Stifel Reports February 2026 Operating Data

Rhea-AI Summary

Stifel Financial (NYSE: SF) reported selected operating results as of February 28, 2026, showing total client assets of $557,714 million and fee-based client assets of $228,012 million. Excluding assets from the February 2, 2026 sale of Stifel Independent Advisors, the company said fee-based and total client assets rose 19% and 12% year-over-year, respectively. Treasury deposits increased 73% year-over-year to $9,584 million, while client money market and insured products fell 6%. Management expects Q1 2026 revenue to rise 30%–40% versus Q1 2025.

Positive

• Fee-based client assets increased 16% year-over-year to $228,012 million
• Treasury deposits rose 73% year-over-year to $9,584 million
• Management guidance anticipates Q1 2026 revenue up 30%–40% versus Q1 2025

Negative

• Sale of Stifel Independent Advisors removed $9.3 billion of client assets from Feb 28, 2025 comparatives
• Client money market and insured products declined 6% year-over-year to $26,030 million

Key Figures

Total client assets: $557,714 million Fee-based client assets: $228,012 million Treasury deposits: $9,584 million +5 more

8 metrics

Total client assets $557,714 million As of February 28, 2026

Fee-based client assets $228,012 million As of February 28, 2026

Treasury deposits $9,584 million As of February 28, 2026; up 73% year-over-year

Bank loans, net $22,348 million As of February 28, 2026; up 5% year-over-year

Expected revenue growth 30%–40% Management outlook vs. first quarter of 2025

Venture banking deposits increase More than $400 million Increase in treasury deposits from venture banking growth

Total client assets ex-SIA 12% year-over-year increase Growth excluding sold Stifel Independent Advisors assets

Fee-based assets ex-SIA 19% year-over-year increase Growth excluding sold Stifel Independent Advisors assets

Market Reality Check

Price: $70.93 Vol: Volume 845,015 is below t...

low vol

$70.93 Last Close

Volume Volume 845,015 is below the 20-day average of 1,450,812, suggesting muted trading interest ahead of this update. low

Technical Shares at 72.53 are trading below the 200-day MA of 77.25, indicating a weaker longer-term trend into this report.

Peers on Argus

SF is up about 0.6% while key peers are mixed: JEF -4.37%, TW -2.76%, LPLA -0.89...

SF is up about 0.6% while key peers are mixed: JEF -4.37%, TW -2.76%, LPLA -0.89% versus EVR +0.79% and HLI +0.72%, pointing to a stock-specific response rather than a broad capital-markets move.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Mar 12 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Mar 12	Senior hires	Positive	-2.5%	Added veteran healthcare bankers to expand public finance healthcare practice.
Feb 26	Monthly operating data	Positive	-5.6%	Reported January 2026 client asset growth and strong treasury deposit increases.
Jan 28	Earnings and split	Positive	-0.1%	Record FY 2025 revenues, higher EPS, dividend hike and three-for-two split.
Jan 27	Split and dividends	Positive	-0.1%	Announced three-for-two stock split and 11% increase to common dividend.
Jan 21	Earnings call setup	Neutral	+1.7%	Scheduled Q4 and full-year 2025 results release and conference call.

Pattern Detected

Recent positive corporate updates, including strong operating data and capital-return actions, have often coincided with flat or negative next-day price moves.

Recent Company History

Over the past six months, SF has reported record FY 2025 results, a three-for-two stock split, and an 11% dividend increase, alongside regular monthly operating updates showing rising client assets and treasury deposits. Despite these mostly constructive fundamentals, shares often fell after good news, including the strong January 31, 2026 operating data. The February operating metrics and outlook for a 30%–40% first-quarter revenue increase extend this narrative of operating strength versus a more cautious market reaction.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights continued growth in total client assets, fee-based assets, and a 73% ye...

Analysis

This announcement highlights continued growth in total client assets, fee-based assets, and a 73% year-over-year increase in treasury deposits, even after the sale of Stifel Independent Advisors. Management also projected a 30%–40% revenue increase versus the first quarter of 2025. Recent history shows regular operating updates, record 2025 results, and capital-return actions. Investors may watch whether asset growth, venture banking deposits, and investment banking activity remain at these elevated levels.

Key Terms

fee-based client assets, client money market and insured products, treasury deposits, sweep deposits, +1 more

5 terms

fee-based client assets financial

"Excluding assets related to this transaction, total client assets and fee-based client assets increased 12% and 19% year-over-year"

Money and investments that a financial firm manages for clients where the firm is paid a regular fee (often a percentage of the assets) rather than earning commissions on trades. Investors care because fee-based arrangements create steadier, predictable revenue for the firm and align its incentive to grow client portfolios over time, much like paying a gardener a steady wage to care for a garden rather than paying per plant trimmed.

client money market and insured products financial

"Client money market and insured products rose 1% from January, while venture banking growth increased treasury deposits"

Cash that clients keep with a broker or bank and that is placed in short-term, low-risk vehicles—typically money market funds or insured bank products such as checking/savings accounts and certificates of deposit backed by government deposit insurance. Think of it as putting money in a high-quality short-term holding area: it’s meant to preserve capital and provide quick access while earning a small return. Investors care because these choices affect how safe their cash is, how quickly it can be used, and how much return it generates compared with other investments.

treasury deposits financial

"venture banking growth increased treasury deposits by more than $400 million"

Treasury deposits are cash that a government’s finance office or a company’s treasury team keeps in bank accounts or very short-term safe instruments to manage day-to-day bills and reserves. Think of it like the checking and savings accounts a household uses to pay rent and cover emergencies; for investors, the size and location of these deposits indicate liquidity, short-term safety, and how much money is parked with particular banks, which can affect credit and counterparty risk.

sweep deposits financial

"Includes Smart Rate deposits, Sweep deposits, Third-party Bank Sweep Program, and Other Sweep cash."

Sweep deposits are a bank or brokerage feature that automatically moves idle cash from a checking or brokerage account into short-term interest-earning accounts or investments overnight, then returns it when you need to spend or trade. For investors this is important because it boosts the return on idle cash without manual steps while preserving quick access, and the specific destination affects interest earned and the type of protection (like deposit insurance) your cash receives.

third-party bank sweep program financial

"Includes Smart Rate deposits, Sweep deposits, Third-party Bank Sweep Program, and Other Sweep cash."

A third-party bank sweep program automatically moves uninvested cash from an account at a brokerage or financial firm into deposit accounts at outside banks so the money can earn interest and often receive federal deposit insurance. Think of it like an automatic system that tucks spare change into several separate piggy banks to earn a little return and reduce the risk of losing all your cash if one bank fails. Investors care because the program affects how much idle cash earns, how quickly it can be accessed, and what kinds of safety or counterparty risk apply.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

ST. LOUIS, March 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE: SF) today reported selected operating results for February 28, 2026, to provide timely information to investors on certain key performance metrics. Due to the limited nature of this data, a consistent correlation to earnings should not be assumed.

Ronald J. Kruszewski, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, “On February 2, 2026, we completed the sale of Stifel Independent Advisors, LLC. Excluding assets related to this transaction, total client assets and fee-based client assets increased 12% and 19% year-over-year, driven by equity market appreciation and strong advisor recruiting. Client money market and insured products rose 1% from January, while venture banking growth increased treasury deposits by more than $400 million. Despite recent market volatility, first-quarter 2026 investment banking activity remains well above prior-year levels, and we expect revenue to increase 30%–40% versus the first quarter of 2025.”

Selected Operating Data (Unaudited)
	As of						% Change
(millions)	2/28/2026		2/28/2025(1)		1/31/2026(2)		2/28/2025		1/31/2026
Total client assets	$557,714		$506,475		$561,061		10	%	(1)	%
Fee-based client assets	$228,012		$196,380		$229,423		16	%	(1)	%
Private Client Group fee-based client assets	$199,191		$171,760		$201,396		16	%	(1)	%
Bank loans, net (includes loans held for sale)	$22,348		$21,201		$22,311		5	%	0	%
Client money market and insured product(3)	$26,030		$27,737		$25,911		(6)	%	1	%
Treasury deposits(4)	$9,584		$5,557		$9,139		73	%	5	%

(1)	Total client assets and Private Client Group fee-based client assets as of February 28, 2025, include $9.3 billion and $4.3 billion, respectively, of client assets from the Stifel Independent Advisors business that was sold on February 2, 2026.
(2)	Total client assets and Private Client Group fee-based client assets as of January 31, 2026, include $10.0 billion and $4.9 billion, respectively, of client assets from the Stifel Independent Advisors business that was sold on February 2, 2026.
(3)	Includes Smart Rate deposits, Sweep deposits, Third-party Bank Sweep Program, and Other Sweep cash.
(4)	Includes Other Bank deposits and Third-party Commercial Treasury deposits, which represent Venture, Fund, and Commercial deposits at Stifel Bancorp and third-party banks.

Company Information

Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE: SF) is a diversified financial services firm providing wealth management, commercial and investment banking, trading, and research services to individuals, institutions, and municipalities. Founded in 1890 and headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, the firm operates more than 400 offices across the United States and in major global financial centers. As a firm where success meets success, Stifel works closely with retail and institutional clients aiming to transform opportunities into achievement. To learn more about Stifel, please visit the Company’s website at www.stifel.com. For global disclosures, please visit www.stifel.com/investor-relations/press-releases.

Media Contact:
Neil Shapiro
(212) 271-3447

Investor Contact:
Joel Jeffrey
(212) 271- 3610

FAQ

What were Stifel's total client assets as of February 28, 2026 (NYSE: SF)?

Total client assets were reported as $557,714 million as of February 28, 2026. According to the company, this figure reflects the firm's balances after the February 2, 2026 sale of Stifel Independent Advisors and includes month-end reconciliations.

How much did Stifel's fee-based client assets change year-over-year (SF, Feb 28, 2026)?

Fee-based client assets were $228,012 million, up 16% year-over-year. According to the company, excluding assets tied to the February 2 sale, fee-based assets rose about 19% year-over-year, driven by market appreciation and advisor recruiting.

What drove the 73% increase in Stifel's treasury deposits (SF) in February 2026?

Treasury deposits reached $9,584 million, a 73% year-over-year increase. According to the company, growth reflected venture banking and increased treasury deposits from venture, fund, and commercial customers at Stifel Bancorp and third-party banks.

How did the sale of Stifel Independent Advisors affect SF's February 2026 comparisons?

The sale removed $9.3 billion of client assets from the Feb 28, 2025 comparatives. According to the company, adjusted year-over-year growth rates for total and fee-based assets exclude those sold assets for clearer comparisons.

What is Stifel's revenue outlook for Q1 2026 (NYSE: SF)?

Management expects Q1 2026 revenue to increase 30%–40% versus Q1 2025. According to the company, stronger investment banking activity and market appreciation underpin the near-term revenue outlook despite recent market volatility.