Jefferies Financial Group Inc. Q3 FY26 Results

Our third quarter net revenues were $2.22 billion, net earnings attributable to common shareholders were $261 million, diluted earnings per voting common share were $1.08 and return on adjusted tangible shareholders' equity was 13.5%, reflecting record quarterly results in Investment Banking and Equities, offset by a more subdued market for Fixed Income and a more challenging backdrop for certain funds in our Asset Management business. We believe the results of our third quarter demonstrate the strength and momentum of our business and are a strong foundation on which we can continue to build in future periods. We are very optimistic about the trajectory of Jefferies and our ability to achieve meaningfully higher operating margins and earnings as we complete the sale of Tessellis and continue to wind down the remainder of our legacy merchant banking investments. We are keenly focused on improving the consistency and quality of our earnings. Our Investment Banking and Equities businesses continued to gain momentum in the third quarter, driving quarterly record net revenues in Advisory, total Investment Banking, Equities and combined Investment Banking and Capital Markets. These results demonstrate the strength and breadth of our business, as well as the benefits of our long-term investments, and reflect the trust our clients put in us and our ability to serve them globally. Investment Banking net revenues were $1.33 billion, up 17% from the prior year quarter, with Advisory delivering a record quarter, up 25% versus last year, and Equity Underwriting up 69%. Our results were driven by a strong market opportunity and continued market share gains. We continue to expand our M&A business, led by strong sponsor-led activity during the quarter particularly in the healthcare, industrials and energy sectors. We are very optimistic about the balance of 2026 and our momentum heading into 2027, supported by the breadth and strength of our current backlog and new business activity. Capital Markets net revenues were $802 million, up 11% from the prior year quarter. Equities record quarterly net revenues of $626 million, up 29% from the prior year quarter, were driven by global cash and electronic trading, as well as continued growth in prime services. Our prime services business continues to strengthen its global position as a trusted partner to leading, well-diversified hedge funds, which enhances the quality, consistency and durability of our Equities revenues. Our equity options and structured derivatives businesses also continue to expand in partnership with our investment banking business. Fixed Income net revenues were $176 million, down 26% from the prior year quarter, reflecting ongoing slowness in market activity. Asset management fees and investment return revenues were $34 million compared to the prior year quarter of $84 million, reflecting weaker performance across several fund strategies. We remain confident in the long-term outlook for the business as we continue to reposition the platform by reducing capital allocated to certain existing funds consistent with the strategy we outlined last fall when we announced our intent to acquire and fund a 50% interest in Hildene. We are also continuing to expand our strategic alliance with SMBC. As expected, SMBC has increased its equity ownership in Jefferies to approximately 20% to become our largest shareholder. In Japan, our planned joint venture with SMBC represents a significant opportunity to align SMBC and SMBC Nikko’s domestic market expertise and balance sheet strength with Jefferies’ global Equities platform, global client relationships and trading technology. Expected to begin serving clients in January 2027, the joint venture is intended to scale a leading wholesale equities and equity capital markets business in Japan. We expect this to become a template for other ways to work together globally with our partners at SMBC.

Our third quarter net revenues were $2.22 billion, net earnings attributable to common shareholders were $261 million, diluted earnings per voting common share were $1.08 and return on adjusted tangible shareholders' equity was 13.5%, reflecting record quarterly results in Investment Banking and Equities, offset by a more subdued market for Fixed Income and a more challenging backdrop for certain funds in our Asset Management business. We believe the results of our third quarter demonstrate the strength and momentum of our business and are a strong foundation on which we can continue to build in future periods. We are very optimistic about the trajectory of Jefferies and our ability to achieve meaningfully higher operating margins and earnings as we complete the sale of Tessellis and continue to wind down the remainder of our legacy merchant banking investments. We are keenly focused on improving the consistency and quality of our earnings. Our Investment Banking and Equities businesses continued to gain momentum in the third quarter, driving quarterly record net revenues in Advisory, total Investment Banking, Equities and combined Investment Banking and Capital Markets. These results demonstrate the strength and breadth of our business, as well as the benefits of our long-term investments, and reflect the trust our clients put in us and our ability to serve them globally. Investment Banking net revenues were $1.33 billion, up 17% from the prior year quarter, with Advisory delivering a record quarter, up 25% versus last year, and Equity Underwriting up 69%. Our results were driven by a strong market opportunity and continued market share gains. We continue to expand our M&A business, led by strong sponsor-led activity during the quarter particularly in the healthcare, industrials and energy sectors. We are very optimistic about the balance of 2026 and our momentum heading into 2027, supported by the breadth and strength of our current backlog and new business activity. Capital Markets net revenues were $802 million, up 11% from the prior year quarter. Equities record quarterly net revenues of $626 million, up 29% from the prior year quarter, were driven by global cash and electronic trading, as well as continued growth in prime services. Our prime services business continues to strengthen its global position as a trusted partner to leading, well-diversified hedge funds, which enhances the quality, consistency and durability of our Equities revenues. Our equity options and structured derivatives businesses also continue to expand in partnership with our investment banking business. Fixed Income net revenues were $176 million, down 26% from the prior year quarter, reflecting ongoing slowness in market activity. Asset management fees and investment return revenues were $34 million compared to the prior year quarter of $84 million, reflecting weaker performance across several fund strategies. We remain confident in the long-term outlook for the business as we continue to reposition the platform by reducing capital allocated to certain existing funds consistent with the strategy we outlined last fall when we announced our intent to acquire and fund a 50% interest in Hildene. We are also continuing to expand our strategic alliance with SMBC. As expected, SMBC has increased its equity ownership in Jefferies to approximately 20% to become our largest shareholder. In Japan, our planned joint venture with SMBC represents a significant opportunity to align SMBC and SMBC Nikko’s domestic market expertise and balance sheet strength with Jefferies’ global Equities platform, global client relationships and trading technology. Expected to begin serving clients in January 2027, the joint venture is intended to scale a leading wholesale equities and equity capital markets business in Japan. We expect this to become a template for other ways to work together globally with our partners at SMBC.