Jefferies Announces Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results
Key Terms
compensation ratio financial
form 10-q regulatory
forward-looking statements regulatory
goodwill financial
Quarterly Record Combined Investment Banking Advisory and Underwriting Net Revenues, as well as Quarterly Record Equities Net Revenues
Q2 Financial Highlights
$ in thousands, except per share amounts |
Quarter End |
Year-to-Date |
||||||||||
|
|
2Q26 |
|
|
2Q25 |
|
|
2026 |
|
|
2025 |
|
Net earnings attributable to common shareholders |
$ |
226,234 |
|
$ |
88,017 |
|
$ |
382,161 |
|
$ |
215,955 |
|
Diluted earnings per voting common share |
$ |
1.02 |
|
$ |
0.40 |
|
$ |
1.70 |
|
$ |
0.97 |
|
Return on adjusted tangible shareholders' equity1 |
|
12.8 |
% |
|
5.5 |
% |
|
12.2 |
% |
|
6.9 |
% |
Total net revenues |
$ |
2,206,451 |
|
$ |
1,634,447 |
|
$ |
4,223,581 |
|
$ |
3,227,466 |
|
Investment banking net revenues |
$ |
1,206,820 |
|
$ |
766,307 |
|
$ |
2,224,113 |
|
$ |
1,466,999 |
|
Capital markets net revenues |
$ |
799,292 |
|
$ |
704,155 |
|
$ |
1,578,048 |
|
$ |
1,402,439 |
|
Asset management net revenues |
$ |
187,718 |
|
$ |
154,621 |
|
$ |
407,980 |
|
$ |
346,336 |
|
Pre-tax earnings |
$ |
315,549 |
|
$ |
134,901 |
|
$ |
527,765 |
|
$ |
285,966 |
|
Book value per common share |
$ |
51.95 |
|
$ |
49.96 |
|
$ |
51.95 |
|
$ |
49.96 |
|
Adjusted tangible book value per fully diluted share3 |
$ |
34.55 |
|
$ |
32.84 |
|
$ |
34.55 |
|
$ |
32.84 |
|
Quarterly Cash Dividend and Stock Buyback Activity
The Jefferies Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend equal to
During the quarter, we repurchased 4.0 million shares of common stock for
Management Comments
"Our strong second quarter net revenues of
"The continued acceleration in our core businesses during the second quarter drove record first half net revenues in Advisory, total Investment Banking, Equities, total Capital Markets and combined Investment Banking and Capital Markets. We expect to build further on this momentum in coming periods.
“Investment Banking net revenues were
"Capital Markets net revenues were
"Asset management fees and investment return revenues were
Richard Handler, CEO, and Brian Friedman, President
Financial Summary (Unaudited)
$ in thousands |
Three Months Ended |
Six Months Ended |
|||||||||||||
|
May 31,
|
February 28,
|
May 31,
|
May 31,
|
May 31,
|
||||||||||
Net revenues by source: |
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
Advisory |
$ |
674,118 |
|
$ |
527,128 |
|
$ |
457,860 |
|
$ |
1,201,246 |
|
$ |
855,640 |
|
Equity underwriting |
|
370,691 |
|
|
305,969 |
|
|
122,366 |
|
|
676,660 |
|
|
250,886 |
|
Debt underwriting |
|
160,186 |
|
|
181,858 |
|
|
205,363 |
|
|
342,044 |
|
|
404,725 |
|
Other investment banking |
|
1,825 |
|
|
2,338 |
|
|
(19,282 |
) |
|
4,163 |
|
|
(44,252 |
) |
Total Investment Banking |
|
1,206,820 |
|
|
1,017,293 |
|
|
766,307 |
|
|
2,224,113 |
|
|
1,466,999 |
|
Equities |
|
600,751 |
|
|
558,488 |
|
|
526,244 |
|
|
1,159,239 |
|
|
935,302 |
|
Fixed income |
|
198,541 |
|
|
220,268 |
|
|
177,911 |
|
|
418,809 |
|
|
467,137 |
|
Total Capital Markets |
|
799,292 |
|
|
778,756 |
|
|
704,155 |
|
|
1,578,048 |
|
|
1,402,439 |
|
Total Investment Banking and Capital Markets Net revenues5 |
|
2,006,112 |
|
|
1,796,049 |
|
|
1,470,462 |
|
|
3,802,161 |
|
|
2,869,438 |
|
Asset management fees and revenues6 |
|
15,169 |
|
|
69,910 |
|
|
20,766 |
|
|
85,079 |
|
|
109,396 |
|
Investment return |
|
31,037 |
|
|
88,992 |
|
|
50,404 |
|
|
120,029 |
|
|
44,770 |
|
Allocated net interest4 |
|
(22,935 |
) |
|
(22,238 |
) |
|
(19,144 |
) |
|
(45,173 |
) |
|
(36,365 |
) |
Other investments, inclusive of net interest |
|
164,447 |
|
|
83,598 |
|
|
102,595 |
|
|
248,045 |
|
|
228,535 |
|
Total Asset Management Net revenues |
|
187,718 |
|
|
220,262 |
|
|
154,621 |
|
|
407,980 |
|
|
346,336 |
|
Other |
|
12,621 |
|
|
819 |
|
|
9,364 |
|
|
13,440 |
|
|
11,692 |
|
Total Net revenues by source |
$ |
2,206,451 |
|
$ |
2,017,130 |
|
$ |
1,634,447 |
|
$ |
4,223,581 |
|
$ |
3,227,466 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
Non-interest expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
Compensation and benefits |
$ |
1,188,245 |
|
$ |
1,085,890 |
|
$ |
854,839 |
|
$ |
2,274,135 |
|
$ |
1,695,966 |
|
Compensation ratio13 |
|
53.9 |
% |
|
53.8 |
% |
|
52.3 |
% |
|
53.8 |
% |
|
52.5 |
% |
Non-compensation expenses |
$ |
702,657 |
|
$ |
719,024 |
|
$ |
644,707 |
|
$ |
1,421,681 |
|
$ |
1,245,534 |
|
Non-compensation ratio13 |
|
31.8 |
% |
|
35.6 |
% |
|
39.4 |
% |
|
33.7 |
% |
|
38.6 |
% |
Total Non-interest expenses |
$ |
1,890,902 |
|
$ |
1,804,914 |
|
$ |
1,499,546 |
|
$ |
3,695,816 |
|
$ |
2,941,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
Net earnings before income taxes |
$ |
315,549 |
|
$ |
212,216 |
|
$ |
134,901 |
|
$ |
527,765 |
|
$ |
285,966 |
|
Income tax expense |
$ |
65,571 |
|
$ |
52,870 |
|
$ |
43,506 |
|
$ |
118,441 |
|
$ |
57,722 |
|
Income tax rate |
|
20.8 |
% |
|
24.9 |
% |
|
32.3 |
% |
|
22.4 |
% |
|
20.2 |
% |
Net earnings |
$ |
249,978 |
|
$ |
159,346 |
|
$ |
91,395 |
|
$ |
409,324 |
|
$ |
228,244 |
|
Net losses attributable to noncontrolling interests |
|
(5,440 |
) |
|
(15,858 |
) |
|
(7,668 |
) |
|
(21,298 |
) |
|
(14,651 |
) |
Preferred stock dividends |
|
29,184 |
|
|
19,504 |
|
|
11,046 |
|
|
48,461 |
|
|
26,940 |
|
Net earnings attributable to common shareholders |
$ |
226,234 |
|
$ |
155,700 |
|
$ |
88,017 |
|
$ |
382,161 |
|
$ |
215,955 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
Results Discussion
Three Months Ended May 31, 2026 Versus May 31, 2025 |
|
Six Months Ended May 31, 2026 Versus May 31, 2025 |
|
|
|
Investment Banking and Capital Markets |
|
Investment Banking and Capital Markets |
|
|
|
Asset Management |
|
Asset Management |
|
|
|
Non-interest Expenses |
|
Non-interest Expenses |
|
|
|
* * * *
Amounts herein pertaining to May 31, 2026 represent a preliminary estimate as of the date of this earnings release and may be revised upon filing our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). More information on our results of operations for the three and six months ended May 31, 2026 will be provided upon filing our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the SEC, which we expect to file on or about July 9, 2026.
This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on current views and include statements about our future and statements that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements are usually preceded by the words “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “will,” "would," or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements may contain expectations regarding revenues, earnings, operations, and other results, and may include statements of future performance, plans, and objectives. Forward-looking statements may also include statements pertaining to our strategies for future development of our businesses and products. Forward-looking statements represent only our belief regarding future events, many of which by their nature are inherently uncertain. It is possible that the actual results may differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results indicated in these forward-looking statements. Information regarding important factors, including Risk Factors that could cause actual results to differ, perhaps materially, from those in our forward-looking statements is contained in reports we file with the SEC. You should read and interpret any forward-looking statement together with reports we file with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statement to reflect subsequent circumstances.
Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk. Therefore, it should not be assumed that future performance of any specific investment or investment strategy will be profitable or equal the corresponding indicated performance level(s).
Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Unaudited)
$ in thousands, except per share amounts |
Three Months Ended May 31, |
Six Months Ended May 31, |
||||||||||
|
|
2026 |
|
|
2025 |
|
|
2026 |
|
|
2025 |
|
Revenues |
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Investment banking |
$ |
1,209,625 |
|
$ |
789,269 |
|
$ |
2,227,909 |
|
$ |
1,518,779 |
|
Principal transactions |
|
488,666 |
|
|
338,507 |
|
|
976,164 |
|
|
745,737 |
|
Commissions and other fees |
|
400,614 |
|
|
353,233 |
|
|
768,218 |
|
|
641,533 |
|
Asset management fees and revenues |
|
9,788 |
|
|
20,076 |
|
|
77,150 |
|
|
105,484 |
|
Interest |
|
853,962 |
|
|
878,025 |
|
|
1,667,081 |
|
|
1,723,196 |
|
Other |
|
155,542 |
|
|
115,205 |
|
|
272,940 |
|
|
232,450 |
|
Total revenues |
|
3,118,197 |
|
|
2,494,315 |
|
|
5,989,462 |
|
|
4,967,179 |
|
Interest expense |
|
911,746 |
|
|
859,868 |
|
|
1,765,881 |
|
|
1,739,713 |
|
Net revenues |
|
2,206,451 |
|
|
1,634,447 |
|
|
4,223,581 |
|
|
3,227,466 |
|
Non-interest expenses |
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Compensation and benefits |
|
1,188,245 |
|
|
854,839 |
|
|
2,274,135 |
|
|
1,695,966 |
|
Brokerage and clearing fees |
|
147,446 |
|
|
129,745 |
|
|
280,578 |
|
|
239,181 |
|
Underwriting costs |
|
26,858 |
|
|
14,525 |
|
|
58,241 |
|
|
32,371 |
|
Technology and communications |
|
162,860 |
|
|
146,198 |
|
|
322,718 |
|
|
285,673 |
|
Occupancy and equipment rental |
|
34,499 |
|
|
30,711 |
|
|
68,359 |
|
|
60,910 |
|
Business development |
|
89,108 |
|
|
80,070 |
|
|
164,530 |
|
|
152,361 |
|
Professional services |
|
98,707 |
|
|
77,768 |
|
|
175,651 |
|
|
150,234 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
47,328 |
|
|
52,253 |
|
|
104,193 |
|
|
83,241 |
|
Cost of sales |
|
31,253 |
|
|
42,961 |
|
|
61,173 |
|
|
84,529 |
|
Other expenses |
|
64,598 |
|
|
70,476 |
|
|
186,238 |
|
|
157,034 |
|
Total non-interest expenses |
|
1,890,902 |
|
|
1,499,546 |
|
|
3,695,816 |
|
|
2,941,500 |
|
Earnings before income taxes |
|
315,549 |
|
|
134,901 |
|
|
527,765 |
|
|
285,966 |
|
Income tax expense |
|
65,571 |
|
|
43,506 |
|
|
118,441 |
|
|
57,722 |
|
Net earnings |
|
249,978 |
|
|
91,395 |
|
|
409,324 |
|
|
228,244 |
|
Net losses attributable to noncontrolling interests |
|
(5,440 |
) |
|
(7,668 |
) |
|
(21,298 |
) |
|
(14,651 |
) |
Preferred stock dividends |
|
29,184 |
|
|
11,046 |
|
|
48,461 |
|
|
26,940 |
|
Net earnings attributable to common shareholders |
$ |
226,234 |
|
$ |
88,017 |
|
$ |
382,161 |
|
$ |
215,955 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Financial Data and Metrics (Unaudited)
|
Three Months Ended |
Six Months Ended |
||||||||
|
May 31,
|
February 28,
|
May 31,
|
May 31,
|
May 31,
|
|||||
Other Data: |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Number of trading days |
|
63 |
|
61 |
|
63 |
|
124 |
|
124 |
Number of trading loss days7 |
|
0 |
|
1 |
|
13 |
|
1 |
|
17 |
Average VaR (in millions)8 |
$ |
10.31 |
$ |
9.78 |
$ |
11.89 |
$ |
10.05 |
$ |
12.50 |
In millions, except other data |
May 31,
|
February 28,
|
May 31,
|
|||
Financial position: |
|
|
|
|||
Total assets |
$ |
79,540 |
$ |
74,380 |
$ |
67,285 |
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
14,315 |
|
11,963 |
|
11,260 |
Financial instruments owned |
|
28,038 |
|
28,079 |
|
25,570 |
Level 3 financial instruments owned9 |
|
839 |
|
849 |
|
763 |
Goodwill and intangible assets, net14 |
|
1,974 |
|
1,979 |
|
2,060 |
Total equity |
|
10,607 |
|
10,662 |
|
10,382 |
Total shareholders' equity |
|
10,567 |
|
10,611 |
|
10,305 |
Tangible shareholders' equity10 |
|
8,593 |
|
8,632 |
|
8,245 |
Other data and financial ratios: |
|
|
|
|||
Leverage ratio11 |
|
7.5 |
|
7.0 |
|
6.5 |
Tangible gross leverage ratio12 |
|
9.0 |
|
8.4 |
|
7.9 |
Number of employees at period end |
|
7,371 |
|
7,596 |
|
7,671 |
Number of employees excluding Tessellis and Stratos at period end |
|
6,236 |
|
6,221 |
|
5,949 |
Non-GAAP Reconciliations
The following tables reconcile our non-GAAP financial measures to their respective
Return on Adjusted Tangible Equity Reconciliation
$ in thousands |
Three Months Ended May 31, |
Six Months Ended May 31, |
||||||||||
|
|
2026 |
|
|
2025 |
|
|
2026 |
|
|
2025 |
|
Net earnings attributable to common shareholders (GAAP) |
$ |
226,234 |
|
$ |
88,017 |
|
$ |
382,161 |
|
$ |
215,955 |
|
Intangible amortization and impairment expense, net of tax15 |
|
1,682 |
|
|
5,824 |
|
|
48,170 |
|
|
13,093 |
|
Adjusted net earnings to common shareholders (non-GAAP) |
|
227,916 |
|
|
93,841 |
|
|
430,331 |
|
|
229,048 |
|
Preferred stock dividends |
|
29,184 |
|
|
11,046 |
|
|
48,461 |
|
|
26,940 |
|
Adjusted net earnings to total shareholders (non-GAAP) |
$ |
257,100 |
|
$ |
104,887 |
|
$ |
478,792 |
|
$ |
255,988 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Adjusted net earnings to total shareholders (non-GAAP)1 |
$ |
1,028,400 |
|
$ |
419,548 |
|
$ |
957,584 |
|
$ |
511,976 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
February 28, |
November 30, |
||||||||||
|
|
2026 |
|
|
2025 |
|
|
2025 |
|
|
2024 |
|
Shareholders' equity (GAAP) |
$ |
10,610,845 |
|
$ |
10,204,228 |
|
$ |
10,574,696 |
|
$ |
10,156,772 |
|
Less: Goodwill and intangible assets, net |
|
(1,978,652 |
) |
|
(2,037,906 |
) |
|
(2,040,147 |
) |
|
(2,054,310 |
) |
Less: Deferred tax asset, net |
|
(493,427 |
) |
|
(507,452 |
) |
|
(459,052 |
) |
|
(497,590 |
) |
Less: Weighted average impact of dividends and share repurchases |
|
(112,340 |
) |
|
(67,343 |
) |
|
(244,489 |
) |
|
(157,540 |
) |
Adjusted tangible shareholders' equity (non-GAAP) |
$ |
8,026,426 |
|
$ |
7,591,527 |
|
$ |
7,831,008 |
|
$ |
7,447,332 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Return on adjusted tangible shareholders' equity (non-GAAP)1 |
|
12.8 |
% |
|
5.5 |
% |
|
12.2 |
% |
|
6.9 |
% |
Adjusted Tangible Book Value and Fully Diluted Shares Outstanding Reconciliation
Reconciliation of book value (shareholders' equity) to adjusted tangible book value and common shares outstanding to fully diluted shares outstanding:
$ in thousands, except per share amounts |
May 31, 2026 |
May 31, 2025 |
|||||
Book value (GAAP) |
$ |
10,566,996 |
|
$ |
10,305,025 |
|
|
Stock options(1) |
|
114,939 |
|
|
114,939 |
|
|
Goodwill and intangible assets, net(2) |
|
(1,974,240 |
) |
|
(2,060,018 |
) |
|
Adjusted tangible book value (non-GAAP) |
$ |
8,707,695 |
|
$ |
8,359,946 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Voting common shares outstanding (GAAP) |
|
194,145 |
|
|
206,272 |
|
|
Non-voting common shares outstanding (GAAP) |
|
9,247 |
|
|
— |
|
|
Preferred shares |
|
27,563 |
|
|
27,563 |
|
|
Restricted stock units ("RSUs") |
|
14,251 |
|
|
14,099 |
|
|
Stock options(1) |
|
5,064 |
|
|
5,064 |
|
|
Other |
|
1,758 |
|
|
1,566 |
|
|
Adjusted fully diluted shares outstanding (non-GAAP)(3) |
|
252,028 |
|
|
254,564 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Book value per common share outstanding |
$ |
51.95 |
|
$ |
49.96 |
|
|
Adjusted tangible book value per fully diluted share outstanding (non-GAAP) |
$ |
34.55 |
|
$ |
32.84 |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
(1) |
Stock options added to book value are equal to the total number of stock options outstanding as of May 31, 2026 and 2025 of 5.1 million multiplied by the exercise price of |
||||||
(2) |
Includes goodwill and intangible assets related to Tessellis which were reclassified to assets held for sale during the first quarter of 2026. |
||||||
(3) |
Fully diluted shares outstanding include vested and unvested RSUs as well as the target number of RSUs issuable under the senior executive compensation plans until the performance period is complete. Fully diluted shares outstanding also include all stock options and the impact of convertible preferred shares if-converted to common shares. |
||||||
Notes
-
Return on adjusted tangible shareholders' equity represents a non-GAAP financial measure and is based on full year or annualized amounts. Refer to schedule on page 8 for a reconciliation to
U.S . GAAP amounts. -
Shares outstanding on a fully diluted basis (a non-GAAP financial measure) is defined as common shares outstanding plus preferred shares, restricted stock units, stock options and other shares. Refer to schedule on page 9 for a reconciliation to
U.S . GAAP amounts. -
Adjusted tangible book value per fully diluted share (a non-GAAP financial measure) is defined as adjusted tangible book value (a non-GAAP financial measure) divided by shares outstanding on a fully diluted basis (a non-GAAP financial measure). Refer to schedule on page 9 for a reconciliation to
U.S . GAAP amounts. - Allocated net interest represents an allocation to Asset Management of certain of our long-term debt interest expense, net of interest income on our Cash and cash equivalents and other sources of liquidity. Allocated net interest has been disaggregated to increase transparency and to present direct Asset Management revenues. We believe that aggregating Allocated net interest would obscure the revenue results by including an amount that is unique to our credit spreads, debt maturity profile, capital structure, liquidity risks and allocation methods.
- Allocated net interest is not separately disaggregated for Investment Banking and Capital Markets. This presentation is aligned to our Investment Banking and Capital Markets internal performance measurement.
- Asset management fees and revenues include management and performance fees from funds and accounts managed by us, revenue from strategic affiliated asset managers where we are entitled to portions their operating revenues and income based on our ownership interests in the affiliates.
- Number of trading loss days is calculated based on trading activities in our Investment Banking and Capital Markets and Asset Management business segments, excluding certain Other investments.
-
VaR estimates the potential loss in value of trading positions due to adverse market movements over a one-day time horizon with a
95% confidence level. For a further discussion of the calculation of VaR, see "Value-at-Risk" in Part II, Item 7A "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2025. - Level 3 financial instruments represent those financial instruments classified as such under Accounting Standards Codification 820, accounted for at fair value and included within Financial instruments owned.
- Tangible shareholders' equity (a non-GAAP financial measure) is defined as shareholders' equity less Intangible assets and goodwill. We believe that tangible shareholders' equity is meaningful for valuation purposes, as financial companies are often measured as a multiple of tangible shareholders' equity, making these ratios meaningful for investors.
- Leverage ratio equals total assets divided by total equity.
- Tangible gross leverage ratio (a non-GAAP financial measure) equals total assets less goodwill and intangible assets divided by tangible shareholders' equity. The tangible gross leverage ratio is used by rating agencies in assessing our leverage ratio.
- Compensation ratio equals total compensation expense divided by total net revenues. Non-compensation ratio equals total non-compensation expense divided by total net revenues.
- Includes goodwill and intangible assets related to Tessellis which were reclassified to assets held for sale during the first quarter of 2026.
-
Includes a
after-tax write-down of goodwill associated with Tessellis for the six months ended May 31, 2026.$35.5 million
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260624112595/en/
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Jonathan Freedman 212.778.8913
Source: Jefferies Financial Group Inc.