SF
Stifel Financial Corp.
Financial - Capital Markets
Market Cap$12.15B
5Y Perf.+270.0%
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Stock Comparison
SF vs MC
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
MC
Moelis & Company
Financial - Capital Markets
Market Cap$4.68B
5Y Perf.+89.7%
SF vs MC — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | SF | MC |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Financial - Capital Markets | Financial - Capital Markets |
| Market Cap | $12.15B | $4.68B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $6.30B | $1.52B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $684M | $233M |
| Gross Margin | 86.6% | 99.2% |
| Operating Margin | 13.8% | 18.1% |
| Forward P/E | 12.5x | 20.8x |
| Total Debt | $2.18B | $267M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $2.28B | $509M |
SF vs MC — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
SF
MC
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stifel Financial Co… (SF) | 100 | 370.0 | +270.0% |
| Moelis & Company (MC) | 100 | 189.7 | +89.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: SF vs MC
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: SF leads in 6 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. Moelis & Company is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
SF
Stifel Financial Corp.
The Banking Pick
SF carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 10 yrs, beta 1.23, yield 2.4%
- 5.2% 10Y total return vs MC's 261.3%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.23, Low D/E 36.5%, current ratio 5.24x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
MC
Moelis & Company
The Banking Pick
MC is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and defensive.
- Rev growth 27.0%, EPS growth 65.2%
- Beta 1.75, yield 4.1%, current ratio 21.47x
- 27.0% NII/revenue growth vs SF's 6.9%
Best for: growth exposure and defensive
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | MC | 27.0% NII/revenue growth vs SF's 6.9% |
| Value | SF | Lower P/E (12.5x vs 20.8x) |
| Quality / Margins | SF | Efficiency ratio 0.7% vs MC's 0.8% (lower = leaner) |
| Stability / Safety | SF | Beta 1.23 vs MC's 1.75, lower leverage |
| Dividends | SF | 2.4% yield, 10-year raise streak, vs MC's 4.1% |
| Momentum (1Y) | SF | +36.2% vs MC's +25.4% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | SF | Efficiency ratio 0.7% vs MC's 0.8% |
SF vs MC — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
Segment breakdown not available.
SF vs MC — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLSFLAGGINGMC
MCMoelis & Company
2leads
SFStifel Financial Corp.
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs MCMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
MC4/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
SF5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
MC6/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
SF6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MC leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
SF is the larger business by revenue, generating $6.3B annually — 4.2x MC's $1.5B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 15.4% (MC) to 10.9% (SF).
| Metric | SFStifel Financial … | MCMoelis & Company |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $6.3B | $1.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.0B | $286M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $684M | $233M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $993M | $540M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +86.6% | +99.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +13.8% | +18.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +10.9% | +15.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +19.1% | +35.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +10.5% | -4.3% |
MC leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
SF leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 13.3x trailing earnings, SF trades at a 38% valuation discount to MC's 21.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, SF's 12.9x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than MC's 15.5x.
| Metric | SFStifel Financial … | MCMoelis & Company |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $12.1B | $4.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $12.0B | $4.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 13.35x | 21.70x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 12.51x | 20.79x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.86x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 12.90x | 15.55x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.93x | 3.09x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.45x | 7.43x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 10.11x | 8.68x |
SF leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MC leads this category, winning 6 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MC delivers a 37.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $38 in annual profit, vs $12 for SF. SF carries lower financial leverage with a 0.36x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to MC's 0.39x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), SF scores 8/9 vs MC's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | SFStifel Financial … | MCMoelis & Company |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +12.0% | +37.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.7% | +15.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +7.9% | +24.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +3.6% | +22.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.36x | 0.39x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$103M | -$241M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $2.3B | $509M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.2B | $267M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.07x | — |
MC leads this category, winning 6 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
SF leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in SF five years ago would be worth $17,812 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $14,435 for MC. Over the past 12 months, SF leads with a +36.2% total return vs MC's +25.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SF at 29.0% vs MC's 26.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SFStifel Financial … | MCMoelis & Company |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -7.9% | -9.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +36.2% | +25.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +114.8% | +103.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +78.1% | +44.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +522.0% | +261.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +29.0% | +26.8% |
SF leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — SF and MC each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
SF is the less volatile stock with a 1.23 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than MC's 1.75 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. MC currently trades 81.6% from its 52-week high vs SF's 60.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | SFStifel Financial … | MCMoelis & Company |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.23x | 1.75x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $130.67 | $78.22 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $58.24 | $51.06 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +60.1% | +81.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 51.3 | 48.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.4M | 1.3M |
Evenly matched — SF and MC each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — SF and MC each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates SF as "Buy" and MC as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 19.1% upside for SF (target: $93) vs 15.1% for MC (target: $73). For income investors, MC offers the higher dividend yield at 4.13% vs SF's 2.38%.
| Metric | SFStifel Financial … | MCMoelis & Company |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $93.44 | $73.40 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 22 | 22 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.4% | +4.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 10 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.87 | $2.63 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.0% | +1.6% |
Evenly matched — SF and MC each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
MC leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). SF leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). 2 tied.
Best OverallStifel Financial Corp. (SF)Leads 2 of 6 categories
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SF vs MC: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SF or MC a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Moelis & Company (MC) is the stronger pick with 27.
0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 6. 9% for Stifel Financial Corp. (SF). Stifel Financial Corp. (SF) offers the better valuation at 13. 3x trailing P/E (12. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Stifel Financial Corp. (SF) a "Buy" — based on 22 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 — SF or MC?
On trailing P/E, Stifel Financial Corp.
(SF) is the cheapest at 13. 3x versus Moelis & Company at 21. 7x. On forward P/E, Stifel Financial Corp. is actually cheaper at 12. 5x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — SF or MC?
Over the past 5 years, Stifel Financial Corp.
(SF) delivered a total return of +78. 1%, compared to +44. 3% for Moelis & Company (MC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SF returned +522. 0% versus MC's +261. 3%. 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 — SF or MC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Stifel Financial Corp.
(SF) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 23β versus Moelis & Company's 1. 75β — meaning MC is approximately 42% more volatile than SF relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Stifel Financial Corp. (SF) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 36% versus 39% for Moelis & Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — SF or MC?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Moelis & Company (MC) is pulling ahead at 27.
0% versus 6. 9% for Stifel Financial Corp. (SF). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Moelis & Company grew EPS 65. 2% year-over-year, compared to -5. 9% for Stifel Financial Corp.. 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 — SF or MC?
Moelis & Company (MC) is the more profitable company, earning 15.
4% net margin versus 10. 9% for Stifel Financial Corp. — meaning it keeps 15. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MC leads at 18. 1% versus 13. 8% for SF. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MC leads at 99. 2%, 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 SF or MC more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Stifel Financial Corp.
(SF) trades at 12. 5x forward P/E versus 20. 8x for Moelis & Company — 8. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SF: 19. 1% to $93. 44.
08Which pays a better dividend — SF or MC?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Moelis & Company (MC) offers the highest yield at 4. 1%, versus 2. 4% for Stifel Financial Corp. (SF).
09Is SF or MC better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Stifel Financial Corp.
(SF) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 23), 2. 4% yield, +522. 0% 10Y return). Moelis & Company (MC) carries a higher beta of 1. 75 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (SF: +522. 0%, MC: +261. 3%), 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 SF and MC?
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: SF is a mid-cap deep-value stock; MC is a small-cap high-growth 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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Revenue Growth>
%
(SF: 6.9% · MC: 27.0%)Net Margin>
%
(SF: 10.9% · MC: 15.4%)P/E Ratio<
x
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