Earnings improved during the first quarter of 2026 among a group of 13 publicly traded nonbank companies despite choppy market conditions and slowing production.

The spread between conventional loans and FHA and VA loans last quarter were at their widest margins since 2021, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s National Delinquency Survey.

Bob Broeksmit, president and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association, is optimistic about Kevin Warsh’s appointment to lead the Fed.

Typically, when interest rates decline — as they did for much of the first quarter — the retention rate increases.

Rocket and Pennymac reduced their portfolios during the first quarter.

“Rocket is no longer solely a rate-driven business,” said Varun Krishna, CEO of the company. “We are a business with durable, recurring revenue streams that also retain significant upside when rates fall.”

The transaction includes servicing on 800,000 loans representing about $197 billion in unpaid principal balance.

Mat Ishbia, president and CEO of United Wholesale Mortgage, said management at Two Harbors is “maybe playing some games” in opting to be acquired by CrossCountry Mortgage rather than by UWM.

The improvement was largely tied to changes in the value of mortgage servicing rights.

Earnings were depressed for both production and servicing.