Ellington Financial (EFC) vs MFA Financial (MFA)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Ellington Financial (EFC) has outperformed MFA Financial (MFA) over the past year, losing 13.8% versus a loss of 20.3%. Over five years, EFC leads with a -36.4% price change compared with -61.6% for MFA. Ellington Financial is the larger company by market cap ($1.52 billion vs $722.8 million), about 2.1 times the size.
On valuation, MFA Financial trades at a lower forward P/E (5.2x vs 5.9x for Ellington Financial). MFA Financial offers the higher dividend yield (20.14% vs 13.46%).
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | EFC | MFA |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $11.59 | $7.15 |
| Market cap | $1.52B | $722.78M |
| 1-day change | -0.69% | -1.79% |
| YTD return | -14.65% | -23.20% |
| 1-year return | -13.83% | -20.29% |
| 5-year return | -36.42% | -61.56% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 7.20 | 7.22 |
| Forward P/E | 5.86 | 5.17 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.61 | $0.99 |
| Dividend yield | 13.46% | 20.14% |
| Annual dividend | $1.56 | $1.44 |
| 52-week high | $14.12 | $10.43 |
| 52-week low | $11.28 | $7.11 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -17.92% | -31.45% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +28.21% | +93.43% |
| Average volume | 1.28M | 1.62M |
| Shares outstanding | 128.89M | 101.09M |
| Employees | 500 | 307 |
| Sector | Real Estate | Real Estate |
| Industry | REIT - Mortgage | REIT - Mortgage |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Ellington Financial is about 2.1 times larger than MFA Financial by market value ($1.52B vs $722.78M).
- MFA Financial offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (20.14% vs 13.46%).
About Ellington Financial
EFC stock →Ellington Financial Inc., through its subsidiary, Ellington Financial Operating Partnership LLC, acquires and manages mortgage-related, consumer-related, corporate-related, and other financial assets in the United States. It operates in two segments, Investment Portfolio and Longbridge.
Real Estate · REIT - Mortgage · 500 employees
About MFA Financial
MFA stock →MFA Financial, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a real estate investment trust in the United States. It operates through two segments: Mortgage-Related Assets and Lima One.
Real Estate · REIT - Mortgage · 307 employees
EFC vs MFA FAQ
Which is bigger, Ellington Financial or MFA Financial?
Ellington Financial (EFC) is larger, with a market capitalization of $1.52B compared with $722.78M for MFA Financial (MFA).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, EFC or MFA?
EFC returned -13.83% over the past 12 months, compared with -20.29% for MFA (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, EFC or MFA?
EFC has the lower trailing P/E at 7.2, versus 7.2 for MFA. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Ellington Financial or MFA Financial?
MFA Financial has the higher yield at 20.14%, compared with 13.46% for Ellington Financial.
Are Ellington Financial and MFA Financial in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the REIT - Mortgage industry within the Real Estate sector.