7 months ago
Fannie, Freddie Stocks Plunge Amid IPO Uncertainty
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are two big companies that help people get mortgages.
Their stocks have been going down because people are worried about what will happen with them.
The president has been talking about some changes that might affect these companies.
Some people think the companies might not be able to go public soon, which has made investors nervous.
The stocks are still up a lot from last year, but they have been falling recently.
There are also some new ideas about what these companies should do, which has made things even more uncertain.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac shares fell around 10% in Friday trading, extending multi-day losing streaks.
Both stocks have tumbled more than 40% from September peaks but remain up over 60% from year-ago levels.
Optimism about potential IPOs has waned due to recent proposals and uncertainty about the timing of an offering.
Trump administration proposed Fannie and Freddie purchase $200 billion in mortgage bonds, adding risk to their balance sheets.
Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte praised Trump's decision not to sell the companies during his first term.
- Who
- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, President Donald Trump, Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte
- What
- Stocks of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are falling due to uncertainty about IPO plans and recent proposals
- Where
- United States, with potential announcements at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland
- When
- Friday trading, with Fannie falling for a fifth day and Freddie down for a seventh day
- Why
- Investor uncertainty about the future of Fannie and Freddie, including potential IPOs and new housing policies
Key facts
- Stock Performance
- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac shares down around 10% in Friday trading, lowest since late November
- Year-to-Date Performance
- Both stocks up over 60% from year-ago levels
- Potential IPO Valuation
- Around $500 billion or more, with 5% to 15% of stock to be sold
- Recent Proposals
- Trump administration proposes Fannie and Freddie purchase $200 billion in mortgage bonds
- FHFA Director Statement
- Bill Pulte praises Trump's decision not to sell the companies during his first term
Quotes
Matthew Aks
Strategist at Evercore ISI
“I have heard some anecdotes of people who have been in this trade for a year and are up a good bit already just deciding now is the time to take profits and get out.”
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“He still sees a path forward for the investors, which he described as not quite full IPO but still a way where there is more upside.”
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Joseph Lupton
JPMorgan global economist
“To the extent the administration has talked in the past about letting the GSEs go private, levering them up in this way could delay their release from government control.”
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Bill Pulte
Federal Housing Finance Agency Director
“Thanks to President Trump’s decision to not sell these companies for $100 billion in his first term, Fannie and Freddie are getting stronger every day.”
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