Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
AGNC vs EFC
AGNC Investment Corp. versus ELLINGTON FINANCIAL INC 1EL REIT — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
AGNC wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but EFC can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
AGNC wins this comparison 3–1 across 6 dimensions. AGNC yields 13.20% — higher than EFC's 11.58% — and carries a 4.8/10 dividend safety score (Weak) vs 3.5/10 for EFC (Weak). AGNC wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but EFC can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
On yield alone, AGNC generates 13.20% vs 11.58% — a 1.62% difference that translates to $1,620 more per year on a $100,000 investment. On dividend safety, AGNC scores 4.8/10 (Weak) vs 3.5/10 (Weak) for EFC — investors prioritizing income reliability should weight that gap alongside the yield difference.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | AGNC | EFC | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 13.20% | 11.58% | AGNC wins |
| Dividend safety | 4.8/10 | 3.5/10 | AGNC wins |
| Growth trend | -0.50% vs 5y | -0.55% vs 5y | Tie |
| Volatility (beta) | 1.30 | 0.93 | EFC wins |
| Scale | $12.8B | $1.7B | AGNC wins |
| Tax efficiency | Ordinary income | Ordinary income | Tie |
| Overall | 3 wins | 1 wins | AGNC wins |
Dimension by dimension
AGNC wins on yield (13.20% vs 11.58%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $162 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
AGNC's higher yield (13.20%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus EFC's 11.58% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.
AGNC wins on safety (4.8/10 vs 3.5/10)
Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. AGNC scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
AGNC (4.8/10) scores 1.3 points higher than EFC (3.5/10). A higher safety score means lower historical indicators of dividend cut risk — payout ratio, yield zone, and trend all factor in.
Yield trends are similar
Both tickers' current yields sit close to their 5-year averages, suggesting comparable dividend-vs-price trajectories.
EFC is less volatile (beta 0.93 vs 1.30)
Lower beta means smaller swings vs the S&P 500 — generally a steadier hold for income investors.
AGNC is 7.6× larger by market cap
Larger companies tend to have tighter spreads, deeper liquidity, and lower closure risk.
Both have similar tax-treatment concerns
Both pay primarily ordinary-income distributions (covered call ETF, REIT, or mREIT). Hold in a tax-advantaged account for the cleanest treatment.
How we compare these
Every comparison on this page is computed from current public data, not written by hand. Yield comes from the most recent dividend distribution annualized over current price. Safety scores combine yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size — see our methodology for the exact formula. Tax-efficiency flags identify covered-call ETFs, REITs, and mREITs which distribute primarily as ordinary income.
This is educational, not investment advice.Scores reflect a snapshot of public data on the "as of" dates shown on each ticker's safety page. Verify on the issuer's investor relations page or your brokerage before making decisions.
Frequently asked
Which is better for income, AGNC or EFC?
AGNC wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but EFC can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
AGNC vs EFC: which has a higher dividend yield?
AGNC yields 13.20% and EFC yields 11.58%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $162 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is AGNC or EFC a safer dividend in 2026?
AGNC scores 4.8/10 (Weak) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. EFC scores 3.5/10 (Weak). AGNC is the safer pick on our scoring model.
Which has better dividend growth, AGNC or EFC?
Both tickers' current yields sit close to their 5-year averages, suggesting comparable dividend-vs-price trajectories.
AGNC vs EFC: which is more tax-efficient?
Both pay primarily ordinary-income distributions (covered call ETF, REIT, or mREIT). Hold in a tax-advantaged account for the cleanest treatment.
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