News Details

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE: JEF):

Q2 Financial Highlights

Quarterly Cash Dividend

The Jefferies Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend equal to $0.40 per Jefferies common share, payable on August 29, 2025 to record holders of Jefferies common shares on August 18, 2025.

Management Comments

"Net revenues of $1.63 billion for the second quarter reflect a resilient full-service investment banking and capital markets business against a backdrop of significant uncertainty related to U.S. policy and geopolitical events which meaningfully slowed activity levels for the first two months of the quarter. In May, some clarity came to the economy and markets, which began to restore investor confidence, and we experienced a noticeable increase in momentum. Despite the difficult first two months of this period, our quarterly Investment Banking Advisory activity was particularly strong and we believe our momentum and market position continues to strengthen. While nothing is certain, the global economy continues to show remarkable resilience in the face of incredibly significant crosscurrents. Given the strength of our current backlog, overall activity levels and an abundance of discussions with clients around capital formation, strategic opportunities and their need to transact, we are increasingly optimistic about the second half of 2025.

"Despite strong momentum in Advisory and Equities, net earnings attributable to common shareholders of $88 million and return on adjusted tangible shareholders' equity of 5.5% were impacted by lower revenues in Fixed Income, lower activity levels at Jefferies Finance and some modest one-time non-compensation expenses. We expect margins to normalize as the business environment improves and our operating leverage takes effect.

"Investment Banking net revenues from Advisory, Equity underwriting and Debt underwriting totaling $786 million for the second quarter were up 6.4% versus the prior year quarter. Strong performance in Advisory, which was up 61%, largely from continued market share gains, was offset by Equity underwriting net revenues, which were down 51%, consistent with a reduction in deal activity attributable to volatile equity market conditions, particularly in the first two months of the quarter when activity was severely muted. Debt underwriting net revenues were flat for the second quarter compared to the prior year quarter.

"Capital Markets net revenues of $704 million for the second quarter were down slightly versus the prior year quarter. Equities net revenues of $526 million increased 24% from the prior year quarter, as increased global trading volumes and activity levels in corporate derivatives drove strong global performance. Fixed Income net revenues of $178 million decreased 37% from the prior year comparable quarter.

"Asset Management fees and investment return revenues of $71 million for the quarter were up 43% from the prior year quarter, primarily due to improved performance across several strategies."

Richard Handler, CEO, and Brian Friedman, President

Financial Summary (Unaudited)

Highlights

Amounts herein pertaining to May 31, 2025 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, 2025 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, 2025.

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)

Financial Data and Metrics (Unaudited)

Components of Numerators and Denominators for Earnings Per Common Share

Non-GAAP Reconciliations

The following tables reconcile our non-GAAP financial measures to their respective U.S. GAAP financial measures. Management believes such non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors as they allow them to view our results through the eyes of management, while facilitating a comparison across historical periods. These measures should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, measures prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

Return on Adjusted Tangible Equity Reconciliation

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:

Notes

1. Return on adjusted tangible shareholders' equity and Return on adjusted tangible shareholders' equity from continuing operations represent non-GAAP financial measures and are based on full year or annualized amounts. Refer to schedule on page 8 for a reconciliation to U.S. GAAP amounts.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Asset management fees and revenues include management and performance fees from funds and accounts managed by us as well as our share of fees received by affiliated asset management companies with which we have revenue and profit share arrangements, as well as earnings on our ownership interest in affiliated asset managers.
7. 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.
8. 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, 2024.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. Leverage ratio equals total assets divided by total equity.
12. 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.
13. Beginning in fiscal 2024, we now refer to "Merchant banking" as “Other investments” in our Asset Management reportable segment.
14. Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2024, revenues from corporate equity derivative transactions historically included within Other investment banking net revenues were reclassified to Equities net revenues as the underlying business has matured and has started to generate meaningful revenues. Prior year amounts have been revised to conform to this reclassification change to the current year reporting.
15. Compensation ratio equals total compensation expense divided by total net revenues. Non-compensation ratio equals total non-compensation expense divided by total net revenues.

Source: Jefferies Financial Group Inc.