VERO BEACH, Fla., March 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bimini Capital Management, Inc. (OTCQB: BMNM), ("Bimini Capital,” "Bimini,” or the "Company”), today announced results of operations for the three-month period ended December 31, 2024.

Fourth Quarter 2024 Highlights

• Net loss of $1.5 million, or $0.15 per common share
• Book value per share of $0.68
• Company to discuss results on Friday, March 7, 2025, at 10:00 AM ET

Commenting on the fourth quarter results, Robert E. Cauley, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, "The outlook for the fixed income market pivoted early in the fourth quarter of 2024. As the third quarter came to an end, inflation was falling towards the Fed's 2% target, the labor market was cooling as hiring levels moderated and the unemployment rate was slowly creeping higher, and the Fed had finally lowered the Fed Funds rate by 50 basis points. At the time, the market expected the Fed to lower the rate by over 200 basis points over the next 18 months. As we know, beginning early in the fourth quarter, the incoming data turned. Even as the economic outlook shifted, the Fed did lower the Fed Funds rate two more times during 2024 - by 25 basis points in each case. With the Fed Funds rate lowered by 100 basis points over the course of the quarter, the persistently strong economic outlook led to a dis-inversion of the yield curve. However, the market expectation for additional reductions in the Fed Funds rate continued to decline over the course of the fourth quarter and into 2025.

"Orchid Island Capital ("Orchid") reported fourth quarter 2024 net income of $5.6 million, and its shareholders equity increased slightly, from $656.0 million to $668.5 million. As a result, Bimini's advisory service revenues also increased slightly, to $3.4 million compared to $3.3 million for the third quarter of 2024. Further, in late February, Orchid reported yet another increase in its shareholder base, which should lead to another increase in advisory service revenue for the first quarter of 2025.

"The investment portfolio generated net interest income of $0.3 million. Dividends on Orchid stock were $0.2 million. Mark to market gains and losses on our MBS portfolio, hedge positions and shares of Orchid netted to income of $0.1 million. The MBS portfolio increased by $4.0 million during the fourth quarter of 2024 and increased by $29.5 million for the year. The Company had positive cash flows from operations for the fourth quarter and full year, which has allowed the Company to grow the MBS portfolio throughout the year.

"The Company - inclusive of both the advisory services segment and the investment portfolio segment, recorded net income before taxes for the quarter of $0.6 million versus a net loss before taxes of $0.8 million for the third quarter of 2024. We updated our projected utilization of our deferred tax assets and increased the valuation allowance, resulting in a tax provision of $2.1 million and a net loss for the 2024 fourth quarter of $1.5 million.

"Looking forward, while economic activity has remained resilient if not strong, the labor market is quite healthy, and inflation remains above the Fed's 2% target, uncertainty in the economic outlook has crept into the market as the first quarter of 2025 progresses. What this means for interest rate levels, Federal Reserve monetary policy or the MBS market remains to be seen. However, quarter to date market conditions have been favorable for both Orchid Island and Royal Palm's investment portfolios.”

Details of Fourth Quarter 2024 Results of Operations

The Company reported a net loss of $1.5 million for the three-month period ended December 31, 2024. Advisory service revenue for the quarter was $3.4 million, consisting of management fees of $2.5 million, overhead reimbursements of $0.7 million, and $0.2 million repurchase agreement and clearing services revenue. We recorded interest and dividend income of $1.9 million, and interest expense on repurchase agreements of $1.4 million and long-term debt of $0.6 million. Other income of $0.1 million consisted of a $0.3 million mark to market loss on our shares of Orchid common stock, unrealized losses of $2.7 million on our MBS portfolio, and $3.0 million of unrealized gains on our derivatives used for hedging purposes. The results for the quarter also included operating expenses of $2.8 million and an income tax provision of $2.1 million.

For the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2024, the Company reported a net loss of $1.3 million net of an income tax provision of $3.1 million. Advisory service revenue for the year was $12.8 million, comprised of $9.5 million of management fees, $2.6 million of overhead reimbursements and $0.7 million of repurchase agreement and clearing service revenue. The investment portfolio segment generated $5.8 million of interest income and $0.8 million of dividends from our investment in shares of Orchid. The $6.6 million of investment portfolio income was offset by $5.1 million of repurchase agreement interest expense, and $14.3 million of net revenues from advisory services and the investment portfolio were offset by $2.4 million of interest on long-term debt. The Company reported $1.2 million of other income, comprised of $0.3 million of unrealized losses on MBS assets, $0.6 million of realized losses on sales of MBS, $0.4 million of unrealized losses on our shares of Orchid, and $2.4 million of unrealized gains on our derivative positions used for hedging purposes. Operating expenses were $11.3 million for the year, resulting in net income before taxes of $1.8 million.

Orchid Island Capital, Inc.

Orchid is managed and advised by Bimini's subsidiary, Bimini Advisors, LLC ("Bimini Advisors"). As manager, Bimini Advisors is responsible for administering Orchid's business activities and day-to-day operations. Pursuant to the terms of the management agreement with Orchid, Bimini Advisors provides Orchid with its management team, including its officers, along with appropriate support personnel.

Bimini also maintains a common stock investment in Orchid which is accounted for under the fair value option, with changes in fair value recorded in the statement of operations for the current period. For the three months ended December 31, 2024, Bimini's statement of operations included a $0.3 million mark to market loss and dividends of $0.2 million from its investment in Orchid's common stock. Also during the three months ended December 31, 2024, Bimini recorded $3.4 million in advisory services revenue for managing Orchid's portfolio, consisting of $2.5 million of management fees, $0.7 million in overhead reimbursement and $0.2 million in repurchase, clearing and administrative fees.

Book Value Per Share

The Company's Book Value Per Share at December 31, 2024 was $0.68. The Company computes Book Value Per Share by dividing total stockholders' equity by the total number of shares outstanding of the Company's Class A Common Stock. At December 31, 2024, the Company's stockholders' equity was $6.8 million, with 10,005,457 Class A Common shares outstanding.

Capital Allocation and Return on Invested Capital

The Company allocates capital between two MBS sub-portfolios, the pass-through MBS portfolio ("PT MBS”) and the structured MBS portfolio, currently consisting of interest-only and inverse interest-only securities. The table below details the changes to the respective sub-portfolios during the quarter.

The tables below present the allocation of capital between the respective portfolios at December 31, 2024 and September 30, 2024, and the return on invested capital for each sub-portfolio for the three-month period ended December 31, 2024. Capital allocation is defined as the sum of the market value of securities held, less associated repurchase agreement borrowings, plus cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash associated with repurchase agreements. Capital allocated to non-portfolio assets is not included in the calculation.

The returns on invested capital in the PT MBS and structured MBS portfolios were approximately 6.7% and 1.4%, respectively, for the fourth quarter of 2024. The combined portfolio generated a return on invested capital of approximately 5.6%.