EFC vs. MFA

Last updated Jun 20, 2026

EFC (Ellington Financial Inc.) and MFA (MFA Financial, Inc.) are both stocks. Both operate in the REIT - Mortgage industry within the Real Estate sector. Over the past 10 years, EFC returned 9.12%/yr vs 1.15%/yr for MFA. A 0.57 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.

Performance

EFC vs. MFA - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Ellington Financial Inc. (EFC) and MFA Financial, Inc. (MFA). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, EFC achieves a 4.12% return, which is significantly lower than MFA's 6.33% return. Over the past 10 years, EFC has outperformed MFA with an annualized return of 9.12%, while MFA has yielded a comparatively lower 1.15% annualized return.

EFC

• 1D: 0.15%
• 1M: 0.52%
• YTD: 4.12%
• 6M: 3.14%
• 1Y: 18.27%
• 3Y*: 13.32%
• 5Y*: 5.86%
• 10Y*: 9.12%

MFA

• 1D: 1.60%
• 1M: 0.21%
• YTD: 6.33%
• 6M: 5.69%
• 1Y: 17.48%
• 3Y*: 7.67%
• 5Y*: 0.22%
• 10Y*: 1.15%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

EFC vs. MFA - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
EFC Ellington Financial Inc.	4.12%	26.13%	8.68%	18.16%	-18.32%	26.33%	-10.16%	32.43%	17.29%	4.34%
MFA MFA Financial, Inc.	6.33%	6.07%	2.63%	30.66%	-37.20%	27.71%	-40.87%	27.54%	-5.85%	14.30%

Correlation

The correlation between EFC and MFA is 0.61, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.61
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.73
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.73
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.66
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 8, 2010	0.57

The correlation between EFC and MFA shifts across timeframes, from 0.57 (all time) to 0.73 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Fundamentals

EPS EFC : $1.95 MFA : $1.70
PE Ratio EFC : 6.91 MFA : 5.60
PEG Ratio EFC : 0.05 MFA : 0.26
PS Ratio EFC : 3.37 MFA : 2.19
Total Revenue (TTM) EFC : $417.93M MFA : $343.42M
Gross Profit (TTM) EFC : $347.01M MFA : $413.35M
EBITDA (TTM) EFC : $270.77M MFA : $341.51M

Return for Risk

EFC vs. MFA — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

EFC

EFC Risk / Return Rank: 68
EFC Sharpe Ratio Rank: 73
EFC Sortino Ratio Rank: 68
EFC Omega Ratio Rank: 66
EFC Calmar Ratio Rank: 64
EFC Martin Ratio Rank: 69

MFA

MFA Risk / Return Rank: 64
MFA Sharpe Ratio Rank: 67
MFA Sortino Ratio Rank: 60
MFA Omega Ratio Rank: 58
MFA Calmar Ratio Rank: 69
MFA Martin Ratio Rank: 68

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

EFC vs. MFA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Ellington Financial Inc. (EFC) and MFA Financial, Inc. (MFA). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

	EFC	MFA	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.04	0.78	+0.27
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.55	1.18	+0.37
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.19	1.15	+0.04
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.04	1.44	-0.40
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	3.37	3.15	+0.23

EFC vs. MFA - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current EFC Sharpe Ratio is 1.04, which is higher than the MFA Sharpe Ratio of 0.78. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of EFC and MFA, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

EFC vs. MFA - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum EFC drawdown since its inception was -79.08%, smaller than the maximum MFA drawdown of -95.52%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for EFC and MFA.

Drawdown Indicators

	EFC	MFA	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-79.08%	-95.52%	+16.44%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-17.71%	-12.22%	-5.49%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-18.86%	-31.62%	+12.76%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-34.19%	-56.54%	+22.35%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-79.08%	-95.52%	+16.44%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-1.75%	-31.67%	+29.92%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-9.92%	-21.55%	+11.63%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	5.43%	5.56%	-0.13%

Volatility

EFC vs. MFA - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Ellington Financial Inc. (EFC) is 4.43%, while MFA Financial, Inc. (MFA) has a volatility of 6.62%. This indicates that EFC experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than MFA based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	EFC	MFA	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.43%	6.62%	-2.19%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	13.27%	17.24%	-3.97%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	17.64%	22.64%	-5.00%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	23.95%	31.59%	-7.64%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	42.26%	84.77%	-42.51%

Dividends

EFC vs. MFA - Dividend Comparison

EFC's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 11.61%, less than MFA's 15.11% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
EFC Ellington Financial Inc.	11.61%	11.49%	13.20%	14.16%	14.55%	9.60%	8.49%	9.87%	10.70%	12.13%	12.56%	14.60%
MFA MFA Financial, Inc.	15.11%	15.47%	13.74%	12.42%	16.95%	8.44%	8.35%	10.46%	11.98%	10.10%	10.48%	12.12%

Financials

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both EFC and MFA in my portfolio?

EFC and MFA have a correlation of 0.61, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, EFC or MFA?

MFA has higher volatility (6.62%) compared to EFC (4.43%). In terms of maximum drawdown, EFC dropped -79.08% vs MFA's -95.52%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

EFC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.04 vs 0.78), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.