JEF
Jefferies Financial Group Inc.
Financial - Capital Markets
Market Cap$10.62B
5Y Perf.+267.6%
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Stock Comparison
JEF vs LAZ
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
LAZ
Lazard Ltd
Financial - Capital Markets
Market Cap$4.36B
5Y Perf.+72.9%
JEF vs LAZ — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | JEF | LAZ |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Financial - Capital Markets | Financial - Capital Markets |
| Market Cap | $10.62B | $4.36B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $10.82B | $3.19B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $819M | $237M |
| Gross Margin | 59.7% | 31.8% |
| Operating Margin | 6.3% | 13.0% |
| Forward P/E | 14.7x | 14.5x |
| Total Debt | $1.77B | $2.58B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $14.04B | $1.50B |
JEF vs LAZ — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
JEF
LAZ
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferies Financial… (JEF) | 100 | 367.6 | +267.6% |
| Lazard Ltd (LAZ) | 100 | 172.9 | +72.9% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: JEF vs LAZ
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: LAZ leads in 6 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
JEF
Jefferies Financial Group Inc.
The Banking Pick
JEF is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding.
- 300.2% 10Y total return vs LAZ's 100.4%
- 3.3% yield, 9-year raise streak, vs LAZ's 3.8%
Best for: long-term compounding
LAZ
Lazard Ltd
The Banking Pick
LAZ carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 1.79, yield 3.8%
- Rev growth 3.2%, EPS growth -19.0%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.79, current ratio 29.35x
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | LAZ | 3.2% NII/revenue growth vs JEF's 2.9% |
| Value | LAZ | Lower P/E (14.5x vs 14.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | LAZ | Efficiency ratio 0.2% vs JEF's 0.5% (lower = leaner) |
| Stability / Safety | LAZ | Beta 1.79 vs JEF's 1.97 |
| Dividends | JEF | 3.3% yield, 9-year raise streak, vs LAZ's 3.8% |
| Momentum (1Y) | LAZ | +17.8% vs JEF's +8.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | LAZ | Efficiency ratio 0.2% vs JEF's 0.5% |
JEF vs LAZ — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
JEF vs LAZ — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLLAZLAGGINGJEF
JEFJefferies Financial G…
2leads
LAZLazard Ltd
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs JEFMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
LAZ3/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
JEF4/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
LAZ5/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
JEF4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
LAZ2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LAZ leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
JEF is the larger business by revenue, generating $10.8B annually — 3.4x LAZ's $3.2B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 7.4% (LAZ) to 6.6% (JEF).
| Metric | JEFJefferies Financi… | LAZLazard Ltd |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $10.8B | $3.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $24M | $384M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $819M | $237M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $911M | $519M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +59.7% | +31.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +6.3% | +13.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +6.6% | +7.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +3.1% | +15.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -8.6% | -43.8% |
LAZ leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
JEF leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 18.2x trailing earnings, JEF trades at a 15% valuation discount to LAZ's 21.4x P/E.
| Metric | JEFJefferies Financi… | LAZLazard Ltd |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $10.6B | $4.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | -$1.7B | $5.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 18.19x | 21.40x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 14.75x | 14.52x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 13.75x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | -1.89x | 12.09x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.98x | 1.37x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.08x | 4.99x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 31.88x | 8.63x |
JEF leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LAZ leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LAZ delivers a 26.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $27 in annual profit, vs $8 for JEF. JEF carries lower financial leverage with a 0.17x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to LAZ's 2.61x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), JEF scores 6/9 vs LAZ's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | JEFJefferies Financi… | LAZLazard Ltd |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +7.7% | +26.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.1% | +5.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +2.4% | +9.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +1.1% | +9.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.17x | 2.61x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$12.3B | $1.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $14.0B | $1.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.8B | $2.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.05x | 4.74x |
LAZ leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
JEF leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in JEF five years ago would be worth $17,863 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $12,061 for LAZ. Over the past 12 months, LAZ leads with a +17.8% total return vs JEF's +8.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors JEF at 22.6% vs LAZ's 21.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | JEFJefferies Financi… | LAZLazard Ltd |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -18.3% | -5.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +8.9% | +17.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +84.2% | +80.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +78.6% | +20.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +300.2% | +100.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +22.6% | +21.7% |
JEF leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
LAZ leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
LAZ is the less volatile stock with a 1.79 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than JEF's 1.97 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. LAZ currently trades 79.0% from its 52-week high vs JEF's 72.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | JEFJefferies Financi… | LAZLazard Ltd |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.97x | 1.79x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $71.04 | $58.75 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $35.53 | $38.67 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +72.5% | +79.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 70.9 | 50.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.8M | 1.5M |
LAZ leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — JEF and LAZ each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates JEF as "Buy" and LAZ as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 31.6% upside for JEF (target: $68) vs 1.9% for LAZ (target: $47). For income investors, LAZ offers the higher dividend yield at 3.78% vs JEF's 3.26%.
| Metric | JEFJefferies Financi… | LAZLazard Ltd |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $67.75 | $47.33 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 9 | 29 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.3% | +3.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 9 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.68 | $1.75 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.6% | +2.1% |
Evenly matched — JEF and LAZ each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
LAZ leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). JEF leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). 1 tied.
Best OverallLazard Ltd (LAZ)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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JEF vs LAZ: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is JEF or LAZ a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Lazard Ltd (LAZ) is the stronger pick with 3.
2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 9% for Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (JEF). Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (JEF) offers the better valuation at 18. 2x trailing P/E (14. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (JEF) a "Buy" — based on 9 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — JEF or LAZ?
On trailing P/E, Jefferies Financial Group Inc.
(JEF) is the cheapest at 18. 2x versus Lazard Ltd at 21. 4x. On forward P/E, Lazard Ltd is actually cheaper at 14. 5x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — JEF or LAZ?
Over the past 5 years, Jefferies Financial Group Inc.
(JEF) delivered a total return of +78. 6%, compared to +20. 6% for Lazard Ltd (LAZ). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: JEF returned +300. 2% versus LAZ's +100. 4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — JEF or LAZ?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Lazard Ltd (LAZ) is the lower-risk stock at 1.
79β versus Jefferies Financial Group Inc. 's 1. 97β — meaning JEF is approximately 10% more volatile than LAZ relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (JEF) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 17% versus 3% for Lazard Ltd — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — JEF or LAZ?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Lazard Ltd (LAZ) is pulling ahead at 3.
2% versus 2. 9% for Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (JEF). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Jefferies Financial Group Inc. grew EPS -5. 4% year-over-year, compared to -19. 0% for Lazard Ltd. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — JEF or LAZ?
Lazard Ltd (LAZ) is the more profitable company, earning 7.
4% net margin versus 6. 6% for Jefferies Financial Group Inc. — meaning it keeps 7. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LAZ leads at 13. 0% versus 6. 3% for JEF. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — JEF leads at 59. 7%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is JEF or LAZ more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Lazard Ltd (LAZ) trades at 14.
5x forward P/E versus 14. 7x for Jefferies Financial Group Inc. — 0. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for JEF: 31. 6% to $67. 75.
08Which pays a better dividend — JEF or LAZ?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Lazard Ltd (LAZ) offers the highest yield at 3. 8%, versus 3. 3% for Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (JEF).
09Is JEF or LAZ better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Lazard Ltd (LAZ) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (3.
8% yield, +100. 4% 10Y return). Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (JEF) carries a higher beta of 1. 97 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (LAZ: +100. 4%, JEF: +300. 2%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between JEF and LAZ?
Both stocks operate in the Financial Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(JEF: 2.9% · LAZ: 3.2%)Net Margin>
%
(JEF: 6.6% · LAZ: 7.4%)P/E Ratio<
x
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