Jefferies Financial Group (JEF) vs MarketAxess (MKTX)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
MarketAxess (MKTX) has outperformed Jefferies Financial Group (JEF) over the past year, losing 2.4% versus a loss of 25.3%. Over five years, JEF leads with a +10.9% price change compared with -59.5% for MKTX. Jefferies Financial Group is the larger company by market cap ($8.98 billion vs $5.78 billion), about 1.6 times the size, while MarketAxess is growing revenue faster (+3.6% vs +2.9%).
On valuation, Jefferies Financial Group trades at a lower forward P/E (9.8x vs 18.8x for MarketAxess). Jefferies Financial Group offers the higher dividend yield (3.62% vs 1.88%). MarketAxess converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 29.1% versus 6.3%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | JEF | MKTX |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $44.14 | $164.17 |
| Market cap | $8.98B | $5.78B |
| 1-day change | -1.82% | +0.09% |
| YTD return | -28.77% | -9.42% |
| 1-year return | -25.31% | -2.36% |
| 5-year return | +10.91% | -59.54% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 12.13 | 19.41 |
| Forward P/E | 9.76 | 18.76 |
| EPS (TTM) | $3.64 | $8.46 |
| Dividend yield | 3.62% | 1.88% |
| Annual dividend | $1.60 | $3.08 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $10.82B | $846.27M |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +2.93% | +3.57% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $682.04M | $246.63M |
| Gross margin | 98.24% | — |
| Operating margin | — | 40.39% |
| Net margin | 6.30% | 29.14% |
| 52-week high | $66.60 | $195.97 |
| 52-week low | $35.53 | $108.75 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -33.72% | -16.23% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +26.12% | -3.76% |
| Average volume | 2.05M | 1.06M |
| Shares outstanding | 194.15M | 35.20M |
| Employees | 7,065 | 863 |
| Sector | Finance | Finance |
| Industry | Investment Bankers/Brokers/Service | Investment Bankers/Brokers/Service |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- MKTX has outperformed JEF by 23.0 percentage points over the past year.
- MarketAxess trades at a higher earnings multiple (19.4x vs 12.1x trailing P/E).
- Jefferies Financial Group offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (3.62% vs 1.88%).
- MarketAxess is more profitable, keeping 29.1 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 6.3 cents for Jefferies Financial Group.
About Jefferies Financial Group
JEF stock →Jefferies Financial Group Inc. operates as an investment banking and capital markets firm in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific.
Finance · Investment Bankers/Brokers/Service · 7,065 employees
About MarketAxess
MKTX stock →MarketAxess Holdings Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates an electronic trading platform for institutional investor and broker-dealer firms in the United States, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company offers trading technology to access liquidity on its platforms in U.S.
Finance · Investment Bankers/Brokers/Service · 863 employees
JEF vs MKTX FAQ
Which is bigger, Jefferies Financial Group or MarketAxess?
Jefferies Financial Group (JEF) is larger, with a market capitalization of $8.98B compared with $5.78B for MarketAxess (MKTX).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, JEF or MKTX?
MKTX returned -2.36% over the past 12 months, compared with -25.31% for JEF (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, JEF or MKTX?
JEF has the lower trailing P/E at 12.1, versus 19.4 for MKTX. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Jefferies Financial Group or MarketAxess?
Jefferies Financial Group has the higher yield at 3.62%, compared with 1.88% for MarketAxess.
Are Jefferies Financial Group and MarketAxess in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Investment Bankers/Brokers/Service industry within the Finance sector.