Jefferies Financial Group (NYSE:JEF) Rating Lowered to “Hold” at Wall Street Zen

Jefferies Financial Group (NYSE:JEF) was downgraded by investment analysts at Wall Street Zen from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note issued to investors on Monday, Wall Street Zen reports.

A number of other analysts also recently commented on the stock. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price objective on shares of Jefferies Financial Group from $57.00 to $50.00 and set a “market perform” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, September 29th. Weiss Ratings cut Jefferies Financial Group from a “hold (c)” rating to a “hold (c-)” rating in a report on Thursday, August 27th. UBS Group lowered their target price on Jefferies Financial Group from $65.00 to $61.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, September 11th. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on shares of Jefferies Financial Group from $50.00 to $49.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, September 29th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their target price on Jefferies Financial Group from $67.00 to $57.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, September 29th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $56.86.

Jefferies Financial Group Stock Performance

Shares of JEF opened at $45.00 on Monday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $49.57 and a 200-day simple moving average of $51.65. The company has a quick ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.09. The company has a market capitalization of $8.51 billion, a PE ratio of 12.33 and a beta of 1.57. Jefferies Financial Group has a 52-week low of $35.53 and a 52-week high of $66.60.

Jefferies Financial Group declared that its board has initiated a share buyback plan on Wednesday, June 24th that permits the company to buy back $250.00 million in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the financial services provider to reacquire up to 2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are often a sign that the company’s leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Jefferies Financial Group

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. CX Institutional raised its stake in Jefferies Financial Group by 77.6% during the second quarter. CX Institutional now owns 547 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 239 shares during the period. Basecamp Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Jefferies Financial Group by 665.4% in the 1st quarter. Basecamp Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 796 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 692 shares during the last quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Jefferies Financial Group in the 2nd quarter valued at $36,000. Trust Co. of Vermont acquired a new position in shares of Jefferies Financial Group in the 2nd quarter valued at $39,000. Finally, Versant Capital Management Inc grew its stake in shares of Jefferies Financial Group by 300.0% during the 2nd quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 928 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $46,000 after buying an additional 696 shares during the period. 60.88% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Key Stories Impacting Jefferies Financial Group

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

• Positive Sentiment: Jefferies ranked No. 1 in the 2026 Extel All-America Research Survey for total ranked analysts. The recognition reinforces the strength and breadth of JEF’s research business, potentially supporting its brand, client relationships and investment-banking franchise. Jefferies Jumps to No. 1 in the 2026 Extel All-America Research Survey for Total Ranked Analysts
• Positive Sentiment: At its investor day, Jefferies highlighted a strengthening global platform and potential for earnings growth. The presentation and management commentary provide a constructive long-term narrative for revenue diversification and profitability. Jefferies Showcases Strengthening Global Platform and Earnings Growth
• Neutral Sentiment: Jefferies’ analyst activity on Punjab National Bank, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Axis Bank primarily affects those Indian lenders rather than JEF directly. The coverage does, however, underscore the firm’s ongoing international research presence and client reach.
• Negative Sentiment: JEF shares faced pressure around the investor day as management sought to reassure investors, suggesting that the market viewed parts of the outlook or near-term guidance cautiously despite the company’s longer-term growth claims. Jefferies stock slides as management seeks to reassure at investor day
• Negative Sentiment: Wall Street Zen cut Jefferies Financial Group’s rating to Hold, adding a more cautious external view of the stock and potentially limiting near-term upside. Jefferies Financial Group Stock Rating Cut to Hold
• Neutral Sentiment: Jefferies lowered its price target for EyePoint Pharmaceuticals after a trial disappointment and layoffs. This is an analyst action on another company and has no direct fundamental impact on JEF.

About Jefferies Financial Group

Jefferies Financial Group Inc (NYSE:JEF) is a diversified financial services company that operates primarily through its investment banking and capital markets subsidiary, Jefferies LLC. The company provides advisory services for mergers and acquisitions, restructuring and other corporate transactions, along with equity and debt underwriting, securities sales and trading, research, and prime brokerage services.

Jefferies also manages and invests capital through asset management and merchant banking activities.