Jefferies Financial Group (JEF) vs Stifel Financial (SF)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Stifel Financial (SF) has outperformed Jefferies Financial Group (JEF) over the past year, losing 5.8% versus a loss of 25.3%. Over five years, SF leads with a +40.5% price change compared with +10.9% for JEF. Stifel Financial is the larger company by market cap ($10.53 billion vs $8.98 billion), about 1.2 times the size.
On valuation, Stifel Financial trades at a lower forward P/E (9.6x vs 9.8x for Jefferies Financial Group). Jefferies Financial Group offers the higher dividend yield (3.62% vs 1.85%). Stifel Financial converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 10.8% 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 | SF |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $44.14 | $69.71 |
| Market cap | $8.98B | $10.53B |
| 1-day change | -1.82% | -0.58% |
| YTD return | -28.77% | -16.49% |
| 1-year return | -25.31% | -5.79% |
| 5-year return | +10.91% | +40.53% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 12.13 | 12.54 |
| Forward P/E | 9.76 | 9.63 |
| EPS (TTM) | $3.64 | $5.56 |
| Dividend yield | 3.62% | 1.85% |
| Annual dividend | $1.60 | $1.29 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $10.82B | $6.35B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +2.93% | +6.65% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $682.04M | $683.78M |
| Gross margin | 98.24% | — |
| Net margin | 6.30% | 10.77% |
| 52-week high | $66.60 | $89.83 |
| 52-week low | $35.53 | $67.81 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -33.72% | -22.39% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +26.12% | +22.29% |
| Average volume | 2.05M | 1.21M |
| Shares outstanding | 194.15M | 151.00M |
| Employees | 7,065 | 8,900 |
| 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
- SF has outperformed JEF by 19.5 percentage points over the past year.
- Jefferies Financial Group offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (3.62% vs 1.85%).
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 Stifel Financial
SF stock →Stifel Financial Corp. operates as the bank holding company for Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated that provides retail and institutional wealth management, and investment banking services to individual, corporations, municipalities, and institutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and internationally.
Finance · Investment Bankers/Brokers/Service · 8,900 employees
JEF vs SF FAQ
Which is bigger, Jefferies Financial Group or Stifel Financial?
Stifel Financial (SF) is larger, with a market capitalization of $10.53B compared with $8.98B for Jefferies Financial Group (JEF).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, JEF or SF?
SF returned -5.79% 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 SF?
JEF has the lower trailing P/E at 12.1, versus 12.5 for SF. 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 Stifel Financial?
Jefferies Financial Group has the higher yield at 3.62%, compared with 1.85% for Stifel Financial.
Are Jefferies Financial Group and Stifel Financial in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Investment Bankers/Brokers/Service industry within the Finance sector.