Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Perella Weinberg Partners (PWP) vs Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (JEF) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | PWP | 35.4% revenue growth vs JEF's 2.9% |
| Value | JEF | Lower P/E (10.4x vs 14.3x) |
| Quality / Margins | JEF | 6.6% net margin vs PWP's -7.4% |
| Stability / Safety | PWP | Beta 1.62 vs JEF's 1.85 |
| Dividends | JEF | 3.8% yield, 8-year raise streak, vs PWP's 2.1% |
| Momentum (1Y) | PWP | -18.7% vs JEF's -30.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | PWP | 7.2% ROA vs JEF's 1.1%, ROIC -13.7% vs 2.4% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Perella Weinberg Partners is an independent investment bank that provides strategic advisory services for mergers, acquisitions, and capital markets transactions. It generates revenue primarily from advisory fees — roughly 80% from M&A and restructuring work — with the remainder from capital markets and other financial advisory services. The firm's key advantage is its boutique partnership model, which attracts top talent and fosters deep client relationships without the conflicts of interest common at larger universal banks.
Jefferies Financial Group is a global investment bank and financial services firm that provides advisory, capital markets, and asset management services. It generates revenue primarily through investment banking fees — including M&A advisory and underwriting — and trading commissions from its capital markets business, with asset management contributing additional fee-based income. The firm's competitive advantage lies in its focused mid-market expertise and strong client relationships in sectors like energy, healthcare, and technology, which drive repeat advisory mandates.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
PWP leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). JEF leads in 2 (Financial Metrics, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
JEF is the larger business by revenue, generating $10.8B annually — 12.3x PWP's $878M. JEF is the more profitable business, keeping 6.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to PWP's -7.4%.
| Metric | PWPPerella Weinberg … | JEFJefferies Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $878M | $10.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $71M | $24M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $47M | $819M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $74M | $911M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +40.1% | +59.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -8.9% | +6.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -7.4% | +6.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +23.6% | +3.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -66.2% | +34.7% |
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | PWPPerella Weinberg … | JEFJefferies Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $434M | $9.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $289M | -$3.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -15.17x | 15.69x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 14.35x | 10.38x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | -3.55x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.49x | 0.85x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 4.28x | 0.93x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 2.10x | 27.50x |
Profitability & Efficiency
PWP delivers a 23.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $23 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 PWP's 0.82x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), PWP scores 6/9 vs JEF's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | PWPPerella Weinberg … | JEFJefferies Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +23.4% | +7.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +7.2% | +1.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -13.7% | +2.4% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -16.7% | +1.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.82x | 0.17x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$145M | -$12.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $333M | $14.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $187M | $1.8B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 0.05x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in PWP five years ago would be worth $18,682 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $17,690 for JEF. Over the past 12 months, PWP leads with a -18.7% total return vs JEF's -30.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors PWP at 24.2% vs JEF's 8.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | PWPPerella Weinberg … | JEFJefferies Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +5.9% | -29.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -18.7% | -30.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +91.4% | +28.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +86.8% | +76.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +100.4% | +309.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +24.2% | +8.7% |
Risk & Volatility
PWP is the less volatile stock with a 1.62 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than JEF's 1.85 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. PWP currently trades 71.4% from its 52-week high vs JEF's 62.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | PWPPerella Weinberg … | JEFJefferies Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.62x | 1.85x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $25.93 | $71.04 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $14.12 | $39.28 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +71.4% | +62.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 38.9 | 26.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 875K | 1.8M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates PWP as "Buy" and JEF as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 71.2% upside for JEF (target: $76) vs 14.8% for PWP (target: $21). For income investors, JEF offers the higher dividend yield at 3.78% vs PWP's 2.06%.
| Metric | PWPPerella Weinberg … | JEFJefferies Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $21.25 | $76.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 3 | 8 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.1% | +3.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 8 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.38 | $1.68 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +3.5% | +0.6% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Nov 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perella Weinberg Pa… (PWP) | 100 | 223.33 | +123.3% |
| Jefferies Financial… (JEF) | 100 | 271.08 | +171.1% |
Perella Weinberg Pa… (PWP) returned +87% over 5 years vs Jefferies Financial… (JEF)'s +77%. A $10,000 investment in PWP 5 years ago would be worth $18,682 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perella Weinberg Pa… (PWP) | $519M | $878M | +69.2% |
| Jefferies Financial… (JEF) | $3.8B | $10.8B | +181.3% |
Jefferies Financial Group Inc.'s revenue grew from $3.8B (2016) to $10.8B (2025) — a 12.2% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perella Weinberg Pa… (PWP) | -4.7% | -7.4% | -57.2% |
| Jefferies Financial… (JEF) | 2.4% | 6.6% | +170.4% |
Jefferies Financial Group Inc.'s net margin went from 2% (2015) to 7% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferies Financial… (JEF) | 52.6 | 21.9 | -58.4% |
Jefferies Financial Group Inc. has traded in a 6x–53x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~16x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perella Weinberg Pa… (PWP) | -0.26 | -1.22 | -365.1% |
| Jefferies Financial… (JEF) | 0.34 | 2.83 | +732.4% |
Jefferies Financial Group Inc.'s EPS grew from $0.34 (2016) to $2.83 (2025) — a 27% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Perella Weinberg Partners generated $207M FCF in 2024 (-11% vs 2021). Jefferies Financial Group Inc. generated $333M FCF in 2025 (-76% vs 2021).
PWP vs JEF: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is PWP or JEF a better buy right now?
Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (JEF) offers the better valuation at 15.7x trailing P/E (10.4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Perella Weinberg Partners (PWP) a "Buy" — based on 3 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 — PWP or JEF?
On forward P/E, Jefferies Financial Group Inc. is actually cheaper at 10.4x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — PWP or JEF?
Over the past 5 years, Perella Weinberg Partners (PWP) delivered a total return of +86.8%, compared to +76.9% for Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (JEF). A $10,000 investment in PWP five years ago would be worth approximately $19K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: JEF returned +309.1% versus PWP'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 — PWP or JEF?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Perella Weinberg Partners (PWP) is the lower-risk stock at 1.62β versus Jefferies Financial Group Inc.'s 1.85β — meaning JEF is approximately 14% more volatile than PWP relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (JEF) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 17% versus 82% for Perella Weinberg Partners — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — PWP or JEF?
Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (JEF) is the more profitable company, earning 6.6% net margin versus -7.4% for Perella Weinberg Partners — meaning it keeps 6.6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: JEF leads at 6.3% versus -8.9% for PWP. 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.
06Is PWP or JEF more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (JEF) trades at 10.4x forward P/E versus 14.3x for Perella Weinberg Partners — 4.0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for JEF: 71.2% to $76.00.
07Which pays a better dividend — PWP or JEF?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (JEF) offers the highest yield at 3.8%, versus 2.1% for Perella Weinberg Partners (PWP).
08Is PWP or JEF better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Perella Weinberg Partners (PWP) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (2.1% yield, +100.4% 10Y return). Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (JEF) carries a higher beta of 1.85 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (PWP: +100.4%, JEF: +309.1%), 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.
09What are the main differences between PWP and JEF?
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. In terms of investment character: PWP is a small-cap quality compounder stock; JEF is a small-cap deep-value stock. 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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