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Ladder Capital Corp (LADR)·Q2 2025 Earnings Summary

Executive Summary

  • Q2 2025 GAAP diluted EPS was $0.14 and distributable EPS was $0.23, with income before taxes of $20.8M and net income of $17.3M; Ladder achieved investment-grade status at both Fitch (BBB-) and Moody’s (Baa3) and priced a $500M 5.5% senior unsecured note, materially lowering its cost of funds .
  • Versus S&P Global consensus, EPS modestly beat while revenue modestly missed; management cited timing-related softness in loan originations during Q2 and stronger gains in other income components as key drivers (see Estimates Context) .
  • Balance sheet repositioning continued: securities reached ~$2.0B (44% of assets, 97% AAA; 81% unencumbered), loans totaled ~$1.6B (36% of assets, ~9% yield), and real estate NOI remained stable at $15.1M; liquidity stood at ~$1.0B and gross leverage at ~1.9x .
  • Catalysts: the new IG ratings and lower revolver spread (SOFR+125) expand unsecured funding flexibility; a building loan pipeline ($325M under application) with post-quarter originations ($188M) favors an acceleration into Q3/Q4; watch non-accruals ($162.3M) and credit normalization pace .

What Went Well and What Went Wrong

What Went Well

  • Achieved dual investment-grade ratings (Fitch BBB-, Moody’s Baa3), enabling a $500M 5.5% unsecured bond at a 167 bps spread; pro forma unsecured debt now ~74% of total with cost-of-funds tailwind (“most meaningful impact will be the long-standing improvement in our cost of funds”) .
  • Liquidity and balance sheet strength: ~$1.0B liquidity, undrawn $850M revolver cut to SOFR+125, 83% unencumbered assets; management emphasized moving funding mix further toward unsecured while keeping leverage in the 2–3x target range .
  • Securities and real estate performance: acquired >$600M AAA securities at ~6.1% yields; securities portfolio ~$2.0B (97% AAA) provides carry and optional liquidity; real estate NOI was $15.1M with long-dated net leases .
    • Quote: “We are very pleased to achieve investment grade status… With this strong foundation and a reduced cost of capital, we are very well-positioned to deploy capital into new investment opportunities” — CEO Brian Harris .

What Went Wrong

  • Loan origination pace dipped in Q2 due to timing (payoffs $191M vs originations $173M), pushing closings into Q3; management flagged rent softness in pockets of multifamily and longer closing timelines .
  • Non-accrual loans rose to five positions totaling $162.3M (3.6% of assets); one $50M multifamily loan moved to non-accrual with foreclosure pursuit; CECL reserve remained $52M ($0.41/sh) .
  • Revenue miss vs consensus (see Estimates Context); composition leaned more on securities carry and real estate income while loan origination cadence lagged plan, constraining top-line vs Street .

Financial Results

Key P&L and EPS trends (oldest → newest):

MetricQ2 2024Q4 2024Q1 2025Q2 2025
Diluted EPS (GAAP) ($)$0.26 $0.25 $0.09 $0.14
Distributable EPS ($)$0.30 $0.27 $0.20 $0.23
Net Income Attributable to Class A ($MM)$32.35 $31.38 $11.78 $17.33
Income Before Taxes ($MM)$31.04 $33.04 $10.72 $20.82
Net Interest Income After Provision ($MM)$29.26 $27.17 $20.41 $21.57
Total Other Income ($MM)$42.41 $41.40 $30.87 $34.73
Net Income Margin %45.14%*45.77%*23.08%*30.78%*
  • Values retrieved from S&P Global*.

Consensus vs actual (Q2 2025):

MetricConsensusActualResult
Primary EPS ($)0.222*0.23*Beat (small)
Revenue ($MM)59.3*56.30*Miss (modest)
  • Values retrieved from S&P Global*.
  • Drivers of EPS beat and revenue miss: QoQ, other income improved ($34.73M vs $30.87M), derivative result rose ($1.53M vs $0.32M), and conduit loan sale contribution improved ($4.91M vs $0.16M), while compensation expense declined ($11.56M vs $18.76M); loan originations were timing-lagged, pushing some closings into Q3 .

Segment breakdown (Q2 2025):

SegmentAsset BaseShare of AssetsYield / NOIKey Notes
Loans~$1.6B 36% ~9% yield Payoffs $191M; originations $173M at ~+400 bps spread; non-accruals $162.3M (5 loans)
Securities~$2.0B 44% ~5.9% yield 99% IG; 97% AAA; 81% unencumbered; >$600M acquired in Q2
Real Estate~$0.936B ~21% (balance)$15.1M NOI 149 net lease properties; WALT >7 yrs; Carmel office foreclosed at $112/sf, 82% occupied, >11% unlevered return

Key KPIs (Q2 2025):

KPIQ2 2025
Liquidity~$1.0B
Revolver$850M undrawn; SOFR +125 bps after IG
Gross Leverage~1.9x
Unencumbered Assets~83% of total
Undepreciated BVPS$13.68
CECL Reserve$52M (~$0.41/sh)
Dividend$0.23 declared for Q2, paid Jul 15

Guidance Changes

MetricPeriodPrevious GuidanceCurrent GuidanceChange
Leverage TargetOngoing2–3x target (historical) Maintain 2–3x; mix shifting to more unsecured Maintained; mix evolving
Funding MixOngoing~65% unsecured (FY24) ~74% unsecured; aim potentially “entirely” unsecured over time Raised/shifted toward unsecured
Revolver SpreadOngoingSOFR +170 bps (pre-IG) SOFR +125 bps post dual IG Lowered
Unsecured Bond PlansH2 2025N/APossible additional issuance before year-end; potentially >5 yr tenor New commentary
DividendQ2 2025$0.23 (Q1) $0.23 declared (Q2) Maintained

Earnings Call Themes & Trends

TopicPrevious Mentions (Q4 2024, Q1 2025)Current Period (Q2 2025)Trend
Investment-grade ratingsAiming for IG; positive outlook; path through unsecured funding Achieved Fitch BBB- & Moody’s Baa3; revolver spread cut Upgraded/achieved
Cost of fundsRevolver upsized; SOFR+170 bps; plan to reduce with IG $500M 5.5% bond at +167 bps; facility SOFR+125 Improving
Securities rotationBought $295M AAA in Q4 ; $521M in Q1 >$600M acquired; now selectively selling as spreads tighten Active rotation; pivot to loans
Loan pipelinePipeline >$250M (Q4) ; $329M originations (Q1) $173M originations; $188M post-QE; $325M under application Accelerating into Q3
Leverage~1.4x (Q4) ; ~1.83x (Q1) ~1.9x; target 2–3x maintained Gradually rising
Credit/non-accruals2 loans $77M (Q4) 4 loans $116M (Q1) 5 loans $162.3M (Q2)
Macro/tariffsVolatility; tariffs re-emerging (Q1) April tariff volatility widened spreads; opportunistic securities buys Persistent
ConduitCurve not steep enough (Q4) High-ROE potential as curve steepens (Q1) Sold $64M conduit loan; re-engaging where warranted

Management Commentary

  • “As the only investment grade mortgage REIT in the country… anchored by a diversified, highly liquid, senior secured asset base… we are very well-positioned to deploy capital into new investment opportunities” — CEO Brian Harris .
  • “Pro forma for the offering, 74% of Ladder’s debt consisted of unsecured corporate bonds… As of June 30th, Ladder had $1 billion in liquidity… revolver reduced to SOFR + 125 bps” — President Pamela McCormack .
  • “Just 12 months ago, we issued a $500M seven-year unsecured… at 7%… now… 5.5%… With fixed-income investors welcoming us into the investment-grade capital markets… we have established an optimized financial foundation” — CEO Brian Harris .
  • “We fully intend… leverage two to three times… the only thing changing… composition of leverage… now funding ourselves two thirds unsecured, one third secured” — President Pamela McCormack .

Q&A Highlights

  • Securities vs loans rotation: Management is selectively selling AAA positions as spreads tighten, redeploying into loans; securities portfolio designed as liquidity to support loan growth .
  • Pipeline convertibility: ~$325M under application; conversion expected but timing remains elongated vs pre-pandemic; noted multifamily pockets of rent softness and big-city hotel caution .
  • Net lease strategy: Focus on asset-level “$/ft” discipline and credit; add when funding costs vs cap rates are favorable; cap-rate/financing differential drives ROE; open to opportunistic adds as costs fall .
  • Leverage and funding composition: Maintain 2–3x leverage; mix shifting further to unsecured; potential to fund “almost entirely on unsecured” as spreads tighten .
  • Conduit participation: Conduit remains supply constrained; contributed/sold a $64M loan; expect more participation as curve steepens; high-ROE potential .

Estimates Context

  • Q2 2025 vs S&P Global consensus: EPS $0.23 vs $0.222 (beat); revenue $56.30M vs $59.3M (miss).*
  • EPS beat rationale: stronger other income (including conduit loan sale gains and derivative gains), lower compensation expense QoQ; revenue miss tied to timing lag in loan originations, with closings pushing into Q3 .
  • Revisions outlook: As loan originations accelerate (post-QE $188M; $325M under application) and cost of funds declines, Street may raise forward EPS while revenue trajectories should reflect mix (securities carry vs loan growth) .
  • Values retrieved from S&P Global*.

Key Takeaways for Investors

  • Investment-grade status is a structural positive: it’s already lowering funding costs (SOFR+125 revolver; 5.5% notes at +167 bps), broadening market access and likely lifting valuation comps over time .
  • Near-term earnings path: expect distributable EPS support from securities carry and decreasing interest expense; medium-term upside as loan originations ramp through Q3–Q4 .
  • Watch credit normalization: non-accruals rose to $162.3M; CECL reserve ($52M) appears adequate per management, but credit migration merits monitoring .
  • Capital deployment pivot: management intends to migrate from securities into balance sheet loans and selectively conduit; this should improve ROE as origination velocity increases .
  • Funding mix and leverage: targeting 2–3x leverage with higher unsecured share; additional unsecured issuance in H2 could further compress cost of capital and support asset growth .
  • Dividend stability: $0.23 maintained; coverage to improve as deployment accelerates and cost of funds declines .
  • Trading implications: multi-quarter narrative of IG-driven cost-of-capital advantage and a building pipeline is constructive; monitor spread moves and tariff/macro volatility for opportunistic entry points per management’s own approach .