EFC
Ellington Financial Inc.
REIT - Mortgage
Market Cap$1.35B
5Y Perf.+33.2%
Compare Stocks
5 / 10Try these comparisons:
Stock Comparison
EFC vs WELL vs VTR vs MFA vs AGNC
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
WELL
Welltower Inc.
REIT - Healthcare Facilities
Market Cap$149.25B
5Y Perf.+320.4%
VTR
Ventas, Inc.
REIT - Healthcare Facilities
Market Cap$41.15B
5Y Perf.+147.6%
MFA
MFA Financial, Inc.
REIT - Mortgage
Market Cap$995M
5Y Perf.+44.2%
AGNC
AGNC Investment Corp.
REIT - Mortgage
Market Cap$9.62B
5Y Perf.-17.2%
EFC vs WELL vs VTR vs MFA vs AGNC — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | EFC | WELL | VTR | MFA | AGNC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | REIT - Mortgage | REIT - Healthcare Facilities | REIT - Healthcare Facilities | REIT - Mortgage | REIT - Mortgage |
| Market Cap | $1.35B | $149.25B | $41.15B | $995M | $9.62B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $429M | $11.63B | $6.13B | $650M | $3.46B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $147M | $1.43B | $260M | $135M | $838M |
| Gross Margin | 88.6% | 39.1% | -4.3% | 59.3% | 100.0% |
| Operating Margin | 63.0% | 4.4% | 13.4% | 41.0% | 107.1% |
| Forward P/E | 7.5x | 78.4x | 118.0x | 7.1x | 6.9x |
| Total Debt | $16.96B | $21.38B | $13.22B | $10.99B | $64M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $202M | $5.03B | $741M | $213M | $505M |
EFC vs WELL vs VTR vs MFA vs AGNC — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
EFC
WELL
VTR
MFA
AGNC
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ellington Financial… (EFC) | 100 | 133.2 | +33.2% |
| Welltower Inc. (WELL) | 100 | 420.4 | +320.4% |
| Ventas, Inc. (VTR) | 100 | 247.6 | +147.6% |
| MFA Financial, Inc. (MFA) | 100 | 144.2 | +44.2% |
| AGNC Investment Cor… (AGNC) | 100 | 82.8 | -17.2% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: EFC vs WELL vs VTR vs MFA vs AGNC
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: WELL and AGNC are tied at the top with 2 categories each (5-stock set) — the right choice depends on your priorities. AGNC Investment Corp. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. EFC, VTR, and MFA also each lead in at least one category. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
EFC
Ellington Financial Inc.
The Real Estate Income Play
EFC ranks third and is worth considering specifically for quality.
- 34.2% margin vs VTR's 4.2%
Best for: quality
WELL
Welltower Inc.
The Real Estate Income Play
WELL has the current edge in this matchup, primarily because of its strength in long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night.
- 223.1% 10Y total return vs EFC's 77.3%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.13, Low D/E 49.5%, current ratio 5.34x
- Beta 0.13, yield 1.3%, current ratio 5.34x
- +42.7% vs EFC's +18.5%
Best for: long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night
VTR
Ventas, Inc.
The Real Estate Income Play
VTR is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 0.01, yield 2.1%
- Beta 0.01 vs MFA's 0.77, lower leverage
Best for: income & stability
MFA
MFA Financial, Inc.
The Real Estate Income Play
MFA is the clearest fit if your priority is dividends.
- 18.4% yield, 1-year raise streak, vs WELL's 1.3%
Best for: dividends
AGNC
AGNC Investment Corp.
The Real Estate Income Play
AGNC is the #2 pick in this set and the best alternative if growth exposure is your priority.
- Rev growth 384.7%, EPS growth 17.6%, 3Y rev CAGR 26.4%
- 384.7% FFO/revenue growth vs VTR's 18.5%
- Lower P/E (6.9x vs 7.1x)
Best for: growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | AGNC | 384.7% FFO/revenue growth vs VTR's 18.5% |
| Value | AGNC | Lower P/E (6.9x vs 7.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | EFC | 34.2% margin vs VTR's 4.2% |
| Stability / Safety | VTR | Beta 0.01 vs MFA's 0.77, lower leverage |
| Dividends | MFA | 18.4% yield, 1-year raise streak, vs WELL's 1.3% |
| Momentum (1Y) | WELL | +42.7% vs EFC's +18.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | WELL | 2.3% ROA vs AGNC's 0.8%, ROIC 0.5% vs 34.0% |
EFC vs WELL vs VTR vs MFA vs AGNC — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2025
FY 2025
Segment breakdown not available.
Segment breakdown not available.
EFC vs WELL vs VTR vs MFA vs AGNC — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 5 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLAGNCLAGGINGEFC
Who Leads Where
AGNC leads in 2 of 6 categories
MFA leads 1 • WELL leads 1 • VTR leads 1 • EFC leads 0 • 1 tied
Explore the data ↓EFCEllington Financial I…
0leads
MFAMFA Financial, Inc.
1leads
VTRVentas, Inc.
1leads
WELLWelltower Inc.
1leads
AGNCAGNC Investment Corp.
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs WELLvs VTRMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
AGNC4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
MFA3/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
AGNC4/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
WELL6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
VTR2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
AGNC leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
WELL is the larger business by revenue, generating $11.6B annually — 27.1x EFC's $429M. EFC is the more profitable business, keeping 34.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to VTR's 4.2%. On growth, AGNC holds the edge at +2.5% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | EFCEllington Financi… | WELLWelltower Inc. | VTRVentas, Inc. | MFAMFA Financial, In… | AGNCAGNC Investment C… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $429M | $11.6B | $6.1B | $650M | $3.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $301M | $2.8B | $2.3B | $268M | $3.7B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $147M | $1.4B | $260M | $135M | $838M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$925M | $2.5B | $1.4B | $91M | $604M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +88.6% | +39.1% | -4.3% | +59.3% | +100.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +63.0% | +4.4% | +13.4% | +41.0% | +107.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +34.2% | +12.3% | +4.2% | +20.7% | +24.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -2.2% | +21.9% | +22.4% | +14.0% | +17.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +123.0% | +40.3% | +22.0% | +118.9% | +2.5% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -44.0% | +22.5% | 0.0% | -103.0% | +84.6% |
AGNC leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
MFA leads this category, winning 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 5.8x trailing earnings, MFA trades at a 96% valuation discount to VTR's 160.3x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, AGNC's 2.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than WELL's 66.4x.
| Metric | EFCEllington Financi… | WELLWelltower Inc. | VTRVentas, Inc. | MFAMFA Financial, In… | AGNCAGNC Investment C… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.4B | $149.2B | $41.1B | $995M | $9.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $18.1B | $165.6B | $53.6B | $11.8B | $9.2B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 11.42x | 153.25x | 160.26x | 5.80x | 11.53x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 7.47x | 78.42x | 118.01x | 7.11x | 6.87x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.46x | — | — | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 39.45x | 66.40x | 24.31x | 17.07x | 2.42x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.00x | 13.99x | 7.05x | 1.14x | 1.97x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.72x | 3.35x | 3.18x | 0.56x | 0.86x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 2.66x | 52.41x | 31.25x | 13.06x | 111.86x |
MFA leads this category, winning 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
AGNC leads this category, winning 4 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
EFC delivers a 8.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $8 in annual profit, vs $2 for VTR. AGNC carries lower financial leverage with a 0.01x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to EFC's 9.07x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), WELL scores 7/9 vs AGNC's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | EFCEllington Financi… | WELLWelltower Inc. | VTRVentas, Inc. | MFAMFA Financial, In… | AGNCAGNC Investment C… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +8.4% | +3.5% | +2.1% | +7.4% | +7.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.8% | +2.3% | +1.0% | +1.1% | +0.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +3.1% | +0.5% | +2.5% | +4.4% | +34.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +2.7% | +0.6% | +3.2% | +5.8% | +4.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 9.07x | 0.49x | 1.05x | 6.01x | 0.01x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $16.8B | $16.3B | $12.5B | $10.8B | -$441M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $202M | $5.0B | $741M | $213M | $505M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $17.0B | $21.4B | $13.2B | $11.0B | $64M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.51x | 0.26x | 1.40x | 1.34x | 1.32x |
AGNC leads this category, winning 4 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
WELL leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in WELL five years ago would be worth $30,234 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $9,782 for AGNC. Over the past 12 months, WELL leads with a +42.7% total return vs EFC's +18.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors WELL at 42.5% vs MFA's 10.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | EFCEllington Financi… | WELLWelltower Inc. | VTRVentas, Inc. | MFAMFA Financial, In… | AGNCAGNC Investment C… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +3.1% | +14.3% | +12.6% | +6.1% | +2.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +18.5% | +42.7% | +33.9% | +19.2% | +39.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +51.9% | +189.5% | +94.2% | +34.1% | +58.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +21.5% | +202.3% | +74.8% | -0.6% | -2.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +77.3% | +223.1% | +65.0% | +7.8% | +46.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +15.0% | +42.5% | +24.8% | +10.3% | +16.5% |
WELL leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
VTR leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
VTR is the less volatile stock with a 0.01 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than MFA's 0.77 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. VTR currently trades 97.8% from its 52-week high vs AGNC's 87.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | EFCEllington Financi… | WELLWelltower Inc. | VTRVentas, Inc. | MFAMFA Financial, In… | AGNCAGNC Investment C… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.47x | 0.13x | 0.01x | 0.77x | 0.74x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $14.12 | $219.59 | $88.50 | $10.57 | $12.19 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $11.28 | $142.65 | $61.76 | $8.78 | $8.65 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +96.2% | +97.0% | +97.8% | +92.2% | +87.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 69.7 | 60.2 | 56.2 | 43.8 | 52.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.6M | 2.6M | 3.4M | 1.4M | 18.2M |
VTR leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — WELL and MFA each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: EFC as "Buy", WELL as "Buy", VTR as "Buy", MFA as "Hold", AGNC as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 6.3% upside for WELL (target: $227) vs -0.7% for EFC (target: $14). For income investors, MFA offers the higher dividend yield at 18.36% vs WELL's 1.30%.
| Metric | EFCEllington Financi… | WELLWelltower Inc. | VTRVentas, Inc. | MFAMFA Financial, In… | AGNCAGNC Investment C… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy | Buy | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $13.50 | $226.50 | $90.80 | $10.25 | $11.13 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 13 | 34 | 32 | 22 | 35 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +13.6% | +1.3% | +2.1% | +18.4% | +14.7% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.85 | $2.76 | $1.86 | $1.79 | $1.58 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | +1.5% | 0.0% |
Evenly matched — WELL and MFA each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
AGNC leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). MFA leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Best OverallAGNC Investment Corp. (AGNC)Leads 2 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
EFC vs WELL vs VTR vs MFA vs AGNC: Key Questions Answered
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is EFC or WELL or VTR or MFA or AGNC a better buy right now?
For growth investors, AGNC Investment Corp.
(AGNC) is the stronger pick with 384. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 18. 5% for Ventas, Inc. (VTR). MFA Financial, Inc. (MFA) offers the better valuation at 5. 8x trailing P/E (7. 1x 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.
02Which has the better valuation — EFC or WELL or VTR or MFA or AGNC?
On trailing P/E, MFA Financial, Inc.
(MFA) is the cheapest at 5. 8x versus Ventas, Inc. at 160. 3x. On forward P/E, AGNC Investment Corp. is actually cheaper at 6. 9x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — EFC or WELL or VTR or MFA or AGNC?
Over the past 5 years, Welltower Inc.
(WELL) delivered a total return of +202. 3%, compared to -2. 2% for AGNC Investment Corp. (AGNC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WELL returned +223. 1% versus MFA's +7. 8%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — EFC or WELL or VTR or MFA or AGNC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Ventas, Inc.
(VTR) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 01β versus MFA Financial, Inc. 's 0. 77β — meaning MFA is approximately 8033% more volatile than VTR 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.
05Which is growing faster — EFC or WELL or VTR or MFA or AGNC?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), AGNC Investment Corp.
(AGNC) is pulling ahead at 384. 7% versus 18. 5% for Ventas, Inc. (VTR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: AGNC Investment Corp. grew EPS 1760% year-over-year, compared to -12. 5% for Ellington Financial Inc.. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — EFC or WELL or VTR or MFA or AGNC?
Ellington Financial Inc.
(EFC) is the more profitable company, earning 21. 8% net margin versus 4. 3% for Ventas, Inc. — 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 3. 3% for WELL. 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.
07Is EFC or WELL or VTR or MFA or AGNC more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, AGNC Investment Corp.
(AGNC) trades at 6. 9x forward P/E versus 118. 0x for Ventas, Inc. — 111. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WELL: 6. 3% to $226. 50.
08Which pays a better dividend — EFC or WELL or VTR or MFA or AGNC?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
MFA Financial, Inc. (MFA) offers the highest yield at 18. 4%, versus 1. 3% for Welltower Inc. (WELL).
09Is EFC or WELL or VTR or MFA or AGNC better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Ventas, Inc.
(VTR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 01), 2. 1% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (VTR: +65. 0%, MFA: +7. 8%), 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.
10What are the main differences between EFC and WELL and VTR and MFA and AGNC?
Both stocks operate in the Real Estate sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that outperform all of them.
Revenue Growth>
%
(EFC: 123.0% · WELL: 40.3%)Net Margin>
%
(EFC: 34.2% · WELL: 12.3%)P/E Ratio<
x
(EFC: 11.4x · WELL: 153.3x)You Might Also Compare
Based on how these companies actually compete and overlap — not just which sector they're filed under.