A retired 67-year-old trades the couch for a $40,000 job out of sheer boredom, and his decision quietly sets off a chain reaction inside Social Security that most retirees never think to check.
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Jefferies (NYSE:JEF | JEF Price Prediction) reportedly estimates that average monthly viewing time per Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) member fell roughly 26%, from 66 hours in the first half of 2023 to 49 hours in the first half of 2026. That’s a lot less time watching television.
Now picture a 67-year-old retiree who’s had his fill of the couch. He misses the routine of working, the conversations with coworkers and having somewhere to be each morning. So he takes a $40,000-a-year job, not necessarily because he needs the money, but because he’s bored. The paycheck comes with a potential bonus he hadn’t considered: a bigger Social Security benefit.
His Paycheck and His Benefit Can Arrive Together
Retirees who claim Social Security early and keep working can run into the retirement earnings test. If they earn more than a yearly limit, Social Security temporarily holds back some of their benefits. At 67, our retiree has already passed the age for full benefits.
The Social Security Administration’s 2026 fact sheet, which sets out this year’s benefit and payroll figures, lists the earnings limit after full retirement age as none. That means his salary triggers no withholding at all. He could earn twice as much and get the same result. Think of it as a speed limit that goes away once you cross a certain mile marker. His paycheck and his Social Security deposit can land in the same month without either one reducing the other.
Why His Check Could Grow, and When It Won’t
Social Security bases benefits on a worker’s highest 35 years of earnings, with older years adjusted upward to reflect wage growth over time. Every year, the agency looks at new earnings from people who are already collecting. If this year’s wages beat one of the years currently counted, the new year replaces the lower one and his benefit is adjusted upward. He doesn’t have to apply for it.
Retirees most likely to benefit are those with gaps in their work history. Years spent raising children, time out of work, low pay early in a career, or fewer than 35 years on the job all leave lower or zero years in the record. Replacing a zero year with $40,000 in wages gives him the biggest boost from that new paycheck.
The increase isn’t guaranteed, though. If every year already in his top 35 beats what he earns now (after those older years are adjusted for wage growth), the job adds nothing to his benefit. Someone with a long, well-paid career may find the new salary falls short of every year it would need to replace.
Taxes That Show Up on His Return
Working at 67 still means payroll deductions. Social Security and Medicare taxes still come out of every paycheck, just as they did during his career.
The bigger surprise tends to come at tax time. To decide how much of a person’s benefits are taxable, the IRS’s guide to taxing Social Security benefits adds one-half of your benefits to all other income, including tax-exempt interest, and compares the total to a base amount set by filing status. Wages push that total higher. So he pays income tax on the paycheck, and a bigger share of his Social Security can become taxable on top of it.
For his budget, that means the job puts less in his pocket than the $40,000 figure suggests. He can request federal tax withholding from his benefit so he doesn’t face a large bill in April.
Two Things to Check Before the First Payday
First, pull up his earnings record through a my Social Security account. He should look for his lowest counted years and any zeros. If he finds some, the new job has a real chance of raising his check for life. Next year, he should also confirm the new wages were posted correctly.
Second, map out his household’s after-tax cash flow. That means take-home pay after payroll taxes, the added income tax on his benefits, and work costs like commuting. That number tells him what the job is really worth to him.
Because Social Security updates its benefit and payroll figures every year, a retiree who keeps working should review his earnings record and tax withholding annually as new wages post and the rules change.
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Jefferies Jumps to No. 1 in the 2026 Extel All-America Research Survey for Total Ranked Analysts Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE: JEF) today announced that it ranked No. 1 in the 2026 Extel All-America Research Survey (formerly Institutional Investor) for total ranked analysts, with 43 analysts recognized across sectors, more than any other firm in the survey.
Over several decades, Jefferies has built a broad global research franchise by recruiting leading professionals, developing talent and investing in data and technology across market cycles. Today, the firm covers nearly 3,900 companies across the Americas, EMEA and Asia-Pacific, while continuing to expand its presence in key markets, including Japan through its recently announced equities and ECM joint venture with SMBC. Jefferies’ research platform is complemented by one of the industry's leading equity sales and corporate access franchises, facilitating meaningful connections among analysts, investors and corporate management teams worldwide.
Jefferies scale and depth in research is matched by continued investment in research innovation. Jefferies analysts combine deep fundamental expertise with proprietary datasets, alternative data and AI-enabled tools to deliver differentiated insights across geographies, industries and market capitalizations.
Richard Handler, Jefferies’ CEO, and Brian Friedman, Jefferies’ President, stated: “We have invested for several decades in our people and our research platform because we believe great insights help clients make better decisions and excellent research is at the core of a great Wall Street firm. Today's recognition is meaningful because it comes from the investors we serve every day. We are proud of our team, grateful for our clients' trust and humbled by the responsibility that comes with it."
Michael Eastwood, Jefferies’ Head of Americas Equity Research, stated: “The strength of our platform comes from exceptional people, differentiated data and a culture of continuous development. We have both recruited leading talent and developed many of our analysts within Jefferies, and we continue to enhance their fundamental expertise with innovative datasets, AI-enabled tools and global collaboration. Together with our sales and corporate access colleagues, we work every day to help clients navigate markets, identify opportunities and connect with management teams around the world. These results reflect the dedication of our analysts and the impact of their work for clients across market cycles.”
The firm's recognition included seven No. 1-ranked analysts, six No. 2-ranked analysts, six No. 3-ranked analysts and 24 runner-up positions across industries.
In addition, Jefferies has the #1 ranked teams for:
Aerospace and DefenseBiotech (Small and Mid-cap)Clean TechInternet (Small and Mid-cap)Life Science ToolsMiningPaper & SustainabilitySoftware (Small and Mid-cap)UtilitiesAbout Jefferies Financial Group Inc.
Jefferies is one of the world’s leading full-service investment banking and capital markets firms. We primarily serve public companies, private companies and their sponsors and owners, institutional investors and government entities. Our services are enhanced by our relentless client focus, differentiated insights and a flat and nimble operating structure.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261020574592/en/
Disclosures I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and have no plans to buy any new positions in the stocks mentioned within the next 72 hours.
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE: JEF) today announced that it ranked No. 1 in the 2026 Extel All-America Research Survey (formerly Institutional Investor) for total ranked analysts, with 43 analysts recognized across sectors, more than any other firm in the survey. Over several decades, Jefferies has built a broad global research franchise by recruiting leading professionals, developing talent and investing in data and technology across market cycles. Today, the.
Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (JEF) Analyst/Investor Day October 19, 2026 9:00 AM EDT
Company Participants
Richard Handler - CEO & Director
Brian Friedman - President & Director
Matthew Larson - Executive VP & CFO
Andrea Lee
Raphael Bejarano
John Miller - Global Head of Investment Banking
Peter Forlenza - Global Head of Equities
Frederic Jallot
Nicholas Daraviras - Managing Director
Conference Call Participants
Brennan Hawken - BMO Capital Markets Equity Research
Madeleine Hines
Christoph Kotowski - Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., Research Division
Steve Fullerton
James Yaro - Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Research Division
Connell Schmitz - Morgan Stanley, Research Division
Kurt Feuerman - AllianceBernstein L.P.
Presentation
Richard Handler
CEO & Director
Okay. Good morning, everybody. Welcome to our Investor Day, Jefferies. My name is Rich Handler, the CEO. I'm going to give you a very brief overview of our company today and how we see the future, followed up by Brian, who's going to put a little more detail on it, but the lion's share of the specifics will be driven by our leadership team, which we're very proud of, and then we'll all be available for a question-and-answer afterwards.
The thing I'm hoping -- the 2 things I'm hoping that people will take away from the meeting today is something that our whole leadership team is very well aware of. First, the strength and scale and scope and capabilities of Jefferies today is something we think is incredibly unique and perhaps not fully understood. We hope to flesh that out a little bit more. And more importantly, the opportunity in the future going forward allows us with the scale and the scope, we believe, to continue to grow and invest, but also bring even more profits to the bottom line. And I think we'll talk a little bit today about how we're going to do that.
XPeng’s Top Secret AI Robotics Program Outshines EV WoesJefferies Financial Group NYSE: JEF used its Investor Day to emphasize the scale it has achieved in investment banking and capital markets, its plans to increase operating leverage and its expectation that asset management results will become more consistent following a planned Hildene transaction.
Chief Executive Officer Rich Handler said the firm has reached “critical mass” as a global investment bank, citing its geographic reach, client relationships and expanded capabilities. He said Jefferies intends to continue investing in people and technology while bringing a greater share of revenue growth to the bottom line.
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Jersey Mike's Serves Fresh Gains After IPO StumbleHandler also highlighted capital returns. He said the company repurchased 2.725 million shares in recent weeks and, during the first 10 months of calendar 2026, returned capital through dividends and buybacks approaching 11% of tangible book value. Since late 2018, Chief Financial Officer Matt Larson said, Jefferies has returned approximately $6.4 billion to shareholders and reduced fully diluted shares outstanding by about 24%.
Core businesses drive revenue and profit growth Larson said Jefferies generated $8.5 billion in net revenue, more than $935 million in net earnings and a 13.1% return on tangible equity over the trailing 12 months. Investment banking and capital markets accounted for more than 90% of current revenue, reflecting the firm’s strategy of prioritizing client-driven businesses while reducing exposure to legacy merchant banking assets.
3 Top Financial Institutions Announce Over $70 Billion in Share RepurchasesSince 2023, revenue in the Investment Banking and Capital Markets segment increased 74% to $7.8 billion, while pretax profit rose more than 150% to about $1.3 billion, Larson said. The segment’s pretax margin increased from 11% to more than 16%.
The company said it is beginning to see operating leverage from previous investments in infrastructure, technology and personnel. Adjusted non-compensation expenses in the segment increased 37% since 2023, compared with a 75% increase in adjusted net revenue. Larson said Jefferies’ adjusted non-compensation ratio declined to 24% from 30% over that period.
President Brian Friedman said the firm expects further compensation leverage as the pace of broad-based senior hiring subsides. He said Jefferies has largely completed the investment-banking recruitment cycle that expanded the platform, though it will continue targeted hiring.
Investment banking targets top-five standing Andrea Lee, co-head of global investment banking, said Jefferies has 376 investment-banking managing directors operating in more than 60 countries through offices in 24 countries. The firm ranks sixth globally in overall investment banking, fifth in global M&A and sixth in global equity capital markets, according to the presentation.
Raphael Bejarano, global head of investment banking and capital markets, said Jefferies’ transformation from a predominantly U.S. middle-market firm has been supported by recruitment, international expansion and partnerships with SMBC and MassMutual. He said the company ranks fifth globally in advisory and ECM based on publicly reported GAAP revenue.
John Miller, global head of investment banking and capital markets, outlined several areas of market-share gains:
Jefferies ranked second in private-equity sell-side assignments below $1 billion in enterprise value, with a 7.5% share. In large-cap private-equity M&A transactions above $1 billion, the firm rose to third place from eighth in 2019, with a 7.4% share. In large-cap corporate M&A, Jefferies rose to eighth from 18th since 2019. In global ECM, the firm held a 5.3% share and ranked sixth, compared with eighth place and a 2.6% share in 2019. Jefferies also said it expects to launch its Japanese equities joint venture with SMBC Nikko in January 2027. Pete Forlenza, global head of equities, said the combined business will seek to build a leading Japanese equities platform by combining SMBC Nikko’s domestic presence with Jefferies’ global distribution, research and trading technology.
Asset management transition and technology initiatives Jefferies said it is simplifying its asset-management operations around Hildene, Jefferies Credit Partners and revenue-share interests in alternative managers. Nick Daraviras, co-head of asset management, said Jefferies expects to complete its acquisition of a 50% interest in Hildene, alongside Hildene’s acquisition of SILAC, following the regulatory process.
The company plans to invest $340 million of new capital in the Hildene-SILAC transaction, funded through reductions in the Leucadia Asset Management portfolio. Daraviras said Hildene manages more than $18 billion and that Jefferies expects the business mix to produce more consistent and predictable earnings. Jefferies Credit Partners manages roughly $20 billion and raised $3.5 billion of new capital through its team, he said.
Larson also described expanding uses of artificial intelligence across the company. He said all approximately 1,900 investment-banking professionals have access to an AI operating system, while cybersecurity tools using AI have reduced mean time to resolution for incidents by more than 30%.
During the question-and-answer session, management said it expects only modest balance-sheet growth, principally to support prime brokerage, and does not intend for leverage ratios to change meaningfully. Handler said the company sees potential to reach a mid-teens return on tangible equity, while cautioning that management was not making a formal promise.
About Jefferies Financial Group (NYSE:JEF)Jefferies Financial Group Inc NYSE: JEF is a diversified financial services company that operates primarily through its investment banking and capital markets subsidiary, Jefferies LLC. The company provides advisory services for mergers and acquisitions, restructuring and other corporate transactions, along with equity and debt underwriting, securities sales and trading, research, and prime brokerage services.
Jefferies also manages and invests capital through asset management and merchant banking activities.
This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
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Pennon Group PLC (LSE:PNN, OTC:PEGRY) shares fell as much as 20% to around 360p after the water utility launched a £550 million rights issue and cut its dividend, with Jefferies describing the measures as a significant balance sheet reset.
Jefferies retained its 'hold' rating and 500p price target, saying the package strengthens Pennon’s finances and provides funding for accelerated investment but comes at the cost of a sizeable equity raise and another dividend reduction.
The rights issue will offer seven new shares for every 15 existing shares at 250p each, a 35.5% discount to the theoretical ex-rights price.
Pennon plans to increase investment across its regulated water businesses to around £3.6 billion during the current regulatory period, approximately £1 billion above its original plan, targeting regulated capital value growth of more than 40%.
The company will also rebase its annual dividend to approximately £125 million from £138 million, implying a dividend of around 18p per share and an underlying reduction of roughly 30%.
Jefferies said successful delivery still depends on execution of Pennon’s operational turnaround and regulatory approval for additional investment.
The wider funding plan includes the proposed sale of Pennon Power, with proceeds largely intended to reduce debt, while regulated business gearing is targeted at no more than 65%.
With a market cap hovering near $60 billion, Argenx SE (ARGX -1.79%) is no longer a new kid on the block in the biopharmaceutical world. However, the drugmaker still has a long way to go before becoming one of the largest healthcare companies.
Quite a few people on Wall Street believe that Argenx will make some headway on that goal in the near future, though. While the biotech stock was priced at roughly $919 as of the market close on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, 10 analysts predict that it's headed to at least $1,200 over the next 12 months.
Image source: Getty Images.
Wall Street's take on Argenx Two analysts are especially bullish about Argenx. Wells Fargo (WFC +0.25%) and UBS (UBS +0.29%) set 12-month price targets of $1,415 and $1,400, respectively, for the stock, reflecting potential gains of more than 50%.
Another two analysts are only slightly less upbeat. TD Cowen (TD +0.23%) thinks Argenx can climb to $1,353, while Citi (C +1.18%) expects the stock to rise to $1,301.
Six others also have price targets of between $1,200 and $1,300: Citizens JMP (CFG +0.99%), H.C. Wainwright, Jefferies (JEF +1.59%), Piper Sandler (PIPR -0.64%), Morgan Stanley (MS +1.22%), and Stifel Nicolaus (SF -0.09%).
Granted, some analysts aren't as enthusiastic about Argenx. Still, the average price target for the stock is around $1,182, which represents potential upside of roughly 29%. Of the 21 analysts who have rated Argenx in the past three months, all but one rated it a "buy." The sole outlier recommending holding the stock.
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What's behind the optimism? It shouldn't be surprising that most analysts are optimistic about Argenx. The company delivered $1.5 billion in global product net sales in its latest quarter, up 60% year over year and 17% quarter over quarter.
Vyvgart and Vyvgart Hytrulo are driving Argenx's growth. Both drugs are approved in the U.S. for the treatment of generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), autoimmune diseases that affect different parts of the nervous system. Vyvgart is also approved in Japan for the treatment of primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP).
More approvals for other autoimmune diseases could be on the way. In August 2026, Argenx announced positive results from a late-stage study evaluating Vyvgart Hytrulo for the treatment of adults with autoimmune myositis. The company expects to report data from two other late-stage studies next year, one targeting primary ITP and another targeting Sjogren's disease.
Argenx isn't a two-trick pony, though. Its pipeline also features empasiprubart, which is being evaluated in registrational clinical trials for the treatment of multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) and CIDP. The company is testing adimanebart as a treatment for congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS) and spinal muscular atrophy. Argenx recently completed its acquisition of Forte Biosciences, adding promising experimental autoimmune disease therapy FB102 to its quiver.
Wall Street overwhelmingly views Argenx stock as a great stock to buy right now. But are the majority of analysts right? I think so.
It's important not to ignore the potential challenges for the company, though. Argenx's success hinges on positive results from its multiple ongoing Phase 3 clinical studies. Any disappointments from those trials could cause the stock to decline. More than one clinical setback could send Argenx's shares spiraling downward.
Argenx also faces a headwind in China. Net product sales in the country plunged 62% year over year in the second quarter of 2026. Granted, China accounts for only a small percentage of Argenx's total revenue, but it remains an important long-term opportunity.
Whether or not Argenx's share price can soar 30% or more over the next 12 months, as many Wall Street analysts expect, remains to be seen. However, the risk-reward proposition for this biotech growth stock looks attractive.
Key Takeaways JEF's Japan JV will combine SMBC's domestic reach with Jefferies' global equities platform and client network.JEF's M&A and ECM market share rose more than fourfold among selected jointly covered sponsor clients. SMBC's 20% stake and the planned 2027 JV deepen the alliance and expand cross-border growth opportunities. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (JEF - Free Report) is expanding its partnership with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) with a Japan-based joint venture (JV), which is expected to begin serving clients in January 2027. As part of the broader strategic alliance, SMBC has increased its equity ownership in Jefferies to almost 20%, making it the company’s largest shareholder.
The venture will combine SMBC and SMBC Nikko’s domestic client coverage, equities, Equity Capital Markets (ECM), research and corporate access capabilities with Jefferies’ global client network, sector expertise, trading technology and capital-markets capabilities. The shared goal is to build a leading institutional Japanese equities and ECM franchise.
The partnership will strengthen Jefferies’ access to Japanese equities and ECM opportunities while helping Japanese clients tap into its global investment banking network. The venture will also jointly source and execute Japan-related cross-border mergers & acquisitions (M&A) and ECM transactions, leveraging the complementary strengths of both firms. The planned JV is also intended to scale a leading wholesale equities and equity capital markets business in Japan.
JEF’s Early Alliance Gains Support for Further ExpansionThe broader SMBC alliance is already showing commercial traction. Jefferies said joint coverage of selected large sponsor clients began in 2024, and its M&A and ECM market share for those jointly covered clients increased more than fourfold. The partners are now expanding joint coverage to larger sponsors globally, while SMBC-provided credit facilities are supporting Jefferies’ growth in targeted areas.
These early gains highlight the potential of combining SMBC’s Japanese investment banking presence and lending capabilities with Jefferies’ global advisory and capital-markets expertise. Management expects the collaboration to deepen as the partners expand their client coverage and capabilities.
JEF’s Global Platform Could Amplify Japan OpportunitiesThe JV will leverage Jefferies’ global reach and sector expertise to support Japanese companies pursuing international opportunities, while SMBC’s domestic relationships can broaden Jefferies’ access to Japanese clients. Management highlighted the overlap between the companies’ client networks as an opportunity to expand M&A, ECM and leveraged-finance activity.
The planned JV therefore provides Jefferies with a stronger local platform while extending the reach of its existing global investment banking capabilities. Management also expects the Japan JV to provide a template for other ways Jefferies and SMBC can work together globally.
Our Take on JEFThe planned Japan JV gives Jefferies a more established local platform to pursue Japanese equities, ECM and cross-border investment banking opportunities. SMBC’s increased ownership and position as Jefferies’ largest shareholder further underscore the strategic depth of the alliance. However, the venture is not expected to be launched until January 2027, making execution and the ability to convert the expanded platform into sustained transaction activity key factors to monitor.
JEF’s Peers Tap New Growth Opportunities Through ExpansionCitigroup Inc. (C - Free Report) is expanding its collaboration with Coinbase Global (COIN) to strengthen its role in stablecoin-based payments. The expanded partnership combines Coinbase’s digital-asset infrastructure with Citigroup’s virtual-account, payment, and fiat-settlement capabilities, enabling businesses to accept, hold, and pay funds while converting incoming fiat into stablecoins. Citigroup will also support institutional clients accepting stablecoin payments through Spring by Citi, with Coinbase Payments converting stablecoins into fiat and Citigroup handling settlement as the bank of record.
The expanded relationship could help Citigroup capture growth in the stablecoin payments market by extending its payments infrastructure to blockchain-based transactions without requiring merchants to directly hold or manage digital assets. With Citigroup already banking 90% of the top e-commerce companies and 15 of the world’s 20 largest fintechs, its institutional client base provides a broad potential distribution channel.
Likewise, JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM - Free Report) is expanding its cross-border payments capabilities through a partnership with Thunes, integrating Thunes’ Direct Global Network with J.P. Morgan Payments’ Xpedite Remit solutions. The collaboration will enable faster and simpler international payouts across more than 100 corridors, connecting businesses to local bank accounts and mobile wallets while providing foreign-exchange conversion and end-to-end payment traceability.
JPMorgan’s expanded payment reach could boost cross-border volumes and deepen client relationships, leveraging Thunes’ access to 12 billion accounts and wallets across 140 countries. As businesses increasingly adopt faster, digital cross-border payment channels, the partnership could expand JPMorgan’s payment volumes, client reach, and fee-based revenue opportunities.
European soft drinks value growth slowed to 4.6% in the four weeks to 6 September from 12.0% previously, as volume growth moderated sharply, Jefferies said.
Volume growth eased to 1.4% from 9.2%, while price and mix contributions increased to 3.2% from 2.8%, with the broker pointing to favourable weather as support.
Jefferies analysts Edward Mundy and Sebastian Hickman said the latest NielsenIQ data showed some normalisation across the category but maintained their positive view of European soft drinks.
The market recorded particularly strong volume growth in Italy at 8.2%, while France rose 5.4%, Great Britain's sales growth normalised to 10.4% from 20.8%, while Europe, excluding Britain, increased 3.3%, Spain edged up 0.9% and Germany declined 2.3%.
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners PLC (LSE:CCEP, NASDAQ:CCEP), the bottler of Coca-Cola products across Europe and other markets, delivered value growth of 5.7% in Great Britain's sales growth normalised to 10.4% from 20.8%, while Europe, excluding Britain, 6.1% in France, 4.9% in Spain and 0.7% in Germany.
Its Great Britain market share slipped to 49.6% from 49.9%, although Jefferies noted that the Nielsen data excludes away-from-home sales, which represent about 40% of the company's business.
The broker also highlighted continued momentum at Fevertree Drinks (AIM:FEVR), the premium mixer maker, although Great Britain sales growth normalised to 10.4% from 20.8%, while Europe excluding Britain slowed to 5.8% from 12.6%.
Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company (ASX:CHB), the European bottler, posted 8.8% value growth in Italy, while PepsiCo Inc (NASDAQ:PEP, XETRA:PEP) in Great Britain delivered 16.2% growth for Carlsberg's portfolio, down from 18.0% in the previous period.
Jefferies retained 'buy' ratings on Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, Coca-Cola Hellenic and Fever-Tree Drinks, while maintaining 'hold' on Carlsberg, and described the soft-drinks category as resilient with scope for continued compounding.
Jefferies said successful execution of Emitel’s growth strategy could deliver 60% valuation upside for the business and increase Cordiant Digital Infrastructure Ltd (LSE:CORD, FRA:86L)’s net asset value by 34%.
The broker reached the estimate after a site visit to Emitel in Kraków, describing Cordiant’s largest asset as a multi-pillar growth opportunity.
Emitel represented 56% of Cordiant’s net asset value at 31 March 2026, making its future performance particularly important to the investment company.
Jefferies reported that Emitel had already achieved a compound annual growth rate of 8.5% in EBITDAaL, which refers to earnings after lease costs, between 2022 and 2025.
Free cash flow grew at a 25.5% compound annual rate over the same period, supporting management’s plans for further expansion across several businesses.
The broadcasting operation aims to digitise its core offering, win a new multiplex known as MUX-5 and develop products including 5G broadcasting.
Emitel also plans to double its tower portfolio from 776 sites while increasing the average number of mobile network operator tenants from 1.8 times to more than 2 times.
Tower expansion could accelerate through Emitel’s existing build-to-suit pipeline with Orange and potential acquisitions from smaller operators or mobile network operators.
The company is also pursuing adjacent markets including data centres, drone infrastructure and security, airspace management, and smart-city projects.
Emitel recently entered Poland’s data centre market by acquiring DC Blonie, a 2MW Warsaw site with Kyndryl as an anchor tenant under a five-year contract.
Jefferies highlighted further upside from filling the remaining space at the site, brownfield development at other Emitel locations and potential acquisitions.
Emitel is targeting high single-digit to low double-digit annual revenue growth and low double-digit annual EBITDA growth through 2030.
Management expects EBITDAaL to exceed PLN700 million in 2030, with the strategy backed by PLN600 million of growth capital expenditure between 2026 and 2030.
Jefferies stated that operational cash flow should fund most of that investment, with debt facilities offering additional support as needed.
The broker rates Cordiant Digital Infrastructure 'buy,' with the shares at 123p against a 52-week range of 96p to 128p, while no price target was provided in the note.
SSE PLC (LSE:SSE), the UK-listed utility, remains on track with its £33 billion investment programme after reiterating earnings guidance and reporting a sharp increase in network investment, Jefferies said.
The broker retained its 'buy' rating and 3,060p price target against a reference share price of 2,491p, implying a 23% upside, after SSE reiterated its adjusted earnings per share guidance of 168p to 193p for the 2026/27 financial year.
Jefferies analysts Ahmed Farman and Arturo Murua said first-half adjusted earnings per share are expected at 64p to 68p as regulated networks become a larger contributor to group earnings, reducing the normal seasonal weighting towards the second half.
The broker said SSE’s divisional expectations were unchanged, although the guidance remains dependent on weather, market conditions and the availability of its generating assets.
Network investment is running about 70% higher year on year, driven largely by the transmission business, while renewable generation is expected to rise by about 20% due to favourable weather and additional capacity.
Jefferies highlighted progress at Dogger Bank B, where turbine installation has moved beyond halfway, with more than 47 turbines installed compared with 30 at the time of SSE’s first-quarter update.
SSE has also maintained its longer-term target of 225p to 250p in adjusted earnings per share for 2029/30, although Jefferies noted that the midpoint is about 2% below consensus.
Jefferies described the trading update as broadly in line with expectations, with audited first-half results due on 18 November 2026.
Key Takeaways Investment Banking and Equities businesses delivered record fiscal Q3 results, driving revenue growth.Investment Banking revenues rose 17%, while Equities revenues jumped 29% amid higher trading volumes.Asset Management revenues fell 52%, while Fixed Income revenues declined 26% in the quarter. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (JEF - Free Report) delivered a mixed third-quarter fiscal 2026 (ended Aug. 31) performance, with record Investment Banking and Equities results helping offset weakness in Asset Management and Fixed Income. Third-quarter net revenues rose 9% year over year to $2.22 billion, while net earnings attributable to common shareholders increased to $260.6 million from $224 million a year ago.
For the first nine months of fiscal 2026, net revenues increased 22% to $6.45 billion, while net earnings attributable to common shareholders rose 45% to $639.7 million. The results highlight the growing contribution from JEF’s transaction-driven businesses, although weakness in certain other operations remains a concern.
JEF’s Investment Banking and Equities Hit Record HighsInvestment Banking was the strongest contributor in the third quarter. Net revenues increased 17% year over year to a record $1.33 billion. Advisory revenues reached a record $817.8 million, up 25%, driven by market share gains across multiple sectors.
Equity underwriting revenues surged 69% to $305.5 million, reflecting increased activity across most sectors, while debt underwriting revenues declined 21% to $519.1 million.
Equities provided another record contribution, with third-quarter revenues jumping 29% to $626.2 million. This was driven by higher global trading volumes, particularly in cash and electronic trading, equity options, and corporate derivatives. Prime services also continued to expand.
For the nine months, Investment Banking net revenues reached a record $3.56 billion, surging 37% year over year. Advisory revenues increased 34% to $2.02 billion, while underwriting revenues increased 29% to $1.5 billion. Further, Equities revenues increased 26% to a record $1.79 billion. Consequently, combined Investment Banking and Capital Markets revenues reached a record $5.94 billion in the nine months, up 26% from a year earlier.
The strength in these businesses provides a substantial earnings cushion against weaker areas. Management also pointed to a strong Investment Banking backlog and new business activity, supporting continued momentum into the remainder of 2026.
JEF’s Asset Management and Fixed Income Remain SubduedAsset Management was the clearest weakness in the quarter. Net revenues plunged 52% from the year earlier to $85.6 million. Fees and investment return revenues fell to $33.8 million from $83.9 million, mainly due to muted performance across several fund strategies, including Point Bonita.
The weakness was less severe over the nine months. Asset Management net revenues declined 6% year over year to $493.6 million. Improved performance in several funds, particularly those with a long-equity bias, was more than offset by weaker results in other strategies, including Point Bonita.
Fixed Income added another headwind, with third-quarter revenues falling 26% to $176 million as market activity remained weak. For the nine months, Fixed Income revenues declined 15% to $594.8 million. Stronger performance in municipal securities, distressed and emerging markets was more than offset by weaker results in several other businesses, including securitized products.
Our Take on Jefferies’ PerformanceThe key question for Jefferies is whether the strength of Investment Banking and Equities can continue to absorb weakness in Asset Management and Fixed Income. The company is repositioning its Asset Management platform by reducing capital allocated to certain existing funds, while the planned sale of Tessellis and continued wind-down of legacy merchant banking investments are intended to improve the consistency and quality of its earnings.
Jefferies’ results show that record Investment Banking and Equities performance is providing meaningful support to earnings despite weakness in Asset Management and Fixed Income. The sustainability of the company’s earnings growth will therefore depend on continued strength in deal-making activity and equities, alongside improvement in the weaker businesses.
Over the past year, JEF shares have declined 24.9% compared with the industry’s 28.8% decline.
One-Year Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Currently, JEF carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
How JEF’s Peers Are Expected to Perform in Q3Continuing the trend, Jefferies’ peers, JPMorgan (JPM - Free Report) and Citigroup (C - Free Report) , are expected to report solid IB and markets revenues.
JPMorgan’s third-quarter 2026 outlook appears favorable. Management expects investment banking (IB) fees to rise in the mid-to-high teens year over year, supported by broad-based strength across products and geographies and a robust deal pipeline. Markets revenues are also projected to increase in the mid-to-high teens, driven by strength across fixed income and equities.
Citigroup’s third-quarter 2026 outlook appears relatively upbeat. Management expects Markets revenues to grow in mid-single digits year over year, supported by equities, financing and foreign exchange. Citigroup also projects IB revenues to increase in the low single digits, with further upside possible if pending transactions close before quarter-end.
Key Takeaways Jefferies posted record Q3 IB revenues of $1.33B, up 17% y/y.Advisory revenues rose 25% and equity underwriting surged 69%, reflecting stronger deal activity.Healthy backlogs support the recovery, though Q3 bank results are expected to vary. Jefferies Financial Group’s (JEF - Free Report) third-quarter fiscal 2026 results offer an encouraging early signal for Wall Street’s investment-banking (IB) businesses ahead of the earnings release from the major U.S. banks. Jefferies is closely watched as an industry bellwether because it reports ahead of most large banks and has substantial exposure to advisory and underwriting activity.
The strongest signal came from investment banking. Jefferies generated record third-quarter fiscal 2026 IB net revenues of $1.33 billion, up 17% year over year. Advisory revenues climbed 25% to a record $818 million, while equity-underwriting revenues surged 69% to $306 million.
The performance indicates that improving merger and acquisition (M&A) activity and stronger equity issuance continue to support Wall Street fee pools. Global dealmaking has already crossed $4 trillion this year as companies have become more willing to pursue strategic transactions despite periods of market volatility. Jefferies also highlighted a healthy backlog and solid new business activity, supporting optimism for the remainder of 2026 and momentum heading into 2027. Hence, JEF's large peers like JPMorgan (JPM - Free Report) , Bank of America (BAC - Free Report) , Morgan Stanley (MS - Free Report) and Citigroup (C - Free Report) are also likely to post decent IB results.
JEF Signals Healthy IB Backdrop, but Bank Results May DivergeRecent management commentary from JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup and Bank of America reinforces the view that the IB backdrop remains healthy, though fiscal third-quarter revenue growth is likely to vary significantly across firms.
JPMorgan appears to be seeing the strongest momentum. Management expects fiscal third-quarter investment-banking fees to increase year over year in the mid-to-high teens, supported by broad-based strength across products and geographies, and a robust deal pipeline. Jefferies’ record advisory quarter provides additional evidence that stronger M&A activity is translating into completed transactions and fee revenues.
Citigroup also expects investment-banking revenue growth, though at a more moderate low-single-digit pace. Strength in equity capital markets and continued corporate M&A activity should support the results, while softer sponsor activity and some moderation in debt capital markets could limit upside.
In contrast, Bank of America expects fiscal third-quarter investment-banking fees of $1.6-$1.8 billion, implying a year-over-year decline. Nevertheless, management emphasized that its pipeline remains strong, suggesting that deal timing rather than weakening underlying demand is weighing on near-term revenues.
The backdrop is also encouraging for Morgan Stanley, given its significant exposure to advisory and underwriting. Morgan Stanley entered the fiscal third quarter with strong momentum after fiscal second-quarter investment-banking revenues soared 58% year over year to $2.44 billion. Healthy pipelines and broad client dialogue could support continued activity, particularly if the stronger M&A and equity issuance trends highlighted by Jefferies persist.
Bottom LineJefferies’ fiscal third-quarter results strengthen the case that Wall Street’s investment-banking recovery remains on track. Record advisory revenues, sharply higher equity underwriting and a healthy backlog suggest corporate and sponsor activity remains supportive heading into year-end. Still, the recovery is unlikely to be uniform. We will have to wait till JPM, BAC, MS and C start reporting their third-quarter 2026 results.
JPMorgan and Citigroup are scheduled to announce third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 13, while Bank of America and Morgan Stanley are scheduled to report on Oct. 14.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
Jefferies JEF exceeded expectations in its Q3 earnings report, showcasing record performance in Investment Banking, Advisory, and Equities. However, the results highlight challenges in Fixed Income and Asset Management, suggesting a mixed overall performance.
Net revenue rose by 8.5% year-over-year to $2.22 billion, with common-share earnings increasing by 16% to $261 million. EPS improved to $1.08 from $1.01. Despite higher revenue, pre-tax earnings only grew by 5.8%, and adjusted ROTCE slightly decreased to 13.5% from 13.6%, indicating limited margin expansion. Record revenue of $1.33 billion was driven by a 25% rise in Advisory to $818 million and a 69% increase in Equity Underwriting to $306 million. However, Debt Underwriting fell by 29% to $177 million, showing that the strength was primarily in M&A and equity issuance. Equities revenue surged 29% to a record $626 million, bolstered by cash and electronic trading, derivatives, and prime-services expansion. In contrast, Fixed Income revenue dropped 26% to $176 million due to reduced industry activity, impacting Capital Markets performance. Total segment revenue fell 52% to $85.6 million, and fees and investment returns decreased to $34 million from $84 million. Jefferies cited weaker performance across several fund strategies, including Point Bonita, leading to a reduction in capital allocated to certain funds. The compensation ratio increased to 53.7% from 52.9%, with higher trading-related and technology expenses limiting operating leverage. Jefferies repurchased 1.3 million shares for $70 million in Q3 and reinstated its remaining authorization to $250 million. Management remains optimistic about the rest of 2026 and momentum heading into 2027, highlighting a strong backlog and new business activity. SMBC has raised its ownership stake to approximately 20%, and the companies anticipate their joint venture in Japanese equities and equity-capital markets will start serving clients in January 2027.Jefferies' JEF quarterly results reflect successful investments in advisory and equity underwriting, but the firm faces challenges in profitability due to subdued Fixed Income performance and weaker fund results. Management's optimistic outlook suggests potential for a strong banking quarter ahead, but deal completions will depend on financing conditions, market volatility, and geopolitical risks. Key indicators for progress will include improved ROTCE, lower expenses, stabilization in Asset Management, and the expansion of earnings capacity through the SMBC partnership.
This stock alert was generated using automated technology and GuruFocus financial data to provide readers with timely and accurate market reporting. This content was reviewed by GuruFocus editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
Disclosures I/We may personally own shares in some of the companies mentioned above. However, those positions are not material to either the company or to my/our portfolios.
Jefferies Financial Group Inc (NYSE:JEF) on Monday posted better-than-expected earnings for the third quarter.
The company posted reported quarterly earnings of $1.09 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of 93 cents per share. The company reported quarterly sales of $2.222 billion which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $2.174 billion.
“We believe the results of our third quarter demonstrate the strength and momentum of our business and are a strong foundation on which we can continue to build in future periods. We are very optimistic about the trajectory of Jefferies and our ability to achieve meaningfully higher operating margins and earnings as we complete the sale of Tessellis and continue to wind down the remainder of our legacy merchant banking investments. We are keenly focused on improving the consistency and quality of our earnings,” said Richard Handler, CEO, and Brian Friedman, President.
Jefferies Financial shares fell 1.4% to trade at $46.45 on Tuesday.
These analysts made changes to their price targets on Jefferies Financial following earnings announcement.
BMO Capital analyst Brennan Hawken maintained the stock with a Market Perform and lowered the price target from $57 to $50. Goldman Sachs analyst James Yaro maintained the stock with a Buy and cut the price target from $67 to $57. Morgan Stanley analyst Ryan Kenny maintained the stock with an Equal-Weight rating and lowered the price target from $50 to $49. Considering buying JEF stock? Here’s what analysts think:
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For the quarter ended August 2026, Jefferies (JEF - Free Report) reported revenue of $2.22 billion, up 8.5% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $1.09, compared to $1.05 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue represents a surprise of +0.43% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.21 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $1.04, the EPS surprise was +4.81%.
While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.
Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.
Here is how Jefferies performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
Net Revenues by Source- Total Asset Management Net revenues: $85.64 million versus $113.92 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -51.6% change.Net Revenues by Source- Total Investment Banking and Capital Markets Net revenues: $2.13 billion versus $2.09 billion estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +14.8% change.Net Revenues by Source- Total Asset Management Net revenues- Investment return: $20.95 million compared to the $37.86 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of -69.2% year over year.Net Revenues by Source- Total Asset Management Net revenues- Allocated net interest: $-21.44 million versus $-22.92 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +15.6% change.Net Revenues by Source- Total Capital Markets: $802.18 million versus $771.41 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +10.9% change.Net Revenues by Source- Total Capital Markets- Equities: $626.15 million versus $534.15 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +28.7% change.Net Revenues by Source- Total Capital Markets- Fixed income: $176.02 million compared to the $237.26 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of -25.6% year over year.Net Revenues by Source- Total Investment Banking- Total underwriting- Advisory: $817.82 million versus $812.93 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +24.8% change.Net Revenues by Source- Total Investment Banking- Other investment banking: $30.98 million versus $20 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -36.8% change.Net Revenues by Source- Total Investment Banking: $1.33 billion versus $1.32 billion estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +17.3% change.Net Revenues by Source- Total Investment Banking- Total underwriting- Debt underwriting: $177.07 million versus $175.05 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -29% change.Net Revenues by Source- Total Investment Banking- Total underwriting- Equity underwriting: $305.55 million compared to the $315.25 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +68.6% year over year.View all Key Company Metrics for Jefferies here>>>
Shares of Jefferies have returned -10.2% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
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Jefferies (JEF - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $1.09 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.04 per share. This compares to earnings of $1.05 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +4.81%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this investment banking and capital markets company would post earnings of $1.09 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.03, delivering a surprise of -5.5%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times.
Jefferies, which belongs to the Zacks Financial - Miscellaneous Services industry, posted revenues of $2.22 billion for the quarter ended August 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.43%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $2.05 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates three times over the last four quarters.
The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.
Jefferies shares have lost about 23.1% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 13.1%.
What's Next for Jefferies?While Jefferies has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?
There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Jefferies was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $1.00 on $2.31 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $3.73 on $8.67 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.
Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Financial - Miscellaneous Services is currently in the top 43% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
One other stock from the same industry, Triumph Financial (TFIN - Free Report) , is yet to report results for the quarter ended September 2026.
This financial holding company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.58 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +205.3%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.4% higher over the last 30 days to the current level.
Triumph Financial's revenues are expected to be $122.28 million, up 11.9% from the year-ago quarter.
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As previously announced, Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE: JEF) will host its annual Investor Day on Monday, October 19, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in Manhattan. The meeting will include management presentations from Rich Handler, our Chief Executive Officer, Brian Friedman, our President, and leaders of our major businesses, as well as an opportunity to present questions to management. To register for the event, which will be hosted both in-person and virtually, investor.
Key Takeaways Jefferies secured about $4B in capacity for its European institutional direct-lending strategy.JEF targets senior-secured loans to sponsor-backed middle-market firms across Europe and the U.K.Point Bonita faces scrutiny over Radiant World and First Brands, raising investor concerns. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (JEF - Free Report) is expanding its private credit footprint in Europe even as its Point Bonita platform faces renewed scrutiny following reported exposure of nearly $500 million to troubled iron ore trader Radiant World. The move highlights the growth opportunity in private credit while raising questions about whether Jefferies can scale the business without taking on excessive credit and reputational risks.
Jefferies Expands European Private Credit CapacityJefferies Credit Partners (JCP) announced on Sept. 9, 2026 that it had secured almost $4 billion of lending capacity for its European institutional direct-lending strategy. The inaugural European Direct Lending Fund is anchored by Allianz Global Investors, with additional commitments from the South Carolina Retirement System Investment Commission and other institutional investors. The fund has also been seeded with a diversified portfolio of recently originated European private-credit investments.
JCP launched its European direct-lending platform in late 2024 and has since deployed balance sheet capital. Including the new fund, two partnership accounts expected to close later in 2026 and balance sheet resources, Jefferies expects nearly $4 billion of near-term lending capacity for the strategy. The fund targets primarily sponsor-backed, senior-secured loans to middle-market and upper-middle-market companies across Europe and the United Kingdom.
The institutional backing is significant for Jefferies' asset-management ambitions as it provides a channel to grow fee-generating private-credit assets beyond the firm's balance sheet. The European strategy also allows Jefferies to leverage its existing sponsor and corporate relationships to source lending opportunities.
JEF’s Point Bonita Exposure Raises Risk QuestionsThe expansion comes at a time when a separate Jefferies-linked private-credit platform is dealing with significant challenges.
Point Bonita, a trade-finance platform managed through Jefferies' Leucadia Asset Management business, has already been under scrutiny following its exposure to bankrupt auto-parts supplier First Brands Group. Point Bonita had approximately $715 million of purported First Brands receivables, and Jefferies recorded a $30 million pre-tax loss related to its investment in the fund in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025.
The latest issue involves Radiant World, an iron ore trader. LAM Trade Finance Group II, a fund managed by Jefferies' Point Bonita unit, has nearly $500 million of exposure to Radiant World, its founder and a related entity. The fund has accused Radiant World of misrepresenting receivables purportedly owed by major commodity traders and is pursuing legal action over the alleged fraud. Jefferies-linked entities have secured freezing orders against Radiant World and related parties in London and Singapore. Authorities in Singapore are investigating potentially invalid invoice submissions.
The reported exposure does not necessarily translate into an equivalent loss for Jefferies. Recovery will depend on the value and validity of the underlying receivables, legal proceedings and the ability to recover assets. Still, the case adds to concerns around collateral verification, receivables quality, counterparty due diligence and concentration risk within Point Bonita's trade-finance activities.
JEF’s Investor Confidence Could Shape Private-Credit GrowthThe Point Bonita issues also create a potential investor-confidence challenge. Following the First Brands problems, Point Bonita investors requested redemptions. Payments will be spread over several quarters to allow Jefferies time to maximize portfolio recoveries and resolve First Brands-related receivables.
This matters for Jefferies because scaling private credit requires more than finding attractive lending opportunities. It also requires maintaining institutional confidence so that capital can be raised and retained through different credit cycles.
The new European fund nevertheless demonstrates that institutional demand for JEF’s private-credit capabilities remains present. The Allianz Global Investors-backed first close provides external validation of the European strategy, although the European direct-lending business is structurally different from Point Bonita's receivables-focused trade-finance activities.
However, the First Brands and Radiant World exposures highlight the importance of strong risk controls, as problems with underlying receivables can lead to financial losses, litigation, investor redemptions and reputational pressure. Jefferies has acknowledged lessons from First Brands and said it is strengthening its control regime.
The key test will be whether JEF can turn institutional demand for European private credit into sustained, fee-generating growth while maintaining rigorous underwriting, collateral verification and portfolio controls.
Over the past six months, JEF shares have gained 19.9% compared with the industry’s 6.9% growth.
6-Month Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Currently, JEF carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Restructuring Efforts by Other Financial FirmsThis week, JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM - Free Report) announced a strategic partnership with Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), with both signing a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a $20 billion investment framework across public and private markets. The partnership includes a $15 billion public equities mandate and a $5 billion private markets initiative focused on established U.S. middle-market companies, providing JPMorgan Asset Management with an opportunity to deepen its relationship with a major sovereign investor while expanding its institutional asset-management and private-markets capabilities.
JPMorgan’s broader private-capital strategy is supported by continued demand for financing, private-credit leverage and structured financing, along with significant private-equity dry powder and invested capital seeking liquidity. The partnership could support incremental recurring management and investment-related fees as capital is deployed, while JPMorgan’s integrated investment banking, markets, financing and asset-management capabilities could help deepen client relationships and capture additional private-capital activity.
Likewise, HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC - Free Report) announced the expansion of its U.S. Premier offering with wealth, health, travel and international banking services to address the evolving needs of affluent customers with international lifestyles and cross-border wealth requirements. The initiative includes digital wealth-management capabilities, self-directed brokerage services, personalized financial planning and international banking benefits, supported by HSBC’s network of 21 U.S. Wealth Centers.
HSBC’s wealth franchise is already showing momentum, with wealth balances rising 7% year over year to $1.58 trillion and wealth revenues increasing 18% to $5.5 billion in the first half of 2026. While the enhanced U.S. Premier offering could deepen affluent-client relationships and support additional wealth and fee income, HSBC’s plans to simplify its organization and exit non-strategic businesses are expected to generate approximately $2 billion in annualized savings by the end of 2026, providing additional resources for priority growth initiatives.
The upcoming report from Jefferies (JEF - Free Report) is expected to reveal quarterly earnings of $1.04 per share, indicating a decline of 1% compared to the year-ago period. Analysts forecast revenues of $2.21 billion, representing an increase of 8.1% year over year.
The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 8.1% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This reflects how the analysts covering the stock have collectively reevaluated their initial estimates during this timeframe.
Prior to a company's earnings announcement, it is crucial to consider revisions to earnings estimates. This serves as a significant indicator for predicting potential investor actions regarding the stock. Empirical research has consistently demonstrated a robust correlation between trends in earnings estimate revision and the short-term price performance of a stock.
While investors usually depend on consensus earnings and revenue estimates to assess the business performance for the quarter, delving into analysts' forecasts for certain key metrics often provides a more comprehensive understanding.
That said, let's delve into the average estimates of some Jefferies metrics that Wall Street analysts commonly model and monitor.
The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'Net Revenues by Source- Total Asset Management Net revenues' of $113.92 million. The estimate suggests a change of -35.6% year over year.
Analysts predict that the 'Net Revenues by Source- Total Investment Banking and Capital Markets Net revenues' will reach $2.09 billion. The estimate suggests a change of +12.7% year over year.
The consensus estimate for 'Net Revenues by Source- Total Asset Management Net revenues- Investment return' stands at $37.86 million. The estimate indicates a change of -44.4% from the prior-year quarter.
It is projected by analysts that the 'Net Revenues by Source- Total Capital Markets' will reach $771.41 million. The estimate suggests a change of +6.6% year over year.
According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Net Revenues by Source- Total Capital Markets- Equities' should come in at $534.15 million. The estimate indicates a change of +9.8% from the prior-year quarter.
The consensus among analysts is that 'Net Revenues by Source- Total Capital Markets- Fixed income' will reach $237.26 million. The estimate suggests a change of +0.2% year over year.
Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Net Revenues by Source- Total Investment Banking- Total underwriting- Advisory' should arrive at $812.93 million. The estimate points to a change of +24% from the year-ago quarter.
The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Net Revenues by Source- Total Investment Banking- Other investment banking' will likely reach $20.00 million. The estimate suggests a change of -59.2% year over year.
Analysts forecast 'Net Revenues by Source- Total Investment Banking' to reach $1.32 billion. The estimate points to a change of +16.6% from the year-ago quarter.
Analysts expect 'Net Revenues by Source- Total Investment Banking- Total underwriting- Debt underwriting' to come in at $175.05 million. The estimate suggests a change of -29.9% year over year.
Analysts' assessment points toward 'Net Revenues by Source- Total Investment Banking- Total underwriting- Equity underwriting' reaching $315.25 million. The estimate suggests a change of +74% year over year.
The average prediction of analysts places 'Net Revenues by Source- Total Investment Banking- Total underwriting' at $490.30 million. The estimate indicates a change of +13.8% from the prior-year quarter.
View all Key Company Metrics for Jefferies here>>>
Shares of Jefferies have experienced a change of -9.7% in the past month compared to the +1.3% move of the Zacks S&P 500 composite. With a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), JEF is expected to mirror the overall market performance in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
The market expects Jefferies (JEF - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year decline in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended August 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on September 28. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus EstimateThis investment banking and capital markets company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.04 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -1%.
Revenues are expected to be $2.21 billion, up 8.1% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 8.11% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Jefferies?For Jefferies, the Most Accurate Estimate is the same as the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that there are no recent analyst views which differ from what have been considered to derive the consensus estimate. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of 0%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.
So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Jefferies will beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Jefferies would post earnings of $1.09 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.03, delivering a surprise of -5.50%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates two times.
Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Jefferies doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:JEF – Get Free Report) has been assigned an average rating of “Hold” from the seven research firms that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and two have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $62.75.
Several research firms have issued reports on JEF. UBS Group dropped their target price on Jefferies Financial Group from $65.00 to $61.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, September 11th. Weiss Ratings cut Jefferies Financial Group from a “hold (c)” rating to a “hold (c-)” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 27th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on Jefferies Financial Group from $44.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a “buy” rating and set a $67.00 price objective on shares of Jefferies Financial Group in a report on Wednesday, September 9th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded Jefferies Financial Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday.
View Our Latest Report on JEF
Hedge Funds Weigh In On Jefferies Financial Group A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in JEF. BlackRock Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Jefferies Financial Group during the second quarter worth about $834,947,000. Eminence Capital LP lifted its position in Jefferies Financial Group by 13.5% during the fourth quarter. Eminence Capital LP now owns 3,812,615 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $236,268,000 after purchasing an additional 454,054 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Jefferies Financial Group by 0.8% during the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 2,942,554 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $182,390,000 after purchasing an additional 24,171 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its stake in Jefferies Financial Group by 2.2% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 2,666,097 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $110,015,000 after buying an additional 58,585 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC purchased a new position in Jefferies Financial Group in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $127,242,000. 60.88% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Jefferies Financial Group Price Performance Jefferies Financial Group stock opened at $47.85 on Friday. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $53.99 and its 200 day simple moving average is $50.72. Jefferies Financial Group has a 12 month low of $35.53 and a 12 month high of $71.04. The company has a market cap of $9.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.37 and a beta of 1.52. The company has a current ratio of 0.98, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.99.
Jefferies Financial Group (NYSE:JEF – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, June 24th. The financial services provider reported $1.02 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.16 by ($0.14). Jefferies Financial Group had a net margin of 7.58% and a return on equity of 9.23%. The firm had revenue of $2.21 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.30 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.40 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 35.0% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts forecast that Jefferies Financial Group will post 3.97 EPS for the current year.
Jefferies Financial Group Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 28th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, August 18th were issued a $0.40 dividend. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, August 18th. Jefferies Financial Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 44.69%.
Jefferies Financial Group declared that its Board of Directors has approved a stock buyback plan on Wednesday, June 24th that permits the company to repurchase $250.00 million in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the financial services provider to repurchase up to 2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are often an indication that the company’s board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.
Jefferies Financial Group News Roundup Here are the key news stories impacting Jefferies Financial Group this week:
Positive Sentiment: Oppenheimer maintained an Outperform rating and said Jefferies could benefit from a revival in mergers and acquisitions, although it lowered its price target to $76 from $83. A stronger M&A environment could support Jefferies’ investment-banking revenue. Jefferies Financial Group Seen Benefiting From M&A Revival Positive Sentiment: Jefferies is serving as a joint book-running manager for Electra Therapeutics’ upsized $350 million IPO. The mandate highlights continued equity-capital-markets activity and could generate underwriting fees, though the financial impact on JEF is likely modest. Electra Therapeutics IPO Jefferies Financial Group Company Profile (Get Free Report)
Jefferies Financial Group Inc (NYSE:JEF) is a diversified financial services company that provides investment banking, capital markets, asset management and wealth management services. Its principal operating business, Jefferies, advises companies, governments and institutional investors on mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, restructuring and other strategic transactions.
Through its investment banking and securities operations, Jefferies offers equity and fixed-income underwriting, sales and trading, research, prime brokerage and related services.
See Also Five stocks we like better than Jefferies Financial Group NVIDIA Just Named AI’s Next Bottleneck—And These 3 Stocks Sit Right In It Gold Has Gone Sideways, But These 3 Stocks Haven’t The AI Bottleneck Is Not Chips Anymore and 3 Pipeline Stocks Are Cashing In These 3 Stocks Under $20 Have Wall Street Looking Past the Share Price
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Nykredit A S purchased a new position in shares of Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:JEF – Free Report) during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm purchased 629,669 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $31,471,000. Nykredit A S owned approximately 0.33% of Jefferies Financial Group as of its most recent SEC filing.
Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. CX Institutional boosted its stake in Jefferies Financial Group by 77.6% in the 2nd quarter. CX Institutional now owns 547 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 239 shares during the period. Greenleaf Trust lifted its stake in Jefferies Financial Group by 5.3% in the 2nd quarter. Greenleaf Trust now owns 6,347 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $317,000 after acquiring an additional 322 shares in the last quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV boosted its position in Jefferies Financial Group by 10.8% during the 4th quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV now owns 3,438 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $213,000 after acquiring an additional 336 shares during the last quarter. KBC Group NV boosted its position in Jefferies Financial Group by 0.4% during the 1st quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 95,294 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $3,933,000 after acquiring an additional 349 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Smithfield Trust Co acquired a new position in Jefferies Financial Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 60.88% of the company’s stock.
Jefferies Financial Group Trading Down 0.0% JEF stock opened at $47.85 on Friday. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. has a one year low of $35.53 and a one year high of $71.04. The stock has a market cap of $9.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.37 and a beta of 1.52. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $53.99 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $50.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.99, a current ratio of 0.98 and a quick ratio of 0.98.
Jefferies Financial Group (NYSE:JEF – Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, June 24th. The financial services provider reported $1.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.16 by ($0.14). Jefferies Financial Group had a return on equity of 9.23% and a net margin of 7.58%.The company had revenue of $2.21 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.30 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.40 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 35.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts anticipate that Jefferies Financial Group Inc. will post 3.68 EPS for the current year. Jefferies Financial Group Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 28th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, August 18th were given a $0.40 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, August 18th. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.3%. Jefferies Financial Group’s dividend payout ratio is presently 44.69%.
Jefferies Financial Group declared that its board has authorized a stock repurchase program on Wednesday, June 24th that permits the company to buyback $250.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the financial services provider to reacquire up to 2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are often a sign that the company’s board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth JEF has been the topic of several recent research reports. Weiss Ratings lowered shares of Jefferies Financial Group from a “hold (c)” rating to a “hold (c-)” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 27th. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on shares of Jefferies Financial Group from $44.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a “buy” rating and issued a $67.00 price objective on shares of Jefferies Financial Group in a report on Wednesday, September 9th. UBS Group dropped their target price on Jefferies Financial Group from $65.00 to $61.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, September 11th. Finally, Capital One Financial set a $57.00 price target on Jefferies Financial Group in a research report on Friday, September 11th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Jefferies Financial Group currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $62.75.
Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Jefferies Financial Group
Here are the key news stories impacting Jefferies Financial Group this week:
Positive Sentiment: Oppenheimer maintained an Outperform rating and said Jefferies could benefit from a revival in mergers and acquisitions, although it lowered its price target to $76 from $83. A stronger M&A environment could support Jefferies’ investment-banking revenue. Jefferies Financial Group Seen Benefiting From M&A Revival Positive Sentiment: Jefferies is serving as a joint book-running manager for Electra Therapeutics’ upsized $350 million IPO. The mandate highlights continued equity-capital-markets activity and could generate underwriting fees, though the financial impact on JEF is likely modest. Electra Therapeutics IPO About Jefferies Financial Group (Free Report)
Jefferies Financial Group Inc (NYSE:JEF) is a diversified financial services company that provides investment banking, capital markets, asset management and wealth management services. Its principal operating business, Jefferies, advises companies, governments and institutional investors on mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, restructuring and other strategic transactions.
Through its investment banking and securities operations, Jefferies offers equity and fixed-income underwriting, sales and trading, research, prime brokerage and related services.
See Also Five stocks we like better than Jefferies Financial Group J.B. Hunt’s Stock Plunges After Market Misprices Profit Warning 2 Stocks Breaking Out Post-FOMC With One Thing in Common Lennar’s Q3 Miss Hides a Stronger Operating Story Beneath the Housing Slump These 3 Stocks Are Drawing Insider Buyers for Very Different Reasons Want to see what other hedge funds are holding JEF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:JEF – Free Report).
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Over the last four years, the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution has reshaped Wall Street. Providing software and systems with the tools to make autonomous, split-second decisions is a multitrillion-dollar global opportunity, and investors want their piece of the pie.
While most Wall Street analysts are overwhelmingly bullish regarding the AI infrastructure build-out, optimism isn't universal. According to select analysts, two of the most widely owned AI stocks, Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) (SPCX +2.60%) and Palantir Technologies (PLTR +1.09%), can plunge 48% and 54%, respectively, over the next year.
Image source: Getty Images.
SpaceX: Implied downside of 48%Considering that Elon Musk's space infrastructure and AI conglomerate had 21 underwriters, all of which received shares, it's not surprising that buy ratings outpace sell ratings by a substantial sum. Nevertheless, analyst Glenn Thum of Phillip Securities slapped a sell rating and a $75 price target on shares of SpaceX.
Thum's low-water price target for Space Exploration Technologies primarily concerns its AI-driven operations. Although SpaceX's mile-long prospectus assigned a $28.5 trillion addressable market to AI, Thum notes that this segment's otherworldly spending and steep losses aren't yet worthy of a valuation premium.
— App Economy Insights (@EconomyApp) August 4, 2026 Additionally, Thum's research note cautions that SpaceX's major compute deals with Alphabet (GOOGL +1.30%)(GOOG +1.27%) and Anthropic will expire in late 2029 and can be terminated by either party after this year with 90 days' notice. In other words, xAI's long-term growth and profitability are far from assured.
Don't overlook SpaceX's staggered and accelerated share-unlock period, either. Whereas most initial public offerings prohibit insiders from selling shares for 180 calendar days post-debut, early-release-eligible SpaceX insiders can sell some of their shares to retail investors at several earnings- and time-based events. The steady increase in the company's float would be expected to weigh on its share price through at least mid-December.
Image source: Getty Images.
Palantir Technologies: Implied downside of 54%The other game-changing AI stock that can plunge, according to at least one Wall Street analyst, is AI-driven software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider Palantir Technologies.
Jefferies (JEF +1.10%) analyst Brent Thill raised his firm's price target on Palantir in early August from $70 to $80. The problem is that Palantir shares ended the Sept. 15 trading session at $172.56, implying 54% downside from Thill's call.
Thill's primary issue with Palantir is a common theme among Palantir skeptics: its valuation.
On the one hand, Palantir brings clearly defined competitive advantages to the table. Its Gotham SaaS platform has no large-scale competitors and assists the U.S. government and its allies in planning and overseeing military operations. This contract gravy train has allowed Palantir CEO Alex Karp to raise full-year sales guidance every quarter.
PLTR PS Ratio data by YCharts
On the flipside, history shows that price-to-sales (P/S) ratios above 30 aren't sustainable for companies at the forefront of innovative trends. Palantir entered 2026 with a P/S ratio above 100, and even with its outsize revenue growth is still sporting a trailing 12-month P/S ratio of 72. This is indicative of a bubble.
While Gotham's multiyear contracts would temporarily buoy Palantir if an AI bubble were to form and burst, the company's stratospheric valuation would make it a prime target during a bubble-bursting event.
Sean Williams has positions in Alphabet. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Jefferies Financial Group, and Palantir Technologies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:JEF) will release its third-quarter earnings report after the closing bell on Monday, Sept. 28.
Analysts expect the New York-based company to report quarterly earnings of $1.00 per share, down from $1.01 per share in the year-ago period. The consensus estimate for JEF’s quarterly revenue is $2.2 billion. It reported $2.05 billion last year, according to Benzinga Pro.
On June 24, Jefferies Financial Group reported worse-than-expected second-quarter financial results.
Jefferies Financial shares rose 1.1% to close at $47.87 on Thursday.
Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the Analyst Stock Ratings page. Readers can sort by stock ticker, company name, analyst firm, rating change or other variables.
Let’s have a look at how Benzinga’s most-accurate analysts have rated the company in the recent period.
UBS analyst Michael Brown maintained a Neutral rating and cut the price target from $65 to $61 on Sept. 11, 2026. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 59%. BMO Capital analyst Brennan Hawken maintained a Market Perform rating and slashed the price target from $60 to $57 on Sept. 11, 2026. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 72%. Oppenheimer analyst Chris Kotowski maintained an Outperform rating and cut the price target from $87 to $83 on June 25, 2026. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 82%. Morgan Stanley analyst Ryan Kenny maintained an Equal-Weight rating and increased the price target from $44 to $50 on June 9, 2026. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 51%. Goldman Sachs analyst James Yaro maintained a Buy rating and raised the price target from $47 to $54 on April 14, 2026. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 65%. Considering buying JEF stock? Here’s what analysts think:
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NewEdge Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:JEF – Free Report) by 77.3% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 68,577 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after buying an additional 29,899 shares during the period. NewEdge Advisors LLC’s holdings in Jefferies Financial Group were worth $3,427,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. BlackRock Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Jefferies Financial Group in the second quarter valued at approximately $834,947,000. Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC acquired a new stake in Jefferies Financial Group during the 2nd quarter worth about $127,242,000. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Jefferies Financial Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $145,584,000. Bamco Inc. NY acquired a new position in Jefferies Financial Group in the 2nd quarter worth about $107,044,000. Finally, Freestone Grove Partners LP acquired a new stake in shares of Jefferies Financial Group in the second quarter worth about $79,537,000. 60.88% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Loop Capital set a $60.00 price objective on shares of Jefferies Financial Group in a research note on Monday, June 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a “buy” rating and issued a $67.00 target price on shares of Jefferies Financial Group in a research note on Wednesday, September 9th. Oppenheimer decreased their price target on shares of Jefferies Financial Group from $87.00 to $83.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, June 25th. UBS Group decreased their price target on Jefferies Financial Group from $65.00 to $61.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, September 11th. Finally, Weiss Ratings cut shares of Jefferies Financial Group from a “hold (c)” rating to a “hold (c-)” rating in a report on Thursday, August 27th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $63.62.
View Our Latest Stock Report on Jefferies Financial Group Key Stories Impacting Jefferies Financial Group Here are the key news stories impacting Jefferies Financial Group this week:
Positive Sentiment: Jefferies announced that it will release third-quarter financial results after the market closes on September 28, 2026. The scheduled report provides a clear catalyst and could support the shares if deal activity and trading performance show continued improvement. Jefferies third-quarter earnings release announcement Neutral Sentiment: Jefferies analysts remain active across Indian equities, including positive views on Groww and HDFC Bank and a negative view on BSE. These reports highlight the strength of Jefferies’ research and brokerage franchise, but they are analyst calls on other companies rather than direct financial updates for JEF. Jefferies analyst views on HDFC Bank and other stocks Neutral Sentiment: Jefferies economist forecasts include a potential Federal Reserve rate cut in December. Changes in interest-rate expectations can influence capital-markets activity and financing demand, but the immediate effect on JEF is uncertain. Jefferies Federal Reserve rate outlook Negative Sentiment: Jefferies’ most recent reported quarter fell short of consensus, with earnings per share of $1.02 versus the $1.16 estimate and revenue of $2.21 billion versus $2.30 billion expected. Although revenue increased 35% year over year, the earnings miss has likely weighed on sentiment ahead of the next report. Jefferies Financial Group Trading Down 2.5% JEF opened at $48.84 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $9.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.64 and a beta of 1.52. The company has a current ratio of 0.98, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.99. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. has a 12 month low of $35.53 and a 12 month high of $71.04. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $54.24 and its 200 day simple moving average is $50.69.
Jefferies Financial Group (NYSE:JEF – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, June 24th. The financial services provider reported $1.02 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.16 by ($0.14). Jefferies Financial Group had a net margin of 7.58% and a return on equity of 9.23%. The firm had revenue of $2.21 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.30 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.40 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 35.0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Jefferies Financial Group Inc. will post 3.68 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Jefferies Financial Group Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 28th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, August 18th were issued a dividend of $0.40 per share. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, August 18th. Jefferies Financial Group’s payout ratio is presently 44.69%.
Jefferies Financial Group declared that its Board of Directors has approved a stock buyback program on Wednesday, June 24th that authorizes the company to buyback $250.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the financial services provider to repurchase up to 2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are generally a sign that the company’s management believes its shares are undervalued.
Jefferies Financial Group Company Profile (Free Report)
Jefferies Financial Group Inc (NYSE:JEF) is a diversified financial services company that provides investment banking, capital markets, asset management and wealth management services. Its principal operating business, Jefferies, advises companies, governments and institutional investors on mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, restructuring and other strategic transactions.
Through its investment banking and securities operations, Jefferies offers equity and fixed-income underwriting, sales and trading, research, prime brokerage and related services.
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Jefferies Financial Group Inc (JEF) Shares Fall 3.6% -- What GF Score of 91 Tells Investors
On September 14, 2026, Jefferies Financial Group Inc JEF shares fell 3.6%, currently trading at $50.10. The stock has seen significant volatility, with a 52-week range of $35.53 to $71.04.
GF Value™ verdict indicates that shares are trading at a 13.9% discount to the estimated fair value of $58.21. With a GF Score™ of 91/100, the stock is rated as strong, suggesting solid fundamentals. Notably, insider activity over the past year shows $628.7M in net buying, with no sales, indicating strong confidence from company executives. Is JEF Overvalued or Undervalued? Currently, Jefferies Financial Group Inc JEF trades at a price of $50.10, which is significantly below its GF Value™ estimate of $58.21. This suggests that the stock is undervalued by approximately 13.9%, presenting a potential opportunity for investors. The GF Value™ is GuruFocus' proprietary estimate of a stock's intrinsic value, calculated using historical trading multiples, business growth patterns, and future performance projections. A margin of safety exists here, as the current price offers a cushion against any unforeseen market fluctuations or negative developments.
However, while the undervaluation presents an attractive entry point for potential investors, it’s essential to consider the broader market context and potential risks associated with investing in a financial services firm that has experienced a year-to-date decline of 17.3%. Therefore, while the stock appears to be a bargain based on the GF Value™, investors should remain cautious and conduct thorough due diligence.
How Does JEF's Valuation Compare to Its History? Metric Current Historical P/E (TTM) 14.0x 17.6x Forward P/E 11.3x N/A JEF's current P/E ratio of 14.0x is considerably lower than its 5-year median of 17.6x, indicating that the stock is trading at a discount to its historical valuation. The forward P/E of 11.3x further underscores this trend of undervaluation, aligning with the GF Value™ conclusion that the stock is moderately undervalued. This P/E analysis reinforces the opportunity presented by Jefferies' stock, suggesting it may be an attractive option for value-focused investors.
What Does JEF's GF Score™ Tell Us? The GF Score™ is a comprehensive measure that evaluates a company's financial strength, profitability, growth potential, valuation, and momentum. Jefferies Financial Group boasts a robust GF Score™ of 91/100, indicating strong overall fundamentals. The strongest sub-ranks are in the Profitability and Growth categories, both scoring 9/10, while the weakest area is Financial Strength, rated at 4/10.
Metric Rating GF Score™ 91/100 Financial Strength 4/10 Profitability 9/10 Growth 9/10 Valuation 10/10 Momentum 8/10 This strong performance in profitability and growth suggests that Jefferies has solid earnings capabilities and the potential for future expansion. However, the lower financial strength rating may indicate some vulnerabilities in its balance sheet or liquidity position, which should be monitored closely by investors.
What Are Gurus and Insiders Doing with JEF? Currently, 11 gurus hold positions in Jefferies Financial Group, with 2 adding to their stakes and 7 trimming their positions in recent quarters. This activity highlights a mixed sentiment among institutional investors, which can be an important indicator of potential future performance.
Moreover, the significant insider buying of $628.7M over the past year without any sales indicates a strong belief in the company's future prospects by its executives. This level of insider confidence can signal to investors that the company's management is optimistic about its growth and performance going forward.
What This Means for Investors Based on the GF Value™ assessment, Jefferies Financial Group Inc JEF appears to be undervalued at its current price of $50.10, with a fair value estimate of $58.21. The substantial insider buying and strong GF Score™ further support the argument for potential upside. However, investors should remain mindful of the market conditions and the company's financial strength metrics when considering their investment decisions.
For more detailed insights, visit the Jefferies Financial Group Inc JEF stock page for a comprehensive analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions What is JEF's GF Score™?
JEF has a GF Score™ of 91/100, indicating strong fundamentals and potential for growth.
Is JEF overvalued or undervalued?
According to the GF Value™ verdict, JEF is undervalued, trading at a 13.9% discount to its estimated fair value.
What is JEF's P/E ratio?
JEF's P/E (TTM) is 14.0x, which is below its 5-year median of 17.6x, indicating it is trading at a discount compared to its historical valuation.
This stock alert was generated using automated technology and GuruFocus financial data to provide readers with timely and accurate market reporting. This content was reviewed by GuruFocus editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
Disclosures I/We may personally own shares in some of the companies mentioned above. However, those positions are not material to either the company or to my/our portfolios.
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE: JEF) today announced it will release its third quarter financial results on Monday, September 28, 2026 after market close. About Jefferies Jefferies (NYSE: JEF) is one of the world's leading full-service investment banking and capital markets firms. We primarily serve public companies, private companies, and their sponsors and owners, institutional investors, and government entities. Our services are enhanced by our relentless cli.
Amundi lifted its holdings in Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:JEF – Free Report) by 378.7% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 228,236 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after buying an additional 180,553 shares during the quarter. Amundi owned approximately 0.12% of Jefferies Financial Group worth $11,407,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.
Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Smithfield Trust Co purchased a new position in Jefferies Financial Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. CX Institutional raised its position in shares of Jefferies Financial Group by 77.6% in the second quarter. CX Institutional now owns 547 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 239 shares during the period. Elyxium Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Jefferies Financial Group in the fourth quarter worth $28,000. Ramirez Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Jefferies Financial Group in the fourth quarter worth $31,000. Finally, Basecamp Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in Jefferies Financial Group by 665.4% during the 1st quarter. Basecamp Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 796 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 692 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 60.88% of the company’s stock.
Key Headlines Impacting Jefferies Financial Group Here are the key news stories impacting Jefferies Financial Group this week:
Positive Sentiment: A Jefferies-linked fund obtained an asset-freezing order against Radiant World, potentially helping preserve assets tied to reported exposure of nearly $500 million. This may improve recovery prospects, although the situation remains unresolved. Jefferies fund wins Singapore asset freeze against Radiant World Neutral Sentiment: Jefferies is reportedly winding down its outsourced fixed-income trading business. The move could reduce operational and counterparty risk, but it may also limit revenue opportunities and signal a strategic pullback. Jefferies to Wind Down Outsourced Fixed-Income Trading Business Neutral Sentiment: Jefferies continues to promote investor meetings and publish bullish research on companies including LG Electronics India, Adani Enterprises and Vodafone Idea. These activities support its investment-banking and research franchise, but are unlikely to materially change near-term earnings expectations for JEF. LG Electronics India in Jefferies’ pole position Negative Sentiment: UBS lowered its price target on JEF from $65 to $61 and maintained a Neutral rating, while BMO cut its target from $60 to $57 and retained a Market Perform rating. The revisions suggest more cautious views on valuation and earnings prospects. Jefferies’ latest quarterly results also missed consensus estimates for earnings and revenue, adding pressure to sentiment. Negative Sentiment: Reports that a Jefferies-linked trade-finance fund had substantial Radiant World exposure have renewed concerns about potential credit losses, legal costs and reputational risk for the broader group. Jefferies-linked fund faces reported Radiant exposure Jefferies Financial Group Stock Down 3.6% NYSE:JEF opened at $51.98 on Friday. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. has a twelve month low of $35.53 and a twelve month high of $71.04. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.52 and a beta of 1.52. The company has a quick ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.99. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $54.42 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $50.70. Jefferies Financial Group (NYSE:JEF – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, June 24th. The financial services provider reported $1.02 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.16 by ($0.14). Jefferies Financial Group had a net margin of 7.58% and a return on equity of 9.23%. The company had revenue of $2.21 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.30 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.40 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 35.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts expect that Jefferies Financial Group Inc. will post 3.71 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Jefferies Financial Group announced that its Board of Directors has approved a stock repurchase program on Wednesday, June 24th that authorizes the company to repurchase $250.00 million in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the financial services provider to purchase up to 2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are typically an indication that the company’s leadership believes its stock is undervalued.
Jefferies Financial Group Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 28th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, August 18th were given a dividend of $0.40 per share. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.1%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, August 18th. Jefferies Financial Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 44.69%.
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Capital One Financial set a $57.00 price objective on Jefferies Financial Group in a report on Friday. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a “buy” rating and set a $67.00 target price on shares of Jefferies Financial Group in a report on Wednesday. Oppenheimer dropped their target price on shares of Jefferies Financial Group from $87.00 to $83.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, June 25th. Weiss Ratings downgraded Jefferies Financial Group from a “hold (c)” rating to a “hold (c-)” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 27th. Finally, Loop Capital set a $60.00 price objective on shares of Jefferies Financial Group in a research report on Monday, June 8th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $63.62.
Get Our Latest Stock Report on JEF
Jefferies Financial Group Company Profile (Free Report)
Jefferies Financial Group Inc (NYSE:JEF) is a diversified financial services company that provides investment banking, capital markets, asset management and wealth management services. Its principal operating business, Jefferies, advises companies, governments and institutional investors on mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, restructuring and other strategic transactions.
Through its investment banking and securities operations, Jefferies offers equity and fixed-income underwriting, sales and trading, research, prime brokerage and related services.
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The Treasury’s bond buybacks were supposed to be a routine liquidity operation. On Wall Street, they have become something more contested. The debate: whether Washington is quietly easing fiscal pressure or building in costs for future bondholders.
Key Takeaways:
The Treasury doubled its bond-buyback size after the 30-year yield hit a 20-year high in August.
Wall Street strategists disagree on whether the buybacks ease fiscal strain or mask future costs.
Thornburg’s TPLS and TMB actively adjust to interest-rate and debt-supply shifts in the bond market.
On August 19, the Treasury said it would at least double a program that buys back older, less-traded government bonds. The new target: $4 billion in purchases of 10-to-30-year debt per operation, according to Thornburg Investment Management
The 30-year Treasury yield had just climbed to 5.34%, its highest level in nearly 20 years, Thornburg noted.
See more: Treasury’s Dollar Moves Could Lift International ETFs
Officially, the purchases are meant to smooth trading in older, less liquid securities, not to manage rates, Thornburg noted. Strategists across Wall Street read the timing differently. That disagreement shapes how bond investors might approach what comes next.
David Zervos, chief market strategist at Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (JEF), sees the buybacks working like a mild stimulus, according to Thornburg. Many older Treasurys with low coupons trade at 50, 60, or 70 cents on the dollar.
Buying back $100 of face-value debt for roughly $60 lets Treasury retire that principal for far less cash, Thornburg noted. That frees up room on the Treasury’s balance sheet, potentially making it easier to expand spending at the margin.
But retiring a discounted bond is not free money, Thornburg cautioned. Funding the purchase with new debt at higher yields can make the apparent improvement in the Treasury’s finances look better than it really is.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) strategists take a more skeptical view, according to Thornburg. If investors expect the Treasury to step in whenever yields become uncomfortable, that predictability erodes. Long-term bondholders may then demand higher yields to compensate.
Buybacks and the Bigger Debt Picture
Macquarie Group Limited pushes back against a popular “doom loop” narrative, according to Thornburg. In that narrative, rising debt drives higher interest costs, more borrowing and eventually runaway yields.
U.S. debt relative to GDP has stayed near 3.4 times output for more than a decade, Thornburg said. Macquarie argues that strong corporate and household balance sheets offset the weaker federal one.
Thornburg’s own read lands between those views. Making the government’s short-term borrowing more expensive does more fiscal damage than a small dip in long-bond yields. That’s the view of Brian McMahon, Thornburg’s portfolio manager and chief investment strategist.
Thornburg runs two active bond ETFs built to navigate that kind of distortion. The Thornburg Core Plus Bond ETF (TPLS) holds $14.76 million in assets, according to Thornburg. Its 30-day SEC yield, a gauge of recent income, stood at 4.5% as of August 31.
Lon Erickson and Christian Hoffmann manage the fund, per Thornburg. It benchmarks against the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Index and carries a 0.45% expense ratio.
Its larger sibling, the Thornburg Multi Sector Bond ETF (TMB), holds $258.8 million in assets, Thornburg data shows. Its 30-day SEC yield stood at 4.6% as of August 31.
The fund charges a 0.55% expense ratio, Thornburg figures show. Lon Erickson, Christian Hoffmann and Ali Hassan manage the fund, which benchmarks against the Bloomberg U.S. Universal Index.
A day after the Treasury’s buyback announcement pushed long yields lower, Thornburg noted, much of that decline reversed. Investors turned back to worries about inflation, deficits, and the sheer supply of government debt still coming to market. That kind of reversal is exactly what active managers watch for.
For more news, information, and strategy, visit our Portfolio Strategies Content Hub.
NEW YORK & LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jefferies Credit Partners (“JCP”), a leading private credit manager and the asset management division of Jefferies Finance LLC (“Jefferies Finance”), announced approximately $4 billion lending capacity for its European institutional direct lending strategy. The flagship fund related to this strategy is anchored by commitments from Allianz Global Investors, with investments from South Carolina Retirement System Investment Commission and other institutional inv.
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE: JEF) (“Jefferies”) will host its annual Investor Meeting on Monday, October 19, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in Manhattan. The meeting will include management presentations regarding Jefferies’ major businesses, as well as an opportunity to present questions to management. Registration details to be announced.
About Jefferies Financial Group Inc.
Jefferies is one of the world’s leading full-service investment banking and capital markets firms. We primarily serve public companies, private companies, and their sponsors and owners, institutional investors, and government entities. Our services are enhanced by our relentless client focus, our differentiated insights and a flat and nimble operating structure.
LAM Trade Finance Group II, in which U.S. bank Jefferies (JEF.N) holds a minority stake, is set to sue iron ore trader Radiant World in London, according to court records.
Radiant World has come under pressure in recent weeks due to concerns that invoices provided to its banks may not have been valid. The firm has strongly denied the allegations, which have prompted some counterparties and lenders to halt or restrict business with it.
LAM Trade Finance Group II filed a pre-action application with London's High Court on August 27, court records show. The nature of the application or what it sought was not clear from the court file, which contained no publicly available documents.
As well as Radiant World, its founder Pinkesh Nahar, Sapphire Minmetals Corp - another trading firm that used to be part of Radiant World - and Sapphire Minmetals Chairman Rakesh Sethi were named as defendants in the filing. No further information was available.
The CEO of commodity trader Glencore (GLEN.L), Gary Nagle, said last month the company considered Radiant World and Sapphire Minmetals to be part of the same group, although Sethi has denied this is the case.
Radiant World, Jefferies and Sethi did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Wednesday. Nahar could not immediately be reached for comment.
Jefferies was told that some of the invoices underpinning its financing to Sapphire Minmetals were not genuine, Bloomberg News reported last month.
The London High Court filing marks the first litigation in Britain in the Radiant World saga.
Mizuho Bank, the banking unit of Mizuho Financial Group (8411.T), has filed a case against the Singapore operating entity of Radiant World, according to the website of Singapore's Supreme Court.
Another creditor, trade-finance firm Incomlend, is suing Radiant World and Nahar in Singapore for $34 million, Bloomberg News reported last month.
Bank of Nova Scotia acquired a new stake in shares of Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:JEF – Free Report) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund acquired 70,203 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $3,509,000.
Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. BlackRock Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Jefferies Financial Group during the second quarter valued at approximately $834,947,000. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. lifted its position in Jefferies Financial Group by 422.0% in the 4th quarter. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. now owns 3,972,352 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $246,167,000 after acquiring an additional 3,211,375 shares in the last quarter. Eminence Capital LP boosted its stake in Jefferies Financial Group by 13.5% during the 4th quarter. Eminence Capital LP now owns 3,812,615 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $236,268,000 after purchasing an additional 454,054 shares during the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in Jefferies Financial Group by 696.8% during the 4th quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 3,412,301 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $211,460,000 after purchasing an additional 2,984,055 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Jefferies Financial Group by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 2,942,554 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $182,390,000 after purchasing an additional 24,171 shares in the last quarter. 60.88% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In JEF has been the subject of several research analyst reports. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on Jefferies Financial Group from $42.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a report on Monday, June 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Jefferies Financial Group in a report on Friday, June 5th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Jefferies Financial Group from $44.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 9th. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Jefferies Financial Group from a “hold (c-)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 12th. Finally, Oppenheimer lowered their price objective on shares of Jefferies Financial Group from $87.00 to $83.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, June 25th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $62.62.
Get Our Latest Stock Report on JEF Jefferies Financial Group Stock Up 1.3% NYSE JEF opened at $52.56 on Wednesday. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. has a 52 week low of $35.53 and a 52 week high of $71.04. The company has a quick ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.99. The company has a market capitalization of $10.18 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.68 and a beta of 1.54. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $54.95 and its 200-day moving average price is $50.84.
Jefferies Financial Group (NYSE:JEF – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, June 24th. The financial services provider reported $1.02 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.16 by ($0.14). Jefferies Financial Group had a net margin of 7.58% and a return on equity of 9.23%. The firm had revenue of $2.21 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.30 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.40 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 35.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts predict that Jefferies Financial Group Inc. will post 3.71 earnings per share for the current year.
Jefferies Financial Group Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 28th. Investors of record on Tuesday, August 18th will be issued a $0.40 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, August 18th. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.0%. Jefferies Financial Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 44.69%.
Jefferies Financial Group declared that its board has approved a stock buyback program on Wednesday, June 24th that authorizes the company to repurchase $250.00 million in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the financial services provider to buy up to 2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are usually an indication that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued.
(Free Report)
Jefferies Financial Group Inc is a diversified financial services company that provides a range of investment banking, capital markets and asset management services to corporations, governments and institutional investors worldwide. Through its core platform, Jefferies offers advisory services for mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity underwriting, restructuring and recapitalization. The firm also operates a global sales and trading business covering equities, fixed income and foreign exchange products, complemented by equity research and macroeconomic analysis.
In addition to its capital markets franchise, Jefferies maintains a growing asset management division that delivers customized investment solutions across public and private markets.
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Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC bought a new stake in Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:JEF – Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund bought 2,545,859 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $127,242,000. Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC owned 1.31% of Jefferies Financial Group as of its most recent SEC filing.
A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of JEF. BlackRock Inc. acquired a new position in Jefferies Financial Group in the second quarter valued at about $834,947,000. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. raised its position in Jefferies Financial Group by 422.0% in the 4th quarter. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. now owns 3,972,352 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $246,167,000 after purchasing an additional 3,211,375 shares in the last quarter. Eminence Capital LP raised its holdings in shares of Jefferies Financial Group by 13.5% in the 4th quarter. Eminence Capital LP now owns 3,812,615 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $236,268,000 after purchasing an additional 454,054 shares in the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Jefferies Financial Group by 696.8% in the 4th quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 3,412,301 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $211,460,000 after acquiring an additional 2,984,055 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Jefferies Financial Group by 0.8% in the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 2,942,554 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $182,390,000 after acquiring an additional 24,171 shares during the last quarter. 60.88% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several analysts have commented on the company. Oppenheimer decreased their price objective on Jefferies Financial Group from $87.00 to $83.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, June 25th. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on shares of Jefferies Financial Group from $44.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Tuesday, June 9th. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Jefferies Financial Group from a “hold (c-)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 12th. Loop Capital set a $60.00 target price on shares of Jefferies Financial Group in a report on Monday, June 8th. Finally, UBS Group reduced their price target on shares of Jefferies Financial Group from $67.00 to $65.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, June 25th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $62.62.
Read Our Latest Analysis on JEF Jefferies Financial Group Stock Up 0.0% JEF stock opened at $52.35 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.99, a current ratio of 0.98 and a quick ratio of 0.98. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $55.34 and its 200-day simple moving average is $50.93. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. has a 12 month low of $35.53 and a 12 month high of $71.04. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.14 billion, a PE ratio of 14.62 and a beta of 1.54.
Jefferies Financial Group (NYSE:JEF – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, June 24th. The financial services provider reported $1.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.16 by ($0.14). The company had revenue of $2.21 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.30 billion. Jefferies Financial Group had a return on equity of 9.23% and a net margin of 7.58%.The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 35.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.40 earnings per share. Equities analysts expect that Jefferies Financial Group Inc. will post 3.71 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Jefferies Financial Group announced that its board has approved a share repurchase program on Wednesday, June 24th that authorizes the company to buyback $250.00 million in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the financial services provider to buy up to 2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are generally an indication that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued.
Jefferies Financial Group Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 28th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, August 18th will be given a $0.40 dividend. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.1%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, August 18th. Jefferies Financial Group’s dividend payout ratio is currently 44.69%.
(Free Report)
Jefferies Financial Group Inc is a diversified financial services company that provides a range of investment banking, capital markets and asset management services to corporations, governments and institutional investors worldwide. Through its core platform, Jefferies offers advisory services for mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity underwriting, restructuring and recapitalization. The firm also operates a global sales and trading business covering equities, fixed income and foreign exchange products, complemented by equity research and macroeconomic analysis.
In addition to its capital markets franchise, Jefferies maintains a growing asset management division that delivers customized investment solutions across public and private markets.
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Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. Litigation Partners Brandon Walker and Melissa Fortunato Encourage Investors Who Suffered Losses In Jefferies (JEF) To Contact Them Directly To Discuss Their Options
If you purchased or acquired stock in Jefferies and would like to discuss your legal rights, contact Bragar Eagel & Squire partners Brandon Walker or Melissa Fortunato by email at [email protected] or by telephone at (212) 355-4648.
Click here to participate in the action.
NEW YORK, Aug. 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
What’s Happening:
Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C., a nationally recognized stockholder rights law firm, is investigating potential claims against Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (“Jefferies” or the “Company”) (NYSE:JEF) on behalf of Jefferies stockholders. Our investigation concerns whether Jefferies has violated the federal securities laws and/or engaged in other unlawful business practices. Investigation Details:
On September 29, 2025, The Wall Street Journal published an article entitled "Auto Supplier First Brands Files for Bankruptcy Amid Accounting Questions," reporting that "[t]he closely held company's lenders and independent board directors are now probing whether First Brands made misrepresentations in its financial reporting" and that "First Brands relied heavily on accounts-receivable-backed financing, supplying automotive products to customers on delayed payment terms and borrowing from outside investors against the billed receivables." Then, on October 8, 2025, The Wall Street Journal further reported, in an article entitled "First Brands Bankruptcy Damage Spreads to Jefferies UBS," that Jefferies "said funds run by an asset-management unit, Point Bonita Capital, are owed around $715 million from companies that bought First Brands' parts."On this news, Jefferies' stock price fell $4.66 per share, or 7.88%, to close at $54.44 per share on October 8, 2025.The following day, Reuters disclosed that "The U.S. Department of Justice has launched an inquiry into the collapse of bankrupt auto parts maker First Brands Group" and that "[t]he Justice Department is probing the company and its dealings with creditors."On this news, Jefferies' stock price fell another $1.43 per share, or 2.63%, to close at $53.01 per share on October 9, 2025.On November 27, 2025, The Financial Times reported that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating Jefferies in connection with its relationship with First Brands, including whether Jefferies gave investors in its Point Bonita fund enough information about their exposure to First Brands. Later, on January 7, 2026, The Financial Times reported that Jefferies took a $30 million loss tied to the collapse of First Brands. On this news, Jefferies' stock price fell $3.62 per share, or 5.6%, to close at $61.05 per share on January 8, 2026.Then, on June 24, 2026, Jefferies reported its fiscal second-quarter financial results, including both earnings and revenue that fell short of analyst estimates. Jefferies disclosed that asset management fees, revenue, and investment returns declined from a year earlier due to lower management fees and weaker investment performance, saying that lower fees were primarily driven by Point Bonita and funds managed by its strategic affiliates.On this news, Jefferies' stock price fell $5.30 per share, or 9.15%, to close at $52.64 per share on June 25, 2026. Next Steps:
If you purchased or otherwise acquired Jefferies shares and suffered a loss, are a long-term stockholder, have information, would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Brandon Walker or Melissa Fortunato by email at [email protected], by telephone at (212) 355-4648, or by filling out this contact form. There is no cost or obligation to you. About Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C.:
Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. is a nationally recognized law firm with offices in New York, South Carolina, and California. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in securities, derivative, and commercial litigation as well as individuals in consumer protection and data privacy litigation. The firm has a nationwide practice and routinely handles cases in both federal and state courts. For more information about the firm, please visit www.bespc.com. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
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Investors in Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (JEF - Free Report) need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the Sept. 18, 2026 $20.00 Put had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity options today.
What is Implied Volatility?Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility suggest that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It could also mean there is an event coming up soon that may cause a big rally or a huge sell-off. However, implied volatility is only one piece of the puzzle when putting together an options trading strategy.
What do the Analysts Think?Clearly, options traders are pricing in a big move for Jefferies shares, but what is the fundamental picture for the company? Currently, Jefferies is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) in the Financial - Miscellaneous Services industry that ranks in the Top 41% of our Zacks Industry Rank. Over the last 60 days, no analysts have increased their earnings estimates for the current quarter, while two analysts have revised their estimates downward. The net effect has taken our Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current quarter from 96 cents per share to 87 cents in that period.
Given the way analysts feel about Jefferies right now, this huge implied volatility could mean there’s a trade developing. Oftentimes, options traders look for options with high levels of implied volatility to sell premium. This is a strategy many seasoned traders use because it captures decay. At expiration, the hope for these traders is that the underlying stock does not move as much as originally expected.
Value-Oriented Investment Firm Boosts Core ETF Holdings While Trimming Select PositionsJefferies Group (Trades, Portfolio), the diversified financial services c
, /PRNewswire/ -- The law firm of Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP is investigating potential violations of U.S. federal securities laws involving Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE: JEF) focused on whether Jefferies as well as certain of its top executives made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose material information to investors.
If you have any information that could assist in the Jefferies investigation or if you are a Jefferies investor who suffered a loss and would like to learn more, you can provide your information here:
You can also contact attorneys Ken Dolitsky or Michael Albert of Robbins Geller by calling 800/851-7783 or via e-mail at [email protected].
THE COMPANY: Jefferies Financial Group Inc. is a global full-service investment banking and capital markets firm. Under the Leucadia Asset Management ("LAM") umbrella, Jefferies manages and provides services to a diverse group of alternative asset management platforms. Point Bonita Capital is a division of LAM.
THE REVELATION: On September 29, 2025, The Wall Street Journal published an article entitled "Auto Supplier First Brands Files for Bankruptcy Amid Accounting Questions," reporting that "[t]he closely held company's lenders and independent board directors are now probing whether First Brands made misrepresentations in its financial reporting" and that "First Brands relied heavily on accounts-receivable-backed financing, supplying automotive products to customers on delayed payment terms and borrowing from outside investors against the billed receivables."
On October 8, 2025, The Wall Street Journal further reported, in an article entitled "First Brands Bankruptcy Damage Spreads to Jefferies UBS," that Jefferies "said funds run by an asset-management unit, Point Bonita Capital, are owed around $715 million from companies that bought First Brands' parts." The following day, Reuters disclosed that "The U.S. Department of Justice has launched an inquiry into the collapse of bankrupt auto parts maker First Brands Group" and that "[t]he Justice Department is probing the company and its dealings with creditors."
On October 12, 2025, The Wall Street Journal published another article entitled "Behind the Collapse of an Auto-Parts Giant: $2 Billion Hole and Mysterious CEO," reporting that First Brands' now former CEO "was working on an effort to refinance the nearly $6 billion of corporate loans with the help of Jefferies" and that "[t]he pitch to prospective lenders didn't mention the billions of dollars of off -balance-sheet debt, people familiar with the matter said."
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SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Johnson Fistel, PLLP is investigating whether Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE: JEF) or certain of its executive officers violated federal securities laws. The investigation concerns Jefferies’ disclosures regarding its exposure to First Brands Group through its asset-management operations and whether investors received materially accurate and complete information.
Johnson Fistel, PLLP is investigating whether Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE: JEF) or certain of its executive officers violated federal securities laws.
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If you purchased Jefferies securities and suffered investment losses, you may be eligible to participate in the investigation: Click Here to Join the Investigation.
For additional information, contact Jim Baker at [email protected] or (619) 814-4471.
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Background of the Investigation
Jefferies Financial Group Inc. is a global investment banking and capital markets firm. Through Leucadia Asset Management (“LAM”), Jefferies manages and provides services to multiple alternative asset-management platforms. Point Bonita Capital operates as a division of LAM.
On September 29, 2025, The Wall Street Journal published an article titled “Auto Supplier First Brands Files for Bankruptcy Amid Accounting Questions.” The article reported that “[t]he closely held company’s lenders and independent board directors are now probing whether First Brands made misrepresentations in its financial reporting” and that “First Brands relied heavily on accounts-receivable-backed financing, supplying automotive products to customers on delayed payment terms and borrowing from outside investors against the billed receivables.”
On October 8, 2025, The Wall Street Journal reported in an article titled “First Brands Bankruptcy Damage Spreads to Jefferies, UBS” that Jefferies “said funds run by an asset-management unit, Point Bonita Capital, are owed around $715 million from companies that bought First Brands’ parts.”
The following day, Reuters reported that “The U.S. Department of Justice has launched an inquiry into the collapse of bankrupt auto parts maker First Brands Group” and that “[t]he Justice Department is probing the company and its dealings with creditors.”
On October 12, 2025, The Wall Street Journal published an article titled “Behind the Collapse of an Auto-Parts Giant: $2 Billion Hole and Mysterious CEO.” According to the article, First Brands’ former chief executive “was working on an effort to refinance the nearly $6 billion of corporate loans with the help of Jefferies” and “[t]he pitch to prospective lenders didn’t mention the billions of dollars of off-balance-sheet debt, people familiar with the matter said.”
These reports raised questions about Jefferies’ relationship with First Brands, the extent of the exposure associated with Point Bonita Capital, and whether material risks were adequately disclosed to investors.
Johnson Fistel is reviewing whether Jefferies complied with federal securities laws. Investors who suffered losses, as well as long-term holders of Jefferies stock, are encouraged to contact the firm.
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Johnson Fistel, PLLP is a nationally recognized shareholder-rights law firm with offices in California, New York, Georgia, Idaho, and Colorado. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in litigation involving securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and other violations of state and federal law.
Johnson Fistel has been recognized as one of the Top 10 Plaintiff Law Firms by ISS Securities Class Action Services. In 2024, the firm recovered approximately $90,725,000 for investors.
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NEW YORK, Aug. 13, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Abraham, Fruchter & Twersky, LLP (www.aftlaw.com), a nationally recognized law firm focusing on protecting investors’ rights, informs shareholders that it is investigating potential violations of federal securities laws by Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (“Jefferies”) (NYSE:JEF), and Jefferies’ directors and officers. The investigation is focused on whether Jefferies or its executives made false or misleading statements or failed to disclose material information to investors.
On September 29, 2025, The Wall Street Journal published an article titled “Auto Supplier First Brands Files for Bankruptcy Amid Accounting Questions; First Brands lenders are looking into possible irregularities stemming from the company’s billions of dollars of off-balance-sheet debt.” That article reported that First Brands’ lenders and directors were probing whether First Brands made misrepresentations in its financial reporting and that “First Brands relied heavily on accounts-receivable-backed financing, supplying automotive products to customers on delayed payment terms and borrowing from outside investors against the billed receivables.”
On October 8, 2025, The Wall Street Journal further reported in an article titled “First Brands Bankruptcy Damage Spreads to Jefferies, UBS; Banks disclose how much of the funds they manage are exposed to collapsed auto-parts supplier” that Jefferies “said funds run by an asset-management unit, Point Bonita Capital, are owed around $715 million from companies that bought First Brands’ parts.”
On October 9, 2025, Reuters disclosed that the U.S. Department of Justice had opened an inquiry into the collapse of First Brands. Reuters reported that the DOJ was probing First Brands and its dealings with creditors.
On October 12, 2025, The Wall Street Journal published an article titled “Behind the Collapse of an Auto-Parts Giant: $2 Billion Hole and Mysterious CEO; Patrick James started out buying small Ohio factories and ended atop a messy conglomerate with piles of hidden debt.” That article reported that the former First Brands CEO “was working on an effort to refinance the nearly $6 billion of corporate loans with the help of Jefferies” and that “[t]he pitch to prospective lenders didn’t mention the billions of dollars of off-balance-sheet debt[.]”
Abraham, Fruchter & Twersky, LLP is investigating possible securities claims relating to these facts. If you have information that could assist in the investigation or if you are a Jefferies investor who suffered a loss and would like to discuss your rights, with no cost or obligation to you, please contact Jack Fruchter ([email protected] or (212) 634-0602) or Michael Klein ([email protected] or (212) 634-0608).
Abraham, Fruchter & Twersky, LLP (www.aftlaw.com) is a law firm that has extensive experience in litigating securities law violations on behalf of investors. Abraham, Fruchter & Twersky, LLP is based in New York and maintains a California office.
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MILWAUKEE, Aug. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Ademi LLP is investigating possible securities fraud claims against Jefferies (NYSE: JEF). The investigation results from inaccurate statements Jefferies may have made regarding its financial statements, business operations and prospects.
The investigation focuses on recent allegations regarding Jefferies and the collapse of bankrupt auto parts maker First Brands Group.
Click here to join our investigation or to obtain additional information, or contact us at [email protected] or toll-free: 866-264-3995. There is no cost or obligation to you.
We specialize in securities fraud and shareholder litigation. For more information, please feel free to call us. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
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Robbins Geller is investigating whether Jefferies Financial Group Inc. and certain of its top executives made materially false and/or misleading statements
Empowered Funds LLC lifted its position in shares of Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:JEF – Free Report) by 808.6% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 36,498 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 32,481 shares during the quarter. Empowered Funds LLC’s holdings in Jefferies Financial Group were worth $1,506,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. SummitTX Capital L.P. bought a new stake in Jefferies Financial Group in the first quarter valued at about $1,187,000. Endure Capital Management LLC bought a new position in Jefferies Financial Group in the first quarter valued at approximately $1,190,000. Waverly Advisors LLC lifted its position in Jefferies Financial Group by 25.8% during the 1st quarter. Waverly Advisors LLC now owns 10,709 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $442,000 after buying an additional 2,199 shares in the last quarter. Entropy Technologies LP increased its position in shares of Jefferies Financial Group by 360.1% during the 1st quarter. Entropy Technologies LP now owns 124,782 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $5,150,000 after purchasing an additional 97,664 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio grew its position in shares of Jefferies Financial Group by 4.8% in the 1st quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 48,297 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,993,000 after acquiring an additional 2,212 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 60.88% of the company’s stock.
Jefferies Financial Group Stock Performance Shares of Jefferies Financial Group stock opened at $56.61 on Friday. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $55.85 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $51.55. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. has a 1-year low of $35.53 and a 1-year high of $71.04. The company has a current ratio of 0.98, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.99. The company has a market cap of $10.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.81 and a beta of 1.54.
Jefferies Financial Group (NYSE:JEF – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, June 24th. The financial services provider reported $1.02 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.16 by ($0.14). The company had revenue of $2.21 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.30 billion. Jefferies Financial Group had a return on equity of 9.23% and a net margin of 7.58%.The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 35.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.40 earnings per share. As a group, analysts anticipate that Jefferies Financial Group Inc. will post 3.71 EPS for the current year.
Jefferies Financial Group declared that its Board of Directors has approved a share repurchase program on Wednesday, June 24th that allows the company to repurchase $250.00 million in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization allows the financial services provider to reacquire up to 2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are generally an indication that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.
Jefferies Financial Group Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 28th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, August 18th will be paid a $0.40 dividend. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.8%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, August 18th. Jefferies Financial Group’s dividend payout ratio is currently 44.69%.
Analyst Ratings Changes JEF has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of Jefferies Financial Group from $44.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Tuesday, June 9th. Weiss Ratings downgraded shares of Jefferies Financial Group from a “hold (c)” rating to a “hold (c-)” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 28th. UBS Group reduced their price target on Jefferies Financial Group from $67.00 to $65.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, June 25th. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a “buy” rating on shares of Jefferies Financial Group in a research note on Friday, June 5th. Finally, Oppenheimer decreased their price objective on shares of Jefferies Financial Group from $87.00 to $83.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, June 25th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $62.62.
Read Our Latest Analysis on Jefferies Financial Group
Jefferies Financial Group Company Profile (Free Report)
Jefferies Financial Group Inc is a diversified financial services company that provides a range of investment banking, capital markets and asset management services to corporations, governments and institutional investors worldwide. Through its core platform, Jefferies offers advisory services for mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity underwriting, restructuring and recapitalization. The firm also operates a global sales and trading business covering equities, fixed income and foreign exchange products, complemented by equity research and macroeconomic analysis.
In addition to its capital markets franchise, Jefferies maintains a growing asset management division that delivers customized investment solutions across public and private markets.
See Also Five stocks we like better than Jefferies Financial Group Datadog’s Drop Says More About Expectations Than Earnings D-Wave’s Quantum Breakthrough Couldn’t Save QBTS From a Sell-Off Cloudflare’s Beat-and-Raise Quarter Puts Its AI Edge Story in Focus Solventum Nears Inflection Point As It Begins to Unlock Value Want to see what other hedge funds are holding JEF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:JEF – Free Report).
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Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. is Investigating Jefferies Financial Group Inc. on Behalf of Jefferies Stockholders and Encourages Investors to Contact the Firm
NEW YORK, Aug. 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The law firm of Kirby McInerney LLP reminds investors of its investigation on behalf of Jefferies Financial Group, Inc. (“Jefferies” or the “Company”) (NYSE: JEF) investors concerning the Company’s and/or members of its senior management’s possible violation of the federal securities laws or other unlawful business practices.
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What Happened?
On June 25, 2026, Jefferies reported quarterly results showing weaker asset-management fees and investment returns driven in part by Jefferies’ asset-management unit, Point Bonita Capital. The Securities and Exchange Commission is reportedly investigation claims that Jefferies misled investors about the Company’s exposure to First Brands Group, a now-bankrupt auto-parts supplier, through Point Bonita. According to public reports, funds run by Point Bonita were owed roughly $715 million from companies that bought First Brands’ parts. First Brands filed for bankruptcy in September 2025 amid accounting questions, and Jefferies later disclosed a $30 million loss tied to the collapse.
On this news, the price of Jefferies shares declined by $5.30 per share, or approximately 9%, from $57.94 per share on June 24, 2026 to close at $52.64 on June 25, 2026.
What Should I Do?
At this stage, no lawsuit has been filed. The investigation is ongoing to determine whether claims may be brought under federal securities laws.
If you purchased or otherwise acquired Jefferies securities, have information, or would like to learn more about this investigation, please contact Lauren Molinaro of Kirby McInerney LLP by email at [email protected], or fill out the contact form below, to discuss your rights or interests with respect to these matters at no cost.
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Kirby McInerney LLP is a New York-based plaintiffs’ law firm concentrating in securities, antitrust, whistleblower, and consumer litigation. The firm’s efforts on behalf of shareholders in securities litigation have resulted in recoveries totaling billions of dollars. Additional information about the firm can be found at Kirby McInerney LLP’s website.
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