Bankruptcy Investigation Ordered: A U.S. bankruptcy judge has initiated an independent investigation into First Brands, allocating a $7 million budget to examine allegations of fraud related to the company's use of third-party financing for customer invoices.
Concerns Over Financial Practices: The bankruptcy filing has raised alarms about opaque financing in the private credit market, particularly regarding potential losses for major financial institutions like Jefferies and UBS.
Allegations Against Former CEO: First Brands has accused its founder and former CEO, Patrick James, of misappropriating "hundreds of millions (if not billions) of dollars," which he denies.
Focus of the Investigation: The investigation will scrutinize the company's invoice factoring practices, including allegations of double-selling invoices and improper handling of customer payments, as well as any financial transfers to related companies.
Wall Street analysts forecast JEF stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for JEF is 72.79 USD with a low forecast of 55.00 USD and a high forecast of 97.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
5 Analyst Rating
Wall Street analysts forecast JEF stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for JEF is 72.79 USD with a low forecast of 55.00 USD and a high forecast of 97.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
4 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 63.350
Low
55.00
Averages
72.79
High
97.00
Current: 63.350
Low
55.00
Averages
72.79
High
97.00
Oppenheimer
Oppenheimer
Outperform
maintain
$81 -> $97
2025-12-11
Reason
Oppenheimer
Oppenheimer
Price Target
$81 -> $97
AI Analysis
2025-12-11
maintain
Outperform
Reason
Oppenheimer raised the firm's price target on Jefferies Financial to $97 from $81 and keeps an Outperform rating on the shares ahead of the fiscal Q4 report. The firm believes the company's "strong growth trajectory remains in place" for 2026 and 2027. Opco assumes Jefferies will completely impair its $113M investment in the Point Bonita Funds, which takes down its earnings per share estimate for the quarter to 80c. It sees the rebound in mergers and underwriting activity as catalysts for the stock.
UBS
Michael Brown
initiated
$76
2025-12-11
Reason
UBS
Michael Brown
Price Target
$76
2025-12-11
initiated
Reason
UBS analyst Michael Brown assumed coverage of Jefferies Financial with a Buy rating and $76 price target, noting strong sector fundamentals across 20 U.S. asset managers and brokers despite more mixed views on valuations and consensus expectations.The outlook favors undervalued growth, disciplined capital allocation, and firms positioned for margin expansion, while secular tailwinds support wealth brokers and independent investment banks whose robust earnings growth appears partly priced in, the analyst tells investors in a research note.
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Morgan Stanley
Ryan Kenny
Equal Weight -> Overweight
upgrade
$74 -> $78
2025-12-08
Reason
Morgan Stanley
Ryan Kenny
Price Target
$74 -> $78
2025-12-08
upgrade
Equal Weight -> Overweight
Reason
Morgan Stanley analyst Ryan Kenny upgraded Jefferies Financial to Overweight from Equal Weight with a price target of $78, up from $74. The firm says the merger and acquisition cycle is "gaining steam." It cites "overblown concerns" surrounding First Brands, further shares gain ahead and the company's expanded SMBC partnership for the upgrade of Jefferies.
Oppenheimer
Chris Kotowski
Perform
to
Outperform
upgrade
$81
2025-10-17
Reason
Oppenheimer
Chris Kotowski
Price Target
$81
2025-10-17
upgrade
Perform
to
Outperform
Reason
Oppenheimer analyst Chris Kotowski upgraded Jefferies Financial to Outperform from Perform with an $81 price target.
About JEF
Jefferies Financial Group Inc. is a global, full-service investment banking and capital markets company. The Company provides financial advisory, equity underwriting and debt underwriting services. Its business segments include Investment Banking and Capital Markets and Asset Management. The Investment Banking and Capital Markets segment includes its securities, commodities, futures, and foreign exchange capital markets activities and its investment banking business, which provides underwriting and financial advisory services to clients across various industry sectors in the Americas, Europe and the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. The Asset Management segment provides alternative investment management services to investors in the United States and overseas and generates investment income from capital invested in and managed by the Company or its affiliated asset managers. It provides mergers and acquisition, debt advisory and restructuring and private capital advisory services.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
