ExodusPoint Capital Management LP Makes New $1.57 Million Investment in Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:JEF)

ExodusPoint Capital Management LP purchased a new position in shares of Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:JEF) in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 49,423 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $1,569,000.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Scissortail Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Jefferies Financial Group during the 1st quarter worth about $244,895,000. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC lifted its holdings in Jefferies Financial Group by 5.9% during the 1st quarter. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC now owns 6,650 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $211,000 after buying an additional 373 shares during the last quarter. CWM LLC increased its position in shares of Jefferies Financial Group by 66.6% during the first quarter. CWM LLC now owns 958 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 383 shares in the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System increased its position in shares of Jefferies Financial Group by 0.8% during the fourth quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 52,475 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,799,000 after purchasing an additional 407 shares in the last quarter. Finally, BOKF NA increased its position in shares of Jefferies Financial Group by 0.3% during the fourth quarter. BOKF NA now owns 128,276 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $4,397,000 after purchasing an additional 407 shares in the last quarter. 70.80% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at Jefferies Financial Group

In other news, Chairman Joseph S. Steinberg sold 225,311 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.87, for a total transaction of $8,081,905.57. Following the sale, the chairman now owns 16,225,385 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $582,004,559.95. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, Chairman Joseph S. Steinberg sold 218,792 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $36.85, for a total transaction of $8,062,485.20. Following the sale, the chairman now owns 16,673,452 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $614,416,706.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Chairman Joseph S. Steinberg sold 225,311 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $35.87, for a total value of $8,081,905.57. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now directly owns 16,225,385 shares in the company, valued at approximately $582,004,559.95. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 578,320 shares of company stock valued at $20,948,017 in the last quarter. 20.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Jefferies Financial Group Price Performance

Shares of JEF opened at $36.34 on Friday. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. has a twelve month low of $28.34 and a twelve month high of $40.80. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $34.94 and its two-hundred day moving average is $33.23. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.03 billion, a PE ratio of 18.73 and a beta of 1.42. The company has a current ratio of 0.95, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.02.

Jefferies Financial Group (NYSE:JEF) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, June 27th. The financial services provider reported $0.05 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.27 by ($0.22). Jefferies Financial Group had a net margin of 9.21% and a return on equity of 6.23%. The business had revenue of $1.04 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.04 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.46 EPS. Jefferies Financial Group’s revenue for the quarter was down 22.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts anticipate that Jefferies Financial Group Inc. will post 1.58 earnings per share for the current year.

Jefferies Financial Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 25th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 14th were issued a $0.30 dividend. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.30%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 11th. Jefferies Financial Group’s dividend payout ratio is presently 61.86%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have recently commented on JEF shares. Morgan Stanley upgraded Jefferies Financial Group from an “underweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $27.00 to $36.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 12th. StockNews.com started coverage on Jefferies Financial Group in a research report on Thursday, August 17th. They set a “hold” rating on the stock. Oppenheimer lifted their target price on Jefferies Financial Group from $40.00 to $45.00 in a research report on Tuesday, June 13th. TheStreet upgraded Jefferies Financial Group from a “c+” rating to a “b-” rating in a research report on Monday, July 17th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Jefferies Financial Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $37.00 to $40.00 in a research report on Tuesday, August 22nd. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Jefferies Financial Group presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $39.50.

Jefferies Financial Group Company Profile

Jefferies Financial Group Inc engages in the investment banking and capital markets, and asset management businesses in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The company operates in two segments, Investment Banking and Capital Markets, and Asset Management. It provides investment banking, advisory services with respect to mergers or acquisitions, restructurings or recapitalizations and private capital advisory transactions; equity and debt underwriting; and corporate lending.