Jefferies Works Through Tough Markets

Core Insights - Jefferies reported a slight decline in total revenue for Q2 FY 2025 compared to Q2 FY 2024, with total revenue at $1.63 billion, down 1% [1] - Adjusted earnings per share fell significantly by 38% to $0.40, missing analysts' expectations [1][2] - Investment banking revenue decreased by 3% year-over-year, while capital markets revenue remained flat [1][3] Financial Performance - Total revenue for Q2 FY 2024 was $1.66 billion, while Q2 FY 2025 saw a decrease to $1.63 billion [1] - Adjusted earnings per share dropped from $0.64 to $0.40, falling short of expectations [1][2] - Investment banking revenue was $787.4 million in Q2 FY 2024 and decreased to $766.3 million in Q2 FY 2025 [1] - Capital markets revenue remained stable at $707.1 million in Q2 FY 2024 and $704.2 million in Q2 FY 2025 [1] Market Reaction - Following the earnings report, Jefferies shares fell nearly 2% in after-hours trading [5] - The stock had previously risen approximately 42% from its April lows but remains down about 29% year-to-date [6] Operational Insights - Jefferies experienced a significant increase in advisory revenue within its investment banking segment, driven by market share gains and higher M&A activity [3] - However, this was offset by a substantial decline in equity underwriting activity, leading to an overall decrease in investment banking sales [3] - In capital markets, equities performed well, particularly in Europe and Asia, while fixed income revenue faced challenges due to market volatility [4] Future Outlook - CEO Richard Handler expressed optimism about the company's prospects, citing resilience in the global economy and strong backlog figures [8] - Increased non-interest expenses, including higher brokerage and clearing fees, contributed to the earnings miss [7]