FRIEDMAN BILLINGS RAMSEY GROUP INC - 10-Q Quarterly Report

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

x	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2004

¨	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from to

Commission file number: 000-50230

FRIEDMAN, BILLINGS, RAMSEY GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Virginia

54-1873198

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

1001 Nineteenth Street North

Arlington, VA 22209

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip code)

(703) 312-9500

(Registrant’s telephone number including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes x No ¨

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date:


Title		Outstanding
Class A Common Stock		142,501,695 shares as of April 28, 2004
Class B Common Stock		25,722,099 shares as of April 28, 2004

FRIEDMAN, BILLINGS, RAMSEY GROUP, INC.

FORM 10-Q

FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2004

INDEX


		Page

Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION¹

Item 1.	Financial Statements — (unaudited)

	Consolidated Balance Sheets — March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003	3

	Consolidated Statements of Operations —Three Months Ended March 31, 2004 and 2003	4

	Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity —Three Months Ended March 31, 2004 and Year Ended December 31, 2003	5

	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows —Three Months Ended March 31, 2004 and 2003	6

	Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	7

Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	17

Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk	22

Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	25

Part II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 6.	Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K	25

On March 31, 2003, Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group, Inc. (“the Company” or “FBR”) completed its merger with FBR Asset Investment Corporation (“FBR Asset”) and one of its wholly owned subsidiaries, Forest Merger Corporation, created to effect the merger (the “merger”) of FBR and FBR Asset. The merger was accounted for as a purchase of FBR Asset by FBR using the purchase method of accounting. For the period from January 1, 2003 through March 30, 2003, and prior periods the Company accounted for its investment in FBR Asset using the equity method of accounting. See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements at page 7.

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.

Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes — (unaudited)

FRIEDMAN, BILLINGS, RAMSEY GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)


	March 31, 2004			December 31, 2003
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$	129,235		$	92,688
Receivables:
Interest		47,439			44,674
Asset management fees		6,021			5,517
Investment banking		9,131			8,464
Affiliates		2,656			4,861
Other		2,814			3,779
Investments:
Mortgage-backed securities, at fair value		10,912,921			10,551,570
Long-term investments		409,941			379,002
Trading securities, at fair value		4,759			4,932
Due from clearing broker		126,231			89,940
Goodwill		108,013			108,013
Management contract intangible		15,381			16,090
Building, furniture, equipment, software and leasehold improvements, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $25,807 and $24,853, respectively		8,371			6,969
Prepaid expenses and other assets		23,594			17,114

Total assets	$	11,806,507		$	11,333,613

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Liabilities:
Trading account securities sold but not yet purchased, at fair value	$	45,184		$	9,525
Commercial paper		4,736,035			4,397,993
Repurchase agreements		5,048,825			5,095,676
Interest rate swaps		11,153			5,366
Dividends payable		56,966			56,744
Interest payable		8,581			6,188
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		79,342			52,692
Accrued compensation and benefits		69,717			100,901
Long-term debt		65,031			54,189

Total liabilities		10,120,834			9,779,274

Commitments and Contingencies (Note 10)
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value, 25,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding		—			—
Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value, 450,000,000 shares authorized, 141,825,470 and 141,021,320 shares issued and outstanding, respectively		1,418			1,410
Class B Common Stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 25,722,099 and 25,872,099 shares issued and outstanding, respectively		257			259
Additional paid-in capital		1,469,634			1,443,228
Employee stock loan receivable (885,959 and 1,290,198 shares)		(5,794	)		(8,277	)
Deferred compensation		(17,067	)		(2,203	)
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net		144,934			60,505
Retained earnings		92,291			59,417

Total shareholders’ equity		1,685,673			1,554,339

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	11,806,507		$	11,333,613

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

FRIEDMAN, BILLINGS, RAMSEY GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)


	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2004		2003
Revenues:
Investment banking:
Underwriting	$	62,774	$	8,788
Corporate finance		28,337		5,719
Investment gains		8,402		3,232
Institutional brokerage:
Principal transactions		6,019		3,751
Agency commissions		29,137		7,537
Asset management:
Base management fees		6,535		7,691
Incentive allocations and fees		2,665		5,515
Net investment income		5,464		2,312
Principal investment:
Interest		88,650		—
Realized gains, net		12,743		—
Dividends		972		—
Other		1,659		4,994

Total revenues		253,357		49,539
Interest expense		32,066		1,646

Revenues, net of interest expense		221,291		47,893

Non-Interest Expenses:
Compensation and benefits		74,889		24,804
Business development		16,538		2,974
Professional services		10,164		2,905
Clearing and brokerage fees		3,354		1,232
Occupancy and equipment		2,904		2,199
Communications		2,942		2,209
Other operating expenses		5,971		3,004

Total non-interest expenses		116,762		39,327

Net income before taxes		104,529		8,566
Income tax provision		14,890		2,843

Net income	$	89,639	$	5,723

Basic earnings per share	$	0.54	$	0.12

Diluted earnings per share	$	0.54	$	0.12

Dividends declared per share	$	0.34	$	—

Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic		165,107		47,047

Diluted		167,307		48,547

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

FRIEDMAN, BILLINGS, RAMSEY GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)


	Class A Number of Shares		Class A Amount			Class B Number of Shares		Class B Amount			Additional Paid-In Capital			Employee Stock Loan Receivable			Deferred Compensation			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income			Retained Earnings			Total			Comprehensive Income
Balances, December 31, 2002	24,480,092		$	245		25,975,449		$	260		$	211,724		$	(24,182	)	$	—		$	4,345		$	52,773		$	245,165

Net Income																								201,414			201,414		$	201,414
Repurchase of Class A shares	(976,600	)		(10	)							(8,173	)														(8,183	)
Conversion of Class B shares to Class A shares	103,350			1		(103,350	)		(1	)
Issuance of Class A common shares	117,414,478			1,174								1,238,137						(2,203	)								1,237,108
Interest on employee stock purchase and loan plan												1,540			(1,540	)
Repayment of employee stock purchase and loan plan receivable															17,445												17,445
Other comprehensive income:
Net change in unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale investment securities, net of taxes																					55,045						55,045			55,045
Net change in unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges																					1,115						1,115			1,115

Comprehensive income
Dividends																								(194,770	)		(194,770	)	$	257,574

Balances, December 31, 2003	141,021,320		$	1,410		25,872,099		$	259		$	1,443,228		$	(8,277	)	$	(2,203	)	$	60,505		$	59,417		$	1,554,339

Net Income																								89,639			89,639		$	89,639
Conversion of Class B shares to Class A shares	150,000			2		(150,000	)		(2	)
Issuance of Class A common shares	654,150			6								26,281						(14,864	)								11,423
Repayment of employee stock purchase and loan plan receivable															2,608												2,608
Interest on employee stock purchase and loan plan												125			(125	)
Other comprehensive income:
Net change in unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale investment securities, net of taxes																					89,034						89,034			89,034
Net change in unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges																					(4,605	)					(4,605	)		(4,605	)

Comprehensive income																													$	174,068

Dividends																								(56,765	)		(56,765	)

Balances, March 31, 2004	141,825,470		$	1,418		25,722,099		$	257		$	1,469,634		$	(5,794	)	$	(17,067	)	$	144,934		$	92,291		$	1,685,673

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

FRIEDMAN, BILLINGS, RAMSEY GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)


	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2004			2003
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	89,639		$	5,723
Non-cash items included in earnings:
Incentive allocations and fees and net investment income from long-term investments		(28,115	)		(5,359	)
Premium amortization on mortgage-backed securities		16,585			—
Interest rate swap basis adjustment		(455	)		—
Depreciation and amortization		1,685			1,063
Other		(1,387	)		119
Changes in operating assets:
Receivables:
Investment banking		(667	)		(1,222	)
Asset management fees		(504	)		7,447
Affiliates		2,205			5,359
Other		(1,801	)		939
Due from clearing broker		(36,290	)		43,146
Marketable and trading securities		173			(1,329	)
Prepaid expenses and other assets		(4,642	)		(12,210	)
Changes in operating liabilities:
Trading account securities sold but not yet purchased		35,659			(19,780	)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		30,222			14,561
Accrued compensation and benefits		(31,184	)		(25,898	)

Net cash provided by operating activities		71,123			12,559

Cash flows from investment activities:
FBR Asset cash acquired		—			11,258
Purchases of mortgage-backed securities		(1,274,397	)		(357,835	)
Receipt of principal payments on mortgage-backed securities		28,080			16,317
Proceeds from sales of mortgage-backed securities		954,417			18,153
Purchases of long-term investments		(15,000	)		—
Proceeds from sales of long-term investments		16,225			5,000
Purchases of fixed assets		(2,401	)		(792	)
Proceeds from disposals of fixed assets		22			—
Bank loans, net of allowances		—			558

Net cash used in investing activities		(293,054	)		(307,341	)

Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt		10,000			—
Repayments of long-term debt		—			(970	)
(Repayments) of / proceeds from repurchase agreements, net		(46,851	)		293,279
Proceeds from issuances of commercial paper, net		338,042			—
Proceeds from short-term borrowings		—			15,000
Repayments of short-term borrowings		—			(4,618	)
Net increase in bank deposits		—			3,566
Dividends paid		(56,744	)		—
Repurchases of Class A common shares		––			(8,183	)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock		11,423			667
Proceeds from repayments of employee stock loan receivable		2,608			—

Net cash provided by financing activities		258,478			298,741

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		36,547			3,959
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		92,688			90,007

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	129,235		$	93,966

Supplemental Cash Flow Information:
Cash payments for interest	$	19,771		$	1,646
Cash payments for taxes	$	19,553		$	—

Note:

The Company’s merger with FBR Asset was a non-cash transaction see Note 2.

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

FRIEDMAN, BILLINGS, RAMSEY GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

1. Basis of Presentation:

The consolidated financial statements of Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group, Inc. and subsidiaries (“FBR Group,” “FBR,” or the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q. Therefore, they do not include all information required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements. The interim financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the periods presented. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results for the entire year. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2003 included on Form 10-K filed by the Company under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Certain amounts in the consolidated financial statements and notes for prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

2. FBR Asset Investment Corporation:

Merger With FBR Asset Investment Corporation

In June 2001, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 141, “Business Combinations,” which provides that all business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001 be accounted for using the purchase method. Under the purchase method, net assets and results of operations of acquired companies are included in the consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition. In addition, SFAS 141 provides that the cost of an acquired entity must be allocated to the assets acquired, including identifiable intangible assets, and the liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. The excess of cost over the fair value of the net assets acquired must be recognized as goodwill.

On November 15, 2002, the Company announced that it had entered into a merger agreement with FBR Asset Investment Corporation (“FBR Asset”) and one of its wholly owned subsidiaries, Forest Merger Corporation (“New FBR”), created to effect the merger (the “merger”) of FBR and FBR Asset. At separate special meetings of FBR and FBR Asset shareholders held on March 28, 2003, shareholders of both companies voted to approve the merger. The merger closed before the opening of business on March 31, 2003. The merger was accounted for as a purchase of FBR Asset by FBR Group using the purchase method of accounting. Accordingly, the consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2004 includes the effects of the merger and the Company’s application of the purchase method of accounting. Additionally, the consolidated statements of operations and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2003 include one day’s effects of the merger. During the period from January 1, 2003 through March 30, 2003, the Company accounted for its investment in FBR Asset using the equity method of accounting.

Upon completion of the merger, pursuant to the merger agreement, FBR Asset merged with and into New FBR, and, immediately following that merger, FBR Group merged with and into New FBR, with New FBR

FRIEDMAN, BILLINGS, RAMSEY GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) — (Continued)

continuing as the surviving company to each merger, and subsequently assuming the name Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group, Inc. At the time of the merger, each outstanding share of FBR Group Class A common stock was converted into the right to receive one share of New FBR Class A common stock, each outstanding share of FBR Group Class B common stock was converted into the right to receive one share of New FBR Class B common stock, and each outstanding share of FBR Asset common stock was converted into the right to receive 3.65 shares of New FBR Class A common stock.

Upon completion of the merger, the Company elected Real Estate Investment Trust (“REIT”) status for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The Company conducts its mortgage-backed securities and merchant banking investments at the parent company REIT level. To qualify for tax treatment as a REIT, the parent company must meet certain income and asset tests and distribution requirements. The parent company generally will not be subject to federal income tax at the corporate level to the extent that it distributes at least 90 percent of its taxable income to its shareholders and complies with certain other requirements.

Also upon completion of the merger, the Company created FBR TRS Holdings, Inc., a taxable REIT subsidiary holding company, under which the Company conducts its investment banking, institutional brokerage and asset management business in taxable REIT subsidiaries. The taxable REIT subsidiaries are fully subject to corporate income tax. Income from the taxable REIT subsidiaries may be retained by the subsidiaries or distributed to the parent REIT company.

FBR Group’s purchase price of $776,862 is calculated using the number of shares of New FBR Class A common stock issued in the merger of 85,973,312 (determined as the number of shares of FBR Asset common stock outstanding immediately prior to completion of the merger multiplied by the exchange ratio of 3.65) and an $8.91 per share average trading price of FBR Group common stock for a period of two days before and after the terms of the merger agreement were agreed to and announced and direct merger costs of $10,840. A summary of the fair values of the net assets acquired is as follows:


Cash	$	11,258
Mortgage-backed securities		4,658,407
Equity investments		97,555
Interest receivable		30,207
Other assets		1,535
Repurchase agreements		(4,032,746	)
Interest rate swaps		(10,481	)
Interest payable		(13,892	)
Other liabilities		(3,408	)
Adjustment to eliminate FBR Group investment in FBR Asset		(67,786	)
Goodwill		106,213

Total purchase price, including acquisition costs	$	776,862

The total amount of goodwill represents the cost of FBR Asset in excess of the fair value of the net assets acquired and is not deductible for tax purposes. Under SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” goodwill is not amortized. Instead, this asset is required to be tested at least annually for impairment.

FRIEDMAN, BILLINGS, RAMSEY GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) — (Continued)

The following presents unaudited pro forma consolidated results for the three months ended March 31, 2003.


	Three Months Ended March 31,
	Actual 2004		2003
Gross revenues, as reported	$	253,357	$	49,539
Revenues, net of interest expense, as reported		221,291		47,893
Net earnings, as reported		89,639		5,723
Gross revenues, pro forma		n/a		96,783
Revenues, net of interest expense, pro forma		n/a		74,211
Net earnings, pro forma		n/a		31,549
Earnings per common share:

Basic, as reported	$	0.54	$	0.12

Diluted, as reported	$	0.54	$	0.12

Basic, pro forma		n/a	$	0.24

Diluted, pro forma		n/a	$	0.23

Investment in FBR Asset

As of March 30, 2003, and during the period from January 1, 2003 through March 30, 2003, as well as at December 31, 2002, the Company and its affiliated entities owned 2,844,700 shares or 10.88% percent of the outstanding common stock of FBR Asset.

During the period from January 1, 2003 through March 30, 2003, the Company accounted for its investment in FBR Asset using the equity method of accounting and recorded $2,860 of net investment income in the statements of operations for its proportionate share of FBR Asset’s net income during the period.

Prior to its merger with FBR Asset, the Company had a management agreement with FBR Asset under which the Company performed portfolio management services on behalf of FBR Asset. These services included, but were not limited to, making investment purchases and sales, collecting market information, submitting reports pertaining to FBR Asset’s assets, interest rates, and general economic conditions, and periodic review and evaluation of the performance of FBR Asset’s portfolio of assets.

Under this management agreement the Company received a quarterly “base” management fee equal to the sum of (1) 0.20 percent per annum (adjusted to reflect a quarterly period) of the average book value of the mortgage assets of FBR Asset during each calendar quarter and (2) 0.75 percent per annum (adjusted to reflect a quarterly period) of the average book value of the remainder of FBR Asset’s invested assets during each calendar quarter. During the period January 1, 2003 through March 30, 2003, the Company recorded $2,762 in base management fees.

In addition, under the management agreement the Company was also entitled to receive incentive fees based on the performance of FBR Asset during the preceding four quarters, calculated: funds from operations, plus net realized gains or losses from asset sales, less the threshold amount (all computed on a weighted average share outstanding basis), multiplied by 25 percent. The threshold amount was calculated as the weighted average issuance price per share of all shares of FBR Asset, multiplied by a rate equal to the average of the weekly

FRIEDMAN, BILLINGS, RAMSEY GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) — (Continued)

closing rate of the ten-year U.S. Treasury during the previous 52-week period plus five percent per annum. During the period January 1, 2003 through March 30, 2003, the Company recorded $5,617 in incentive fees.

The Company entered into an agreement in August 2001 with FBR Asset and its registered broker-dealer subsidiary, Pegasus, regarding FBR Asset’s extension of credit to or investment in entities that are or may be the Company’s investment banking clients. During the period January 1, 2003 through March 30, 2003, pursuant to this agreement, the Company paid $353 in fees to FBR Asset in connection with investment banking transactions.

3. Stock Compensation:

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” as amended. Pursuant to SFAS 123, the Company continues to apply the provisions of Accounting Principles Board Opinion (“APB”) No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.” Under APB 25, compensation expense is recorded for the difference, if any, between the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant and the exercise price of the option. For certain option grants made during 2003 and 2004, the exercise prices of options granted were below the market prices on the dates of grants. The total compensation recorded for these grants was less than $100 for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003. All outstanding stock options at March 30, 2003 vested as a result of the merger with FBR Asset. The following pro forma financial information reflects the application of SFAS 123’s fair value approach to recording stock compensation.


	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2004		2003
Net income, as reported	$	89,639	$	5,723
Stock based employee compensation		85		1,680

Pro forma net income	$	89,554	$	4,043

Basic earnings per share—as reported	$	0.54	$	0.12

Basic earnings per share—pro forma	$	0.54	$	0.09

Diluted earnings per share—as reported	$	0.54	$	0.12

Diluted earnings per share—pro forma	$	0.54	$	0.08

4. Investments:

Institutional Brokerage Trading Securities

Trading securities owned and trading account securities sold but not yet purchased consisted of securities at fair values as of March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003:


	March 31, 2004				December 31, 2003
	Owned		Sold But Not Yet Purchased		Owned		Sold But Not Yet Purchased
Corporate stocks	$	3,493	$	45,184	$	3,754	$	9,524
Corporate bonds		1,266		––		1,178		1

	$	4,759	$	45,184	$	4,932	$	9,525

FRIEDMAN, BILLINGS, RAMSEY GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) — (Continued)

Trading account securities sold but not yet purchased represent obligations of the Company to deliver the specified security at the contracted price, and thereby, creates a liability to purchase the security in the market at prevailing prices. However, these obligations relate primarily to over-allotments associated with the Company’s underwriting activities. As of March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, for $42,800 and $8,900, respectively, of securities sold but not yet purchased, the Company maintains an option to purchase additional shares from the issuer at the applicable offering price less the underwriter discount to cover these short positions. Accordingly, these transactions when unrelated to over-allotments result in off-balance-sheet risk as the Company’s ultimate obligation to satisfy the sale of securities sold but not yet purchased may exceed the current value recorded in the consolidated balance sheets.

Mortgage-Backed Securities and Long-Term Investments

Mortgage-backed securities and long-term investments consisted of the following:


	March 31, 2004		December 31, 2003
Principal Investment:
Mortgage-backed securities	$	10,912,921	$	10,551,570

Merchant Banking:
Marketable equity securities		180,188		178,550
Non-public equity securities		98,400		83,400
Private debt investment		7,500		7,500
Equity method investments		75,117		67,756
Cost method investments		13,777		15,195
Investment securities—marked to market		34,959		26,601

Total long-term investments		409,941		379,002

Total mortgage-backed securities and long-term investments	$	11,322,862	$	10,930,572

Available-for-Sale Securities

The Company’s available-for-sale securities consist primarily of equity investments in publicly traded companies and mortgage-backed securities. In accordance with SFAS No. 115, “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities,” the securities are carried at fair value with resulting unrealized gains and losses reflected as other comprehensive income or loss.

The Company’s available-for-sale securities as of March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003 were:


	March 31, 2004
	Amortized Cost/Cost Basis		Unrealized					Fair Value
	Amortized Cost/Cost Basis		Gains		Losses			Fair Value
Mortgage-backed securities (1)	$	10,865,564	$	56,343	$	(8,986	)	$	10,912,921
Marketable equity securities		81,573		98,996		(381	)		180,188

	$	10,947,137	$	155,339	$	(9,367	)	$	11,093,109

(1)

As of March 31, 2004, the mortgage-backed securities portfolio had a net premium of $206,000. This premium includes purchase accounting adjustments that stepped up the basis of the securities acquired from FBR Asset based on the values of the securities at the time of the merger.

FRIEDMAN, BILLINGS, RAMSEY GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) — (Continued)


	December 31, 2003
	Amortized Cost		Unrealized					Fair Value
	Amortized Cost		Gains		Losses			Fair Value
Mortgage-backed securities	$	10,590,540	$	15,535	$	(54,505	)	$	10,551,570
Marketable equity securities		82,607		96,323		(380	)		178,550

	$	10,673,147	$	111,858	$	(54,885	)	$	10,730,120

During the three months ended March 31, 2004, the weighted average coupon rate on the Company’s mortgage-backed securities was 4.03% and the weighted average yield was 3.32%. During the three months ended March 31, 2003, the Company’s investments in mortgage backed securities did not have a significant effect on the Company’s results of operations. The weighted average life of the mortgage-backed securities, based on assumptions used to determine fair value, was 2.25 years as of March 31, 2004. The duration of the mortgage-backed securities portfolio was 1.13 as of March 31, 2004.

As of March 31, 2004, $5,092,943 (fair value excluding principal receivable) of the mortgage-backed securities were pledged as collateral for repurchase agreements and $4,929,685 of mortgage-backed securities and other assets were pledged as collateral for commercial paper.

During the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, the Company recorded gross realized gains of $13,090 and $60 and gross realized losses of $(347) and $0, respectively on sales of available for sale securities. As of March 31, 2004, there were no securities for which the duration of the unrealized loss position was twelve months or more.

5. Borrowings:

Commercial Paper

In August 2003, the Company formed Georgetown Funding Company, LLC (“Georgetown Funding”), a special purpose Delaware limited liability company organized for the purpose of issuing extendable commercial paper notes in the asset-backed commercial paper market and entering into reverse repurchase agreements with the Company and its affiliates. The Company serves as administrator for Georgetown Funding’s commercial paper program. Through its administration agreement, the Company maintains effective control over Georgetown Funding, and consolidates Georgetown Funding for financial reporting purposes. The commercial paper notes issued by Georgetown Funding are rated A1+/P1 by Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s Investors Service, respectively. The Company’s Master Repurchase Agreement with Georgetown Funding enables the Company to finance up to $5,000,000 of mortgage-backed securities.

The Company through Georgetown Funding began issuing commercial paper in September 2003, and as of March 31, 2004, had commercial paper borrowings of $4,736,035 outstanding with a weighted average borrowing rate of 1.10% and a remaining weighted-average term to maturity of 35.6 days. During the three months ending March 31, 2004, the weighted average borrowing rate was 1.14%, and the weighted average commercial paper balance was $4,546,966 See also Note 6 for information regarding the effects of interest rate swaps on the Company’s borrowing costs.

FRIEDMAN, BILLINGS, RAMSEY GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) — (Continued)

Repurchase Agreements

At March 31, 2004, the Company had borrowings of $5,048,825 outstanding under repurchase agreements with a weighted average borrowing rate of 1.11% and a remaining weighted-average term to maturity of 26.8 days. During the three months ending March 31, 2004, the weighted average borrowing rate was 1.12%, and the weighted average repurchase agreement balance was $5,145,657. See also Note 6 for information regarding the effects of interest rate swaps on the Company’s borrowing costs.

Long Term Debt

During 2003 the Company through its taxable REIT holding company FBR TRS Holdings, Inc. (“TRS Holdings”) issued a total of $50,000 in three issuances of long term debentures. In March 2004, the Company issued $10,000 of additional long term debentures through TRS Holdings. The long term debt accrues and requires payments of interest quarterly at annual rates of (1) three-month LIBOR plus 3.25% ($20,000), but no more than 12% until March 2008, (2) three-month LIBOR plus 3.10% ($20,000), (3) three-month LIBOR plus 3.00% ($10,000), and (4) three-month LIBOR plus 2.85% ($10,000). The long term debt is mandatorily redeemable on March 30, 2033, June 30, 2033, October 31, 2033 and April 6, 2034, respectively, and may be redeemed earlier as provided in the indentures. Specifically, subsequent to June 30, 2008, September 30, 2008, October 31, 2008 and July 6, 2009, respectively, the Company may redeem the securities in whole at any time or in part from time to time at a redemption amount equal to the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest.

6. Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities:

The Company utilizes derivative financial instruments to hedge the interest rate risk associated with its repurchase agreement and commercial paper borrowings. At March 31, 2004, the Company was party to eight interest rate swap agreements and three Eurodollar futures contracts. The counterparties to the interest rate swap agreements and Eurodollar futures contracts are U.S. financial institutions. Under the interest rate swap agreements, the Company receives a floating rate based on three-month LIBOR and pays a fixed rate, as summarized below. Eurodollar futures contracts are a proxy for the forward AA/AAA LIBOR-based credit curve and allow the Company the ability to lock in three month LIBOR forward rates.

FRIEDMAN, BILLINGS, RAMSEY GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) — (Continued)

The notional amount of each interest rate swap agreement and Eurodollar futures contract is matched against a like amount of current and anticipated borrowings under repurchase agreements or commercial paper to hedge the variability in interest payments associated with the borrowings. These instruments are highly effective hedges and qualify as cash flow hedges under SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and for Hedging Activities,” as amended. Accordingly, changes in the fair value of these derivatives are reported in other comprehensive income to the extent the hedge was perfectly effective, while changes in value attributable to hedge ineffectiveness are reported in earnings. The gains and losses on cash flow hedge transactions that are reported in other comprehensive income are reclassified to earnings in the periods in which the earnings are affected by the hedged cash flows. The net effect of the Company’s interest rate swap agreements, including purchase accounting basis adjustments, on interest expense was to increase expense by $3,680 for the three months ended March 31, 2004. The total amount deferred in accumulated other comprehensive income relating to these derivatives is $(8,744) at March 31, 2004, and relates to interest rate swaps and Eurodollar futures contracts entered into subsequent to the merger with FBR Asset. All of these amounts are expected to flow through the Company’s statement of operations over the next twelve months. The Company held the following interest rate swaps at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003.


Notional Amount	Fixed Rate(1)		March 31, 2004 Three-month LIBOR Rate		December 31, 2003 Three-month LIBOR Rate		Termination Date	March 31, 2004 Fair Value			December 31, 2003 Fair Value
$ 50,000	4.97	%	1.12	%	1.16	%	July 27, 2004	$	(955	)	$	(2,009	)
2,000,000	1.31	%(2)	1.12	%	1.16	%	October 15, 2004		(2,286	)		(678	)
500,000	1.31	%	1.12	%	1.16	%	October 17, 2004		(548	)		(139	)
500,000	1.59	%	1.08	%	1.14	%	December 18, 2004		(1,551	)		(1,198	)
500,000	1.60	%	1.08	%	1.14	%	December 22, 2004		(1,569	)		(1,206	)
500,000	1.41	%	1.08	%	1.13	%	December 30, 2004		(800	)		(136	)
1,000,000	1.68	%	1.12	%	n/a		July 28, 2005		(3,444	)		n/a

$5,050,000								$	(11,153	)	$	(5,366	)

(1)	The weighted average fixed rate of the Company’s interest rate swap agreements is 1.49% as of March 31, 2004.

(2)	Average of two, one billion dollar notional interest rate swaps

As of March 31, 2004 the Company had $500,000 notional December 2004 Eurodollar futures contracts and $500,000 notional March 2005 Eurodollar futures contracts. The fair value of these futures was $(697) as of March 31, 2004.

As of March 31, 2004, the Company had made forward commitments to purchase approximately $2,588,000 in hybrid ARM securities. These commitments to purchase mortgage-backed securities are designated as cash flow hedges of the anticipated purchases, and as of March 31, 2004 were valued at $5,419, which is included in accumulated other comprehensive income. After settlement of the forward purchase, the fair value of the hedge is transferred from accumulated other comprehensive income to earnings over the life of the hedged item.

7. Income Taxes:

In connection with the Company’s merger with FBR Asset effective March 31, 2003, the parent company, FBR Group elected REIT status under the Internal Revenue Code. As a REIT, FBR Group is not subject to Federal income tax on earnings distributed to its shareholders. Most states recognize REIT status as well. Since FBR Group intends to distribute 100% of its REIT taxable income to shareholders, the Company has recognized no income tax expense on its REIT income.

FRIEDMAN, BILLINGS, RAMSEY GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) — (Continued)

To maintain tax qualification as a REIT, FBR Group must meet certain income and asset tests and distribution requirements. The REIT must distribute to shareholders at least 90% of its (parent company) taxable income. A predominance of the REIT’s gross income must come from real estate sources and other portfolio-type income. A significant portion of the REIT’s assets must consist of real estate and similar portfolio investments, including mortgage-backed securities. Beginning in 2001, the tax law changed to allow REITs to hold a certain percentage of their assets in taxable REIT subsidiaries. The income generated from the Company’s taxable REIT subsidiaries is taxed at normal corporate rates and will generally not be distributed to the Company’s shareholders. Failure to maintain REIT qualification would subject FBR Group to Federal and state corporate income taxes at regular corporate rates.

During the three months ended March 31, 2004, the Company recorded $14,890 of income tax expense for income attributable to taxable REIT subsidiaries. The Company’s effective tax rate at its taxable REIT subsidiaries was 39% for the three months ended March 31, 2004. During the three months ended March 31, 2003, the Company recorded $2,843 of income tax expense for the period prior to the effective date of the merger with FBR Asset as well as for income generated subsequently that was attributable to taxable REIT subsidiaries. The Company’s effective tax rate applicable to this 2003 income also was 39%.

8. Net Capital Requirements:

The Company’s U.S. broker-dealer subsidiaries, Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co., Inc. (“FBR & Co.”), FBR Investment Services, Inc. (“FBRIS”), and Pegasus Capital Corporation (“Pegasus”) are subject to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Uniform Net Capital Rule (“the rule”), which requires the maintenance of minimum net capital and requires the ratio of aggregate indebtedness to net capital, both as defined by the rule, not to exceed 15 to 1. As of March 31, 2004, FBR & Co. had regulatory net capital as defined of $100,476, which exceeded its required net capital of $8,265 by $92,211. FBRIS had regulatory net capital as defined of $428, and Pegasus had regulatory net capital as defined of $359, each of which exceeded the amount required.

The Company’s U.K. broker-dealer subsidiary, Friedman, Billings, Ramsey International, Ltd. (“FBRIL”) is subject to the net capital rules of the Financial Services Authority. As of March 31, 2004, FBRIL had regulatory net capital as defined of $3,096, which exceeded the amount required.

9. Earnings Per Share:

The following table presents the computations of basic and diluted earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003:


	Three Months Ended March 31, 2004				Three Months Ended March 31, 2003
	Basic		Diluted		Basic		Diluted
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Common stock		165,107		165,107		47,047		47,047
Stock options and restricted stock		––		2,200		––		1,500

Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding		165,107		167,307		47,047		48,547

Net earnings applicable to common stock	$	89,639	$	89,639	$	5,723	$	5,723

Earnings per common share	$	0.54	$	0.54	$	0.12	$	0.12

FRIEDMAN, BILLINGS, RAMSEY GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) — (Continued)

As of March 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, 2,838,993 and 6,567,645 options to purchase shares of common stock were outstanding (both including shares associated with the Employee Stock Purchase and Loan Plan that are treated as options). As of March 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, 2,708,993 and 6,567,645 of the total outstanding options were exercisable and 0 and 2,616,400 were anti-dilutive. In addition, the 1,038,490 restricted common shares granted to employees (see Note 11) are also included in the calculation of weighted average common equivalent diluted shares outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2004.

10. Commitments and Contingencies:

Contractual Obligations

The Company has contractual obligations to make future payments in connection with short and long-term debt, non-cancelable lease agreements and other contractual commitments as well as uncalled capital commitments to various investment partnerships that may be called over the next six years. The following table sets forth these contractual obligations by fiscal year:


	2004		2005		2006		2007		2008		Thereafter		Total
Repurchase agreement borrowings	$	5,048,825	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	5,048,825
Commercial paper borrowings		4,736,035		—		—		—		—		—		4,736,035
Long-term debt		—		970		970		970		970		61,151		65,031
Minimum rental and other contractual commitments		8,484		9,155		6,242		3,244		1,766		2,960		31,852
Capital commitments (1)		—		—		—		—		—		—		—

Total Contractual Obligations	$	9,793,344	$	10,125	$	7,212	$	4,214	$	2,736	$	64,111	$	9,881,743

(1)	The table above excludes $7,115 of uncalled capital commitments to various investment partnerships that may be called over the next six years. This amount was excluded because the Company cannot currently determine when, if ever, the commitments will be called.

As of March 31, 2004, the Company had made forward commitments to purchase approximately $2,588,000 in hybrid ARM securities.

Litigation

As of March 31, 2004, the Company was not a defendant or plaintiff in any lawsuits or arbitrations, nor involved in any governmental or self-regulatory organization (“SRO”) matters that are expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or statements of operations. The Company is a defendant in a small number of civil lawsuits and arbitrations (together, litigation) relating to its various businesses. In addition, the Company is subject to various reviews, examinations, investigations and other inquiries by governmental agencies and SROs. There can be no assurance that these matters individually or in aggregate will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations in a future period. However, based on management’s review with counsel, resolution of these matters is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

Many aspects of the Company’s business involve substantial risks of liability and litigation. Underwriters, broker-dealers and investment advisers are exposed to liability under Federal and state securities laws, other Federal and state laws and court decisions, including decisions with respect to underwriters’ liability and limitations on indemnification, as well as with respect to the handling of customer accounts. For example, underwriters may be held liable for material misstatements or omissions of fact in a prospectus used in connection with the securities being offered and broker-dealers may be held liable for statements made by their

FRIEDMAN, BILLINGS, RAMSEY GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) — (Continued)

securities analysts or other personnel. In certain circumstances, broker-dealers and asset managers may also be held liable by customers and clients for losses sustained on investments. In recent years, there has been an increasing incidence of litigation and actions by government agencies and SROs involving the securities industry, including class actions that seek substantial damages. The Company is also subject to the risk of litigation, including litigation that may be without merit. As the Company intends to actively defend such litigation, significant legal expenses could be incurred. An adverse resolution of any future litigation against the Company could materially affect the Company’s operating results and financial condition.

Incentive Fees

The Company recognizes incentive income from the partnerships based on what would be due to the Company if the partnership terminated on the balance sheet date. Incentive allocations may be based on unrealized gains and losses, and could vary significantly based on the ultimate realization of the gains or losses. We may therefore reverse previously recorded incentive allocations in future periods relating to the Company’s managed partnerships. As of March 31, 2004, $3,365 was subject to such potential future reversal.

11. Shareholders’ Equity:

Dividends

On March 10, 2004, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a dividend of $0.34 per common share payable on April 30, 2004 to shareholders of record on March 31, 2004.

Restricted Stock

During the first quarter of 2004, the Company granted 586,990 shares of restricted Class A common stock valued at $15,579 to employees in lieu of cash payments for incentive compensation accrued during 2003 under the Company’s Stock and Annual Incentive Plans. As of March 31, 2004, a total of 1,038,490 shares of restricted Class A common stock had been granted. The unamortized value of restricted stock granted to employees totaled $17,067 and $2,203, as of March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively, and is reflected as deferred compensation in stockholders’ equity.

Employee Stock Purchase and Loan Plan

In connection with the Employee Stock Purchase and Loan Plan, in July and August 2001, the Company issued stock and received five-year, limited recourse promissory notes from employees with interest accruing at 6.5 percent accreting to principal for the remaining purchase price. The notes are collateralized by the shares of stock purchased under the plan. As of March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, the balance outstanding on these loans was $5,794 and $8,277, respectively. During the three months ended March 31, 2004, $211 of compensation expense was recorded for dividends paid on the shares purchased with proceeds from the notes.

Share Repurchases

In April 2003, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program in which the Company may repurchase up to 14 million shares of the Company’s Class A common stock from time to time. Under a previous share repurchase program, during the three months ended March 31, 2003, the Company repurchased 976,600 shares of its Class A common stock at a cost of $8,200. There were no other share repurchases during 2003, and there have been no share repurchases during 2004.

FRIEDMAN, BILLINGS, RAMSEY GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) — (Continued)

12. Segment Information:

The Company considers its capital markets, asset management, and principal investing operations to be three separately reportable segments. The capital markets segment includes the Company’s investment banking and institutional brokerage operations. Asset management includes the Company’s fee based asset management operations as well as certain investments that are incidental to asset management activities. The Company’s principal investing segment was initiated subsequent to completing the merger with FBR Asset, and includes the Company’s mortgage-backed security investment activities, and substantially all of the Company’s equity security investing activities. Accordingly, there is no comparable 2003 financial information for this segment. The Company has developed systems and methodologies to allocate overhead costs to its business units and, accordingly, presents segment information consistent with internal management reporting. There are no significant revenue transactions between the segments. The following table illustrates the financial information for the Company’s segments for the periods presented:


	Capital Markets			Asset Management		Principal Investing		Consolidated Totals
Three Months Ended March 31, 2004
Total revenues	$	134,372		$	11,280	$	107,705	$	253,357
Pre-tax income		36,075			2,304		66,150		104,529
Three Months Ended March 31, 2003
Total revenues	$	29,363		$	20,176	$	—	$	49,539
Pre-tax income (loss)		(1,654	)		10,220		—		8,566

13. Management Contract Intangible:

The Company’s 2001 acquisition of MMA/Rushmore was accounted for using the purchase method of accounting under SFAS 141, and resulted in the recording of $19,700 of management contracts on the balance sheet. These management contracts were previously unrecognized intangible assets of MMA. This intangible asset is being amortized on a straight-line basis over 15 years. As of March 31, 2004, $4,319 of amortization has been recorded resulting in a net value of $15,381. Approximately $1,300 per year will be amortized over the remaining life of this intangible asset.

14. Accounting Developments:

FASB Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities — an interpretation of APB No. 51,” (“FIN 46”) was issued in January 2003. FIN 46 explains how to identify variable interest entities and how an enterprise assesses its interests in a variable entity to decide whether to consolidate that entity. The FASB then issued FIN 46(R), “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities an Interpretation of ARB No. 51,” which replaced FIN 46. Application of FIN 46(R) is required in financial statements of public entities that have interests in variable interest entities or potential variable interest entities commonly referred to as special-purpose entities for periods ending after December 15, 2003. Adoption of FIN 46(R) did not have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following analysis of the consolidated financial condition and results of operations of Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group, Inc. (the “Company”) should be read in conjunction with the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements as of March 31, 2004 and 2003, and the Notes thereto and the Company’s 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

The Company invests and plans to continue to invest in mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) that are guaranteed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae. In addition, subject to maintaining REIT qualification, the Company invests from time to time in real estate and non-real estate related assets, including but not limited to, purchasing equity securities and making senior secured, mezzanine, and other loans.

We constantly evaluate the rates of return that can be achieved in each investment category in which we participate. At this time, based on the interest rate environment and the shape of the yield curve, our mortgage-backed securities investments have provided us with higher relative rates of return than most other investment opportunities we have evaluated. Consequently, we have maintained a high allocation of our assets and capital in this sector. We intend to continue to evaluate investment opportunities against the returns available in each of our investment alternatives and endeavor to allocate our assets and capital with an emphasis toward the highest risk-adjusted return available. This strategy will cause us to have different allocations of capital in different environments.

Our investment banking (capital raising, merger and acquisition, restructuring, and advisory services), institutional brokerage and asset management (including investments), are linked to the capital markets business activities. In addition, our business activities are focused in the financial services, real estate, technology, healthcare, energy and diversified industries sectors. Historically, we have focused on small and mid-cap stocks, although our research coverage and associated brokerage activities increasingly involve larger-cap stocks. By their nature, our business activities are highly competitive and are not only subject to general market conditions, volatile trading markets, and fluctuations in the volume of market activity, but also to the conditions affecting the companies and markets in our areas of focus. As a result, revenues can be subject to significant volatility from period to period.

Our investment banking and asset management revenues and net income are subject to substantial positive and negative fluctuations due to a variety of factors that cannot be predicted with great certainty. These factors include the overall condition of the economy and the securities markets as a whole and the sectors on which we focus. For example, a significant portion of the performance based or incentive revenues that we recognize from our venture capital, private equity, and other asset management activities is based on the value of securities held by the funds we manage. The value of these securities includes unrealized gains or losses that may change from one period to another. Although when market conditions permit, we may take steps to realize or lock-in gains on these securities, these securities are often illiquid, and therefore such steps may not be possible, and the value of these securities is subject to increased market risk. Similarly, investment banking activities and our market share are subject to significant market risk.

In order to compete in this increasingly competitive environment, we continually evaluate each of our businesses across varying market conditions for competitiveness, profitability, and alignment with our long-term strategic objectives, including the diversification of revenue sources. We believe that it is important to diversify and strengthen our revenue base by increasing the segments of our business that offer a recurring and more predictable source of revenue. We may choose, from time to time, to reallocate resources based on the opportunities for profitability and revenue growth for each of our businesses relative to our commitment of resources.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to three months ended March 31, 2003

Our merger with FBR Asset was completed on March 31, 2003, accordingly, the first quarter 2003 results include one day’s effect of the merger, and therefore with respect to principal investment activities are not comparable to 2004 results. Principal investment revenues include interest income on mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”), realized gains and losses on MBS and merchant banking investments, and dividend income on merchant banking equity investments. Net income increased from $5.7 million during the first quarter of 2003 to $89.6 million during the first quarter of 2004. This increase is primarily due to increased revenues and realized gains in 2004 as compared to 2003 in our principal investment and capital markets segments. Our 2004 net income also includes $14.9 million of income tax expenses as compared to $2.8 million of income tax expenses being recorded in the first quarter of 2003.

The Company’s net revenues increased 362.0% from $47.9 million in 2003 to $221.3 million in 2004 due primarily to revenues associated with our principal investment activities related to our merger with FBR Asset and increases in revenues from investment banking and institutional brokerage activities. Within capital markets our investment banking revenue increased $81.8 million and institutional brokerage revenue increased $23.9 million in 2004 as compared to 2003.

Underwriting revenue increased 613.6% from $8.8 million in 2003 to $62.8 million in 2004. The increase is attributable to more managed transactions completed in 2004 as compared to 2003. During the first quarter of 2004, the Company managed 20 public equity/debt offerings raising $3.6 billion. During the first quarter of 2003, the Company managed three public offerings raising $626.2 million. The average size of underwritten equity/debt transactions for which we were a lead or co-manager decreased from $208.7 million in 2003 to $179.5 million in 2004. The company also managed three asset-backed security offerings during the first quarter of 2004 totaling $2.1 billion in transaction volume.

Corporate finance revenue increased 396.5% from $5.7 million in 2003 to $28.3 million in 2004 due primarily to two large private placements completed in 2004. In total, the Company completed three private placements in 2004 generating $27.0 million in revenues compared to none in 2003. M&A and advisory fee revenue decreased from $5.7 million in 2003 to $1.3 million in 2004 due to the decrease in advisory assignments from five in 2003 to one in 2004.

During the first quarter of 2004, the Company recorded investment banking gains of $8.4 million. This amount includes $2.5 million of gains related to restricted common shares and $5.9 million related to warrants all received in connection with capital raising activities, all of which was unrealized as of March 31, 2004.

Institutional brokerage revenue from principal transactions increased 57.9% from $3.8 million in 2003 to $6.0 million in 2004 as a result of increases in both trading gains and trading volume. Institutional brokerage agency commissions increased 288.0% from $7.5 million in 2003 to $29.1 million in 2004 as a result of increases in trading volume.

Asset management base management fees decreased 15.6% from $7.7 million in 2003 to $6.5 million in 2004 as a result of the elimination of fees earned from FBR Asset ($2.8 million earned in the first quarter of 2003), offset by increase in fees earned from our other managed vehicles. Asset management incentive allocations and fees decreased 50.9% from $5.5 million in 2003 to $2.7 million in 2004 primarily as a result of the elimination of fees earned from FBR Asset offset by an increase in incentive allocations from investment partnerships.

Asset management net investment income increased 139.1% from $2.3 million in 2003 to $5.5 million in 2004. Net investment income in 2004 reflects the Company’s equity in earnings from investments in proprietary

investment partnerships and other investments. Net investment income in 2003 includes $2.9 million of net investment income generated from our investment in FBR Asset offset by $(0.6) million of net investment loss from investments in managed vehicles.

Regarding our principal investment activities, interest income on mortgage-backed securities totaled $88.7 million during the first quarter of 2004. As of March 31, 2004, the Company had investments in 353 mortgage-backed securities that had a fair value of $10.9 billion. The weighted average book value of the Company’s mortgage-backed securities portfolio was $10.5 billion (excluding principal receivable) for the three months ended March 31, 2004. For the three months ended March 31, 2004, the weighted average annual yield on the Company’s mortgage-backed securities was 3.32% (the weighted average annual coupon for the period was 4.03%). Interest income during the quarter reflects the Company’s initial use of three month CPR in calculating MBS premium amortization, as compared to one month CPR used previously during 2003. The cumulative difference between these two estimates resulted in a $2.8 million reduction in MBS premium amortization during the first quarter. In addition to interest income, the Company realized $12.7 million in net gains during the three months ended March 31, 2004, including $13.1 million in gains relating to sales of merchant banking equity investments and $(0.4) million of losses relating to sales of mortgage-backed securities. The Company also recorded $1.0 million in dividend income from its merchant banking equity investment portfolio for the three months ended March 31, 2004.

Interest expense increased from $1.6 million in 2003 to $32.1 million in 2004 reflecting the effects of the funding requirements of the Company’s principal investing activities initiated at the time of the merger with FBR Asset. During the first quarter of 2004, the Company had weighted average borrowings of $5.1 billion outstanding under repurchase agreements and $4.5 billion outstanding under commercial paper borrowings with a weighted average borrowing rates of 1.29% including the effects of outstanding interest rate swaps, and 1.13% without the effect of interest rate swaps. The weighted-average term to maturity of our repurchase agreement and commercial paper borrowings were 26.8 days and 35.6 days, respectively, as of March 31, 2004. The net effect of our interest rate swap agreements, including purchase accounting basis adjustments, on interest expense was to increase expense by $3.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004.

Total non-interest expenses increased 197.2% from $39.3 million in 2003 to $116.8 million in 2004 due primarily to increases in variable compensation associated with increased revenue during 2004 as well as increased business development costs.

Compensation and benefits expense increased 202.0% from $24.8 million in 2003 to $74.9 million in 2004. This increase was primarily due to an increase in variable compensation associated with investment banking and institutional brokerage as a result of increased revenues. As a percentage of net revenues, compensation and benefits expense decreased from 51.8% in 2003 to 33.8% in 2004 due to the effects of the merger with FBR Asset and the increased revenues from principal investing activities.

Business development expenses increased 450.0% from $3.0 million in 2003 to $16.5 million in 2004. This increase is primarily due to costs associated with the Company’s branding initiatives that commenced during the first quarter of 2004, including sponsorship of the PGA Tour’s FBR Open and relating advertising.

Professional services increased 251.7% from $2.9 million in 2003 to $10.2 million in 2004 primarily due to increases in legal costs associated with the increased investment banking activity.

Clearing and brokerage fees increased 183.3% from $1.2 million in 2003 to $3.4 million in 2004 due to increased institutional brokerage volume and related revenue. As a percentage of institutional brokerage revenue, clearing and brokerage fees decreased 12.8% from 10.9% in 2003 to 9.5% in 2004.

Occupancy and equipment expense increased 31.8% from $2.2 million in 2003 to $2.9 in 2004 primarily due to the opening of a new office in the fourth quarter of 2003, as well as the increase in the Company’s headcount at March 31, 2004 as compared to March 31, 2003.

Communications expense increased 31.8% from $2.2 million in 2003 to $2.9 million in 2004 primarily due to increased costs related to market data and customer trading services.

Other operating expenses increased 100.0% from $3.0 million in 2003 to $6.0 million in 2004. This change reflects increased license and registration fees of $0.9 million, increased 12b-1 fees of $0.4 million, increased D&O and E&O insurance premiums of $0.5 million, and increases in various office operations expense items of $0.6 million.

The total income tax provision increased from $2.8 million in 2003 to $14.9 million in 2004 due to increased taxable income in 2004 as compared to 2003. The Company’s effective tax rate at its taxable REIT subsidiaries was 39% for the three months ended March 31, 2004. During the three months ended March 31, 2003, the Company’s tax provision related to income generated during the period prior to the effective date of the merger with FBR Asset as well as for income generated subsequently that was attributable to taxable REIT subsidiaries. The Company’s effective tax rate applicable to this 2003 income also was 39%.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Liquidity is a measurement of our ability to meet potential cash requirements including ongoing commitments to repay borrowings, fund investments, loan acquisition and lending activities, and for other general business purposes. In addition, regulatory requirements applicable to our broker-dealer and banking subsidiaries require minimum capital levels for these entities. The primary sources of funds for liquidity consist of borrowings under repurchase agreements, principal and interest payments on mortgage-backed securities, dividends on equity securities, proceeds from sales of those securities, internally generated funds, equity capital contributions, and credit provided by banks, clearing brokers, and affiliates of our principal clearing broker. Potential future sources of liquidity for us include existing cash balances, internally generated funds, borrowing capacity through margin accounts and under lines of credit, and future issuances of common stock, preferred stock, or debt.

Sources of Funding

We believe that our existing cash balances, cash flows from operations, and borrowing capacity under the Georgetown Funding Company, LLC (Georgetown Funding) commercial paper conduit (see discussion below) as well as borrowings under collateralized repurchase agreements are sufficient to meet our investment objectives and fund operating expenses. We have obtained, and believe we will be able to continue to obtain, short-term financing in amounts and at interest rates consistent with our financing objectives. We may, however, seek debt or equity financings, in public or private transactions, to provide capital for corporate purposes and/or strategic business opportunities, including possible acquisitions, joint ventures, alliances, or other business arrangements which could require substantial capital outlays. Our policy is to evaluate strategic business opportunities, including acquisitions and divestitures, as they arise. There can be no assurance that we will be able to generate sufficient funds from future operations, or raise sufficient debt or equity on acceptable terms, to take advantage of investment opportunities that become available. Should our needs ever exceed these sources of liquidity, we believe that our marketable equity securities could be sold, in most circumstances, to provide cash.

In August 2003, we formed Georgetown Funding, a special purpose Delaware limited liability company organized for the purpose of issuing extendable commercial paper notes in the asset-backed commercial paper market and entering into reverse repurchase agreements with us and our affiliates. We serve as administrator for Georgetown Funding’s commercial paper program. Through our administration agreement, we maintain effective control over Georgetown Funding, and consolidate Georgetown Funding for financial reporting purposes. The extendable commercial paper notes issued by Georgetown Funding are rated A1+/P1 by Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s Investors Service, respectively. Our Master Repurchase Agreement with Georgetown Funding enables us to finance up to $5 billion of mortgage-backed securities.

At March 31, 2004, we had $5.0 billion outstanding under repurchase agreements with several financial institutions. In addition, through Georgetown Funding we had $4.7 billion of commercial paper outstanding at March 31, 2004. At March 31, 2004, our overall leverage ratio was 6.0 to 1. At March 31, 2004, the weighted average remaining time to repricing of our borrowings was 166 days, including the effect of outstanding interest rate swap agreements and Eurodollar futures contracts, and the remaining term to maturity of the borrowings was 31 days. The weighted average cost of funds on these outstanding borrowings at March 31, 2004 was 1.27%, including the effect of outstanding interest rate swap agreements, and 1.11% without the effect of interest rate swaps.

During 2003, through our taxable REIT holding company subsidiary FBR TRS Holdings, Inc. (“TRS Holdings”), we issued $50 million of long term debentures. In March 2004, we issued an additional $10 million of long term debentures through TRS Holdings. The long term debt securities accrue and require payments of interest quarterly at annual rates of three-month LIBOR plus 2.85%-3.25%, mature in thirty years, and are redeemable, in whole or in part, without penalty after five years. At March 31, 2004, we had $65.0 million of long-term debt.

We have used, and may continue to use, temporary subordinated loans in connection with regulatory capital requirements to support our underwriting activities. At March 31, 2004, we had no outstanding short-term borrowings outstanding under our $40 million subordinated line-of-credit from an affiliate of Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co., Inc.’s (“FBR & Co.”), clearing broker that expires August 2004. Borrowings under this line are allowable for net capital purposes.

Assets

Our principal assets consist of MBS, cash and cash equivalents, receivables, long-term investments, and securities held for trading purposes. As of March 31, 2004, liquid assets consisted primarily of cash and cash equivalents of $129.2 million. Cash equivalents consist primarily of money market funds invested in debt obligations of the U.S. government. In addition, we held $10.9 billion in MBS, $409.9 million in long-term investments, $4.8 million in liquid marketable trading securities, and a receivable due from our clearing broker of $126.2 million at March 31, 2004. As of March 31, 2004, we had commitments to purchase $2.6 billion of Hybrid ARM securities.

Our mortgage-backed securities (excluding principal receivable) at March 31, 2004 are summarized below (dollars in thousands):

Descriptive Title(1)

Face Amount

Market Value

Nominal

Yield(2)

Weighted

Average
Life (years)

Expected

Effective

Duration

Relevant

Prepayment

Assumptions(3)

Hybrid ARMS

10,543,625

10,791,536

3.17

2.25

1.13

25.09 CPR

(1)	All of the mortgage-backed securities are backed by pools of fixed and adjustable rate mortgages and are principal and/or interest paying instruments.

(2)

The nominal yield is the internal rate of return of the security based on the given market price. It is the simple discount rate that equates a security price (inclusive of accrued interest) with its projected cash flows. For a mortgage product, it represents the yield for a given yield curve environment based on prepayments for that environment.

(3)

Constant Prepayment Rate (“CPR”). Annualized equivalents of single monthly mortality (“SMM”). CPR attempts to predict the percentage of principal that will prepay over the next 12 months based on historical principal paydowns. CPR is measured on 1 month, 3 month, 6 month, 12 month, or since issue basis. We currently use three month CPR in calculating our monthly premium/discount amortization. The amount specified represents the three month CPR as of March 2004.

As the table shows, the average nominal yield (as defined in footnote 2 above) on the mortgage-backed securities portfolio at March 31, 2004, was approximately 3.17%. The yield is based on the anticipated life of the securities. The actual life of the mortgage-backed securities is reduced if the mortgage loans underlying the securities are prepaid faster than anticipated at the time the securities were acquired.

Long-term investments primarily consist of investments in marketable equity and non-public equity securities, managed partnerships (including hedge, private equity, and venture capital funds), and our investment in a long-term, mezzanine, debt instrument of a privately held company. Although our investments in hedge, private equity, and venture capital funds are mostly illiquid, the underlying investments of such entities are, in the aggregate, mostly publicly-traded, liquid equity and debt securities, some of which may be restricted due to contractual “lock-up” requirements.

The following table provides additional detail regarding the Company’s merchant banking investments as of March 31, 2004 (dollars in thousands).


	Shares	Cost Basis		Fair Value
Merchant Banking Investments
Accredited Home Lenders Holding Company(1),(2)	510,697	$	4,080	$	20,121
American Financial Realty Trust(1)	3,763,441		39,554		63,790
AmeriCredit Corp.	2,250,000		7,425		38,318
Cmet(1),(2)	50,000		4,650		4,650
Fieldstone(1),(2)	3,584,229		50,000		50,000
Franklin Bank Corporation(1)	600,000		6,000		11,106
Government Properties Trust(1)	210,000		2,100		2,766
MCG Capital Corporation	625,000		6,100		12,613
Medical Properties Trust(1),(2)	1,612,903		15,000		15,000
Oxford Finance Corporation(1),(2)	500,000		3,750		3,750
Quanta Capital Holdings(1),(2)	2,688,172		25,000		25,000
Saxon Capital, Inc.	1,000,000		12,930		28,400
Private debt investment	—		7,500		7,500
Other	—		3,383		3,074

Total Merchant Banking Investments		$	187,472	$	286,088

(1)	As of March 31, 2004, the Company is restricted from selling its shares based on the terms of its purchase.

(2)	As of March 31, 2004, these shares are not registered for public trading.

Net unrealized gains and losses related to our merchant banking investments that are included in “accumulated other comprehensive income” in our balance sheet totaled $98.6 million as of March 31, 2004. If and when we liquidate these or determine that a decline in value of these investments below our cost basis is “other than temporary,” a portion or all of the gains or losses will be recognized as realized gain (loss) in the statement of operations during the period in which the liquidation or determination is made. Our investment portfolio is exposed to potential future downturns in the markets and private debt and equity securities are exposed to deterioration of credit quality, defaults, and downward valuations. On a quarterly basis, we review the valuations of our private debt and equity investments. If and when we determine that the net realizable value of these investments is less than our carrying value, we will reflect the reduction as an investment loss.

Regulatory Capital

FBR & Co., FBR Investment Services, Inc. (“FBRIS”), and Pegasus Capital Corporation (“Pegasus”), as U.S. broker-dealers, are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and are members of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”). Additionally, Friedman, Billings, Ramsey International, Ltd. (“FBRIL”), our U.K. broker-dealer, is registered with the Securities and Futures Authority (“SFA”) of the United Kingdom. As such, they are subject to the minimum net capital requirements promulgated by the SEC and SFA, respectively. As of March 31, 2004, FBR & Co. had regulatory net capital as defined of $100.5 million which exceeded its required net capital of $8.3 million by $92.2 million, FBRIS had regulatory net capital as defined of $.4 million, Pegasus had regulatory net capital as defined of $0.4 million, and FBRIL had regulatory net capital as defined of $3.1 million, each of which exceeded the amount required.

FBR National Trust (“FBR Bank”) is subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory-and possibly additional discretionary-actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the financial statements of FBR Bank. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, FBR Bank’s assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items are calculated under regulatory accounting practices. FBR Bank’s capital levels and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators with regard to components, risk weightings, and other factors.

Quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy require FBR Bank to maintain minimum capital levels and ratios of tangible and core capital (defined in the regulations) to total adjusted assets (as defined), and of total capital (as defined) to risk-weighted assets (as defined). Management believes, as of March 31, 2004, FBR Bank meets all capital adequacy requirements to which it is subject. As of March 31, 2004 the most recent notification from the Office of the Comptroller of Currency (“OCC”) categorized FBR Bank as well-capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. To be categorized as well capitalized, FBR Bank must maintain minimum tangible core and risk-based ratios. There are no conditions or events since that notification that management believes have changed FBR Bank’s well-capitalized status.

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Market risk generally represents the risk of loss through a change in realizable value that can result from a change in the prices of equity securities, a change in the value of financial instruments as a result of changes in interest rates, a change in the volatility of interest rates or, a change in the credit rating of an issuer. The Company is exposed to the following market risks as a result of its investments in mortgage-backed securities and equity investments. Except for trading securities held by FBR & Co., none of these investments is held for trading purposes.

Interest Rate Risk

Leveraged MBS

The Company is subject to interest-rate risk as a result of its investments in mortgage-backed securities and its financing with repurchase agreement and commercial paper borrowings, all of which are interest rate sensitive financial instruments. The Company is exposed to interest rate risk that fluctuates based on changes in the level or volatility of interest rates and mortgage prepayments and in the shape and slope of the yield curve. The Company attempts to hedge a portion of its exposure to rising interest rates primarily through the use of paying fixed and receiving floating interest rate swaps and Eurodollar futures contracts. The counterparties to the Company’s interest rate swap agreements and Eurodollar futures contracts at March 31, 2004 are U.S. financial institutions.

The Company’s primary risk is related to changes in both short and long term interest rates, which affect the Company in several ways. As interest rates increase, the market value of the mortgage-backed securities may be expected to decline, prepayment rates may be expected to go down, and duration may be expected to extend. An increase in interest rates is beneficial to the market value of the Company’s swap positions as the cash flows from receiving the floating rate portion increase and the fixed rate paid remains the same under this scenario. If interest rates decline, the reverse is true for mortgage-backed securities, paying fixed and receiving floating interest rate swaps, and Eurodollar futures contracts.

The Company records its interest-rate swap agreements and Eurodollar futures contracts at fair value. The differential between amounts paid and received under the interest rate swap agreements and futures contracts is recorded as an adjustment to the interest expense. In addition, the Company records the ineffectiveness of its hedges, if any, in interest expense. In the event of early termination of these derivatives, the Company receives or makes a payment based on the fair value of the instrument, and the related deferred gain or loss recorded in other comprehensive income is amortized into income or expense over the original hedge period.

The table that follows shows the expected change in market value for the Company’s current mortgage-backed securities, interest-rate swaps and Eurodollar futures under several hypothetical interest-rate scenarios. Interest rates are defined by the U.S. Treasury yield curve. The changes in rates are assumed to occur instantaneously. It is further assumed that the changes in rates occur uniformly across the yield curve and that the level of LIBOR changes by the same amount as the yield curve. Actual changes in market conditions are likely to be different from these assumptions.

Changes in value are measured as percentage changes from their respective values presented in the column labeled “Value at March 31, 2004.” Actual results could differ significantly from these estimates. The change in value of the mortgage-backed securities also incorporates assumptions regarding prepayments, which are based on a third party’s proprietary model. This model forecasts prepayment speeds based, in part, on each security’s issuing agency (Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac), coupon, age, prior exposure to refinancing opportunities, the interest rate distribution of the underlying loans, and an overall analysis of historical prepayment patterns under a variety of past interest rate conditions (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts).


	Value at March 31, 2004(1)			Value of MBS and derivatives at March 31, 2004 with 100 basis point increase in interest rates			Percent Change		Value of MBS and derivatives at March 31, 2004 with 100 basis point decrease in interest rates			Percent Change
Assets
Mortgage-backed securities	$	10,912,921		$	10,784,149		(1.18	)%	$	11,030,781		1.08	%
Other		893,586			893,586					893,586

Total Assets	$	11,806,507		$	11,677,735		(1.09	)%	$	11,924,367		1.00	%

Liabilities
Derivative liabilities(2)	$	11,850		$	(35,677	)	(401.07	)%	$	59,389		401.17	%
Other		10,108,984			10,108,984					10,108,984

Total Liabilities		10,120,834			10,073,307		(0.47	)%		10,168,373		0.47	%

Shareholders’ Equity
Common stock		1,675			1,675					1,675
Paid-in-capital		1,469,634			1,469,634					1,469,634
Employee stock loan receivable		(5,794	)		(5,794	)				(5,794	)
Deferred compensation		(17,067	)		(17,067	)				(17,067	)
Accumulated other comprehensive income		144,934			63,689		(56.06	)%		215,255		48.52	%
Retained earnings		92,291			92,291					92,291

Total Shareholders’ Equity		1,685,673			1,604,428		(4.82	)%		1,755,994		4.19	%

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	$	11,806,507		$	11,677,735		(1.09	)%	$	11,924,367		1.00	%

Book Value per Share	$	10.18		$	9.69		(4.82	)%	$	10.60		4.19	%

(1)	Includes accrued interest.

(2)	Includes interest rate swaps and Eurodollar futures contracts.

As shown above, the mortgage-backed securities portfolio generally will benefit less from a decline in interest rates than it will be adversely affected by a same scale increase in interest rates. This may effectively limit an investor’s upside potential in a market rally.

Other

The value of our direct investments in other companies is also likely to be affected by significant changes in interest rates. For example, many of the companies are exposed to risks similar to those identified above as being applicable to our own investments in mortgage-backed securities. Additionally, changes in interest rates often affect market prices of equity securities. Because each of the companies in which we invest has its own interest rate risk management process, it is not feasible for us to quantify the potential impact that interest rate changes would have on the stock price or the future dividend payments by any of the companies in which we have invested.

Equity Price Risk

The Company is exposed to equity price risk as a result of its investments in marketable equity securities, investment partnerships, and trading securities. Equity price risk changes as the volatility of equity prices changes or the values of corresponding equity indices change.

While it is impossible to exactly project what factors may affect the prices of equity sectors and how much the effect might be, the table below illustrates the impact a ten percent increase and a ten percent decrease in the price of the equities held by the Company would have on the value of the total assets and the book value of the Company as of March 31, 2004 (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts).


	Value at March 31, 2004			Value of Equity at March 31, 2004 with 10% Increase in Price			Percent Change		Value at March 31, 2004 with 10% Decrease in Price			Percent Change
Assets
Marketable equity securities	$	180,188		$	198,207		10.00	%	$	162,169		(10.00	)%
Equity method investments		75,117			82,629		10.00	%		67,605		(10.00	)%
Investment securities-marked to market		34,959			38,455		10.00	%		31,463		(10.00	)%
Other long-term investments		119,677			119,677					119,677
Trading securities		4,759			5,235		10.00	%		4,283		(10.00	)%
Other		11,391,807			11,391,807					11,391,807

Total Assets	$	11,806,507		$	11,836,010		0.25	%	$	11,777,004		(0.25	)%

Liabilities	$	10,120,834		$	10,120,834				$	10,120,834

Shareholders’ Equity
Common stock		1,675			1,675					1,675
Paid-in-capital		1,469,634			1,469,634					1,469,634
Employee stock loan receivable		(5,794	)		(5,794	)				(5,794	)
Deferred compensation		(17,067	)		(17,067	)				(17,067	)
Accumulated comprehensive income		144,934			162,953		12.43	%		126,915		(12.43	)%
Retained earnings		92,291			103,775		12.44	%		80,807		(12.44	)%

Total Shareholders’ Equity		1,685,673			1,715,176		1.75	%		1,656,170		(1.75	)%

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	$	11,806,507		$	11,836,010		0.25	%	$	11,777,004		(0.25	)%

Book Value per Share	$	10.18		$	10.36		1.75	%	$	10.00		(1.75	)%

Except to the extent that the Company sells its marketable equity securities or other long term investments, or a decrease in their market value is deemed to be other than temporary, an increase or decrease in the market value of those assets will not directly affect the Company’s earnings, however an increase or decrease in the value of equity method investments, investment securities-marked to market, as well as trading securities will directly effect the Company’s earnings.

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

Pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s principal executive officers, Emanuel J. Friedman and Eric F. Billings, and principal financial officer, Kurt R. Harrington, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined under Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, Emanuel J. Friedman, Eric F. Billings and Kurt R. Harrington concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting them to material information relating to the Company (including its consolidated subsidiaries) required to be included in the Company’s periodic SEC filings.

There has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended March 31, 2004 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Form 10-Q includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Some of the forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “believes”, “expects,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “approximately,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates” or “anticipates” or the negative of those words or other comparable terminology. Such statements include, but are not limited to, those relating to the effects of growth, our principal investment activities, levels of assets under management and our current equity capital levels. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. You should be aware that a number of important factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the effect of demand for public offerings, activity in the secondary securities markets, interest rates, interest spreads, and mortgage prepayment speeds, the risks associated with merchant banking investments, available technologies, competition for business and personnel, and general economic, political, and market conditions. We will not necessarily update the information presented or incorporated by reference in this Form 10-Q if any of these forward-looking statements turn out to be inaccurate. For a more detailed discussion of the risks affecting our business see our Form 10-K for 2003 and especially the section “Risk Factors.”

Item 6.

Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a) Exhibits



12		Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

31(a)		Certification of Emanuel J. Friedman, Co-Chief Executive Officer of Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group, Inc. pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31(b)		Certification of Eric F. Billings, Co-Chief Executive Officer of Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group, Inc. pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31(c)		Certification of Kurt R. Harrington, Chief Financial Officer of Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group, Inc. pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32(a)		Certification of Emanuel J. Friedman, Co-Chief Executive Officer of Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group, Inc. pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32(b)		Certification of Eric F. Billings, Co-Chief Executive Officer of Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group, Inc. pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32(c)		Certification of Kurt R. Harrington, Chief Financial Officer of Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group, Inc. pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

(b) Reports on Form 8-K

*	February 5, 2004: 2003 Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Earnings Press Release; Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three Month and Full-Year Periods ended December 31, 2003 and 2002.

*	February 10, 2004: Script of the 2003 Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Earnings Conference Call, held on February 5, 2004.

*	March 12, 2004: Press Release announcing the First Quarter 2004 dividend of $0.34 per share, and announcing May 19, 2004 as the date of the company’s annual shareholder meeting.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group, Inc.

By:		/s/ KURT R. HARRINGTON
		Kurt R. Harrington Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

Date: May 10, 2004



By:		/s/ ROBERT J. KIERNAN
		Robert J. Kiernan Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)

Date: May 10, 2004

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