UWM Holdings Corp (NYSE:UWMC), the parent of United Wholesale Mortgage, suspended its quarterly dividend, raised $2.05 billion in fresh capital and reported a second-quarter loss Thursday, according to the company’s earnings release.
UWM is one of the largest mortgage lenders in the U.S., serving borrowers through mortgage brokers.
The company secured a $2.05 billion equity investment from Oaktree Capital Management and SFS Group Capital LLC, a newly formed investment vehicle owned by the family of CEO Mat Ishbia. UWM also suspended its quarterly dividend to preserve capital after reporting a second-quarter net loss of $451.9 million on revenue of $888 million. Mortgage originations totaled $39.7 billion during the quarter, down from $44.9 billion in the prior quarter but largely unchanged from a year earlier.
“We’re taking decisive action to make UWM stronger, more liquid and better positioned to win for years to come,” Ishbia said. “This is not just about capital. This is about bringing in a strategic partner that understands our business.”
Shares of UWM Holdings fell 34.78% on Thursday following the announcement.
Mortgage Rates Keep Pressure on Housing
The results came as mortgage lenders continue to navigate a difficult housing market marked by elevated borrowing costs and softer demand.
New data released Thursday by the Mortgage Bankers Association showed the average contract rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage with conforming loan balances rose to 6.81% from 6.76%, the highest level in more than a year. Total mortgage applications declined 2.9% from the previous week, while purchase applications fell 4% and refinance applications dropped 2%.
“In the wake of the July FOMC meeting, longer-term rates increased, with mortgage rates reaching their highest level in more than a year,” Mortgage Bankers Association Chief Economist Mike Fratantoni said in a release. “Application volume for both refinance and purchase loans declined for the week, and are now running behind last year’s pace, indicating that higher mortgage rates have weakened overall demand.”
Affordability Challenges Persist
Elevated mortgage rates have weighed on homebuyers for months.
HousingWire Lead Analyst Logan Mohtashami previously said mortgage rates have largely remained within a 6.5% to 6.75% range as Federal Reserve policy and geopolitical uncertainty continued to support higher long-term borrowing costs. Mortgage Bankers Association data had already shown weaker purchase demand as higher borrowing costs discouraged prospective buyers.
Earlier industry data also showed mortgage demand remained largely stagnant as borrowers increasingly turned away from adjustable-rate mortgages despite slightly lower fixed mortgage rates, reflecting continued affordability challenges.
Those affordability pressures intensified later in July as mortgage rates climbed to an 11-month high while home prices remained near record levels, adding further strain on prospective buyers even as housing inventory gradually improved.
Price Action
Shares of UWM Holdings closed Thursday down 34.78% at $1.20. The stock edged down another 0.82% to $1.19 during Friday’s premarket trading.
Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings show negative price trends across the short-, medium- and long-term time frames.
Disclaimer: This content was produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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