SFMEDIUM SIGNALFINANCIAL10-K

Stifel delivered strong operating performance with meaningfully higher profitability while substantially increasing share buybacks and updating its acquisition timeline.

The company's operating income grew notably alongside expanded share repurchases, suggesting management confidence in cash generation and capital allocation priorities. However, the meaningfully higher provision for credit losses indicates some deterioration in credit quality that warrants monitoring, particularly given the firm's lending activities.

Comparing 2026-02-24 vs 2025-02-26View on EDGAR →
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS

Stifel's financial performance strengthened meaningfully with operating income rising over 30% while stockholders' equity grew solidly to $4.2 billion. The company substantially increased share buybacks to $245 million, though this was partially offset by modestly lower cash reserves. The notable increase in credit loss provisions suggests some asset quality concerns, but overall the financial picture reflects strong operational momentum and aggressive capital returns to shareholders.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT CHANGES
Share Buybacks
Cash Flow
+70%
$144.1M$245.0M

Share repurchases increased 70% — management returning capital, signals confidence in intrinsic value.

Provision for Credit Losses
P&L
+54.8%
$16.5M$25.6M

Credit loss provisions surged 54.8% — management flagging significant deterioration in loan quality ahead.

Operating Income
P&L
+31.4%
$706.7M$928.4M

Operating leverage kicking in — revenue growth outpacing cost growth, a hallmark of scaling businesses.

Stockholders Equity
Balance Sheet
+17.3%
$3.6B$4.2B

Equity base grew 17.3% — retained earnings accumulation or equity issuance strengthening the balance sheet.

Cash & Equivalents
Balance Sheet
-14.9%
$2.6B$2.3B

Cash decreased 14.9% — monitor burn rate and upcoming capital needs.

LANGUAGE CHANGES
NEW — 2026-02-24
PRIOR — 2025-02-26
ADDED
Over the past several years, we have grown substantially, primarily by completing and successfully integrating a number of acquisitions, including the following acquisitions, which were integrated during 2024 and 2025: CB Resource and Finance 500 On August 1, 2024, the Company acquired Finance 500, Inc.
s traditional wealth management business, a deal that added 36 advisors with approximately $4 billion in assets under management.
We have customers throughout the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Canada.
Consolidated Stifel Branch System At December 31, 2025, the Private Client Group had a network of more than 2,200 financial advisors located in 402 branch offices in 48 states and the District of Columbia.
We offer high-net-worth and institutional investors the opportunity to participate in a wide range of non-traditional investment strategies.
Strategies include single manager hedge funds, funds of funds, diversified private equity funds, and single investment late-stage private equity funds.
On February 2, 2026, the Company sold Stifel Independent Advisors, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary and independent contractor broker-dealer, to an affiliate of Equitable, a financial services organization and principal franchise of Equitable Holdings, Inc.
Stifel Bancorp We provide retail and commercial banking services to private and corporate clients, including a range of personal lending solutions such as fixed- and adjustable-rate mortgage loans, home equity lines of credit, fund banking, unsecured personal loans, loans secured by certificates of deposit or savings accounts, and securities-based lending.
Our commercial offerings include small business and middle-market lending, commercial real estate loans, revolving and standby lines of credit, credit cards, term loans, and inventory and receivables financing, along with related deposit and treasury solutions.
In addition, we offer venture banking services designed to support venture-backed and high-growth companies with tailored banking and credit solutions that help fund innovation and scale responsibly across a broad range of industries.
REMOVED
Over the past several years, we have grown substantially, primarily by completing and successfully integrating a number of acquisitions, including the following acquisitions, which were integrated during 2023 and 2024: Torreya Partners LLC On March 1, 2023, the Company acquired Torreya Partners LLC, a leading independent M A and private capital advisory firm serving the global life sciences industry.
Sierra Pacific Securities, LLC On August 1, 2023, the Company acquired Sierra Pacific Securities, LLC, an algorithmic trading-focused, fixed income market-making firm.
CB Resource and Finance 500 On August 1, 2024, the Company acquired Finance 500, Inc.
On January 6, 2025, the Company announced it signed a definitive agreement to acquire Bryan, Garnier Co.
The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2025.
We have customers throughout the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada, with a growing presence in Europe.
Consolidated Stifel Branch System At December 31, 2024, the Private Client Group had a network of 2,229 financial advisors located in 389 branch offices in 48 states and the District of Columbia.
Stifel Bancorp We offer retail and commercial banking services to private and corporate clients, including personal loan programs, such as fixed and variable mortgage loans, home equity lines of credit, personal loans, loans secured by CDs or savings, and securities-based loans, as well as commercial lending programs, such as small business loans, commercial real estate loans, lines of credit, credit cards, term loans, and inventory and receivables financing, in addition to other banking products.
We believe Stifel Bancorp not only helps us serve our private clients more effectively by offering them a broader range of services, but also enables us to better utilize our private client cash balances held which are swept to our bank subsidiaries and is their primary source of funding.
As of December 31, 2024, we had over 9,000 associates, including 2,342 financial advisors, located primarily in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada, with a growing presence in Europe.
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