Stifel Financial (NYSE:SF) Issues Earnings Results, Beats Estimates By $0.15 EPS

Stifel Financial (NYSE:SF) posted its earnings results on Wednesday. The financial services provider reported $2.63 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.48 by $0.15, FiscalAI reports. Stifel Financial had a net margin of 12.44% and a return on equity of 14.95%. The company had revenue of $1.56 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.50 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.23 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 14.4% compared to the same quarter last year.

Here are the key takeaways from Stifel Financial’s conference call:

• Stifel reported a record 2025 with $5.5 billion in firm?wide revenue (up 11%), EPS of $7.92 (ex?Q1 legal accrual), and strong margins/ROTE, underscoring operating leverage and franchise resilience.
• Global Wealth Management remained the growth engine with record quarterly revenue, $552 billion in client assets, fee?based assets up, and 181 advisor additions (92 experienced), with recruiting momentum entering 2026.
• Institutional/investment banking delivered strong results—2025 institutional revenue ~$1.9 billion, Q4 investment banking $456 million (up 50%), and KBW participated in ~75% of depository M&A by volume, supporting a robust deal pipeline.
• Board and capital actions are shareholder?friendly: an 11% dividend increase, a 3?for?2 stock split, ongoing buybacks (335k shares repurchased in Q4) and 2026 guidance of $6.0–$6.35 billion revenue with NII of $1.1–$1.2 billion and targeted expense ratios to drive further operating leverage.
• Management is exiting the Stifel Independent Advisors channel and restructuring European equities (removing ~$100 million of prior annual revenue) to improve margins and operating leverage, which may pressure top?line comparability in the near term but should reduce costs going forward.

Stifel Financial Stock Performance

NYSE:SF traded down $1.22 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $125.12. The stock had a trading volume of 486,226 shares, compared to its average volume of 754,913. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $126.60 and a 200 day simple moving average of $118.46. Stifel Financial has a twelve month low of $73.27 and a twelve month high of $134.74. The firm has a market capitalization of $12.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.05 and a beta of 1.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 0.84.

Stifel Financial Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Investors of record on Monday, March 2nd will be issued a dividend of $0.51 per share. This is a boost from Stifel Financial’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 2nd. Stifel Financial’s dividend payout ratio is 32.51%.

Stifel Financial News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Stifel Financial this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q4 results beat expectations — Stifel reported non?GAAP EPS of $2.63 (beat) and revenue of $1.56B (up 14% y/y), with improved margins and ROE that materially exceeded consensus. Stifel Financial (SF) Tops Q4 Earnings and Revenue Estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Record full?year financials — the company reported record annual results and highlighted continued revenue and net?income growth, reinforcing the underlying business momentum. Stifel Reports Record Full Year Results, Announces 11% Common Stock Dividend Increase and Three-For-Two Stock Split
• Positive Sentiment: Shareholder returns boosted — Board approved an 11% increase to the quarterly common dividend ($0.51) and a three?for?two stock split (50% stock dividend), actions that typically improve retail accessibility and signal board confidence. Stifel Financial Corporation: Stifel Reports Record Full Year Results, Announces 11% Common Stock Dividend Increase and Three-For-Two Stock Split
• Positive Sentiment: Top?line beat confirmation from multiple outlets — media coverage highlights Q4 sales outperformance versus expectations, supporting the beat narrative. Stifel (NYSE:SF) Posts Better-Than-Expected Sales In Q4 CY2025
• Neutral Sentiment: Short interest declined meaningfully in January (down ~21.7%), which can reduce short?squeeze risk but also reflects shifting positioning; this is a mixed technical factor for near?term trading.
• Negative Sentiment: Some investors may view the stock split as cosmetic — while it increases liquidity and lowers the per?share price, it does not change fundamentals and can trigger short?term volatility or profit?taking. Stifel Financial Corp. Declares Three-for-Two Stock Split and Increases Cash Dividend
• Negative Sentiment: Institutional rebalancing noted in recent filings (large holders trimmed positions in prior quarters), which could weigh on supply/demand dynamics despite the strong quarter. Stifel Financial Corp. Declares Three-for-Two Stock Split and Increases Cash Dividend

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages recently issued reports on SF. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Stifel Financial from $133.00 to $136.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. TD Cowen cut Stifel Financial from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. Stifel Nicolaus set a $138.00 target price on Stifel Financial in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Zacks Research cut Stifel Financial from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, November 24th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Stifel Financial in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Stifel Financial presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $135.18.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. CIBC Bancorp USA Inc. purchased a new position in Stifel Financial in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $523,000. Captrust Financial Advisors increased its stake in shares of Stifel Financial by 4.3% during the third quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 26,296 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $2,984,000 after acquiring an additional 1,088 shares during the period. Danske Bank A S bought a new position in shares of Stifel Financial during the 3rd quarter valued at about $182,000. Advisory Services Network LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Stifel Financial during the third quarter worth $29,000. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Stifel Financial by 256.1% in the 3rd quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 8,528 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $968,000 after purchasing an additional 6,133 shares during the period. 82.01% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Stifel Financial Company Profile

Stifel Financial Corp. is a diversified financial services holding company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1890, the firm has grown into a full?service brokerage and investment banking organization serving individual investors, corporations and institutions. Through its principal subsidiary, Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, the company delivers a broad array of financial products and services backed by research?driven insights.

The firm’s main business activities are organized into two core segments: Private Client Group and Institutional Group.