Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. has made a strategic investment by acquiring 4,884 shares in Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:JEF), as revealed in its latest Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The transaction, completed in the first quarter, is valued at approximately $262,000. This acquisition is part of a broader trend of institutional interest in Jefferies Financial Group, with several other major investors adjusting their positions in recent months.
Among these, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. made a significant move by purchasing a new stake worth approximately $724,971,000 in the fourth quarter. Similarly, Alliancebernstein L.P. increased its stake by 159.1% during the same period, now holding 5,988,746 shares valued at $469,518,000. FMR LLC and Invesco Ltd. also expanded their holdings significantly, reflecting growing confidence in Jefferies’ market position.
Jefferies Financial Group’s Market Performance
Jefferies Financial Group’s stock opened at $54.71 on Tuesday, with a 12-month low of $39.28 and a high of $82.68. The firm maintains a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.68, alongside a current and quick ratio of 0.99. With a market capitalization of $11.28 billion, a PE ratio of 20.65, and a beta of 1.45, Jefferies remains a key player in the financial services sector. The company’s stock performance is closely monitored, with its fifty-day moving average at $50.81 and a 200-day moving average at $60.27.
Jefferies recently reported its quarterly earnings on June 25th, with an EPS of $0.40, slightly below analyst expectations of $0.44. The company’s revenue stood at $1.63 billion, a slight decrease of 1.3% compared to the previous year. Despite these figures, Jefferies’ net margin and return on equity remain robust at 7.70% and 6.62%, respectively.
Dividend and Analyst Ratings
In addition to its financial performance, Jefferies Financial Group announced a quarterly dividend of $0.40 per share, payable on August 29th to stockholders of record on August 18th. This results in an annualized dividend yield of 2.92%, with a payout ratio of 55.36%, positioning Jefferies as an attractive option for dividend-focused investors.
Analyst opinions on Jefferies vary. Morgan Stanley recently adjusted its target price from $55.00 to $54.00, maintaining an “equal weight” rating. Meanwhile, The Goldman Sachs Group increased its target price to $62.00, issuing a “buy” rating. However, Wall Street Zen downgraded the stock to a “sell” rating. Currently, the consensus rating stands at “Hold,” with an average price target of $66.00, according to MarketBeat.
About Jefferies Financial Group
Jefferies Financial Group Inc. operates as a prominent investment banking and capital markets firm, with a presence across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific. The company is divided into two main segments: Investment Banking and Capital Markets, and Asset Management. Jefferies provides a range of services, including mergers and acquisitions advisory, debt financing, and private capital advisory transactions, among others.
As institutional interest continues to grow, Jefferies Financial Group remains a focal point for investors seeking exposure to the financial services sector. The company’s strategic initiatives and market performance will be closely watched in the coming quarters.
