Jefferies posts record revenue with dealmaking staging comeback

Core Insights - Jefferies Financial Group Inc. reported its highest fiscal third-quarter revenue ever, driven by a strengthening environment for dealmaking and trading activity globally [1][2]. Revenue Performance - Total revenue for the three months ending in August increased by nearly 22% to $2.05 billion, marking the highest third quarter in the firm's history and the most revenue for any quarter since Q1 2021 [2]. - Investment banking revenue grew by 17% to $1.09 billion, with advisory revenue reaching almost $656 million, the best quarter ever for this segment [8]. Trading and Advisory Strength - The last quarter was noted as the best period for advisory revenue, attributed to increased deal activity and improved market conditions [3]. - Trading activity also saw a year-over-year increase, with Jefferies' capital-markets unit generating $723 million in revenue, up 6.9% from the previous year [6]. Market Outlook - Jefferies' executives expressed optimism about the near- and long-term outlook, citing a rebound in market sentiment and a trend of strengthening corporate mergers and acquisitions [4][7]. - The firm indicated that the momentum seen since May and June is expected to continue, with increasing dialogue around initial public offerings and mergers and acquisitions [5][9]. Asset Management Growth - Asset-management net revenue nearly tripled to almost $177 million from $59 million a year earlier, driven by improved performance across fund strategies [9].