JEF vs. LPLA: Jefferies vs. LPL Financial Stock Comparison
How do Jefferies (JEF) and LPL Financial (LPLA) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Jefferies (JEF) and LPL Financial (LPLA) are both classified in the Investment Banking & Brokerage sub-industry within the broader Capital Markets industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | JEF | LPLA |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Jefferies Financial Group Inc. | LPL Financial Holdings Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| GICS Industry | Capital Markets | Capital Markets |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Investment Banking & Brokerage | Investment Banking & Brokerage |
| Market Capitalization | 10.88 billion USD | 23.01 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | March 17, 1980 | November 18, 2010 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | JEF | LPLA |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -6.26% | -17.27% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 17.02% | 11.10% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 7.20% | 13.92% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Jefferies (JEF) has an aggressive beta of 1.49, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while LPL Financial (LPLA) is defensive at 0.52 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.
| Metric | JEF | LPLA |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 41.25% | 39.22% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.49 | 0.52 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -54.39% | -33.18% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.20M | 855.76K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | JEF | LPLA |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.26 | -0.55 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.33 | -0.70 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
LPL Financial (LPLA) at 25.66% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Jefferies (JEF) at 8.59% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for LPLA.
JEF
Financial Services industry group
8.59%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- JEF
- 8.59%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
25.66%
- Max
- 44.78%
- LPLA
- 25.66%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Jefferies (JEF) at 11.00% and LPL Financial (LPLA) at 6.97% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
JEF
Financial Services industry group
11.00%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- JEF
- 11.00%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
6.97%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- LPLA
- 6.97%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Jefferies (JEF) at 15.80% runs core operations around its industry’s norm, while LPL Financial (LPLA) at 10.85% operates in the bottom quartile.
JEF
Financial Services industry group
15.80%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- Median
- 30.09%
- JEF
- 15.80%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
10.85%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- LPLA
- 10.85%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | JEF | LPLA |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 8.59% | 25.66% |
| ROA (TTM) | 1.21% | 7.35% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 11.00% | 6.97% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 15.80% | 10.85% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
LPL Financial (LPLA) at 37.18% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Jefferies (JEF) at 2.93% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for LPLA.
EPS Growth
Both Jefferies (JEF) at -5.35% and LPL Financial (LPLA) at -22.17% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | JEF | LPLA |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 2.93% | 37.18% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 14.83% | 25.47% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -5.35% | -22.17% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -2.57% | 1.64% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Jefferies (JEF) in Financial Services and LPL Financial (LPLA) in Financial Services both report balance sheets without a current/non-current split, so their short-term liquidity is better judged through regulatory and funding measures.
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
debt-to-equity ratio is set aside for both: Jefferies (JEF) in Financial Services and LPL Financial (LPLA) in Financial Services run businesses where balance-sheet leverage is part of the model, so capital-adequacy and funding measures are the better gauges of balance-sheet risk.
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | JEF | LPLA |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Jefferies (JEF) at 3.29% and LPL Financial (LPLA) at 0.40% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
JEF
Financial Services industry group
3.29%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- JEF
- 3.29%
- Median
- 1.09%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
0.40%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- Median
- 1.09%
- LPLA
- 0.40%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Jefferies (JEF) at 42.67% and LPL Financial (LPLA) at 6.88% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
JEF
Financial Services industry group
42.67%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- JEF
- 42.67%
- Median
- 25.77%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
6.88%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- LPLA
- 6.88%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | JEF | LPLA |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 3.29% | 0.40% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 42.67% | 6.88% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Jefferies (JEF) at 12.63 and LPL Financial (LPLA) at 16.93 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
JEF
Financial Services industry group
12.63
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- Median
- 15.37
- JEF
- 12.63
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
16.93
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- LPLA
- 16.93
- Median
- 15.37
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
P/S Ratio (TTM)
LPL Financial (LPLA) at 1.15 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Jefferies (JEF) at 1.28 prices around its industry’s middle — LPLA costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
JEF
Financial Services industry group
1.28
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- JEF
- 1.28
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
1.15
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- LPLA
- 1.15
- Min
- -0.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Jefferies (JEF) at 1.02 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while LPL Financial (LPLA) at 3.98 carries an above-peer premium to book — LPLA is pricier on assets.
JEF
Financial Services industry group
1.02
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- JEF
- 1.02
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
3.98
- Max
- 7.79
- LPLA
- 3.98
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | JEF | LPLA |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 12.63 | 16.93 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.28 | 1.15 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.02 | 3.98 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |