Chimera Investment Corporation Reports Core EPS for the 3rd Quarter 2010 of $0.16 Per Share

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Chimera Investment Corporation (NYSE: CIM) today reported Core Earnings for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, of $139.0 million or $0.16 per average share as compared to Core Earnings for the quarter ended September 30, 2009, of $85.9 million or $0.13 per average share and Core Earnings for the quarter ended June 30, 2010, of $142.8 million or $0.19 per average share. "Core Earnings" is a non-GAAP measure that approximates distributable income, and is defined as GAAP net income (loss) excluding non-cash equity compensation expense, unrealized gains and losses, realized gains and losses on sales and other items that do not affect realized net income, regardless of whether such items are included in other comprehensive income or loss, or in net income. The Company reported GAAP net income of $126.4 million or $0.14 per average share for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, as compared to GAAP net income of $158.0 million or $0.24 per average share for the quarter ended September 30, 2009, and GAAP net income of $124.6 million or $0.16 per average share for the quarter ended June 30, 2010.

During the quarter ended September 30, 2010, the Company sold residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) with a carrying value of $206.0 million for realized gains of $2.0 million. During the quarter ended September 30, 2009, the Company sold RMBS, including transactions involving re-securitizations, with a carrying value of $920.4 million for realized gains of $74.5 million. During the quarter ended June 30, 2010, the Company had no sales of RMBS.

During the quarters ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, the Company did not record transactions treated as financings on a permanent non-recourse basis. During the quarter ended June 30, 2010, the Company financed on a permanent non-recourse basis $627.9 million of AAA-rated fixed rate bonds for net proceeds of $629.2 million in re-securitization transactions which were accounted for as financings. Assets, liabilities, interest income and interest expense associated with these transactions are identified throughout the consolidated financial statements as "non-retained" items.

The Company declared common stock dividends of $0.18, $0.12, and $0.17 per share for the quarters ended September 30, 2010, September 30, 2009, and June 30, 2010, respectively. The annualized dividend yield on the Company's common stock for the third quarter, based on the September 30, 2010, closing price of $3.95 was 18.23%. On a Core Earnings basis, the Company provided an annualized return on average equity of 19.12%, 16.60%, and 21.94% for the quarters ended September 30, 2010, September 30, 2009, and June 30, 2010, respectively. On a GAAP basis, the Company provided an annualized return on average equity of 17.39%, 30.55% and 19.14%, for the quarters ended September 30, 2010, September 30, 2009, and June 30, 2010, respectively.

Matthew J. Lambiase, Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company, commented on the quarter. "Chimera's results reflect that the capital from our recent offering was deployed largely over the latter part of the third quarter. Market conditions are evolving on a number of fronts. Regulatory and technical dynamics continue to develop, and monetary policy initiatives, including the prospect of large scale asset purchases by the Federal Reserve, continue to support asset prices and lower yields across a wide range of market sectors, including ours. Looking ahead, in this environment we continue to be encouraged by the relative attractiveness of the investment opportunities before us."

For the quarter ended September 30, 2010, the annualized yield on average earning assets was 9.02% and the annualized cost of funds on the average borrowed funds balance was 4.58% for an interest rate spread of 4.44%. This is a 160 basis point decrease from the 6.04% annualized interest rate spread for the quarter ended September 30, 2009, and a 112 basis point decrease from the 5.56% annualized interest rate spread for the quarter ended June 30, 2010. Leverage was 1.3:1, 0.9:1, and 1.3:1 at September 30, 2010, September 30, 2009, and June 30, 2010, respectively. Recourse leverage was 0.5:1, 0.7:1 and 0.5:1 at September 30, 2010, September 30, 2009, and June 30, 2010, respectively.

RMBS comprised approximately 95.1%, 91.8%, and 93.9% of the Company's investment portfolio at September 30, 2010, September 30, 2009, and June 30, 2010, respectively. The balance of the portfolio was comprised of securitized loans that collateralized the secured debt.

The following table summarizes portfolio information for the Company:


                         September 30, 2010   September 30, 2009   June 30, 2010

Interest earning         $7,173,376           $4,318,682           $6,595,363
assets at period-end *

Interest bearing
liabilities at           $3,844,440           $2,011,658           $3,801,485
period-end

Leverage at period-end   1.3:1                0.9:1                1.3:1

Leverage at period-end   0.5:1                0.7:1                0.5:1
(recourse)

Portfolio Composition,
at principal value

Non-Agency RMBS          82.8%                63.0%                80.5%

Senior                   5.7%                 32.2%                5.2%

Senior, interest only    32.2%                0.0%                 25.9%

Subordinated             29.6%                26.2%                30.2%

Subordinated, interest   2.0%                 4.6%                 2.2%
only

Senior, non-retained     13.3%                0.0%                 17.0%

Agency RMBS              12.3%                28.8%                13.4%

Securitized loans        4.9%                 8.2%                 6.1%

Fixed-rate percentage    55.9%                59.0%                72.4%
of portfolio

Adjustable-rate
percentage of            44.1%                41.0%                27.6%
portfolio

Annualized yield on
average earning assets   9.02%                7.71%                8.49%
during the period

Annualized cost of
funds on average         4.58%                1.67%                2.93%
borrowed funds during
the period

* Excludes cash and cash equivalents



The following table summarizes characteristics for each asset class:


                         September 30, 2010

                         Weighted     Weighted       Weighted
                         Average      Average Fair   Average    Weighted
                         Amortized    Value          Coupon     Average Yield
                         Cost Basis

Non-Agency
Mortgage-Backed
Securities

Senior                   $ 96.78      $ 98.00        4.76%      5.38%

Senior, interest only    $ 6.67       $ 4.84         2.01%      14.13%

Subordinated             $ 40.02      $ 41.34        4.31%      16.98%

Subordinated, interest   $ 9.93       $ 10.09        3.03%      25.87%
only

Senior, non-retained     $ 97.83      $ 97.73        5.25%      4.96%

Agency Mortgage-Backed   $ 103.29     $ 105.73       5.30%      3.54%
Securities

Securitized loans

Senior                   $ 101.20     $ 101.20       5.49%      5.60%

Senior, interest only    $ 0.01       $ 0.01         0.49%      100.00%

Subordinated             $ 100.55     $ 100.55       5.58%      4.25%



The Company's portfolio is comprised of RMBS and securitized whole residential mortgage loans. During the quarter ended September 30, 2010, the Company recorded a loan loss provision of $482 thousand as compared to a provision of $47 thousand for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 and $1.0 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2010.

The Constant Prepayment Rate on the Company's portfolio was 16%, 17%, and 16% as of September 30, 2010, September 30, 2009, and June 30, 2010, respectively. The net accretion of discounts was $69.1 million, $23.7 million and $65.0 million for the quarters ended September 30, 2010, September 30, 2009, and June 30, 2010, respectively. The total net discount remaining was $2.3 billion, $1.7 billion and $2.2 billion at September 30, 2010, September 30, 2009, and June 30, 2010, respectively.

General and administrative expenses, including the management fee and loan loss provision, as a percentage of average interest earning assets were 0.62%, 0.72%, and 0.54% for the quarters ended September 30, 2010, September 30, 2009, and June 30, 2010, respectively. At September 30, 2010, September 30, 2009, and June 30, 2010, the Company had a common stock book value per share of $3.29, $3.27, and $3.30, respectively.

The Company is a specialty finance company that invests in residential mortgage-backed securities, residential mortgage loans, real estate-related securities and various other asset classes. The Company's principal business objective is to generate net income for distribution to investors from the spread between the yields on its investments and the cost of borrowing to finance their acquisition and secondarily to provide capital appreciation. The Company, a Maryland corporation that has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust ("REIT"), is externally managed by Fixed Income Discount Advisory Company and currently has 883,168,113 shares of common stock outstanding.

The Company will hold the third quarter 2010 earnings conference call on Tuesday, October 26, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. EST. The number to call is 800-591-6945 for domestic calls and 617-614-4911 for international calls and the pass code is 20941086. The replay number is 888-286-8010 for domestic calls and 617-801-6888 for international calls and the pass code is 61985205. The replay is available for 48 hours after the earnings call. There will be a web cast of the call on www.chimerareit.com. If you would like to be added to the email distribution list, please visit www.chimerareit.com, click on EMail Alerts, complete the email notification form and click the Submit button. For further information, please contact Investor Relations at 1-866-315-9930 or visit www.chimerareit.com.

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 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. 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 "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "plan," "continue," "intend," "should," "may," "would," "will" or similar expressions, 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, our business and investment strategy; our projected financial and operating results; our ability to maintain existing financing arrangements, obtain future financing arrangements and the terms of such arrangements; general volatility of the securities markets in which we invest; the implementation, timing and impact of, and changes to, various government programs, including the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility and the Public-Private Investment Program; our expected investments; changes in the value of our investments; interest rate mismatches between our investments and our borrowings used to fund such purchases; changes in interest rates and mortgage prepayment rates; effects of interest rate caps on our adjustable-rate investments; rates of default or decreased recovery rates on our investments; prepayments of the mortgage and other loans underlying our mortgage-backed or other asset-backed securities; the degree to which our hedging strategies may or may not protect us from interest rate volatility; impact of and changes in governmental regulations, tax law and rates, accounting guidance, and similar matters; availability of investment opportunities in real estate-related and other securities; availability of qualified personnel; estimates relating to our ability to make distributions to our stockholders in the future; our understanding of our competition; market trends in our industry, interest rates, the debt securities markets or the general economy; our ability to maintain our exemption from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; and our ability to maintain our qualification as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. 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 Annual Report on Form 10-K, and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We do not undertake, and specifically disclaim all obligations, 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.



CHIMERA INVESTMENT CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)

                  September 30,   June 30, 2010   March 31,       December 31,    September 30,
                  2010                            2010            2009 (1)        2009
                  (unaudited)     (unaudited)     (unaudited)                     (unaudited)

Assets:

Cash and cash     $ 11,949        $ 236,214       $ 44,200        $ 24,279        $ 21,023
equivalents

Non-Agency
Mortgage-Backed
Securities, at
fair value

Senior              1,065,145       817,736         1,429,530       2,022,406       1,618,116

Subordinated        1,866,911       1,465,905       947,963         376,459         378,344

Senior,             1,967,812       2,133,486       1,646,087       -               -
non-retained

Agency
Mortgage-Backed     1,884,193       1,761,732       1,558,795       1,690,029       1,823,308
Securities, at
fair value

Securitized
loans held for
investment, net
of allowance
for loan losses
of $6.0             389,315         416,504         441,347         470,533         498,915
million, $5.6
million, $4.6
million, $4.6
million, and
$3.0 million,
respectively

Receivable for
investments         -               -               47,185          -               -
sold

Accrued
interest            47,767          45,682          39,637          33,128          29,444
receivable

Other assets        360             923             1,451           1,494           330

Total assets      $ 7,233,452     $ 6,878,182     $ 6,156,195     $ 4,618,328     $ 4,369,480

Liabilities:

Repurchase        $ 1,568,223     $ 1,337,805     $ 1,538,820     $ 1,716,398     $ 1,444,243
agreements

Repurchase
agreements with     -               -               147,417         259,004         153,076
affiliates

Securitized         320,552         342,819         364,665         390,350         414,339
debt

Securitized
debt,               1,955,665       2,120,861       1,636,437       -               -
non-retained

Payable for
investments         279,649         -               41,822          -               73,460
purchased

Accrued
interest            11,164          12,145          9,691           3,235           3,199
payable

Dividends           158,811         130,420         113,793         113,788         80,311
payable

Accounts
payable and         810             679             489             472             752
other
liabilities

Investment
management fees     11,411          9,357           8,114           8,519           9,071
payable to
affiliate

Interest rate
swaps, at fair      24,820          11,237          -               -               -
value

Total             $ 4,331,105     $ 3,965,323     $ 3,861,248     $ 2,491,766     $ 2,178,451
liabilities

Stockholders'
Equity:

Common stock:
par value $0.01
per share;
1,000,000,000
shares
authorized,
883,169,403,
883,151,028,      $ 8,822         $ 8,822         $ 6,694         $ 6,693         $ 6,693
670,371,002,
670,371,587,
and 670,324,854
shares issued
and
outstanding,
respectively

Additional          3,056,659       3,056,566       2,290,636       2,290,614       2,290,328
paid-in-capital

Accumulated
other               22,444          673             144,978         (99,754   )     (53,322   )
comprehensive
income (loss)

Retained
earnings            (185,578  )     (153,202  )     (147,361  )     (70,991   )     (52,670   )
(accumulated
deficit)

Total
stockholders'     $ 2,902,347     $ 2,912,859     $ 2,294,947     $ 2,126,562     $ 2,191,029
equity

Total
liabilities and   $ 7,233,452     $ 6,878,182     $ 6,156,195     $ 4,618,328     $ 4,369,480
stockholders'
equity

(1) Derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at December 31, 2009.





CHIMERA INVESTMENT CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)

                       For the quarters ended

                       September 30,     June 30, 2010     March 31, 2010    December 31,      September 30,
                       2010                                                  2009              2009

Net Interest Income:

Interest income        $ 140,405         $ 133,522         $ 128,984         $ 100,765         $ 104,690

Interest expense         10,527            7,198             7,374             8,530             9,197

Interest income,         58,090            49,829            50,861            -                 -
non-retained

Interest expense,        32,237            21,421            33,830            -                 -
non-retained

Net interest income      155,731           154,732           138,641           92,235            95,493
(expense)

Other-than-temporary
impairments:

Total
other-than-temporary     (1,314      )     (24,746     )     (22,687     )     (1,480      )     (6,209      )
impairment losses

Non-credit portion
of loss recognized
in other                 436               17,853            20,143            164               4,024
comprehensive income
(loss)

Net
other-than-temporary     (878        )     (6,893      )     (2,544      )     (1,316      )     (2,185      )
credit impairment
losses

Other gains
(losses):

Unrealized gains
(losses) on interest     (13,583     )     (11,237     )     -                 -                 -
rate swaps

Realized gains
(losses) on sales of     2,032             -                 342               16,191            74,508
investments, net

Realized losses on
principal                (2,517      )     (326        )     (949        )     (195        )     (61         )
write-downs of
non-Agency RMBS

Total other gains        (14,068     )     (11,563     )     (607        )     15,996            74,447
(losses)

Net investment           140,785           136,276           135,490           106,915           167,755
income (loss)

Other expenses:

Management fee           11,318            9,263             8,114             8,516             8,649

Provision for loan       482               1,024             606               1,692             47
losses

General and
administrative           1,798             1,409             1,160             1,238             1,057
expenses

Total other expenses     13,598            11,696            9,880             11,446            9,753

Income (loss) before     127,187           124,580           125,610           95,469            158,002
income taxes

Income taxes             752               1                 -                 -                 -

Net income (loss)      $ 126,435         $ 124,579         $ 125,610         $ 95,469          $ 158,002

Net income (loss)
per share-basic and    $ 0.14            $ 0.16            $ 0.19            $ 0.14            $ 0.24
diluted

Weighted average
number of shares         883,147,726       765,475,340       670,371,022       670,324,435       670,324,864
outstanding-basic
and diluted

Comprehensive income
(loss):

Net income (loss)      $ 126,435         $ 124,579         $ 125,610         $ 95,469          $ 158,002

Other comprehensive
income (loss):

Unrealized gains
(losses) on              20,408            (151,524    )     241,581           (31,753     )     238,969
available-for-sale
securities, net

Reclassification
adjustment for net
losses included in
net income (loss)        878               6,893             2,544             1,316             2,185
for
other-than-temporary
credit impairment
losses

Reclassification
adjustment for
realized losses          485               326               607               (15,996     )     (74,447     )
(gains) included in
net income (loss)

Other comprehensive      21,771            (144,305    )     244,732           (46,433     )     166,707
income (loss):

Comprehensive income   $ 148,206         $ (19,726     )   $ 370,342         $ 49,036          $ 324,709
(loss)




CHIMERA INVESTMENT CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)

                                        For the nine months ended

                                        September 30, 2010   September 30, 2009

Net Interest Income:

Interest income                         $ 402,911            $ 197,774

Interest expense                          25,099               26,552

Interest income, non-retained             158,780              -

Interest expense, non-retained            87,488               -

Net interest income (expense)             449,104              171,222

Other-than-temporary impairments:

Total other-than-temporary impairment     (48,747     )        (14,784     )
losses

Non-credit portion of loss recognized     38,432               6,104
in other comprehensive income (loss)

Net other-than-temporary credit           (10,315     )        (8,680      )
impairment losses

Other gains (losses):

Unrealized gains (losses) on interest     (24,820     )        -
rate swaps

Realized gains (losses) on sales of       2,374                87,456
investments, net

Realized losses on principal              (3,792      )        (61         )
write-downs of non-Agency RMBS

Total other gains (losses)                (26,238     )        87,395

Net investment income (loss)              412,551              249,937

Other expenses:

Management fee                            28,695               17,188

Provision for loan losses                 2,112                1,410

General and administrative expenses       4,367                2,823

Total other expenses                      35,174               21,421

Income (loss) before income taxes         377,377              228,516

Income taxes                              753                  1

Net income (loss)                       $ 376,624            $ 228,515

Net income (loss) per share-basic and   $ 0.49               $ 0.51
diluted

Weighted average number of shares         773,777,431          452,016,981
outstanding-basic and diluted

Comprehensive income (loss):

Net income (loss)                       $ 376,624            $ 228,515

Other comprehensive income (loss):

Unrealized gains (losses) on              110,465              292,061
available-for-sale securities, net

Reclassification adjustment for net
losses included in net income (loss)      10,315               8,680
for other-than-temporary credit
impairment losses

Reclassification adjustment for
realized losses (gains) included in       1,418                (87,395     )
net income (loss)

Other comprehensive income (loss):        122,198              213,346

Comprehensive income (loss)             $ 498,822            $ 441,861




    Source: Chimera Investment Corporation