Stifel Financial (NYSE:SF) Posts Earnings Results, Beats Estimates By $0.15 EPS

Stifel Financial (NYSE:SF) issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday. The financial services provider reported $2.63 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.48 by $0.15, FiscalAI reports. Stifel Financial had a net margin of 12.44% and a return on equity of 14.95%. The firm had revenue of $1.56 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.50 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.23 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 14.4% on a year-over-year basis.

Here are the key takeaways from Stifel Financial’s conference call:

• Stifel reported a record 2025 with $5.5 billion in firm‑wide revenue (up 11%), EPS of $7.92 (ex‑Q1 legal accrual), and strong margins/ROTE, underscoring operating leverage and franchise resilience.
• Global Wealth Management remained the growth engine with record quarterly revenue, $552 billion in client assets, fee‑based assets up, and 181 advisor additions (92 experienced), with recruiting momentum entering 2026.
• Institutional/investment banking delivered strong results—2025 institutional revenue ~$1.9 billion, Q4 investment banking $456 million (up 50%), and KBW participated in ~75% of depository M&A by volume, supporting a robust deal pipeline.
• Board and capital actions are shareholder‑friendly: an 11% dividend increase, a 3‑for‑2 stock split, ongoing buybacks (335k shares repurchased in Q4) and 2026 guidance of $6.0–$6.35 billion revenue with NII of $1.1–$1.2 billion and targeted expense ratios to drive further operating leverage.
• Management is exiting the Stifel Independent Advisors channel and restructuring European equities (removing ~$100 million of prior annual revenue) to improve margins and operating leverage, which may pressure top‑line comparability in the near term but should reduce costs going forward.

Stifel Financial Stock Down 1.2%

NYSE:SF traded down $1.51 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $124.83. The company had a trading volume of 474,152 shares, compared to its average volume of 754,913. The company has a quick ratio of 0.79, a current ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $126.60 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $118.46. The firm has a market cap of $12.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.12 and a beta of 1.13. Stifel Financial has a twelve month low of $73.27 and a twelve month high of $134.74.

Stifel Financial Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 2nd will be issued a $0.51 dividend. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 2nd. This is a boost from Stifel Financial’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. Stifel Financial’s payout ratio is currently 32.51%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its position in shares of Stifel Financial by 13.8% during the 3rd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 3,451,787 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $391,674,000 after acquiring an additional 419,038 shares during the last quarter. UBS Group AG lifted its holdings in shares of Stifel Financial by 206.9% in the 3rd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 563,419 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $63,931,000 after buying an additional 379,817 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Stifel Financial by 26.8% during the third quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 1,485,503 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $168,560,000 after acquiring an additional 314,031 shares during the last quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd raised its position in shares of Stifel Financial by 130.9% during the 3rd quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd now owns 315,092 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $35,753,000 after buying an additional 178,656 shares during the period. Finally, Amundi grew its stake in shares of Stifel Financial by 540.1% in the third quarter. Amundi now owns 204,224 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $23,130,000 after acquiring an additional 172,318 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.01% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Zacks Research lowered shares of Stifel Financial from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, November 24th. Wolfe Research reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $149.00 price objective on shares of Stifel Financial in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Weiss Ratings restated a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Stifel Financial in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. TD Cowen lowered Stifel Financial from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. Finally, Citizens Jmp boosted their target price on Stifel Financial from $140.00 to $155.00 and gave the stock a “market outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, January 12th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Stifel Financial has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $135.18.

Trending Headlines about Stifel Financial

Here are the key news stories impacting Stifel Financial this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q4 results beat expectations — Stifel reported non‑GAAP EPS of $2.63 (beat) and revenue of $1.56B (up 14% y/y), with improved margins and ROE that materially exceeded consensus. Stifel Financial (SF) Tops Q4 Earnings and Revenue Estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Record full‑year financials — the company reported record annual results and highlighted continued revenue and net‑income growth, reinforcing the underlying business momentum. Stifel Reports Record Full Year Results, Announces 11% Common Stock Dividend Increase and Three-For-Two Stock Split
• Positive Sentiment: Shareholder returns boosted — Board approved an 11% increase to the quarterly common dividend ($0.51) and a three‑for‑two stock split (50% stock dividend), actions that typically improve retail accessibility and signal board confidence. Stifel Financial Corporation: Stifel Reports Record Full Year Results, Announces 11% Common Stock Dividend Increase and Three-For-Two Stock Split
• Positive Sentiment: Top‑line beat confirmation from multiple outlets — media coverage highlights Q4 sales outperformance versus expectations, supporting the beat narrative. Stifel (NYSE:SF) Posts Better-Than-Expected Sales In Q4 CY2025
• Neutral Sentiment: Short interest declined meaningfully in January (down ~21.7%), which can reduce short‑squeeze risk but also reflects shifting positioning; this is a mixed technical factor for near‑term trading.
• Negative Sentiment: Some investors may view the stock split as cosmetic — while it increases liquidity and lowers the per‑share price, it does not change fundamentals and can trigger short‑term volatility or profit‑taking. Stifel Financial Corp. Declares Three-for-Two Stock Split and Increases Cash Dividend
• Negative Sentiment: Institutional rebalancing noted in recent filings (large holders trimmed positions in prior quarters), which could weigh on supply/demand dynamics despite the strong quarter. Stifel Financial Corp. Declares Three-for-Two Stock Split and Increases Cash Dividend

About Stifel Financial

Stifel Financial Corp. is a diversified financial services holding company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1890, the firm has grown into a full‐service brokerage and investment banking organization serving individual investors, corporations and institutions. Through its principal subsidiary, Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, the company delivers a broad array of financial products and services backed by research‐driven insights.

The firm’s main business activities are organized into two core segments: Private Client Group and Institutional Group.