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

Jefferies Financial Group (NYSE:JEF) had its price objective decreased by analysts at UBS Group from $65.00 to $61.00 in a report issued on Friday, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a “neutral” rating on the financial services provider’s stock. UBS Group’s price objective would suggest a potential upside of 15.69% from the company’s current price.

Several other analysts also recently commented on JEF. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $67.00 price target on shares of Jefferies Financial Group in a research report on Wednesday. BMO Capital Markets lowered their price objective on shares of Jefferies Financial Group from $60.00 to $57.00 and set a “market perform” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday. Oppenheimer dropped their price objective on shares of Jefferies Financial Group from $87.00 to $83.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, June 25th. Loop Capital set a $60.00 target price on shares of Jefferies Financial Group in a report on Monday, June 8th. Finally, Weiss Ratings downgraded shares of Jefferies Financial Group from a “hold (c)” rating to a “hold (c-)” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 27th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Jefferies Financial Group currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $63.38.

Jefferies Financial Group Stock Performance

JEF traded down $1.21 during trading on Friday, hitting $52.73. 93,551 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,415,904. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.74 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 has a fifty day moving average price of $54.43 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $50.70. The company has a quick ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.99.

Jefferies Financial Group (NYSE:JEF) last issued its quarterly earnings data 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 firm had revenue of $2.21 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.30 billion. Jefferies Financial Group had a net margin of 7.58% and a return on equity of 9.23%. Jefferies Financial Group’s quarterly revenue was up 35.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.40 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Jefferies Financial Group will post 3.71 earnings per share for the current year.

Jefferies Financial Group announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a share buyback plan on Wednesday, June 24th that allows the company to repurchase $250.00 million in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization allows the financial services provider to reacquire up to 2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are often a sign that the company’s management believes its shares are undervalued.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Jefferies Financial Group

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of JEF. Bank of Nova Scotia purchased a new stake in Jefferies Financial Group in the 2nd quarter valued at about $3,509,000. Intech Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Jefferies Financial Group by 95.7% during the 4th 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 acquired a new position in Jefferies Financial Group during the second quarter worth approximately $21,669,000. Check Capital Management Inc. CA purchased a new position in Jefferies Financial Group during the fourth quarter worth approximately $28,041,000. Finally, Fideuram Intesa Sanpaolo Private Banking S.P.A. purchased a new position in Jefferies Financial Group during the first quarter worth approximately $2,941,000. 60.88% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Jefferies Financial Group News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: A Singapore court asset-freeze order involving Radiant World could improve recovery prospects for a Jefferies-linked fund reportedly exposed to nearly $500 million. The exposure is associated with the fund rather than necessarily being a direct parent-company loss, which may limit the impact on Jefferies itself. Jefferies fund wins Singapore asset freeze against Radiant World
• Neutral Sentiment: Jefferies reportedly plans to wind down an outsourced fixed-income trading unit. The move could reduce operational and risk exposure, but it may also eliminate a source of revenue; the financial impact was not disclosed. Jefferies to Wind Down Outsourced Fixed-Income Trading Business
• Negative Sentiment: BMO Capital Markets lowered its price target for JEF from $60 to $57 and assigned a “market perform” rating. Although the revised target still suggests potential upside, the downgrade signals more limited near-term appreciation and adds pressure while the stock trades below its 50-day moving average.
• Negative Sentiment: Investor concerns have resurfaced over a reported nearly $500 million Radiant World exposure at LAM Trade Finance Group II, a Jefferies-linked fund. The parent’s ultimate liability remains unclear, creating headline, litigation and reputational risks. Jefferies linked fund Radiant exposure
• Negative Sentiment: Jefferies’ latest quarterly results also provide a fundamental overhang: earnings per share came in at $1.02 versus the $1.16 consensus estimate, while revenue of $2.21 billion missed expectations of $2.30 billion. The year-over-year growth was strong, but the shortfall may reinforce concerns about execution and profitability.

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.