BTIG Downgrades Ellington Financial (EFC) as Premium Valuation Weighs on Outlook

With an annual dividend yield of 11.50%, Ellington Financial Inc. (NYSE:EFC) is included among the Top 10 Dividend Stocks with 10%+ Yield.

BTIG Downgrades Ellington Financial (EFC) as Premium Valuation Weighs on Outlook

On June 17, BTIG downgraded Ellington Financial Inc. (NYSE:EFC) to Neutral from Buy. It did not assign a price target to the stock. The firm said residential credit-focused mortgage real estate investment trusts offer more attractive valuations than agency-focused peers, along with greater long-term book value upside. BTIG cited Ellington’s “premium valuation” as the main reason for the downgrade. According to the analyst, the company has only a limited history of trading at a premium to book value, which reduces the potential upside for the shares.

During its first-quarter 2026 earnings call, CEO, President & Director Laurence Penn said Ellington Financial delivered an exceptionally strong quarter, supported by solid GAAP net income and adjusted distributable earnings.

Penn said the company reported GAAP net income of $0.78 per share, generated an annualized economic return of 26%, and increased book value per share by 3% even after paying dividends. He also pointed to Longbridge’s performance, saying the business posted one of its strongest quarters for proprietary reverse mortgage loan originations. He credited the results to continued market share gains in HECM originations and healthy gain-on-sale margins across the product portfolio. Penn added that the quarter included a one-time litigation settlement payment and that Longbridge’s net income had already surpassed its full-year 2025 earnings by a wide margin.

Penn also said the company completed seven transactions totaling more than $2.8 billion through its EFMT shelf during the quarter.

Ellington Financial Inc. (NYSE:EFC) operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT). The company acquires and manages mortgage-related, consumer-related, corporate-related, and other financial assets.

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