v3.20.1

Investment in Securities (Summary of Investment in Securities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019
Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Current Principal |  | $ 1,437,517 | $ 2,282,149
Unamortized Premium (Discount) |  | (174,092) | (150,821)
Amortized Cost |  | 1,537,690 | 2,342,369
Gross Unrealized Gains |  | 43,657 | 43,801
Gross Unrealized Losses |  | (113,243) | (9,638)
Investment Owned At Fair Value, Net |  | 1,468,104 | 2,376,532
Securities, at fair value(1) | [1] | 1,481,395 | 2,449,941
Securities sold short, at fair value |  | $ (13,291) | $ (73,409)
Weighted Average |  |  |
Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Weighted Average Coupon |  | 4.13% | 4.23%
Weighted Average Yield |  | 4.96% | 4.01%
Weighted average life |  | 4 years 5 months 12 days | 5 years 10 months 24 days
Long |  |  |
Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Current Principal |  | $ 1,450,751 | $ 2,355,498
Unamortized Premium (Discount) |  | (174,157) | (151,329)
Amortized Cost |  | 1,550,859 | 2,415,210
Gross Unrealized Gains |  | 43,634 | 43,738
Gross Unrealized Losses |  | (113,098) | (9,007)
Securities, at fair value(1) |  | $ 1,481,395 | $ 2,449,941
Long | Weighted Average |  |  |
Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Weighted Average Coupon |  | 4.10% | 4.15%
Weighted Average Yield |  | 5.00% | 4.09%
Weighted average life |  | 4 years 5 months 15 days | 5 years 10 months 17 days
Long | 15-year fixed-rate mortgages |  |  |
Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Current Principal |  | $ 74,791 | $ 314,636
Unamortized Premium (Discount) |  | 2,405 | 6,369
Amortized Cost |  | 77,196 | 321,005
Gross Unrealized Gains |  | 2,001 | 2,604
Gross Unrealized Losses |  | (7) | (203)
Securities, at fair value(1) |  | $ 79,190 | $ 323,406
Long | 15-year fixed-rate mortgages | Weighted Average |  |  |
Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Weighted Average Coupon |  | 3.55% | 3.05%
Weighted Average Yield |  | 2.47% | 2.28%
Weighted average life |  | 3 years 6 months 21 days | 3 years 18 days
Long | 20-year fixed-rate mortgages |  |  |
Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Current Principal |  | $ 752 | $ 804
Unamortized Premium (Discount) |  | 46 | 49
Amortized Cost |  | 798 | 853
Gross Unrealized Gains |  | 30 | 24
Gross Unrealized Losses |  | 0 | 0
Securities, at fair value(1) |  | $ 828 | $ 877
Long | 20-year fixed-rate mortgages | Weighted Average |  |  |
Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Weighted Average Coupon |  | 4.67% | 4.62%
Weighted Average Yield |  | 2.97% | 2.99%
Weighted average life |  | 3 years 11 months 15 days | 4 years 9 months 18 days
Long | 30-year fixed-rate mortgages |  |  |
Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Current Principal |  | $ 699,907 | $ 1,358,762
Unamortized Premium (Discount) |  | 32,413 | 64,846
Amortized Cost |  | 732,320 | 1,423,608
Gross Unrealized Gains |  | 22,005 | 13,821
Gross Unrealized Losses |  | (341) | (2,830)
Securities, at fair value(1) |  | $ 753,984 | $ 1,434,599
Long | 30-year fixed-rate mortgages | Weighted Average |  |  |
Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Weighted Average Coupon |  | 4.17% | 4.20%
Weighted Average Yield |  | 2.89% | 2.95%
Weighted average life |  | 3 years 10 months 20 days | 6 years 7 months 17 days
Long | Adjustable rate mortgages |  |  |
Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Current Principal |  | $ 8,645 | $ 9,651
Unamortized Premium (Discount) |  | 345 | 315
Amortized Cost |  | 8,990 | 9,966
Gross Unrealized Gains |  | 82 | 90
Gross Unrealized Losses |  | (18) | (54)
Securities, at fair value(1) |  | $ 9,054 | $ 10,002
Long | Adjustable rate mortgages | Weighted Average |  |  |
Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Weighted Average Coupon |  | 3.99% | 3.99%
Weighted Average Yield |  | 1.66% | 2.03%
Weighted average life |  | 3 years 29 days | 4 years 1 month 2 days
Long | Reverse mortgages |  |  |
Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Current Principal |  | $ 122,183 | $ 122,670
Unamortized Premium (Discount) |  | 7,747 | 8,133
Amortized Cost |  | 129,930 | 130,803
Gross Unrealized Gains |  | 2,317 | 2,023
Gross Unrealized Losses |  | (1,646) | (26)
Securities, at fair value(1) |  | $ 130,601 | $ 132,800
Long | Reverse mortgages | Weighted Average |  |  |
Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Weighted Average Coupon |  | 4.23% | 4.43%
Weighted Average Yield |  | 2.80% | 2.78%
Weighted average life |  | 6 years 1 month 20 days | 6 years 8 months 1 day
Long | Interest only securities |  |  |
Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Amortized Cost |  | $ 37,801 | $ 34,044
Gross Unrealized Gains |  | 5,442 | 1,624
Gross Unrealized Losses |  | (899) | (389)
Securities, at fair value(1) |  | $ 42,344 | $ 35,279
Long | Interest only securities | Weighted Average |  |  |
Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Weighted Average Coupon |  | 2.72% | 2.81%
Weighted Average Yield |  | 10.24% | 9.27%
Weighted average life |  | 3 years 6 months 10 days | 3 years 10 months 9 days
Long | Non-Agency RMBS |  |  |
Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Current Principal |  | $ 278,092 | $ 274,353
Unamortized Premium (Discount) |  | (112,903) | (122,685)
Amortized Cost |  | 165,189 | 151,668
Gross Unrealized Gains |  | 9,344 | 12,549
Gross Unrealized Losses |  | (15,301) | (1,081)
Securities, at fair value(1) |  | $ 159,232 | $ 163,136
Long | Non-Agency RMBS | Weighted Average |  |  |
Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Weighted Average Coupon |  | 3.01% | 3.41%
Weighted Average Yield |  | 6.02% | 7.25%
Weighted average life |  | 5 years 1 month 13 days | 5 years 3 months 21 days
Long | CMBS |  |  |
Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Current Principal |  | $ 165,470 | $ 185,417
Unamortized Premium (Discount) |  | (60,960) | (67,961)
Amortized Cost |  | 104,510 | 117,456
Gross Unrealized Gains |  | 0 | 2,990
Gross Unrealized Losses |  | (32,728) | (480)
Securities, at fair value(1) |  | $ 71,782 | $ 119,966
Long | CMBS | Weighted Average |  |  |
Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Weighted Average Coupon |  | 2.17% | 3.31%
Weighted Average Yield |  | 7.60% | 6.62%
Weighted average life |  | 8 years 11 months 15 days | 8 years 11 months 8 days
Long | Non-Agency IOs |  |  |
Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Amortized Cost |  | $ 6,044 | $ 6,517
Gross Unrealized Gains |  | 1,776 | 1,817
Gross Unrealized Losses |  | (316) | (18)
Securities, at fair value(1) |  | $ 7,504 | $ 8,316
Long | Non-Agency IOs | Weighted Average |  |  |
Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Weighted Average Coupon |  | 0.98% | 1.10%
Weighted Average Yield |  | 21.18% | 8.18%
Weighted average life |  | 3 years 5 months 12 days | 4 years 1 month 20 days
Long | CLOs |  |  |
Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Amortized Cost |  | $ 228,873 | $ 169,238
Gross Unrealized Gains |  | 156 | 4,219
Gross Unrealized Losses |  | (59,756) | (3,014)
Securities, at fair value(1) |  | $ 169,273 | $ 170,443
Long | CLOs | Weighted Average |  |  |
Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Weighted Average Coupon |  | 4.18% | 5.05%
Weighted Average Yield |  | 8.22% | 9.62%
Weighted average life |  | 4 years 9 months 10 days | 4 years 9 months
Long | Asset-backed securities, backed by consumer loans |  |  |
Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Current Principal |  | $ 77,534 | $ 67,080
Unamortized Premium (Discount) |  | (22,007) | (19,154)
Amortized Cost |  | 55,527 | 47,926
Gross Unrealized Gains |  | 193 | 1,596
Gross Unrealized Losses |  | (1,093) | (912)
Securities, at fair value(1) |  | $ 54,627 | $ 48,610
Long | Asset-backed securities, backed by consumer loans | Weighted Average |  |  |
Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Weighted Average Coupon |  | 11.68% | 12.17%
Weighted Average Yield |  | 15.13% | 14.00%
Weighted average life |  | 1 year 1 month 28 days | 1 year 2 months 19 days
Long | Corporate debt securities |  |  |
Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Current Principal |  | $ 21,953 | $ 22,125
Unamortized Premium (Discount) |  | (21,476) | (21,241)
Amortized Cost |  | 477 | 884
Gross Unrealized Gains |  | 133 | 229
Gross Unrealized Losses |  | 0 | 0
Securities, at fair value(1) |  | $ 610 | $ 1,113
Long | Corporate debt securities | Weighted Average |  |  |
Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Weighted Average Coupon |  | 0.00% | 0.00%
Weighted Average Yield |  | 0.00% | 0.00%
Weighted average life |  | 1 month 28 days | 3 months 29 days
Long | Corporate equity securities |  |  |
Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Amortized Cost |  | $ 1,547 | $ 1,242
Securities, at fair value(1) |  | 712 | 1,394
Corporate equity, gross unrealized gains |  | 155 | 152
Corporate equity, gross unrealized losses |  | (990) | 0
Long | U.S. Treasury securities |  |  |
Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Current Principal |  | 1,424 |
Unamortized Premium (Discount) |  | 233 |
Amortized Cost |  | 1,657 |
Gross Unrealized Gains |  | 0 |
Gross Unrealized Losses |  | (3) |
Securities, at fair value(1) |  | $ 1,654 |
Long | U.S. Treasury securities | Weighted Average |  |  |
Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Weighted Average Coupon |  | 2.00% |
Weighted Average Yield |  | 1.33% |
Weighted average life |  | 29 years 10 months 24 days |
Short |  |  |
Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Current Principal |  | $ (13,234) | (73,349)
Unamortized Premium (Discount) |  | 65 | 508
Investment Sold, Not yet Purchased, Sale Proceeds |  | (13,169) | (72,841)
Gross Unrealized Gains |  | 23 | 63
Gross Unrealized Losses |  | (145) | (631)
Securities sold short, at fair value |  | $ (13,291) | $ (73,409)
Short | Weighted Average |  |  |
Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Weighted Average Coupon |  | 1.22% | 1.65%
Weighted Average Yield |  | 0.41% | 1.66%
Weighted average life |  | 4 years 10 months 24 days | 5 years 5 months 26 days
Short | Corporate debt securities |  |  |
Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Current Principal |  | $ (1,650) | $ (450)
Unamortized Premium (Discount) |  | 244 | (6)
Investment Sold, Not yet Purchased, Sale Proceeds |  | (1,406) | (456)
Gross Unrealized Gains |  | 23 | 0
Gross Unrealized Losses |  | (36) | (15)
Securities sold short, at fair value |  | $ (1,419) | $ (471)
Short | Corporate debt securities | Weighted Average |  |  |
Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Weighted Average Coupon |  | 3.91% | 5.44%
Weighted Average Yield |  | 5.21% | 5.21%
Weighted average life |  | 21 years 8 months 26 days | 4 years 10 months 24 days
Short | U.S. Treasury securities |  |  |
Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Current Principal |  | $ (2,000) | $ (63,140)
Unamortized Premium (Discount) |  | (151) | 381
Investment Sold, Not yet Purchased, Sale Proceeds |  | (2,151) | (62,759)
Gross Unrealized Gains |  | 0 | 63
Gross Unrealized Losses |  | (3) | (298)
Securities sold short, at fair value |  | $ (2,154) | $ (62,994)
Short | U.S. Treasury securities | Weighted Average |  |  |
Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Weighted Average Coupon |  | 1.50% | 1.76%
Weighted Average Yield |  | 0.71% | 1.87%
Weighted average life |  | 9 years 10 months 17 days | 6 years 1 month 9 days
Short | European sovereign bonds |  |  |
Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Current Principal |  | $ (9,584) | $ (9,759)
Unamortized Premium (Discount) |  | (28) | 133
Investment Sold, Not yet Purchased, Sale Proceeds |  | (9,612) | (9,626)
Gross Unrealized Gains |  | 0 | 0
Gross Unrealized Losses |  | (106) | (318)
Securities sold short, at fair value |  | $ (9,718) | $ (9,944)
Short | European sovereign bonds | Weighted Average |  |  |
Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Weighted Average Coupon |  | 0.76% | 0.77%
Weighted Average Yield |  | 0.12% | 0.12%
Weighted average life |  | 1 year 3 months 29 days | 1 year 6 months 29 days
[1] | Ellington Financial Inc.'s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet includes assets and liabilities of variable interest entities it has consolidated. See Note 9 for additional details on Ellington Financial Inc.'s consolidated variable interest entities.

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