A 12%+ yield is only half the story—here’s what’s driving the
setup for 2026. ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏
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 ͏  ͏  ͏



 

[Morning Watchlist]

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THIS 12% YIELDER COULD SEE ANOTHER BIG YEAR AHEAD

When markets get choppy, investors tend to relearn an old lesson:
INCOME MATTERS.

Not “income” in the abstract—real cash hitting the account, on a
schedule, that helps offset volatility and reduces the pressure to
time every move perfectly. That is why high-yield names often move
back into focus when uncertainty rises.

One of the more interesting income stories right now sits inside the
mortgage REIT space—specifically, the “agency” side of the
market, where the underlying mortgage-backed securities carry a
government-sponsored guarantee against credit losses.

-------------------------

Company: AGNC INVESTMENT CORP. (SYM: AGNC)
A MONTHLY-DIVIDEND AGENCY MORTGAGE REIT WITH A ~12% YIELD PROFILE

As of January 29, 2026, AGNC last traded around $12. Depending on the
data source and timing, its dividend yield is roughly IN THE 12%
RANGE, largely because it pays $0.12 PER SHARE MONTHLY, which
annualizes to $1.44 PER SHARE.

THE SIMPLE PART: THE DIVIDEND SCHEDULE INVESTORS LOVE

AGNC has been consistent with its monthly payout cadence:

*
A $0.12 monthly common dividend for January 2026, PAYABLE FEBRUARY 10,
2026 (record date January 30, 2026).

*
A $0.12 dividend for December 2025, PAYABLE JANUARY 12, 2026 (record
date December 31, 2025).

*
A $0.12 dividend for November 2025, PAYABLE DECEMBER 9, 2025 (record
date November 28, 2025).

That steady monthly rhythm is a core reason income investors gravitate
toward AGNC. It’s not just the yield headline—it’s the frequency
and predictability of the distribution policy.

-------------------------

_Investment News Daily_

5 STOCKS POSITIONED FOR THE 2026 POLICY CYCLE
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As we move through early 2026, markets are responding to a series of
POLITICAL AND POLICY DECISIONS THAT ARE ALREADY RESHAPING CAPITAL
FLOWS.

Recent moves tied to trade enforcement, regulatory direction, and tax
positioning are beginning to influence corporate guidance, sector
leadership, and institutional
allocation. This is often the stage where MARKETS ADJUST FIRST —
LONG BEFORE OUTCOMES FULLY SHOW UP IN HEADLINES.

We’re already seeing strength emerge in specific areas tied to these
developments.

That’s why we prepared a focused research brief:

5 BEST STOCKS TO BUY UNDER THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION
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Inside the report:
• Five stocks showing early momentum as 2026 policy themes take
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Markets rarely wait for clarity — they move on positioning.

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-------------------------

THE MORE IMPORTANT PART: WHY AGNC HAD A STRONG 2025

AGNC’s management recently framed 2025 as a standout year for
shareholders. In its fourth-quarter 2025 results release, CEO Peter
Federico said:

*
AGNC generated an ECONOMIC RETURN ON TANGIBLE COMMON EQUITY OF 22.7%
for the year, and

*
the company’s TOTAL STOCK RETURN IN 2025 WAS 34.8% WITH DIVIDENDS
REINVESTED.

Those numbers matter because mortgage REITs tend to be misunderstood.
Investors focus on the dividend, but BOOK VALUE TRENDS, HEDGING
PERFORMANCE, AND SPREAD DYNAMICS often determine whether that dividend
is being “earned” in a sustainable way.

AGNC also entered 2026 with tangible net book value and quarterly
economic return metrics that improved as the rate environment became
less chaotic—an important backdrop for agency mortgage portfolios.

WHAT AGNC ACTUALLY OWNS (AND WHY IT’S DIFFERENT)

AGNC is not a traditional property-owning REIT. It’s a mortgage REIT
that primarily invests in AGENCY RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE-BACKED
SECURITIES (AGENCY MBS).

The key distinction: Agency MBS carry a guarantee against CREDIT
LOSSES by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or Ginnie Mae. AGNC itself
highlights this structure in its dividend press releases—Agency MBS
benefit from that guarantee.

That means AGNC is not making a direct bet that homeowners will pay
(credit risk). Instead, AGNC is mainly taking (and managing)
INTEREST-RATE AND SPREAD RISK:

*
What happens to mortgage rates and prepayments

*
How mortgage spreads move versus Treasuries

*
How funding costs change as short-term rates move

*
Whether hedges work as expected

In simple terms: the “safety” is primarily about CREDIT
QUALITY—not immunity from rate volatility.

-------------------------

_Priority Gold_

TRUMP TO CLEAR WAY FOR
MUSK'S SILVER PLAY?

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Musk once hinted Tesla could move into mining.

Now Trump’s deregulation could clear the runway.

If Musk touches silver, prices could move fast.

Silver already surged 144% in 2025.

What happens next?

👉 GET THE 2026 SILVER FORECAST GUIDE
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-------------------------

WHY THE SETUP FOR 2026 COULD STAY CONSTRUCTIVE

Several tailwinds could matter for an agency mortgage REIT like AGNC
in 2026.

1) A LESS HOSTILE RATE ENVIRONMENT

Mortgage REITs often struggle when rates are volatile and the yield
curve behaves badly. When volatility calms and the market can better
price the forward path of policy, MBS spreads can stabilize—and that
supports book value and total return potential.

AGNC’s Q4 commentary and reported results reflect that improving
backdrop compared with prior periods.

2) POLICY STEPS AIMED AT MORTGAGE-RATE RELIEF

There has also been a noteworthy policy development: the Federal
Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), under Director Bill Pulte, authorized
actions that would allow Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to significantly
increase their mortgage bond portfolios, framed publicly as a move
intended to help reduce mortgage rates.

Whether the effect is large or short-lived is debated (and critics
have raised risk concerns), but the significance for investors is
simple: HOUSING FINANCE POLICY IS ACTIVELY IN PLAY, and that can
influence MBS supply/demand dynamics.

3) A POLITICAL PUSH TO CURB INSTITUTIONAL HOME PURCHASES

Another headline theme: President Trump has discussed a plan to
restrict large institutional investors from buying additional
single-family homes. The proposal has been reported as a
forward-looking curb rather than a forced liquidation of existing
holdings.

This matters less directly to AGNC’s portfolio than rates and
spreads, but it underscores the broader point: HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
IS A TOP POLICY PRIORITY, and Washington is willing to experiment with
levers that touch mortgage markets.

IS THE DIVIDEND “SAFE”? THE RIGHT WAY TO THINK ABOUT IT

It’s reasonable to say AGNC’s CREDIT RISK IS STRUCTURALLY LOWER
than non-agency mortgage lenders because its core assets are
agency-guaranteed.

However, no mortgage REIT dividend should be treated as guaranteed.

A better framework is:

*
CREDIT LOSS RISK IS LIMITED (because of the agency guarantee).

*
EARNINGS AND BOOK VALUE CAN STILL SWING based on rates, funding costs,
MBS spreads, and hedging outcomes.

*
Management can maintain, raise, or cut the dividend depending on
conditions.

So the question isn’t “Is it risk-free?” It’s: ARE YOU BEING
PAID ENOUGH TO ACCEPT THE RATE/SPREAD VOLATILITY INHERENT IN THE
MODEL?

At a ~12% yield profile, many income investors will argue the answer
can be yes—particularly if the macro backdrop is stabilizing.

-------------------------

_Guy Stocks_

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