JEF vs. WSE: Jefferies vs. Wise Stock Comparison
How do Jefferies (JEF) and Wise (WSE) 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 Wise (WSE) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but JEF is classified in Capital Markets while WSE is classified in Financial Services.
Jefferies (JEF) has been public since March 17, 1980, giving it decades of market history across multiple cycles, while Wise (WSE) listed only on May 11, 2026 and lacks comparable through-cycle data.
| Profile Item | JEF | WSE |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Jefferies Financial Group Inc. | Wise Group plc |
| Country/Region | United States | United Kingdom |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| GICS Industry | Capital Markets | Financial Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Investment Banking & Brokerage | Transaction & Payment Processing Services |
| Market Capitalization | 10.88 billion USD | 10.76 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | March 17, 1980 | May 11, 2026 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | JEF | WSE |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -6.26% | -- |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 17.02% | -- |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 7.20% | -- |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | JEF | WSE |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 41.25% | 44.06% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.49 | 1.56 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -54.39% | -32.47% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.20M | 1.74M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Both JEF and WSE need 1-year volatility and 1-year return to plot risk-return positioning.
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | JEF | WSE |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.26 | -- |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.33 | -- |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Wise (WSE) at 27.23% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Jefferies (JEF) at 8.59% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for WSE.
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%
WSE
Financial Services industry group
27.23%
- Max
- 44.78%
- WSE
- 27.23%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Jefferies (JEF) at 11.00% and Wise (WSE) at 19.93% 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%
WSE
Financial Services industry group
19.93%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- WSE
- 19.93%
- Median
- 15.36%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Wise (WSE) at 59.77% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Jefferies (JEF) at 15.80%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
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%
WSE
Financial Services industry group
59.77%
- Max
- 107.33%
- WSE
- 59.77%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | JEF | WSE |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 8.59% | 27.23% |
| ROA (TTM) | 1.21% | 2.41% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 11.00% | 19.93% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 15.80% | 59.77% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Jefferies (JEF) at 2.93% and Wise (WSE) at 17.14% 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 Wise (WSE) at -5.78% 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 | WSE |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 2.93% | 17.14% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 14.83% | 30.26% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -5.35% | -5.78% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -2.57% | 52.89% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Jefferies (JEF) in Financial Services and Wise (WSE) 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 Wise (WSE) 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 | WSE |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Wise (WSE) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Jefferies (JEF) reports a yield of 3.29%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
WSE
Financial Services industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- Median
- 1.09%
- WSE
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Wise (WSE) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Jefferies (JEF) reports a payout of 42.67%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
WSE
Financial Services industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- WSE
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | JEF | WSE |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 3.29% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 42.67% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Jefferies (JEF) at 12.63 and Wise (WSE) at 23.23 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
WSE
Financial Services industry group
23.23
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- WSE
- 23.23
- Median
- 15.37
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Jefferies (JEF) at 1.28 and Wise (WSE) at 4.30 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
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
WSE
Financial Services industry group
4.30
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- WSE
- 4.30
- 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 Wise (WSE) at 5.94 carries an above-peer premium to book — WSE 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
WSE
Financial Services industry group
5.94
- Max
- 7.79
- WSE
- 5.94
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | JEF | WSE |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 12.63 | 23.23 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.28 | 4.30 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.02 | 5.94 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |