Jefferies Financial Group Inc. $JEF Shares Sold by Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC

Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC reduced its position in shares of Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:JEF) by 36.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 18,646 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 10,629 shares during the period. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC’s holdings in Jefferies Financial Group were worth $835,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. BlackRock Inc. purchased a new position in Jefferies Financial Group during the second quarter worth about $834,947,000. Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Jefferies Financial Group during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $127,242,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in shares of Jefferies Financial Group by 2.2% during the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 2,666,097 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $110,015,000 after buying an additional 58,585 shares during the period. Bamco Inc. NY purchased a new stake in shares of Jefferies Financial Group during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $107,044,000. Finally, Freestone Grove Partners LP purchased a new stake in shares of Jefferies Financial Group during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $79,537,000. 60.88% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Jefferies Financial Group Stock Performance

Shares of JEF stock opened at $47.98 on Wednesday. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $47.72 and its 200-day moving average price is $50.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.09, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a current ratio of 1.02. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. has a one year low of $35.53 and a one year high of $66.60. The firm has a market cap of $9.07 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.15 and a beta of 1.54.

Jefferies Financial Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 25th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 16th will be given a $0.40 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 16th. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.3%. Jefferies Financial Group’s payout ratio is presently 43.84%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages recently weighed in on JEF. Capital One Financial set a $50.00 price objective on Jefferies Financial Group in a research report on Tuesday, September 29th. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price target on Jefferies Financial Group from $57.00 to $50.00 and set a “market perform” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, September 29th. Wall Street Zen cut Jefferies Financial Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, October 19th. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price target on Jefferies Financial Group from $67.00 to $57.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, September 29th. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on Jefferies Financial Group from $50.00 to $49.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, September 29th. 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, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $56.86.

About Jefferies Financial Group

Jefferies Financial Group Inc. is a global financial services company whose principal business is conducted through Jefferies, its investment banking and capital markets business. Jefferies advises companies and financial sponsors on mergers and acquisitions, restructurings and other strategic matters, and helps clients raise capital through debt and equity offerings. It also provides securities research, sales and trading, and related services to institutional investors and other clients. The company serves clients across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.