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(a)	See Note 2 and Note 3 in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

(b)	Classification percentages are based on Total Equity.

(c)	At March 31, 2016, the Company's long investments guaranteed by the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, and the Government National Mortgage Association, represented 78.59%, 42.93%, and 24.06% of equity, respectively.

(d)	Private trust 100% backed by interest in Government National Mortgage Association collateralized mortgage obligation certificates.

(e)	Loans and real estate owned are beneficially owned by the Company through participation certificates in the various trusts that hold such investments.

(f)

Includes investments in participation certificates related to loans held in a trust owned by a related party of Ellington Financial Management LLC. Through its participation certificates, the Company has beneficial interests in the cash flows of the underlying loans held by the trust. At March 31, 2016 loans held in the related party trust for which the Company has beneficial interests in the residual cash flows, totaled $4.1 million.

(g)	Includes non-performing commercial loans in the amount of $22.7 million whereby principal and/or interest is past due and a maturity date is not applicable.

(h)	Number of properties not shown in thousands, represents actual number of properties owned.

(i)	As of March 31, 2016, the Company had residential mortgage loans that were in the process of foreclosure with a fair value of $5.7 million.

(j)	In general, securities received pursuant to repurchase agreements were delivered to counterparties in short sale transactions.

(k)	At March 31, 2016, the Company's short investments guaranteed by the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, and the Government National Mortgage Association, represented 57.42%, 18.46%, and 6.30% of equity, respectively.

(l)	For long credit default swaps, the Company sold protection.

(m)	For long interest rate swap contracts, the Company pays a floating rate and receives a fixed rate.

(n)	For short credit default swaps, the Company purchased protection.

(o)	For short interest rate swap contracts, the Company pays a fixed rate and receives a floating rate.

(p)	Notional value represents number of underlying shares times the closing price of the underlying security.

(q)	Notional value represents outstanding principal balance on underlying corporate debt.

(r)	Notional value represents notional of underlying reference index times the closing price of the underlying reference index.

(s)	Every $1,000,000 in notional value represents one contract.

(t)	Notional value represents the total face amount of U.S. Treasury Notes underlying all contracts held; as of March 31, 2016, 84 long contracts and 91 short contracts were held.

(u)	Notional value represents number of warrants.

(v)	Notional value represents the amount on which interest payments are calculated to the extent the market interest rate exceeds the rate cap on the contract.

(w)	Represents the option on the part of the Company to enter into an interest rate swap whereby the Company would pay a fixed rate and receive a floating rate.

(x)	Represents the option on the part of a counterparty to enter into an interest rate swap with the Company whereby the Company would receive a fixed rate and pay a floating rate.

(y)	Represents the option on the part of a counterparty to enter into a credit default swap on a corporate bond index whereby the Company would receive a fixed rate and pay credit protection payments.

(z)	Represents the option on the part of a counterparty to enter into a credit default swap on a corporate bond index whereby the Company would pay a fixed rate and receive credit protection payments.

(aa)	Notional value represents principal balance of mortgage loan purchase commitments. Actual loan purchases are contingent upon successful loan closings in accordance with agreed-upon parameters.

(ab)	Notional value represents U.S. Dollars to be received by the Company at the maturity of the forward contract.

(ac)

The table below shows the Company's long investment ratings from Moody's, Standard and Poor's, or Fitch, as well as the Company's long investments that were unrated but guaranteed by the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, or the Government National Mortgage Association. Ratings tend to be a lagging credit indicator; as a result, the credit quality of the Company's long investment holdings may be lower than the credit quality implied based on the ratings listed below. In situations where an investment has a split rating, the lowest provided rating is used. The ratings descriptions include ratings qualified with a "+," "-," "1," "2," or "3."

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(ad)	The following table shows the Company's swap assets and liabilities by dealer as a percentage of Total Equity:

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(a)	See Note 2 and Note 3 in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

(b)	Classification percentages are based on Total Equity.

(c)	At December 31, 2015, the Company's long investments guaranteed by the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, and the Government National Mortgage Association, represented 77.17%, 47.44%, and 18.91% of equity, respectively.

(d)	Private trust 100% backed by interest in Government National Mortgage Association collateralized mortgage obligation certificates.

(e)	Loans and real estate owned are beneficially owned by the Company through participation certificates in the various trusts that hold such investments.

(f)

Includes investments in participation certificates related to loans held in a trust owned by a related party of Ellington Financial Management LLC. Through its participation certificates, the Company has beneficial interests in the cash flows of the underlying loans held by the trust. At December 31, 2015 loans held in the related party trust for which the Company has beneficial interests in the residual cash flows, totaled $3.8 million.

(g)	Includes non-performing commercial loans in the amount of $22.6 million whereby principal and/or interest is past due and a maturity date is not applicable.

(h)	Number of properties not shown in thousands, represents actual number of properties owned.

(i)	As of December 31, 2015, the Company had residential mortgage loans that were in the process of foreclosure with a fair value of $5.9 million.

(j)	In general, securities received pursuant to repurchase agreements were delivered to counterparties in short sale transactions.

(k)	At December 31, 2015, the Company's short investments guaranteed by the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, and the Government National Mortgage Association, represented 57.51%, 23.25%, and 2.17% of equity, respectively.

(l)	For long credit default swaps, the Company sold protection.

(m)	For long interest rate swap contracts, the Company pays a floating rate and receives a fixed rate.

(n)	For short credit default swaps, the Company purchased protection.

(o)	For short interest rate swap contracts, the Company pays a fixed rate and receives a floating rate.

(p)	Notional value represents number of underlying shares times the closing price of the underlying security.

(q)	Notional value represents outstanding principal balance on underlying corporate debt.

(r)	Every $1,000,000 in notional value represents one contract.

(s)	Notional value represents the total face amount of U.S. Treasury Notes underlying all contracts held; as of December 31, 2015, 343 long futures contracts were held.

(t)	Represents the option on the part of the Company to enter into a futures contract with a counterparty; as of December 31, 2015, 39 put options and 39 call options contracts were held.

(u)	Notional value represents number of warrants.

(v)	Represents the option on the part of the Company to enter into a credit default swap on a corporate bond index whereby the Company would pay a fixed rate and receive credit protection payments.

(w)	Represents the option on the part of a counterparty to enter into a credit default swap on a corporate bond index whereby the Company would pay a fixed rate and receive credit protection payments.

(x)	Represents the option on the part of a counterparty to enter into a credit default swap on a corporate bond index whereby the Company would receive a fixed rate and pay credit protection payments.

(y)	Represents the combination of a written payer swaption and a written receiver swaption on the same underlying swap.

(z)	Notional value represents principal balance of mortgage loan purchase commitments. Actual loan purchases are contingent upon successful loan closings in accordance with agreed-upon parameters.

(aa)	Notional value represents U.S. Dollars to be paid by the Company at the maturity of the forward contract.

(ab)	Notional value represents U.S. Dollars to be received by the Company at the maturity of the forward contract.

(ac)

The table below shows the ratings on the Company's long investments from Moody's, Standard and Poor's, or Fitch, as well as the Company's long investments that were unrated but guaranteed by the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, or the Government National Mortgage Association. Ratings tend to be a lagging credit indicator; as a result, the credit quality of the Company's long investment holdings may be lower than the credit quality implied based on the ratings listed below. In situations where an investment has a split rating, the lowest provided rating is used. The ratings descriptions include ratings qualified with a "+," "-," "1," "2," or "3."

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(1)	For the three month periods ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, dividends totaling $0.50 and $0.65, respectively, per common share and convertible unit outstanding, were declared and paid.

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•	Level 1—inputs to the valuation methodology are observable and reflect quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets. Currently, the types of financial instruments the Company generally includes in this category are listed equities, exchange-traded derivatives, and cash equivalents;

•

Level 2—inputs to the valuation methodology other than quoted prices included in Level 1 are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Currently, the types of financial instruments that the Company generally includes in this category are Agency RMBS, non-Agency mortgage-backed securities determined to have sufficiently observable market data, U.S. Treasury securities and certain sovereign debt, commonly traded derivatives, such as interest rate swaps and foreign currency forwards, and certain other over-the-counter derivatives; and

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Level 3—inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement. The types of financial instruments that the Company generally includes in this category are RMBS, CMBS, ABS, credit default swaps, or "CDS," on individual ABS, distressed corporate debt, and total return swaps on distressed corporate debt, in each case where there is less price transparency. Also included in this category are residential and commercial mortgage loans, consumer loans, non-listed equities, and private corporate debt and equity investments.

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(1)	Included in Other liabilities on the Consolidated Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Equity.

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(1)	Represents valuations on underlying assets.

(2)	Shown in basis points.

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(3)	Represent an estimation of where market participants might value an enterprise.

(4)	Represents transactions with a remaining term of less than one year.

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(1)	Included in Other liabilities on the Consolidated Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Equity.

(2)	Conformed to current period presentation.

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(1)	Represents valuations on underlying assets.

(2)	Shown in basis points.

(3)	Represent an estimation of where market participants might value an enterprise.

(4)	Represents transactions with a remaining term of less than one year.

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(1)	Conformed to prior period presentation.

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(1)	Includes gain/(loss) on foreign currency transactions on derivatives in the amount of $28 thousand, for the three month period ended March 31, 2016, which is included on the Consolidated Statement of Operations in Realized gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions.

(2)	Includes foreign currency translation on derivatives in the amount of $1.6 million, for the three month period ended March 31, 2016, which is included on the Consolidated Statement of Operations in Change in net unrealized gain (loss) on foreign currency translation.

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(1)	Includes foreign currency translation on derivatives in the amount of $1.0 million which is shown on the Consolidated Statement of Operations in Change in net unrealized gain (loss) on foreign currency translation.

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(1)	Offsetting transactions with third parties include purchased credit derivatives which have the same reference obligation.

(2)

The notional value is the maximum amount that a seller of credit protection would be obligated to pay, and a buyer of credit protection would receive upon occurrence of a "credit event." Movements in the value of credit default swap transactions may require the Company or the counterparty to post or receive collateral. Amounts due or owed under credit derivative contracts with an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, or "ISDA," counterparty may be offset against amounts due or owed on other credit derivative contracts with the same ISDA counterparty. As a result, the notional amount of written credit derivatives involving a particular underlying reference asset or index has been reduced (but not below zero) by the notional amount of any contracts where the Company has purchased credit protection on the same reference asset or index with the same ISDA counterparty.

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(1)	Date at which such LTIP units will vest and become non-forfeitable.

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(1)	For the three month periods ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, excludes net increase in equity resulting from operations of $0.2 million and $36 thousand, respectively attributable to joint venture partners, which have non-participating interests as described in Note 9.

(2)	The Company pays quarterly dividends in arrears, so a portion of the dividends paid in each calendar year relate to the prior year's earnings.

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(1)	In the Company's Consolidated Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Equity, all balances associated with repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, and financial derivatives are presented on a gross basis.

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(2)

For the purpose of this presentation, for each row the total amount of financial instruments transferred or pledged and cash collateral (received) or pledged may not exceed the applicable gross amount of assets or (liabilities) as presented here. Therefore, the Company has reduced the amount of financial instruments transferred or pledged as collateral related to the Company's reverse repurchase agreements and cash collateral pledged on the Company's financial derivative liabilities. Total financial instruments transferred or pledged as collateral on the Company's reverse repurchase agreements as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 were $1.34 billion and $1.36 billion, respectively. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, total cash collateral on financial derivative assets excludes excess net cash collateral pledged of $16.3 million and $4.1 million, respectively. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, total cash collateral on financial derivative liabilities excludes excess cash collateral pledged of $35.1 million and $45.8 million, respectively.

(3)

When collateral is pledged to or pledged by a counterparty, it is often pledged or posted with respect to all positions with such counterparty, and in such cases such collateral cannot be specifically identified as relating to a specific asset or liability. As a result, in preparing the above tables, the Company has made assumptions in allocating pledged or posted collateral among the various rows.

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(1)	Calculated based on average common shares outstanding and can differ from the calculation for EPS (See Note 11).

(2)	Per share impact on dividends paid relating to share issuances/repurchases during the period as well as dividends paid to LTIP and OP Unit holders.

(3)	If all LTIP units and OP Units previously issued were vested and exchanged for common shares as of March 31, 2016 and 2015, shareholders' equity per share would be $20.63 and $23.01, respectively.

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(1)	Total return is calculated assuming reinvestment of distributions at shareholders' equity per share during the period.

(1)	Average equity is calculated using month end values.

(2)	Includes all items of income and expense on an annualized basis.

(1)	Average equity is calculated using month end values.

(2)	Includes all items of income and expense on an annualized basis.

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•	U.S. Federal Reserve and U.S. Monetary Policy—In March 2016, the U.S. Federal Reserve, or "Federal Reserve," maintained its target range for the federal funds rate and its existing policy of reinvesting principal payments from its U.S. Treasury security and Agency RMBS holdings;

•	Housing and Mortgage Market Statistics—Data released by S&P Indices for its S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices for February showed a continuation of mid-single-digit home price appreciation nationally; meanwhile the Freddie Mac survey 30-year mortgage rate ended the first quarter of 2016 at 3.71%, down from 4.01% at the end of 2015;

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•	Government Sponsored Enterprise, or "GSE," and Government Agency Developments—The Federal Housing Finance Agency, or "FHFA," and the GSEs continued to announce program and policy changes and clarifications intended to increase mortgage credit availability;

•

Portfolio Overview and Outlook—Volatility was extremely high during the first quarter. In the first half of the quarter, credit-related fears stemming from depressed energy prices deepened, and caused a flight to quality that spilled over to many other sectors. The equity market sell-off in the early part of the quarter was one of the worst starts to a year on record, with the S&P 500 declining 9% year-to-date through January 20th. Credit spreads widened dramatically across most credit-sensitive fixed income sectors, including new issue CMBS, newer vintage CLOs, and high-yield corporate bonds, especially sectors with direct or indirect exposure to energy prices. Additionally, interest rates fell sharply. During the first quarter, our structured product investment securities generally declined in value and we had losses on our credit and interest rate hedges. However, our loan portfolio, which includes consumer loans, distressed commercial mortgage loans, and distressed and non-QM residential mortgage loans, tends to be less sensitive to global market volatility, and performed well during the quarter.

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(1)	Excludes Agency fixed rate RMBS without any prepayment history.

(2)	Prior period calculation methodology has been conformed to current period calculation methodology.

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(1)	For more detailed information about the investments in our portfolio, please refer to the Consolidated Condensed Schedule of Investments as of these dates contained in our consolidated financial statements.

(2)	Represents the dollar amount (not shown in thousands) per $100 of current principal of the price or cost for the security.

(3)	Excludes non-Agency Interest Only and Principal Only MBS and Other.

(4)	Excludes Agency Interest Only RMBS.

(5)	Other includes equity tranches of CLOs, Other private label securities, and residual-like non-Agency RMBS and ABS backed by consumer loans.

(1)	For more detailed information about the financial derivatives in our portfolio, please refer to the Consolidated Condensed Schedule of Investments as of these dates contained in our consolidated financial statements.

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(2)	Represents the option on our part to enter into a CDS on a corporate bond index whereby we would pay a fixed rate and receive credit protection payments.

(3)	Represents the option on the part of a counterparty to enter into a CDS on a corporate bond index whereby we would receive a fixed rate and pay credit protection payments.

(4)	Represents the option on the part of a counterparty to enter into a CDS on a corporate bond index whereby we would pay a fixed rate and receive credit protection payments.

(5)	Notional value represents number of underlying shares times the closing price of the underlying security.

(6)	Notional value represents outstanding principal on underlying corporate debt.

(7)	Notional value represents notional of underlying reference index times the closing price of the underlying reference index.

(8)	Notional value represents the total face amount of U.S. Treasury Notes underlying all contracts held. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, a total of 84 and 343 contracts were held, respectively.

(9)	Every $1,000,000 in notional value represents one Eurodollar future contract.

(10)	Notional value represents the total face amount of U.S. Treasury Notes underlying all contracts held. As of March 31, 2016 a total of 91 contracts were held.

(11)	Represents the option on our part to enter into a futures contract with a counterparty; as of December 31, 2015 39 put options contracts were held.

(12)	Represents the option on our part to enter into a futures contract with a counterparty; as of December 31, 2015 39 call options contracts were held.

(13)	Notional amount represents U.S. Dollars to be paid by us at the maturity of the forward contract.

(14)	Notional amount represents U.S. Dollars to be received by us at the maturity of the forward contract.

(15)	Notional amount represents number of warrants.

(16)	Notional amount represents principal balance of mortgage loan purchase commitments. Actual loan purchases are contingent upon successful loan closings in accordance with agreed-upon parameters.

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(1)	Amounts exclude interest income on cash and cash equivalents (including when posted as margin) and long positions in U.S. Treasury securities.

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(1)

Our outstanding borrowings as of December 31, 2015 declined relative to our average borrowings outstanding for the quarter ended December 31, 2015. In light of continued and anticipated significant market volatility, during the quarter ended December 31, 2015, we net sold Agency RMBS, thereby reducing our outstanding borrowings and increasing our cash holdings in order to be more defensively positioned.

(2)	For the quarter ended June 30, 2013 the significant increase between average borrowings outstanding and total borrowings at June 30, 2013 was due to the deployment of proceeds from the issuance of common shares in May 2013 into investment in MBS which the Company financed through reverse repurchase agreements.

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*	Furnished herewith. These certifications are not deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

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*	Furnished herewith. These certifications are not deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.