Jefferies Financial Group (JEF) vs Virtu Financial (VIRT)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Virtu Financial (VIRT) has outperformed Jefferies Financial Group (JEF) over the past year, gaining 81.6% versus a loss of 25.3%. Over five years, VIRT leads with a +133.2% price change compared with +10.9% for JEF. Jefferies Financial Group is the larger company by market cap ($8.98 billion vs $5.19 billion), about 1.7 times the size, while Virtu Financial is growing revenue faster (+26.2% vs +2.9%).
On valuation, Virtu Financial trades at a lower forward P/E (8.3x vs 9.8x for Jefferies Financial Group). Jefferies Financial Group offers the higher dividend yield (3.62% vs 1.63%). Virtu Financial converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 12.9% 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 | VIRT |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $44.14 | $58.81 |
| Market cap | $8.98B | $5.19B |
| 1-day change | -1.82% | -4.56% |
| YTD return | -28.73% | +76.50% |
| 1-year return | -25.27% | +81.62% |
| 5-year return | +10.91% | +133.19% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 12.13 | 9.97 |
| Forward P/E | 9.76 | 8.26 |
| EPS (TTM) | $3.64 | $5.90 |
| Dividend yield | 3.62% | 1.63% |
| Annual dividend | $1.60 | $0.96 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $10.82B | $3.63B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +2.93% | +26.25% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $682.04M | $468.36M |
| Gross margin | 98.24% | — |
| Net margin | 6.30% | 12.89% |
| 52-week high | $66.60 | $68.76 |
| 52-week low | $35.53 | $31.55 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -33.72% | -14.47% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +26.12% | +18.30% |
| Average volume | 2.05M | 1.32M |
| Shares outstanding | 194.15M | 88.30M |
| Employees | 7,065 | 1,027 |
| 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
- VIRT has outperformed JEF by 106.9 percentage points over the past year.
- Jefferies Financial Group offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (3.62% vs 1.63%).
- Virtu Financial is more profitable, keeping 12.9 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 6.3 cents for Jefferies Financial Group.
- Virtu Financial grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+26.25% vs +2.93%).
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 Virtu Financial
VIRT stock →Virtu Financial, Inc. operates as a financial services company in the United States, Ireland, and internationally.
Finance · Investment Bankers/Brokers/Service · 1,027 employees
JEF vs VIRT FAQ
Which is bigger, Jefferies Financial Group or Virtu Financial?
Jefferies Financial Group (JEF) is larger, with a market capitalization of $8.98B compared with $5.19B for Virtu Financial (VIRT).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, JEF or VIRT?
VIRT returned +81.62% over the past 12 months, compared with -25.27% for JEF (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, JEF or VIRT?
VIRT has the lower trailing P/E at 10.0, versus 12.1 for JEF. 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 Virtu Financial?
Jefferies Financial Group has the higher yield at 3.62%, compared with 1.63% for Virtu Financial.
Are Jefferies Financial Group and Virtu Financial in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Investment Bankers/Brokers/Service industry within the Finance sector.