Ellington Financial Inc. logo

Ellington Financial Inc.(EFC)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL
2-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$11.35
10/19/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
  • ALL
  • 1Y
  • 1M
  • 1W
  • BUY Advisory
  • SELL Advisory (Profit)
  • SELL Advisory (Loss)
  • Profit
  • Loss
  • PASS (Skip)
Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for EFC

10/19/2026: EFC (2-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

Ellington Financial Inc. is a specialty finance mortgage REIT that focuses on generating returns through a diversified portfolio of mortgage, consumer, and corporate credit assets. Its primary strength lies in an opportunistic investment mandate managed by experienced professionals, which allows the firm to pivot across asset classes to seek value. The main growth story involves expanding its footprint in less liquid, credit-sensitive markets where higher yields can be captured. However, investors must monitor risks related to interest rate sensitivity, high leverage, and potential credit losses. This stock may suit dividend-focused investors seeking exposure to credit, provided they are comfortable with the inherent volatility of the mortgage and credit sectors.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorMixed fitThe company focuses on total return rather than aggressive capital appreciation.
Momentum investorMixed fitMomentum is conditional on favorable interest rate trends and credit market stability.
Value investorStrong fitShares are often valued based on the discount or premium to book value.
Dividend investorStrong fitThe company is structured to provide consistent income through regular dividend distributions.
Low-risk investorWeak fitThe use of leverage and exposure to credit-sensitive assets involves significant volatility.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityHighMarket fluctuations in MBS and credit assets directly impact the net asset value.
Valuation riskMediumMany assets are Level 3, requiring subjective pricing models that may not reflect market reality.
Competition risk (Spread-based mREITs)MediumIncreased competition for yield can compress the spreads on core credit investments.
Business qualityMediumThe reliance on external management introduces potential conflicts and structural costs.
Dividend incomeMedium / highDividends are sensitive to net interest margin sustainability and portfolio performance.
Execution riskMediumSuccessful management of diverse credit portfolios requires high-level expertise.

Price Behavior

Rolling Over
PRICE PATH

Rolling Over

The price momentum is slowing down and beginning to turn downward.

Smooth
PRICE STABILITY

Smooth

The stock has moved along a generally orderly path with only modest fluctuations.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit 16.24%
Avg. Invested days 77
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 4.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 2.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 10/19/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
EFC receives a 4-star rating, supported by strong unit economics, solid company fundamentals, and solid analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
EFC has solid overall fundamentals (4 stars), with solid financial health, solid growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, moderate earnings growth (+0.7%) and strong cash generation (FCF margin 75.5%) are partially offset by modest insider ownership of 2.58%.

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
EFC's financial health is supported by strong profitability, including gross margin of 84.3% and operating margin of 61.6%. Liquidity is moderate (3 stars), which helps explain the 4-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Free-cash-flow growth is EFC's strongest growth driver at +218.2% FY2025 versus FY2024 (strong, 5 stars). By comparison, revenue growth (+139.0%, strong) is also strong, while earnings growth (+0.7%, moderate) holds the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 53.4% and approximately 97.7% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership of 2.58% provides only moderate management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

BlackRock Inc 16.20%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 4.14%
State Street Corp 3.84%
Geode Capital Management, LLC 2.47%
MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. 1.74%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
EFC generates approximately $843 of gross profit, $616 of operating income, and $755 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Strong margins and strong cash conversion support the rating, although capital efficiency remains weak.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 2.45%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
EFC has a high-quality, liquid profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Value-OrientedQuality TiltSmall / Mid Cap RiskShort Squeeze RiskHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Small-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 1.53B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 7.24
1Y Target Price 14.64
Price to earnings Ratio 7.24
1Y Target Price 14.64
Volume (30-day avg) 1.7M shares
Beta 0.97
52 Weeks Range 10.52 - 13.54
Updated Date 10/18/2026
52 Weeks Range 10.52 - 13.54
Updated Date 10/18/2026
Dividends yield (FY) 13.11%
Basic EPS (TTM) 1.61

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Mortgage-Related AssetsInterest income from residential and commercial MBS and loans.The core of the business earns money from the interest paid on mortgage debts.
Consumer CreditInterest and fees from personal and small business loan portfolios.Diversification into consumer loans helps boost potential returns beyond mortgages.
Corporate CreditIncome from senior secured corporate loans.Lending to businesses adds another layer of yield to the overall portfolio.
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Valuation

Trailing PE 7.24
Forward PE 9.07
Enterprise Value 19.33B
Price to Sales(TTM) 3.55
Enterprise Value 19.33B
Price to Sales(TTM) 3.55
Enterprise Value to Revenue 51.97
Enterprise Value to EBITDA -
Shares Outstanding 128.89M
Shares Floating 125.96M
Shares Outstanding 128.89M
Shares Floating 125.96M
Percent Insiders 2.58
Percent Institutions 53.44

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

Form CRS provides a relationship summary of our automated advisory services, flat subscription fees, and conflicts of interest. Form ADV Part 2A brochure contains complete details on services, billing, and disclosures. If any summary differs from our current regulatory filings, the filed Form ADV controls.