Countrywide Financial Corp. today announced net earnings of $700 million for the second quarter of 2004. That’s an increase of 83 percent over net earnings of $383 million in the second quarter of 2003.
Earnings per diluted share were $2.24, up 64 percent from last year’s second-quarter earnings per share of $1.37.
Total loan production volume was $100 billion for the quarter, down 23 percent from the comparable quarter last year. That was a result of a 45 percent decline in refinance volume. Purchase volumes, however, rose 40 percent from the second quarter of 2003 to a record $46 billion.
The company’s portfolio rose to a record $726 billion, up $81 billion from the beginning of the year.
“During a quarter with transitional market conditions, Countrywide delivered solid results,” said chairman and CEO Angelo R. Mozilo. “Diluted earnings per share were $2.24, our second best quarter on record. This demonstrates Countrywide’s ability to execute its strategic plan, prudently manage risk and right size its operational infrastructure in the midst of a volatile interest rate environment.”
Recent news reports have said Countrywide is the expected buyer of Cendant’s mortgage business. Cendant announced Tuesday that it is in talks with a potential buyer for its mortgage business, but did not reveal its name.
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