U.S. equity markets climbed to fresh record highs this week despite a jump in producer prices, but consumer inflation remained "cool enough" to keep the Fed on-course for September rate cuts. Despite the inflation uptick in July, all three major CPI and PPI metrics remained below the annualized levels seen in January preceding the initial wave of tariffs. Ahead of the Chair Powell's "farewell tour" in Jackson Hole, the inevitability of significantly easier monetary policy by mid-2026 - at the latest- has fully taken hold in recent weeks.

AGNC Investment Corp. (NASDAQ:AGNC ) Q2 2025 Earnings Conference Call July 22, 2025 8:30 AM ET Company Participants Katherine Turlington - Investor Relations Analyst Peter Federico - President, CEO & Director and Chief Investment Officer Bernice Bell - Executive VP & CFO Conference Call Participants Douglas Harter - UBS Investment Bank, Research Division Crispin Love - Piper Sandler & Co., Research Division Trevor Cranston - Citizens JMP Securities, LLC, Research Division Bose George - Keefe, Bruyette, & Woods, Inc., Research Division Jason Weaver - JonesTrading Institutional Services, LLC, Research Division Jason Stewart - Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, Research Division Eric Hagen - BTIG, LLC, Research Division Richard Shane - JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division Harsh Hemnani - Green Street Advisors, LLC, Research Division Operator Good morning, and welcome to the AGNC Investment Corp. Second Quarter 2025 Shareholder Call. [Operator Instructions] Please note this event is being recorded.

U.S. equity markets retreated from record highs this week after the White House reignited its tariff offensive with a wave of aggressive levies and additional punitive threats. While inflation data has indicated that the 10% tariffs were efficiently absorbed, the pivot back towards Liberation Day tariff levels raises concern that recent deflationary offsets may be overwhelmed. After closing at record highs for two straight weeks, the S&P 500 retreated by 0.3% this past week, trading in a relatively tight trading range as investors geared up for earnings season.

US equity markets posted modest declines this past week after the Federal Reserve held rates steady and maintained its status quo "wait-and-see" approach, but acknowledged heightened inflation and labor market risks. Meanwhile, White House officials headed to Switzerland to begin high-level trade talks with China, which follows the announcement of the first major post-Liberation Day trade deal with the United Kingdom. Following its best two-week stretch since late 2022, the S&P 500 slipped 0.4% this week - extending its drawdown to around 8% from its mid-February record highs.

AGNC Investment Corp. (NASDAQ:AGNC ) Q1 2025 Earnings Conference Call April 22, 2025 8:30 AM ET Company Participants Katherine Turlington - IR Peter Federico - Director, President and CEO Bernice Bell - EVP and CFO Christopher Kuehl - EVP and Chief Investment Officer Conference Call Participants Bose George - KBW Crispin Love - Piper Sandler Doug Harter - UBS Trevor Cranston - JMP Securities Matthew Erdner - JonesTrading Jason Stewart - Janney Montgomery Scott Eric Hagen - BTIG Rick Shane - JPMorgan Harsh Hemnani - Green Streets Operator Good morning, and welcome to the AGNC Investment Corp. First Quarter 2025 Shareholder Call. All participants will be in listen-only mode.

AGNC has delivered subpar returns, with only 1% annualized over a decade. The bulk of this was powered by selling stock above tangible equity and not from the base business. We dive into how an income investor, even one requiring very high yields, can do better with other lower-yielding plays.

US equity markets steadied this past week while bond markets rallied as investors parsed a surprisingly solid slate of economic data and a decent start to corporate earnings season. Early week gains were pared following comments from Fed Chair Powell regarding the inflationary impact of tariffs and the reluctance of the Fed to step in to support markets. The hawkish comments sparked a series of blistering critiques by President Trump, accusing the Fed Chair of "playing politics" and posting that his "termination cannot come fast enough."

We live in a very challenging environment. Many REITs are facing severe headwinds. Don't buy just anything. Here are some of the worst REITs to buy today.

I recommended AGNCM and AGNCO preferred stocks roughly 2 years ago. The investment has achieved solid double-digit returns, outperforming the S&P500 with 40.7% and 33.4% total returns, respectively. AGNCM and AGNCO may be attractive during this recent spate of market volatility and the increase in market interest rates.

Floating rate preferreds, initially created in a zero interest rate environment, now yield around 10% due to the timing phenomenon and changes in interest rates. Key factors for analysis include company stability, size of preferred issue relative to common equity, discount/premium to par value, and adjustment above SOFR. Risks include rapid yield curve fluctuations and potential Fed rate cuts, which could lower SOFR and subsequently reduce yields on floating rate preferreds.