UWM Holdings Proposes Acquisition of Two Harbors at $12.50 per Share
UWM Holdings Corporation (UWMC) announced that it will be submitting a revised proposal to the Board of Directors of Two Harbors Investment Corp. (TWO) to acquire all outstanding shares of Two Harbors for $12.50 per share in cash or 2.3328 shares of UWMC stock. The May 11 Premium Proposal will provide TWO stockholders with clearly superior value compared to the proposed transaction with CrossCountry Mortgage for $12.00 per share in cash. UWMC also issued an open letter to TWO stockholders outlining the May 11 Premium Proposal and urging stockholders to vote AGAINST the Proposed CCM Merger at the special meeting of stockholders on May 19, 2026. The letter read, in part, "Since our last proposal, the TWO Board first tried to convince you that $11.30 was better than $12.00, and when that tactic apparently failed, they cut another deal with CrossCountry that did the bare minimum on the headline cash figure. Your Board could have engaged with UWMC to determine if more value could be realized for TWO stockholders or if modifications could have been made to our offer to address their concerns. We would be open to considering amendments to our terms, including a potential reverse termination fee and modifications to the election mechanism, but we can only do so through open engagement. The TWO Board refused and decided instead to just reach amendments to move the minimum cash number and preserve the date of their rapidly approaching shareholder vote, scheduled for next week even though the proposed transaction will not close for months. Why won't the TWO Board engage? We can only assume it has something to do with protecting a deal structure that ensures immediate cash payouts for Two Harbors management in the range of $35 million on the date of close instead of negotiating higher value for stockholders. Our deal structure, on the other hand, reduces overall compensation to management and defers some of the payout, allowing us to pay higher value to stockholders. The Board has a duty to maximize value for stockholders, not to choose a path that puts more in the pockets of management. This has been their pattern with UWMC all along. Despite the silence we have been met with from the TWO Board, today we will be submitting a new, revised proposal to the TWO Board that increases the cash consideration to $12.50 per share while preserving the ability to elect for the 2.3328 stock exchange ratio for those stockholders that want stock consideration. The $12.50 in cash is available for all stockholders if they so choose - it is not subject to any cap or proration. The choice between cash and stock is entirely up to you, but to receive cash you will have to make an election, and we encourage you to make the election that makes the most sense for your situation. We have an expeditious path to completion. Absent further sabotage by the TWO Board or management, we intend to close a transaction within approximately 2 months of signing an agreement, given our strong relationships with national regulators, licensure in good standing in all 50 states, and work in support of our prior agreement to acquire TWO. Had TWO's Board negotiated with us in good faith prior to terminating the original Merger Agreement, we would have been closed by now on terms in line with what we are currently proposing. Our offer is again a clearly superior offer, providing higher value for stockholders on a cash basis, preserving optionality for equity consideration for those that prefer it, and maintaining a tight timeline to close. But you may never realize maximum value if your Board remains unwilling to negotiate. Seemingly, the only way to get them to do so is to vote No at the upcoming meeting."
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- Plan Termination: UWMC announced that Mat Ishbia, as controlling owner of SFS Holdings Corp., has terminated its 10b5-1 trading plan effective May 8, 2025, in response to investor feedback for increased public float and trading liquidity.
- Liquidity Increase: The 10b5-1 plan successfully raised the average daily trading volume to over 16 million shares and increased the float by over 135 million shares since June 2025, demonstrating its effectiveness in enhancing market liquidity.
- Shareholder Confidence: SFS Holdings remains UWMC's largest shareholder with approximately 1.3 billion shares, indicating that as a controlling shareholder, it has actively responded to investor demands by selling shares without regard to stock price.
- Market Leadership: UWM Holdings Corporation, as the largest home mortgage lender in the U.S., continues to lead the market through technological innovation and superior client experience, solidifying its position nationwide.
- Cash Acquisition Proposal: UWMC has proposed to acquire Two Harbors at $12.50 per share in cash, which is clearly superior to CCM's offer of $12.00 per share, expected to provide higher returns for shareholders and enhance market competitiveness.
- Shareholder Voting Appeal: UWMC urges Two Harbors shareholders to vote against the CCM merger proposal at the upcoming special meeting, emphasizing that only by voting no can they compel the board to engage in effective negotiations with UWMC to maximize value.
- Transaction Completion Timeline: UWMC states that, barring further obstruction from the Two Harbors board, it anticipates closing the transaction within approximately two months of signing an agreement, showcasing its strong regulatory relationships and market execution capabilities.
- Role as Value Driver: UWMC highlights its critical role in enhancing shareholder value for Two Harbors, noting that without its ongoing acquisition proposals, Two Harbors might have sold for as low as $10.80 per share, underscoring the strategic significance of its offers.
- Merger Agreement Revision: Two Harbors Investment (TWO) has amended its all-cash merger agreement with CrossCountry Mortgage, raising the offer to $12 per share from $11.30, which reflects a compelling outcome for TWO shareholders and one of the highest multiples paid for a mortgage REIT.
- Intensified Competition: This increased bid comes amid a takeover battle with UWM Holdings (UWMC), as CrossCountry had previously raised its offer from $10.80 to $11.30, highlighting the competitive landscape in the mortgage sector.
- Transaction Completion Outlook: The deal is expected to close in Q3, with 35 out of 53 state mortgage licensing approvals already obtained, indicating smooth regulatory progress, while the shareholder vote is scheduled for May 19.
- Shareholder Return Strategy: Prior to the closing of the Two Harbors deal, the company intends to pay regular quarterly dividends consistent with past practices for all completed periods, thereby ensuring stable returns for shareholders and enhancing investor confidence.
- Servicing In-House Progress: UWM Holdings aims to complete the in-house servicing of all loans by the end of this year, eliminating subservicers, which is expected to enhance customer service capabilities and strengthen market competitiveness.
- Revenue Growth Expectations: The company anticipates originating over $1.3 trillion in mortgages over the next five years, with second-quarter gain-on-sale margins expected to remain within current ranges, reflecting confidence in market conditions and sustained growth potential.
- Technology-Driven Innovations: Initiatives like Mia and VantageScore are projected to contribute an additional 20% to 25% in revenue, further driving business growth and increasing market share for UWM.
- Market Competitive Landscape: Despite facing intense competition and uncertain interest rate environments, UWM plans to increase its broker channel market share to 50.1%, demonstrating its ambition and strategic objectives within the industry.
- Quarterly Dividend Announcement: UWM Holdings declares a quarterly dividend of $0.10 per share, consistent with previous distributions, demonstrating the company's ongoing ability to maintain stable cash flows, which is likely to attract more income-seeking investors.
- High Yield: The forward yield of 10.67% not only reflects the company's commitment to shareholder returns but also enhances its appeal in a competitive market, particularly in a rising interest rate environment.
- Strong Financial Performance: UWM Holdings reported a GAAP EPS of $0.09 for Q4 2025, beating estimates by $0.02, with revenue of $901.4M exceeding expectations by $193.52M, showcasing the company's robust performance and growth potential in the market.
- Future Outlook: As the Q1 2026 earnings preview approaches, market interest in UWM Holdings continues to rise, with investors eager to see if the company can sustain its profitability and dividend-paying capacity.
- Profitability Improvement: UWM Holdings reported a Q1 gain margin of 1.23%, exceeding analyst expectations of 1.18%, which is an improvement from 1.22% in Q4 and 0.94% in the same quarter last year, indicating enhanced profitability in a competitive market.
- Strong Revenue Performance: Total revenue reached $901.4 million, surpassing the consensus estimate of $707.9 million, although it declined from $945.2 million in the previous quarter, it showed a 47% year-over-year increase, demonstrating robust revenue growth momentum.
- Loan Origination Stability: Q1 total loan origination was $44.9 billion, falling short of the Visible Alpha estimate of $47.1 billion, yet it remains the second-highest in history, reflecting the company's stable position in the loan market.
- Adjusted Income Growth: Adjusted income stood at $137.2 million, up from $130.6 million in the previous quarter and significantly improved from -$195.3 million a year ago, showcasing effective cost control and profitability measures.









