TORONTO, March 10, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Corporation (the “Corporation”) (TSX FC, FC.DB.E, FC.DB.F, FC.DB.G, FC.DB,H, FC.DB.I and FC.DB.J) released its financial statements for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2020.
INCOME For the three-month period ended December 31, 2020, income increased to $7,318,366, as compared to $6,678,983 reported for the three months ended December 31, 2019.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, income decreased to $26,353,473, as compared to $28,002,051 for the year ended December 31, 2019. Excluding the non-recurring, non-cash share-based compensation expense of $906,131 recorded during 2020, adjusted income for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $27,259,604.
EARNINGS PER SHARE Basic weighted average profit per share for the three months ended December 31, 2020 was $0.249, as compared to the $0.237 per share reported for the three months ended December 31, 2019.
Basic weighted average profit per share for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 was $0.913 (excluding share-based compensation expense it was $0.945) as compared to $1.008 for the year ended December 31, 2019.
PORTFOLIO The Corporation’s investment portfolio increased by $78.1 million to $559.0 million as at December 31, 2020, in comparison to $480.9 million as at December 31, 2019 (in each case, gross of impairment provision). Most of the portfolio growth took place late in the year. The impairment provision as at December 31, 2020 was $5.61 million (December 2019 – $5.48 million). There was a strong level of new investment funding during 2020 in the amount of $399.4 million (2019 – $260.2 million), and repayments during the year were $321.5 million (2019 – $300.3 million), resulting in an increase to the investment portfolio size.
RETURN ON EQUITY The Corporation continues to exceed its yield objective of producing a return on shareholders’ equity in excess of 400 basis points over the average one-year Government of Canada Treasury bill yield. For the quarter ended December 31, 2020, the annualized return on shareholders’ equity (based on the average of the month end shareholders’ equity in the quarter) of 8.77%, representing a return on shareholders’ equity of 857 basis points per annum over the average one-year Government of Canada Treasury bill yield of 0.20%.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, the return on shareholders’ equity (based on the month end average shareholders’ equity in the year) of 8.18%, representing a return on shareholders’ equity of 798 basis points per annum over the per annum over the average one-year Government of Canada Treasury bill yield of 0.20%.
PRUDENT IMPAIRMENT ALLOWANCE Management has always taken a proactive approach to the Corporation’s loan impairment allowance. This is a prudent approach that provides stability of dividends to our shareholders in the event there are any future issues with any of the loans within the Corporation’s investment portfolio. The impairment allowance as at December 31, 2020 stood at $5,609,000, which represents approximately 1% of Corporation’s investment portfolio at that date.
INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO DETAILS Details on the Corporation’s investment portfolio as at December 31, 2020 are as follows:
Total gross investment portfolio of $559,007,922, which is higher than the $480,925,143 reported at December 31, 2019.
Conventional first mortgages, being those first mortgages with loan-to-values less than 75%, comprise 70.9% of the total portfolio, and total conventional mortgages with loan-to-values less than 75%, comprise 78.0% of the total portfolio.
Approximately 73.3% of the portfolio matures by December 31, 2021.
The average face interest rate on the portfolio is 8.20% per annum, as compared to 8.49% at December 31, 2019.
Regionally, the investment portfolio is diversified approximately as follows: Ontario (82.2%), Western Canada (14.1%), Quebec (3.3%), and USA (0.4%).
Borrower repayment performance has remained consistent with pre-COVID-19 performance and no payment deferral arrangements have been implemented.
DIVIDEND AND SHARE PURCHASE PLAN The Corporation has in place a Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRIP) and Share Purchase Plan that is available to its shareholders. The DRIP allows participants to have their monthly cash dividends reinvested in additional shares. The price paid per share is 97% (if the share price is higher than $14.10) of the weighted average trading price calculated five trading days immediately preceding each dividend date with no commission cost. Once registered with the Share Purchase Plan, participants have the right to purchase additional shares, totaling no greater than $12,000 per year and no less than $250 per month. Shareholders participating pay no commission.
For the three months and year ended December 31, 2020, the Corporation declared dividends on the common shares totaled $7,297,147 and $27,430,809, respectively, or $0.249 and $0.944 per share, versus $8,587,699 and $28,002,051, respectively, or $0.304 and $1.006 per share for the three months and year ended December 31, 2019. The number of common shares outstanding at December 31, 2020 was 30,843,166, as compared to 28,334,972 at December 31, 2019.
About the Corporation Where Mortgage Deals Get Done®
The Corporation, through its mortgage banker, Firm Capital Corporation, is a non-bank lender providing residential and commercial short-term bridge and conventional real estate financing, including construction, mezzanine, and equity investments. The Corporation’s investment objective is the preservation of shareholders’ equity, while providing shareholders with a stable stream of monthly dividends from investments. The Corporation achieves its investment objectives through investments in selected niche markets that are under-serviced by large lending institutions. Lending activities to date continue to develop a diversified mortgage portfolio, producing a stable return to shareholders. Full reports of the financial results of the Corporation for the year are outlined in the audited consolidated financial statements and the related management discussion and analysis of the Corporation, available on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. In addition, supplemental information is available on the Corporation’s website at www.firmcapital.com.
Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws including, among others, statements concerning our objectives, our strategies to achieve those objectives, our performance, our investment portfolio and our dividends, as well as statements with respect to management’s beliefs, estimates, and intentions, and similar statements concerning anticipated future events, results, circumstances, performance, or expectations that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “outlook”, “objective”, “may”, “will”, “expect”, “intent”, “estimate”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “should”, “plans”, or “continue”, or similar expressions suggesting future outcomes or events. Such forward-looking statements reflect management’s current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management.
These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are based on our estimates and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including those described in our current Annual Information Form under “Risk Factors” (a copy of which can be obtained at www.sedar.com), which could cause our actual results and performance to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this news release.
Those risks and uncertainties include, among others, risks associated with the impact of existing or future waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, mortgage lending, dependence on the Corporation’s manager and mortgage banker, competition for mortgage lending, real estate values, interest rate fluctuations, environmental matters, shareholder liability, and the introduction of new tax rules. Material factors or assumptions that were applied in drawing a conclusion or making an estimate set out in the forward-looking information include, among others, that the Corporation is able to invest in mortgages at rates consistent with rates historically achieved; adequate mortgage investment opportunities are presented to the Corporation; adequate bank indebtedness and bank loans are available to the Corporation; and a non-material impact resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the forward-looking information contained in this news release is based upon what management believes are reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that actual results and performance will be consistent with these forward-looking statements.
All forward-looking statements in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Except as required by applicable law, the Corporation undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
For further information, please contact:
Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Corporation Eli Dadouch President & Chief Executive Officer (416) 635-0221
TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index dipped lower Friday despite strength in energy stocks, while U.S. markets were mixed as the Dow eked out another record but tech stocks dragged.
The mood Friday was mixed after a strong week for equities in both Canada and the U.S., said Andrew Buntain, vice-president and portfolio manager at Fiduciary Trust Canada.
The S&P/TSX composite index closed down 77.01 points at 23,956.82, one day after it . It closed over 24,000 for the first time on Thursday.
The strength this past week wasn’t just in North American markets, noted Buntain, as Chinese stocks enjoyed a rally after the country’s central banks announced a suite of measures intended to boost the economy.
Meanwhile, an undercurrent of broadening strength continued this week as investors spread out their interest beyond a narrow set of tech giants, said Buntain.
“Some of the sectors that have been ignored for several years have been some of the better performers this year,” he said.
“We’re very encouraged by that.”
In New York on Friday, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 137.89 points at 42,313. The S&P 500 index was down 7.20 points at 5,738.17 after setting an all-time high on Thursday, while the Nasdaq composite was down 70.70 points at 18,119.59.
A report Friday on one of the U.S. central bank’s preferred measures of inflation — the personal consumption expenditures price index — showed continued cooling.
The Federal Reserve started lowering its key interest rate last week, and is expected to keep going this fall and into 2025.
However, the Fed’s next interest rate decision isn’t until November, noted Buntain, so there’s plenty of data for the central bank to take in yet — including next week’s labour report.
The job market has been an increasingly key focus for the central bank after recent reports showed cooling in that area of the economy. Friday’s report also showed consumer spending in August didn’t meet economists’ expectations.
In Canada, where the Bank of Canada is set for its next rate decision later in October, Friday brought a GDP report that was a little stronger than expected, said Buntain.
“The Bank of Canada has already delivered three cuts and signalled maybe some further reductions,” he said.
If inflation continues to move lower, Buntain added, the Bank of Canada could even announce an outsized half-percentage-point cut, echoing the Fed’s move last week.
The Canadian dollar traded for 74.08 cents US compared with 74.22 cents US on Thursday.
The November crude oil contract was up 51 cents at US$68.18 per barrel and the November natural gas contract was up 15 cents at US$2.90 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was down US$26.80 at US$2,668.10 an ounce and the December copper contract was down four cents at US$4.60 a pound.
— With files from The Associated Press
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 27, 2024.
TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index closed above 24,000 for the first time Thursday as strength in base metals and other sectors outweighed losses in energy, while U.S. markets also rose and the S&P 500 notched another record as well.
“Another day, another record,” said Angelo Kourkafas, senior investment strategist at Edward Jones.
“The path of least resistance continues to be higher.”
The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 127.95 points at 24,033.83.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 260.36 points at 42,175.11. The S&P 500 index was up 23.11 points at 5,745.37, while the Nasdaq composite was up 108.09 points at 18,190.29.
Markets continue to be optimistic about an economic soft landing, said Kourkafas, after the U.S. Federal Reserve last week announced an outsized cut to its key interest rate following months of speculation about when it would start easing policy.
Economic data Thursday added to the story that the U.S. economy remains resilient despite higher rates, said Kourkafas.
The U.S. economy grew at a three-per-cent annual rate in the second quarter, one report said, picking up from the first quarter of the year. Another report showed fewer U.S. workers applied for unemployment benefits last week.
The data shows “the economy remains on strong footing while the Fed is pivoting now in a decisive way towards an easier policy,” said Kourkafas.
The Fed’s decisive move gave investors more reason to believe that a soft landing is still the “base case scenario,” he said, “and likely reduces the downside risks for a recession by having the Fed moving too late or falling behind the curve.”
North of the border, the TSX usually gets a boost from Wall St. strength, said Kourkafas, but on Thursday the index also reflected some optimism of its own as the Bank of Canada has already cut rates three times to address weakening in the economy.
“The Bank of Canada likely now will be emboldened by the Fed,” he said.
“They didn’t want to move too far ahead of the Fed, and now that the Fed moved in a bigger-than-expected way, that provides more room for the Bank of Canada to cut as aggressively as needed to support the economy, given that inflation is within the target range.”
The TSX has also been benefiting from strength in materials after China’s central bank announced several measures meant to support the company’s economy, said Kourkafas.
However, energy stocks dragged on the Canadian index as oil prices fell Thursday following a report that Saudi Arabia was preparing to abandon its unofficial US$100-per-barrel price target for crude as it prepares to increase its output.
The Canadian dollar traded for 74.22 cents US compared with 74.28 cents US on Wednesday.
The November crude oil contract was down US$2.02 at US$67.67 per barrel and the November natural gas contract was down seven cents at US$2.75 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was up US$10.20 at US$2,694.90 an ounce and the December copper contract was up 15 cents at US$4.64 a pound.
— With files from The Associated Press
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 26, 2024.
TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was up more than 100 points in late-morning trading, helped by strength in the base metal sector, while U.S. stock markets were also higher.
The S&P/TSX composite index was 143.00 points at 24,048.88.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 174.22 points at 42,088.97. The S&P 500 index was up 10.23 points at 5,732.49, while the Nasdaq composite was up 30.02 points at 18,112.23.
The Canadian dollar traded for 74.23 cents US compared with 74.28 cents US on Wednesday.
The November crude oil contract was down US$1.68 at US$68.01 per barrel and the November natural gas contract was down six cents at US$2.75 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was up US$4.40 at US$2,689.10 an ounce and the December copper contract was up 13 cents at US$4.62 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 26, 2024.