Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation operates in the secondary mortgage market in the United States. It operates through two segments, Single-Family and Multifamily. The Single-Family segment purchases, securitizes, and guarantees single-family loans; and manages single-family mortgage credit and market risk, as well as manages mortgage-related investments portfolio, single-family securitization activities, and treasury functions. This segment serves mortgage banking companies, commercial banks, regional banks, community banks, credit unions, housing finance agencies, savings institutions, and non-depository financial institutions. The Multifamily segment engages in the purchase, securitization, and guarantee of multifamily loans; issuance of multifamily K certificates; manages multifamily mortgage credit and market risk; and invests in multifamily loans and mortgage-related securities. It serves banks and other financial institutions, insurance companies, money managers, hedge funds, pension funds, state and local governments, and broker dealers. Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation incorporated in 1970 and is headquartered in McLean, Virginia.

FREDDIE MAC

Key Points
Bank stocks have a complex relationship with interest rates.
Both JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America appear well positioned in this current rate environment.
Mortgage REIT AGNC is highly sensitive to rate fluctuations.
At its last meeting on April 29, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) decided to keep the federal funds rate where it has been since December, in the 3.5% to 3.75% range.
It came as no surprise to anyone, as inflation has been ticking back up, driven by higher energy costs. And interest rate traders, according to the CME FedWatch poll, do not expect rates to come down this year.
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Financial stocks are among the most sensitive to interest rates, particularly banks. Banks, especially large banks, have a complicated relationship with rates, because some parts of their business thrive when rates are lower, while other parts prosper with higher rates.
Let's take a look at the two largest banks, JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM) and Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), to see how the current rate trends are affecting them.
A sweet spot for banks?
Both JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America shares rose slightly after the decision by the FOMC to keep rates where they are, but the move was negligible, and the shares dropped in the following days. In other words, it did little to change the negative trajectory both have been on this year. As of May 5, shares of both were down between 3% and 4%.
Higher rates are often good for banks because they can charge higher interest on their loans. On the other hand, they have to pay out more interest on deposits, too. But generally speaking, large banks, because of the other services they offer and the loyalty of customers, can generate higher net interest income when rates rise, because their deposit rates don't have to be as competitive as perhaps smaller banks.
On the other hand, when rates are higher, loan activity may not be as robust. So while banks may get higher net interest margins, they may not be making as many loans.
That happened to both JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America in the first quarter. While rates were lower this year than they were in the first quarter of last year, both banks generated more revenue and higher net interest income because loan activity was up.
So, rates staying the same is not necessarily a bad thing for either bank, as loan activity remains robust and interest rates are still somewhat elevated. It may in fact be a sweet spot for banks.
Robust M&A buoyed by lower rates
The first quarter was one of the best in recent years for mergers and acquisitions due to the lower interest rate environment. Lower rates make the cost of acquisitions fall, which spurs activity.
Of course, if rates came down at the last FOMC meeting, that would spur even more M&A activity, but keeping them where they are probably won't hurt at all. Both JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America are top five investment banks, so they were both buoyed by all the M&A activity in Q1.
The reason both these stocks are down is tied to economic doubts and rising inflation, due in large part to the war in Iran. When there is economic turmoil and rising prices, there's typically less spending and fewer loans, which hurts banks.
But for investors, both stocks look like solid buys, even with the upheaval, as both are trading at low multiples and should be well positioned to grow, barring a long, protracted war that leads to an economic downturn.
Is AGNC still a good dividend bet?
A third stock to watch is AGNC (NASDAQ: AGNC), a mortgage real estate investment trust, or mREIT. AGNC buys up mostly agency mortgage-backed securities, meaning those mortgages pooled together and sold by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and government agencies. It borrows at lower short-term rates to buy these long-term securities with higher yields and it profits on the spread.
AGNC is even more sensitive to rate fluctuations than the banks. That's because when rates go up, the book value of the loan portfolio goes down, because investors can get better short-term rates elsewhere. And when interest rates go down, it's the opposite; the book value of the portfolio is higher as it looks more attractive compared to other short-term rates.
With rates staying the same in April and likely for the foreseeable future, AGNC stock should remain fairly stable. The primary value of AGNC stock is its dividend, which it pays out monthly and has steadfastly maintained at $0.12 per share since 2020.
And it currently pays out a super-high dividend yield of 13.5%, which should be safe as long as rates don't rise.
Should you buy stock in JPMorgan Chase right now?
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JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Dave Kovaleski has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends JPMorgan Chase. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

3 Financial Stocks to Watch After the Fed Held Rates Steady

Key Points
Alphabet is the largest holding in most funds Ackman manages.
Going public will allow the fund to avoid investor redemptions.
Legendary investor Bill Ackman is taking a new closed-end fund public today at an initial public offering price of $50 a share.
The fund is called Pershing Square USA, and Ackman, the CEO of hedge fund Pershing Square Holdings, initially hoped to raise between $5 billion and $10 billion for it through the offering. The ticker for the new fund will be PSUS. At the moment, it looks like the IPO will attract about $5 billion.
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Ackman is also taking his asset management firm public. That firm, Pershing Square Inc., will manage the PSUS fund as well as Pershing Square Holdings, which trades in the United Kingdom, and Howard Hughes Holdings (NYSE: HHH). The management firm will trade under the ticker PS.
To attract more investors to the PSUS IPO, Ackman is offering one free share of Pershing Square Inc. for every five PSUS shares purchased today.
It's not yet clear exactly what PSUS will invest in. According to the prospectus the company filed with the Securities and Exchange, the Pershing Square USA fund will invest in "large minority stakes in high-quality, predominantly North American-listed, large-capitalization growth companies at attractive valuations during periods in which we believe they have underperformed their potential and/or when we believe they are undervalued."
That's very similar to what Pershing Square Holdings invests in now. It holds large stakes in Google parent company Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL), Fannie Mae (OTC: FNMA), Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC), Brookfield (NYSE: BN), Uber Technologies (NYSE: UBER), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), and Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) , among other companies.
Alphabet is the top holding in all Pershing Square-related funds.
The new fund may also make small investments in alternative assets, such as private credit and interest rates.
Going public avoids investor redemptions
Taking a fund public is a way to avoid redemptions by investors. Instead of demanding their money back at the net asset value, as open-end fund investors are entitled to do, investors in PSUS will have to sell their shares at the market price to exit the investment, as with any other stock.
It's thought that Ackman is attempting to build a holding company similar to Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRKB) by listing it publicly and, of course, focusing on companies that are underperforming their potential or are undervalued, exactly the kind of long-term value investing that made former Berkshire CEO Warren Buffett rich and famous.
"Our long-term goal for Pershing Square Inc. is to build one of the most valuable companies in the world by generating one of the best long-term performance records of any investor ever," Ackman wrote in a letter to investors.
Attaining Buffett's stature in the investment community won't be easy for Ackman, however. Earlier in his career, he was known as an activist short-seller. That included an ugly, five-year battle against supplement maker Herbalife, which Ackman accused of being a pyramid scheme. In the end, that short position resulted in huge losses for Pershing Square.
Ackman has since exited the short-selling business and says he's now focused on long-term growth and value creation in his portfolios.
Ackman is also trying to attract retail investors to the IPO. He reduced the minimum purchase order from $5,000 to $250 and is partnering with retail brokerages to tap their user bases. We'll find out this week how well that strategy worked.
As with all IPOs, it's wise to see what the share price does in the days and weeks following the offering before diving in. About half of all IPOs pop on the first day, only to trade lower in the days that follow.
Should you buy stock in Alphabet right now?
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Matthew Benjamin has positions in Alphabet and Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway, Brookfield Corporation, Howard Hughes, Meta Platforms, and Uber Technologies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Bill Ackman's Pershing Square USA Fund IPOs Today. What Stocks Will It Hold?

(RTTNews) - Mortgage rates, or interest rates on home loans, continued to decline, falling to a four-week low, according to mortgage provider Freddie Mac.
The 30-year FRM averaged 6.23% as of April 23, 2026, down from 6.30% last week. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.81%.
The 15-year FRM averaged 5.58%, down from last week's 5.65%. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 5.94%.
"The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage declined again this week to 6.23%," said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac's Chief Economist. "Rates currently stand at their lowest level in the last three spring homebuying seasons. This improvement, coupled with a pickup in purchase applications and refinance activity, as well as an increase in monthly pending home sales, underscores signs of improving momentum in the market."
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Mortgage Rates Fall To 6.23%, Lowest In Three Spring Seasons

(RTTNews) - Mortgage rates, or interest rates on home loans, continued to decline, falling to a four-week low, according to mortgage provider Freddie Mac.
The 30-year FRM averaged 6.30% as of April 16, 2026, down from last week when it averaged 6.37%. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.83%.
The 15-year FRM averaged 5.65%, down from last week when it averaged 5.74%. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 6.03%.
"Mortgage rates declined this week to a four-week low of 6.30%," said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac's Chief Economist. "Compared to one year ago when rates were at 6.83%, this is a meaningful improvement for homebuyers during what is typically the busy spring homebuying season."
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Mortgage Rates Fall To 4-Week Low

(RTTNews) - Mortgage rates, or interest rates on home loans, continues to slip, according to mortgage provider Freddie Mac (FMCC.OB).
The 30-year FRM averaged 6.95 percent as of June 13, 2024, down from last week when it averaged 6.99 percent. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.69 percent.
The 15-year FRM averaged 6.17 percent, down from last week when it averaged 6.29 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 6.10 percent.
"Mortgage rates continued to fall back this week as incoming data suggests the economy is cooling to a more sustainable level of growth," said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac's Chief Economist. "Top-line inflation numbers were flat but shelter inflation, which measures rent and homeownership costs, increased showing that housing affordability continues to be an ongoing impediment for buyers on the house hunt."
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Mortgage Rates Fall

Key Points
Several major market indexes have fallen into correction territory.
The war in Iran has roiled stocks.
Ackman said he sees an opportunity, but the key is to focus on quality businesses.
While the stock market has actually held up better than most strategists and analysts might have expected, especially given the surging price of oil due to the Iran war, both the Nasdaq Composite and the Dow Jones Industrial Average have fallen into correction territory, which means they are both down at least 10%.
Timing the market is never easy, but it's been especially difficult for investors to know whether the conflict in the Middle East will be short-lived or could last longer.
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However, billionaire investor Bill Ackman has some investing advice right now: buy the dip on quality businesses.
Some of the highest quality businesses in the world are trading at extremely cheap prices. Ignore the MSM. One of the most one-sided wars in history that will end well for the U.S. and the world. And we have the potential for a large peace dividend.
One of the best times in a...
-- Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) March 30, 2026
Ackman runs Pershing Square Capital Management, the investment manager of Pershing Square Holdings, and has become one of the more closely watched billionaire investors in the modern era. Should investors listen to him?
What stocks is Ackman referring to?
Pershing runs a highly concentrated U.S. equities portfolio, with 11 stocks accounting for over $15.5 billion of capital at the end of 2025.
Based on Pershing's portfolio, one could conclude that Ackman is generally referring to the "Magnificent Seven." Pershing has piled into this group over the past year and now has a significant amount of the portfolio invested in Alphabet, Amazon, and Meta Platforms. Other stocks in the "Magnificent Seven," like Microsoft, have also been hammered and now trade at much cheaper multiples.
As you can see, valuations have certainly retreated. Now, while the Iran war has seemingly hurt most sectors of the market, artificial intelligence stocks were already struggling before, due to concerns about excessive investment in AI infrastructure and circular financing, among others.
Ackman has also been quite outspoken about Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two government-sponsored entities that Ackman believes the Trump administration will eventually release from conservatorship and conduct initial public offerings for. "And Fannie and Freddie are stupidly cheap. Asymmetry at its best. They could be a 10X and it could happen soon," Ackman wrote on the platform X.
Now, AI concerns are likely to linger, at least in the near term, and who actually knows how the war with Iran will turn out. But if you have a long-term investing horizon, investors can certainly heed Ackman's advice.
And it doesn't have to be with the "Magnificent Seven" or Fannie and Freddie, which carry several risks of their own.
Look for stocks tied to businesses where the core thesis and business remain intact. If the only thing impacting them is the war in Iran, and the business is likely to be fine after the conflict, then now is a good time to buy for the long term.
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Bram Berkowitz has positions in Federal Home Loan Mortgage. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Billionaire Investor Bill Ackman Has Some Investing Advice Right Now: Buy the Dip on Quality

(RTTNews) - Mortgage rates, or interest rates on home loans, rose from last week, according to mortgage provider Freddie Mac (FMCC.OB).
The 30-year FRM averaged 6.38% as of March 26, 2026, up from last week when it averaged 6.22%. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.65%.
The 15-year FRM averaged 5.75%, up from last week when it averaged 5.54%. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 5.89%.
"Mortgage rates this week averaged 6.38%," said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac's Chief Economist. "The housing market continues to show gradual improvements compared to a year ago amid recent rate volatility. Purchase and refinance applications are up year-over-year, and rates remain lower than last year when they averaged 6.65%."
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Mortgage Rates Continues To Gain

(RTTNews) - Mortgage rates, or interest rates on home loans, rose from last week, according to mortgage provider Freddie Mac (FMCC.OB).
The 30-year FRM averaged 6.22% as of March 19, 2026, up from last week when it averaged 6.11%. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.67%.
The 15-year FRM averaged 5.54%, up from last week when it averaged 5.50%. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 5.83%.
"The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage edged up this week to 6.22% but remains nearly half a percentage point lower than the same time last year," said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac's Chief Economist. "Potential homebuyers are poised for a more affordable spring homebuying season than last, with the market experiencing improvements in purchase applications and pending home sales."
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Mortgage Rates Rise To 6.22%

(RTTNews) - Mortgage rates, or interest rates on home loans, rose from last week, but remain at the lowest level in three years, according to mortgage provider Freddie Mac (FMCC.OB).
The 30-year FRM averaged 6.09% as of January 22, 2026, up from last week when it averaged 6.06%. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.96%.
The 15-year FRM averaged 5.44%, up from last week when it averaged 5.38%. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 6.16%.
"With the economy improving and the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage nearly a percentage point lower than last year, more homebuyers are entering the market," said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac's Chief Economist. "Buyers always should shop around for the best rate, as multiple quotes can potentially save them thousands."
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Mortgage Rates Rise, But Remain The Lowest In Three Years

Key Points
AGNC Investment and Ares Capital offer very attractive dividend yields that appeal to income-focused investors.
AGNC invests primarily in mortgage-backed securities (MBSs) while Ares Capital is a business development company (BDC) that lends to middle-market companies.
Both companies are sensitive to changes in interest rates, but in different ways.
If you're an investor looking to generate passive income from your portfolio, dividend stocks are for you. Companies that pay dividends tend to outperform those that don't, but not all dividend payers are created equal. Some companies prioritize dividend growth, while others focus on achieving high dividend yields.
Two stocks with very appealing dividend yields are AGNC Investment (NASDAQ: AGNC) and Ares Capital (NASDAQ: ARCC), which offer yields of 12.7% and 9.4%, respectively. This can make these stocks highly appealing to investors prioritizing income over growth. However, they are distinct businesses with varying risks, and are not ideal for every investor.
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If you're weighing an investment in high-yield stocks, here's what to know about AGNC Investment and Ares Capital.
AGNC invests heavily in mortgage-backed securities
AGNC Investment is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that invests primarily in mortgage-backed securities (MBSs). It differs from other REITs because it doesn't own physical buildings that it leases or rents. Instead, the company invests in bundles of home loans using leverage, which is how it can pay a double-digit percentage dividend yield.
The company invests primarily in agency MBSs, which are mortgages guaranteed by government-sponsored entities, such as Fannie Mae (Federal National Mortgage Association) and Freddie Mac (Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation). These loans carry less risk because they are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.
However, to juice returns, AGNC uses leverage, borrowing short-term through repurchase agreements or other debt (with repayment periods generally of less than a year) and investing those funds in long-term MBS. As of Sept. 30, AGNC's at-risk leverage ratio was about 7.5 times its tangible net book value. As a result, its earnings and book value can fluctuate based on changes in the yield curve.
Ares Capital extends loans to overlooked middle-market companies
Ares Capital operates as a business development company (BDC). Both BDCs and REITs are pass-through entities that are legally required to distribute almost all of their taxable income to investors, which is why they have high dividend yields. Besides that, they are very different businesses.
Ares Capital invests in middle-market companies, those with earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) ranging from $10 million to $250 million. During the past several decades, banks have pulled back from funding these companies due to stricter capital requirements, which have led them to prioritize loans to large corporations over those to smaller and mid-market companies.
It primarily invests in first- and second-lien loans, which have priority in the event of bankruptcy. Its portfolio comprises 587 companies across 34 industries, with no single company accounting for more than 1.5%, providing diversification that should help mitigate risk. The weighted-average yield on its portfolio is about 10%, and it primarily invests in floating-rate loans, making it an appealing choice during periods of rising interest rates.
Both stocks are sensitive to changes in interest rates
When comparing AGNC Investment and Ares Capital, both offer attractive dividend yields, but they perform differently in various environments.
Because AGNC borrows on a short-term basis and invests in long-term MBSs, it is vulnerable to changes in interest rates across the yield curve. The yield curve describes the slope between short- and long-term interest rates. If short-term interest rates decline and long-term interest rates remain elevated, this can benefit AGNC by allowing it to borrow at a lower rate while investing in higher-yielding long-maturity MBSs. This widening spread boosts its earnings and, in turn, the dividend.
Ares Capital, on the other hand, invests heavily in floating-rate debt. When interest rates rise, as they did in 2022 and 2023, it boosts Ares Capital's income, assuming default rates remain the same. However, when interest rates decline, this can be a headwind for its business because it earns less on its floating-rate loans.
Which stock is right for you?
Currently, markets are pricing in additional Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, which will help lower short-term interest rates. Meanwhile, interest rates on the longer end of the curve could stay elevated or drop more slowly than the short end due to concerns about structural inflation. These dynamics should benefit AGNC Investment over Ares Capital in the near term.
While AGNC offers higher potential rewards from a steepening curve, its leverage makes it volatile and sensitive to rate swings. Meanwhile, Ares Capital provides more stability, as its floating-rate model enables it to thrive in a "higher-for-longer" environment, generating steady income from elevated rates with less price erosion.
For investors looking to play near-term tailwinds, AGNC is a good choice. But for investors seeking steady income, I think Ares Capital is a better long-term investment.
Should you buy stock in AGNC Investment Corp. right now?
Before you buy stock in AGNC Investment Corp., consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and AGNC Investment Corp. wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $482,209!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,133,548!*
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*Stock Advisor returns as of January 14, 2026.
Courtney Carlsen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Ares Capital. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.