EX-99.1 2 a2016q4pressrelease.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 Exhibit


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Farmer Mac Reports 2016 Results
and Announces Dividend Increase
Record Outstanding Business Volume of $17.4 Billion
WASHINGTON, March 9, 2017 The Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (Farmer Mac; NYSE: AGM and AGM.A) today announced its results for the fiscal quarter and year ended December 31, 2016, which included $1.5 billion in net new business volume growth in 2016 that brought total outstanding business volume to $17.4 billion as of December 31, 2016. Farmer Mac's net income attributable to common stockholders for 2016 was $64.2 million ($5.97 per diluted common share), compared to $47.4 million ($4.19 per diluted common share) in 2015. Farmer Mac's 2016 core earnings, a non-GAAP measure, were $53.8 million ($5.01 per diluted common share), compared to $47.0 million ($4.15 per diluted common share) in 2015.
Farmer Mac's board of directors also approved an increase in the quarterly dividend on all classes of Farmer Mac's common stock to $0.36 per share beginning in first quarter 2017. This quarter's dividend amount represents a 38 percent increase over the $0.26 per share amount paid in each quarter during 2016 and is consistent with Farmer Mac's common stock dividend policy announced in March 2016, which has a goal of increasing the common dividend payout ratio of core earnings to approximately 30 percent over time.
"Our 2016 results reflect another strong year for Farmer Mac," said President and Chief Executive Officer Tim Buzby. "We achieved record outstanding business volume of $17.4 billion and 14.5 percent core earnings growth. Our credit quality is showing signs of normalization in some metrics, which we have been anticipating as part of the agricultural credit cycle, but is within our expectations and remains near historically favorable levels. Last year we increased our common stock dividend 63 percent, and

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with our 38 percent increase this year we believe we are on track to reach our targeted 30 percent core earnings payout for the 2018 year. Farmer Mac has increased its quarterly common stock dividend each of the past six years, and we believe these increases are supported by our earnings potential and overall capital position and are representative of Farmer Mac’s commitment to enhancing shareholder value over the long-term. We are also proud of the way we have positioned Farmer Mac for continued success in the future, as over the past several years we have brought in new personnel to fill key positions, created new positions, and significantly expanded our investment in the technology and capacity to better grow our business and more fully deliver upon our mission."
Earnings
Farmer Mac's net income attributable to common stockholders for 2016 was $64.2 million ($5.97 per diluted common share), compared to $47.4 million ($4.19 per diluted common share) for 2015. The $16.8 million increase in net income attributable to common stockholders from 2016 compared to 2015 was driven by an increase of $9.4 million after-tax in net interest income and the effects of unrealized fair value changes on financial derivatives and hedged assets, which was a $8.9 million after-tax gain in 2016 compared to a $7.1 million after-tax gain in 2015. Also contributing to the increase was the absence in 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 that preferred stock. The increase was offset in part by a $3.1 million after-tax increase in non-interest expense driven primarily by higher general and administrative ("G&A") expenses, higher compensation and employee benefits expenses, and a decrease in the release of reserve for losses.
Core earnings in 2016 were $53.8 million ($5.01 per diluted common share), compared to $47.0 million ($4.15 per diluted common share) in 2015. The $6.8 million increase in core earnings was primarily attributable to higher total revenues, which included a $3.7 million after-tax increase in net effective spread, a non-GAAP measure, a $1.3 million after-tax increase in guarantee and commitment fee

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income, and a $0.4 million after-tax decrease in hedging costs. Also contributing to the increase was a $3.5 million after-tax decrease in preferred dividend expense resulting from the redemption of all outstanding shares of Farmer Mac II LLC Preferred Stock in first quarter 2015. The increase in core earnings in 2016 was offset in part by several factors. Credit-related expenses increased $0.5 million after-tax resulting from net provisions to the allowance for losses of $0.6 million after-tax in 2016 compared to net provisions of $0.1 million after-tax in 2015. Operating expenses also increased by $1.8 million after-tax, driven by higher G&A expenses and higher compensation and benefits expenses. The $1.3 million after-tax increase in G&A expenses was primarily attributable to higher consulting fees and information services expenses related to corporate strategic initiatives, continued technology and business infrastructure investments, and expenses related to business development efforts. The $0.5 million after-tax increase in compensation and benefits expenses was primarily due to an increase in headcount and employee health insurance costs.
Farmer Mac's net income attributable to common stockholders for fourth quarter 2016 was $25.5 million ($2.38 per diluted common share), compared to $15.0 million ($1.35 per diluted common share) for fourth quarter 2015. The $10.5 million increase in net income attributable to common stockholders from fourth quarter 2016 compared to fourth quarter 2015 was driven primarily by the effects of unrealized fair value changes on financial derivatives and hedged assets, which was a $11.2 million after-tax gain in fourth quarter 2016 compared to a $1.8 million after-tax gain in fourth quarter 2015.
Core earnings in fourth quarter 2016 were $13.9 million ($1.30 per diluted common share), compared to $13.1 million ($1.17 per diluted common share) in fourth quarter 2015. The $0.8 million increase in core earnings was primarily due to a $2.5 million after-tax increase in total revenues, which was led by a $1.3 million after-tax increase in net effective spread. The increase was offset in part by a $0.3 million after-tax increase in credit costs, a $0.7 million after-tax increase in G&A expenses, and a $0.4 million after-tax increase in compensation and benefits expenses. The increases in G&A expenses

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and compensation and benefits expenses for fourth quarter 2016 were attributable to the same factors described above that affected full year 2016.
See "Use of Non-GAAP Measures" below for more information about core earnings, core earnings per share, and net effective spread and for a reconciliation of the comparable GAAP measures to these non-GAAP measures.
Business Volume Highlights    
During 2016, Farmer Mac added $4.4 billion of new business volume, with purchases of AgVantage securities, Farm & Ranch loans, and Rural Utilities loans under long-term standby purchase commitments ("LTSPCs") driving the volume growth. Specifically, Farmer Mac:

purchased $2.1 billion of AgVantage securities, including $68.4 million in Farm Equity AgVantage securities;
purchased $966.0 million of newly originated Farm & Ranch loans;
added $441.4 million of Rural Utilities loans under LTSPCs;
added $399.1 million of Farm & Ranch loans under LTSPCs;
purchased $375.2 million of USDA Securities;
issued $106.1 million of Farmer Mac Guaranteed USDA Securities; and
purchased $50.5 million of Rural Utilities loans.
After $2.9 billion of maturities and principal paydowns on existing business during 2016, which included over $1.5 billion in scheduled maturities of AgVantage securities, Farmer Mac's outstanding business volume increased by $1.5 billion from December 31, 2015 to $17.4 billion as of December 31, 2016. The increase in Farmer Mac's outstanding business volume was driven by broad-based net portfolio growth across most of Farmer Mac's products and lines of business. The increase in AgVantage securities was primarily driven by net portfolio growth from two long-standing issuers: (1) Rabo Agrifinance, Inc. and (2) National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation ("CFC"), which increased their outstanding AgVantage business volume with Farmer Mac by $300.0 million and $210.1 million, respectively, in 2016. The new business volume in the Institutional Credit line of business also included

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the purchase of two $500.0 million AgVantage securities from Metropolitan Life Insurance Company ("MetLife"). MetLife used the proceeds from Farmer Mac's purchase of each of the $500.0 million AgVantage securities to refinance AgVantage securities of the same amount that matured in first quarter 2016 and third quarter 2016, respectively. Farmer Mac also purchased AgVantage securities of $68.4 million in 2016 under Farm Equity AgVantage facilities with agricultural real estate investment funds, compared to $99.1 million in 2015.
Spreads
Net interest income was $140.3 million in 2016, compared to $125.8 million in 2015. In percentage terms, net interest income for 2016 was 0.90 percent, compared to 0.88 percent in 2015. The $14.5 million year-over-year increase was due to several factors. One factor was the impact of an increase in short-term interest rates on assets and liabilities indexed to LIBOR due to the Federal Reserve's decision to raise the target range for the federal funds rate in fourth quarter 2015. This effect on net interest income occurred because interest expense used to calculate net interest income does not include all the funding expenses related to these assets, specifically the expense on financial derivatives not designated in hedge accounting relationships. This increase in short-term rates on assets and liabilities indexed to LIBOR did not have a similar effect on net effective spread as described below because net effective spread includes interest expense from all funding related to such assets, including interest expense from financial derivatives not designated in hedge accounting relationships. Another factor contributing to the year-over-year increase in net interest income was an increase in the average outstanding balance of Farm & Ranch loans, USDA Securities, and AgVantage securities. Also contributing to the increase were (1) lower net yield adjustments related to amortization of premiums and discounts on assets consolidated at fair value driven by slower prepayments on those assets and (2) an increase in the net effect of consolidated trusts due to an increase in securitization activity of Farm & Ranch loans during 2016. Farmer Mac earns the difference between the interest income recognized on loans in consolidated trusts and the related interest expense recognized on debt securities of consolidated

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trusts held by third parties. The increase was offset in part by (1) higher net yield adjustments from amortization of purchase premiums on certain Farm & Ranch loans and (2) a tighter spread on a large AgVantage security that was refinanced in first quarter 2016 at a shorter maturity than the original security.
Farmer Mac's net effective spread, a non-GAAP measure, was $125.1 million in 2016, compared to $119.4 million in 2015. In percentage terms, net effective spread for 2016 was 0.86 percent, compared to 0.87 percent in 2015. Farmer Mac uses net effective spread as an alternative measure to net interest income because management believes it is a useful metric that accurately reflects the economics of the net spread between all the assets owned by Farmer Mac and all related funding, including any associated derivatives, some of which may not be reflected in net interest income under GAAP.
For 2016 compared to 2015, the contraction in net effective spread in percentage terms was primarily due to (1) a higher average balance in lower-earning investment securities in 2016 compared to 2015, (2) a tighter spread on a large AgVantage security that was refinanced in first quarter 2016 at a shorter maturity than the original security, and (3) higher net yield adjustments from amortization of purchase premiums on certain Farm & Ranch loans in 2016 compared to 2015. The contraction was offset in part by a lower average balance in cash and cash equivalents primarily during the second half of 2016. The year-over-year increase in dollars was attributable to growth in outstanding business volume.
Net interest income was $36.7 million (0.95 percent) in fourth quarter 2016, compared to $31.0 million (0.84 percent) in fourth quarter 2015. The $5.7 million year-over-year increase in fourth quarter 2016 net interest income was driven primarily by the same factors described above that contributed to full year 2016 growth in net interest income as compared to full year 2015.
Net effective spread was $31.9 million (0.89 percent) in fourth quarter 2016, compared to $29.9 million (0.85 percent) in fourth quarter 2015. The increase in percentage terms in fourth quarter 2016 compared to fourth quarter 2015 was primarily attributable to a reduction in Farmer Mac's cash and cash equivalents balances and improvements in LIBOR-based funding costs. The increase was offset in part by

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an increase in the size of Farmer Mac's liquidity investment portfolio. The year-over-year increase in dollar terms in fourth quarter 2016 was primarily attributable to growth in outstanding business volume and improvements in LIBOR-based funding costs.
Credit Quality 
In the Farm & Ranch portfolio, 90-day delinquencies were $21.0 million (0.34 percent of the Farm & Ranch portfolio) as of December 31, 2016, compared to $32.1 million (0.56 percent) as of December 31, 2015. The decrease in Farmer Mac's 90-day delinquencies as a percentage of its Farm & Ranch portfolio during 2016 primarily related to (1) the workout in January 2016 of two Agricultural Storage and Processing loans that financed one canola facility and (2) Farmer Mac's receipt of $6.0 million to pay off two long-standing delinquent timber loans with the same borrower. Farmer Mac expects that over time its 90-day delinquency rate will eventually revert closer to Farmer Mac's historical average due to macroeconomic factors and the cyclical nature of the agricultural economy, 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 is 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 0.12 percent of total business volume as of December 31, 2016, compared to 0.20 percent as of December 31, 2015.
Another indicator that Farmer Mac considers in analyzing the credit quality of its Farm & Ranch portfolio is the level of internally-rated "substandard" assets, both in dollars and as a percentage of the outstanding Farm & Ranch portfolio. Assets categorized as "substandard" have a well-defined weakness or weaknesses, and there is a distinct possibility that some loss will be sustained if deficiencies are not corrected. As of December 31, 2016, Farmer Mac's substandard assets were $165.2 million (2.7 percent

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of the Farm & Ranch portfolio), compared to $104.5 million (1.8 percent of the Farm & Ranch portfolio) as of December 31, 2015. Those substandard assets were comprised of 287 loans as of December 31, 2016, compared to 234 loans as of December 31, 2015. Of the $60.7 million year-over-year increase in substandard assets in the Farm & Ranch portfolio, Farmer Mac believes that approximately two-thirds of the increase suggests a modest deterioration in the agricultural credit environment likely resulting from lower farm incomes and declining land values in some regions due to lower prices for certain commodities. Specifically, lower prices for feed grains and oilseeds in the Midwest region were the primary drivers of the deterioration. Farmer Mac expects that over time its substandard asset rate will eventually revert closer to Farmer Mac's historical average due to macroeconomic factors and the cyclical nature of the agricultural economy. Although some credit losses are inherent to the business of agricultural lending, Farmer Mac believes that any losses associated with the current agricultural credit cycle will be moderated by the strength and diversity of its portfolio, which Farmer Mac believes is adequately collateralized. Farmer Mac's average substandard assets as a percent of its Farm & Ranch portfolio over the last 15 years is approximately 4 percent.
Lines of Business
Farmer Mac's operations consist of four lines of business – Farm & Ranch, USDA Guarantees, Rural Utilities, and Institutional Credit. Net interest income by business segment for fourth quarter 2016 was $12.4 million (147 basis points) for Farm & Ranch, $6.1 million (124 basis points) for USDA Guarantees, $3.1 million (123 basis points) for Rural Utilities, and $12.7 million (85 basis points) for Institutional Credit. Net effective spread by business segment for fourth quarter 2016 was $10.3 million (178 basis points) for Farm & Ranch, $5.3 million (108 basis points) for USDA Guarantees, $2.6 million (105 basis points) for Rural Utilities, and $11.6 million (78 basis points) for Institutional Credit.
Liquidity and Capital
Farmer Mac's core capital totaled $609.7 million as of December 31, 2016, exceeding the statutory minimum capital requirement by $143.2 million, or 31 percent, compared to $564.5 million as of

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December 31, 2015, which was $102.4 million, or 22 percent, above the statutory minimum capital requirement. The increase in capital in excess of the minimum capital level was due primarily to an increase in retained earnings and a decrease in the amount of cash and cash equivalents needed to manage Farmer Mac's liquidity position in 2016.
As of December 31, 2016, Farmer Mac's total stockholders' equity was $643.4 million, compared to $553.5 million as of December 31, 2015. The increase in total stockholders' equity was a result of an increase in retained earnings and accumulated other comprehensive income. The increase in accumulated other comprehensive income was due to increases in fair value on certain fixed-rate USDA Securities. On October 1, 2016, Farmer Mac transferred $2.0 billion of USDA Securities and $32.8 million of Farmer Mac Guaranteed USDA Securities from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity to reflect Farmer Mac’s affirmative intent and ability to hold these securities until maturity or payoff. Farmer Mac transferred these securities at fair value as of the date of the transfer, which included a cost basis adjustment of unrealized appreciation in the amount of $73.8 million. The accumulated unrealized appreciation was retained in accumulated other comprehensive income. Both the cost basis adjustment and accumulated unrealized appreciation will be amortized as an adjustment to the yield on the held-to-maturity USDA Securities over the remaining term of the transferred securities.
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 158 days of liquidity during 2016 and had 165 days of liquidity as of December 31, 2016.

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Dividends
On March 1, 2017, Farmer Mac's board of directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.36 per share for each of Farmer Mac's three classes of common stock – Class A voting common stock (NYSE:AGM.A), Class B voting common stock (not listed on any exchange), and Class C non-voting common stock (NYSE: AGM). This quarterly dividend will be payable on March 31, 2017 to holders of record of common stock as of March 20, 2017. This represents the sixth consecutive year that Farmer Mac has increased its quarterly common stock dividend from the prior year, and Farmer Mac believes that the most recent increase is supported by Farmer Mac's earnings potential and overall capital position.
Farmer Mac's board of directors also declared a dividend on each of Farmer Mac's three classes of preferred stock. The quarterly dividend of $0.3672 per share of 5.875% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A (NYSE: AGM.PR.A), $0.4297 per share of 6.875% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series B (NYSE: AGM.PR.B), and $0.375 per share of 6.000% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series C (NYSE: AGM.PR.C), is for the period from but not including January 18, 2017 to and including April 17, 2017. The preferred stock dividends will be payable on April 17, 2017 to holders of record as of April 3, 2017.
Use of Non-GAAP Measures
In the analysis of its financial information, Farmer Mac sometimes uses measures of financial performance that are not presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP), and these are considered "non-GAAP measures." Specifically, Farmer Mac uses the following non-GAAP measures: "core earnings," "core earnings per share," and "net effective spread." Farmer Mac uses these non-GAAP measures to measure corporate economic performance and develop financial plans because, in management's view, they are useful alternative measures in understanding Farmer Mac's economic performance, transaction economics, and business trends. The non-GAAP financial measures that Farmer Mac uses may not be comparable to similarly labeled non-GAAP financial measures disclosed by other companies. Farmer Mac's disclosure of these non-GAAP measures is

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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.
Core Earnings and Core Earnings per Share
Core earnings and core earnings per share principally differ from net income attributable to common stockholders and earnings per common share, respectively, by excluding the effects of fair value fluctuations. These fluctuations are not expected to have a cumulative net impact on Farmer Mac's financial condition or results of operations reported in accordance with GAAP if the related financial instruments are held to maturity, as is expected. Among other items, these fair value fluctuations have included unrealized gains or losses on financial derivatives and hedging activities related to the exchange of variation margin between Farmer Mac and its counterparties on both its cleared and non-cleared derivatives portfolios. However, beginning in first quarter 2017, the variation margin amounts exchanged between Farmer Mac and its counterparties on cleared derivatives will be considered as settlement rather than collateral as a result of a change in variation margin rules implemented by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange ("CME"), the central clearinghouse used by Farmer Mac. Specifically, effective January 3, 2017, CME began to deem the exchange of variation margin between derivatives counterparties as a partial settlement of each respective derivative contract rather than as collateral pledged by a counterparty. Accordingly, beginning in first quarter 2017, Farmer Mac will present its cleared derivatives portfolio net of variation margin payments on its consolidated balance sheets and will recognize realized gains or losses as a result of these payments on its consolidated statements of operations. However, Farmer Mac believes that even though these variation margin amounts will be accounted for as realized gains or losses on financial derivatives and hedging activities as a result of the CME rule change, the economic character of these transactions will remain the same as they were before the change. The fair value fluctuations related to the exchange of variation margin, whether considered a partial settlement of or the pledge of collateral under a derivatives contract, are not expected to have a cumulative net impact on Farmer Mac's financial condition or results of operations reported in accordance with GAAP because the related financial

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instruments are expected to be held to maturity. Therefore, beginning in first quarter 2017, Farmer Mac will exclude the effects of realized gains or losses resulting from the exchange of variation margin on its cleared derivatives portfolio in its calculations of core earnings and core earnings per share to present them on a consistent basis with quarters prior to 2017.
Core earnings and core earnings per share also differ from net income attributable to common stockholders and earnings per common share, respectively, 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. For example, the loss from retirement of the Farmer Mac II LLC Preferred Stock in first quarter 2015 has been excluded from core earnings and core earnings per share because it is not a frequently occurring transaction and not indicative of future operating results. This is also consistent with Farmer Mac's previous treatment of these types of origination costs associated with securities underwriting that are capitalized and deferred during the life of the security. For a reconciliation of Farmer Mac's net income attributable to common stockholders to core earnings and of earnings per common share to core earnings per share, see the "Reconciliations" section below.

Net Effective Spread
Farmer Mac uses net effective spread to measure the net spread Farmer Mac earns between its interest-earning assets and the related net funding costs of these assets. Net effective spread differs from net interest income and net interest yield because it excludes (1) the amortization of premiums and discounts on assets consolidated at fair value that are amortized as adjustments to yield in interest income over the contractual or estimated remaining lives of the underlying assets, and (2) interest income and interest expense related to consolidated trusts with beneficial interests owned by third parties, which are presented on Farmer Mac's consolidated balance sheets as "Loans held for investment in consolidated trusts, at amortized cost." Farmer Mac excludes from net effective spread premiums and discounts on

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assets consolidated at fair value because they either do not reflect actual cash premiums paid for the assets at acquisition or are not expected to have an economic effect on Farmer Mac's financial performance if the assets are held to maturity, as is expected. Farmer Mac also excludes from net effective spread the interest income and interest expense associated with the consolidated trusts and the average balance of the loans underlying these trusts to reflect management's view that the net interest income Farmer Mac earns on the related Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities owned by third parties is effectively a guarantee fee. Accordingly, the excluded interest income and interest expense associated with consolidated trusts is reclassified to guarantee and commitment fees for purposes of determining Farmer Mac's core earnings.
Net effective spread also principally differs from net interest income and net interest yield because it includes the accrual of income and expense related to the contractual amounts due on financial derivatives that are not designated in hedge accounting relationships ("undesignated financial derivatives"). Farmer Mac uses interest rate swaps to manage its interest rate risk exposure by synthetically modifying the interest rate reset or maturity characteristics of certain assets and liabilities.  The accrual of the contractual amounts due on interest rate swaps designated in hedge accounting relationships is included as an adjustment to the yield or cost of the hedged item and is included in net interest income. For undesignated financial derivatives, Farmer Mac records the income or expense related to the accrual of the contractual amounts due in "Gains/(losses) on financial derivatives and hedging activities" on the consolidated statements of operations.  However, the accrual of the contractual amounts due for undesignated financial derivatives are included in Farmer Mac's calculation of net effective spread, which is intended to reflect management's view of the net spread between an asset and all of its related funding, including any associated derivatives, whether or not they are in a hedge accounting relationship. For a reconciliation of net interest income and net interest yield to net effective spread, see the "Reconciliations" section below.

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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 or rural utilities industries;

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's products and the secondary market provided by Farmer Mac;

the general rate of growth in agricultural mortgage and rural utilities indebtedness;

the effect 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, 2016 filed today with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). 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.

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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 fourth quarter and full year 2016 financial results will be held beginning at 11:00 a.m. eastern time on Thursday, March 9, 2017 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/
Presentation materials to be referenced during the call will be posted on the webpage that can be accessed by clicking on the link noted above. 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 for two weeks following the conclusion of the call.
More complete information about Farmer Mac's performance for fourth quarter and full year 2016 is set forth in Farmer Mac's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2016 filed today with the SEC.
About Farmer Mac
Farmer Mac is a vital part of the agricultural credit markets and was created to increase access to and reduce the cost of capital for the benefit of American agricultural and rural communities. As the nation’s premier secondary market for agricultural credit, we provide financial solutions to a broad spectrum of the agricultural community, including agricultural lenders, agribusinesses, and other institutions that can benefit from access to flexible, low-cost financing and risk management tools. Farmer

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Mac‘s customers benefit from our low cost of funds, low overhead costs, and high operational efficiency. In fact, we are often able to provide the lowest cost of borrowing to agricultural and rural borrowers. For more than a quarter-century, Farmer Mac has been delivering the capital and commitment rural America deserves. Additional information about Farmer Mac (including the Annual Report on Form 10-K referenced above) is available on Farmer Mac's website at www.farmermac.com.

CONTACT:     Jalpa Nazareth, Investor Relations
Megan Murray-Pelaez, Media Inquiries
(202) 872-7700


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FEDERAL AGRICULTURAL MORTGAGE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 
As of
 
December 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
(in thousands)
Assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
265,229

 
$
1,210,084

Investment securities:
 

 
 

Available-for-sale, at fair value
2,515,851

 
2,775,025

Trading, at fair value

 
491

Total investment securities
2,515,851

 
2,775,516

Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities:
 

 
 

Available-for-sale, at fair value
4,853,685

 
4,152,605

Held-to-maturity, at amortized cost
1,149,231

 
1,274,016

Total Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
6,002,916

 
5,426,621

USDA Securities:
 

 
 

Available-for-sale, at fair value

 
1,888,344

Trading, at fair value
20,388

 
28,975

Held-to-maturity, at amortized cost
2,009,225

 

Total USDA Securities
2,029,613

 
1,917,319

Loans:
 

 
 

Loans held for investment, at amortized cost
3,379,884

 
3,258,413

Loans held for investment in consolidated trusts, at amortized cost
1,132,966

 
708,111

Allowance for loan losses
(5,415
)
 
(4,480
)
Total loans, net of allowance
4,507,435

 
3,962,044

Real estate owned, at lower of cost or fair value
1,528

 
1,369

Financial derivatives, at fair value
23,182

 
3,816

Interest receivable (includes $12,584 and $7,938, respectively, related to consolidated trusts)
122,782

 
112,700

Guarantee and commitment fees receivable
38,871

 
40,189

Deferred tax asset, net
12,291

 
42,916

Prepaid expenses and other assets
86,322

 
47,780

Total Assets
$
15,606,020

 
$
15,540,354

 
 
 
 
Liabilities and Equity:
 

 
 

Liabilities:
 

 
 

Notes payable:
 

 
 

Due within one year
$
8,440,123

 
$
9,111,461

Due after one year
5,222,977

 
4,967,036

Total notes payable
13,663,100

 
14,078,497

Debt securities of consolidated trusts held by third parties
1,142,704

 
713,536

Financial derivatives, at fair value
58,152

 
77,199

Accrued interest payable (includes $10,881 and $6,705, respectively, related to consolidated trusts)
49,700

 
47,621

Guarantee and commitment obligation
37,282

 
38,609

Accounts payable and accrued expenses
9,415

 
29,089

Reserve for losses
2,020

 
2,083

Total Liabilities
14,962,373

 
14,986,634

Commitments and Contingencies (Note 12)
 
 
 
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, 9,007,481 shares and 9,155,661 shares outstanding, respectively
9,008

 
9,156

Additional paid-in capital
118,655

 
117,862

Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax
33,758

 
(11,019
)
Retained earnings
275,714

 
231,228

Total Stockholders' Equity
643,425

 
553,517

Non-controlling interest
222

 
203

Total Equity
643,647

 
553,720

Total Liabilities and Equity
$
15,606,020

 
$
15,540,354




17



FEDERAL AGRICULTURAL MORTGAGE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 
For the Three Months Ended
 
For the Year Ended
 
December 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
December 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Interest income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments and cash equivalents
$
6,807

 
$
4,194

 
$
27,042

 
$
13,338

Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Securities
39,343

 
32,835

 
150,281

 
134,443

Loans
35,091

 
30,533

 
134,577

 
117,042

Total interest income
81,241

 
67,562

 
311,900

 
264,823

Total interest expense
44,528

 
36,591

 
171,626

 
139,016

Net interest income
36,713

 
30,971

 
140,274

 
125,807

Provision for loan losses
(461
)
 
(3,366
)
 
(1,065
)
 
(2,388
)
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
36,252

 
27,605

 
139,209

 
123,419

Non-interest income:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Guarantee and commitment fees
3,789

 
3,780

 
14,868

 
14,077

Gains on financial derivatives and hedging activities
15,390

 
1,592

 
2,311

 
2,531

(Losses)/gains on trading securities
(474
)
 
696

 
1,460

 
1,220

(Losses)/gains on sale of available-for-sale investment securities

 

 
(9
)
 
9

Gains/(losses) on sale of real estate owned

 

 
15

 
(1
)
Other income
602

 
372

 
1,823

 
2,305

Non-interest income
19,307

 
6,440

 
20,468

 
20,141

Non-interest expense:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Compensation and employee benefits
5,949

 
5,385

 
22,772

 
22,047

General and administrative
4,352

 
3,238

 
15,109

 
13,111

Regulatory fees
625

 
613

 
2,463

 
2,413

Real estate owned operating costs, net

 
44

 
39

 
91

Provision for/(release of) reserve for losses
51

 
(3,415
)
 
(63
)
 
(2,180
)
Non-interest expense
10,977

 
5,865

 
40,320

 
35,482

Income before income taxes
44,582

 
28,180

 
119,357

 
108,078

Income tax expense
15,793

 
9,912

 
42,057

 
34,239

Net income
28,789

 
18,268

 
77,300

 
73,839

Less: Net (income)/loss attributable to non-controlling interest
(28
)
 
60

 
34

 
(5,139
)
Net income attributable to Farmer Mac
28,761

 
18,328

 
77,334

 
68,700

Preferred stock dividends
(3,296
)
 
(3,296
)
 
(13,182
)
 
(13,182
)
Loss on retirement of preferred stock

 

 

 
(8,147
)
Net income attributable to common stockholders
$
25,465

 
$
15,032

 
$
64,152

 
$
47,371

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings per common share and dividends:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings per common share
$
2.42

 
$
1.39

 
$
6.12

 
$
4.33

Diluted earnings per common share
$
2.38

 
$
1.35

 
$
5.97

 
$
4.19

Common stock dividends per common share
$
0.26

 
$
0.16

 
$
1.04

 
$
0.64






18



Reconciliations
A reconciliation of Farmer Mac's net income attributable to common stockholders to core earnings and core earnings per share are presented in the following tables 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
 
December 31, 2016
 
September 30, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Net income attributable to common stockholders
$
25,465

 
$
16,364

 
$
15,032

Less reconciling items:
 

 
 

 
 

Unrealized gains on financial derivatives and hedging activities
17,233

 
1,460

 
2,743

Unrealized (losses)/gains on trading securities
(474
)
 
1,182

 
696

Amortization of premiums/discounts and deferred gains on assets consolidated at fair value
(40
)
 
(157
)
 
(263
)
Net effects of settlements on agency forward contracts
1,024

 
464

 
(162
)
Income tax effect related to reconciling items
(6,210
)
 
(1,032
)
 
(1,055
)
Sub-total
11,533

 
1,917

 
1,959

Core earnings
$
13,932

 
$
14,447

 
$
13,073

 
 
 
 
 
 
Composition of Core Earnings:
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
Net effective spread(1)
$
31,928

 
$
32,199

 
$
29,949

Guarantee and commitment fees(2)
5,158

 
4,533

 
4,730

Other(3)
1,189

 
(32
)
 
(284
)
Total revenues
38,275

 
36,700

 
34,395

 
 
 
 
 
 
Credit related expense/(income) (GAAP):
 
 
 
 
 
Provision for/(release of) losses
512

 
(31
)
 
(49
)
REO operating expenses

 

 
44

Gains on sale of REO

 
(15
)
 

Total credit related expense/(income)
512

 
(46
)
 
(5
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating expenses (GAAP):
 
 
 
 
 
Compensation and employee benefits
5,949

 
5,438

 
5,385

General and administrative
4,352

 
3,474

 
3,238

Regulatory fees
625

 
613

 
613

Total operating expenses
10,926

 
9,525

 
9,236

 
 
 
 
 
 
Net earnings
26,837

 
27,221

 
25,164

Income tax expense(4)
9,581

 
9,497

 
8,855

Net income/(loss) attributable to non-controlling interest (GAAP)
28

 
(18
)
 
(60
)
Preferred stock dividends (GAAP)
3,296

 
3,295

 
3,296

Core earnings
$
13,932

 
$
14,447

 
$
13,073

 
 
 
 
 
 
Core earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
 
  Basic
$
1.33

 
$
1.38

 
$
1.21

  Diluted
1.30

 
1.36

 
1.17


19



(1) 
Net effective spread is a non-GAAP measure. See below for a reconciliation of net interest income to net effective spread.
(2) 
Includes interest income and interest expense related to consolidated trusts owned by third parties reclassified from net interest income to guarantee and commitment fees to reflect management's view that the net interest income Farmer Mac earns is effectively a guarantee fee on the consolidated Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities.
(3) 
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.
(4) 
Includes the tax impact of non-GAAP reconciling items between net income attributable to common stockholders and core earnings.
Reconciliation of Net Income Attributable to Common Stockholders to Core Earnings
 
For the Year Ended
 
December 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Net income attributable to common stockholders
$
64,152

 
$
47,371

Less reconciling items:
 

 
 

Unrealized gains on financial derivatives and hedging activities
13,628

 
10,924

Unrealized gains on trading securities
1,460

 
1,220

Amortization of premiums/discounts and deferred gains on assets consolidated at fair value
(849
)
 
(1,319
)
Net effects of settlements on agency forward contracts
1,699

 
(607
)
Loss on retirement of Farmer Mac II LLC Preferred Stock(1)

 
(8,147
)
Income tax effect related to reconciling items
(5,577
)
 
(1,675
)
Sub-total
10,361

 
396

Core earnings
$
53,791

 
$
46,975

 
 
 
 
Composition of Core Earnings:
 
 
 
Revenues:
 
 
 
Net effective spread(2)
$
125,102

 
$
119,380

Guarantee and commitment fees(3)
19,170

 
17,155

Other(4)
515

 
(806
)
Total revenues
144,787

 
135,729

 
 
 
 
Credit related expense (GAAP):
 
 
 
Provision for losses
1,002

 
208

REO operating expenses
39

 
91

(Gains)/losses on sale of REO
(15
)
 
1

Total credit related expense
1,026

 
300

 
 
 
 
Operating expenses (GAAP):
 
 
 
Compensation and employee benefits
22,772

 
22,047

General and administrative
15,109

 
13,111

Regulatory fees
2,463

 
2,413

Total operating expenses
40,344

 
37,571

 
 
 
 
Net earnings
103,417

 
97,858

Income tax expense(5)
36,478

 
32,562

Net (loss)/income attributable to non-controlling interest (GAAP)
(34
)
 
5,139

Preferred stock dividends (GAAP)
13,182

 
13,182

Core earnings
$
53,791

 
$
46,975

 
 
 
 
Core earnings per share:
 
 
 
  Basic
$
5.13

 
$
4.29

  Diluted
5.01

 
4.15

(1) 
Relates to the write-off of deferred issuance costs as a result of the retirement of Farmer II LLC Preferred Stock.
(2) 
Net effective spread is a non-GAAP measure. See below for a reconciliation of net interest income to net effective spread.

20



(3) 
Includes interest income and interest expense related to consolidated trusts owned by third parties reclassified from net interest income to guarantee and commitment fees to reflect management's view 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.

Reconciliation of GAAP Basic Earnings Per Share to Core Earnings Basic Earnings Per Share
  
For the Three Months Ended
 
For the Year Ended
  
December 31, 2016
 
September 30, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
December 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
GAAP - Basic EPS
$
2.42

 
$
1.56

 
$
1.39

 
$
6.12

 
$
4.33

Less reconciling items:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized gains on financial derivatives and hedging activities
1.63

 
0.14

 
0.25

 
1.30

 
1.00

Unrealized (losses)gains on trading securities
(0.05
)
 
0.11

 
0.06

 
0.14

 
0.11

Amortization of premiums/discounts and deferred gains on assets consolidated at fair value

 
(0.01
)
 
(0.02
)
 
(0.08
)
 
(0.12
)
Net effects of settlements on agency forward contracts
0.10

 
0.04

 
(0.01
)
 
0.16

 
(0.06
)
Loss on retirement of Farmer Mac II LLC Preferred Stock

 

 

 

 
(0.74
)
Income tax effect related to reconciling items
(0.59
)
 
(0.10
)
 
(0.10
)
 
(0.53
)
 
(0.15
)
Sub-total
1.09

 
0.18

 
0.18

 
0.99

 
0.04

Core Earnings - Basic EPS
$
1.33

 
$
1.38

 
$
1.21

 
$
5.13

 
$
4.29

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Shares used in per share calculation (GAAP and Core Earnings)
10,512

 
10,473

 
10,822

 
10,477

 
10,949


Reconciliation of GAAP Diluted Earnings Per Share to Core Earnings Diluted Earnings Per Share
  
For the Three Months Ended
 
For the Year Ended
  
December 31, 2016
 
September 30, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
December 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
GAAP - Diluted EPS
$
2.38

 
$
1.54

 
$
1.35

 
$
5.97

 
$
4.19

Less reconciling items:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized gains on financial derivatives and hedging activities
1.60

 
0.14

 
0.24

 
1.26

 
0.97

Unrealized (losses)gains on trading securities
(0.04
)
 
0.11

 
0.06

 
0.14

 
0.11

Amortization of premiums/discounts and deferred gains on assets consolidated at fair value

 
(0.01
)
 
(0.02
)
 
(0.08
)
 
(0.12
)
Net effects of settlements on agency forward contracts
0.10

 
0.04

 
(0.01
)
 
0.16

 
(0.05
)
Loss on retirement of Farmer Mac II LLC Preferred Stock

 

 

 

 
(0.72
)
Income tax effect related to reconciling items
(0.58
)
 
(0.10
)
 
(0.09
)
 
(0.52
)
 
(0.15
)
Sub-total
1.08

 
0.18

 
0.18

 
0.96

 
0.04

Core Earnings - Diluted EPS
$
1.30

 
$
1.36

 
$
1.17

 
$
5.01

 
$
4.15

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Shares used in per share calculation (GAAP and Core Earnings)
10,700

 
10,649

 
11,167

 
10,745

 
11,309



21



The following table presents a reconciliation of net interest income and net yield to net effective spread:

Reconciliation of GAAP Net Interest Income/Yield to Net Effective Spread
  
For the Three Months Ended
 
For the Year Ended
 
December 31, 2016
 
September 30, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
December 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
Dollars
 
Yield
 
Dollars
 
Yield
 
Dollars
 
Yield
 
Dollars
 
Yield
 
Dollars
 
Yield
 
(dollars in thousands)
Net interest income/yield
$
36,713

 
0.95
 %
 
$
35,563

 
0.89
 %
 
$
30,971

 
0.84
 %
 
$
140,274

 
0.90
 %
 
$
125,807

 
0.88
 %
Net effects of consolidated trusts
(1,369
)
 
0.04
 %
 
(735
)
 
0.04
 %
 
(950
)
 
0.01
 %
 
(4,302
)
 
0.03
 %
 
(3,078
)
 
0.01
 %
Expense related to undesignated financial derivatives
(3,495
)
 
(0.10
)%
 
(2,807
)
 
(0.08
)%
 
(410
)
 
(0.01
)%
 
(11,480
)
 
(0.08
)%
 
(5,649
)
 
(0.04
)%
Amortization of premiums/discounts on assets consolidated at fair value
79

 
 %
 
178

 
0.01
 %
 
338

 
0.01
 %
 
610

 
0.01
 %
 
2,300

 
0.02
 %
Net effective spread
$
31,928

 
0.89
 %
 
$
32,199

 
0.86
 %
 
$
29,949

 
0.85
 %
 
$
125,102

 
0.86
 %
 
$
119,380

 
0.87
 %
The following table presents core earnings for Farmer Mac's reportable operating segments and a reconciliation to consolidated net income for the three months ended December 31, 2016:

Core Earnings by Business Segment
For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2016
 
Farm & Ranch
 
USDA Guarantees
 
Rural 
Utilities
 
Institutional Credit
 
Corporate
 
Reconciling
Adjustments
 
Consolidated Net Income
 
(in thousands)
Net interest income
$
12,447

 
$
6,122

 
$
3,057

 
$
12,672

 
$
2,415

 
$

 
$
36,713

Less: reconciling adjustments(1)(2)(3)
(2,098
)
 
(788
)
 
(434
)
 
(1,045
)
 
(420
)
 
4,785

 

Net effective spread
10,349

 
5,334

 
2,623

 
11,627

 
1,995

 
4,785

 

Guarantee and commitment fees(2)
4,152

 
51

 
497

 
458

 

 
(1,369
)
 
3,789

Other income(3)(4)
88

 
44

 
2

 

 
1,057

 
14,327

 
15,518

Non-interest income/(loss)
4,240

 
95

 
499

 
458

 
1,057

 
12,958

 
19,307

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Provision for loan losses
(461
)
 

 

 

 

 

 
(461
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Provision for reserve for losses
(51
)
 

 

 

 

 

 
(51
)
Other non-interest expense
(4,260
)
 
(1,082
)
 
(642
)
 
(1,456
)
 
(3,486
)
 

 
(10,926
)
Non-interest expense(5)
(4,311
)
 
(1,082
)
 
(642
)
 
(1,456
)
 
(3,486
)
 

 
(10,977
)
Core earnings before income taxes
9,817

 
4,347

 
2,480

 
10,629

 
(434
)
 
17,743

(6) 
44,582

Income tax (expense)/benefit
(3,436
)
 
(1,521
)
 
(868
)
 
(3,720
)
 
(38
)
 
(6,210
)
 
(15,793
)
Core earnings before preferred stock dividends and attribution of income to non-controlling interest - preferred stock dividends
6,381

 
2,826

 
1,612

 
6,909

 
(472
)
 
11,533

(6) 
28,789

Preferred stock dividends

 

 

 

 
(3,296
)
 

 
(3,296
)
Non-controlling interest - preferred stock dividends

 

 

 

 
(28
)
 

 
(28
)
Segment core earnings/(losses)
$
6,381

 
$
2,826

 
$
1,612

 
$
6,909

 
$
(3,796
)
 
$
11,533

(6) 
$
25,465

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total assets at carrying value
$
3,582,098

 
$
2,096,503

 
$
1,012,014

 
$
6,008,574

 
$
2,906,831

 
$

 
$
15,606,020

Total on- and off-balance sheet program assets at principal balance
$
6,139,304

 
$
2,094,375

 
$
1,878,110

 
$
7,287,686

 
 
 

 
$
17,399,475

(1) 
Excludes the amortization of premiums and discounts on assets consolidated at fair value, originally included in interest income, to reflect core earnings amounts.

22



(2) 
Includes the reclassification of interest income and interest expense from consolidated trusts owned by third parties to guarantee and commitment fees, to reflect management's view that the net interest income Farmer Mac earns is effectively a guarantee fee.
(3) 
Includes the reclassification of interest expense related to interest rate swaps not designated as hedges, which are included in "Gains/(losses) on financial derivatives and hedging activities" on the consolidated financial statements, to determine the effective funding cost for each operating segment.
(4) 
Includes reconciling adjustments for fair value adjustments on financial derivatives and trading assets. Also includes a reconciling adjustment related to the recognition of deferred gains over the estimated lives of certain Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Securities. In 2016 and prior periods, fair value adjustments on financial derivatives included variation margin payment amounts because those amounts were considered to be collateral of the related exposure and were accounted for as unrealized gains or losses. However, effective first quarter 2017, CME implemented a change in its rules related to the exchange of variation margin, whereby variation margin payments will be considered a partial settlement of the respective derivatives contracts rather than as pledged collateral, and accounted for as realized gains and losses. See Note 6 for more information about this rule change. Farmer Mac believes that even though these variation margin amounts will be accounted for as realized gains or losses on financial derivatives and hedging activities as a result of the CME rule change, their economic character will remain the same as they were before the change. The fair value fluctuations related to the exchange of variation margin, whether considered a partial settlement of or the pledge of collateral under a derivatives contract, are not expected to have a cumulative net impact on Farmer Mac's financial condition or results of operations reported in accordance with GAAP because the related financial instruments are expected to be held to maturity. Therefore, beginning in 2017, this reconciling adjustment will include realized gains and losses on financial derivatives centrally cleared through CME resulting from the exchange of variation margin. As a result, core earnings subsequent to 2016 will be presented on a consistent basis with core earnings in 2016 and prior periods.
(5) 
Includes directly attributable costs and an allocation of indirectly attributable costs based on headcount.
(6) 
Net adjustments to reconcile to the corresponding income measures: core earnings before income taxes reconciled to income before income taxes; core earnings before preferred stock dividends and attribution of income to non-controlling interest reconciled to net income; and segment core earnings reconciled to net income attributable to common stockholders.




































23



Supplemental Information

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 December 31, 2016
 
As of December 31, 2015
 
(in thousands)
On-balance sheet:
 
 
 
Farm & Ranch:
 
 
 
Loans
$
2,381,488

 
$
2,249,864

Loans held in trusts:
 
 
 
Beneficial interests owned by third party investors
1,132,966

 
708,111

USDA Guarantees:
 
 
 
USDA Securities
1,954,800

 
1,876,451

Farmer Mac Guaranteed USDA Securities
35,599

 
31,554

Rural Utilities:
 
 
 
Loans
999,512

 
1,008,126

Institutional Credit:
 
 
 
AgVantage Securities
6,004,472

 
5,439,383

Total on-balance sheet
$
12,508,837

 
$
11,313,489

Off-balance sheet:
 
 
 
Farm & Ranch:
 
 
 
LTSPCs
$
2,209,409

 
2,253,273

Guaranteed Securities
415,441

 
514,051

USDA Guarantees:
 
 
 
Farmer Mac Guaranteed USDA Securities
103,976

 
10,272

Rural Utilities:
 
 
 
LTSPCs(1)
878,598

 
522,864

Institutional Credit:
 
 
 
AgVantage Securities
983,214

 
984,871

Revolving floating rate AgVantage facility(2)
300,000

 
300,000

Total off-balance sheet
$
4,890,638

 
$
4,585,331

Total
$
17,399,475

 
$
15,898,820

(1) 
Includes $20.0 million and $8.8 million related to one-year loan purchase commitments on which Farmer Mac receives a nominal unused commitment fee as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
(2) 
As of both December 31, 2016 and, 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.












24



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:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2016(1)
$
10,349

 
1.78
%
 
$
5,334

 
1.08
%
 
$
2,623

 
1.05
%
 
$
11,627

 
0.78
%
 
$
1,995

 
0.26
%
 
$
31,928

 
0.89
%
September 30, 2016
10,703

 
1.90
%
 
5,189

 
1.07
%
 
2,643

 
1.05
%
 
11,427

 
0.75
%
 
2,237

 
0.24
%
 
32,199

 
0.86
%
June 30, 2016
9,875

 
1.78
%
 
4,588

 
0.96
%
 
2,562

 
1.03
%
 
11,407

 
0.77
%
 
2,594

 
0.29
%
 
31,026

 
0.84
%
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(2)
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
8,682

 
1.71
%
 
5,250

 
1.19
%
 
2,908

 
1.18
%
 
9,870

 
0.78
%
 
1,732

 
0.26
%
 
28,442

 
0.91
%
(1) 
Net effective spread is a non-GAAP measure. See "Non-GAAP Measures" for a reconciliation of GAAP net interest income by line of business to net effective spread by line of business.
(2) 
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.









25



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

Core Earnings by Quarter Ended
 
December 2016
 
September 2016
 
June 2016
 
March 2016
 
December 2015
 
September 2015
 
June 2015
 
March 2015
 
December 2014
 
(in thousands)
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net effective spread
$
31,928

 
$
32,199

 
$
31,026

 
$
29,949

 
$
29,949

 
$
30,387

 
$
29,787

 
$
29,257

 
$
28,442

Guarantee and commitment fees
5,158

 
4,533

 
4,810

 
4,669

 
4,730

 
4,328

 
4,085

 
4,012

 
4,097

Other(1)
1,189

 
(32
)
 
(125
)
 
(517
)
 
(284
)
 
(93
)
 
(24
)
 
(405
)
 
(1,285
)
Total revenues
38,275

 
36,700

 
35,711

 
34,101

 
34,395

 
34,622

 
33,848

 
32,864

 
31,254

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Credit related (income)/expense:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Provision for/(release of) losses
512

 
(31
)
 
458

 
63

 
(49
)
 
(303
)
 
1,256

 
(696
)
 
(479
)
REO operating expenses

 

 

 
39

 
44

 
48

 

 
(1
)
 
48

(Gains)/losses on sale of REO

 
(15
)
 

 

 

 

 

 
1

 
28

Total credit related (income)/expense
512

 
(46
)
 
458

 
102

 
(5
)
 
(255
)
 
1,256

 
(696
)
 
(403
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Compensation and employee benefits
5,949

 
5,438

 
5,611

 
5,774

 
5,385

 
5,236

 
5,733

 
5,693

 
4,971

General and administrative
4,352

 
3,474

 
3,757

 
3,526

 
3,238

 
3,676

 
3,374

 
2,823

 
2,992

Regulatory fees
625

 
613

 
612

 
613

 
613

 
600

 
600

 
600

 
600

Total operating expenses
10,926

 
9,525

 
9,980

 
9,913

 
9,236

 
9,512

 
9,707

 
9,116

 
8,563

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net earnings
26,837

 
27,221

 
25,273

 
24,086

 
25,164

 
25,365

 
22,885

 
24,444

 
23,094

Income tax expense(2)
9,581

 
9,497

 
8,956

 
8,444

 
8,855

 
8,924

 
8,091

 
6,692

 
4,858

Net income/(loss) attributable to non-controlling interest
28

 
(18
)
 
(16
)
 
(28
)
 
(60
)
 
(36
)
 
(119
)
 
5,354

 
5,414

Preferred stock dividends
3,296

 
3,295

 
3,296

 
3,295

 
3,296

 
3,295

 
3,296

 
3,295

 
3,296

Core earnings
$
13,932

 
$
14,447

 
$
13,037

 
$
12,375

 
$
13,073

 
$
13,182

 
$
11,617

 
$
9,103

 
$
9,526

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reconciling items:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized gains/(losses) on financial derivatives and hedging activities
17,233

 
1,460

 
(2,076
)
 
(2,989
)
 
2,743

 
(6,906
)
 
15,982

 
(895
)
 
(5,719
)
Unrealized (losses)/gains on trading assets
(474
)
 
1,182

 
394

 
358

 
696

 
(8
)
 
170

 
362

 
1,044

Amortization of premiums/discounts and deferred gains on assets consolidated at fair value
(40
)
 
(157
)
 
(371
)
 
(281
)
 
(263
)
 
(117
)
 
(125
)
 
(814
)
 
(1,247
)
Net effects of settlements on agency forward contracts
1,024

 
464

 
466

 
(255
)
 
(162
)
 
(390
)
 
197

 
(252
)
 
(46
)
Loss on retirement of Farmer Mac II LLC Preferred Stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(8,147
)
 

Income tax effect related to reconciling items
(6,210
)
 
(1,032
)
 
556

 
1,109

 
(1,055
)
 
2,598

 
(5,679
)
 
2,461

 
2,089

Net income attributable to common stockholders
$
25,465

 
$
16,364

 
$
12,006

 
$
10,317

 
$
15,032

 
$
8,359

 
$
22,162

 
$
1,818

 
$
5,647

(1) 
Fourth quarter 2014 include $13.6 million of interest expense related to securities purchased under agreements to resell and securities sold, not yet purchased and $12.8 million of gains on securities sold, not yet purchased.
(2) 
Fourth quarter 2014 reflects a reduction of $1.4 million in the tax valuation allowance against capital loss carryforwards related to capital gains on securities sold, not yet purchased.



26