Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
EFC vs NNN
ELLINGTON FINANCIAL INC 1EL REIT versus NNN REIT, Inc. — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
NNN wins 3–2 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 | NNN | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 11.48% | 5.49% | EFC wins |
| Dividend safety | 3.5/10 | 5.2/10 | NNN wins |
| Growth trend | -0.57% vs 5y | +0.31% vs 5y | EFC wins |
| Volatility (beta) | 0.93 | 0.80 | NNN wins |
| Scale | $1.7B | $8.3B | NNN wins |
| Tax efficiency | Ordinary income | Ordinary income | Tie |
| Overall | 2 wins | 3 wins | NNN wins |
Dimension by dimension
EFC wins on yield (11.48% vs 5.49%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $599 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
NNN wins on safety (5.2/10 vs 3.5/10)
Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. NNN scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
EFC shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend
EFC's yield is 0.57% below its 5y average, versus 0.31% for NNN. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
NNN is less volatile (beta 0.80 vs 0.93)
Lower beta means smaller swings vs the S&P 500 — generally a steadier hold for income investors.
NNN is 4.9× 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 NNN?
NNN wins 3–2 on our six-dimension comparison, but EFC can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Does EFC or NNN have a higher yield?
On a $10,000 investment that's about $599 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is EFC or NNN a safer dividend?
EFC scores 3.5/10 (Weak) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. NNN scores 5.2/10 (Mixed). See the safety dimension above for what drove each score.
Should I own both EFC and NNN?
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 NNN? See if the other adds anything.
Connect your brokerage and Infnits checks whether adding NNN to your existing portfolio actually diversifies — or just duplicates exposure (ETF look-through included).
Check overlap with my portfolio →