Armour Residential REIT, Inc. (ARR) Business

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References to “we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company” are to ARMOUR Residential REIT, Inc. (“ARMOUR”) and its subsidiaries. References to “ACM” are to ARMOUR Capital Management LP, a Delaware limited partnership. ARMOUR owns a 10.8% equity interest in BUCKLER Securities LLC ("BUCKLER"), a Delaware limited liability company and a FINRA-regulated broker-dealer, which is under common control with ACM. Refer to the Glossary of Terms for definitions of capitalized terms and abbreviations used in this report. U.S. dollar and share amounts are presented in thousands, except per share amounts or as otherwise noted.

ARMOUR is an externally managed Maryland corporation incorporated in 2008. The Company is managed by ACM, an investment advisor registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") (which registration the Company provides notice of to the state of Florida) (see Note 8 and Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements). We have elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust ("REIT") under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). We believe that we are organized in conformity with the requirements for qualification as a REIT under the Code and our manner of operations enables us to meet the requirements for taxation as a REIT for federal income tax purposes (See Real Estate Investment Trust Requirements section below).

All per share amounts, common shares outstanding and stock-based compensation amounts for all periods presented reflect our one-for-five reverse stock split (the "Reverse Stock Split"), which was effective September 29, 2023. No other reclassifications have been made to previously reported amounts.

Strategies

ARMOUR brings private capital into the mortgage markets to support home ownership for a broad and diverse spectrum of Americans. We seek to create stockholder value through thoughtful investment and risk management of a leveraged and diversified portfolio of MBS. We rely on the decades of experience of our management team for (i) MBS securities portfolio analysis and selection, (ii) access to equity capital and repurchase financing on potentially attractive rates and terms, and (iii) hedging and liquidity strategies to moderate interest rate and MBS price risk. We prioritize maintaining common share dividends appropriate for the intermediate term rather than focusing on short-term market fluctuations.

We are deeply committed to implementing sustainable environmental, responsible social, and prudent governance practices that improve our work and our world. We strive to contribute to a healthy, sustainable environment by utilizing resources efficiently. As an organization, we create a relatively small environmental footprint. Still, we are focused on minimizing the environmental impact of our business where possible.

Assets

At December 31, 2025, our investments in securities included mortgage backed securities ("MBS"), issued or guaranteed by a United States ("U.S.") Government-sponsored entity ("GSE"), such as the Federal National Mortgage Association ("Fannie Mae"), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("Freddie Mac"), or a government agency such as Government National Mortgage Administration ("Ginnie Mae") (collectively, "Agency Securities") and U.S. Treasury Securities. At December 31, 2024, we invested solely in MBS. Our investment in securities consists primarily of fixed rate loans. Our charter permits us to invest in MBS backed by fixed rate, hybrid adjustable rate and adjustable rate home loans as well as unsecured notes and bonds issued by GSEs, U.S. Treasuries and money market instruments.

Borrowings

We borrow against our MBS using repurchase agreements. Our borrowings generally have maturities that range from overnight to three months, although occasionally we may enter into longer dated borrowing agreements. Our borrowings (on a recourse basis) are generally between six and ten times the amount of our total

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stockholders’ equity, but we are not limited to that range. The level of our borrowings may vary periodically depending on market conditions. In addition, certain of our MRAs and ISDA agreements contain a restriction that prohibits our leverage from exceeding twelve times our total stockholders’ equity as well as termination events in the case of significant reductions in equity capital.

Hedging

We use derivatives in the normal course of our business to reduce the impact of interest rate fluctuations on our cost of funding consistent with our REIT tax requirements. These techniques primarily consist of entering into interest rate swap contracts, basis swap contracts and swaptions and purchasing or selling futures contracts and may also include entering into interest rate cap or floor agreements, purchasing put and call options on securities or futures contracts, or entering into forward rate agreements. Although we are not legally limited, we intend to limit our use of derivative instruments to only those techniques described above and to enter into derivative transactions only with counterparties that we believe have a strong credit rating to help limit the risk of counterparty default or insolvency. These transactions are not entered into for speculative purposes.

Our hedging activities are designed so that changes in the fair values of our derivatives will tend to offset changes in the fair values of our MBS. The actual extent of such offset will depend on the relative size of our derivative portfolio in relation to our MBS and the actual correlation of changes.

While we use strategies to economically hedge some of our interest rate risk, we do not hedge all of our exposure to changes in interest rates and prepayment rates, as there are practical limitations on our ability to insulate our securities portfolio from all potential negative consequences associated with changes in short-term interest rates in a manner that will allow us to seek attractive net spreads on our securities portfolio. For GAAP purposes, all changes in the fair value of our derivatives currently flow through earnings. Changes in the fair value of our legacy Agency MBS portfolio, that was designated as available for sale historically, were recognized in other comprehensive income (loss). Therefore, historical earnings reported in accordance with GAAP have fluctuated even in situations where our derivatives were operating as intended. Currently, all of our Agency MBS portfolio is designated as trading securities and changes in the fair values of our derivatives and Agency MBS flow through earnings together. Accordingly, our results of operations will not be subject to the additional fluctuations caused by the previous differences in mark-to-market accounting treatments. Comparisons with companies that use hedge accounting for all or part of their derivative activities may not be meaningful.

Management

The Company is managed by ACM, pursuant to a management agreement (see Note 8 and Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements). ACM manages our day-to-day operations, subject to the direction and oversight of the Board. The management agreement runs through December 31, 2029 and is thereafter automatically renewed for an additional five-year term unless terminated under certain circumstances.

The management agreement entitles ACM to receive a management fee payable monthly in arrears. Currently, the monthly management fee is 1/12th of the sum of (a) 1.5% of gross equity raised up to $1.0 billion plus (b) 0.75% of gross equity raised in excess of $1.0 billion. Gross equity raised includes the total amounts of paid in capital relating to both our common and preferred stock, before deduction of brokerage commissions and other costs of capital raising. Amounts paid to stockholders to repurchase stock, before deduction of brokerage commissions and costs, reduces gross equity raised. Dividends specifically designated by the Board as liquidation dividends will reduce the amount of gross equity raised. To date, the Board has not so designated any of the dividends paid by the Company. Realized and unrealized gains and losses do not affect the amount of gross equity raised. At December 31, 2025, December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the effective management fee was 0.89%, 0.92% and 0.93% prior to management fees waived, and 0.77%, 0.77% and 0.77%, after management fees

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waived, based on gross equity raised of $5,366,343, $4,498,880 and $4,231,965, respectively and effectively a rate of 2.11%, 3.03% and 3.09% based on total stockholders' equity.

During each of the years ended December 31, 2025, December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 ACM voluntarily waived management fees of $6,600, or $550 per month of its contractual management fee. The monthly management fees are not calculated based on the performance of our assets. Accordingly, the payment of our monthly management fees may not decline in the event of a decline in our earnings and may cause us to incur losses. We are also responsible for any costs and expenses that ACM incurs solely on our behalf other than the various overhead expenses specified in the terms of the management agreement. ACM is further entitled to receive termination fees from us under certain circumstances.

On December 22, 2025, ACM notified ARMOUR that they were terminating the voluntarily waiver. The termination of the waiver is effective for the contractual management fee that becomes due and payable after February 1, 2026 (relating to services for the month of January 2026).

On February 14, 2023, the Company extended the contractual term of the management agreement through December 31, 2029. Based on the management fee base, gross equity raised, as of December 31, 2025, the Company’s contractual management fee commitments are:

The Company cannot voluntarily terminate the management agreement without cause before the expiration of its contractual term. If the management agreement is terminated in connection with a liquidation of the Company or certain business combination transactions, the Company is obliged to pay ACM a termination fee equal to 4 times the contractual management fee (before any waiver) for the preceding 12 months.

We are required to take actions as may be reasonably required to permit and enable ACM to carry out its duties and obligations. From time to time, we grant restricted stock unit awards to our Board and to our executive officers that vest over various periods through 2027, 2029 and 2030, respectively (see Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements).

Environmental, Social and Governance Initiatives

ARMOUR is committed to best practices in our environmental, social and governance ("ESG") policies. We have incorporated many ESG principles into our corporate culture over time in growing the Company. We understand that ESG practices can create value by improving the environment and the lives of our employees, stockholders, business partners, and the community and we recognize that understanding our efforts on ESG practices is increasingly important to those key relationships. To demonstrate our commitment, ARMOUR’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee provides primary oversight of our efforts in ESG policies, activities, and communications. Together, we assess our practices with a goal of meeting or exceeding industry and peer standards. We continually seek opportunities to enhance the communities where we operate through corporate giving, employee volunteering, human capital development, and environmental sustainability programs. Additional information regarding our efforts to implement environmental and social factors in the operation of our business is available in the ESG section of our website at www.armourreit.com. Furthermore, we continue to

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evaluate relevant corporate sustainability reporting frameworks with a goal of adopting and implementing best practices in our reporting framework.

Human Capital Resources

Our greatest strength and most important assets are the members of the ARMOUR team. Their overall well-being is paramount to the Company's success. ACM ensures its employees have a rewarding, supportive, and healthy working environment in which to thrive, and endeavors to support their success in all things. ACM hires on the basis of qualifications and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, age, color, race, religion, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, physical and mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, veteran status or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law. ACM provides employees with opportunities for growth and development, both in the personal and professional spheres, as well as a wide variety of resources to support their work and personal lives. ACM’s compensation and comprehensive benefits are thoughtfully designed to recognize and reward their professional skills, resulting in a low voluntary turnover rate for ARMOUR.

Cybersecurity

We rely on our financial, accounting and other data processing systems. Computer malware, viruses, computer hacking and phishing attacks have become more prevalent in our industry and may occur on our systems. Although we have not detected a material cybersecurity breach to date, other financial services institutions have reported material breaches of their systems, some of which have been significant. Even with all reasonable security efforts, not every breach can be prevented or even detected; as such, it is possible that we have experienced an undetected breach. There is no assurance that we, or the third parties that facilitate our business activities, have not or will not experience a breach. It is difficult to determine what, if any, negative impact may directly result from any specific interruption or cyber-attacks or security breaches of our networks or systems (or the networks or systems of third parties that facilitate our business activities) or any failure to maintain performance.

ACM has established an Information Technology Steering Committee (the "ITSC") to help mitigate technology risks including cybersecurity. One of the roles of the ITSC is to oversee cyber risk assessments, monitor applicable key risk indicators, review cybersecurity training procedures, oversee the Company’s Cybersecurity Policies, including an incident response plan, and engage third parties to conduct periodic penetration testing. Our cybersecurity risk assessment includes an evaluation of cyber risk related to sensitive data held by third parties on their systems. There is no assurance that these efforts will effectively mitigate cybersecurity risk and mitigation efforts are not an assurance that no cybersecurity incidents will occur.

In addition, our Audit Committee periodically monitors and oversees our information and cybersecurity risks including reviewing and approving any information and cybersecurity policies, procedures and resources, and reviewing our information and cybersecurity risk assessment, detection, protection, and mitigation systems.

Funding Activities

If ACM and the Board determine that additional funding is advisable, we may raise such funds through equity offerings (including preferred equity), unsecured debt securities, convertible securities (including warrants, preferred equity and debt) or the retention of cash flow (subject to provisions in the Code concerning taxability of undistributed REIT taxable income) or a combination of these methods. In the event that ACM and the Board determine that we should raise additional equity capital, we have the authority, without stockholder approval, to issue additional stock in any manner and on such terms and for such consideration as we deem appropriate, at any time. At December 31, 2025, there were 63,085 authorized shares of common stock and 42,952 authorized shares

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of preferred stock, respectively, available for issuance. At December 31, 2025, there were 866 authorized shares of common stock remaining available for repurchase under our Common Stock Repurchase Program and 2,000 authorized shares of Series C Preferred Stock available for repurchase under our Series C Preferred Stock Repurchase Program.

Real Estate Investment Trust Requirements

As a REIT, we will generally not be subject to federal income tax on the REIT taxable income that we currently distribute to our stockholders. Our qualification as a REIT depends on our ability to meet, on a continuing basis, various complex requirements under the Code relating to, among other things, the sources of our gross income, the composition and values of our assets, our distribution levels and the concentration of ownership of our capital stock. If we fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year and do not qualify for certain statutory relief provisions, we will be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates. Even if we qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, we may still be subject to some federal, state and local taxes on our income. See, General risks common to ARMOUR and our peer mortgage REITs in Item 1A. Risk Factors of this Form 10-K for further discussion.

In order to maintain our qualification as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we are required to timely distribute, with respect to each year at least 90% of our REIT taxable income, determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding any net capital gain. To satisfy these requirements, we presently intend to continue to make regular cash distributions of all or substantially all of our taxable income to holders of our stock out of assets legally available for such purposes. We are not restricted from using the proceeds of equity or debt offerings to pay dividends. The timing and amount of any dividends we pay to holders of our stock will be at the discretion of our Board and will depend upon various factors, including our earnings and financial condition, maintenance of REIT status, applicable provisions of MGCL and such other factors as our Board deems relevant. Dividends in excess of REIT taxable income for the year (including taxable income carried forward from the previous year) will generally not be taxable to common stockholders. The portion of the dividends on our common and preferred stock which represented non-taxable return of capital was 19.6% in 2025, 14.8% in 2024 and 47.5% in 2023.

At December 31, 2025, we had approximately $(313,284) in tax deductible expense relating to previously terminated interest rate swap, treasury futures contracts and treasury shorts amortizing through the year 2040.

Investment Company Act of 1940 Exclusion

We conduct our business so as not to become regulated as an investment company under the 1940 Act. We rely on the exclusion provided by Section 3(c)(5)(C) of the 1940 Act as interpreted by the staff of the SEC. To qualify for this exclusion, we must invest at least 55% of our assets in “mortgages and other liens on and interest in real estate” or “qualifying real estate interests” and at least 80% of our assets in qualifying real estate interests and “real estate related assets.” In satisfying this 55% requirement we treat MBS issued with respect to an underlying pool of mortgage loans in which we hold all of the certificates issued by the pool (“whole pool” securities) as qualifying real estate interests. We currently treat MBS in which we hold less than all of the certificates issued by the pool (“partial pool” securities) as real estate related assets and not qualifying real estate interests. Our business would be materially and adversely affected if we fail to qualify for an exclusion from regulation under the 1940 Act. See General risks common to ARMOUR and our peer mortgage REITs in Item 1A. Risk Factors of this Form 10-K for further discussion.

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Compliance with NYSE Corporate Governance Standards

We comply with the corporate governance standards of the NYSE. Our Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are comprised entirely of independent directors and a majority of our directors are “independent” in accordance with the rules of the NYSE.

Competition

Our success depends, in large part, on our ability to acquire assets with favorable margins over our borrowing costs. In acquiring MBS, we compete with numerous mortgage REITs, mortgage finance and specialty finance companies, savings and loan associations, banks, mortgage bankers, insurance companies, mutual funds, institutional investors, investment banking firms, other lenders, governmental bodies and other entities. Additional firms in the marketplace may increase competition for the available supply of mortgage assets suitable for purchase and could adversely affect the availability and cost of our financing. Some of these organizations have greater financial resources than we do, access to lower costs of capital than we do and lower cost structures than we have. Accordingly, those competitors may be able to generate higher total economic returns and/or accept lower returns on their investments. Some of these entities may not be subject to the same regulatory constraints that we are (i.e., REIT compliance or maintaining an exclusion under the 1940 Act).

Corporate Information

We are managed by ACM pursuant to a management agreement between ARMOUR and ACM. We do not have any employees. As of February 17, 2026, ACM had 20 employees that provide services to us.

Principal office location: 3001 Ocean Drive, Suite 201, Vero Beach, FL 32963

Phone number: (772) 617-4340.

Website: www.armourreit.com.

Our investor relations website can be found at www.armourreit.com. We make available on our website under “SEC filings,” free of charge, our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file or furnish such materials to the SEC. We also make available on our website, our Board committee charters as well as our corporate governance documents, including our code of business conduct and ethics and whistleblower policy. Any amendments or waivers thereto will be provided on our website within four business days following the date of the amendment or waiver. Information provided on our website is not part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and not incorporated herein.

We are required to file Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q with the SEC on a regular basis and are required to disclose certain material events in a Current Report on Form 8-K. The SEC also maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. The SEC’s Internet website is located at http://www.sec.gov.

ARMOUR Residential REIT, Inc.