KBC Group NV Buys 1,086 Shares of Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:JEF)

KBC Group NV boosted its position in shares of Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:JEF) by 1.0% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 110,259 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,086 shares during the period. KBC Group NV owned about 0.05% of Jefferies Financial Group worth $6,786,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC grew its holdings in shares of Jefferies Financial Group by 1,386.7% during the second quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 141,963 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $7,064,000 after buying an additional 132,414 shares in the last quarter. Fulton Bank N.A. bought a new stake in shares of Jefferies Financial Group in the second quarter worth $726,000. Lisanti Capital Growth LLC acquired a new position in Jefferies Financial Group during the third quarter worth $1,718,000. Seven Eight Capital LP grew its position in Jefferies Financial Group by 199.1% in the first quarter. Seven Eight Capital LP now owns 27,541 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,215,000 after purchasing an additional 18,332 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System lifted its position in Jefferies Financial Group by 5.9% during the 1st quarter. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System now owns 263,504 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $11,621,000 after buying an additional 14,612 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 60.88% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Mitsui Financial Grou Sumitomo purchased 9,247,081 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 19th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $59.67 per share, with a total value of $551,773,323.27. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 9,247,081 shares in the company, valued at approximately $551,773,323.27. This trade represents a ∞ increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, President Brian P. Friedman sold 200,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, October 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $63.09, for a total value of $12,618,000.00. Following the transaction, the president now owns 604,606 shares in the company, valued at $38,144,592.54. The trade was a 24.86 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 1,286,923 shares of company stock valued at $88,999,151. Company insiders own 20.40% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts recently issued reports on the company. Oppenheimer lifted their target price on Jefferies Financial Group from $73.00 to $83.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday. UBS Group initiated coverage on Jefferies Financial Group in a research report on Tuesday, September 17th. They set a “buy” rating and a $67.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on Jefferies Financial Group from $59.00 to $64.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, September 23rd.

Jefferies Financial Group Trading Up 1.0 %

Shares of NYSE:JEF opened at $74.20 on Friday. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. has a 52-week low of $34.34 and a 52-week high of $75.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a current ratio of 1.03. The company has a market capitalization of $15.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.71 and a beta of 1.31. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $64.40 and a 200 day simple moving average of $55.75.

Jefferies Financial Group (NYSE:JEF) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, September 25th. The financial services provider reported $0.75 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.78 by ($0.03). Jefferies Financial Group had a return on equity of 6.40% and a net margin of 9.27%. The business had revenue of $1.68 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.71 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.32 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 42.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts forecast that Jefferies Financial Group Inc. will post 3.13 earnings per share for the current year.

Jefferies Financial Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 27th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 18th will be given a $0.35 dividend. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.89%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 18th. Jefferies Financial Group’s payout ratio is presently 59.83%.

Jefferies Financial Group Company Profile

Jefferies Financial Group Inc operates as an investment banking and capital markets firm in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific. 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, debt financing, restructurings or recapitalizations, and private capital advisory transactions; underwriting and placement services related to corporate debt, municipal bonds, mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, equity and equity-linked securities, and loan syndication services; and corporate lending services.