JEF vs. SEIC: Jefferies vs. SEI Investments Stock Comparison
How do Jefferies (JEF) and SEI Investments (SEIC) 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 SEI Investments (SEIC) both belong to the Capital Markets industry, though JEF is classified under Investment Banking & Brokerage while SEIC falls under Asset Management & Custody Banks.
| Profile Item | JEF | SEIC |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Jefferies Financial Group Inc. | SEI Investments Company |
| 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 | Asset Management & Custody Banks |
| Market Capitalization | 10.88 billion USD | 12.49 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | March 17, 1980 | March 25, 1981 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | JEF | SEIC |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -6.26% | 32.47% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 17.02% | 26.31% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 7.20% | 12.52% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | JEF | SEIC |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 41.25% | 23.86% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.49 | 0.94 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -54.39% | -26.00% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.20M | 756.15K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | JEF | SEIC |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.26 | 1.18 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.33 | 1.85 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
SEI Investments (SEIC) at 27.26% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Jefferies (JEF) at 8.59% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for SEIC.
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%
SEIC
Financial Services industry group
27.26%
- Max
- 44.78%
- SEIC
- 27.26%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
Net Margin (TTM)
SEI Investments (SEIC) at 28.06% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Jefferies (JEF) at 11.00%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
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%
SEIC
Financial Services industry group
28.06%
- Max
- 62.84%
- SEIC
- 28.06%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Jefferies (JEF) at 15.80% and SEI Investments (SEIC) at 29.91% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
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%
SEIC
Financial Services industry group
29.91%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- Median
- 30.09%
- SEIC
- 29.91%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | JEF | SEIC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 8.59% | 27.26% |
| ROA (TTM) | 1.21% | 14.74% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 11.00% | 28.06% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 15.80% | 29.91% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Jefferies (JEF) at 2.93% and SEI Investments (SEIC) at 8.10% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both Jefferies (JEF) at -5.35% and SEI Investments (SEIC) at 27.66% 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 | SEIC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 2.93% | 8.10% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 14.83% | 4.89% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -5.35% | 27.66% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -2.57% | 17.62% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Jefferies (JEF) in Financial Services and SEI Investments (SEIC) 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 SEI Investments (SEIC) 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 | SEIC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Jefferies (JEF) at 3.29% and SEI Investments (SEIC) at 0.99% 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%
SEIC
Financial Services industry group
0.99%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- Median
- 1.09%
- SEIC
- 0.99%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Jefferies (JEF) at 42.67% and SEI Investments (SEIC) at 18.09% 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%
SEIC
Financial Services industry group
18.09%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- SEIC
- 18.09%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | JEF | SEIC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 3.29% | 0.99% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 42.67% | 18.09% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Jefferies (JEF) at 12.63 and SEI Investments (SEIC) at 18.31 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
SEIC
Financial Services industry group
18.31
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- SEIC
- 18.31
- Median
- 15.37
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Jefferies (JEF) at 1.28 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while SEI Investments (SEIC) at 4.93 sits in the pricier quartile — SEIC costs more per dollar of sales.
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
SEIC
Financial Services industry group
4.93
- Max
- 9.23
- SEIC
- 4.93
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- 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 SEI Investments (SEIC) at 4.98 carries an above-peer premium to book — SEIC 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
SEIC
Financial Services industry group
4.98
- Max
- 7.79
- SEIC
- 4.98
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | JEF | SEIC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 12.63 | 18.31 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.28 | 4.93 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.02 | 4.98 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |