SmarterDividends
EFC

Ellington Financial Inc.

EFC

Real Estate · REIT - Mortgage · Stock · monthly payer

$11.71

Undervalued · +213% Add to Portfolio

Forward Yield

13.32%

Annual Dividend

$1.56

Payout Ratio

97%

5-Yr Growth

7.6%

Ex-Date

Oct 30, 2026

Frequency

Monthly

Key facts about EFC's dividend

Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data

  • As of Oct 27, 2026, Ellington Financial Inc. (EFC) has a forward dividend yield of 13.32%, based on an annual dividend of $1.56 per share and a share price of $11.71.
  • As of Oct 27, 2026, EFC's dividend safety grade from SmarterDividends is D (46 out of 100), which rates the dividend as unsafe.
  • EFC last cut its regular dividend in 2024.
  • EFC's next ex-dividend date is Oct 30, 2026, with payment on Nov 30, 2026. Shares must be owned before that date to receive the dividend.
  • As of Oct 27, 2026, EFC pays out 97% of its trailing 12-month earnings as dividends (its payout ratio).
  • EFC's dividend has grown at an average rate of 7.6% a year over the past five years.
  • As of Oct 27, 2026, EFC's 13.32% yield is 11% above its five-year average yield of 12.04%.
  • As of Oct 27, 2026, SmarterDividends' blended fair-value estimate for EFC is $36.68 per share, 213% above the $11.71 share price, so EFC screens as undervalued.
  • Ellington Financial Inc. (EFC) pays its dividend monthly, 12 times a year.
  • Ellington Financial Inc. (EFC) has raised its regular dividend 9 times and cut it 8 times across the 126 payments on record since 2010. Its most recent change was a 13.3% cut to $0.130 per share, going ex-dividend on Mar 27, 2024.
Cite this page

SmarterDividends, "EFC Dividend: Yield, Safety Grade & Next Ex-Date," updated Oct 27, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/stocks/EFC

Summary

As of Oct 27, 2026, Ellington Financial Inc. (EFC) yields 13.32% ($1.56 a year per share) and has a dividend safety grade of D (46/100).

Is EFC a good dividend stock?

Mixed

Ellington Financial Inc. (EFC) pays a monthly dividend yielding 13.32% ($1.56/yr), with 0 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of D. The picture is mixed — the dividend pays, but safety or growth signals are weaker than ideal.

Advantages

  • Strong 7.6% 5-yr dividend growth

Risks

  • Cut its dividend in 2024
  • Elevated payout ratio (97%)
  • Very high yield can signal elevated risk
  • Share price is down over the past 5 years
  • Below-average dividend safety score

Key Data

Dividend Yield
13.32%
Payout Ratio
97%
Annual Dividend
$1.56
5-Yr Avg Growth
7.6%
Ex-Dividend Date
Oct 30, 2026
Years of Growth
0
Frequency
monthly
Beta
0.97
Market Cap
$1.5B
P/E Ratio
7.3
5-Yr Total Return
-29%
52-Week Range
$11.28 – $14.12
Dividend Safety
D · 46/100
Ever Cut?
Yes (2024)

EFC dividend raises and cuts

Ellington Financial Inc. (EFC) has raised its regular dividend 9 times and cut it 8 times across the 126 payments on record since 2010. Its most recent change was a 13.3% cut to $0.130 per share, going ex-dividend on Mar 27, 2024.

Ex-dateChangeOld → newMove
Mar 27, 2024Cut$0.150 → $0.130−13.3%
Jan 30, 2024Raise$0.0900 → $0.150+66.7%
Dec 28, 2023Raise$0.0600 → $0.0900+50.0%
Dec 7, 2023Cut$0.150 → $0.0600−60.0%
May 27, 2021Raise$0.140 → $0.150+7.1%
Apr 29, 2021Raise$0.100 → $0.140+40.0%
Nov 27, 2020Raise$0.0900 → $0.100+11.1%
Jun 29, 2020Raise$0.0800 → $0.0900+12.5%
Apr 29, 2020Cut$0.150 → $0.0800−46.7%
Jan 30, 2020Raise$0.140 → $0.150+7.1%
Mar 28, 2019Cut$0.410 → $0.140−65.9%
Nov 30, 2017Cut$0.450 → $0.410−8.9%
Show all 17 changes since 2012
Ex-dateChangeOld → newMove
Nov 29, 2016Cut$0.500 → $0.450−10.0%
Nov 27, 2015Cut$0.650 → $0.500−23.1%
Feb 25, 2015Cut$0.770 → $0.650−15.6%
May 29, 2013Raise$0.700 → $0.770+10.0%
May 30, 2012Raise$0.400 → $0.700+75.0%
Every EFC payment →Download every raise and cut (CSV)
EFC ex-dividend date & scheduleNext ex-date Oct 30, 2026 · full ex-dividend historyView →EFC dividend historyEvery payment, totals by year, raises and cutsView →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is EFC a good dividend stock?

Mixed. Ellington Financial Inc. (EFC) pays a monthly dividend yielding 13.32% ($1.56/yr), with 0 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of D. The picture is mixed — the dividend pays, but safety or growth signals are weaker than ideal.

Is EFC undervalued?

Based on a blend of discounted cash flow, a dividend-discount model and an earnings-multiple estimate, EFC's fair value is about $36.68 versus a $11.71 share price — so it looks undervalued (+213% vs. fair value).

Is EFC's dividend safe?

EFC has a dividend-safety grade of D (46/100), based on its payout coverage, free-cash-flow, 0-year growth streak, a dividend cut in 2024, debt and yield-versus-history.

What is EFC's fair value?

Our blended fair-value estimate for EFC is about $36.68 per share, roughly 213% above the current $11.71 price — combining a discounted cash flow, a dividend-discount model and an earnings multiple.

Is EFC a buy, hold, or sell?

We don't issue formal ratings, but on the data EFC screens as "mixed" and undervalued. Ellington Financial Inc. (EFC) pays a monthly dividend yielding 13.32% ($1.56/yr), with 0 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of D. The picture is mixed — the dividend pays, but safety or growth signals are weaker than ideal. This is research for your own analysis, not investment advice.

Will EFC cut its dividend?

EFC earns a dividend-safety grade of D (46/100), and has cut its dividend before (last in 2024). A higher score means lower cut risk based on payout coverage, cash flow and history — but no score guarantees a dividend.

Does EFC pay a dividend?

Yes. Ellington Financial Inc. pays a monthly dividend of about $1.56 per share annually, a forward yield of roughly 13.32%.

What is EFC's dividend yield?

As of Oct 27, 2026, EFC's forward dividend yield is 13.32%, based on a $1.56 annual dividend and a $11.71 share price.

What is EFC's dividend per share?

As of Oct 27, 2026, EFC pays $1.56 per share per year, distributed on a monthly basis.

What is EFC's dividend payout ratio?

As of Oct 27, 2026, EFC's payout ratio is 97% of trailing 12-month earnings — an elevated level worth watching, as it leaves less cushion if earnings dip.

How many years has EFC grown its dividend?

EFC does not currently have a long dividend-growth streak on record.

When is the next EFC ex-dividend date?

As of Oct 27, 2026, the next ex-dividend date on record for EFC is Oct 30, 2026.

Income Calculator

At $1.56 / yr per share

Per payment (monthly)$13.00
Annual$156.00
Monthly avg$13.00

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