Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:JEF) Receives Average Recommendation of “Hold” from Brokerages

Shares of Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:JEF) have been given an average recommendation of “Hold” by the seven brokerages that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $58.1429.

Several brokerages have recently commented on JEF. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on shares of Jefferies Financial Group from $47.00 to $54.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 14th. Oppenheimer reduced their price objective on Jefferies Financial Group from $97.00 to $74.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, March 13th. Zacks Research raised Jefferies Financial Group from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, April 9th. Weiss Ratings lowered Jefferies Financial Group from a “hold (c-)” rating to a “sell (d+)” rating in a research note on Monday. Finally, UBS Group reduced their price objective on Jefferies Financial Group from $76.00 to $59.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 12th.

Jefferies Financial Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE JEF opened at $51.59 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $10.55 billion, a PE ratio of 17.43 and a beta of 1.53. Jefferies Financial Group has a fifty-two week low of $35.53 and a fifty-two week high of $71.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.87, a current ratio of 1.04 and a quick ratio of 1.04. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $44.97 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $53.08.

Jefferies Financial Group (NYSE:JEF) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, March 25th. The financial services provider reported $0.70 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.89 by ($0.19). Jefferies Financial Group had a return on equity of 7.83% and a net margin of 6.61%.The company had revenue of $2.02 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.02 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.57 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 26.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts predict that Jefferies Financial Group will post 3.79 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Jefferies Financial Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 29th. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 18th will be given a $0.40 dividend. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.1%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, May 18th. Jefferies Financial Group’s dividend payout ratio is 54.05%.

Trending Headlines about Jefferies Financial Group

Here are the key news stories impacting Jefferies Financial Group this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Jefferies hired a Standard Chartered banker to strengthen its EMEA metals business, following a separate report that it hired Volschenk to lead metals and mining in the region. These moves point to continued expansion in investment banking coverage and talent recruitment. Jefferies hires Standard Chartered banker for EMEA metals Jefferies Hires Volschenk to Lead Metals and Mining in EMEA
• Positive Sentiment: Jefferies-related analyst coverage remained broadly constructive across other companies, with multiple analysts reiterating Buy ratings and upbeat commentary. While not direct news for JEF earnings, it reinforces the market’s perception of Jefferies as an influential franchise with active research and advisory coverage. Chloe Lemarie Reiterates Buy on CSG After Solid Q1, Strong FCF Growth, and Reaffirmed FY26 Guidance
• Neutral Sentiment: Jefferies’ franchise picks list was highlighted in market coverage, but the item does not provide new company-specific financial results or guidance for JEF.
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts continue to track Jefferies Financial Group with a consensus price target around $58.14, indicating Wall Street remains moderately constructive, but this is not a new catalyst on its own. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. Receives $58.14 Consensus Price Target from Analysts

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Jefferies Financial Group

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. boosted its position in shares of Jefferies Financial Group by 422.0% during 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. AQR Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Jefferies Financial Group by 696.8% in the fourth quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 3,412,301 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $211,460,000 after acquiring an additional 2,984,055 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Jefferies Financial Group in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $145,584,000. Eminence Capital LP grew its holdings in shares of Jefferies Financial Group by 129.7% during the third quarter. Eminence Capital LP now owns 3,358,561 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $219,717,000 after buying an additional 1,896,547 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Munro Partners purchased a new stake in shares of Jefferies Financial Group in the fourth quarter worth approximately $60,470,000. 60.88% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Jefferies Financial Group

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.