CHMI vs EARN vs AGNC vs EFC

For growth investors, AGNC Investment Corp.

(AGNC) is the stronger pick with 384. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -8. 4% for Ellington Credit Company (EARN). Ellington Financial Inc. (EFC) offers the better valuation at 11. 4x trailing P/E (7. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Ellington Financial Inc. (EFC) a "Buy" — based on 13 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Ellington Financial Inc.

(EFC) is the cheapest at 11. 4x versus Ellington Credit Company at 20. 3x. On forward P/E, Ellington Credit Company is actually cheaper at 4. 6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Ellington Financial Inc.

(EFC) delivered a total return of +21. 5%, compared to -37. 1% for Cherry Hill Mortgage Investment Corporation (CHMI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: EFC returned +77. 3% versus CHMI's +5. 0%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Ellington Financial Inc.

(EFC) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 47β versus Cherry Hill Mortgage Investment Corporation's 0. 75β — meaning CHMI is approximately 59% more volatile than EFC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, AGNC Investment Corp. (AGNC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 9% for Ellington Financial Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), AGNC Investment Corp.

(AGNC) is pulling ahead at 384. 7% versus -8. 4% for Ellington Credit Company (EARN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: AGNC Investment Corp. grew EPS 1760% year-over-year, compared to -246. 4% for Cherry Hill Mortgage Investment Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, EFC leads at 150. 0% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Ellington Financial Inc.

(EFC) is the more profitable company, earning 21. 8% net margin versus 6. 5% for Cherry Hill Mortgage Investment Corporation — meaning it keeps 21. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AGNC leads at 79. 6% versus 14. 0% for EARN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AGNC leads at 100. 0%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Ellington Credit Company (EARN) trades at 4.

6x forward P/E versus 7. 5x for Ellington Financial Inc. — 2. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for EARN: 23. 2% to $6. 00.

In this comparison, EARN (16.

8% yield), AGNC (14. 7% yield), EFC (13. 6% yield) pay a dividend. CHMI does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Ellington Financial Inc.

(EFC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 47), 13. 6% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (EFC: +77. 3%, CHMI: +5. 0%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

These companies operate in different sectors (CHMI (Real Estate) and EARN (Financial Services) and AGNC (Real Estate) and EFC (Real Estate)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: CHMI is a small-cap high-growth stock; EARN is a small-cap income-oriented stock; AGNC is a small-cap high-growth stock; EFC is a small-cap high-growth stock. EARN, AGNC, EFC pay a dividend while CHMI does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.