Velocity Financial, Inc. Fair Value Disclosure
Note 27 — Fair Value Measurements
Fair Value Determination
ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurement,” defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value including a three-level valuation hierarchy, and requires disclosures about fair value measurements. Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date reflecting assumptions that a market participant would use when pricing an asset or liability. The hierarchy uses three levels of inputs to measure the fair value of assets and liabilities as follows:
Transfers to/from Levels 1, 2 and 3 are recognized at the beginning of the reporting period in which a change in valuation technique or methodology occurs. Given the nature of some of the Company’s assets and liabilities, clearly determinable market-based valuation inputs are often not available; therefore, these assets and liabilities are valued using internal estimates. As subjectivity exists with respect to the valuation estimates used, the fair values disclosed may not equal prices that can ultimately be realized if the assets are sold or the liabilities are settled with third parties.
Below is a description of the valuation methods for the assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on either a recurring or nonrecurring basis and for estimating fair value of financial instruments not recorded at fair value for disclosure purposes. While management believes the valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different estimate of fair value at the measurement date.
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash
Cash and restricted cash are recorded at historical cost. The carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value as these instruments have short-term maturities and interest rates that approximate market, a Level 1 measurement.
Loans Held for Investment at Amortized Cost and Loans Held for Investment at Fair Value
The Company uses a third-party loan valuation specialist to estimate the fair value of its nonperforming, and past due performing mortgage loans, a Level 3 measurement. The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the Company’s nonperforming mortgage loans are interest rates, market yield requirements, the probability of default, loss given default, voluntary prepayment speed and loss timing. The Company uses a third-party loan valuation model to estimate the fair value of its performing mortgage loans, a Level 3 measurement. The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the Company’s performing mortgage loans are discount rate, constant prepayment rate, constant default rate, and loss severity rate. Significant changes in any of those inputs in isolation could result in a significant change to the mortgage loans’ fair value measurement.
Collateral Dependent or Loans Individually Evaluated
Nonaccrual loans held for investment and carried at amortized cost are evaluated individually and are adjusted to the fair value of the collateral when the fair value of the collateral is below the carrying value of the loan. To the extent such a loan is collateral dependent, the Company determines the allowance for credit losses based on the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral. The fair value of each loan’s collateral is generally based on appraisals or broker price opinions obtained, less estimated costs to sell, a Level 3 measurement.
Loans Held for Sale, at Fair Value
The Company elected to account for certain loans originated with the intent to sell at fair value using FASB ASC Topic 825, Financial Instruments (ASC 825). The FVO loans held for sale are measured based a discounted cash flow model, or on the fair value of securities backed by similar mortgage loans, adjusted for certain factors to approximate the fair value, including the value attributable to mortgage servicing and credit risk, and current commitments to purchase loans, a Level 2 measurement. Management identified all loans to be accounted for at estimated fair value at the instrument level. Changes in fair value are reflected in income as they occur.
Real Estate Owned, Net (“REO”)
Real estate owned, net, is initially recorded at the property’s estimated fair value, based on appraisals or broker price opinions obtained, less estimated costs to sell at acquisition date, a Level 3 measurement. From time to time, nonrecurring fair value adjustments are made to real estate owned, net, based on the current updated appraised value of the property, or management’s judgment and estimation of value based on recent market trends or negotiated sales prices with potential buyers.
Mortgage Servicing Rights
The Company determined the fair values based on a third-party valuation specialist using a model that calculates the present value of estimated future net servicing income, a Level 3 measurement.
Derivative Instruments
Derivative financial instruments are measured at fair value using readily observable market inputs and the overall fair value measurement is classified as Level 2.
Secured Financing, Net (“Corporate Debt”)
The Company determined the fair values estimate of the secured financing using the estimated cash flows discounted at an appropriate market rate, a Level 3 measurement.
Warehouse Repurchase Facilities, Net
Warehouse repurchase facilities are recorded at historical cost. The carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value as these instruments have short-term maturities of one-year or less and interest rates that approximate market plus a spread, a Level 2 measurement.
Securitized Debt at Amortized Cost and Securitized Debt at Fair Value
The Company obtains the fair value estimates at instrument level from a third-party broker dealer based on trader input on benchmark securities. The fair values take into consideration input factors such as bond structure and collateral characteristics, and performance and pricing factors such as yield, spread, average life, prepayment speeds, default rate, and severity. The fair values are considered a Level 2 measurement. Significant changes in any of the input factors in isolation could result in a significant change to securitized debt’s fair value measurement.
Accrued Interest Receivable and Accrued Interest Payable
The carrying amounts of accrued interest receivable and accrued interest payable approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments, a Level 1 measurement.
The Company does not have any off-balance sheet financial instruments.
Receivables Due From Servicers
The carrying amounts of receivables due from servicers approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments, a Level 1 measurement.
Fair Value Disclosures
The following tables present information on assets and liabilities measured and recorded at fair value as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, by level, in the fair value hierarchy:
|
|
Fair Value Measurements Using |
|
|
Total at |
|
||||||||||
December 31, 2025 |
|
Level 1 |
|
|
Level 2 |
|
|
Level 3 |
|
|
Fair Value |
|
||||
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
|||||||||||||
Assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Nonrecurring fair value measurements: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Individually evaluated loans requiring specific allowance, net |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
10,830 |
|
|
$ |
10,830 |
|
Real estate owned, net |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
118,289 |
|
|
|
118,289 |
|
Total nonrecurring fair value measurements |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
129,119 |
|
|
|
129,119 |
|
Recurring fair value measurements: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Loans held for investment, at fair value |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
4,729,869 |
|
|
|
4,729,869 |
|
Mortgage servicing rights |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
12,963 |
|
|
|
12,963 |
|
Derivative assets |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
66 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
66 |
|
Total recurring fair value measurements |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
66 |
|
|
|
4,742,832 |
|
|
|
4,742,898 |
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
66 |
|
|
$ |
4,871,951 |
|
|
$ |
4,872,017 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Recurring fair value measurements: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Securitized debt, at fair value |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
4,236,737 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
4,236,737 |
|
Total recurring fair value measurements |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
4,236,737 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
4,236,737 |
|
Total liabilities |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
4,236,737 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
4,236,737 |
|
|
|
Fair Value Measurements Using |
|
|
Total at |
|
||||||||||
December 31, 2024 |
|
Level 1 |
|
|
Level 2 |
|
|
Level 3 |
|
|
Fair Value |
|
||||
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
|||||||||||||
Assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Nonrecurring fair value measurements: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Individually evaluated loans requiring specific allowance, net |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
11,884 |
|
|
$ |
11,884 |
|
Real estate owned, net |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
68,000 |
|
|
|
68,000 |
|
Total nonrecurring fair value measurements |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
79,884 |
|
|
|
79,884 |
|
Recurring fair value measurements: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Loans held for investment, at fair value |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
2,766,951 |
|
|
|
2,766,951 |
|
Mortgage servicing rights |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
13,712 |
|
|
|
13,712 |
|
Total recurring fair value measurements |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
2,780,663 |
|
|
|
2,780,663 |
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
2,860,547 |
|
|
$ |
2,860,547 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Recurring fair value measurements: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Securitized debt, at fair value |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
2,207,408 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
2,207,408 |
|
Total recurring fair value measurements |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
2,207,408 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
2,207,408 |
|
Total liabilities |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
2,207,408 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
2,207,408 |
|
The following table presents the gains and losses recognized on assets measured on a nonrecurring basis for the years indicated:
|
|
December 31, |
|
|||||||||
|
|
2025 |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|||
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
|||||||||
Real estate owned, net |
|
$ |
(17,520 |
) |
|
$ |
(6,121 |
) |
|
$ |
(3,903 |
) |
Individually evaluated loans requiring specific allowance, net |
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
(55 |
) |
|
|
122 |
|
Total net loss |
|
$ |
(17,510 |
) |
|
$ |
(6,176 |
) |
|
$ |
(3,781 |
) |
The following tables present the primary valuation techniques and unobservable inputs related to Level 3 assets that are recorded on a recurring and nonrecurring basis as of December 31, 2025 and 2024:
|
|
December 31, 2025 |
||||||||||
Asset Category |
|
Fair Value |
|
|
Primary |
|
Unobservable |
|
Range |
|
Weighted |
|
|
|
($ in thousands) |
||||||||||
Nonrecurring: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Individually evaluated loans requiring allowance, net |
|
$ |
10,830 |
|
|
Market comparables |
|
Selling costs |
|
8.0% |
|
8.0% |
Real estate owned, net |
|
|
118,289 |
|
|
Market comparables |
|
Selling costs |
|
8.0% |
|
8.0% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recurring: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loans held for investment, at fair value |
|
$ |
4,729,869 |
|
|
Discounted cash flow |
|
Discount rate |
|
7.6% |
|
7.6% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prepayment rate |
|
0.0% to 65.0% |
|
12.0% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Default rate |
|
0.4% to 6.0% |
|
1.0% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss severity rate |
|
0.0% to 8.7% |
|
1.0% |
|
Mortgage servicing rights - GNMA loans |
|
|
12,748 |
|
|
Discounted cash flow |
|
Discount rate |
|
8.0% |
|
8.0% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prepayment rate |
|
2.2% to 12.0% |
|
5.6% |
|
Mortgage servicing rights - Nonperforming loans |
|
|
215 |
|
|
Discounted cash flow |
|
Discount rate |
|
15.0% |
|
15.0% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prepayment rate |
|
4.9% to 54.1% |
|
36.5% |
|
|
|
December 31, 2024 |
||||||||||
Asset Category |
|
Fair Value |
|
|
Primary |
|
Unobservable |
|
Range |
|
Weighted |
|
|
|
($ in thousands) |
||||||||||
Nonrecurring: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Individually evaluated loans requiring allowance, net |
|
$ |
11,884 |
|
|
Market comparables |
|
Selling costs |
|
8.0% |
|
8.0% |
Real estate owned, net |
|
|
68,000 |
|
|
Market comparables |
|
Selling costs |
|
8.0% |
|
8.0% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recurring: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loans held for investment, at fair value |
|
$ |
2,766,951 |
|
|
Discounted cash flow |
|
Discount rate |
|
8.4% |
|
8.4% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prepayment rate |
|
0.0% to 30.0% |
|
9.0% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Default rate |
|
0.1% to 2.8% |
|
1.0% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss severity rate |
|
0.0% to 10.5% |
|
1.0% |
|
Mortgage servicing rights - GNMA loans |
|
|
13,712 |
|
|
Discounted cash flow |
|
Discount rate |
|
8.0% |
|
8.0% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prepayment rate |
|
2.2% to 11.7% |
|
5.1% |
|
The following is a roll-forward of loans held for investment that are measured at estimated fair value on a recurring basis for the periods indicated:
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|||||||||
|
|
2025 |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|||
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
|||||||||
Beginning balance |
|
$ |
2,766,951 |
|
|
$ |
1,306,072 |
|
|
$ |
276,095 |
|
Originations |
|
|
2,665,814 |
|
|
|
1,817,600 |
|
|
|
1,079,811 |
|
Acquisitions |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
14,990 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Loans repurchased |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1,552 |
|
|
|
13,075 |
|
Loan payoffs |
|
|
(597,465 |
) |
|
|
(339,218 |
) |
|
|
(73,623 |
) |
Principal paydowns |
|
|
(48,055 |
) |
|
|
(44,872 |
) |
|
|
(9,940 |
) |
Unrealized gain included in net income |
|
|
116,853 |
|
|
|
56,565 |
|
|
|
47,214 |
|
REO transfer |
|
|
(64,423 |
) |
|
|
(13,223 |
) |
|
|
(777 |
) |
Loans transferred to held for sale |
|
|
(109,806 |
) |
|
|
(32,515 |
) |
|
|
(25,783 |
) |
Ending balance |
|
$ |
4,729,869 |
|
|
$ |
2,766,951 |
|
|
$ |
1,306,072 |
|
The following is a roll-forward of loans held for sale that are measured at estimated fair value on a recurring basis for the periods indicated:
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|||||||||
|
|
2025 |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|||
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
|||||||||
Beginning balance |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
17,590 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Originations |
|
|
49,697 |
|
|
|
23,554 |
|
|
|
38,036 |
|
Loans sold |
|
|
(159,503 |
) |
|
|
(72,920 |
) |
|
|
(46,843 |
) |
Principal paydowns |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(31 |
) |
|
|
(22 |
) |
Unrealized gain (loss) included in net income |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(708 |
) |
|
|
636 |
|
Loans transferred from held for investment |
|
|
109,806 |
|
|
|
32,515 |
|
|
|
25,783 |
|
Ending balance |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
17,590 |
|
The following is a roll-forward of securitized debt measured and recorded at estimated fair value on a recurring basis for the periods indicated:
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|||||||||
|
|
2025 |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|||
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
|||||||||
Beginning balance |
|
$ |
2,207,408 |
|
|
$ |
877,417 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Additions |
|
|
2,667,629 |
|
|
|
1,590,197 |
|
|
|
911,875 |
|
Paydowns and payoffs |
|
|
(668,754 |
) |
|
|
(257,625 |
) |
|
|
(43,460 |
) |
Total unrealized (gain) loss included in net income |
|
|
30,454 |
|
|
|
(2,581 |
) |
|
|
9,002 |
|
Ending balance |
|
$ |
4,236,737 |
|
|
$ |
2,207,408 |
|
|
$ |
877,417 |
|
The Company estimates the fair value of certain financial instruments on a quarterly basis. These instruments are recorded at fair value using a valuation allowance only if they are individually evaluated. As described above, these adjustments to fair value usually result from the application of lower of cost or fair value accounting or write-downs of individual assets. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value include loans held for investment at fair value, loans held for sale at fair value, mortgage servicing rights, derivative instruments, and securitized debt at fair value. Financial assets measured at the lower of cost or estimated fair value include certain individually evaluated loans held for investment and REOs, which are measured using unobservable inputs, including appraisals and broker price opinions on the values of the underlying collateral. Individually evaluated loans requiring an allowance were carried at approximately $10.8 million and $11.9 million as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, net of specific allowance for credit losses of approximately $1.0 million as of December 31, 2025 and 2024.
A financial instrument is cash, evidence of an ownership interest in an entity, or a contract that creates a contractual obligation or right to deliver or receive cash or another financial instrument from a second entity on potentially favorable terms. The methods and assumptions used in estimating the fair values of the Company’s financial instruments are described above.
The following tables present carrying amounts and estimated fair values of certain financial instruments as of the dates indicated. The estimated fair value of loans held for sale at fair value, loans held for investment at fair value, mortgage servicing rights, and securitized debt at fair value are also presented in Notes 5, 6, 11, and 17, respectively.
|
|
December 31, 2025 |
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
|
Carrying |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Estimated |
|
|||||
Asset Category |
|
Value |
|
|
Level 1 |
|
|
Level 2 |
|
|
Level 3 |
|
|
Fair Value |
|
|||||
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
|||||||||||||||||
Assets: |
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Cash |
|
$ |
92,103 |
|
|
$ |
92,103 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
92,103 |
|
Restricted cash |
|
|
157,134 |
|
|
|
157,134 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
157,134 |
|
Loans held for investment, at amortized cost |
|
|
2,028,262 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1,976,279 |
|
|
|
1,976,279 |
|
Loans held for investment, at fair value |
|
|
4,729,869 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
4,729,869 |
|
|
|
4,729,869 |
|
Accrued interest receivables |
|
|
49,678 |
|
|
|
49,678 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
49,678 |
|
Mortgage servicing rights |
|
|
12,963 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
12,963 |
|
|
|
12,963 |
|
Derivative assets |
|
|
66 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
66 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
66 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Secured financing, net |
|
$ |
286,679 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
289,660 |
|
|
$ |
289,660 |
|
Warehouse and repurchase facilities, net |
|
|
308,506 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
308,506 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
308,506 |
|
Securitized debt, at amortized cost |
|
|
1,705,589 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1,588,620 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1,588,620 |
|
Securitized debt, at fair value |
|
|
4,236,737 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
4,236,737 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
4,236,737 |
|
Accrued interest payable |
|
|
37,111 |
|
|
|
37,111 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
37,111 |
|
|
|
December 31, 2024 |
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
|
Carrying |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Estimated |
|
|||||
Asset Category |
|
Value |
|
|
Level 1 |
|
|
Level 2 |
|
|
Level 3 |
|
|
Fair Value |
|
|||||
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
|||||||||||||||||
Assets: |
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Cash |
|
$ |
49,901 |
|
|
$ |
49,901 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
49,901 |
|
Restricted cash |
|
|
20,929 |
|
|
|
20,929 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
20,929 |
|
Loans held for investment, at amortized cost |
|
|
2,420,116 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
2,321,141 |
|
|
|
2,321,141 |
|
Loans held for investment, at fair value |
|
|
2,766,951 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
2,766,951 |
|
|
|
2,766,951 |
|
Accrued interest receivable |
|
|
35,235 |
|
|
|
35,235 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
35,235 |
|
Mortgage servicing rights |
|
|
13,712 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
13,712 |
|
|
|
13,712 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Secured financing, net |
|
$ |
284,833 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
287,970 |
|
|
$ |
287,970 |
|
Warehouse repurchase facilities, net |
|
|
348,082 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
348,082 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
348,082 |
|
Securitized debt, at amortized cost |
|
|
2,019,056 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1,820,945 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1,820,945 |
|
Securitized debt, at fair value |
|
|
2,207,408 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
2,207,408 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
2,207,408 |
|
Accrued interest payable |
|
|
28,028 |
|
|
|
28,028 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
28,028 |
|
Historical Timeline
| Fiscal Year | Filed | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Mar 12, 2026 | Showing above |
| 2024 | Mar 12, 2025 | |
| 2023 | Mar 15, 2024 | |
| 2022 | Mar 13, 2023 | |
| 2021 | Mar 15, 2022 | |
| 2020 | Mar 17, 2021 | |
About Fair Value Disclosures
Fair value disclosures classify all assets and liabilities measured at fair value into a three-level hierarchy: Level 1 (quoted market prices), Level 2 (observable inputs like yield curves), and Level 3 (unobservable inputs requiring management estimates). The proportion of Level 3 assets directly reflects how much of the balance sheet depends on internal models rather than market evidence.
Key signals: a growing Level 3 balance relative to total fair-value assets increases valuation uncertainty and earnings volatility risk. Watch for transfers between levels — assets moving from Level 2 to Level 3 often signal deteriorating market liquidity. Unrealized gains and losses on Level 3 positions flow through earnings or other comprehensive income, so large swings deserve scrutiny. For financial institutions, examine the sensitivity disclosures that show how Level 3 valuations change under alternative assumptions. Compare the fair value of debt against its carrying amount to gauge hidden leverage.