Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:JEF) Shares Acquired by Catalyst Funds Management Pty Ltd

Catalyst Funds Management Pty Ltd raised its holdings in shares of Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:JEF - Free Report) by 813.9% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 16,450 shares of the financial services provider's stock after buying an additional 14,650 shares during the period. Catalyst Funds Management Pty Ltd's holdings in Jefferies Financial Group were worth $1,290,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Hemington Wealth Management lifted its position in Jefferies Financial Group by 71.8% during the fourth quarter. Hemington Wealth Management now owns 335 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 140 shares during the last quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC purchased a new position in Jefferies Financial Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Stephens Consulting LLC purchased a new position in Jefferies Financial Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its position in shares of Jefferies Financial Group by 158.3% in the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 514 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $40,000 after buying an additional 315 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB purchased a new position in shares of Jefferies Financial Group in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $32,000. 60.88% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Jefferies Financial Group Price Performance

Shares of Jefferies Financial Group stock traded up $0.85 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $59.31. 2,141,939 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,413,968. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. has a 1 year low of $40.72 and a 1 year high of $82.68. The company has a market capitalization of $12.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.90 and a beta of 1.37. The business has a fifty day moving average of $69.13 and a two-hundred day moving average of $69.49. The company has a quick ratio of 1.07, a current ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.57.

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Jefferies Financial Group (NYSE:JEF - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 8th. The financial services provider reported $0.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.97 by ($0.06). Jefferies Financial Group had a net margin of 10.57% and a return on equity of 7.92%. The firm had revenue of $1.96 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.83 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.30 EPS. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 63.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that Jefferies Financial Group Inc. will post 4.41 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Jefferies Financial Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 14th were given a $0.40 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 14th. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.70%. This is a boost from Jefferies Financial Group's previous quarterly dividend of $0.35. Jefferies Financial Group's dividend payout ratio is presently 53.69%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts recently commented on JEF shares. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on shares of Jefferies Financial Group from $92.00 to $81.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 13th. Oppenheimer cut shares of Jefferies Financial Group from an "outperform" rating to a "market perform" rating in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group set a $75.00 price target on shares of Jefferies Financial Group in a report on Wednesday, March 5th.

About Jefferies Financial Group

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.