UBS Group Cuts Jefferies Financial Group (NYSE:JEF) Price Target to $61.00

Jefferies Financial Group (NYSE:JEF) had its target price trimmed by UBS Group from $65.00 to $61.00 in a research report released on Friday, Marketbeat.com reports. The firm currently has a neutral rating on the financial services provider’s stock.

Several other research analysts have also recently commented on JEF. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of Jefferies Financial Group from $44.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 9th. Loop Capital set a $60.00 price target on Jefferies Financial Group in a report on Monday, June 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $67.00 price target on shares of Jefferies Financial Group in a report on Wednesday. Oppenheimer reduced their price objective on Jefferies Financial Group from $87.00 to $83.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, June 25th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets decreased their price objective on Jefferies Financial Group from $60.00 to $57.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a report on Friday. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Jefferies Financial Group has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $63.62.

Jefferies Financial Group Stock Performance

JEF stock opened at $51.98 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 stock has a market capitalization of $10.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.52 and a beta of 1.52. Jefferies Financial Group has a 1 year low of $35.53 and a 1 year high of $71.04. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $54.42 and its two-hundred day moving average is $50.71.

Jefferies Financial Group (NYSE:JEF) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, June 24th. The financial services provider reported $1.02 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.16 by ($0.14). Jefferies Financial Group had a return on equity of 9.23% and a net margin of 7.58%.The firm had revenue of $2.21 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.30 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.40 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 35.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts predict that Jefferies Financial Group will post 3.71 EPS for the current year.

Jefferies Financial Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 28th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, August 18th were given a dividend of $0.40 per share. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.1%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, August 18th. Jefferies Financial Group’s payout ratio is 44.69%.

Jefferies Financial Group announced that its board has approved a share repurchase program on Wednesday, June 24th that authorizes the company to buyback $250.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the financial services provider to repurchase up to 2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are often a sign that the company’s management believes its shares are undervalued.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Jefferies Financial Group

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in JEF. Bank of Nova Scotia acquired a new stake in shares of Jefferies Financial Group in the second quarter valued at $3,509,000. Intech Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in Jefferies Financial Group by 95.7% during the fourth quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 132,263 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $8,196,000 after acquiring an additional 64,682 shares during the period. Berkshire Hathaway Inc bought a new stake in Jefferies Financial Group in the second quarter worth about $21,669,000. Amundi raised its position in Jefferies Financial Group by 378.7% in the second quarter. Amundi now owns 228,236 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $11,407,000 after acquiring an additional 180,553 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fideuram Intesa Sanpaolo Private Banking S.P.A. acquired a new stake in Jefferies Financial Group in the 1st quarter valued at about $2,941,000. Institutional investors own 60.88% of the company’s stock.

More Jefferies Financial Group News

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

• Positive Sentiment: A Jefferies-linked fund obtained an asset-freezing order against Radiant World, potentially helping preserve assets tied to reported exposure of nearly $500 million. This may improve recovery prospects, although the situation remains unresolved. 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 limit revenue opportunities and signal a strategic pullback. Jefferies to Wind Down Outsourced Fixed-Income Trading Business
• Neutral Sentiment: Jefferies continues to promote investor meetings and publish bullish research on companies including LG Electronics India, Adani Enterprises and Vodafone Idea. These activities support its investment-banking and research franchise, but are unlikely to materially change near-term earnings expectations for JEF. LG Electronics India in Jefferies’ pole position
• Negative Sentiment: UBS lowered its price target on JEF from $65 to $61 and maintained a Neutral rating, while BMO cut its target from $60 to $57 and retained a Market Perform rating. The revisions suggest more cautious views on valuation and earnings prospects. Jefferies’ latest quarterly results also missed consensus estimates for earnings and revenue, adding pressure to sentiment.
• Negative Sentiment: Reports that a Jefferies-linked trade-finance fund had substantial Radiant World exposure have renewed concerns about potential credit losses, legal costs and reputational risk for the broader group. Jefferies-linked fund faces reported Radiant exposure

About Jefferies Financial Group

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.