REDWOOD TRUST INC (RWT)

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

INTRODUCTION

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) is intended to provide a reader of our financial statements with a narrative from the perspective of our management on our financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and certain other factors that may affect our future results. Our MD&A is presented in five main sections:

•    Overview

•    Results of Operations

–Consolidated Results of Operations

–Results of Operations by Segment

–Income Taxes

•    Liquidity and Capital Resources

•    Critical Accounting Estimates

•    Market and Other Risks

Our MD&A should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as the sections entitled “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Part II, Item 1A of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as other cautionary statements and risks described elsewhere in this report and our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. The discussion in this MD&A contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, such as those discussed in the Cautionary Statement below.

References herein to “Redwood,” the “company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” include Redwood Trust, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise requires. Financial information concerning our business is set forth in this MD&A and our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, which are included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Our website can be found at www.redwoodtrust.com. We make available, free of charge through the investor relations section of our website, access to our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as well as proxy statements, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). We also make available, free of charge, access to our charters for our Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Governance and Nominating Committee, our Corporate Governance Standards, and our Code of Ethics governing our directors, officers, and employees. Within the time period required by the SEC and the New York Stock Exchange, we will post on our website any amendment to the Code of Ethics and any waiver applicable to any executive officer or director of Redwood. In addition, our website includes information concerning purchases and sales of our equity securities by our executive officers and directors, and may include disclosure relating to certain non-GAAP financial measures (as defined in the SEC’s Regulation G) that we may make public orally, telephonically, by webcast, by broadcast, or by similar means from time to time. The information on our website is not part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Our Investor Relations Department can be contacted at One Belvedere Place, Suite 300, Mill Valley, CA 94941, Attn: Investor Relations, telephone (866) 269-4976.

54

Our Business

Redwood Trust, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, is a specialty finance company focused on several distinct areas of housing credit where we provide liquidity to growing segments of the U.S. housing market not well served by government programs. We deliver customized housing credit investments to a diverse mix of investors, through our best-in-class securitization platforms, whole-loan distribution activities, joint ventures and our publicly traded shares. Our goal is to provide attractive returns to shareholders through a stable and growing stream of earnings and dividends, capital appreciation, and a commitment to technological innovation that facilitates risk-minded scale. We operate through three core residential housing-focused operating platforms — Sequoia, Aspire, and CoreVest — alongside our complementary Redwood Investments portfolio which is primarily composed of assets we source through these platforms. Redwood Investments also includes RWT Horizons®, our unified technology platform spanning internal AI innovation and strategic investments across the ecosystem, which supports our efforts to develop an AI-first operating model that enables compounding operational leverage and scalable growth. These platforms reflect how we manage and organize our business and may differ from the manner in which our reportable segments are presented for financial reporting purposes.

We report our results through the following reportable segments: Sequoia Mortgage Banking, Aspire Mortgage Banking, CoreVest Mortgage Banking, Redwood Investments and Legacy Investments. In the first quarter of 2026, we identified and began reporting a new reportable segment, Aspire Mortgage Banking, which was previously included within the Sequoia Mortgage Banking segment and consists of our expanded-credit residential mortgage conduit focused on acquiring and distributing residential consumer loans under expanded underwriting criteria, commonly referred to as “Expanded” or non-QM loans. These loan programs, primarily bank statement and DSCR loans, are designed for prime quality borrowers seeking alternative underwriting solutions, a segment that continues to grow within the U.S housing finance market. Since its launch in the first quarter of 2025, Aspire has scaled rapidly, including completing $914 million of loan sales to institutional buyers during 2025 and executing its first non-QM securitization in the first quarter of 2026. These activities supported improved capital turnover and reflect Aspire’s increasing contribution and distinct operating characteristics relative to our Sequoia Mortgage Banking segment. Our Aspire Mortgage Banking segment is expected to continue to grow over time as we expand our presence in this market.

For a full description of our segments, see Part 1, Item 1—Business in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025. For further information on our reportable segments, see Note 4 in Part 1, Item 1 - Financial Statements and Results of Operations by Segment in Part 1, Item 2 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

55

Cautionary Statement

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ from our beliefs, expectations, estimates, and projections and, consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Forward-looking statements are not historical in nature and can be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “believe,” “intend,” “seek,” “plan” and similar expressions or their negative forms, or by references to strategy, plans, opportunities, or intentions. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including, among other things, those described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, under the caption “Risk Factors.” Other risks, uncertainties, and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected may be described from time to time in reports we file with the SEC, including reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Statements regarding the following subjects, among others, are forward-looking by their nature: (i) statements we make regarding Redwood's business strategy and strategic focus, including statements relating to our overall market position, strategy and long-term prospects (including trends driving the flow of capital in the housing finance market, our strategic initiatives designed to capitalize on those trends, our ability to attract capital to finance those initiatives, our approach to raising capital, and our ability to pay dividends in the future); (ii) statements related to our financial outlook and expectations for 2026 and future years; (iii) statements related to opportunities we see for our residential consumer and residential investor platforms, and our positioning to capture market share; (iv) statements related to our investment portfolio, including our intention to reduce our capital allocation to the Legacy Investments segment to $100 million by the end of 2026; (v) statements relating to acquiring residential mortgage loans in the future that we have identified for purchase or plan to purchase, including the amount of such loans that we locked in anticipation of purchase during the second quarter of 2026 and at June 30, 2026, expected fallout and the corresponding volume of residential mortgage loans expected to be available for purchase, total net jumbo loan exposure, and residential mortgage loans subject to forward sale commitments; (vi) statements we make regarding future dividends, including with respect to our regular quarterly dividends in 2026; and (vii) statements regarding our expectations and estimates relating to the characterization for income tax purposes of our dividend distributions, our expectations and estimates relating to tax accounting, tax liabilities and tax savings, and GAAP tax provisions, and our estimates of REIT taxable income and TRS taxable income.

56

Important factors, among others, that may affect our actual results include:

•adverse economic and market conditions—including in housing, real estate, mortgage finance, and broader financial markets;

•changing benchmark interest rates—and the Federal Reserve’s actions and statements;

•federal, state, and local legislative and regulatory developments, and actions by governmental authorities and entities;

•our ability to compete successfully;

•our ability to adapt our business model and strategies;

•strategic business and capital deployment decisions we make;

•our use of financial leverage;

•our exposure to a breach of our cybersecurity or data security;

•the impact of public health events such as pandemics;

•our exposure to credit risk and the timing of credit losses within our portfolio;

•the concentration of the credit risks we are exposed to, including due to the structure of assets we hold and the geographical concentration of real estate underlying assets we own, and our exposure to environmental and climate-related risks;

•the efficacy and expense of our efforts to manage or hedge credit risk, interest rate risk, and other financial and operational risks;

•changes in credit ratings on assets we own and changes in the rating agencies’ credit rating methodologies;

•changes in interest rates or mortgage prepayment rates;

•investment and reinvestment risk;

•asset performance, interest rate volatility, changes in credit spreads, and changes in liquidity in the market for real estate securities and loans;

•our ability to finance the acquisition of real estate-related assets with short-term debt;

•the ability of counterparties to satisfy their obligations to us;

•we may enter into new lines of business, acquire other companies, or engage in other

[Excerpt truncated for page length; source filing is linked above.]

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

INTRODUCTION

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) is intended to provide a reader of our financial statements with a narrative from the perspective of our management on our financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and certain other factors that may affect our future results. Our MD&A is presented in five main sections:

•    Overview

•    Results of Operations

–Consolidated Results of Operations

–Results of Operations by Segment

–Income Taxes

•    Liquidity and Capital Resources

•    Critical Accounting Estimates

•Market and Other risks

Our MD&A should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes included in Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. References herein to “Redwood,” the “company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” include Redwood Trust, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise requires. The discussion in this MD&A contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, such as those discussed in the Cautionary Statement in Part I, Item 1, Business and in Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

OVERVIEW

Our Business

Redwood Trust, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, is a specialty finance company focused on several distinct areas of housing credit, with a mission to make quality housing, whether rented or owned, accessible to all American households. Our operating platforms occupy a unique position in the housing finance value chain, providing liquidity to growing segments of the U.S. housing market not well served by government programs. We deliver customized housing credit investments to a diverse mix of investors through our best-in-class securitization platforms, whole-loan distribution activities and our publicly-traded securities.

Our aggregation, origination, and investment activities have evolved to incorporate a diverse mix of residential consumer and residential investor housing credit assets. We operate our business across four reportable segments: Sequoia Mortgage Banking, CoreVest Mortgage Banking, Redwood Investments, and Legacy Investments. Our two mortgage banking segments generate income from the origination or acquisition of loans and the subsequent sale or securitization of those loans. Our Redwood Investments portfolio is comprised of investments sourced through our mortgage banking operations as well as investments purchased from third-parties, and generates income primarily from net interest income and asset appreciation. Our Legacy Investments portfolio is comprised of assets that were previously included within the Redwood Investments segment and generates income primarily from net interest income.

Redwood Trust, Inc. has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”). We generally refer, collectively, to Redwood Trust, Inc. and those of its subsidiaries that are not subject to subsidiary-level corporate income tax as “the REIT” or “our REIT.” We generally refer to subsidiaries of Redwood Trust, Inc. that are subject to subsidiary-level corporate income tax as “our taxable REIT subsidiaries” or “TRS.”

For a full description of our segments, see Part I, Item 1—Business in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

51

Business Update

Over the past year, our focus has been on advancing Redwood Trust’s strategic transition toward a more scalable, capital-efficient, and simplified operating model centered on our mortgage banking platforms. During 2025, we accelerated the repositioning of our balance sheet, reallocated capital away from legacy investment activities, and materially expanded the scale of our core operating businesses. These efforts resulted in record production volumes and improved capital efficiency, positioning us for a more durable and predictable earnings profile, which we saw begin to materialize in the fourth quarter of 2025.

The housing finance market in 2025 was characterized by continued affordability challenges, subdued overall transaction activity, and evolving dynamics across bank and non-bank mortgage lending. While mortgage rates remained elevated for much of the year, volatility in interest rates and capital markets persisted, alongside shifting regulatory and policy considerations affecting housing supply, bank balance sheet positions, and institutional participation in residential mortgage finance. Against this backdrop, retrenchment by banks from certain areas of mortgage lending continued to create opportunities for non-bank platforms capable of providing liquidity, distribution, and capital-efficient execution at scale.

In response to these market dynamics, we furthered our role as a leading provider of capital to the non-agency market, emphasizing growth across our Mortgage Banking platforms, which is comprised of Sequoia (inclusive of Aspire) and CoreVest, while actively reducing exposure to assets and strategies that no longer align with our long-term operating objectives. For the full year, our Mortgage Banking platforms generated a record level of production, comprised of $20.7 billion of Sequoia loan locks and $2.0 billion of CoreVest funded volume, more than double our 2024 production. During the second half of 2025, Sequoia loan lock and CoreVest loan funding volume was $14.1 billion, which on a standalone basis, would have represented our second-largest production year ever.

At December 31, 2025, 81% of our capital was allocated to our Mortgage Banking platforms and Redwood Investments, compared to approximately 62% at the end of 2024, reflecting our continued shift toward an originate-to-distribute business model. A central element of our strategy in 2025 was the accelerated wind-down of our Legacy Investments portfolio. These assets, which include legacy unsecuritized bridge loans, residential re-performing loan securities, and third-party originated investments, were largely accumulated during prior periods when market conditions and return opportunities differed materially from those prevailing today.

Throughout the year, we executed a series of asset dispositions, financings, and restructurings to reduce our exposure to Legacy Investments, improve balance sheet flexibility, and enhance our earnings profile. During 2025, we completed approximately $1.2 billion of legacy asset dispositions, including outright sales, structured financings, and partnership transactions. As a result, Legacy Investments declined from approximately 33% of total capital in mid-2025 to 19% by year-end, with continued progress expected as remaining assets are resolved.

Proceeds from these actions enabled the repayment of higher-cost secured debt, improved utilization of flexible funding sources, and redeployment of capital into higher-return operating activities. In parallel, we actively managed our corporate capital structure, including repayment of our convertible notes that matured in 2025, issuance of $190 million of senior unsecured debt, and repurchase of $53 million of common stock during the year, the latter of which contributed approximately $0.13 per share of book value accretion.

Our Sequoia platform, which includes Aspire, delivered record production in 2025, reflecting continued market share gains across both bank and independent mortgage bank (“IMB”) counterparties. Full-year Sequoia lock volume totaled approximately $20.7 billion, increasing substantially year over year, with record quarterly production achieved in both the third and fourth quarters. In the fourth quarter alone, Sequoia locked $6.8 billion of loans (inclusive of Aspire activity), representing a 193% increase compared to the fourth quarter of 2024. Overall 2025 volumes translated into 7.0% of jumbo market share, up from 4.3% in 2024 and compared to our 1-2% historical average.

Aspire, our expanded-credit and non-QM platform included within the Sequoia platform, completed its first full year of operations in 2025 and scaled rapidly throughout the year. Aspire locked $3.2 billion of loans in 2025, including record quarterly production of approximately $1.5 billion in the fourth quarter. Aspire’s seller network expanded to 123 originators, with 69% of volume sourced from originators that also transact with Sequoia, demonstrating the benefits of our integrated platform approach.

52

Bulk transactions represented a significant portion of Sequoia’s activity during the year, particularly with bank counterparties seeking capital-efficient alternatives to holding residential mortgage loans on balance sheet. Production was supported by continued strength in both flow and bulk executions, including the purchase of a large seasoned loan pools in each of the first and third quarters of 2025 and additional seasoned bank collateral acquired during 2025 as institutions repositioned balance sheets amid increased merger and acquisition activity. Product breadth also contributed to record lock volumes, including growth in Adjustable-Rate Mortgages (“ARMs”) and Closed-End Seconds (“CES”), reflecting borrower demand for alternative affordability structures in a higher-rate environment and broadening Sequoia’s sourcing capabilities. Refinancing volumes for our Sequoia prime jumbo products increased during the second half of 2025, representing approximately 35% of second-half lock volume, compared to approximately 26% in the first half of the year.

Distribution remained a core differentiator across the Sequoia platform, inclusive of Aspire. During the fourth quarter, Sequoia distributed approximately $3.0 billion of loans through securitizations and an additional $1.2 billion through whole loan sales, supporting rapid capital turnover and attractive returns. Loans were typically held on balance sheet for approximately 36 days prior to sale or securitization, limiting balance sheet risk and enhancing capital efficiency. As production volumes increased, cost per loan (calculated as operating expenses divided by loan purchase commitments) declined to 0.23% in 2025 from 0.29% in 2024, a 21% year-over-year improvement driven by operating leverage and disciplined cost management.

Distribution capabilities expanded alongside production within Aspire. During 2025, Aspire completed $914 million of loan sales to various institutional buyers, including its first whole loan sale to a bank in the fourth quarter, and prepared for the launch of its inaugural securitization platform in early 2026. These activities supported improved capital turnover and positioned Aspire for continued growth and enhanced returns as volumes scale.

CoreVest continued to expand its footprint in business purpose lending, delivering 13% year-over-year growth in funded volume during 2025. Production increasingly shifted toward smaller-balance products, including RTL and DSCR loans. In the fourth quarter, RTL represented 37% of funded volume, while DSCR production increased 43% from the prior quarter. Importantly, these two products represented 40% of CoreVest's full year 2025 volume, representing clear progress on our strategic focus for the platform.

Distribution activity supported improved liquidity and capital efficiency, while credit performance remained an area of focus. The second and fourth quarters of 2025 each represented record quarters for CoreVest distribution activity, reflecting continued momentum across securitizations, whole loan sales, and transfers to joint ventures. Since launching our joint venture strategy, cumulative loan transfers to these vehicles were $2.1 billion in early 2026, underscoring the scale and capital efficiency achieved through this distribution channel. We continue

[Excerpt truncated for page length; the complete text is on the linked full-MD&A page.]