Published on August 3, 2010
| 
                 MFA 
                FINANCIAL,
      INC. 
                350
      Park Avenue 
                New
      York, New York 10022 
               | 
              
                 
 | 
            
| PRESS RELEASE | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | |
| August 3, 2010 | NEW YORK METRO | |
| CONTACT: | 
               MFA Investor
      Relations 
              800-892-7547 
              www.mfa-reit.com 
             | 
            NYSE: MFA | 
MFA
Financial, Inc.
    Announces
Second Quarter 2010 Financial Results
    
MFA
Financial, Inc. (NYSE:MFA) today announced financial results for the quarter
ended June 30, 2010. Recent
financial results and other significant highlights for MFA include:
    | 
               ·   
             | 
            
               Second
      quarter net income per common share of $0.16 and Core Earnings (as defined
      below) per common share of $0.18. 
             | 
          
| 
               ·   
             | 
            
               Book
      value was $7.61 per common share at the end of the second
      quarter. 
             | 
          
| 
               ·   
             | 
            
               In
      the second quarter, Non-Agency residential MBS (“Non-Agency MBS”)
      (including MBS underlying MBS Forwards) held by MFResidential Assets I,
      LLC (“MFR LLC”) generated, on an unlevered basis, a loss-adjusted yield of
      10.3%. 
             | 
          
| 
               ·   
             | 
            
               Based
      on MFR LLC Non-Agency MBS asset performance exceeding prior expectations,
      $81.0 million of the purchase discount on these assets was reallocated in
      the second quarter from credit reserve into accretable discount. Together
      with coupon interest, accretable discount is recognized as interest income
      over the life of the asset. Therefore, we expect that this $81.0 million
      will be reflected in income over the life of these Non-Agency
      MBS. 
             | 
          
| 
               ·   
             | 
            
               Agency
      MBS prepayment rates are expected to decline in the third
      quarter. 
             | 
          
| 
               ·   
             | 
            
               It
      is currently anticipated that Core Earnings per common share will increase
      in the third quarter due to both the expected decline in Agency MBS
      prepayment rates leading to lower premium amortization expense and
      continued reinvestment of cash received from MBS principal
      repayments. 
             | 
          
For the
second quarter ended June 30, 2010, MFA generated net income available to common
stock of $46.3 million, or $0.16 per share of common stock.  For the
second quarter, Core Earnings (as defined below) were $51.3 million, or $0.18
per share of common stock.  “Core Earnings” for the quarter represents
a non-GAAP financial measure which reflects net income excluding impairment
losses and changes in the unrealized net gains on MBS Forwards.  On
July 1, 2010, MFA announced its second quarter 2010 dividend of $0.19 per share
of common stock, which was paid on July 30, 2010 to stockholders of record as of
July 12, 2010.
    Stewart
Zimmerman, MFA’s Chairman of the Board and CEO, said, “MFA continues to provide
stockholders with attractive returns through appropriately leveraged investments
in residential MBS.  Second quarter 2010 results were negatively
impacted by extremely high Agency MBS prepayment rates, due primarily to
programs instituted by the GSEs to buyout 120+ day delinquent loans in their
Agency MBS pools.  For the second quarter of 2010, our weighted
average Agency MBS prepayment rate as measured by CPR was 42.7%, compared to
25.6% for the first quarter of 2010.  Prepayments on MBS acquired at a
premium reduce earnings as the premium is amortized based on
prepayments.  With the completion of the initial implementation of the
buyout programs, we believe that our Agency MBS prepayment rates will decline in
the third quarter.  Our goal remains to position MFA to generate
double-digit returns on equity over time, and we continue to take advantage of
investment opportunities by identifying and acquiring Non-Agency MBS with
superior loss-adjusted yields at prices significantly below par.”
    William
Gorin, MFA’s President and CFO, added, “By blending Non-Agency and Agency MBS,
we seek to generate attractive returns with both reduced leverage and decreased
sensitivity to prepayments.  In the second quarter, we grew our
Non-Agency MBS portfolio through the purchase of $332.7 million of Non-Agency
MBS (including $51.1 million of MBS underlying MBS Forwards).  We
currently project that over half of our third quarter Core Earnings will be
generated by Non-Agency MBS.  In the second quarter, we acquired
$1.469 billion of Agency MBS, including $232.5 million of newer production
15-year amortizing MBS.  These Agency MBS purchases more than offset
the Agency MBS prepayments experienced during the second quarter.  The
average cost basis of MFA’s Agency MBS portfolio was 101.5% of par at June 30,
2010.”
    MFA has
substantially reduced its reliance on leverage through repurchase
financings.  As of June 30, 2010, MFA’s debt-to-equity multiple was
2.8x versus 4.8x as of June 30, 2009.  By utilizing less leverage, MFA
believes that future earnings will be less sensitive to changes in interest
rates and the yield curve.
    With a
focus on quantifying and pricing credit risk and expected return in the asset
selection process, MFA continues to take advantage of the investment
opportunities in Non-Agency MBS.  At June 30, 2010, MFR LLC held
Non-Agency MBS (including Non-Agency MBS underlying MBS Forwards) with a fair
value of $1.810 billion.  These Non-Agency MBS had a face amount of
$2.502 billion, an amortized cost of $1.623 billion (64.9% of face amount) and a
purchase discount of $878.8 million. This discount consists of a $629.7 million
credit reserve and a $249.1 million accretable discount. In addition, at June
30, 2010, these Non-Agency MBS had structured credit enhancement of 8.4%. This
structured credit enhancement, along with the highly discounted purchase price,
mitigates MFA’s risk of loss on these investments.  Unlike MFA’s
Agency MBS, due to their discounted purchase prices, the return on Non-Agency
MBS will increase if the prepayment rates on these securities trend
up.
    During
the second quarter of 2010, MFA’s interest-earning asset portfolio net yield was
4.42%, its cost of funds was 2.34%, and its portfolio spread was 2.08%
(including MBS underlying MBS Forwards, the net yield was 4.59%, the cost of
funds was 2.31% and the portfolio spread was 2.28%).  In the second
quarter, MFA recognized in earnings, impairment losses of $5.4 million on six of
its Legacy Non-Agency MBS, which are comprised of Non-Agency MBS that were
purchased directly by MFA prior to July 2007.  MFA’s book value per
common share as of June 30, 2010 includes a negative interest rate swap
valuation of $167.7 million from existing interest rate hedges.  As of
June 30, 2010, under our swap agreements, MFA had an average fixed pay rate of
interest of 3.86% and a floating receive rate of 0.38% on notional balances
totaling $3.176 billion, with an average maturity of 25 months.  In
the second quarter of 2010, MFA’s costs for compensation and benefits and other
general and administrative expenses were $6.2 million.
    In the
second quarter, MFA continued to implement its asset allocation
strategy.  MFA anticipates that the majority of its assets will
continue to be whole pool Agency MBS.  MFA’s repo financing continues
to be provided from multiple sources.  The following table presents
our asset allocation as of June 30, 2010 and the second quarter 2010 yield, cost
of funds and spread for our various asset types.
    | 
                           ASSET
      ALLOCATION 
                         | 
                        
                            (1) 
                         | 
                        ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 
                           At
      June 30, 2010 
                         | 
                        
                           Agency
      MBS 
                         | 
                        
                           MFR
      MBS 
                         | 
                        
                           (2) 
                         | 
                        
                           Legacy Non-Agency
      MBS 
                         | 
                        
                           Cash 
                         | 
                        
                            (3) 
                         | 
                        
                           Other,
      net 
                         | 
                        
                           (4) 
                         | 
                        
                           Total 
                         | 
                        ||||||||||||||||||
| 
                           ($
      in Millions) 
                         | 
                        |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 
                           Amortized
      Cost 
                         | 
                        
                           $ 
                         | 
                        
                           6,171  
                         | 
                        
                           $ 
                         | 
                        
                            1,623  
                         | 
                        
                           $ 
                         | 
                        
                            236  
                         | 
                        
                           $ 
                         | 
                        
                            575  
                         | 
                        
                           $ 
                         | 
                        
                            43  
                         | 
                        
                           $ 
                         | 
                        
                            8,648  
                         | 
                        |||||||||||||||
| 
                           Asset
      Fair Value 
                         | 
                        
                           $ 
                         | 
                        
                           6,386  
                         | 
                        
                           $ 
                         | 
                        
                            1,810  
                         | 
                        
                           $ 
                         | 
                        
                            198  
                         | 
                        
                           $ 
                         | 
                        
                            575  
                         | 
                        
                           $ 
                         | 
                        
                            43  
                         | 
                        
                           $ 
                         | 
                        
                            9,012  
                         | 
                        |||||||||||||||
| 
                           Less
      Repurchase Agreements 
                         | 
                        
                           (5,573) 
                         | 
                        
                            (929) 
                         | 
                        
                            (114) 
                         | 
                        
                            -  
                         | 
                        
                            -  
                         | 
                        
                            (6,616) 
                         | 
                        |||||||||||||||||||||
| 
                           =
      Equity Allocated 
                         | 
                        
                           $ 
                         | 
                        
                           813  
                         | 
                        
                           $ 
                         | 
                        
                            881  
                         | 
                        
                           $ 
                         | 
                        
                            84  
                         | 
                        
                           $ 
                         | 
                        
                            575  
                         | 
                        
                           $ 
                         | 
                        
                            43  
                         | 
                        
                           $ 
                         | 
                        
                            2,396  
                         | 
                        |||||||||||||||
| 
                           Swaps
      at Fair Value 
                         | 
                        
                            -  
                         | 
                        
                            -  
                         | 
                        
                            -  
                         | 
                        
                            -  
                         | 
                        
                            (168) 
                         | 
                        
                            (168) 
                         | 
                        |||||||||||||||||||||
| 
                           =
      Net Equity Allocated 
                         | 
                        
                           $ 
                         | 
                        
                           813  
                         | 
                        
                           $ 
                         | 
                        
                            881  
                         | 
                        
                           $ 
                         | 
                        
                            84  
                         | 
                        
                           $ 
                         | 
                        
                            575  
                         | 
                        
                           $ 
                         | 
                        
                            (125) 
                         | 
                        
                           $ 
                         | 
                        
                            2,228  
                         | 
                        |||||||||||||||
| 
                           Debt/Net
      Equity Ratio (5) 
                         | 
                        
                           | 
                        
                           6.9  
                         | 
                        
                           x 
                         | 
                        
                           1.1  
                         | 
                        
                           x 
                         | 
                        
                           1.4  
                         | 
                        
                           x 
                         | 
                        
                            -  
                         | 
                        
                            -  
                         | 
                        
                           3.0  
                         | 
                        
                           x 
                         | 
                        ||||||||||||||||
| 
                           For the Quarter Ended June 30,
      2010 
                         | 
                        |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 
                           Yield
      on Assets 
                         | 
                        
                           3.61  
                         | 
                        
                           % 
                         | 
                        
                           10.30  
                         | 
                        
                           % 
                         | 
                        
                           5.37  
                         | 
                        
                           % 
                         | 
                        
                           0.07  
                         | 
                        
                           % 
                         | 
                        
                           4.59  
                         | 
                        
                           % 
                         | 
                      |||||||||||||||||
| 
                           Less
      Cost of Funds 
                         | 
                        
                           2.41  
                         | 
                        
                           (6) 
                         | 
                        
                           1.72  
                         | 
                        
                           2.14  
                         | 
                        
                           -  
                         | 
                        
                           2.31  
                         | 
                        |||||||||||||||||||||
| 
                           Spread 
                         | 
                        
                           1.20  
                         | 
                        
                           % 
                         | 
                        
                           8.58  
                         | 
                        
                           % 
                         | 
                        
                           3.23  
                         | 
                        
                           % 
                         | 
                        
                           0.07  
                         | 
                        
                           % 
                         | 
                        
                           2.28  
                         | 
                        
                           % 
                         | 
                      |||||||||||||||||
| 
                           (1)  Information
      presented with respect to MFR MBS, related repurchase agreement borrowings
      and resulting totals are presented on a non-GAAP basis.  See the
      accompanying Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial
  Measures. 
                         | 
                      |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 
                           (2)
      Includes Non-Agency MBS and repurchase agreements underlying MBS
      Forwards.  The purchase of a Non-Agency MBS and repurchase
      financing of this MBS with the same counterparty are considered part of
      the same arrangement, or a “linked transaction.”  The two
      components of a linked transaction (MBS purchase and repurchase financing)
      are not reported separately but are netted together and reported as a
      derivative instrument, specifically as a forward contract which is
      reported on MFA's consolidated balance sheet as MBS
    Forwards. 
                         | 
                      |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 
                           (3)
      Includes cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash. 
                         | 
                        |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 
                           (4)
      Includes interest receivable, real estate, goodwill, prepaid and other
      assets, interest payable, interest rate swap agreements at fair value,
      dividends payable and accrued expenses and other
    liabilities. 
                         | 
                      |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 
                           (5)
      Represents repurchase agreements as a multiple of net equity
      allocated. 
                         | 
                        |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 
                           (6)
      Includes effect of Swaps. 
                         | 
                        |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MFA takes
into account both coupon resets and expected prepayments when measuring the
sensitivity of its MBS portfolio to changing interest rates. MFA’s MBS are
primarily hybrids which have an initial fixed interest rate for a specified
period of time and, thereafter, generally reset annually.  In
measuring its assets-to-borrowing repricing gap (“Repricing Gap”), MFA measures
the difference between:  (a) the weighted average months until coupon
adjustment or projected prepayment on its MBS portfolio; and (b) the months
remaining on its repurchase agreements including the impact of interest rate
swap agreements.  Assuming a 15% constant prepayment rate (“CPR”), as
of June 30, 2010, the weighted average time to repricing or assumed prepayment
for MFA’s MBS portfolio was approximately 29 months and the average term
remaining on its repurchase agreements, including the impact of interest rate
swaps, was approximately 13 months, resulting in a Repricing Gap of
approximately 16 months (including MBS and repurchase agreements underlying MBS
Forwards). The weighted average prepayment speed on MFA’s MBS portfolio
(including MBS underlying MBS Forwards) was 35.9% CPR during the second quarter
of 2010.
    Stockholders
interested in participating in MFA’s Discount Waiver, Direct Stock Purchase and
Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”) or receiving a Plan prospectus may do so
by contacting The Bank of New York Mellon, the Plan administrator, at
1-866-249-2610 (toll free).  For more information about the Plan,
interested stockholders may also go to the website established for the Plan at
http://www.bnymellon.com/shareowner/isd or visit MFA’s website at
www.mfa-reit.com. 
    MFA will
hold a conference call on Tuesday, August 3, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. (New York City
time) to discuss its second quarter 2010 financial results.  The
number to dial in order to listen to the conference call is (800) 762-7308 in
the U.S. and Canada.  International callers must dial (480)
629-9025.  The replay will be available through Tuesday, August 10,
2010 at 11:59 p.m., and can be accessed by dialing (800) 475-6701 in the U.S.
and Canada or (320) 365-3844 internationally and entering access
code:  166842.  The conference call will also be webcast
over the internet and can be accessed at http://www.mfa-reit.com through the
appropriate link on MFA’s Investor Information page or, alternatively, at
http://www.ccbn.com.  To listen to the call over the internet, go to
the applicable website at least 15 minutes before the call to register and to
download and install any needed audio software.
    When used
in this press release or other written or oral communications, statements which
are not historical in nature, including those containing words such as
“believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “plan,” “continue,” “intend,”
“should,” “may” or similar expressions, are intended to identify
“forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, and, as such, may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
assumptions. Statements regarding the following subjects, among others, may be
forward-looking: changes in interest rates and the market value of MFA’s MBS;
changes in the prepayment rates on the mortgage loans securing MFA’s MBS; MFA’s
ability to borrow to finance its assets; implementation of or changes in
government regulations or programs affecting MFA’s business; MFA’s ability to
maintain its qualification as a REIT for federal income tax purposes; MFA’s
ability to maintain its exemption from registration under the Investment Company
Act of 1940; and risks associated with investing in real estate assets,
including changes in business conditions and the general economy. These and
other risks, uncertainties and factors, including those described in the annual,
quarterly and current reports that MFA files with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, could cause MFA’s actual results to differ materially from those
projected in any forward-looking statements it makes. All forward-looking
statements speak only as of the date on which they are made. New risks and
uncertainties arise over time and it is not possible to predict those events or
how they may affect MFA. Except as required by law, MFA is not obligated to, and
does not intend to, update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as
a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
    MFA
FINANCIAL, INC.
        CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEETS
        | 
                                           June
      30, 
                                         | 
                                        
                                           December
      31, 
                                         | 
                                        |||||||
| 
                                           2010 
                                         | 
                                        
                                           2009 
                                         | 
                                        |||||||
| 
                                           (In
      Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) 
                                         | 
                                        
                                           (Unaudited) 
                                         | 
                                        |||||||
| 
                                           Assets: 
                                         | 
                                        ||||||||
| 
                                           Agency
      mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”), at fair value ($6,076,860
      and 
                                         | 
                                        ||||||||
| 
                                             $7,597,136
      pledged, respectively) 
                                         | 
                                        $ | 6,385,570 | $ | 7,664,851 | ||||
| 
                                           Non-Agency
      MBS, at fair value ($1,030,954 and $240,694 pledged,
      respectively) 
                                         | 
                                        1,564,021 | 1,093,103 | ||||||
| 
                                           Cash
      and cash equivalents 
                                         | 
                                        531,543 | 653,460 | ||||||
| 
                                           Restricted
      cash 
                                         | 
                                        43,393 | 67,504 | ||||||
| 
                                           Forward
      contracts to repurchase MBS (“MBS Forwards”), at fair
value 
                                         | 
                                        104,031 | 86,014 | ||||||
| 
                                           Interest
      receivable 
                                         | 
                                        34,641 | 41,775 | ||||||
| 
                                           Real
      estate, net 
                                         | 
                                        10,883 | 10,998 | ||||||
| 
                                           Goodwill 
                                         | 
                                        7,189 | 7,189 | ||||||
| 
                                           Prepaid
      and other assets 
                                         | 
                                        3,063 | 2,315 | ||||||
| 
                                                Total
      Assets 
                                         | 
                                        $ | 8,684,334 | $ | 9,627,209 | ||||
| 
                                           Liabilities: 
                                         | 
                                        ||||||||
| 
                                           Repurchase
      agreements 
                                         | 
                                        $ | 6,274,220 | $ | 7,195,827 | ||||
| 
                                           Accrued
      interest payable 
                                         | 
                                        7,770 | 13,274 | ||||||
| 
                                           Mortgage
      payable on real estate 
                                         | 
                                        - | 9,143 | ||||||
| 
                                           Interest
      rate swap agreements, at fair value 
                                         | 
                                        167,679 | 152,463 | ||||||
| 
                                           Dividends
      and dividend equivalents rights payable 
                                         | 
                                        487 | 76,286 | ||||||
| 
                                           Accrued
      expenses and other liabilities 
                                         | 
                                        6,021 | 11,954 | ||||||
| 
                                                Total
      Liabilities 
                                         | 
                                        $ | 6,456,177 | $ | 7,458,947 | ||||
| 
                                           Commitments
      and contingencies 
                                         | 
                                        ||||||||
| 
                                           Stockholders'
      Equity: 
                                         | 
                                        ||||||||
| 
                                           Preferred
      stock, $.01 par value; series A 8.50% cumulative
    redeemable; 
                                         | 
                                        ||||||||
| 
                                             5,000
      shares authorized; 3,840 shares issued and
      outstanding  ($96,000 
                                         | 
                                        ||||||||
| 
                                             aggregate
      liquidation preference) 
                                         | 
                                        $ | 38 | $ | 38 | ||||
| 
                                           Common
      stock, $.01 par value; 370,000 shares authorized; 
                                         | 
                                        ||||||||
| 
                                             280,268
      and 280,078 issued and outstanding, respectively 
                                         | 
                                        2,803 | 2,801 | ||||||
| 
                                           Additional
      paid-in capital, in excess of par 
                                         | 
                                        2,182,444 | 2,180,605 | ||||||
| 
                                           Accumulated
      deficit 
                                         | 
                                        (142,906 | ) | (202,189 | ) | ||||
| 
                                           Accumulated
      other comprehensive income 
                                         | 
                                        185,778 | 187,007 | ||||||
| 
                                                Total
      Stockholders’ Equity 
                                         | 
                                        $ | 2,228,157 | $ | 2,168,262 | ||||
| 
                                                Total
      Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity 
                                         | 
                                        $ | 8,684,334 | $ | 9,627,209 | ||||
MFA
FINANCIAL, INC.
        CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
      | 
                                                 Three
      Months Ended 
                                               | 
                                              
                                                 Six
      Months Ended 
                                               | 
                                              ||||||||||||||
| 
                                                 June
      30, 
                                               | 
                                              
                                                 June
      30, 
                                               | 
                                              ||||||||||||||
| 
                                                 (In
      Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) 
                                               | 
                                              
                                                 2010 
                                               | 
                                              
                                                 2009 
                                               | 
                                              
                                                 2010 
                                               | 
                                              
                                                 2009 
                                               | 
                                              |||||||||||
| 
                                                 (Unaudited) 
                                               | 
                                              |||||||||||||||
| 
                                                 Interest
      Income: 
                                               | 
                                              |||||||||||||||
| 
                                                 MBS 
                                               | 
                                              $ | 88,515 | $ | 126,477 | $ | 196,159 | $ | 258,630 | |||||||
| 
                                                 Cash
      and cash equivalent investments 
                                               | 
                                              112 | 260 | 165 | 871 | |||||||||||
| 
                                                 Interest
      Income 
                                               | 
                                              88,627 | 126,737 | 196,324 | 259,501 | |||||||||||
| 
                                                 Interest
      Expense 
                                               | 
                                              35,741 | 58,006 | 74,192 | 130,143 | |||||||||||
| 
                                                 Net
      Interest Income 
                                               | 
                                              52,886 | 68,731 | 122,132 | 129,358 | |||||||||||
| 
                                                 Other-Than-Temporary
      Impairments: 
                                               | 
                                              |||||||||||||||
| 
                                                 Total
      other-than-temporary impairment losses 
                                               | 
                                              (3,370 | ) | (76,586 | ) | (3,370 | ) | (78,135 | ) | |||||||
| 
                                                 Portion
      of loss (reclassified from)/recognized in other 
                                               | 
                                              (2,042 | ) | 69,126 | (2,042 | ) | 69,126 | |||||||||
| 
                                                 comprehensive
      income 
                                               | 
                                              |||||||||||||||
| 
                                                 Net
      Impairment Losses Recognized in Earnings 
                                               | 
                                              (5,412 | ) | (7,460 | ) | (5,412 | ) | (9,009 | ) | |||||||
| 
                                                 Other
      Income, Net: 
                                               | 
                                              |||||||||||||||
| 
                                                 Gain
      on MBS Forwards, net 
                                               | 
                                              7,197 | - | 19,997 | - | |||||||||||
| 
                                                 Gain
      on sale of MBS, net 
                                               | 
                                              - | 13,495 | 33,739 | 13,495 | |||||||||||
| 
                                                 Revenue
      from operations of real estate 
                                               | 
                                              357 | 384 | 731 | 767 | |||||||||||
| 
                                                 Loss
      on termination of repurchase agreements 
                                               | 
                                              - | - | (26,815 | ) | - | ||||||||||
| 
                                                 Miscellaneous
      other (loss)/income, net 
                                               | 
                                              - | (1 | ) | - | 43 | ||||||||||
| 
                                                 Other
      Income, Net 
                                               | 
                                              7,554 | 13,878 | 27,652 | 14,305 | |||||||||||
| 
                                                 Operating
      and Other Expense: 
                                               | 
                                              |||||||||||||||
| 
                                                 Compensation
      and benefits 
                                               | 
                                              4,053 | 3,612 | 8,421 | 7,114 | |||||||||||
| 
                                                 Other
      general and administrative expense 
                                               | 
                                              2,139 | 1,978 | 3,992 | 3,846 | |||||||||||
| 
                                                 Real
      estate operating expense, mortgage interest and 
                                               | 
                                              546 | 453 | 992 | 915 | |||||||||||
| 
                                                 prepayment
      penalty 
                                               | 
                                              |||||||||||||||
| 
                                                 Operating
      and Other Expense 
                                               | 
                                              6,738 | 6,043 | 13,405 | 11,875 | |||||||||||
| 
                                                 Net
      Income 
                                               | 
                                              48,290 | 69,106 | 130,967 | 122,779 | |||||||||||
| 
                                                 Less:  Preferred
      Stock Dividends 
                                               | 
                                              2,040 | 2,040 | 4,080 | 4,080 | |||||||||||
| 
                                                 Net
      Income Available to Common Stock and 
                                               | 
                                              $ | 46,250 | $ | 67,066 | $ | 126,887 | $ | 118,699 | |||||||
| 
                                                 Participating
      Securities 
                                               | 
                                              |||||||||||||||
| 
                                                 Income
      Per Share of Common Stock: 
                                               | 
                                              |||||||||||||||
| 
                                                 Basic
      and Diluted 
                                               | 
                                              $ | 0.16 | $ | 0.30 | $ | 0.45 | $ | 0.53 | |||||||
| 
                                                 Dividends
      Declared Per Share of Common 
                                               | 
                                              |||||||||||||||
| 
                                                 Stock 
                                               | 
                                              $ | 0.24 | $ | 0.22 | $ | 0.24 | $ | 0.22 | |||||||
Reconciliations
of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
    This
press release contains disclosures related to MFA’s Core Earnings, Core Earnings
per common share, investments in Non-Agency MBS, and returns on such assets for
the three months ended June 30, 2010, which may constitute non-GAAP financial
measures within the meaning of Regulation G as promulgated by the Securities and
Exchange Commission.  MFA’s management believes that these non-GAAP
financial measures presented in its press release, when considered together with
GAAP financial measures, provide information that is useful to investors in
understanding period-over-period operating results and balance sheet
composition.  An analysis of any non-GAAP financial measure should be
used in conjunction with results presented in accordance with GAAP.
    Core
Earnings and Core Earnings per common share for the quarter ended June 30, 2010
are not measures of performance in accordance with GAAP, as they exclude
impairment losses recognized through earnings and unrealized gains on MBS
underlying our MBS Forwards.  These excluded items are difficult to
predict, and MFA believes that Core Earnings provides investors with a valuable
measure of the performance of the Company’s ongoing business.  MFA’s
management believes that Core Earnings and Core Earnings per common share
provide useful supplemental information to both management and investors in
evaluating our financial results.  Reconciliations of the GAAP items
discussed above to their non-GAAP measures for the three months ended June 30,
2010 are as follows:
    | 
                                                       
Three
      Months Ended June
      30, 2010
 
                                                     | 
                                                  ||||||
| 
                                                       (In
      Thousands, Except Per Share Amount) 
                                                     | 
                                                    
                                                       Reconciliation 
                                                     | 
                                                    
                                                       Basic
      and Diluted  
                                                      EPS 
                                                     | 
                                                  ||||
| 
                                                       GAAP
      Net Income Available to Common Stock and 
                                                     | 
                                                    
                                                       $ 
                                                     | 
                                                    
                                                       46,250  
                                                     | 
                                                    
                                                       $ 
                                                     | 
                                                    
                                                       0.16  
                                                     | 
                                                  ||
| 
                                                          
      Participating Securities/EPS 
                                                     | 
                                                    ||||||
| 
                                                       Non-GAAP
      Adjustments: 
                                                     | 
                                                    ||||||
| 
                                                          
      Impairment Losses Recognized in Earnings 
                                                     | 
                                                    
                                                       5,412  
                                                     | 
                                                    
                                                       0.02  
                                                     | 
                                                  ||||
| 
                                                          
      Changes in Net Unrealized Gains on MBS Forwards 
                                                     | 
                                                    
                                                       (374) 
                                                     | 
                                                    
                                                       -  
                                                     | 
                                                  ||||
| 
                                                       Core
      Earnings/Core Earnings per Common Share 
                                                     | 
                                                    
                                                       $ 
                                                     | 
                                                    
                                                       51,288  
                                                     | 
                                                    
                                                       $ 
                                                     | 
                                                    
                                                       0.18  
                                                     | 
                                                  ||
| 
                                                       Weighted
      average common shares outstanding - basic 
                                                     | 
                                                    
                                                       280,188  
                                                     | 
                                                    |||||
| 
                                                       Weighted
      average common shares outstanding - diluted 
                                                     | 
                                                    
                                                       280,490  
                                                     | 
                                                    |||||
As
previously described, certain MFR MBS purchases are presented as linked
transactions in MFA’s GAAP financial statements for the quarter ended June 30,
2010.  In assessing the performance of the MFR MBS portfolio, MFA’s
management does not view these transactions as linked, but rather views the
performance of the linked MBS and the related repurchase financing as it would
any other Non-Agency MBS that is not part of a linked
transaction.  These non-GAAP financial measures enhance the ability of
investors to analyze the performance of MFA’s Non-Agency MBS in the same way
that MFA’s management assesses such assets.  These Non-Agency
financial measures do not, however, take into account the effect of the
recognized changes in mark-to-market values in MFA’s earnings, which are
included in GAAP earnings, as a component of the net gain on MBS Forwards for
the periods presented.
    Information
pertaining to MFA’s Non-Agency MBS that are a component of linked transactions
are reconciled below at and for the three months ended June 30, 2010 with the
most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP,
as follows:
    | 
                                                                                   Adjustments
      to Include 
                                                                                 | 
                                                                                ||||||||||||
| 
                                                                                   Assets/Liabilities 
                                                                                 | 
                                                                                ||||||||||||
| 
                                                                                   GAAP
      Based 
                                                                                 | 
                                                                                
                                                                                   Underlying
      MBS 
                                                                                 | 
                                                                                
                                                                                   Non-GAAP 
                                                                                 | 
                                                                                ||||||||||
| 
                                                                                   (Dollars
      in Thousands) 
                                                                                 | 
                                                                                
                                                                                   Information 
                                                                                 | 
                                                                                
                                                                                   Forwards 
                                                                                 | 
                                                                                
                                                                                   Presentation 
                                                                                 | 
                                                                                |||||||||
| 
                                                                                   At June 30, 2010: 
                                                                                 | 
                                                                                ||||||||||||
| 
                                                                                   Repurchase
      Agreement Borrowings (Debt) 
                                                                                 | 
                                                                                $ | 6,274,220 | $ | 342,037 | (1) | $ | 6,616,257 | |||||
| 
                                                                                   Stockholders'
      Equity 
                                                                                 | 
                                                                                $ | 2,228,157 | $ | 2,228,157 | ||||||||
| 
                                                                                   Debt-to-Equity
      (Debt/Stockholders' Equity) 
                                                                                 | 
                                                                                2.8 | x | 3.0 | x | ||||||||
| 
                                                                                   For the Three Months Ended June 30,
      2010: 
                                                                                 | 
                                                                                ||||||||||||
| 
                                                                                   Average
      Interest Earning Assets 
                                                                                 | 
                                                                                $ | 8,022,281 | $ | 421,187 | (2) | $ | 8,443,468 | |||||
| 
                                                                                   Interest
      Income 
                                                                                 | 
                                                                                $ | 88,627 | $ | 8,225 | $ | 96,852 | ||||||
| 
                                                                                   Yield
      on Interest Earning Assets 
                                                                                 | 
                                                                                4.42 | % | 7.81 | % | 4.59 | % | ||||||
| 
                                                                                   Average
      Repurchase Agreement Borrowings 
                                                                                 | 
                                                                                $ | 6,129,448 | $ | 332,639 | (1) | $ | 6,462,087 | |||||
| 
                                                                                   Interest
      Expense 
                                                                                 | 
                                                                                $ | 35,741 | $ | 1,402 | $ | 37,143 | ||||||
| 
                                                                                   Cost
      of Fund 
                                                                                 | 
                                                                                2.34 | % | 1.69 | % | 2.31 | % | ||||||
| 
                                                                                   Net
      Interest Rate Spread 
                                                                                 | 
                                                                                2.08 | % | 6.12 | % | 2.28 | % | ||||||
| 
                                                                                   (1) Represents
      borrowings under repurchase agreements underlying MBS
      Forwards. 
                                                                                 | 
                                                                                ||||||||||||
| 
                                                                                   (2) Represents Non-Agency
      MBS underlying MBS Forwards. 
                                                                                 | 
                                                                                ||||||||||||
| 
                     The
      table below reconciles MFA’s MFR MBS and related repurchase agreement
      borrowings on a GAAP basis to reflect on a combined basis its MFR MBS and
      related repurchase agreements underlying its MBS Forwards, which is a
      non-GAAP financial measure.  In accordance with this non-GAAP
      presentation, MFA has also presented certain resulting performance
      measures on a non-GAAP basis. 
                   | 
                
| 
                                                           Adjustments
      to Include 
                                                         | 
                                                        |||||||||||
| 
                                                           Assets/Liabilities 
                                                         | 
                                                        |||||||||||
| 
                                                            GAAP
      Based 
                                                         | 
                                                        
                                                           Underlying
      MBS 
                                                         | 
                                                        
                                                           Non-GAAP 
                                                         | 
                                                        |||||||||
| 
                                                           (Dollars
      in Thousands) 
                                                         | 
                                                        
                                                           Information 
                                                         | 
                                                        
                                                           Forwards
      (1)(2) 
                                                         | 
                                                        
                                                           Presentation 
                                                         | 
                                                        ||||||||
| 
                                                           At June 30, 2010: 
                                                         | 
                                                        |||||||||||
| 
                                                           Amortized
      Cost of MFR MBS 
                                                         | 
                                                        $ | 1,189,207 | $ | 433,821 | $ | 1,623,028 | |||||
| 
                                                           Fair
      Value of MFR MBS 
                                                         | 
                                                        $ | 1,365,752 | $ | 444,257 | $ | 1,810,009 | |||||
| 
                                                           Face/Par
      Value of MFR MBS 
                                                         | 
                                                        $ | 1,981,173 | $ | 520,686 | $ | 2,501,859 | |||||
| 
                                                           Purchase
      Discount Designated as Credit Reserve 
                                                         | 
                                                        $ | (582,909 | ) | $ | (46,779 | ) | $ | (629,688 | ) | ||
| 
                                                           Purchase
      Discount Designated as Accretable 
                                                         | 
                                                        (209,057 | ) | (40,086 | ) | (249,143 | ) | |||||
| 
                                                             Total
      Purchase Discount of MFR MBS 
                                                         | 
                                                        $ | (791,966 | ) | $ | (86,865 | ) | $ | (878,831 | ) | ||
| 
                                                           MFR
      Repurchase Agreements 
                                                         | 
                                                        $ | 587,200 | $ | 342,037 | $ | 929,237 | |||||
| 
                                                           For the Three Months Ended June 30,
      2010: 
                                                         | 
                                                        |||||||||||
| 
                                                           MFR
      MBS Average Amortized Cost 
                                                         | 
                                                        $ | 1,089,384 | $ | 421,187 | $ | 1,510,571 | |||||
| 
                                                           MFR
      Average Repurchase Agreement Borrowings 
                                                         | 
                                                        $ | 585,870 | $ | 332,639 | $ | 918,509 | |||||
| 
                                                           Coupon
      Interest on MFR MBS 
                                                         | 
                                                        $ | 21,844 | $ | 5,655 | $ | 27,499 | |||||
| 
                                                           Discount
      Accretion on MFR MBS 
                                                         | 
                                                        8,832 | 2,570 | 11,402 | ||||||||
| 
                                                           Interest
      Income on MFR MBS 
                                                         | 
                                                        $ | 30,676 | $ | 8,225 | $ | 38,901 | |||||
| 
                                                           Interest
      Expense on MFR Repurchase Agreement 
                                                         | 
                                                        |||||||||||
| 
                                                             Borrowings 
                                                         | 
                                                        $ | 2,534 | $ | 1,402 | $ | 3,936 | |||||
| 
                                                           Net
      Asset Yield on MFR MBS 
                                                         | 
                                                        11.26 | % | 7.81 | % | 10.30 | % | |||||
| 
                                                           MFR
      Cost of Funds 
                                                         | 
                                                        1.73 | % | 1.69 | % | 1.72 | % | |||||
| 
                                                           MFR
      Spread 
                                                         | 
                                                        9.53 | % | 6.12 | % | 8.58 | % | |||||
| 
                                                           (1) Represents
      borrowings under repurchase agreements underlying MBS
      Forwards. 
                                                         | 
                                                        |||||||||||
| 
                                                           (2) Represents Non-Agency
      MBS underlying MBS Forwards. 
                                                         | 
                                                        |||||||||||