Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
EFC vs NLY
ELLINGTON FINANCIAL INC 1EL REIT versus Annaly Capital Management, Inc. — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
NLY wins 4–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but EFC can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | EFC | NLY | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 11.48% | 12.92% | NLY wins |
| Dividend safety | 3.5/10 | 4.2/10 | NLY wins |
| Growth trend | -0.57% vs 5y | -0.72% vs 5y | NLY wins |
| Volatility (beta) | 0.93 | 1.27 | EFC wins |
| Scale | $1.7B | $15.9B | NLY wins |
| Tax efficiency | Ordinary income | Ordinary income | Tie |
| Overall | 1 wins | 4 wins | NLY wins |
Dimension by dimension
NLY wins on yield (12.92% vs 11.48%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $144 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
NLY wins on safety (4.2/10 vs 3.5/10)
Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. NLY scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
NLY shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend
NLY's yield is 0.72% below its 5y average, versus 0.57% for EFC. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
EFC is less volatile (beta 0.93 vs 1.27)
Lower beta means smaller swings vs the S&P 500 — generally a steadier hold for income investors.
NLY is 9.4× 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, EFC or NLY?
NLY wins 4–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but EFC can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Does EFC or NLY have a higher yield?
On a $10,000 investment that's about $144 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is EFC or NLY a safer dividend?
EFC scores 3.5/10 (Weak) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. NLY scores 4.2/10 (Weak). See the safety dimension above for what drove each score.
Should I own both EFC and NLY?
It depends on overlap. Two ETFs in similar categories often hold many of the same companies — owning both can mean paying two expense ratios for similar exposure. Check the underlying holdings before stacking.
Already own EFC or NLY? See if the other adds anything.
Connect your brokerage and Infnits checks whether adding NLY to your existing portfolio actually diversifies — or just duplicates exposure (ETF look-through included).
Check overlap with my portfolio →