Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC Increases Position in Jefferies Financial Group Inc. $JEF

Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:JEF) by 5.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 182,934 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after buying an additional 10,264 shares during the period. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC owned approximately 0.09% of Jefferies Financial Group worth $9,143,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Smithfield Trust Co purchased a new stake in Jefferies Financial Group during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. CX Institutional grew its stake in shares of Jefferies Financial Group by 77.6% in the 2nd quarter. CX Institutional now owns 547 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 239 shares during the last quarter. Elyxium Wealth LLC acquired a new position in shares of Jefferies Financial Group in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Ramirez Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Jefferies Financial Group in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Finally, Basecamp Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Jefferies Financial Group by 665.4% during the first quarter. Basecamp Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 796 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 692 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 60.88% of the company’s stock.

Trending Headlines about Jefferies Financial Group

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

• Positive Sentiment: A Jefferies-linked trade-finance fund obtained an asset-freezing order against Radiant World in Singapore. The legal action could improve recovery prospects on disputed assets and may help limit losses. Jefferies fund wins Singapore asset freeze against Radiant World
• Neutral Sentiment: Jefferies is reportedly winding down its outsourced fixed-income trading business. The move could reduce operational and counterparty risk, but it may also pressure revenue and raise questions about the company’s strategy in the business. Jefferies to Wind Down Outsourced Fixed-Income Trading Business
• Negative Sentiment: Reports indicate that LAM Trade Finance Group II had nearly $500 million of exposure to Radiant World, its founder and another entity, based on a London freezing order. Investors are focused on whether the fund is legally and financially separate from JEF or whether the parent could face losses, reputational damage or additional scrutiny. The extent of any direct exposure has not been established. Jefferies linked fund faces reported Radiant exposure

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on JEF shares. Weiss Ratings lowered shares of Jefferies Financial Group from a “hold (c)” rating to a “hold (c-)” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 27th. Loop Capital set a $60.00 target price on shares of Jefferies Financial Group in a research note on Monday, June 8th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on shares of Jefferies Financial Group from $42.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a report on Monday, June 8th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on shares of Jefferies Financial Group from $44.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 9th. Finally, Oppenheimer cut their price target on shares of Jefferies Financial Group from $87.00 to $83.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, June 25th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Jefferies Financial Group presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $64.25.

Jefferies Financial Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:JEF opened at $53.88 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.99, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a current ratio of 0.98. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $54.43 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $50.70. The stock has a market cap of $10.44 billion, a PE ratio of 15.05 and a beta of 1.52. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. has a one year low of $35.53 and a one year high of $71.04.

Jefferies Financial Group (NYSE:JEF) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, June 24th. The financial services provider reported $1.02 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.16 by ($0.14). The company had revenue of $2.21 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.30 billion. Jefferies Financial Group had a return on equity of 9.23% and a net margin of 7.58%.The business’s revenue was up 35.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.40 earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that Jefferies Financial Group Inc. will post 3.71 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Jefferies Financial Group announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a share buyback program on Wednesday, June 24th that permits the company to buyback $250.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the financial services provider to reacquire up to 2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are usually an indication that the company’s board believes its shares are undervalued.

Jefferies Financial Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 28th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, August 18th were issued a dividend of $0.40 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, August 18th. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.0%. Jefferies Financial Group’s payout ratio is 44.69%.

Jefferies Financial Group Profile

Jefferies Financial Group Inc (NYSE:JEF) is a diversified financial services company that provides investment banking, capital markets, asset management and wealth management services. Its principal operating business, Jefferies, advises companies, governments and institutional investors on mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, restructuring and other strategic transactions.

Through its investment banking and securities operations, Jefferies offers equity and fixed-income underwriting, sales and trading, research, prime brokerage and related services.