MFA Financial, Inc. is a real estate investment trust (REIT) primarily engaged in the business of investment, on a leveraged basis, in a portfolio of hybrid and adjustable-rate mortgage-backed securities issued or guaranteed by an agency of the U.S. government, such as the Government National Mortgage Association, or a federally chartered corporation, such as the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation or Fannie Mae, and, to a lesser extent, high quality hybrid and adjustable-rate mortgage-backed securities rated in one of the two highest rating categories by at least one nationally recognized rating agency.