional Credit.

Liquidity and Capital

Farmer Mac's core capital totaled $562.7 million as of March 31, 2016, exceeding the statutory minimum capital requirement by $84.9 million, or 18 percent, compared to $564.5 million as of December 31, 2015, which was $102.4 million, or 22 percent, above the statutory minimum capital requirement. The decrease in core capital above the statutory minimum requirement primarily resulted from an increase in minimum capital required to support the growth of on-balance sheet assets during the quarter.

As of March 31, 2016, Farmer Mac's total stockholders' equity was $543.8 million, compared to $553.5 million as of December 31, 2015. The decrease in total stockholders' equity was primarily attributable to a decrease in accumulated other comprehensive income due to decreases in fair value of available-for-sale floating rate AgVantage securities and cash flow hedges. The decrease in the fair value of available-for-sale floating rate AgVantage securities was driven primarily by a flattening of the yield curve as of March 31, 2016 compared to December 31, 2015. The decrease in the fair value of cash flow hedges was driven primarily by lower long-term market interest rates as of March 31, 2016 compared to December 31, 2015.

On September 8, 2015, Farmer Mac's board of directors approved a share repurchase program, which authorized Farmer Mac to repurchase up to $25 million of its outstanding Class C non-voting common stock through September 2017. As of March 31, 2016, Farmer Mac had repurchased approximately 668,000 shares at a cost of approximately $19.6 million.

As prescribed by FCA regulations, Farmer Mac is required to maintain a minimum of 90 days of liquidity. In accordance with the methodology prescribed by those regulations, Farmer Mac maintained an average of 172 days of liquidity during first quarter 2016 and had 178 days of liquidity as of March 31, 2016.

Non-GAAP Earnings Measure

Farmer Mac uses core earnings to measure corporate economic performance and develop financial plans because, in management's view, core earnings is a useful alternative measure in understanding Farmer Mac's economic performance, transaction economics, and business trends. Core earnings principally differs from net income attributable to common stockholders by excluding the effects of fair value fluctuations, which are not expected to have a cumulative net impact on financial condition or results of operations reported in accordance with GAAP if the related financial instruments are held to maturity, as is generally expected. Core earnings also differs from net income attributable to common stockholders by excluding specified infrequent or unusual transactions that Farmer Mac believes are not indicative of future operating results and that may not reflect the trends and economic financial performance of Farmer Mac's core business.

This non-GAAP financial measure may not be comparable to similarly labeled non-GAAP financial measures disclosed by other companies. Farmer Mac's disclosure of this non-GAAP measure is intended to be supplemental in nature, and is not meant to be considered in isolation from, as a substitute for, or as more important than, the related financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP.

A reconciliation of Farmer Mac's net income attributable to common stockholders to core earnings is presented in the following table along with a breakdown of the composition of core earnings:

Reconciliation of Net Income Attributable to Common Stockholders to Core Earnings
			For the Three Months Ended
			March 31, 2016		December 31, 2015		March 31, 2015
			(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Net income attributable to common stockholders			$	10,317	$	15,032	$	1,818
Less the after-tax effects of:
	Unrealized (losses)/gains on financial derivatives and hedging activities			(1,943)		1,784		(582)
	Unrealized gains on trading securities			233		452		236
	Amortization of premiums/discounts and deferred gains on assets consolidated at fair value			(183)		(171)		(529)
	Net effects of settlements on agency forward contracts			(165)		(106)		(164)
	Loss on retirement of Farmer Mac II LLC Preferred Stock⁽¹⁾			-		-		(6,246)
		Sub-total		(2,058)		1,959		(7,285)
Core earnings			$	12,375	$	13,073	$	9,103

Composition of Core Earnings:
Revenues:
	Net effective spread⁽²⁾		$	29,949	$	29,949	$	29,257
	Guarantee and commitment fees⁽³⁾			4,669		4,730		4,012
	Other⁽⁴⁾			(517)		(284)		(405)
		Total revenues		34,101		34,395		32,864

Credit related expense/(income) (GAAP):
	Provision for/(release of) losses			63		(49)		(696)
	REO operating expenses			39		44		(1)
	Losses on sale of REO			-		-		1
		Total credit related expense/(income)		102		(5)		(696)

Operating expenses (GAAP):
	Compensation & employee benefits			5,774		5,385		5,693
	General & Administrative			3,526		3,238		2,823
	Regulatory fees			613		613		600
		Total operating expenses		9,913		9,236		9,116

		Net earnings		24,086		25,164		24,444
	Income tax expense⁽⁵⁾			8,444		8,855		6,692
	Net (loss)/income attributable to non-controlling interest (GAAP)			(28)		(60)		5,354
	Preferred stock dividends (GAAP)			3,295		3,296		3,295
		Core earnings	$	12,375	$	13,073	$	9,103

Core earnings per share:
	Basic		$	1.18	$	1.21	$	0.83
	Diluted			1.12		1.17		0.80

⁽¹⁾

Relates to the write-off of deferred issuance costs as a result of the retirement of Farmer Mac II LLC Preferred Stock.

⁽²⁾

Includes reconciling adjustments to exclude amortization of premiums and discounts on assets consolidated at fair value to reflect core earnings amounts. Also includes reconciling adjustments to include the reclassification of expenses related to interest rate swaps not designated as hedges.

⁽³⁾

Includes interest income and interest expense related to consolidated trusts owned by third parties reclassified from interest income and interest expense to guarantee and commitment fees to reflect that the net interest income Farmer Mac earns is effectively a guarantee fee on the consolidated Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities.

⁽⁴⁾

Reflects reconciling adjustments for the reclassification to exclude expenses related to interest rate swaps not designated as hedges and fair value adjustments on financial derivatives and trading assets and a reconciling adjustment to exclude the recognition of deferred gains over the estimated lives of certain Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Securities.

⁽⁵⁾

Includes the tax impact of non-GAAP reconciling items between net income attributable to common stockholders and core earnings because those non-GAAP reconciling items are presented after tax.

More complete information about Farmer Mac's performance for first quarter 2016 is set forth in Farmer Mac's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2016 filed today with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").

Forward-Looking Statements

Management's expectations for Farmer Mac's future necessarily involve a number of assumptions and estimates and the evaluation of risks and uncertainties. Various factors or events, both known and unknown, could cause Farmer Mac's actual results to differ materially from the expectations as expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements herein, including uncertainties regarding:

the availability to Farmer Mac of debt and equity financing and, if available, the reasonableness of rates and terms;
legislative or regulatory developments that could affect Farmer Mac, its sources of business, or the agricultural sector or the rural utilities industry;
fluctuations in the fair value of assets held by Farmer Mac and its subsidiaries;
the rate and direction of development of the secondary market for agricultural mortgage and rural utilities loans, including lender interest in Farmer Mac credit products and the secondary market provided by Farmer Mac;
the general rate of growth in agricultural mortgage and rural utilities indebtedness;
the impact of economic conditions, including the effects of drought and other weather-related conditions and fluctuations in agricultural real estate values, on agricultural mortgage lending and borrower repayment capacity;
developments in the financial markets, including possible investor, analyst, and rating agency reactions to events involving government-sponsored enterprises, including Farmer Mac;
changes in the level and direction of interest rates, which could, among other things, affect the value of collateral securing Farmer Mac's agricultural mortgage loan assets;
the degree to which Farmer Mac is exposed to basis risk, which results from fluctuations in Farmer Mac's borrowing costs relative to market indexes such as LIBOR; and
volatility in commodity prices relative to costs of production and/or export demand for U.S. agricultural products.

Other risk factors are discussed in "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item 1A in Farmer Mac's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed with the SEC on March 10, 2016 and in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 filed with the SEC earlier today. In light of these potential risks and uncertainties, no undue reliance should be placed on any forward-looking statements expressed in this release. The forward-looking statements contained in this release represent management's expectations as of the date of this release. Farmer Mac undertakes no obligation to release publicly the results of revisions to any forward-looking statements included in this release to reflect new information or any future events or circumstances, except as otherwise mandated by the SEC. The information contained in this release is not necessarily indicative of future results.

Earnings Conference Call Information

The conference call to discuss Farmer Mac's first quarter 2016 financial results will be held beginning at 11:00 a.m. eastern time on Tuesday, May 10, 2016 and can be accessed by telephone or live webcast as follows:

Telephone (Domestic): (888) 346-2616

Telephone (International): (412) 902-4254

Webcast: https://www.farmermac.com/investors/events-presentations/

When dialing in to the call, please ask for the conference chairman Tim Buzby. The call can be heard live and will also be available for replay on Farmer Mac's website at the link provided above for two weeks following the conclusion of the call.

About Farmer Mac

Farmer Mac is the stockholder-owned company created to deliver capital and increase lender competition for the benefit of American agriculture and rural communities. Additional information about Farmer Mac (including the Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q referenced above) is available on Farmer Mac's website at www.farmermac.com.

FEDERAL AGRICULTURAL MORTGAGE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS *(unaudited)*

						As of
						March 31,		December 31,
						2016		2015
						(in thousands)
Assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents					$	1,729,563	$	1,210,084
	Investment securities
		Available-for-sale, at fair value					2,452,582		2,775,025
		Trading, at fair value					383		491
			Total investment securities				2,452,965		2,775,516
	Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
		Available-for-sale, at fair value					4,565,504		4,152,605
		Held-to-maturity, at amortized cost					1,207,349		1,274,016
			Total Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities				5,772,853		5,426,621
	USDA Securities
		Available-for-sale, at fair value					1,908,014		1,888,344
		Trading, at fair value					26,869		28,975
			Total USDA Securities				1,934,883		1,917,319
	Loans:
		Loans held for investment, at amortized cost					3,204,452		3,258,413
		Loans held for investment in consolidated trusts, at amortized cost					816,267		708,111
		Allowance for loan losses					(4,529)		(4,480)
			Total loans, net of allowance				4,016,190		3,962,044
	Real estate owned, at lower of cost or fair value						1,330		1,369
	Financial derivatives, at fair value						7,034		3,816
	Interest receivable (includes $5,270 and $7,938, respectively, related to consolidated trusts)						75,067		112,700
	Guarantee and commitment fees receivable						39,389		40,189
	Deferred tax asset, net						47,236		42,916
	Prepaid expenses and other assets						79,518		47,780
				Total Assets		$	16,156,028	$	15,540,354

Liabilities and Equity:
Liabilities:
	Notes Payable:
		Due within one year				$	9,322,682	$	9,111,461
		Due after one year					5,264,695		4,967,036
			Total notes payable				14,587,377		14,078,497
	Debt securities of consolidated trusts held by third parties						816,435		713,536
	Financial derivatives, at fair value						117,956		77,199
	Accrued interest payable (includes $4,244 and $6,705, respectively, related to consolidated trusts)						38,152		47,621
	Guarantee and commitment obligation						37,540		38,609
	Accounts payable and accrued expenses						12,455		29,089
	Reserve for losses						2,097		2,083
				Total Liabilities			15,612,012		14,986,634
Commitments and Contingencies
Equity:
	Preferred stock:
		Series A, par value $25 per share, 2,400,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding					58,333		58,333
		Series B, par value $25 per share, 3,000,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding					73,044		73,044
		Series C, par value $25 per share, 3,000,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding					73,382		73,382
	Common stock:
		Class A Voting, $1 par value, no maximum authorization, 1,030,780 shares outstanding					1,031		1,031
		Class B Voting, $1 par value, no maximum authorization, 500,301 shares outstanding					500		500
		Class C Non-Voting, $1 par value, no maximum authorization, 8,919,730 shares and 9,155,661 shares outstanding, respectively					8,920		9,156
	Additional paid-in capital						117,434		117,862
	Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax						(18,917)		(11,019)
	Retained earnings						230,062		231,228
				Total Stockholders' Equity			543,789		553,517
	Non-controlling interest						227		203
				Total Equity			544,016		553,720
					Total Liabilities and Equity	$	16,156,028	$	15,540,354

FEDERAL AGRICULTURAL MORTGAGE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS *(unaudited)*

			For the Three Months Ended
			March 31, 2016		March 31, 2015
			(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Interest income:
	Investments and cash equivalents		$	6,681	$	2,865
	Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Securities			35,510		33,122
	Loans			31,700		27,964
		Total interest income		73,891		63,951
	Total interest expense			40,251		33,162
		Net interest income		33,640		30,789
	Provision for loan losses			(49)		(76)
		Net interest income after provision for loan losses		33,591		30,713
Non-interest (loss)/income:
	Guarantee and commitment fees			3,626		3,377
	Losses on financial derivatives and hedging activities			(6,782)		(3,882)
	Gains on trading securities			358		362
	(Losses)/gains on sale of available-for-sale investment securities			(9)		6
	Losses on sale of real estate owned			-		(1)
	Other income			101		613
		Non-interest (loss)/income		(2,706)		475
Non-interest expense:
	Compensation and employee benefits			5,774		5,693
	General and administrative			3,526		2,823
	Regulatory fees			613		600
	Real estate owned operating costs, net			39		(1)
	Provision for/(release of) reserve for losses			14		(772)
		Non-interest expense		9,966		8,343
		Income before income taxes		20,919		22,845
Income tax expense				7,335		4,231
		Net income		13,584		18,614
Less: Net loss/(income) attributable to non-controlling interest				28		(5,354)
	Net income attributable to Farmer Mac			13,612		13,260
Preferred stock dividends				(3,295)		(3,295)
Loss on retirement of preferred stock				-		(8,147)
		Net income attributable to common stockholders	$	10,317	$	1,818

Earnings per common share and dividends:
		Basic earnings per common share	$	0.99	$	0.17
		Diluted earnings per common share	$	0.94	$	0.16
		Common stock dividends per common share	$	0.26	$	0.16

The following table sets forth information regarding outstanding volume in each of Farmer Mac's four lines of business as of the dates indicated:

Lines of Business - Outstanding Business Volume
					As of March 31, 2016		As of December 31, 2015
					(in thousands)
On-balance sheet:
	Farm & Ranch:
		Loans			$	2,206,191	$	2,249,864
		Loans held in trusts:
			Beneficial interests owned by third party investors			816,267		708,111
	USDA Guarantees:
		USDA Securities				1,885,276		1,876,451
		Farmer Mac Guaranteed USDA Securities				31,038		31,554
	Rural Utilities:
		Loans				991,851		1,008,126
	Institutional Credit:
		AgVantage Securities				5,776,755		5,439,383
			Total on-balance sheet		$	11,707,378	$	11,313,489
Off-balance sheet:
	Farm & Ranch:
		LTSPCs			$	2,206,029	$	2,253,273
		Guaranteed Securities				485,302		514,051
	USDA Guarantees:
		Farmer Mac Guaranteed USDA Securities				13,268		10,272
	Rural Utilities:
	LTSPCs⁽¹⁾					518,724		522,864
	Institutional Credit:
		AgVantage Securities				984,871		984,871
		Revolving floating rate AgVantage facility⁽²⁾				300,000		300,000
			Total off-balance sheet		$	4,508,194	$	4,585,331
				Total	$	16,215,572	$	15,898,820

⁽¹⁾											Includes $8.8 million related to a one-year loan purchase commitment on which Farmer Mac receives a nominal unused commitment fee as of both March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.
⁽²⁾											As of both March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, this facility had not been utilized. Farmer Mac receives a fixed fee based on the full dollar amount of the facility. If the counterparty draws on the facility, the amounts drawn will be presented as AgVantage Securities, and Farmer Mac will earn interest income on those securities.

The following table presents the quarterly net effective spread by segment:

		Net Effective Spread by Line of Business
		Farm & Ranch				USDA Guarantees				Rural Utilities				Institutional Credit				Corporate				Net Effective Spread
		Dollars		Yield		Dollars		Yield		Dollars		Yield		Dollars		Yield		Dollars		Yield		Dollars		Yield
		(dollars in thousands)
For the quarter ended:
	March 31, 2016	$	9,461	1.71	%	$	4,308	0.91	%	$	2,538	1.02	%	$	11,090	0.80	%	$	2,552	0.26	%	$	29,949	0.82	%
	December 31, 2015		9,381	1.72	%		4,518	0.96	%		2,845	1.14	%		10,899	0.80	%		2,306	0.26	%		29,949	0.85	%
	September 30, 2015		9,628	1.80	%		4,630	0.99	%		2,907	1.18	%		11,271	0.81	%		1,951	0.25	%		30,387	0.88	%
	June 30, 2015		9,681	1.82	%		4,466	0.98	%		2,838	1.18	%		10,860	0.78	%		1,942	0.25	%		29,787	0.88	%
	March 31, 2015⁽¹⁾		10,114	1.97	%		4,225	0.95	%		2,804	1.15	%		10,425	0.77	%		1,689	0.20	%		29,257	0.86	%
	December 31, 2014⁽²⁾		8,682	1.71	%		5,250	1.19	%		2,908	1.18	%		9,870	0.78	%		1,732	0.26	%		28,442	0.91	%
	September 30, 2014		8,207	1.68	%		5,073	1.18	%		2,890	1.16	%		9,823	0.78	%		3,773	0.59	%		29,766	0.97	%
	June 30, 2014		7,820	1.64	%		4,159	0.99	%		2,953	1.16	%		9,957	0.78	%		4,160	0.57	%		29,049	0.92	%
	March 31, 2014⁽³⁾		7,114	1.53	%		3,784	0.91	%		1,990	0.73	%		9,406	0.74	%		4,142	0.56	%		26,436	0.84	%

⁽¹⁾

Beginning in first quarter 2015, Farmer Mac revised its methodology for interest expense allocation among the Farm & Ranch, USDA Guarantees, and Rural Utilities lines of business. As a result of this revision, a greater percentage of interest expense has been allocated to the longer-term assets included within the USDA Guarantees and Rural Utilities lines of business. Net effective spread for periods prior to the quarter ended March 31, 2015 does not reflect this revision.

⁽²⁾

On October 1, 2014, $78.5 million of preferred stock issued by CoBank was called, resulting in a loss of net effective spread of $2.1 million or 30 basis points in the corporate segment. The impact on consolidated net effective spread was 7 basis points.

⁽³⁾

First quarter 2014 includes the impact of spread compression in the Rural Utilities line of business from the early refinancing of loans (41 basis points).

The following table presents quarterly core earnings reconciled to net income attributable to common stockholders:

Core Earnings by Quarter Ended
				March 2016		December 2015		September 2015		June 2015		March 2015		December 2014		September 2014		June 2014		March 2014
				(in thousands)
Revenues:
	Net effective spread			$	29,949	$	29,949	$	30,387	$	29,787	$	29,257	$	28,442	$	29,766	$	29,049	$	26,436
	Guarantee and commitment fees				4,669		4,730		4,328		4,085		4,012		4,097		4,152		4,216		4,315
	Other⁽¹⁾				(517)		(284)		(93)		(24)		(405)		(1,285)		(2,001)		(520)		(410)
		Total revenues			34,101		34,395		34,622		33,848		32,864		31,254		31,917		32,745		30,341

Credit related expense/(income):
	Provision for/(release of) losses				63		(49)		(303)		1,256		(696)		(479)		(804)		(2,557)		674
	REO operating expenses				39		44		48		-		(1)		48		1		59		2
	Losses/(gains) on sale of REO				-		-		-		-		1		28		-		(168)		3
		Total credit related expense/(income)			102		(5)		(255)		1,256		(696)		(403)		(803)		(2,666)		679

Operating expenses:
	Compensation and employee benefits				5,774		5,385		5,236		5,733		5,693		4,971		4,693		4,889		4,456
	General and administrative				3,526		3,238		3,676		3,374		2,823		2,992		3,123		3,288		2,794
	Regulatory fees				613		613		600		600		600		600		593		594		594
		Total operating expenses			9,913		9,236		9,512		9,707		9,116		8,563		8,409		8,771		7,844

		Net earnings			24,086		25,164		25,365		22,885		24,444		23,094		24,311		26,640		21,818
Income tax expense/(benefit)⁽²⁾					8,444		8,855		8,924		8,091		6,692		4,858		6,327		(4,734)		4,334
Net (loss)/income attributable to non-controlling interest					(28)		(60)		(36)		(119)		5,354		5,414		5,412		5,819		5,547
Preferred stock dividends					3,295		3,296		3,295		3,296		3,295		3,296		3,283		2,308		952
		Core earnings		$	12,375	$	13,073	$	13,182	$	11,617	$	9,103	$	9,526	$	9,289	$	23,247	$	10,985

Reconciling items (after-tax effects):
		Unrealized (losses)/gains on financial derivatives and hedging activities			(1,943)		1,784		(4,489)		10,388		(582)		(3,717)		2,685		(3,053)		(2,395)
		Unrealized gains/(losses) on trading assets			233		452		(5)		110		236		679		(21)		(46)		426
		Amortization of premiums/discounts and deferred gains on assets consolidated at fair value			(183)		(171)		(76)		(81)		(529)		(811)		(440)		(179)		(8,027)
		Net effects of settlements on agency forwards			(165)		(106)		(253)		128		(164)		(30)		73		236		(176)
		Loss on retirement of Farmer Mac II LLC Preferred Stock			-		-		-		-		(6,246)		-		-		-		-
			Net income attributable to common stockholders	$	10,317	$	15,032	$	8,359	$	22,162	$	1,818	$	5,647	$	11,586	$	20,205	$	813

⁽¹⁾

Fourth quarter 2014 and third quarter 2014 include $13.6 million and $17.9 million, respectively, of interest expense related to securities purchased under agreements to resell and securities sold, not yet purchased and $12.8 million and $16.4 million, respectively of gains on securities sold, not yet purchased.

⁽²⁾

Fourth quarter 2014 and second quarter 2014 reflect a reduction of $1.4 million and $11.6 million, respectively, in the tax valuation allowance against capital loss carryforwards related to capital gains on securities sold, not yet purchased. First quarter 2014 and fourth quarter 2013 reflect a reduction in tax valuation allowance of $0.8 million and $2.1 million, respectively, associated with certain gains on investment portfolio assets.

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SOURCE Farmer Mac