Jefferies Financial Group Inc.
Global investment banking and capital markets firm headquartered in New York, ranked sixth in global investment banking revenue.
Company Type
public
Founded
1962
Headquarters
New York, New York, USA
Stock
NYSE: JEF
Revenue
$6.45 billion net revenues (nine months of fiscal 2026)
Employees
Approximately 7,700
Primary Market
Global
About Jefferies Financial Group Inc.
What does Jefferies own?
Jefferies owns its investment bank Jefferies LLC, asset manager Leucadia Asset Management, and a 50% stake in credit manager Hildene. It is winding down legacy merchant banking investments.
Is Jefferies publicly traded?
Yes. Jefferies Financial Group trades on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker JEF and is a member of the S&P 500.
When was Jefferies founded?
Boyd Jefferies founded Jefferies & Company in 1962 in Los Angeles as an institutional trading firm. The current form came from the 2013 merger with Leucadia National.
Who owns Jefferies?
Public shareholders own it, with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation the largest at approximately 20% through a strategic alliance. Richard Handler is CEO.
What is Jefferies' market position?
It is the largest independent US investment bank, ranked sixth globally in investment banking revenue in 2026, with record advisory and equities results.
Is Jefferies related to Leucadia?
Yes, historically. The 2013 merger with Leucadia National created the modern company, and the Leucadia name survives in its asset management arm.
History of Jefferies Financial Group Inc.
Boyd Jefferies founded Jefferies & Company in 1962 in Los Angeles as a third-market trading firm handling large block trades for institutions away from exchange floors. It grew into a significant institutional trading house through the following decades.
The firm's transformation came through the 2013 merger with Leucadia National Corporation, a conglomerate that renamed itself Jefferies Financial Group. The combined entity spent the following years divesting non-banking assets, beef processing, real estate, auto dealer stakes, and its Tessellis telecom unit, to become a pure investment bank.
The banking build-out under Handler and president Brian Friedman produced steady share gains. Strategic alliances, first with SMBC in 2021 and deepening since, gave Jefferies balance sheet partnership and expanded reach. The 2026 alliance progress included SMBC raising its stake to approximately 20%, Jefferies' largest shareholder, and a planned Japanese equities joint venture launching January 2027.
Fiscal 2026 has been a record run. Q3 net revenues hit $2.22 billion, with record investment banking at $1.33 billion and record equities at $626 million. Nine-month earnings of $639.7 million already exceeded all of fiscal 2025, and Jefferies climbed to sixth in global investment banking revenue rankings.
Brands Owned by Jefferies Financial Group Inc.
Jefferies Financial Group Inc. owns 1 brand in our database. Explore the ownership tree below — click categories to expand and see individual brands.
Jefferies Financial Group Inc.
public · Founded 1962 · New York, New York, USA
1
brands
Stock Information
Jefferies Financial Group Inc. Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Sixth globally in investment banking with market share gains across sectors
- +Record fiscal 2026 advisory, underwriting, and equities results
- +SMBC alliance provides ~20% anchor shareholder and Japanese expansion
- +Pure-play banking after years of divesting non-core assets
- +Long-tenured leadership: Handler has led since 2001
Considerations
- -Transaction-driven revenue is cyclical with deal and trading activity
- -Asset management took losses on concentrated positions in 2026
- -Fixed income fell 26% in Q3 on weak industry volumes
- -Single business concentration means banking downturns hit directly
- -SMBC's 20% stake gives an outside partner unusual influence
Frequently Asked Questions About Jefferies Financial Group Inc.
What does Jefferies own?
Jefferies owns its investment bank Jefferies LLC, asset manager Leucadia Asset Management, and a 50% stake in credit manager Hildene. It is winding down legacy merchant banking investments.
Is Jefferies publicly traded?
Yes. Jefferies Financial Group trades on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker JEF and is a member of the S&P 500.
When was Jefferies founded?
Boyd Jefferies founded Jefferies & Company in 1962 in Los Angeles as an institutional trading firm. The current form came from the 2013 merger with Leucadia National.
Who owns Jefferies?
Public shareholders own it, with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation the largest at approximately 20% through a strategic alliance. Richard Handler is CEO.
What is Jefferies' market position?
It is the largest independent US investment bank, ranked sixth globally in investment banking revenue in 2026, with record advisory and equities results.
Is Jefferies related to Leucadia?
Yes, historically. The 2013 merger with Leucadia National created the modern company, and the Leucadia name survives in its asset management arm.
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