Stifel Financial Corp. (SF) AI Stock Analysis
SF AI stock analysis summary
AI ResearchStifel Financial Corp. (SF) operates as a financial services and bank holding company providing wealth management, institutional trading, and investment banking services. The firm generated $5.83B in trailing twelve-month revenue, with latest quarterly earnings expanding 50.6% year-over-year. It maintains a low debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14 alongside an annual forward dividend yield of 2.01%.
- Market cap
- $10.20B
- Revenue (TTM)
- $5.83B
- P/E
- 12.1x fwd 12.0x
- 1Y return
- -4.9% S&P 500 16.8%
- Avg. target
- $84.50 25.1% vs last close
Bull case
- Quarterly earnings for the period ending June 30, 2026, surged 50.6% year-over-year alongside 12.7% revenue growth.
- The balance sheet maintains $2.88B in net cash with a modest debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14 as of June 30, 2026.
- Analysts project full-year FY2026 EPS to increase 40.6% to $6.34, with the mean price target of $84.50 implying 25.1% upside.
Bear case
- Annual operating margin compressed from 22.6% in FY2021 to 13.8% in FY2025.
- Share count increased 35.9% over the 5-year period despite $245.0M spent on share buybacks in FY2025.
- The stock has lagged broader markets, falling 18.0% year-to-date and 4.9% over the trailing year.
What Stifel Financial does
Stifel Financial Corp., headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, operates as a financial services and bank holding company offering retail and institutional wealth management, as well as investment banking. Founded in 1890, the firm operates through three primary segments: Global Wealth Management, Institutional Group, and Other. Global Wealth Management offers private client services, securities transactions, and financial planning. The Institutional Group delivers equity and fixed income sales, trading, research, and municipal finance services. Its investment banking arm provides advisory on mergers and acquisitions, public offerings, and private placements. Stifel also conducts retail and commercial banking activities, including lending programs and deposit accounts across the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Canada.
Growth and profitability
Stifel achieved a 5-year revenue CAGR of 10.9% from FY2020 to FY2025. Annual revenue expanded from $4.72B in FY2021 to $6.30B in FY2025, although revenue declined 4.0% in FY2022 to $4.54B before rebounding 12.5% in FY2023 and 15.4% in FY2024. Operating margins moved from 22.6% in FY2021 down to 13.8% in FY2025, with net income closing FY2025 at $683.8M compared to $824.9M in FY2021. For the trailing twelve months, revenue reached $5.83B with an operating margin of 21.8% and a net profit margin of 16.3%. For the quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly revenue grew 12.7% year-over-year while quarterly earnings jumped 50.6%.
Balance sheet and cash flow
As of June 30, 2026, Stifel held $3.72B in cash and short-term investments against $839.6M in total debt, leaving net cash of $2.88B. The company reported shareholders' equity of $6.01B, total assets of $44.91B, a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, and a current ratio of 4.44. In FY2025, operating cash flow stood at $1.26B and free cash flow reached $1.20B. Capital expenditures were $62.1M, while capital returns included $245.0M in share buybacks and $243.5M in dividends paid.
Valuation and performance
Stifel trades at a trailing P/E of 12.1x, matching the 12.1x median of its US-listed Financial Services peers. Its forward P/E of 12.0x sits above the peer median of 10.8x, while its price-to-sales multiple of 1.7x is lower than the peer median of 3.2x. The stock has a PEG ratio of 0.87, enterprise value of $8.79B, and price-to-book ratio of 2.1x. Over the past year, Stifel fell 4.9%, underperforming the S&P 500 (SPY) return of 16.8%. Over a 5-year horizon, the stock's 49.6% return trailed the index's 83.0% gain.
SF dividend
Stifel pays a quarterly dividend with an annualized forward rate of $1.36 per share, yielding 2.01%. The dividend payout ratio is 22.4%, and the company has paid dividends for 10 consecutive years. Its 5-year annualized dividend growth rate is 32.3%, and its last ex-dividend date was September 1, 2026.
What analysts expect
Wall Street coverage includes 2 Strong Buy, 1 Buy, and 5 Hold ratings, with no Sell or Strong Sell recommendations. The mean price target is $84.50, representing a 25.1% premium to the last close of $67.56. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, analysts expect revenue of $5.98B and EPS of $6.34, representing 40.6% EPS growth. Stifel has beaten EPS estimates in each of the last 4 quarters, with its next earnings date scheduled for October 21, 2026.
Key risks and what to watch
- Price performance is trading 11.8% below its 200-day average and near its 52-week low of $66.89.
- Annual net income declined from $824.9M in FY2021 to $683.8M in FY2025 despite revenue increasing to $6.30B.
- Forward P/E of 12.0x trades at a premium to the US-listed Financial Services median of 10.8x.
AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer
About this SF AI stock analysis
This page is an AI-written research summary of Stifel Financial Corp. (SF). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.
Related: SF income statement, SF balance sheet, SF key metrics, SF analyst forecast, SF chart. See the SF stock overview for the latest quote and news.
SF AI stock analysis FAQ
What dividend does Stifel Financial Corp. pay?
Stifel pays a quarterly dividend totaling $1.36 annualized, reflecting a dividend yield of 2.01% with a payout ratio of 22.4%.
When does Stifel report its next quarterly earnings?
Stifel is scheduled to report earnings on October 21, 2026, following 4 consecutive quarters of EPS beats.
What are Wall Street's expectations for SF in FY2026?
Analysts forecast FY2026 EPS of $6.34, representing 40.6% year-over-year growth, on projected revenue of $5.98B.
How leveraged is Stifel's balance sheet?
As of June 30, 2026, Stifel carried $839.6M in total debt against $3.72B in cash and short-term investments, resulting in net cash of $2.88B and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14.