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Annaly Capital Management, Inc. Reports 4th Quarter 2008 Core EPS of $0.47 and Core EPS for the Year of $2.20; Income Statement Reflects Change in Treatment of Interest Rate Swaps

an-er 04 Feb 2009
Annaly Capital Management, Inc. Reports 4th Quarter 2008 Core EPS of $0.47 and Core EPS for the Year of $2.20; Income Statement Reflects Change in Treatment of Interest Rate Swaps
Company Release - 02/04/2009 16:12

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (NYSE: NLY) today reported Core Earnings for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 of $261.8 million or $0.47 per average share available to common shareholders as compared to Core Earnings of $151.1 million or $0.37 per average share available to common shareholders for the quarter ended December 31, 2007, and Core Earnings of $335.0 million or $0.61 per average share available to common shareholders for the quarter ended September 30, 2008. The Company reported Core Earnings for the year ended December 31, 2008 of $1.1 billion or $2.20 per average share available to common shareholders as compared to Core Earnings of $394.4 million or $1.25 per average share available to common shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2007. "Core Earnings" represents a non-GAAP measure and is defined as net income (loss) excluding impairment losses, gains or losses on sales of securities and termination of interest rate swaps and unrealized gain or loss on interest rate swaps

As previously announced, beginning in the fourth quarter of 2008 the Company will no longer apply hedge accounting to its interest rate swaps under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities". As a result, unrealized gains and losses on interest rate swaps will be reported in earnings for GAAP net income. In the quarter ended December 31, 2008, the Company recorded an unrealized loss on interest rate swaps of $768.3 million. The Company continues to designate its interest rate swaps as hedges for tax purposes and any unrealized gains or losses should not affect its distributable net income. On a GAAP basis, net loss for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 was $507.0 million or $0.95 basic net loss per average share related to common shareholders, as compared to net income of $152.9 million or $0.38 basic net income per average share available to common shareholders for the quarter ended December 31, 2007, and net income of $302.1 million or $0.55 basic net income per average share available to common shareholders for the quarter ended September 30, 2008. On a GAAP basis, the net income for the year ended December 31, 2008 was $346.2 million or $0.64 basic net income per average share available to common shareholders, as compared to net income of $414.4 million or $1.32 basic net income per average share available to common shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2007.

During the quarter ended December 31, 2008, the Company sold $4.3 billion of Mortgage-Backed Securities, resulting in a realized loss of $468,000. During the quarter ended December 31, 2007, the Company sold $549.4 million of Mortgage-Backed Securities, resulting in a realized gain of $1.8 million. During the quarter ended September 30, 2008, the Company sold $4.8 billion of Mortgage-Backed Securities, resulting in a realized loss of $1.1 million. During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company sold $15.1 billion of Mortgage-Backed Securities, resulting in a realized gain of $10.7 million. During the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company sold $4.9 billion of Mortgage-Backed Securities, resulting in a realized gain of $19.1 million. In addition, for the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company had a $2.1 million gain on the termination of interest rate swaps with a notional amount of $900.0 million.

Common dividends declared for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 were $0.50 per share, as compared to $0.34 per share for the quarter ended December 31, 2007 and $0.55 per share for the quarter ended September 30, 2008. The annualized dividend yield on the Company's common stock for the quarter ended December 31, 2008, based on the December 31, 2008 closing price of $15.87, was 12.60%. Common dividends declared for the year ended December 31, 2008 were $2.08 per share, as compared to $1.04 per share for the year ended December 31, 2007. On a Core Earnings basis, the Company provided an annualized return on average equity of 14.52% for the quarter ended December 31, 2008, as compared to 12.92% for the quarter ended December 31, 2007 and 18.55% for the quarter ended September 30, 2008. On a GAAP basis, the Company provided an annualized loss on average equity of 28.12% for the quarter ended December 31, 2008, as compared to an annualized return on average equity of 13.07% for the quarter ended December 31, 2007, and 16.73% for the quarter ended September 30, 2008. On a Core Earnings basis, the Company provided a return on average equity of 17.00% for the year ended December 31, 2008, as compared to 10.63% for the year ended December 31, 2007. On a GAAP basis, the Company provided a return on average equity of 5.18% for the year ended December 31, 2008, as compared to 11.17% for the year ended December 31, 2007.

Michael A.J. Farrell, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Annaly, commented on the Company's results. "On behalf of our shareholders, I want to thank my colleagues and staff for the tremendous job guiding our Company through 2008, a year that will go down in history as one of the most tumultuous and game-changing periods in the global financial markets. Looking ahead, while 2009 will likely see more uncertainty and volatility, we believe the continued conservative management of our portfolio will position us to take advantage of opportunities that arise in this environment."

For the quarter ended December 31, 2008, the annualized yield on average earning assets was 5.50% and the annualized cost of funds on the average repurchase balance was 3.79%, which results in an interest rate spread of 1.71%. This is an 83 basis point increase over the 0.88% annualized interest rate spread for the quarter ended December 31, 2007 and a 37 basis point decrease over the 2.08% annualized interest rate spread for the quarter ended September 30, 2008. For the quarter ended December 31, 2007, the annualized yield on average earning assets was 5.81% and the annualized cost of funds on the average repurchase balance was 4.93%. For the quarter ended September 30, 2008, the annualized yield on average earning assets was 5.62% and the annualized cost of funds on the average repurchase balance was 3.54%. At December 31, 2008, the weighted average yield on assets was 5.03% and the cost of funds, including the effect of interest rate swaps, was 4.08%, which results in an interest rate spread of 0.95%. Leverage at December 31, 2008 was 6.4:1, in comparison to 8.7:1 at December 31, 2007 and 7.2:1 at September 30, 2008.

Fixed-rate securities comprised 64% of the Company's portfolio at December 31, 2008. The balance of the portfolio was comprised of 28% adjustable-rate mortgages and 8% LIBOR floating-rate collateralized mortgage obligations. At December 31, 2008, the Company had entered into interest rate swaps with a notional amount of $17.6 billion, or 32% of the portfolio. The purpose of the swaps is to mitigate the risk of rising interest rates that affect the Company's cost of funds. Since the Company will be receiving a floating rate on the notional amount of the swaps, the effect of the swaps is to lock in a spread relative to the cost of financing. As of December 31, 2008, all of the Company's Investment Securities were FNMA, FHLMC and GNMA mortgage-backed securities and Agency debentures, which carry an actual or implied "AAA" rating.

"Our team remains focused on managing the risks to which we are exposed in our strategy, evaluating the opportunities in our market and assessing the possible outcomes of evolving policy decisions," said Wellington Denahan-Norris, Annaly's Vice Chairman, Chief Investment Officer and Chief Operating Officer. "We believe our prudent use of leverage and the balanced composition of our portfolio of Agency assets puts us in good position to perform during this period. After taking into account the effect of interest rate swaps, at December 31, 2008 our portfolio of Investment Securities was comprised of 32% fixed-rate, 28% adjustable-rate and 40% floating-rate assets."

The following table summarizes portfolio information for the Company:


                                       December 31,  December 31,  September 30,

                                       2008          2007          2008

Leverage at period-end                 6.4:1         8.7:1         7.2:1

Fixed-rate investment securities as %  64%           71%           65%
of portfolio

Adjustable-rate investment securities  28%           21%           27%
as % of portfolio

Floating-rate investment securities    8%            8%            8%
as % of portfolio

Notional amount of interest rate       32%           31%           33%
swaps as % of portfolio

Annualized yield on average earning    5.50%         5.81%         5.62%
assets during the quarter

Annualized cost of funds on average    3.79%         4.93%         3.54%
repurchase balance during the quarter

Annualized interest rate spread        1.71%         0.88%         2.08%
during the quarter

Weighted average yield on assets at    5.03%         5.75%         5.27%
period-end

Weighted average cost of funds at      4.08%         4.76%         3.59%
period-end

Interest rate spread at period-end     0.95%         0.99%         1.68%

Weighted average receive rate on       1.18%         5.06%         2.69%
interest rate swaps at period-end

Weighted average pay rate on interest  4.66%         5.03%         4.70%
rate swaps at period-end



The Constant Prepayment Rate was 10% during the fourth quarter of 2008, as compared to 12% during the fourth quarter of 2007, and 11% during the third quarter of 2008. The weighted average cost basis of the Company's Investment Securities was 101.1 at December 31, 2008. The net amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts on Investment Securities for the quarters ended December 31, 2008, December 31, 2007 and September 30, 2008 was $26.8 million, $16.2 million, and $18.7 million, respectively. The total net premium remaining unamortized at December 31, 2008, December 31, 2007 and September 30, 2008 was $555.0 million, $328.4 million, and $525.4 million, respectively.

General and administrative expenses as a percentage of average assets were 0.18%, 0.16% and 0.17% for the quarters ended December 31, 2008, December 31, 2007, and September 30, 2008, respectively. At December 31, 2008, December 31, 2007, and September 30, 2008, the Company had a common stock book value per share of $12.94, $12.51 and $12.70, respectively.

During the quarter, Annaly completed the previously announced transaction to acquire Merganser Capital Management LP. Merganser is a Boston-based institutional fixed income manager which, at December 31, 2008, had $4.6 billion in assets under management. Subsequent to quarter end, Annaly's newly-formed subsidiary which will operate as a broker-dealer was granted membership in the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).

At December 31, 2008, Annaly's wholly-owned registered investment advisors had under management approximately $7.0 billion in net assets and $15.3 billion in gross assets, as compared to $3.1 billion in net assets and $15.4 billion in gross assets at December 31, 2007 and $2.4 billion in net assets and $10.5 billion in gross assets at September 30, 2008. For the quarter ended December 31, 2008, the investment advisors earned investment advisory and service fees, net of fees paid to distributors, of $6.9 million, as compared to $4.9 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2007 and $7.4 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2008.

Annaly manages assets on behalf of institutional and individual investors worldwide. The Company's principal business objective is to generate net income for distribution to investors from its Investment Securities and from its subsidiaries. Annaly is a Maryland corporation that has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust ("REIT"), and currently has 544,280,475 shares of common stock outstanding.

The Company will hold the fourth quarter 2008 earnings conference call on February 5, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. EST. The number to call is 800-638-5439 for domestic calls and 617-614-3945 for international calls and the pass code is 72730916. The replay number is 888-286-8010 for domestic calls and 617-801-6888 for international calls and the pass code is 30806332. The replay is available for 48 hours after the earnings call. There will be a web cast of the call on www.annaly.com. If you would like to be added to the e-mail distribution list, please visit www.annaly.com, click on E-Mail alerts, enter your e-mail address where indicated and click the Subscribe button.

This news release and our public documents to which we refer contain or incorporate by reference certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements which are based on various assumptions (some of which are beyond our control) may be identified by reference to a future period or periods or by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as "may," "will," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "continue," or similar terms or variations on those terms or the negative of those terms. Actual results could differ materially from those set forth in forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, changes in interest rates, changes in the yield curve, changes in prepayment rates, the availability of mortgage-backed securities for purchase, the availability of financing and, if available, the terms of any financing, changes in the market value of our assets, changes in business conditions and the general economy, changes in government regulations affecting our business, our ability to maintain our qualification as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, risk associated with the broker-dealer business of our subsidiary, and risks associated with the investment advisory business of our subsidiaries, including the removal by clients of assets they manage, their regulatory requirements and competition in the investment advisory business. For a discussion of the risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We do not undertake, and specifically disclaim any obligation, to publicly release the result of any revisions which may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements.


ANNALY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

(dollars in thousands)

                    December 31,    September 30,   June 30,        March 31,       December 31,
                    2008            2008            2008            2008            2007(1)
                    (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)

ASSETS

Cash and cash       $ 909,353       $ 1,083,814     $ 1,462,737     $ 1,549,041     $ 103,960
equivalents

Reverse repurchase    562,119         619,657         49,964          800,000         -
agreements

Mortgage-Backed
Securities, at        55,046,995      54,840,928      58,017,305      56,115,025      52,879,528
fair value

Agency debentures,    598,945         618,352         731,995         738,837         253,915
at fair value

Available-for-sale
equity securities,    52,795          22,490          32,631          44,546          64,754
at fair value

Trading
securities, at        -               2,199           23,478          1,836           11,675
fair value

Receivable for
Mortgage-Backed       75,546          2,446,342       824,308         174,413         276,737
Securities sold

Accrued interest
and dividends         282,532         295,925         303,228         287,261         271,996
receivable

Receivable from
prime broker on       16,886          -               -               -               -
equity investment
(2)

Receivable for
advisory and          6,103           3,581           4,703           4,581           3,598
service fees

Intangible for
customer              12,380          6,726           7,604           8,840           9,842
relationships

Goodwill              27,917          22,966          22,966          22,966          22,966

Other assets          6,044           2,602           3,216           4,347           4,543

Total assets        $ 57,597,615    $ 59,965,582    $ 61,484,135    $ 59,751,693    $ 53,903,514

LIABILITIES AND
STOCKHOLDERS'
EQUITY

Liabilities:

Repurchase          $ 46,674,885    $ 51,075,758    $ 51,839,663    $ 51,324,007    $ 46,046,560
agreements

Payable for
Investment            2,062,030       839,235         1,405,109       828,235         1,677,131
Securities
purchased

Trading securities
sold, not yet         -               30,903          48,718          37,268          32,835
purchased, at fair
value

Accrued interest      199,985         168,361         154,615         172,575         257,608
payable

Dividends payable     270,736         296,254         296,201         224,823         136,618

Accounts payable
and other             8,380           26,385          36,625          20,123          36,688
liabilities

Interest rate
swaps, at fair        1,102,285       384,258         400,998         789,859         398,096
value

Total liabilities     50,318,301      52,821,154      54,181,929      53,396,890      48,585,536

Minority interest
in equity of          -               -               -               -               1,574
consolidated
affiliate

6.00% Series B
Cumulative
Convertible
Preferred Stock:

4,600,000 shares
authorized,
3,963,525,
4,496,525,            96,042          108,957         108,957         111,405         111,466

4,496,525,
4,597,550 and
4,600,000, shares
issued and

outstanding,
respectively

Stockholders'
Equity:

7.875% Series A
Cumulative
Redeemable
Preferred

Stock: 7,412,500      177,088         177,088         177,088         177,088         177,088
authorized,
7,412,500

shares issued and
outstanding

Common stock, par
value $.01 per
share, 987,987,500

authorized,
541,475,366,
540,189,101,
538,546,666,          5,415           5,402           5,385           4,684           4,018

468,380,797 and
401,822,703,
issued and
outstanding,

respectively

Additional paid-in    7,633,438       7,616,528       7,592,161       6,506,494       5,297,922
capital

Accumulated other
comprehensive         252,230         (661,498   )    (478,791   )    (335,814   )    (152,197   )
income (loss)

Accumulated           (884,899   )    (102,049   )    (102,594   )    (109,054   )    (121,893   )
deficit

Total
stockholders'         7,183,272       7,035,471       7,193,249       6,243,398       5,204,938
equity

Total liabilities,
minority interest,
Series B
Cumulative
                    $ 57,597,615    $ 59,965,582    $ 61,484,135    $ 59,751,693    $ 53,903,514
Convertible
Preferred Stock
and stockholders'
equity




(1)  Derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at December 31,
     2007.

     The Company invested $45,000,000 in an equity fund and has redeemed
     $56,000,000. Net unrealized gains in the fund valued at September 15, 2008
(2)  still remain at the prime broker, Lehman Brothers International (Europe),
     which is in bankruptcy and the ultimate recovery of such amount remains
     uncertain.




ANNALY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(UNAUDITED)

(dollars in thousands, except per share data)

                        For the quarters ended

                        December 31,     September 30,  June 30,         March 31,        December 31,

                        2008             2008           2008             2008             2007

Interest income         $ 740,282        $810,659       $ 773,359        $ 791,128        $ 720,925

Interest expense          450,805        458,250          442,251          537,606          558,435

Net interest income       289,477        352,409          331,108          253,522          162,490

Other (loss) income

Investment advisory       7,224          7,663            6,406            6,598            5,636
and service fees

(Loss)gain on sale of
Mortgage-Backed           (468        )  (1,066      )    2,830            9,417            1,829
Securities

(Loss)income from         (2,010      )  7,671            2,180            1,854            7,187
trading securities

Dividend income from
available-for-sale        612            580              580              941              91
equity securities

Loss on
other-than-temporarily  -             (31,834        )    -                -                -
impaired securities(1)

Unrealized loss on        (768,268    )  -                -                -                -
interest rate swaps(2)

Total other (loss)        (762,910    )  (16,986     )    11,996           18,810           14,743
income

Expenses

Distribution fees         287            299              370              633              782

General and
administrative            26,957         25,455           27,215           23,995           20,174
expenses

Total expenses            27,244         25,754           27,585           24,628           20,956

(Loss) income before
income taxes and          (500,677    )  309,669          315,519          247,704          156,277
minority interest

Income taxes              6,302          7,538            7,527            4,610            3,100

(Loss) income before      (506,979    )  302,131          307,992          243,094          153,177
minority interest

Minority interest         -              -                -                58               245

Net (loss) income         (506,979    )  302,131          307,992          243,036          152,932

Dividend on preferred     5,135          5,335            5,334            5,373            5,374
stock

Net (loss) income
(related) available to    ($512,114   )  $296,796       $ 302,658        $ 237,663        $ 147,558
common
shareholders

Net (loss) income
(related) available
per share to common
shareholders:

Basic                     ($0.95      )  $0.55          $ 0.60           $ 0.54           $ 0.38

Diluted                   ($0.95      )  $0.54          $ 0.59           $ 0.53           $ 0.37

Weighted average
number of common
shares outstanding:

Basic                     541,099,147    538,706,131      503,758,079      443,812,432      389,410,812

Diluted                   541,099,147    547,882,488      512,678,975      452,967,457      398,247,632

Net (loss) income         ($506,979   )  $302,131       $ 307,992        $ 243,036        $ 152,932

Other comprehensive
income (loss):

Unrealized gain (loss)
on available-for-sale     863,018        (232,347    )    (529,008    )    217,563          491,626
securities

Unrealized gain (loss)    50,242         16,740           388,861          (391,763    )    (256,034    )
on interest rate swaps

Reclassification
adjustment for losses     468            32,900           (2,830      )    (9,417      )    (1,829      )
(gains) included in
net income

Other comprehensive       913,728        (182,707    )    (142,977    )    (183,617    )    233,763
income (loss)

Comprehensive income    $ 406,749        $119,424       $ 165,015        $ 59,419         $ 386,695




     Although the Company has the intent and ability to retain its investment in
     Chimera Investment Corporation, the Company determined that it is
(1)  appropriate to recognize an other-than-temporary impairment charge of $31.8
     million. Recognition of such impairment charges will not reduce the taxable
     income of the Company. The non-cash charge is the difference between the
     purchase price for the shares and their fair value at September 30, 2008.

     Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company no longer applies
(2)  hedge accounting to its interest rate swaps under SFAS 133. As a result,
     changes in unrealized gains and losses in interest rate swaps will be
     reported in the income statement for GAAP purposes.




ANNALY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(UNAUDITED)

(dollars in thousands, except per share data)

                                         For the twelve months ended

                                         December 31, 2008  December 31, 2007(1)

Interest income                          $ 3,115,428        $ 2,355,447

Interest expense                           1,888,912          1,926,465

Net interest income                        1,226,516          428,982

Other (loss) income

Investment advisory and service fees       27,891             22,028

Gain on sale of Mortgage-Backed            10,713             19,062
Securities

Gain on termination of interest rate       -                  2,096
swaps

Income from trading securities             9,695              19,147

Dividend income from available-for-sale    2,713              91
equity securities

Loss on other-than-temporarily impaired    (31,834     )      (1,189      )
securities

Unrealized loss on interest rate swaps     (768,268    )      -

Total other (loss) income                  (749,090    )      61,235

Expenses

Distribution fees                          1,589              3,647

General and administrative expenses        103,622            62,666

Total expenses                             105,211            66,313

Income before income taxes and minority    372,215            423,904
interest

Income taxes                               25,977             8,870

Income before minority interest            346,238            415,034

Minority interest                          58                 650

Net income                                 346,180            414,384

Dividend on preferred stock                21,177             21,493

Net income available to common           $ 325,003          $ 392,891
shareholders

Net income available per share to

common shareholders:

Basic                                    $ 0.64             $ 1.32

Diluted                                  $ 0.64             $ 1.31

Weighted average number of common
shares outstanding:

Basic                                      507,024,596        297,488,394

Diluted                                    507,024,596        306,263,766

Net income                               $ 346,180          $ 414,384

Other comprehensive income (loss):

Unrealized gain on available-for-sale      319,226            322,264
securities

Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate    64,080             (378,380    )
swaps

Reclassification adjustment for gains      21,121             (19,969     )
included in net income

Other comprehensive income (loss)          404,427            (76,085     )

Comprehensive income                     $ 750,607          $ 338,299




(1)  Derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at December 31,
     2007.




    Source: Annaly Capital Management, Inc.
Contact: Annaly Capital Management, Inc. Investor Relations: 1- (888) 8Annaly www.annaly.com

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