PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust said that it had filed a shelf registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday that would enable it to raise up to $500 million in capital as needed.

The Calabasas mortgage real estate investment trust, which raised $335 million in its initial public offering last September, said the shelf registration would provide the company with the flexibility to raise new equity capital as needed.

“We are sensitive to the market conditions and the timing of any additional equity raise, and we plan to raise additional equity capital at times and in amounts as we deem appropriate in the interest of the company and our shareholders,” Chief Executive Officer Stan Kurland said in a statement.

PennyMac, which was created by former Countrywide Financial Corp. executives last year to buy distressed home loans, last week reported second quarter net income of $8.2 million (48 cents per share). This was the company’s initial second quarter report.

During the quarter, the company invested $133 million in distressed mortgage assets, comprising $97 million in nonperforming residential mortgage whole loans and $36 million in mortgage-backed securities. That brings total fair value of its portfolio to more than $300 million.

Shares were down 48 cents, or 2.7 percent, to $17.36 in midday trading on the New York Stock Exchange.