Stifel Reports First Quarter 2025 Results

ST. LOUIS, April 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE:SF) today reported net revenues of $1.26 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared with $1.16 billion a year ago. Net income available to common shareholders was $43.7 million, or $0.39 per diluted common share, compared with $154.3 million, or $1.40 per diluted common share for the first quarter of 2024. Non-GAAP net income available to common shareholders was $54.2 million, or $0.49 per diluted common share for the first quarter of 2025.

Ronald J. Kruszewski, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said "Our net revenue of $1.26 billion marks the highest first-quarter revenue in our history, with year-over-year growth across all revenue lines. The investments we've made in our business and our focus on delivering valued advice drove growth in both our Global Wealth Management and Institutional Group — despite the headwinds from market volatility and a significant legal charge. We remain optimistic about long-term growth, emphasizing the resilience of U.S. financial markets and the value our advice-driven model delivers during periods of uncertainty."

Highlights

• The Company reported net revenues of $1.26 billion, the third best quarter in its history, driven by higher asset management revenues, investment banking revenues, transactional revenues, and net interest income.
  
  
  
  
• Non-GAAP net income available to common shareholders of $0.49 per diluted common share was negatively impacted by elevated provisions for legal matters of $1.16 per diluted common share (after-tax).
  
  
  
  
• Record asset management revenues, up 11% over the year-ago quarter.
  
  
  
  
• Advisory revenues increased 15% over the year-ago quarter.
  
  
  
  
• Capital raising revenues increased 6% over the year-ago quarter.
  
  
  
  
• Client assets of $485.9 billion, up 4% over the year-ago quarter.
  
  
  
  
• Recruited 52 financial advisors during the quarter, including 9 experienced employee advisors.
  
  
  
  
• Non-GAAP pre-tax margin of 6% was negatively impacted by elevated provisions for legal matters.
  
  
  
  
• Annualized return on tangible common equity (ROTCE) ⁽⁵⁾ of 6%.
  
  
  
  
• Tangible book value per common share ⁽⁷⁾ of $33.31, up 9% from prior year.

Financial Summary (Unaudited)
(000s)	1Q 2025			1Q 2024
GAAP Financial Highlights:
Net revenues	$1,255,469			$1,163,038
Net income (1)	$43,672			$154,255
Diluted EPS (1)	$0.39			$1.40
Comp. ratio		58.3%			58.4%
Non-comp. ratio		36.7%			22.8%
Pre-tax margin		5.0%			18.8%
Non-GAAP Financial Highlights:
Net revenues	$1,255,455			$1,163,038
Net income (1) (2)	$54,236			$163,346
Diluted EPS (1) (2)	$0.49			$1.49
Comp. ratio (2)		58.0%			58.0%
Non-comp. ratio (2)		35.9%			22.2%
Pre-tax margin (3)		6.1%			19.8%
ROCE (4)		4.4%			14.3%
ROTCE (5)		6.2%			20.9%
Global Wealth Management (assets and loans in millions)
Net revenues	$850,559			$790,500
Pre-tax net income	$126,405			$290,748
Total client assets	$485,860			$467,697
Fee-based client assets	$189,693			$177,108
Bank loans (6)	$21,241			$19,484
Institutional Group
Net revenues	$384,929			$351,376
Equity	$236,192			$206,417
Fixed Income	$148,737			$144,959
Pre-tax net income	$27,431			$37,109

Global Wealth Management

Global Wealth Management reported net revenues of $850.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared with $790.5 million during the first quarter of 2024. Pre-tax net income was $126.4 million compared with $290.7 million in the first quarter of 2024.

Highlights

• Recruited 52 financial advisors during the quarter, including 9 experienced employee advisors, with total trailing 12 month production of $11.7 million.
  
  
  
  
• Client assets of $485.9 billion, up 4% over the year-ago quarter.
  
  
  
  
• Fee-based client assets of $189.7 billion, up 7% over the year-ago quarter.
  
  

Net revenues increased 8% from a year ago:

• Transactional revenues increased 3% over the year-ago quarter reflecting an increase in client activity.
  
  
  
  
• Asset management revenues increased 11% over the year-ago quarter reflecting higher asset values and net new asset growth.
  
  
  
  
• Net interest income increased 4% over the year-ago quarter driven by balance sheet growth, partially offset by lower interest rates and changes in the deposit mix.
  
  

Total Expenses:

• Compensation expense as a percentage of net revenues increased to 49.6% primarily as a result of higher compensable revenues.
  
  
  
  
• Provision for credit losses was primarily impacted by an increase in reserves driven by loan growth and changes in the outlook for macroeconomic conditions.
  
  
  
  
• Non-compensation operating expenses as a percentage of net revenues increased to 35.5% primarily as a result of higher litigation-related expenses.
  
  
  
  

Summary Results of Operations
(000s)		1Q 2025			1Q 2024
Net revenues	$850,559			$790,500
Transactional revenues		186,395			181,753
Asset management		409,506			367,450
Net interest income		245,534			236,269
Investment banking		5,908			4,280
Other income		3,216			748
Total expenses	$724,154			$499,752
Compensation expense		422,293			389,536
Provision for credit losses		12,020			4,968
Non-comp. opex		289,841			105,248
Pre-tax net income	$126,405			$290,748
Compensation ratio		49.6%			49.3%
Non-compensation ratio		35.5%			13.9%
Pre-tax margin		14.9%			36.8%

Institutional Group

Institutional Group reported net revenues of $384.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared with $351.4 million during the first quarter of 2024. Pre-tax net income was $27.4 million compared with $37.1 million in the first quarter of 2024.

Highlights

Investment banking revenues increased 11% from a year ago:

• Advisory revenues increased 15% from the year-ago quarter driven by higher levels of completed advisory transactions.
  
  
  
  
• Fixed income capital raising revenues decreased 9% from the year-ago quarter primarily driven by lower bond issuances.
  
  
  
  
• Equity capital raising revenues increased 22% over the year-ago quarter driven by higher volumes.
  
  

Fixed income transactional revenues increased 1% from a year ago:

• Fixed income transactional revenues were impacted by increased activity in securitized products, partially offset by lower levels of activity in credit products.
  
  

Equity transactional revenues increased 10% from a year ago:

• Equity transactional revenues increased from the year-ago quarter primarily driven by increased client activity amid a more volatile trading environment.
  
  

Total Expenses:

• Compensation expense as a percentage of net revenues increased to 65.6% primarily as a result of higher fixed compensation expenses in our international operations.
  
  
  
  
• Non-compensation operating expenses as a percentage of net revenues decreased to 27.3% from the year-ago quarter primarily as a result of higher revenues.
  
  

Summary Results of Operations
(000s)		1Q 2025			1Q 2024
Net revenues	$384,929			$351,376
Investment banking		232,034			209,669
Advisory		137,470			119,252
Fixed income capital raising		45,559			50,116
Equity capital raising		49,005			40,301
Fixed income transactional		89,345			88,654
Equity transactional		59,590			54,083
Other		3,960			(1,030)
Total expenses	$357,498			$314,267
Compensation expense		252,585			215,749
Non-comp. opex.		104,913			98,518
Pre-tax net income	$27,431			$37,109
Compensation ratio		65.6%			61.4%
Non-compensation ratio		27.3%			28.0%
Pre-tax margin		7.1%			10.6%

Other Matters

Highlights

• The Company repurchased $210.9 million of its outstanding common stock during the first quarter, including $117.8 million in connection with net-share settlements under its equity compensation plan.
• Weighted average diluted shares outstanding increased primarily as a result the increase in the Company's share price, partially offset by an increase in share repurchases.
• The Board of Directors declared a $0.46 quarterly dividend per share payable on March 17, 2025 to common shareholders of record on March 3, 2025.
• The Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend on the outstanding shares of the Company's preferred stock payable on March 17, 2025 to shareholders of record on March 3, 2025.

	1Q 2025			1Q 2024
Common stock repurchases
Repurchases (000s)	$210,934			$159,348
Number of shares (000s)		2,029			2,254
Average price	$103.95			$70.71
Period end shares (000s)		103,078			102,649
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding (000s)		110,635			109,985
Effective tax rate		16.4%			25.2%
Stifel Financial Corp. (8)
Tier 1 common capital ratio		14.7%			14.3%
Tier 1 risk based capital ratio		17.6%			17.3%
Tier 1 leverage capital ratio		10.8%			10.6%
Tier 1 capital (MM)	$4,163			$3,911
Risk weighted assets (MM)	$23,661			$22,588
Average assets (MM)	$38,397			$37,018
Quarter end assets (MM)	$40,384			$38,258
Agency	Rating			Outlook
Fitch Ratings	BBB+			Stable
S&P Global Ratings	BBB			Stable

Conference Call Information

Stifel Financial Corp. will host its first quarter 2025 financial results conference call on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The conference call may include forward-looking statements.

All interested parties are invited to listen to Stifel's Chairman and CEO, Ronald J. Kruszewski, by dialing (866) 409-1555 and referencing conference ID 2769458. A live audio webcast of the call, as well as a presentation highlighting the Company's results, will be available through the Company's web site, www.stifel.com. For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, a replay of the broadcast will be available through the above-referenced web site beginning approximately one hour following the completion of the call.

Company Information

Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE:SF) is a financial services holding company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, that conducts its banking, securities, and financial services business through several wholly owned subsidiaries. Stifel's broker-dealer clients are served in the United States through Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, including its Eaton Partners and Miller Buckfire business divisions; Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.; and Stifel Independent Advisors, LLC. The Company's broker-dealer affiliates provide securities brokerage, investment banking, trading, investment advisory, and related financial services to individual investors, professional money managers, businesses, and municipalities. Stifel Bank and Stifel Bank & Trust offer a full range of consumer and commercial lending solutions. Stifel Trust Company, N.A. and Stifel Trust Company Delaware, N.A. offer trust and related services. To learn more about Stifel, please visit the Company's website at www.stifel.com. For global disclosures, please visit www.stifel.com/investor-relations/press-releases.

A financial summary follows. Financial, statistical and business-related information, as well as information regarding business and segment trends, is included in the financial supplement. Both the earnings release and the financial supplement are available online in the Investor Relations section at www.stifel.com/investor-relations.

The information provided herein and in the financial supplement, including information provided on the Company's earnings conference calls, may include certain non-GAAP financial measures. The definition of such measures or reconciliation of such measures to the comparable U.S. GAAP figures are included in this earnings release and the financial supplement, both of which are available online in the Investor Relations section at www.stifel.com/investor-relations.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This earnings release contains certain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements in this earnings release not dealing with historical results are forward-looking and are based on various assumptions. The forward-looking statements in this earnings release are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements include, among other things, the following possibilities: the ability to successfully integrate acquired companies or the branch offices and financial advisors; a material adverse change in financial condition; the risk of borrower, depositor, and other customer attrition; a change in general business and economic conditions; changes in the interest rate environment, deposit flows, loan demand, real estate values, and competition; changes in accounting principles, policies, or guidelines; changes in legislation and regulation; other economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory, geopolitical, and technological factors affecting the companies' operations, pricing, and services; and other risk factors referred to from time to time in filings made by Stifel Financial Corp. with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For information about the risks and important factors that could affect the Company's future results, financial condition and liquidity, see "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024. Forward-looking statements speak only as to the date they are made. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made.

Summary Results of Operations (Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended
(000s, except per share amounts)	3/31/2025		3/31/2024		% Change		12/31/2024		% Change
Revenues:
Commissions	$193,670		$185,476		4.4		$203,786		(5.0)
Principal transactions		141,660		139,014	1.9			174,887	(19.0)
Investment banking		237,942		213,949	11.2			304,419	(21.8)
Asset management		409,541		367,476	11.4			405,825	0.9
Other income		10,581		4,950	113.8			3,294	221.2
Operating revenues		993,394		910,865	9.1			1,092,211	(9.0)
Interest revenue		475,632		506,828	(6.2)			500,661	(5.0)
Total revenues		1,469,026		1,417,693	3.6			1,592,872	(7.8)
Interest expense		213,557		254,655	(16.1)			228,190	(6.4)
Net revenues		1,255,469		1,163,038	7.9			1,364,682	(8.0)
Non-interest expenses:
Compensation and benefits		732,220		679,695	7.7			795,750	(8.0)
Non-compensation operating expenses		459,885		264,652	73.8			302,731	51.9
Total non-interest expenses		1,192,105		944,347	26.2			1,098,481	8.5
Income before income taxes		63,364		218,691	(71.0)			266,201	(76.2)
Provision for income taxes		10,372		55,116	(81.2)			22,196	(53.3)
Net income		52,992		163,575	(67.6)			244,005	(78.3)
Preferred dividends		9,320		9,320	0.0			9,320	0.0
Net income available to common shareholders	$43,672		$154,255		(71.7)		$234,685		(81.4)
Earnings per common share:
Basic	$0.42		$1.48		(71.6)		$2.26		(81.4)
Diluted	$0.39		$1.40		(72.1)		$2.09		(81.3)
Cash dividends declared per common share	$0.46		$0.42		9.5		$0.42		9.5
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic		104,764		104,275	0.5			103,856	0.9
Diluted		110,635		109,985	0.6			112,089	(1.3)

Non-GAAP Financial Measures (9)
	Three Months Ended
(000s, except per share amounts)	3/31/2025			3/31/2024
GAAP net income	$52,992			$163,575
Preferred dividend		9,320			9,320
Net income available to common shareholders		43,672			154,255
Non-GAAP adjustments:
Merger-related (10)		12,661			12,154
Provision for income taxes (11)		(2,097)			(3,063)
Total non-GAAP adjustments		10,564			9,091
Non-GAAP net income available to common shareholders	$54,236			$163,346
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding		110,635			109,985
GAAP earnings per diluted common share	$0.47			$1.48
Non-GAAP adjustments		0.10			0.09
Non-GAAP earnings per diluted common share	$0.57			$1.57
GAAP earnings per diluted common share available to common shareholders	$0.39			$1.40
Non-GAAP adjustments		0.10			0.09
Non-GAAP earnings per diluted common share available to common shareholders	$0.49			$1.49

GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation (9)
	Three Months Ended
(000s)	3/31/2025			3/31/2024
GAAP compensation and benefits	$732,220			$679,695
As a percentage of net revenues		58.3%			58.4%
Non-GAAP adjustments:
Merger-related (10)		(4,056)			(5,533)
Non-GAAP compensation and benefits	$728,164			$674,162
As a percentage of non-GAAP net revenues		58.0%			58.0%
GAAP non-compensation expenses	$459,885			$264,652
As a percentage of net revenues		36.7%			22.8%
Non-GAAP adjustments:
Merger-related (10)		(8,619)			(6,621)
Non-GAAP non-compensation expenses	$451,266			$258,031
As a percentage of non-GAAP net revenues		35.9%			22.2%
Total merger-related expenses	$12,675			$12,154

Footnotes
(1)		Represents available to common shareholders.
(2)		Reconciliations of the Company's GAAP results to these non-GAAP measures are discussed within and under "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and "GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation."
(3)		Non-GAAP pre-tax margin is calculated by adding total merger-related expenses (non-GAAP adjustments) and dividing it by non-GAAP net revenues. See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and "GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation."
(4)		Return on average common equity ("ROCE") is calculated by dividing annualized net income applicable to common shareholders by average common shareholders' equity or, in the case of non-GAAP ROCE, calculated by dividing non-GAAP net income applicable to commons shareholders by average common shareholders' equity.
(5)		Return on average tangible common equity ("ROTCE") is calculated by dividing annualized net income applicable to common shareholders by average tangible shareholders' equity or, in the case of non-GAAP ROTCE, calculated by dividing non-GAAP net income applicable to common shareholders by average tangible common equity. Tangible common equity, also a non-GAAP financial measure, equals total common shareholders' equity less goodwill and identifiable intangible assets and the deferred taxes on goodwill and intangible assets. Average deferred taxes on goodwill and intangible assets were $82.5 million and $73.9 million as of March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
(6)		Includes loans held for sale.
(7)		Tangible book value per common share represents shareholders' equity (excluding preferred stock) divided by period end common shares outstanding. Tangible common shareholders' equity equals total common shareholders' equity less goodwill and identifiable intangible assets and the deferred taxes on goodwill and intangible assets.
(8)		Capital ratios are estimates at the time of the Company's earnings release, April 23, 2025.
(9)		The Company prepares its Consolidated Financial Statements using accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S. GAAP). The Company may disclose certain "non-GAAP financial measures" in the course of its earnings releases, earnings conference calls, financial presentations and otherwise. The Securities and Exchange Commission defines a "non-GAAP financial measure" as a numerical measure of historical or future financial performance, financial position, or cash flows that is subject to adjustments that effectively exclude, or include, amounts from the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures disclosed by the Company are provided as additional information to analysts, investors and other stakeholders in order to provide them with greater transparency about, or an alternative method for assessing the Company's financial condition or operating results. These measures are not in accordance with, or a substitute for U.S. GAAP, and may be different from or inconsistent with non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. Whenever the Company refers to a non-GAAP financial measure, it will also define it or present the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, along with a reconciliation of the differences between the non-GAAP financial measure it references and such comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure.
(10)		Primarily related to charges attributable to integration-related activities, signing bonuses, amortization of restricted stock awards, debentures, and promissory notes issued as retention, additional earn-out expense, and amortization of intangible assets acquired. These costs were directly related to acquisitions of certain businesses and are not representative of the costs of running the Company's on-going business.
(11)		Primarily represents the Company's effective tax rate for the period applied to the non-GAAP adjustments.

Media Contact: Neil Shapiro (212) 271-3447 | Investor Contact: Joel Jeffrey (212) 271- 3610 | www.stifel.com/investor-relations